In the last couple of weeks I’ve been teaching on the two most powerful words in the Bible - “But God”. How powerful these two words are!  Ephesians 2:4 says  “But God who is rich in mercy.” 

 

But God! Those have to be the two most exciting, encouraging, hopeful words in all of God’s Word!  “But” is a conjunction with a difference. These two words, in and of themselves, contain the whole of the gospel. The two words are used some 43 times in Scripture. Anytime these two words appear, the change is drastic. The course of history revolves around these two precious words. No matter what has been said before or what the prognosis is all about but God.

 

“But” is a conjunction just like “and”. However “and” does not carry the same impact as “but”. To say “And “is to give additional information, which may be either significant or insignificant, but the intent of the statement is quite complete without that which follows the conjunction. The conjunction “but” is always of the contrary opinion. Not only does it add additional information but it also changes the impression and impact given by that which precedes its use. It qualifies, alters and not infrequently completely negates that which has been said. When you hear a statement – everything following would be the same unless the “but” is used. Listen carefully to the “but”.  For that changes the whole equation.

 

The Psalmist tells us in Psalm103 of the brevity of man’s existence and his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more : Then he adds the “But” that makes all the difference in verse 17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting I Aren’t you glad for the mercy of God!

 

Here is another passage that tells us how Satan desires to shift and shake us in and out hoping that our faith would fail. But Jesus prays for us that our faith would not fail but that we would be strengthened and we would then strengthen others. In fact, this is what he spoke to Peter in Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers”

Satan has asked to

shift you

your faith to fail.

wants you down and out.

 

BUT Jesus

Prayed for you

He does not want your faith to fail

He wants you to turn back if you have turned around and stand up if you have fallen

He wants you to be strengthened

He wants you to strengthen others