Sermon Illustrations

MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS

This was told by a missionary who was active in China when the country was taken over by communists. The missionary was arrested and subjected to severe questioning and mental torture. Throughout the procedure he would continually utter a quotation from Psalm 31:15, “My times are in your hands.”

In what he describes as his “final ordeal,” he was offered a knife and tempted to take his own life. He responded, “My times are in your hands.” He reports, “The screaming voice of the interrogator demanded to know where the words came from and he threw a Bible before his victim. The Bible fell open at Psalm 31. In the midst of this open Bible was the very quote the missionary had been saying all along: My times are in your hands. This was too much for the superstitious interrogator who fled the room.” The missionary was then released and allowed to go home. The interrogator did not come to saving faith as far as we know, but he clearly was convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons

  • Into The Wilderness Series

    Contributed by Chris Kelly on Jul 5, 2012
    based on 4 ratings
     | 20,606 views

    What I at first thought was a dry and boring book with no relevance to my life, turned out to be one of the most profound and exciting books in the bible, with full of application to my life! Learn how to make it through the "wilderness" of this life suc

  • Intimacy With God In Psalm 139

    Contributed by Rod Galindo on May 3, 2011
    based on 4 ratings
     | 17,504 views

    In Psalm 139 we learn that we feel uncomfortable knowing that God knows us completely, even our dirty laundry, and we tend to want to hide from God, but through Christ we are righteous and we can rest in being in an intimate relationship with God.

  • Keep Trusting In The Lord! Series

    Contributed by Rick Crandall on Apr 4, 2020
    based on 1 rating
     | 11,459 views

    We should always trust in the Lord: 1. Because He cares when we are confused (vs. 16-19). 2. Because He fully knows the future (vs. 16, 19-20). 3. Because He will take you through your troubles (vs. 20). 4. Because He can totally transform your life (vs. 20-22).

  • God Sees Everything Series

    Contributed by Paul Clemente on May 16, 2011
    based on 1 rating
     | 11,363 views

    God sees every detail of what goes on including all our troubles; who else can we go to?

  • God Is All Knowing Series

    Contributed by Frederick Baker Ii on Jan 16, 2008
    based on 4 ratings
     | 10,055 views

    This is the sixth part of an on going series that has not yet been completed yet.