I Thought I Was Wrong, But I Was Mistaken

I Thought I Was Wrong, But I Was Mistaken

July 20, 2008

Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction

Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court, the trucking company’s fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn’t you say, at the scene of the accident, ’I’m fine’?," questioned the lawyer.

Farmer Joe responded, "Well I’ll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the..."

"I didn’t ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, ’I’m fine’!"

Farmer Joe said, "Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..."

The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question."

By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe’s answer and said to the lawyer, "I’d like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie."

Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn’t want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans. Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?"

It was then that I said, "I’m fine."

Today, no need to say or lie "I’m fine". We are not fine. We have been touched by death, because of sin.

B Dominos (mistakes) fall, sets up a chain reaction.

I Mistakes caused by panic.

A Panic mistakes are ones made when we get in a hurry, or when were afraid that something is going to happen.

1 The Station nightclub fire on the evening of Thursday, February 20, 2003, was the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history,

a The Station, which regularly hosted glam metal and 1980s rock bands, was a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. That night, the headlining band was Great White, of which a member perished in this fire.

aa A few seconds into the concert, a pyrotechnics caught the stage on fire, and within minutes the stage was engulfed in flames.

bb Four exits, one blocked by a camera man/equipment.

cc Panic set in as everyone rushed the front entrance.

b Killing 100 people and injuring more than 200. (Ninety-six perished on the night of the fire, and four died later from their injuries at local hospitals.)

2 We get worried that God is not control . . . so out of panic we take control.

a God promises us that He is in control.

aa Ecc. 2.26; Ps. 57.2; 84.11

bb Phil. 4.19

B Abraham is a case study on the panic mistake.

1 God had called him to leave his homeland and go to the land where he would be blessed and posses.

a Gen. 12.2-3, 7-9

aa "I WILL" (4x’s) Give you land, great nation, name, blessing that will spread through the world.

bb Abraham could get all of these "I WILL," but he had to step out in faith.

b He gets to the land and sets up an alter . . . and then v.10.

aa God . . . we’re hungry, thirsty, crops & cattle are sick and dying . . .

bb Instead of waiting/trusting God . . . he leaves. (blessing/promise)

cc As he left in panic, he literally had to turn his back on God’s promise of provision.

c Abraham keeps on panicking and lies about his wife Sara to border patrol. aa(Concubine of Pharaoh)

bb He tears his family apart all because he panicked and took control instead of waiting on God.

2 Husbands, if you are out of the will of God, you can bring untold trouble to your wife (& family.)