Essentials Of Security

Essentials for Security - 2 Tim. 1:7

Illustrations:

God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.

Martin Luther.

Definition of God’s sufficiency:arkeo

To have enough, to be content with, to raise up a banner against all attackers. To have sufficient strength to accomplish God’s will. To give one all that is necessary for life and godliness in Christ. (2 Pet. 1:3,4; 2 Cor. 12:9,10)

Faith in God makes great optimists. Over in Burma, Judson was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole. A fellow prisoner said, "Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?", with a sneer on his face. His instant reply was, "The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God."

The Presbyterian Advance.

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Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.

Oswald Chambers in Run Today’s Race.

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When I was research head of General Motors and wanted a problem solved, I’d place a table outside the meeting room with a sign: Leave slide rules here. If I didn’t do that, I’d find someone reaching for his slide rule. Then he’d be on his feet saying, "Boss, you can’t do it."

Charles F. Kettering in Bits & Pieces, Dec, 1991, p. 24.

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A man lives by believing something, not by debating and arguing about many things.

Thomas Carlyle.

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Faith understands that God intervenes in the natural course of events; on the other hand, if the natural course of events should happen to answer prayer--that which we call a coincidence--faith still believes God is present.

Brett Blair.

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David, a 2-year old with leukemia, was taken by his mother, Deborah, to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to see Dr. John Truman who specializes in treating children with cancer and various blood diseases. Dr. Truman’s prognosis was devastating: "He has a 50-50 chance." The countless clinic visits, the blood tests, the intravenous drugs, the fear and pain--the mother’s ordeal can be almost as bad as the child’s because she must stand by, unable to bear the pain herself. David never cried in the waiting room, and although his friends in the clinic had to hurt him and stick needles in him, he hustled in ahead of his mother with a smile, sure of the welcome he always got. When he was three, David had to have a spinal tap--a painful procedure at any age. It was explained to him that, because he was sick, Dr. Truman had to do something to make him better. "If it hurts, remember it’s because he loves you," Deborah said. The procedure was horrendous. It took three nurses to hold David still, while he yelled and sobbed and struggled. When it was almost over, the tiny boy, soaked in sweat and tears, looked up at the doctor and gasped, "Thank you, Dr. Tooman, for my hurting."

The majority of Americans spend much of their lives working to build security. People spend billions of dollars on medical, home-owners and life insurance to assure their families of provisions for any eventuality. However, the Bible teaches us that ultimate security is in the Lord and His word. People who look to God for their safety, help and security can live in His impregnable fortress. David wrote, "The Lord is my refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble. Therefore, I will not fear, though the earth give way.. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the most High dwells." (Psa 46:1-4) God is our river of life that provides us with all we need to feel secure. He supplies us with His all sufficient grace that helps replace our fear with His power, love and self-discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7)The Spirit of God must be in total control of all facets of our life if we are to be truly secure. When we learn to appropriate the rich resources we have in the Holy Spirit we are able to replace all feelings of insecurity with His security. Let us look at how He gives us greater security, assurance and confidence in His reliability when we are facing feelings of trouble.

Illustration: A famous Methodist evangelist named Peter Cartwright was known for his uncompromising preaching. However, one day when the President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, "Old rough and ready," came to Cartwright’s church, the elders warned the Pastor not to offend the President. In those days, the President had great power to influence a denomination for good or bad. Content, that their Pastor would not say anything to discredit their church, the elders retired to the back of the sanctuary. When Cartwright got up to speak, the first words out of his mouth were, "I understand that President Andrew Jackson is here this morning. I have been requested to be very guarded in my remarks. Let me say this: "Andrew Jackson will go to hell if doesn’t repent of his sin!" The entire congregation gasped with shock at Cartwright’s boldness. How could this young preacher dare to offend the tough old general in public, they wondered. After the service, everyone wondered how the President would respond to Cartwright. When Andrew Jackson met the preacher at the door he looked at him in the eye and said, "Sir, If I had a regiment of men like you, I could conquer the world!" When we appreciate the power of the word of God and the Holy Spirit speaking from the lips of people with conviction we will make eternal differences.