“THE ‘IFS’ OF LIFE
By: Dr. Dennis Deese – www.dennisdeese.com
JOHN 11:16-57
John Tomlin is remembered as the first victim of the Columbine massacre to be buried. The death of this bright and ambitious young man left immeasurable hurt in the heart of his parents, John and Doreen. Mrs. Tomlin a deeply committed Christian, shared her story of pain in Today’s Christian Woman. The intensity of her grief is felt as she told of a two-week period where she just sat in her son’s room. She left everything exactly as it had been the morning of April 20, 1999. During this time she simply held and rocked his clothes. She so longed for his return that she frequently asked herself, "Am I going crazy?" Her journey through grief obviously has not been easy, but she notes, "I’ve experienced God’s comfort in a deeper way than ever before. He hasn’t taken away the pain of grieving, but he has become my partner in it." She went on to say, "I know I face a long road ahead, but I know that God will give me what I need in abundant measure." Grief can indeed lead us down a long and difficult road that sometimes causes us to wonder if we’re going crazy, but with God as our partner we will find what we need in abundant measure.
"There are only two constants in the world: Christ and change." --Lyle Schaller
"Without God we face a hopeless end; with God we can experience endless hope." - Anonymous
The heart of aches of life produce many speculations about God. We most often question God in many different respects because of our doubt. How do you gain assurance that’s greater than doubt? What assurances can over come the driving forces of doubt? You’ve got to trust in prioritize and be committed to:
1. GOD’S CONTROL 11:4; 49-51
While serving as a missionary for the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, Lanette Thompson provided an insightful truth about trust. Because Africa is not a safe environment, she was regularly approached by people who said, "In order for you to go to West Africa, I guess you just have to trust in God’s protection." Her response is shocking but true. She has answered this question by stating, "I can showyou the grave of a fifteen-year-old missionary’s child who died of hepatitis and a four-year-old who died of malaria. If my trust were in God’s protectlan my trust would crumble under such circumstances. My trust is in God, in the belief that he is in control and that whatever happens will happen for his lory." We can mistakenly place our trust in God’s protection rather than God himself The results of such misplaced trust will ultimately lead to spiritual disillusionment. Your Church on Mission with God, Oct. 2000, p. 2
Psalms 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Exodus 15:18 The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
2 Chronicles 20:G And said, O LORD God of our fathers, [art] not thou God in heaven? and rulest [not] thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand [is there not] power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Job 12:13 With him [is] wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
Psalms 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Proverbs 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honour [come] of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand [is] power and might; and in thine hand [it is] to make great, and to give strength unto all.
Psalms 93:4 The LORD on high [is] mightier than the noise of many waters, [yea, than] the mighty waves of the sea.
2. GOD’ S WILL 11:4,40,45&47-48
"To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge. To do the will of God is the greatest achievement." -George W. Truett
In 1996, contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan arrived for a series of concerts in Los Angeles. As she unpacked her clothes for that evening’s concert, she discovered her dress was terribly wrinkled. A woman helping with the concert set out to find an iron. She was sent to a church staff member’s house with a key and instructions as to where she would find the ironing board. To her horror, she entered the house only to find the teenage dauahter was home with a loaded gun She was about to commit suicide when the woman arrived. Through quick thinking, a cool head, and the presence of God, she was able to talk the troubled teen into dropping the gun and returning with her for help. In response to God’s miraculous intervention, Cindy Morgan said, "to rescue a life he wrinkled a dress." Christian Reader, Jan./Feb. 2000, p. 79
IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN: The danger Jesus and the disciples faced 11:8 & 16, the pain everybody was experiencing 11:32, 35 & 3 and even more important than Lazarus staying in heaven.
Psalms 18:30 [As for] God, his way [is] perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he [is] a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalms 145:17 The LORD [is] righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
Deuteronomy 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what (was) in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. Psalms 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psalms 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Proverbs 20:24 1 Man’s goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
3. GOD’S CONCERN 11:33-36
1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord [are] over the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord [is] against them that do evil.
2 Samuel 22:7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry [did enter] into his ears.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 6:30-33 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Exodus 3:7 T And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Psalms 86:15 But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psalms 40:17 But I [am] poor and needy; [yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Psalms 54:4 Behold, God [is] mine helper: the Lord [is] with them that uphold my soul. IV. GOD’S PROMISES 11:23-26,39-40
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil.
Deuteronomy 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Psalms 146:8 The LORD openeth [the eyes of] the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
2 Samuel 22:33 God [is] my strength [and] power: and he maketh my way perfect.
Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22. GOD’S POWER 11:41-44
Psalms 18:2 The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
Psalms 91•2 I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Nahum 1:7 The LORD [is] good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth
them that trust in him.
VI. GOD’S COUNSEL 11:39-40
Isaiah 28:29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, [which] is wonderful in counsel, [and] excellent in working.
Jeremiah 32:19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes [are] open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
Psalms 73:24 Thou shah guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory.
