God's Sovereign Timing of His Blessing

Editor's note: Due to an error, the recording equipment did not capture the final few minutes of this sermon.

Aim: To believe in Christ, and to live by faith.

Doctrine: God's overt mercies are not necessarily tied to the initial time of covenantal obedience. This is uniformly true—even with the sacraments—but this should not discourage us from pursuing Christ (now).

Exegesis: Our role in ''considering'' God's ways: let us remember our rebellion (vv. 15-17), trust our good God (vv. 18-19b), and rejoice in Christ's gospel grace (v. 19c)

Further application: How to think about God's sovereign dealings: be more intent on our faithfulness than on good results, and be assured that our generous heavenly Father will not be ''outdone.''

Key verse: v. 19 ''Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.''