Can you make lemonade?

What is lemonade?

It's a drink made with squeezed lemons, water, and a sweetener.

Mix it all together and enjoy.

To "make lemonade" is a phrase often used to say, "Something sour (like a lemon) can be turned into a sweet drink (like lemonade)."

The Lord can make lemonade.

He CAN prevent bad situations from hurting us.

He CAN redeem, that is, turn things around for us, even if bad stuff happens.

"Have a little faith," someone says to us when we're hit with what we believe is negative.

The Lord Jesus Christ says,

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." Luke 17:6

A mustard seed is a very small seed. Mark 4:31

So, why not have a little faith that the Father of mercies, the God of all comfort, will turn things around as He comforts us? 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

PREVENT

When Peter walked on water to go to Jesus after the Lord said to him, "Come," he became fearful and began to sink. Matthew 14:28-30

Peter cried out,

"Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter.

"You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:30-31

Peter had a little faith but he still walked on water until he doubted.

Even so, Jesus prevented Peter's drowning.

Can we have a little faith in the promises of Psalm 91?

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling—

my refuge, the Most High—

no evil will befall you,

no plague will approach your tent.

For He will command His angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

They will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:9-12

Aren't there still holy angels that obey the Lord's voice? Psalm 103:20

Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Can we have a little faith that what Jesus said to His disciples also applies to us who believe because of their words? Matthew 28:20; John 17:20

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name."

So He told them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:17-20

The power TO PREVENT is also placed into the believer's hands.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6

But He gives us more grace. This is why it says:

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6

Let's have a little faith and a lot of humility so that we,

Submit [ourselves], then, to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you [us]. James 4:7

REDEEM (To turn bad into good)

If some apparently bad situation strikes us, that is, it was NOT prevented, do we give up?

No, of course not.

Believers believe.

What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Let's have a little faith to pray,

"Defend my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word." Psalm 119:154

REDEEMING JOB

A man told of in the Old Testament of the Bible, Job, had so much and was great. Job 1:1-3

But he lost so much and suffered. Job 1:13-19; 2:7-8

See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. James 5:11

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions. Job 42:10

So the Lord blessed Job's latter days more than his first.

He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.

And he also had seven sons and three daughters. Job 42:12-13

Can't the Father do what's needed to REDEEM US, too, Romans 2:11 even if we have a little faith?

Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! Luke 12:27-28

Who redeems your life from the Pit [death, destruction]

and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion. Psalm 103:4

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears;

He delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted;

He saves the contrite [humble] in spirit.

Many are the afflictions [troubles] of the righteous,

but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalm 34:17-19

REDEEMING PAUL

Paul was told by the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that he would suffer a lot for the name of Jesus. Acts 9:15-16; 20:23

Paul boasted in trouble. Romans 5:3

He wrote about his conversation with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness."

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Sometimes, the Lord prevented bad things from coming to Paul. Acts 14:5-7; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33

At other times, he endured persecutions, hardships, a deadly snake bite, and even death by stoning. Acts 14:19-20; 28:3-6; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27; 2 Timothy 3:11

But near the end of his earthly life, which was preserved until he became an old man, Philemon v.9 the Savior REDEEMED.

Paul was a Roman prisoner because he requested to appeal to Caesar. Acts 25:11; 28:17-19

When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him. Acts 28:16

This was NOT the normal way Romans dealt with their prisoners. Acts 27:1

This nice treatment also was given earlier. Acts 27:3

The Lord was turning things around for Paul.

Paul stayed there [in Rome] two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 28:30-31

Later Paul wrote,

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:6-7

PREVENT and REDEEM FOR US

We have a little faith, the measure of faith, Romans 12:3 that can grow exceedingly. 2 Thessalonians 1:3

Let's believe our heavenly Father to PREVENT and REDEEM. 2 Corinthians 1:10

In Him [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy. Psalm 107:2

Your thoughts?

R. Jason