“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.
b. The present
What are you going through today my friend? Temptation? Trials? Troubles?
Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
c. The prospects
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Remember Enoch Arden’s poem:
Keep everything shipshape, for I must go!
And fear no more for me; or, if you fear,
Cast all your cares on God; that anchor holds!
Is He not yonder in those uttermost
Parts of the morning? If I flee to these, Can I go from Him? And the sea is His, The sea is His; He made it!
III. Our Promise
We needn’t worry about the past, the present or the prospects because we have His promises. “There has not failed one word of all His good promise!” I Kings 8:56.
No greater assurance is possible. As the promise was to Joshua, so it is to every child of God: “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be afraid; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6.
a. He created us – “..thus saith the Lord that created thee…”
Psalms 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
b. He is in control – “…and he that formed thee…”
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
c. He has converted us – “…for I have redeemed thee…”
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
d. He has called us – “… I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”
Christian remember; “If God’s will brings you to it…His grace will bring you through it!”
2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
“When Thou Passest Through the Waters”
"Do you feel your heart discouraged as you pass along the way?
Does there seem to be more darkness than there is of sunny day?
It is hard to learn the lesson, as we pass beneath the rod,
That the sunshine and the shadow serve alike the will of God.
But to me there comes a promise, like the promise of the bow,
That however deep the waters, they shall never overflow.
"When the flesh is worn and weary and the spirit is depressed,
When temptation comes upon you like a storm on ocean’s breast,
There’s a haven ever ready for the tempest-driven bird,
There is shelter for the tempted in the promise of His Word;
For the standard of the Spirit shall be raised against the foe,
And however deep the waters, they shall never overflow.
"When sorrow comes upon you that no other soul can share,
And the burden seems too heavy for the human heart to bear,
There is One whose grace can comfort if you’ll give Him an abode,
There’s a Burden-bearer ready if you’ll trust Him with your load;
For the precious promise reaches to the depth of human woe,
That however deep the waters, they shall never overflow.
"When the sands of life are ebbing and I near dark Jordan’s shore,
When I see the billows rising and I hear the waters roar,
I’ll reach out my hand to Jesus, in His bosom I will hide;
It will only be a moment ‘till I reach the other side.
It is then the fullest meaning of the promise I shall know:
“When thou passest through the waters they shall never overflow.”
Henry Crowell
