A sermon by Ray Sommer
Today I have a message to share with you, a message which, I pray, will help all who facing some difficult times.
There are people, I know, who are facing cancer. I knew of 3 such people through my work situation. One was a professor of economics, an atheist, who was absolutely devastated, and who seemed to have lost all zest for living as he faced one test after the other.
The other 2 people were actually workers in the factory, Roman Catholic ladies, who were facing as many hurdles as the professor but they were exhibiting a calm, trusting and hopeful attitude.
We all face challenges and difficulties every. day. They are different for each person, but we all face trials. No one is immune. It could be unemployment, marital problems, problems with children, Health problems, you name it. The question is: how do. we respond to our problems in life?
Do you. remember the author George Bernard Shaw? He often received criticism for his work. At one time after such he told the critic: "I agree with you perfectly! But what are we against so many?" He sure turned it around! - Likewise a former football coach at Yale University in the USA once said: "when you are being run out of town, get closer to the head of the line of people chasing you and look as if you are leading the parade."
Today I want to share with you briefly how we can all cope with our difficulties and problems by holding. on to the great promises which we have of God. Hold on to hope.
You know that David from the Old Testament had to deal a lot of difficulties and frustrations. There were many occasions when he could have lost hope. Just imagine: he was anointed by Samuel to be King of Israel, and yet he had to be scared for his life. He constantly had to flee from Soul. For 10 years he was in the wilderness. The man who had been appointed and anointed by God to be king was running for his life. Yet he held on to hope. I want to share with you 4 things we can do, so that we too, can cope with hope.
1. BELIEVE IN GOD'S PROMISES. 2. BELIEVE IN GOD'S PROTECTION. 3. BELIEVE IN GOD'S POSSIBILITIES AND 4. BELIEVE IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE
1. BELIEVE IN GOD'S PROMISES
God is faithful. He will never let US down. We let HIM down. St Paul says in 1 Cor.1:9, "God who has called you. into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord is FAITHFUL". In 1 Cor 10:13 he says.. "God is FAITHFUL, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength." And in l Thess.5:24 we read: "The One who calls you is FAITHFUL." The Bible is full of God's promises to us, and they are dependable. We can trust His promises. He cares about us and loves us. He has a plan for everyone's life.
However hopeless or awful our current situation may appear to be to us, hold on. Economically speaking, businessmen and farmers know all about that! And yet, God will see us through. Failure or disaster is never final. On the other hand, success is never certain either. The main thing is: keep on keeping on. Don't lose hope or you'll end up like that professor. Even in adversity, we can grow and learn, and our mental and spiritual capacity can be enlarged. You can be the person you want to be by holding on to your hope, by holding on to the promises of God (as an old hymn says.)
2. BELIEVE IN GOD'S PROTECTION
In Ps.23 it says in verse 4: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME." God protects us in many ways, especially through our laws. And in most Western countries these are based on His Laws: the 10 commandments Some people think these laws are there to keep them from having a good time. That may be true for the criminal mind. But for us? No! God's Laws are His way of protecting us, like the railing on a balcony or a mountain lookout.
Up in the Blue Mountains, near Mt.Victoria. is a lookout without a railing. Whenever I have been there, I was actually too scared to go too close to the edge, in case I should fall down the cliff. On the other hand, at the Three Sisters there are solid barriers, and we can go really close and even look straight down.
This proves that in actual fact the barrier really gives us more room to move than the open set-up at Mt.Victoria. I feel safe with a railing.
It is the same with God. He gave us His Laws to protect us. They allow us to go to the edge", as it were. They give us the freedom to do as much as God wants us to do.
3. BELIEVE IN GOD'S POSSIBILITIES
Nothing is impossible with God. Jesus said in Matt 19:26 :"with God all things are possible" and again in Mk 9:23 :"everything is possible for him who believes." God's plans are always bigger than ours, To us they may seem impossible, but we must believe in God's possibilities.
The late Auguste Pichard (+1962) made a balloon flight in 1923, long before jetliners and rockets. He managed to climb up to 52,000 ft i.e. approx.15 km. Some years after that he decided to go the other way. He just loved adventure. He built a special submarine, called a Bathysphere, and dived into the lowest part of the ocean, the Marianas Trench, 10 km below sea level. When he reached bottom he turned an outside light on and, beleive it or not, he saw a fish. There was life in this darkest, bleakest spot on earth. There is life, because God is there. It proved the truth of the ancient Psalm 139, verse 8: "If I go up to the heavens You are there. If I make my bed in the depths you are there." There is just no place on this earth, where we might go, where God is not present. The possibilities of God are beyond our wildest imagination. So hold on to hope by believing in the PROMISES of God, by believing in the PROTECTION of God, by believing in God's POSSIBILITIES, and
4. BELIEVING IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE.
After years of living or the run in the wilderness and believing in God's promises, protection and possibilities, Gods providence came true in the life of David He had been anointed King of Israel such a long time before. He had held on to hope. And because he held on, the providence of God became a reality in his life. God's plan was made complete. The plans God has for our lives will be complete, too. We will come to His throne, to the kingship He has for our life, when we hold on to hope.
You MUST believe in God's providence for your life. No matter how dreadful things may look at any one time. He won't let us go. It is up to us to accept His presence and His Lordship of our life.
Even. if we veer off at times, we can come back to Jesus instantly. It is through God's providence that we are here today. It is through His providence that you heard this message today. And it is through His providence that you will hear the call to come back to Him, if you have strayed away.
Today. Tomorrow. Forever, Believe in Gods providence for your life, and accept His calling, because He is faithful. He is good.
Let us pray: O Lord, we. thank you for this call
that you have given us to, come back to life.
You care about us. You have a plan for our life.
So, open our hearts and our minds, Lord, that we might see
the reality of your goodness taking place in our lives.
We ask this in Jesus' precious name. AMEN