Soldiers Hold Back The Flood Series

We Were Soldiers Series

"Soldiers Hold Back The Flood" 2 of 3 * Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)

March 30, 2003 Chester’s FBC Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction: Flood video

A Text: Isaiah 59:19 NKJV

"So shall they fear The name of LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him."

a ESS: Isaiah told King Hezekiah how God would protect Judah from the path of an immanent raging flood.

b ETS: God wants us to protect against an enemy that is flooding our town.

B I hope you’ll volunteer to help in at least one of three Servant Evangelism events during the week preceding Easter. (Objective)

a Who will carry a sandbag with me? (Probing Question)

b T.S.: Let’s look at two forces that are working in this modern day flood that is racing towards our town.

John 10:10a "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.....

I The first force that is working in this modern day flood is...the enemy that wants to leave Chester in ruins.

A His plans includes causing a devastating flood that takes everything not fastened down.

a Matthew 24:38/39 [38] For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; [39] and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

b They didn’t even know it was coming. They were in the dark about the flood.

*The flood sirens should have been blaring...the gates should be secured...levies should be reinforced & guarded...but they didn’t know it was coming. THEY WERE IN THE DARK.

B Clip of "The Ghost & The Darkness"

C I Peter 5:8 "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

a Lions don’t hunt exclusively at night, but usually they do hunt under a cloak of darkness. (Their eyes are designed for preying on unsuspecting victims in the dark.)

b When we drift away from the light that Christ Jesus, we drift into the shadows...we become easy prey for the enemy. (We are surrounded by community that is in the dark about the enemy. Dark about the flood waters that are lapping against the gates.)

T.S.: There is a force that is working to leave Chester in ruins, but praise God there is another force that is work here!

John 10:10b "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

II The second force that is working in this modern day flood is...the savior who wants to lead our town to rescue.

A The devil/enemy is plotting & scheming to bring us down. (Things look bad.)

a Fig. 5.1 & Fig. 1.1 (Surprising insights from the unchurched: And proven ways to reach Them, Thom Rainer)

*Barna Research Group "2/3 of all adults who have accepted Chrsit as their Savior made their decision to do so before the age of 18."

b He’s flooding our towns with divorce, broken homes, loneliness, alcohol/drug addiction, young adults who are making up their own rules, throwing out the Bible, immorality, gangs.....easy to say "We’re finished.", because it does look dark.

*It reminds me of another dark day on hill outside Jerusalem. 3 nails and a crown of thorns...Jesus Christ said, "It’s finished."

We are in the flood!!!

B I know what will survive the flood.

a The nails that held him on the Cross have turned to rust & the thorns have turned to dust. He’s risen and he’s living in me!!!

b God will survive the flood. (Ps. 146:10)

The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.

The Church will survive the flood. (Matt. 16:18)

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

I will survive the flood. (1 John 2:17)

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

*He’s plucked me out of the flood. John 10:28

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

*My job is now to grab a sandbag and try to keep back the flood. Why?

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

*Jesus wants to lead our town to rescue and he wants to do it through you.