When All Hell Breaks Loose, God Breaks In
Jonathan Lucas
Text: Acts 16:16-30
Introduction:
On April 20th, 1999, Cassie Bernall was a typical 17 year-old teenager, having a typical day. But with a single word she said that Tuesday, Cassie Bernall’s life and courage stirred the hearts of the nation. Cassie’s story has enraptured the media, been told before Congress, in hundreds of churches and schools as well as around the world.
What makes Cassie’s story so special? What sets it apart from so many other young people? What about her has so captivated our attention? Cassie Bernall said, “YES!”
She said, “YES!” as Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris walked the halls of Columbine High School randomly shooting classmates and teachers.
She said, “YES!” when they asked if there was anyone who believed in Christ.
She said, “YES!” when the pointed the gun at her and sent her into eternity.
She said, “YES!” when all hell had broken loose, and allowed God to break into a desperate situation.
She said, “YES!” and brought to the forefront of our conscience the need for God in our schools, society and our lives.
She said, “YES!” and brought to our attention the hell that has broken loose in our society, and that there is a God who can break in and bring deliverance.
I. Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures
“…Hell hath enlarged itself.”
Hell was never intended for humanity.
It was prepared for Lucifer and the fallen angels
Through Satan’s deception in the Garden he began to embark upon the largest Building Program in the history of the human race, and he is funding it through sin.
“What does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and looses his soul?”
There are many that are selling their dignity for one more drop of alcohol.
Others who pawn their virtue for another lustful encounter
And yet others who auction off their sanity for another high
All while funding Satan’s expansion plan
This creates a desperate situation that demand desperate measures
If Hell is expanding, then it is taking territory that it does not own
It is time for the church to break out, allow God to break in and together break down the walls and strongholds that Hell has erected.
It’s time to declare, “Hell has broken loose, but God is breakin’ in!”
Transition Statement:
The Problem may be surrounding us, but the solution is on the premises.
Transition Illustration:
A few years ago there was semi that overturned on the highway. When emergency crews arrived on the scene they discovered that fuel was leaking onto the road and into the surrounding grass and woods. Immediately they called for a truckload of peat moss to be brought in and spread on the spill to absorb the fuel and prevent further damage to the environment. Shortly after they had spread the peat moss a sudden down pour came and washed all of their efforts away. In the confusion of trying to get another truck to bring a load of peat moss, they workers failed to realize that the overturned truck was hauling a load of…PEAT MOSS.
Many times we get so focused on the problem that we overlook the fact that the answer has been right in front of us the entire time.
II. God Is On The Scene
The disciples were in the midst of a storm
The waves are crashing all around
The sails are torn
The boat is battered
Bailing ain’t working
Chaos is creeping in
And Jesus is sleeping through it all.
If Jesus is sleeping in the storm, relax
Throw out a rod and fish
When the disciples woke him up they weren’t expecting him to calm the storm.
They were handing him a bucket, they needed another bailer
The solution is staring them in the face, and they want him to throw water.
God doesn’t want to bail you out; He wants to deliver you out.
When it seemed all hell had broken loose, Jesus broke in and broke up the storm.
III. God Will Break In
Paul and Silas were simply preaching.
They were not breaking any laws.
Satan felt some shakin’ and breakin’ going on in his building program.
He set about to silence the competition.
For once, Satan actually told the truth.
He’s giving free advertising for the preacher’s revival.
As long as the girl was delivering her message, she was distracting from THE message.
Finally Paul had enough and told the demon to depart from the girl.
By delivering the girl they angered her employers, which gave Satan an upper hand.
It looked like Hell was breakin’ loose.
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises…”
In the midst of what appeared to be a desperate situation, they allowed God to break in.
The jailhouse rocked, prison doors broke open, shackles shook free and God broke in.
Conclusion:
It does not matter the situation, God has the solution.
It doesn’t matter the hurt, He can heal.
It doesn’t matter the desperation He has the deliverance.
It doesn’t matter the sin, He is the SOUL-ution.
It doesn’t matter the Hell, He is the Help.
He is waiting for you to say, “YES!” and allow him to break in.
