It Ain’t Over…until God Says…it’s Over

IT AIN’T OVER…UNTIL GOD SAYS…IT’S OVER

Rom. 8:28

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: “When Everything Goes Wrong”

1. A woman used her GPS mapping program to get to her accountant’s rural house and ended up far out in the country, lost & in the wrong spot.

2. She finally drove back to the highway on a dirt road, only to find herself in between an oversized truck and his escort car. The truck driver wasn’t pleased and passed her, and accidentally ran her off the road.

3. Annoyed, she pulled back on the road, only to find that she was now in between the oversized truck and his backend escort. Not wanting to be a part of this convoy any longer, she decided to pass all of them, hitting 85 mph.

4. That’s when she saw the lights of the police car & he pulled her over. At this point, she laughed. But the highway patrolman wasn’t laughing as he told her to hand over her driver’s license. She rummaged through her purse only to find that her wallet was missing.

5. With a smile, she informed the patrolmen that she didn’t have her driver’s license and told him her story. Luckily, he saw the humor of it and decided she’d had ‘one of those days.’ She eventually got off with a warning!

B. PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE

1. Just because things don’t work out exactly like we planned, doesn’t mean that God’s not at work in our lives. As William Cowper said, “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.” Sometimes our impossibilities are God’s ways of making Himself visible to us. I’m excited to serve the Living God!

2. God is so good! He’s faithful, He’s merciful, He’s just, He’s a loving God, He’s kind, He’s a provider, He’s a way-maker, He’s a deliverer & He’s a healer!

3. I’M HERE TO IGNITE YOUR FIRE, TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH, YOUR HOPE, & YOUR TRUST IN GOD. I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU.

C. ARE YOU EXPER. A HOPELESS SITUATION?

1. I’m here to tell somebody: “Don’t throw in the towel just yet.” Though it may appear that all hope is gone & that everyone else is finishing the race without you, It NOT Over!! Don’t give up just yet.

2. God has blessings for you that, if you don’t quit, you’ll see His promises come to pass in your life. “Don’t be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” Gal. 6:9.

3. Maybe your situation seems hopeless because of what your DOCTOR has said or because of your CIRCUMSTANCES. Hopeless situations don’t mean that God’s left you; on the contrary, God is at work in your life. Tell somebody- “God’s at work.”

D. TITLE & THESIS

The title of this message is, “IT AIN’T OVER…UNTIL GOD SAYS…IT’S OVER.”

I. PREMATURE SURRENDER

A. EXAMPLES OF HOPELESS SITUATIONS

1. JAIRUS thought it was over - his daughter was pronounced dead - but GOD hadn’t said it was over.

2. The LAME MAN at the pool of Bethesda thought it was over – (for 28 yrs.) he couldn’t get into the water; but it was NOT over with God!

3. Everyone thought it was over for DANIEL when he was thrown into the lion’s den, except God.

4. Nebuchadnezzar thought it was over for the THREE HEBREWS he threw into the fire, but how many of you know – IT WASN’T OVER!

5. JOB’s wife thought it was over and told him to curse God and die, but God wasn’t finished with him yet.

6. Ezekiel thought that ISRAEL – defeated & taken captive – looked like it was history; it was nothing but a Valley of Dry Bones. But God said “Prophesy Ezekiel!” – and Ezekiel watched as the bones scooted around & came together, and the nation rose again! IT AIN’T OVER UNTIL GOD SAYS IT’S OVER!

B. WHO SAID IT’S OVER?

1. Many times Satan has told God’s people “I’ve beat you” or “You’re a failure.” “You’ll never amount to anything.” In the Bible, the Enemy told:

2. Nehemiah, “You’ll never rebuild those ruins.” “Your strength is giving out – you’ll never finish what you’ve started” (4:10). “You’ll never see the attack coming and it will finish you off” (4:11). But God had different ideas.

3. The devil tells us, “America is over! Its best days are behind it. There’s NO WAY Revival can come!” But God can bring revival where no revival looks possible. The devil may say, “Your health is over;” “Your marriage is over;” “Your career is over!” But he’s a liar & the father of it!

4. “Did GOD say “It’s over?” If Satan says it, it’s probably a lie, because satan’s always lying. If God says something, that settles it. Our God is the God of miracles; all things are possible with Him!