If Series

Pt. 2 - IF

Introduction

It has been said and sung that talk is cheap. In our day and age it seems that is certainly true. Anyone can publish a book. Anyone can sit behind the anonymity of a keyboard and type out words that thousands can read and even believe. However, just because it is now cheap to talk doesn't mean the power of words are diminished. Words matter! Words are powerful! I am surrounded by words today and in a library, like this one, words are categorized. There are groups of words that fit into categories such as biographies, mystery, romance, reference and many others. The section I am in now is a very specific section. I can tell you, with apologies to my Star Wars fan friends, this section is not one that I am a fan of. This is the fiction section. However, although I am not a fan of this section, I can tell you who the biggest fan of fiction is in the entire universe. The devil absolutely loves fiction. As I mentioned last week, I believe it is essential to figure out what words the enemy has in his dictionary so that we can learn to discern when he is talking. I also mentioned that I believe he tends to only use a few words that he leverages over and over again simply because they are so effective.

I want us to look at one of the smallest words and most common words the enemy uses against us. It is so small it would seem to be insignificant and unnoteworthy. It would seem to be harmless and yet it has correctly been said dynamite comes in small packages. This tiny word is full of spiritual kryptonite. What it lacks in size it makes up for in destructive power. This little and devastating can undo faith, tenacity, determination, joy, and peace in mere moments. It is used to breed discontentment. The reason it works is that it gets us to believe fiction as fact.

You have probably guessed by now that one of the favorite words in the devil's dictionary is the word . . . IF!

I believe you can go throughout Scripture and see the devil uses this word to destroy people. Adam - I would not have fallen if you had not given me this woman. Cain - if my brother is dead I will be accepted or at least he will be forgotten. Abraham and Sarah - if we take matters into our hands we will be happy. Jonah - if I run I can get away from God. Even in the New Testament - Peter - if I go back to fishing I can forget about that guy named Jesus. Over and over again if impacts people.

There is a particular passage in the New Testament that shows Jesus deal with "if". Rather than read the very familiar account to you, let me take you to the exact moment the enemy uses the word "if" to overpower faith.

Text: John 11:32

When Mary finally found Jesus outside the village, she fell at his feet in tears and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

The fiction in the "if" first used by Martha and then by Mary is found when you read between the lines. "If you had been here" Jesus reveals that these ladies believed for a fact that Jesus could heal sickness. However, they also believed the fiction that He was not stronger than death. "If you have been here" reveals they believe that Jesus has messed up. He has made a mistake. He has crossed a point of no return. He has missed a, no pun intended, deadline - ok maybe the pun was intended.

Just a small note here . . . notice that they were so caught up in the fictional world created by "if" that they miss the fact that the Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, King of Kings, the Son of God, the author of life itself is right there in front of them. Their "if" discounts His ability and authority!

I also want you to notice something else that is extremely important. I recognize that this may have just have been undocumented because in light of what just took place this seems less than newsworthy. However, notice that when Jesus blows up the "if" in Martha and Mary's life by calling their brother Lazarus to come out of the tomb there is no account that there was any celebration. That is exactly what "if" does to us. If you would do these things Jesus, then we would be better off and happier! Then when those things happen we discover that "if" was a lie and we move on to the next thing that is supposed to make us happier or better!