Floods, Fires, And Faith

“Floods, Fire and Faith”

Isaiah 43:1-7

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee”

Introduction: Are you afraid to die? This is not a question that the majority of us are comfortable with. In fact, most of us would as just as soon not think about our mortality. I read a story about one man’s interest about death and a good answer from a Christian doctor.

WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE

ILL - A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." Very quietly the doctor said, "I don’t know." "You don’t know? You, a Christian man, does not know what is on the other side?" The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened he sprang in without fear." "I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough. And when the

door opens, I will pass through it with gladness, but with no fear."

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen!” (Heb. 11:1)

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I. Our Passage

a. Life is often characterized as a journey or a passage with a point of departure and a place of destination.

There is an old song that says;

“This world is not my home,

I just a passing through,

My treasures are laid up,

Somewhere beyond the blue.”

The truth is we are “just a passing through.” We are looking for a “better country” where God dwells!

b. We will have to pass through the water and the fire.

Notice He doesn’t say if but when. No one is immune from trials, tribulations, troubles and distresses in this life. These things affect us all. Jesus said:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

Job declared: “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Job 14:1.

c. We will experience powerful emotions

Notice also that He says “fear not.” Fear is a very powerful thing. Many live in constant fear; fear of past sins being found out, fear of what the future may hold; fear of illness, sickness, and disease; and ultimately the fear of dying.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

“Stress (fear) comes when we allow the many voices in life to drown out the only voice that really matters.”

FOR SAFETY’S SAKE . . . ( source unknown)

Do NOT ride in automobiles:

they cause 20% of all fatal accidents.

Do NOT stay home:

17% of all accidents do occur in home.

Do NOT walk on the streets or sidewalks:

14% of all accidents happen to pedestrians.

Do NOT travel by air, rail, or water:

6% of all accidents happen on these.

ONLY ... .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are related to previous physical disorders.

Hence, the safest place in the world for you to be;

at any time is church.

Bible study is pretty safe, too. The moral to this tale?

Go to church! IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

By Mary Southerland

II. Our Problems

a. The past

The “waters” and the “fire” have always been a challenge to the people of God. We can’t help but be reminded of the “waters” of the Red Sea with the Egyptians “hot on the heels” of God’s people and the “waters” of the Jordan, that they must cross to take possession of a land with giant grapes but also giant men! There is also the story of God’s children cast into the fiery furnace. They must bow to the great king’s image or burn. They wouldn’t bow; they wouldn’t bend; and they wouldn’t burn and don’t forget that fourth man they met in the fire! Move forward in time and you will find the blood of the martyrs running red as generations of believers in Christ who like a young missionary candidate named Bill Borden wrote in his journal, no return, no retreat and no regrets.