#3 It Is Pretty Dark Out There? Series

#3 IT IS PRETTY DARK OUT THERE?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

This is part three of a 4 part lesson.

I do this lesson in 2 parts. I conclude with part #5 Light/LAMP

I use a SAND HOUR GLASS, as the sands of time, so are the DAYS OF OUR

LIFES?

There are four groups of people:

1. Those that are getting ready for a dark night, a day of trouble...

2. Those that are coming out of a day of trouble...

3. Those that are currently in a day of trouble...

4. Those that seem to be in a continual day of trouble...

In times of darkness our imaginations can run wild.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I. ONCE WHEN MY SON WAS VERY LITTLE HE WAS VERY CONCERNED... THE

SUN WAS GOING DOWN, AND HE SAID: DAD, WHAT IF THE SUN WILL NOT COME

UP IN THE MORNING ---

WE KNOW THE SUN WILL SHINE AGAIN... NO MATTER HOW DARK THE NIGHT...

A. Dark nights and fiery trials are part of life.

We must trust God in the dark night, just as we trust him in the bright SONSHINE...

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

B. He that teaches we can bypass TROUBLE has much to learn..

Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Job 38:23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

C. God loves us and every dark night is an OPPORTUNITY.

Psalm 9:9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

II. TROUBLE IS OFTEN THE MEANS GOD USES TO DELIVER HIS PEOPLE.

WE OFTEN CRY--- WHY? WHY THIS DARK NIGHT?

GOD USES DARK NIGHTS, AFFLICTIONS, TROUBLES, SORROWS, CROSSES

AND THE ROD TO GROW DELIVERANCE...

A. We face two kinds of battles:

1. From without

2. From within...

Psalm 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

B. What God does not keep us from---

HE KEEPS US THROUGH...

Neh. 9:27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven;

and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

C. Why can’t we have all sunshine? Life would be a desert!

Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Psalm 41:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

D. God’s plan is not to exempt us from the long dark nights,

God’s plan teaches faith, hope and love...

2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

III. HOW DARK IS IT IN THE BELLY OF A GREAT FISH OR A WHALE?

IF JONAH HAD A BIC LIGHTER --- I AM SURE THE LIGHTER QUIT BURNING LIGHT?

Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

A. TALK ABOUT PAYING THE FARE? Jonah knew he had clear orders from God... NINEVAH IS THAT WAY --- TARSHISH IS THAT WAY --- ????

B. TARSHISH IS A TYPE --- A DESIRE TO DO GOD’S WORK OUR WAY?

Jonah 1:6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

C. YOU TALK ABOUT THREE DARK DAYS AND THREE DARK NIGHTS?

Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

D. Jonah knew: YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE LIGHT TO TOUCH GOD...

Jonah 2:1 Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,