Year of thinking differently – 5 (Over promise and under deliver) Have you ever played, or at last seen a game of tug of war? As a kid I can remember it being lot of fun? We’d did it from time to time at school …, in the gym. But I have to say, tug of war outside, just after it rained…, that seemed like a whole lot more fun. Finding the monstrous puddle, grabbing the big rope…, and go battle. The only thing to pray for was to be on the team with the biggest guys. Let me just say, I like to win, but more than that…, my hope would have been to see the other team get wet and dirty. Isn’t that what it was all about? – Watching the opposing team get all nasty, dirty…, covered in mud, right? If only I had brought a piece of rope this morning we could have a little fun…, me against one of you. First, I need an opponent. Who would I choose? – I said I like to win, so I would choose someone smaller…, someone frail, someone weak: a child, a small woman…, someone sickly……, someone I who I could power over …, someone guaranteed to loose. Someone like: little Sam or Tarron, they’d have a blast trying. Please understand, I’d give you a great show…, I can act. I’d hold onto one end of rope and give one of them the other, the show would be great…, the struggle would go on for a minute or two, my face turning red…, beeped of sweat on my forehead…, but in the end I would stand victoriously. I won! I won! I’d do my victory dance. Tell them how they struggled valiantly…, take a bow, but I Won! Now, I know that some of you are probably thinking to yourself, Of course you won. Youre much bigger and much stronger than your opponent. Do you know what? - Youre right! It was no match. I was going to win because “EVERYTHING!” was on my side…, size, strength…, I could make it look like a struggle for a moment, but I was sure to win. Today, I want you to see a very one sided tug of war…, a tug of war that may not look so obvious. A tug of war where the victor looks less than capable…, a tug of war where the victor has all the power but doesn’t parade it around…, a tug of war that ends with promise…, what’s the promise? – We’re safe in God’s hands. TURN TO: John 10:22-28 22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (repeat a few times) What a promise, what a claim, “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (repeat) In this passage, we have Jesus on one side of the rope and a group of Jews on the other…, whose going to win this tug of war? – At first look, the Jews…, they have a larger force, they totally out number Jesus, but Jesus isn’t stressed or worried. He’s faced this opposition before…. My goodness look at the verses just before this…, He just finished another tug of war with the Pharisees in the prior 20 verses. But here, a group of people were gathered around Jesus. They asked him whether they should believe that he was the Messiah. Jesus told them, those who believe in me, He gives eternal life…, they’ll never die. I love the promise, No one can snatch them from my hand. Now who would be trying to snatch Gods children out of his hand? Satan, right! It is as if there is a tug of war going on between Jesus and Satan. The Bible tells us that the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 He wants to destroy us, the church, the disciples of Christ…’ the devil has no battle with the unsaved, they’re already his…. But if we put our faith and trust in God, He will care for us and hold us safely in the palm of his hand. Satan will try to snatch us out of his hand, but Jesus said My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Fathers hand. Isnt it good to know that were safe when we put our lives in Gods hands? The Apostle Paul said, … I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure (repeat, I am confident) that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. 2 Timothy 1:12 No one can take us from him -- not even Satan himself! He is no match for our God! So the tug of war continues and God is never going to give up…. All is good, all is great…, we’re “safe” in God’s hands…, “safe”, right? That’s what were promised in: Psalm 121 1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip— (safe) he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord watches over you— (safe, right? He watches over us) the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm— (He will keep us safe) he will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. God will keep us safe…, but safe doesn’t mean free from trouble. (repeat) What is “safe”? – What is the promise here? – The promises is: God will see us through……, if we hold on. Hold on to what? – Hold on to the truth, hold on to the promises…, hold on to the fact we are weak and He is strong…, hold on to the fact that we can’t depend on ourselves. Proverbs 3:5-8 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not (repeat) on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, (submit to who…? - Him, the Lord) and he will make your paths straight……. 7 Do not (repeat a few times and increase volume) be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. This is a year of thinking differently. Remember, “Nothing is different, till we start thinking differently. We hold on to the truth…, and the truth is the Devil is trying to snatch you out of God’s hand, a fight he will not win if we stay in God’s hands…. But what happens if you give up and give in? Is that possible? – We all know this is very possible, in fact Jesus said it was possible in Matthew. Turn with me to: Matthew 24:4-13 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. (There’s the battle [repeat]) 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. (I believe that time is now.) 9 “Then you (the church, the disciples of Christ) will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (Does this sound “SAFE”? [repeat])10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Repeat) Jesus also said, 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. (not might…, but “you will” have tribulation, you will have trouble) But take heart; I have overcome the world.” This is our call to stand firm, to not give up…, our call to submit and lean not on our own understanding…, our call not to be wise in our own eyes, but…, to think differently. Here’s the thing, I don’t want you to be disillusioned…, I don’t want you to see God, as the god who over promises and under delivers. So hear me, please hear me…, when God promises to keep us “SAFE”, God is promising to see us through. In this world you will have trouble…, but take heart I will see you through. Hard times will come…, persecution will come, devastating disasters will come, but God will keep us safe, God will see us through…, if we don’t give up. What else has God promised? Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. God has made some plans for me and you…, are you OK with that? – What are those plans: plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Not a detailed map from the beginning to end, but plans that form our character, plans that shape our existence…, plans that profit our future and hope. What does this passage mean by hope? – HOPE is an unshakable confidence in God, despite our circumstance…. Hope is the confident expectation of a better tomorrow……. Those are the plans God has for our lives. Isaiah 40:29-31 promises He (God) gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. (repeat) They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. What is God promising? – He’s promising to see us through, not that life is going to be all rosy, but if we trust in the Lord we will find strength. Philippians 4:19 says 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. This isn’t the promise I get everything I pray for. And it’s not the promise that I won’t go without. Paul said just a few verse prior: 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (repeat) Philippians 4:12-13 Say it with me..., I can do all things through him who give me strength. This isn’t a call to try harder, but a call to lean on God more. Less of me and more of God…, God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory (repeat…, according to God, for his glory) in Christ Jesus. Then this promise found in Proverbs: Proverbs 1:33 But all who listen to me (God) will live in peace (repeat), untroubled by fear of harm.” What is peace? - The Calm assurance that what God is doing is best. Which reinforces Jeremiah 29:11. This promise isn’t that harm won’t come to us (repeat), but that fear need not grip our hearts when harm comes. Nothing is different, till we start thinking differently. Today I want us to rethink some of the promises God has made us and dig a little deeper. I want us to look at God’s promises in the context in which they were written. Again, God doesn’t over promise and under deliver…, He’s a promises make, and by nature a promise keeper. I don’t know what your struggle is, but God does and He wants to see you through…, if, if we stop doing things in our own strength and give God time. Not a few minutes or a couple of days, but the rest of your life. And this happens when we see ourselves safe, “SAFE” in God’s hands. Plumb video – safe in my arms. https://youtube/watch?v=7jvEDmGweXo
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 21:36:21 +0000
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