#2 REASSURANCE... God’s gift!
When fear tries to hinder, God will give us reassurance!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part#2 of a 2 part lesson.
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. When my sons were growing up and we would travel, we would often
sing. I had a Pinto station wagon and my two sons were singing up a storm.
I listened to them --- they were singing a familiar song ---
I just quietly listened as they sang: BLESSED INSURANCE --- JESUS IS MINE...
Now they are grown and are both POLICEMEN ---
I have often recalled those words: BLESSED INSURANCE --- JESUS IS MINE...
JESUS IS BETTER THAN INSURANCE AS HE BRINGS HIS PRECIOUS PEOPLE
BLESSED ASSURANCE.
B. DEFINE:
1. ASSURE:
Guarantee.
To inform POSITIVELY.
To make feel safe. To make sure or certain.
To give confidence.
2. REASSURE:
To assure ANEW.
To restore to CONFIDENCE.
C. ARE WE THINKING KIND THOUGHTS? WHAT IF WE LOOSE THE GAME? HAVE WE
LEARNED THAT THERE ARE THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THAT ARE PREPARING
US TO FULFILL VISIONS, DREAMS AND PURPOSE THAT OUR GOD HAS PLANNED FOR
OUR LIFE? SOMEONE NEEDS YOU TO REACH OUT OF YOUR BOX AND HELP!
Did you hear about SARA TUCHOLSKY? Sara Tucholsky played softball for Western
Oregon University. Western Oregon University was playing their rival team Central Oregon University.
Central Oregon University had a star first base player named MALLORY HOLTMAN. Mallory Holtman had many accomplishments while playing for Central. Mallory is the CAREER HOME RUN LEADER IN THE GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE.
In the game Central Oregon University had the lead over Western Oregon in the last inning. Western rallied and had two players on base when SARA TUCHOLSKY STEPPED TO HOME PLATE TO BAT. The first pitch was STRIKE ONE. The second pitch SARA SWUNG WITH ALL HER MIGHT AND HIT HER VERY FIRST CAREER HOME RUN.
Sara started running the bases and was celebrating her HOME RUN. Sara
rounded FIRST BASE and headed toward second when she noticed that she had not tagged first base. Sara turned around and returned to first base. Sara twisted her leg as she turned and seriously INJURED HER KNEE. The pain was so terrible, Sara CRAWLED back to first base. She realized she could not make it to HOME.
THE UMPIRES TOLD THE COACHING STAFF IF THEY TOUCHED SARA TUCHOLSKY
SHE WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED AND CALLED OUT. IF THE COACH CALLED TIME AND
USED A PINCH RUNNER SARA’S HOME RUN WOULD BE REDUCED TO A SINGLE AND
HER RUN WOULD NOT COUNT.
MALLORY HOLTMAN, the opposing teams first base player and the home run queen, stepped to the UMPIRE and ASKED PERMISSION THAT SOME OF HER
TEAM MATES WOULD CARRY SARA AROUND THE BASES? The Umpire said there
was nothing in the rule books was against that.
So MALLORY and ONE of her team members, the short stop --- LIZ WALLACE got under SARA’S ARMS and picked Sara up and carried her. They stopped at first base and allowed Sara to touch the base with her GOOD LEG. The three girls headed around the bases stopping at each one to allow Sara to touch the base with the good leg. Then MALLORY and LIZ would carry her to the next base.
WHEN MALLORY GOT SARA THE OPPOSING PLAYER TO HOME,
MALLORY SAID: "YOU DESERVE IT, YOU HIT THE BALL OVER THE FENCE!"
CENTRAL OREGON LOST THE GAME TO WESTERN OREGON. Central would
be eliminated from the SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT.
Three young women learned a great lesson about life. The crowd was
wildly cheering. The HOME RUN QUEEN CARRIED HER OPPONANT AROUND THE
BASES TO HER FIRST CAREER HOME RUN.
I DON’T KNOW MALLORY HOLTMAN OR LIZ WALLACE, BUT THEIR REFLECTION OF COMPASSION AND LOVE THAT MADE THEM REACH BEYOND THE PROBLEM AND
CAUSED THEM TO LOAN A SHOULDER TO CARRY THEIR RIVAL TEAM MEMBER.
Softball games are much like real life --- WE CAN DEMONSTRATE KINDNESS, COMPASSION AND SYMPATHY EVEN IF WE LOOSE THE GAME.
Are you kind? Do you have good attitudes?
Do you see the CHALLENGE before us? Are you BUILDING BETTER PEOPLE?
Adapted: Thanks Jerry Parritt for this lesson.
II. THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
AFTER GIDEON WAS REASSURED BY A HOLY GOD, HE COULD NOT CRY
OVER THE BROKEN PITCHER ... GIDEON’S 300 MEN WERE DIVIDED IN THREE
GROUPS OF ONE HUNDRED IN EACH GROUP. THEY HAD TO REJOICE IN THE GREAT LIGHT AROUND THE ENEMY’S CAMP.
A. O, THAT WE COULD SEE THE LORD!
O, THAT WE COULD REFLECT THE LIGHT OF JESUS IN THE DARKNESS
AROUND ABOUT US.
Judges 6:11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
GO IN THIS THY MIGHT,--- AND THEN GOD ---
Judges 6:14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
B. God loved Gideon. God called Gideon and God REASSURES GIDEON.
Judges 7:9 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.
Judges 7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies,
and he put a trumpet in every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps
within the pitchers.
C. FOR A WHILE THE LIGHT WAS HIDDEN BY AN EARTHEN PITCHER?
If the clouds are hiding the sun’s rays and you can’t see the sun, it is still there.
The pitcher may temporarily hide the light --- but there is coming...
GREAT LIGHT.
D. We must see beyond the sad case of the BROKEN PITCHER...
WHEN THE LIGHT IS RELEASED ---
THE TRUMPET CLEARLY AND LOUDLY SOUNDS...
THERE IS THE SOUND OF THE BROKEN PITCHERS ---
THERE IS 300 BURSTS OF LIGHT ---
E. THERE IS A SHOUT ---
THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND GIDEON...
The shout must go before the victory...
F. Look at Jericho, the march had been once a day for 6 days...
7 times on the last day --- THEN THEY SHOUTED --- THEN THE VICTORY.
III. NEVER FORGET THERE WAS A RUMORED DREAM IN THE CAMP THAT BROUGHT
FEAR LONG BEFORE THE LIGHT ERUPTS.
A. The V-I-C-T-O-R-Y WAS BY GOD’S HAND NOT BY THE 600 HANDS OF MAN.
B. Yet man had to YIELD his hands ...
THE VICTORY WAS TEAM WORK --- GREAT UNITY AND HARMONY OF GOD,
GOD’S LEADER AND 32,000 MEN THAT COULD REST IN TRUSTING THE DIVINE PLAN.
C. We can not keep our LIGHT CONCEALED.
IV. WE CAN SEE LIFE IN ONE OF TWO WAYS. EVERY STORY COULD BE SEEN
IN TWO METHODS? HOW WILL YOU SEE THIS SITUATION? IS THIS PROBLEM
BAD OR GOOD? IS IT DARK OR BRIGHT?
A. Jacob was married and had two wives.
Leah had 10 sons.
Rachel was JACOB’S LOVE.
Jacob worked 14 years for his love of Rachel.
B. Rachel had a son named JOSEPH, you know how God used JOSEPH
TO SAVE THE FAMILY.
Then 16 or 17 years later Rachel was expecting her second son.
Rachel had problems through this 9 months.
She had a beautiful little boy named BENJAMIN.
Genesis 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.
V. RACHEL WAS OVERWHELMED WITH TRAVAIL --- SORROW --- PAIN ---
THEN DEATH. RACHEL SAW THIS MOMENT AS A TIME OF DARKNESS.
A. Life can seem to see ONE SHARK IN A VAST OCEAN AND THUS WE BETTER
NOT SWIM ON THIS BEACH?
B. Rachel saw this son as darkness: BEN-ONI ---(ben-OH-nigh) ---
son of great sorrow.
C. Rachel had been mistreated by her sister and her sister’s kids.
The flesh saw all the MOURNING, TRIALS, SUFFERING and LOSS.
D. RACHEL IS OVERWHELMED BY THE MOMENT...
If Rachel could have seen her husband PROMOTED TO ISRAEL
Sad discouraged hearts seem to find THE DARK SIDE of problems and trials.
VI. JACOB SAW THE PAIN AND HURT AND EXPERIENCED THE DEATH, BUT JACOB
SAW GREAT GODLY MERCY.
Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
A. JACOB HAD RECEIVED HIS FATHER’S BLESSING.
JACOB WRESTLES ALL NIGHT AND RECEIVES HIS BLESSING FROM AN ANGEL.
B. JACOB SEES BEN HIS SON IN THE LIGHT OF HOPE...
C. Jacob’s 12th son is God’s blessing:
BENJAMIN --- THE SON OF MY RIGHT HAND!
JACOB IS LOOSING HIS PRECIOUS WIFE --- BUT JACOB IS LOOKING TO THE
FUTURE.
D. BY FAITH WE MUST KNOW GOD HELPS US TO BE TRIUMPHAL.
FAITH IS NOT A MICROSCOPE, FAITH IS A TELESCOPE THAT CAN SEE FAR
BEYOND THIS TRIAL AND FIND GREAT REASSURANCE AND TRUST IN
GOD’S PLAN.
Even in death we must search through the HEART OF FAITH and find the HOPE
OF THE FIRST RESURRECTION.
As Dottie Rambo’s great song: HE LOOK BEYOND MY FAULTS AND SAW MY NEEDS.
VII. GOD CAN REASSURE HIS PEOPLE DURING LONG DARK NIGHTS.
THE ANGEL DID NOT KEEP PAUL FROM THE STORM, THEY KEPT HIM
IN THE STORM.
A. There is a little ship being tossed to and fro...
Sure Jesus can calm the storm... But at times the lesson must be to keep the
BELIEVER’S FAITH AND KEEP HIM DURING THE STORM.
God does not always calm the storm, sometimes God calms the believer in the storm.
B. The Preacher’s warning of impeding danger was not heeded ...
ON THE THIRD DAY? Thank God for the third day.
Acts 27:19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
Acts 27:20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
C. PAUL WAS ASSURED BY AN ANGEL, PAUL BROUGHT MUCH ASSURANCE TO THE
OTHER MEN ON BOARD THE SHIP. SIRS: BE OF GOOD CHEER!
Acts 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
D. In the midst of the storm ONE MAN WAS CALM AND ASSURED THAT GOD
WAS STILL IN CONTROL.
PAUL HAD HEARD FROM GOD! Paul trusted God and his FAITH SUSTAINED HIM
when the sailers and soldiers were FULL OF GREAT FEAR!
VIII. THERE CAN BE GREAT GAIN THROUGH GREAT LOSS ...
IN THE COLD DAMP SOIL IS MUCH FRUIT...
IN THE GOLD MINE THERE IS A VEIN OF HOPE...
COMFORT ONE ANOTHER --- FIND ASSURANCE AND REASSURANCE ...
JESUS IS COMING AGAIN... DON’T BE IGNORANT.
A. Beyond the grave there is a GREAT ASSURANCE ---
TODAY MAY APPEAR TO BE BEN-ONI (ben-OH- nigh)
BUT TOMORROW OUR LIVING BENJAMIN IS BEFORE US.
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
B. JESUS IS COMING AGAIN. BE READY. FIND COMFORT IN THESE WORDS.
1 Thes. 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
C. NEVER FORGET --- GOD IS A REWARDER --- HANG ON!
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
D. THIS TOO SHALL PASS...
PLEASE LOOK BEYOND THE DARKNESS OF THE MOMENT,
JOY COMES IN THE MORNING ...
Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:
weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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