Tonight…Today…
Video
Honor
Retirement Ceremony…
Hawk…Lisa…
Vets…Family w/others elsewhere (in harms way)…Families of vets…
Open to Daniel 3
Series –Giving thanks in the Storms…
Today – The Storm of Uncertainty
Read
Pray
Life is Uncertain
Whether we like it or not, negatives are a part of life. We are struck by tragedy, & we have to deal with grief. We are taken advantage of; we have to deal with anger. We are ripped off, & we have to deal with rage. We are abandoned, & we have to deal with bitterness. We lose everything, & we have to deal with failure. We come in second; we have to deal with defeat. We experience repeated setbacks, & we have to deal with a poor self-image. The problem is not so much encountering the negatives, but finding a way to neutralize them. There is good news in the message of the Bible. The Bible speaks to us at our lowest & raises us to our highest. It finds us at our weakest points & transforms us into our strongest selves. Within its truths an eternal dimension picks us up at our saddest & rejuvenates us to experience the highest joy.
We’re living in uncertain times…
Globally
Nationally
Home front
Truth –
We not only face uncertainty in general – any/each of face uncertainty specifically…
Bible – James 4:13, 14
Don’t say today or tomorrow you will…for you don’t know what will actually happen tomorrow…life is a vapor – here & then gone…You ought to say “if it’s the lord’s will I will…”
Scripture
Setting
Nebuchadnezzar/Babylon… (Modern day Iraq)…
Captured the country & is imposing his rule…
Tyrant…Vicious…Violent…Brutal…
4 young men to work in his government…
Daniel…Shadrach…Meshach…Abednego…
Risen to King’s appointed authority…
Therefore – certain visibility…
90’ x 9’ idol of himself…
Brings in everyone & decrees –
When the music plays – bow…
Acts of paying homage to him…
Declaring him as authority over their lives…
MUSIC & 3 young men do not bow…
“They are ignoring you…They don’t honor you”
2nd Chance –
now front & center to the king…
TALK about a Storm of Uncertainty
When you are not sure how things are going to work out…
Imagine the Scene –
Pressure…Anxiety…Uncertainty…Storm…Crisis…
CRISIS
What is a crisis?
"A stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events is determined"
Is
Where all you thought you knew is now no longer what you are sure of...
A time where PRESUMPTION/CONCLUSIONS & FAITH have had a Collision…
Chinese –
The Chinese use symbols to represent words. For "crisis", the combination of the symbols "danger" & "opportunity” are used to represent crisis.
So it is in Crisis of Faith –
A place of Opportunity & a place of Danger
Often Crisis of LIFE == Crisis of FAITH
CRISES (Storms) are an opportunity to Choose
Which is it going to be –?
Opportunity or Danger…
Which is Going to Triumph – LIFE or FAITH…
Think about the Reputation of Nebuchadnezzar
He kills you…100% track record…Doesn’t give in…Menace…Troubling…
THEY KNOW THIS as they Stand before him…
YOU DIE
Given His reputation –
That would be the easy Conclusion –
We are going to Die…
YET
Conclusions
They have not come to the SAME CONCLUSION
“We’re not careful…”
We are not worried about this one…
We are not going to get all carried away with this one…
We know who you are – but we know who God is…
GOD IS ABLE…
What conclusions have you come to that -
Might be contrary to the Fact that God is God? God is Able?
How have you come to those conclusions?
Track record? Disease type? Divorce rate? Survival rate? Success ratio?
Recovery rate…Past…Others…
Just because “it” has said something – doesn’t mean you have to listen & cower in fear…Or bow…
They say –
We hear you – but God gets to decide this – not you…
Chris
God is the Author of CONCLUSIONS!
"When you come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith knows one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."
They are on the EDGE of ALL they know – EDGE of UNCERTAINTY…
Yet they are CERTAIN…
Heb. 11
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for – the evidence of things not yet seen
FAITH is the Answer for times of Uncertainty
YOU WILL NOT ALWAYS be ABLE to EXPLAIN WHY you are in the CRISIS
LIFE is Lived Forward & Understood Backward...
C.S. Lewis
"You can’t see anything properly while your eyes are blurred with tears"
The story continues –
Furnace 7x hotter than normal…
Those taking them into the furnace die because of its heat…
4th man
Not harmed…
I love this –
S, M & A – you guys come out here…
Fire had no power…hair not singed…smell of smoke not on them…
v. 28
Blessed is the God of…
Anyone who speaks against their God will be cut in pieces…
Because there is no God that can deliver like this…
How is it –
That as it goes from BAD to WORSE – they don’t bend…bow…burn…
What do they teach us?
How do they hold on to their worship in this crisis?
Thanks in Uncertainty
1. TRUST is a CHOICE
Truth –
The more Consistent you are in your walk/choices – the more confident you are in the crisis…
You have been prepared for the current crisis…
You are meant to pass the test…
You must choose –
Faith or Fear…
CRISIS will ALWAYS reveal your power source
You will Always turn to what you believe in – period…
The greater the crises the more you will learn about what you believe in…
The greater the crisis – the more you need to be sure of what you are trusting n to get you out of it/through it…
WE won’t bow
We will not give “it” any power over us…
2. WORSHIP Comes from VALUE
They say
Everything has its price…
Worship is ALL About WORTH…
Often that’s part of the CRISIS –
What you’re saying it’s Worth…
Price You’re Willing to PAY…
What is the Integrity of Your Faith worth?
The way you walk life out worth?
The way others view you worth?
The example you are to others worth?
Not just to others – but what’s it worth to SELF?
God is able…
Say it with me…Believe it…
The God we serve is able…
To reconcile broken marriages…God is able
To liberate people…God is able
To heal…God is able
To forgive the darkest sin…God is able
To provide for the greatest need…God is able
To guide with supernatural wisdom…God is able
To inspire spiritual gifting…God is able
To soften the hardest heart…God is able
To bring the farthest from home back home…God is able
To protect…God is able
What about
When HE Does Not
Story
Michael Chamberlain –
It’s one thing to CHOOSE when you see the Furnace –
It’s another thing when you feel it…
Maybe you’re in a relationship…
Being pressured to go against your beliefs…Cross boundaries…
“I may never find someone else…may end up alone.”
God is able to bring someone better into your life.
But, “Even if he does not…”
Maybe you’re in a marriage…
A disappointment…
“God, I know that you’re able.”
God is able.
“God, even if you don’t…
Finances…Family…Friends…
The God we serve is able…
To reconcile broken marriages…What if he doesn’t…
To liberate people…What if he doesn’t…
To heal…What if he doesn’t…
To forgive the darkest sin…What if he doesn’t…
To provide for the greatest need…What if he doesn’t…
To guide with supernatural wisdom…What if he doesn’t…
To inspire spiritual gifting…What if he doesn’t…
To soften the hardest heart…What if he doesn’t…
To bring the farthest from home back home…What if he doesn’t…
To protect…What if he doesn’t…
Will you decide –
Even if he never does…To HONOR HIM?
Job
Though he slays me – I’ll trust him…
They were willing to do whatever it took for what they believed in…
Will you have full devotion to Him even if he does not?
Or are you going to ascribe WORTH to something/one other than God?
LAST
3. God Deserves My Best (Honored/Glorified)
If you don’t change a thing – right now –
Who/what is going to get the glory?
Your greatest desire should be –
To Bring Honor to God…
That’s what this is all about –
Living in the Storms of Uncertainty
So that HE GETS HONORED…
ALTAR
Jesus’ Example:
“Father, let this cup pass from me. (You are able). Not my will, but your will be done.
One day –
We will stand before HIM…
The Guy that didn’t
Buckle…Bow…Bend…
Our Lord & Savior…
Don’t we want him to be honored…
“God is able, but He doesn’t always...
Spend some time talking to God.
Meditation…
Is there anywhere in your life where you are holding back full devotion?
Is there anyplace where fear/disappointment/hurt/sin has been keeping you from following him with total reliance and total trust?
Decide “Even if he does not, I will be a fully devoted follower.”
