C. BOSTIAN WORST CASE SENARIO 4/21/02
I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A FACINATING LITTLE BOOK CALLED THE WORST
CASE SENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK.
IT IS A BESTSELLER. IT’S A MANUAL BASED ON INTERVIEWS FROM EXPERTS FROM
A VARIETY OF FIELDS. THE CHAPTER
HEADINGS READ SOMETHING LIKE THIS: (READ FROM BOOK) THIS BOOK SOLD OVER 1.5 MILLION COPIES. NOW SOMETIMES THE ADVICE IN THIS SURVIVAL MANUAL: WORST
CASE SENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK
IS PRETTY DEMANDING LIKE HOW TO SURVIVE IF YOUR PARACHUTE FAILS TO
OPEN. THE WRITER SAYS TO FIRST SIGNAL
TO A JUMPING COMPANION WHOSE CHUTE IS NOT YET OPEN THAT YOU ARE HAVING
TROUBLE. WHEN YOUR COMPANION AND NEW
BEST FRIEND GETS TO YOU HOOK ARMS TOGETHER.
YOU’LL BE FALLING A TERMINAL VELOCITY OR 130 MPH. NEXT, OPEN THE CHUTE, THE SHOCK WILL BE
SEVERE PROBABLY ENOUGH TO DISLOCATE OR BREAK YOUR ARMS. YOU MAY HIT THE GROUND SLOW ENOUGH TO ONLY
BREAK A LEG AND YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL ARE QUITE HIGH. SO LET ME TEST YOU THIS MORNING ON YOUR
SURVIVAL SKILLS: WHAT DO YOU DO IF
YOU’RE ATTACKED BY A HUNGRY MOUNTAIN LION? (LIKE THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU
BUT REMEMBER IT’S A WORST CASE SENARIO.
LIKE IT PROBABLY WON’T BUT IT COULD.
THE AUTHOR GIVES YOU FOUR CHOICES: A. RUN B. PLAY DEAD C. MAKE
YOURSELF LOOK BIGGER BY OPENING YOUR COAT
D. SING A GENTLE HAPPY SONG. NOW
JUST FOR MOMENT TELL YOUR WIFE OR THE
PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU YOUR ANSWER FROM THOSE 4 CHOICES. ANYBODY SAY: SING A GENTLE HAPPY
SONG………….YOU’RE WRONG. THE ANSWER IS C.
OPEN YOUR COAT AND MAKE YOURSELF LOOK BIGGER.
NOW HERE’S THE PRINCIPLE ON THE WORST CASE SENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK
THAT I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THIS MORNING:
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT CURVES CAN BE THROWN TO YOU BY LIFE. YOU JUST DON’T
KNOW. BUT YOU DO NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO
DO WHEN YOU’RE FACED WITH A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION. SO IN DANIEL CHAPTER 3 WERE GONNA LOOK AT SOME PEOPLE THAT GOT
INTO A WORST CASE SENARIO AND SEE HOW THEY HANDLED IT. BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT MIGHT HAPPEN
TO YOU. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
RESPOND? HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE LIKE THE
PEOPLE IN DAN.3.
Dan 3:1-26
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue
ninety feet high and nine feet wide and set it up on the Plain of Dura, in the
province of Babylon; 2 then he sent messages to all the princes, governors,
captains, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and rulers of all the
provinces of his empire, to come to the dedication of his statue. 3 When they
had all arrived and were standing before the monument, 4 a herald shouted out,
"O people of all nations and languages, this is the king's command: 5
"When the band strikes up, you are to fall flat on the ground to worship
King Nebuchadnezzars gold statue; 6 anyone who refuses to obey will immediately
be thrown into a flaming furnace." 7 So when the band began to play,
everyone-- whatever his nation, language, or religion-- fell to the ground and
worshiped the statue. 8 But some officials went to the king and accused some of
the Jews of refusing to worship! 9 "Your Majesty," they said to him,
10 "you made a law that everyone must fall down and worship the gold
statue when the band begins to play, 11 and that anyone who refuses will be
thrown into a flaming furnace. 12 But there are some Jews out there-- Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, whom you have put in charge of Babylonian affairs-- who
have defied you, refusing to serve your gods or to worship the gold statue you
set up." 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in a terrible rage, ordered Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in before him. 14 "Is it true, O
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego," he demanded, "that you are refusing
to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I set up? 15 I'll give you one
more chance. When the music plays, if you fall down and worship the statue, all
will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown into a flaming furnace
within the hour. And what god can deliver you out of my hands then?" 16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not
worried about what will happen to us. 17 If we are thrown into the flaming
furnace, our God is able to deliver us; and he will deliver us out of your
hand, Your Majesty. 18 But if he doesn't, please understand, sir, that even
then we will never under any circumstance serve your gods or worship the gold
statue you have erected." 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury and
his face became dark with anger at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He
commanded that the furnace be heated up seven times hotter than usual, 20 and
called for some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, and throw them into the fire.21 So they bound them tight with ropes
and threw them into the furnace, fully clothed. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot
fire in the furnace, the flames leaped out and killed the soldiers as they
threw them in! 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego fell down bound into the roaring flames. 24 But suddenly, as he
was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his
advisors, "Didn't we throw three men into the furnace?"
"Yes," they said, "we did indeed, Your Majesty." 25
"Well, look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound,
walking around in the fire, and they aren't
even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a god!"26 Then
Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the open door of the flaming
furnace and yelled: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most
High God! Come out! Come here!" So they stepped out of the fire.
AT THE CLOSE OF CHAPTER 2 KING NEBUCGADNEZAR IS ON THE VERGE OF
SALVATION AFTER DANIEL INTERPRETS THE KINGS DREAMS. BUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENS IN CHAPTER 3. HERE KING NEB. IS TRYING TO MAKE A SOCIETY
OF CAPTURED PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES AND LANGUAGES. HE IS DEALING THEN WHITH WHAT WE CALL TODAY
MULTI-CULTURALISM. AND SO HE DECIDES
WHAT ALL THESE DIVERSE PEOPLE NEED IN BABYLON IS UNITY. SOMETHING TO HOLD THEM TOGETHER SO THAT THEY
DON’T SPLIT APART BY ALL THESE FACTIONS.
NOW THERE’S NO BETTER WAY TO CREATE UNITY HE THINKS THAN BY CREATING A
FORCED COMMON RELIGION. SO THE KING
MAKES A STATUE AND COMMANDS ALL THE PEOPLE TO BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP IT WHEN THE
MUSIC BEGINS. THIS STATUE OF GOLD IS 90
FEET TALL AND 9 FEET WIDE. IT IS
EMMENCE AND OVERPOWERING. SO HE HAD
EVERY KIND OF INSTURMENT PLAYING WHEN HE INTRODUCED IT TO THE PEOPLE IN HIS
REALM. IT WOULD BE LIKE THE OPENING
CEREMONY OF AN OLYMPIC GAME. IT WOULD
BE AWESOME AND IT WOULD BE HELD JUST OUT OF TOWN IN THE PLAIN OF DURAH. AND THERE, THIS GREAT SEA OF PEOPLE WOULD
SEE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE GATHERING OF LEADERS FROM ALL THE PEOPLE AND ALL THE
CULTURES. IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH TO
COMPEL PEOPLE TO BOW DOWN, NEB. DECREED THAT FAILURE TO COMPLY WOULD GET YOU
THROWN INTO A FIREY FURNANCE WHERE YOU WOULD BE BURNED ALIVE. WHAT A WAY TO TRY AN MOTIVATE YOU TO
WORSHIP, WE JUST TRY TO ENCOURAGE YOU BUT YOUR LIFE DOESN’T DEPEND ON IT, OR
DOES IT?
SO, SEE IF YOU CAN PICTURE THIS IN YOUR MIND THIS MORNING. A SEA OF PEOPLE GATHERED TOGETHER TO WORSHIP
A 90 FOOT STATUE OF GOLD. DAN.3:7 SAYS
LIT. THAT WHEN THE MUSIC BEGAN AND AS SOON A PEOPLE BEGAN TO HEAR THEY WERE
FALLING DOWN TO WORSHIP THE KINGS STATUE.
IT WAS A RACE TO SEE WHO COULD HIT THE GROUND FIRST. BUT THROUGH THE CROWD THERE IS A TINY RIPPLE
OF NOISE UNTIL EVENTUALLY ITS HEARD OVER THE MUST AND FINALLY NOBODY’S LOOKING
AT THE STATUE OF GOLD ANY MORE BECAUSE AT THE FRONT OF THIS SEA OF PEOPLE ARE
THE 3 HIGHEST RANKING OFFICIALS IN BABYLON AND THEY’RE STILL STANDING. ONLY Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego ARE STANDING AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE ARE EATING
DIRT. AND IN AN ACT THAT SEEMS LIKE
MONUMENTAL COURAGE OR SUICIDAL FOLLY
THEY REFUSE TO BOW THE KNEE. NOBODY HAS
MUCH DOUBT AS TO WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT.
NOW THESE THREE MEN HAD POWERFUL ENEMIES WHO WERE EXTREMELY JEALOUS
BECAUSE OF THEIR PROMOTIONS IN NEB. KINGDOM. VERSE 8 OF CHAPTER 3 TELLS US THAT
THE SOME OF THE ASTROLOGERS WENT TO THE KING AND INFORMED ON THE JEWS. NOW THIS WORD INFORMED LT. MEANS TO DENOUNCE
THE JEWS. THAT WORD ALSO CONVEYS
INTENSE HOSTILITY. SO THESE BEAURCRATS
WILL DO ANYTHING TO REPLACE THESE 3 HEBREW LEADERS IN NEB’S KINGDOM. THEY ARE OUT TO GET THEM WHICH RESULTS IN A
WORST CASE SENARIO.
Dan 3:13-15
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in a terrible rage,
ordered Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego to be brought in before him. 14
"Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego," he demanded, "that
you are refusing to serve my gods or to
worship the gold statue I set up? 15 I'll
give you one more chance. When the
music plays, if you fall down and worship the
statue, all will be well. But
if you refuse, you will be thrown into a
flaming furnace within the hour.
And what god can deliver you out of my hands
then?"
HERE WE SEE THAT KING NEB. GIVES THEM ONE MORE CHANCE TO BOW DOWN TO THE
IMAGE OF GOLD. I WANT YOU TO NOTICE
WHAT NEB. SAID IN VERSE 15: “AND WHAT GOD WILL BE ABLE TO DELIVER YOU OUT OF MY
HANDS.” THAT IS CALLED A RHETORICAL
QUESTION. A RHETORICAL QUESTION MEANS THAT THE SPEAKER IS NOT REALLY LOOKING
FOR AN ANSWER OR INFORMATION. THEY ARE
MAKING A STATEMENT. PARENTS ARE FOND OF
RHETORICAL QUEATIONS LIKE: DO YOU WANT A SPANKING. AND NO CHILD EVER SAYS, WELL
I WAS GONNA PLAY SOME BASKETBALL BUT HEY THAT SOUND LIKE A LOT OF FUN. SO WHEN THE KING SAYS WHAT GOD CAN DELIVER
FROM MY HAND HE’S NOT LOOKING FOR A
NAME HE’S TELLING THESE 3 HEBREWS YOU ARE DEAD MEAT. BUT MUCH TO THE KINGS SURPRISE THESE T3 HEBREWS DON’T TREAT IT AS
A RHETORICAL QUESTION AT ALL. LOOK AT:
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we
are not worried about what will happen to us. 17 If we are thrown into the
flaming furnace, OR WE COULD PUT IN THERE: IF YOU DON’T HEAL MY BABY, IF I
DON’T GET THAT JOB, IF YOU DON’T DELIVER ME FROM MY FINANCIAL DELEMA, our God is able to deliver us; and he will
deliver us out of your hand, Your Majesty. 18 But if he doesn't, please
understand, sir, that even then we will never under any circumstance serve your
gods or worship the gold statue you have erected."
HERE’S A VERY REMARKABLE STATEMENT OF FAITH THAT DANIEL MADE: HE SAID
OUR GOD IS ABLE TO SAVE US FROM YOUR HAND O KING. THAT IS A POWERFUL STATEMENT THAT WEE NEED TO PROCLAIM IN THIS
AGE OF UNCERTAINITY IN WHICH WE LIVE.
IN YOUR WORST CASE SENARIO WE NEED TO DECLARE THAT OUR GOD IS ABLE!
THE ANT AND THE CONTACT LENS = GOD IS ABLE
Mark 10:27
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With
men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Jer 32:27
27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all
flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
Eph 3:20-21
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages,
world without end. Amen.
2 Tim 1:12
12 For the which cause I also suffer these
things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against
that day.
Heb 7:25
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to
the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them.
Jude 1:24-25
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with
exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
WE COULD GO AROUND THIS ROOM THIS MORNING AND HEAR TESTIMONY AFTER
TESTIMONY THAT GOD IS ABLE. GOD IS ABLE
TO RESTOR BROKEN MARRIAGES. GOD IS ABLE
TO LIBERATE PEOPLE FROM ADDICTION. THE
GOD WE SERVE IS ABLE TO HEAL OUR BODIES.
THE GOD WE SERVE IS ABLE TO FORGIVE THE GREATEST SIN AND GOD IS ABLE TO
MEET OUR GREATEST NEED AND HE’S DONE THAT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE THIS
MORNING. WE CAN ALL SAY THAT GOD IS
ABLE! HE IS ABLE TO GUIDE WITH
SUPERNATURAL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING.
GOD IS ABLE TO SOFTEN THE HARDEST HEART AND BRING THE TOUGHEST PRODIGAL
TO REPENTANCE. THE GOD WE SERVE IS
ABLE, BUT WATCH: THESE THREE HEBREW MEN DON’T STOP WITH OUR GOD IS ABLE. THEY MAKE THE MOST POWERFUL STATEMENT OF
DEVOTION TO GOD. THESE THREE YOUNG MEN
ARE DEVOTED TO GOD, THEY’RE EXCILED IN A FOREIGN LAND, THEY SERVE GOD AS BEST
THEY CAN AND THEY DISPLAY GREAT COURAGE.
BY READING THROUGH THE BOOK OF DANIEL WE CAN SEE THE GREAT THINGS GOD
DID FOR THEM. THEY ARE PROMOTED TO
POSITIONS OF PROMINENCE IN BABYLON.
THEN THEY HEAR THIS EDICT FROM THE KING THAT THIS MUST BOW DOWN TO THIS
STUPID GOD OF GOLD. THEY ARE REMINDED
FROM THE SCRIPTURE THEY MUST NOT GIVE
THEIR DEVOTION TO ANY OTHER GOD THAN THE GOD HEAVEN. SURELY THEY MUST HAVE PRAYED THE NEB. WOULD COME TO HIS SENSES
AND REVOKE THIS EDICT, BUT HE DIDN’T
SURELY THEY PRAYED THAT THE EDICT WOULDN’T BE ENFORCED, BUT IT WAS. AND SURELY THEY PRAYED THAT BECAUSE OF
DANIEL’S INFLUENCE WITH NEB. THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE WOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS
EDICT, BUT THEY WEREN’T. NOT ONE OF
THESE PRAYERS WAS ANSWERED. NOW Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ARE
FACING THEIR WORST CASE SENARIO. THEY
NOW REALIZE THAT EVERY DOOR TO ESCAPE HAS BEEN CLOSED. COULD WE SAY THEIR PARACHUTE HAS NOT
OPENED? AND IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE ITS
GOING TO EITHER.
6 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied,
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not worried about what will happen to us. 17 If
we are thrown into the flaming furnace, our God is able to deliver us; and he
will deliver us out of your hand, Your Majesty. 18 But if he doesn't, please
understand, sir, that even then we will never under any circumstance serve your
gods or worship the gold statue you have erected."
DON’T MISS IT KING, OUR GOD IS ABLE AND HE CAN STILL RESCUE US OUT OF
YOUR FIREY FURNACE. THE GOD WHO DRWONED
PHARAOH’S ARMIES AND CAST DOWN JERICOH’S WALLS IS STILL ABLE. OUR GOD CAN STILL RESCUE US. THE GOD WHO OPENED THE RED SEA AND BACKED UP
THE SUN TEN DEGREES AND MADE IT STAND STILL FOR JOSHUA AND OPENED THE WOMB OF A
90 YEAR OLD WOMAN AND GAVE CONCEPTION THROUGH A 100 YRS OLD MAN IS ABLE. BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT WE’VE ALREADY MADE
UP OUR MINDS FOR A WORST CASE SENARIO: THAT WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR GOD’S OR
WORSHIP YOUR GOLDEN IMAGE. WE WILL
MARCH TO OUR DEATH SINGING HYMNS OF PRAISE TO THE ONLY GOD WE WILL EVER
SERVE. THE GOD WHO HAS RAISED HIS SON
FROM THE DEAD AND HAS ORDAINED THIS WORK IN ABERDEEN AND HAS GIVEN TO ALL OF
YOU ETERNAL LIFE: OUR GOD IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING, ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL WE ASK
OR THINK. BUT MY CHALLENGE THIS MORNING
IS A WORST CASE SENARIO THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO FACE. AND I’M ASKING YOU THIS MORNING: WHAT IF HE DOES NOT ANSWER T
YOUR PRAYER THE WAY YOU WANT HIM TO? IS
YOUR DEVOTION TO GOD CONTINGENT ON JUST GETTING FROM GOD WHAT YOU WANT? WELL, THEN WHAT ABOUT WHEN HE DOES NOT. I DON’T KNOW IF I HAVE EVER HEARD THIS
PRESENTED IN A MESSAGE. WHAT ABOUT JOB?
WHO REFUSED TO DISHONOR GOD INSPITE OF INTENSE SUFFERING AND THE ADMONITION OF
HIS CLOSEST ALLI HIS WIFE WHO SAID:
Job 2:7-10
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of
the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his
crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape him-self withal; and he sat down
among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine
integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of
the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and
shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Day after day went by of intense suffering AND
HE DIDN’T HAVE A BIBLE OR A PROMISE BOOK.
HE DIDN’T HAVE A PRAYER DEVOTIONAL GUIDELINE ON PHYSICAL HEALING. HE DIDN’T HAVE A TEAM OR EVER A REAL FRIEND
WHO COULD PRAY FOR HIM. HE DIDN’T HAVE
ANYTHING. BUT HE STILL REFUSES TO DISHONOR GOD INSPITE OF NOT HAVING A HANDLE
ON WHY. HE SAID:
Job 13:15-16
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in
him: but I will maintain
mine
own ways be-fore him.16 He also shall be my salvation:
for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
NOW WE LEARN FROM THE BOOK OF JOB THAT GOD WAS BRAGGING ABOUT THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JOB. HE SAID TO SATAN,
THERE ISN’T A MAN ON THE EARTH THAT IS A GOOD AS JOB. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT JOB NEVER HEARD THAT
CONVERSATION. HE’S LEFT IN THE DARK TO
WONDER WHY ALL THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO HIM. I’M SURE HE PRAYED AND ASKED FOR GOD’S PROTECTION AND CARE OVER
HIS FAMILY AND BUSINESSES. I’M SURE HE
BELIEVED THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO HEAL HIM AND BRING RESTORATION, BUT HE DID
NOT. HE SAID, THOUGH HE SLAY ME I WILL
STILL TRUST HIM: OR ALTHOUGH HE DOES NOT ANSWER MY PRAYER I WILL STILL LOVE HIM
AND DEVOTE MY LIFE TO HIM.
AMERICAN CHARISMATICS ARE BIG ON GOD IS ABLE, YES, GOD IS ABLE. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF HE DOES NOT ANSWER YOUR
PRAYER THE WAY YOU WANT HIM TO. WILL
YOU STILL BE FAITHFUL? WILL YOU STILL
DO THE RIGHT THING? WILL YOU STILL BE
FULLY DEVOTED TO GOD? WE FIND PEOPLE IN
THE BIBLE WHO WILL DO THE RIGHT THING EVEN IF GOD DOES NOT ANSWER THEIR
PRAYER. ONE SUCH PERSON WAS ESTHER:
Esth 3:12-13
12 Two or three weeks later, Haman called in
the king's secretaries and
dictated letters to the governors and
officials throughout the empire, to each
province
in its own languages and dialects; these letters were signed in the
name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with his
ring. 13 They were then sent by messengers into all the provinces of the
empire, decreeing that the Jews-- young
and old, women and children-- must all be
killed on the 28th day of February
of the following year and their property
given to those who killed them.
Esth 4:15-16
15 Then Esther said to tell Mordecai: 16
"Go and gather together all the
Jews of Shushan and fast for me; do not eat
or drink for three days, night or day; a
nd I and my maids will do the same; and then,
though it is strictly forbidden,
I will go in to see the king; and if I
perish, I perish."
LET ME GIVE YOU THE LOW DOWN ON WHAT’S HAPPENNING HERE. HAMAN IS OUT TO GET MORDECAI BECAUSE HE IS
JEALOUS. SO HE INFLUENCES THE KING TO
SIGN AN EDICT TO KILL ALL THE JEWS. NOW
THE KING DOESN’T KNOW THAT HIS WIFE ESTHER IS AND EXCILED AND ORPHANED JEW BUT
SHE DOES. HER UNCLE MORDECAI HAS HELPED
HER GAIN HER POSITION AS QUEEN.
HOWEVER, SHE DOESN’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO TO THE KING ANY TIME SHE WANTS
TO, SHE HAS TO BE SUMMONED. IF SHE GOES
ON HER OWN AND THE KING DOESN’T EXTEND HIS SECPTER TO HER SHE DIES. SO ESTHER PRAYS FOR GOD’S FAVOR BUT IS
WILLING TO RISK IT ALL TO SAVE HER PEOPLE FROM EXECUTION. SHE GOES INTO THE KING, KNOWING THAT GOD IS
ABLE BUT DOESN’T KNOW IF HE WILL OR NOT.
SHE DOES THE RIGHT THING EVEN THOUGH IT MAY COST HER, HER LIFE. DON’T THINK YOU’RE GONNA BE RUBBING
SHOULDERS WITH ESTHER IF YOU’RE BOWING THE KNEE TO EVERYTHING THAT’S GOING
AROUND. NO, THIS IS EXTORDINARY
COURAGE. SHE SAID, I KNOW WHAT GOD IS
ABLE TO DO, I’VE HAD A GOOD MENTOR. I
KNOW WHAT WORD OF GOD HAS BEEN REVEALED THUS FAR AND I’M CONFIDENT IN MY
GOD. SO I’M GOING INTO THE KING AND IF
I PERISH I PERISH BUT I’M GONNA RISK IT ALL.
1 Cor 3:10-15
10 According to the grace of God which is
given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another
buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For
other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall
declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every
man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he
shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
I’M SURE THERE WERE BALCK PREACHERS IN THE SOUTH DURING THE DAYS OF THE
KKK WHO WERE NOT WILLING TO LAY IT ALL DOWN TO STAND AGAINST THEM. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAS AND TOOK A
BULLET TO FIGHT THE CAUSE AGAINST RACISM.
OUR GOD IS ABLE, BUT WHAT IF HE DOESN’T, ARE YOU WILLING TO LAY YOUR
LIFE DOWN AND DO THE RIGHT THING, THE HONORABLE THING? WE’LL FIND OUT WHAT YOU’RE BUILDING YOUR
LIFE ON WHEN YOUR FACED WITH A WORST CASE SENARIO. IT’S NOT YOUR HAIR BUN OR YOUR DENOMINATION OR YOU SOCIAL STATUS
THAT WILL GET YOU THROUGH WITH FLYING COLORS BUT AN UNDYING FAITH IN A GOD WHO
IS WELL ABLE BUT MIGHT NOT FOP REASONS UNKNOWN TO US. THEN WE’LL FIND THE BEDROCK OF WHAT YOU’RE BUILT ON.
Jer 32:17-22
17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the
heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is
nothing too hard for thee:
18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto
thousands, and recompensest the
iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of
their children after them: the Great,
the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his
name, 19 Great in counsel, and
mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon
all the ways of the sons of men:
to give every one according to his ways, and
according to the fruit of his doings:
20 Which hast set signs and wonders in the
land of Egypt, even unto this day,
and in Israel, and among other men; and hast
made thee a name, as at this day;
21 And hast brought forth thy people Israel
out of the land of Egypt with signs,
and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and
with a stretched out arm, and
with great terror; 22 And hast given them
this land, which thou didst swear
to their fathers to give them, a land flowing
with milk and honey;
LET ME ADD SOME CLARIFICATION HERE THIS MORNING. I HAVE NEVER PRAYED FOR THE SICK, THE
OPPRESSED OR THE POSSESSED WITHOUT BELIEVEING THAT GOD WAS ABLE AND THAT GOD
WOULD IN FACT FULFILL HIS PROMISES. WE
MUST FACE EVERY MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY WITH THAT MINDSET EVEN AS JAMES ENCOURAGES
US TO DO.
James 1:5-8
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth
is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that
man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his
ways.
THERE ARE MANY IN THE MINISTRY TODAY WHO HAVE REMAINED FAITHFUL TO GOD
EVEN THOUGH THEIR CHILD DIDN’T RECEIVE THE HEALING THAT PRAYED FOR OR BELIEVED
FOR. THERE ARE MANY MINISTERS WHO ARE
SICK THEMSELVES WHO PRAY FOR THE SICK AND THEY ARE HEALED BUT THEY THEMSELVES
ARE NOT. FOR REASONS UNKNOW, THEY
BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ABLE, THEY SEEK WISE COUNSEL, THEY HAVE MIGHTY MEN OF GOD
PRAY FOR THEM BUT THEY ARE STILL NOT HEALED.
WHAT DO YOU DO THEN? MANY OF
THEM REMAIN JUST AS DEVOTED TO GOD EVEN THOUGH HE HAS NOT HEALED THEM. THAT IS OUTSTANDING AND EXEMPLARY
FAITH. IT’S LIKE THOSE RECORDED IN
HEB.11, THE FAITH CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE:
Heb 11:13-16
13 These men of faith I have mentioned died
without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all
awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not
their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. 14 And
quite obviously when they talked like that,
they were looking forward to their real home
in heaven. 15 If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good
things of this world. 16 But they
didn't want to. They were living for heaven.
And now God is not ashamed
to be called their God, for he has made a
heavenly city for them.
WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE PRAYED THOSE FOX HOLE TYPE PRAYERS: LORD IF
YOU’LL JUST HEAL ME, LORD IF YOU’LL JUST GET ME OUT OF JAIL, LORD IF YOU’LL
JUST HELP ME THROUGH THIS FINANCIAL SITUATION, LORD IF YOU’LL JUST HELP ME I’LL
SERVE YOU THE REST OF MY DAYS. BUT WILL
YOU SERVE HIM EVEN IF HE DOES NOT? WILL
YOU BE FULLY DEVOTED TO GOD IN A WORST CASE SENARIO EVEN IF HE DOES NOT ANSWER
YOUR PRAYER? WE’VE BEEN A CHURCH THAT
HAS GONE THROUGH A JEZEBEL AND A REBELLION OF 2/3 OF OUR CONGREGATION 5 YEARS
AGO AND GOD HAS STILL NOT ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS FOR FULL RESTORATION. SO WHAT DO WE DO. I DON’T SEE TOO MANY PTIONS HERE. WE KEEP PRAYING AND BELIEVING AND SERVING GOD. WE STAY DEVOTED TO HIM EVEN THOUGH HIS
ANSWER AT THIS TIME MIGHT BE: I WILL NOT.
WE KEEP PRESSING ON INSPITE OF SET BACK, FAILURE, FATIGUE AND UNANSWERED
PRAYER. WHY? CAUSE HE’S THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THE WORDS AND PROMISES OF
ETERNAL LIFE. WE DON’T COMPARE
OURSELVES TO ANYONE ELSE WE JUST SAT FOCUSSED ON GOD AND FULLY DEVOTED TO HIM!
THIS BOOK, THE WORST CASE SENARIO SURVIVOR HANDBOOK MAKES FOR A GOOD
COFFE TABLE BOOK BUT MOST OF THESE THINGS WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU. BUT IT COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY AND I WANT
TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT
I’M GONNA DO IF I GET CAUGHT IN A MESS LIKE THAT AND GOD DOES NOT ANSWER MY
PRAYER AND FULLY DELIVER ME.
Heb 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to
please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
FAITH IS THE ONE THING THAT PLEASES GOD AND WHEN YOU STAND BELIEVING
AND DOING THE RIGHT THING EVEN THOUGH GOD HAS NOT ANSWERED YOUR PRAYER YET; GOD
IS PLEASE WITH THAT. WHEN WE HAVE SOLD
OUT TO GOD AND POSSESS A MINDSET OF BEING FULLY DEVOTED TO GOD EVEN THOUGH HE
MAY NOT WE ARE STADNING ON THE THRESHOLD OF ACTIVATING A MIRACLE. BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR MIND MADE UP.
EVEN IF HE WILL NOT, I WILL BE FAITHFUL TO HIM AND DO THE RIGHT THING. NO HIDDEN AGENDAS WILL WORK HERE CAUSE GOD’S
TO SMART FOR THAT. IF YOU CAN THINK IT
UP HE ALREADY KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT. NO, WE
HAVE TO BE FULLY PERSUADED IN OUR OWN MIND AND FULLY DEVOTED TO HIM EVEN IF HE
DOES NOT. I WON’T BEND MY KNEE TO A GOD
OF GOLD. I’LL HONOR GOD WITH WHATEVER
HE’S GIVEN ME TO MY FULLEST DEVOTION.
Acts 5:40-42
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had
called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak
in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the
council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and
preach Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 2:20-21
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be
buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well,
and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For
even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that ye should follow his steps:
WE DON’T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT MARTYRS TODAY EXCEPT EXTREMIST TERRORISTS
WHO ARE DRIVING TRUCKS OR PLANES INTO BUILDINGS AND YET WE ARE CALLED TO BE
CHRIST’S MARTYRS. IN FACT THE WORD FOR
WITNESS COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD FOR MARTYR.
WE ARE LIVING IN A DAY AND AN AGE WHEN WE MUST SELL CHRISTIANITY TO
PEOPLE AS A MAJOR BENEFIT FOR THEIR LIFE. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LIVING FOR CHRIST, DYING TO SELF AND NOT
BOWING THE KNEE TO A GOD OF GOLD? WE
NEED TO BE PERSUADED, THAT IN A WORST CASE SENARIO, WE WILL SERVE GOD NO MATTER
WHAT. WE NEED TO SELL OUT TO GOD AND
DENY OURSELVES AND FOLLOW HIM. NOW MOST
LIKELY YOU’LL NEVER BE FACED WITH A LIFE OR DEATH WORST CASE SENARIO BUT YOU
NEED TO BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO GOD IN A RIGHT WAY. LET’S BOW THE KNEE TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN AND NOT THE GOD OF GOLD.