GOD WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD
Ezek. 12:25; 1 Cor. 15:24
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: Indecisive Vs. Definite
1. A man charged with vagrancy was brought before the judge. "Are you a resident of this city?" asked the judge, to which the man replied, "Now and then."
2. The judge then asked, "Where do you live?" and the man answered, "Here and there." "What do you do for a living?" said the judge and the man replied, "Oh, this and that."
3. The judge had had enough of the man's frivolous answers, so he banged the gavel and sentenced the man to jail. "What! When will I get out?" he cried. The judge said, "Sooner or later."
B. QUESTION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GET THE “LAST WORD?”
1. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A DEBATE? In debates, getting the last word often means that you win the debate. If your opponent can’t overturn your argument, it may prove that that you’re correct because you presented the clinching argument. Debates are like boxing matches. Getting to land the final blow on your opponent in a fight could well put them out of the ring. They’ll be down for the count.
2. MY GRANDMA ALWAYS GOT THE FINAL WORD. My Grandma used to say, “And that’s the word with the bark on it.” That meant there wasn’t going to be any more discussion on the subject; her decision was final and incontrovertible! [The bark is the outside of the tree.]
3. When God declares something, you better get used to it or adjust yourself to the idea, because that’s the way its going to be.
C. TITLE: “God Will Have the Final Word”
I. SCRIPTURES THAT TEACH GOD WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD
A. GOD’S WILL SHALL PREVAIL
1. Isaiah 43:13, “Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
2. Ezekiel 12:25, “For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.
3. “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” 1 Cor. 15:24-25.
B. THE OLDEST BEING IN THE UNIVERSE
1. We’re not the ones calling the shots! How long have we been on earth? 30-40-60-70-80 years? That’s just a speck of dust in the trillions of years of eternity. God is called the Ancient of Days. He’s before all, and after everyone has passed away, He will still be ruling.
2. Do WE have power over the elements? No! There’s only one divine being, Creator, Sustainer – who exists outside of time and who’s Being is self-generating, and He needs nothing. He can speak and it happens!
3. Isa. 7:6-7, The Syrians said, “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves....” But God answered in verse 7, “Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘It will not take place, it will not happen.’”
4. Aren’t you glad it’s God calling the shots?
II. AN EXAMPLE OF GOD HAVING THE FINAL WORD:
A. THE DAY OF THE LORD
1. The Old Testament prophets foresaw a day/time in which Jehovah would come in a public and cosmic event to punish the wicked. For the wicked it will be a "day of calamity" (Jeremiah 46:21), a "day of distress" (Habakkuk 3:16), a "day of judgment" (Joel 3:12), and a "Day of wrath" (Ezekiel 7:19). The origin of the "Day of the Lord" lies in the conception of Jehovah as a victorious warrior, and bring destruction on the enemies of God. 2 Th. 1:7,8, Zech. 14:3.
2. HUMOR/ ILLUS. A street preacher went to visit a sophisticated church. The refined pastor preached about the need to believe in Christ, concluding with, “If you don’t believe, then at death you will experience a horrendous eschatological event!” After the sermon the street preacher asked the pastor, “Did you mean to say that unbelievers will go to Hell?” He said, “Yes!” “Then why didn’t you just say that?!”
B. THE DAY OF THE LORD FOR BELIEVERS
1. But the Day of the Lord will also be a day of joy and blessing for God's people, for in that day we will be delivered (Obadiah 15-17; Joel 2:32; 3:17-21). “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
2. The devil himself will be imprisoned and then thrown into the lake of fire forever. Then God will create a new universe and earth – where sin & Satan have never been, and then will begin a time of peace and joy unlike anything except for the original Garden of Eden and everyone will be servants of God.
3. We are now in the “in between time,” when rebels are still rebelling, and people still have a chance to receive grace & forgiveness through Christ. But don’t be deceived – GOD WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD!
III. THE GOD OF HOPELESS SITUATIONS
1. God is faithful, He’s loving, He’s a provider, He’s a way-maker, He’s a deliverer & He’s a healer!
2. I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU. ARE YOU EXPERIENCING A HOPELESS SITUATION? Don’t throw in the towel; it’s NOT Over!!
A. HOPELESS SITUATIONS TURNED AROUND
1. JAIRUS thought it was hopeless - his daughter was pronounced dead - but GOD had something else to say about it.
2. The LAME MAN at the pool of Bethesda thought it his healing was impossible. For 28 yrs. he couldn’t get into the water; but the Son of God changed that!
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 GOD GAVE THEM ASBESTOS SUITS!
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 was just Dry Bones. But God said, “Prophesy Ezekiel!” – and the nation rose again!
7. Many times Satan has told us, “I’ve beaten you;” “You’re a failure.” “Your health is over;” “Your marriage is over;” “Your career is over!” But how many of you know that the devil’s a liar & the father of it!
8. Did GOD say “It’s over?” Unless HE did, then there’s bright light of hope shining before you in the promises of God!
B. 3 REASONS WHY IT’S “NOT OVER”
1. GOD’S MORE POWERFUL THAN ANYBODY. He’s the biggest & the strongest. If we’re looking for who’s going to finish the cosmic fight, it’s going to be God. NO ONE’S BIG ENOUGH TO BEAT HIM!
2. GOD IS OUTSIDE OF TIME. God is, “The high & lofty One, who inhabits eternity,” Isa. 57:15. He’s the first and will be the last. God will be the last One standing!
3. GOD HAS ALWAYS OVERTURNED THE EXPECTATIONS OF HUMANS...
a. All unbelievers will have their expectations overturned. They may be POWERFUL POLITICIANS who can move the levers of power, or MOVIE STARS who are adored by millions, or they may be BILLIONAIRES with vast fortunes and property – but without Jesus they will lose; their plans/schemes will not prevail.
b. But we believers will have all our hopes and dreams realized: everlasting life, new bodies, reunited with our families, live in New Jerusalem (Heaven) forever! Paul said, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” Rom. 8:18. Praise the Lord! God will have the final word!
c. DON’T LET YOUR SITUATION INFLUENCE YOUR EXPECTATION!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: Three Feet From Gold
1. R.U. Darby was caught up by gold-rush fever and staked a claim in Colorado’s gold country and went to work with pick and shovel.
2. After weeks of labor, he was rewarded by the discovery of the shining ore. He needed machinery to dig efficiently so he borrowed money from all his relatives and former neighbors. He hired men and set up a train to move the ore.
3. The first car of ore was mined, and shipped to a smelter; it yielded some of the purest gold found in Colorado! They drilled & excavated and the gold came out. How excited the Darbys were. They followed the vein for a mile.
4. Then something happened! The vein of gold ore disappeared! Their pot of gold had run out! They drilled, but to no avail. Finally, they decided to QUIT.
5. They sold the machinery and the claim to a junk man for a few hundred dollars, and took the train back to Maryland. The junk man hired a mining engineer who, following the fault, said he believed the vein would pick-up again a few feet further.
6. And gold was hit just 3 feet from where the Darbys had stopped drilling! The “Junk” man made millions of dollars from that mine, because he kept going another three feet. [Napoleon Hill]
B. APPLICATION
1. It’s NOT over because God has the final word! Your marriage can come back; Your family can come back; Your church can come back; Your business can come back; Your dream can come back; Your Hope can come back! Why? Because God has the FINAL WORD!!
2. Keep fighting...praying...fasting cause it’s not over. Keep pressing…progressing...moving cause it’s not over. Keep holding on, keep believing, and keep contending ...until the victory is won!”
C. THE CALL
1. How many have a situation you need help with? How many need a healing? How many need a miracle? Let’s go to God in prayer right now!
2. Come to the front and we’re going to have special prayer for you. PRAYER
