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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."
I've got a message for those of you who have ever found yourself
in the midst of trouble… I've got a message for those of
you who have found yourself in the midst of problems… In
the midst of circumstances… I've got a message for those
of you who have ever found yourself all alone with no help (examples)…
I believe that includes just about everybody in here…!
Just because you're moving and operating in His Will doesn't
mean that the enemy will never send some trouble your way…!
For even Job declares "Man that is born of a woman is
of few days, and full of trouble (Job 14:1)…" But
isn't it good to know that when trouble comes… Isn't it good
to know that when hell and havoc comes your way…? Isn't it
good to know that "When the enemy… Comes in like
a flood, the Spirit… of the LORD shall lift up a standard
against him…?" Tell somebody, "God's
Got Your Back…!"
I'm reminded of when the Children of Israel had come to what
seemed like the end of their journey on the banks of Jordan, Moses
told them to go on ahead… They began to wonder what would
happen to them next, and the Lord said tell them… "Be
strong and of a good courage do not fear, nor be afraid of them:
for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you; He will
not fail you, nor forsake you… (Deut 31:6)" In other
words He's saying, "I Got Your Back…!"
That's why He told us in James 1:2-3, "My brethren,
count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing
that the trying of your faith produces patience…"
(v12) "Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for
when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the
Lord has promised to them that love him…" In other
words, the Lord was saying, "I Got Your Back…!"
Then the Lord tells us in 1 Peter 4:12-14, "Do not think
it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch
as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory
shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If
you suffer for the name of Christ, blessed are you…!"
In other words, the Lord was saying, "I Got Your
Back…!"
Psalms 23:6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
me all the days of my life: and I shall dwell in the house of
the Lord." "I've Got Your Back…"
I've discovered that folks will fade away when the fire gets
too hot… I've discovered that family and friends will forsake
you when times get hard…. But I heard the Lord say; "I
will never leave you, nor forsake you… (Hebrews 13:5)"
It's good to know that "GOD'S GOT YOUR BACK…!"
Isaiah told King Hezekiah how God would protect Judah from the
path of an immanent raging flood. God wants us to protect against
an enemy that is flooding our town.
John 10:10a "The thief comes only to steal, kill and
destroy.....
The first force that is working in this modern day flood is...the
enemy that wants to leave Morgantown in ruins.
His plans includes causing a devastating flood that takes everything
not fastened down.
"Everything that can be shaken shall be shaken"
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.
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.
I Peter 5:8 "Your enemy the devil prowls around like
a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
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.)
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.)
There is a force that is working to leave Morgantown in ruins,
but praise God there is another force that is at work here!
John 10:10b "...I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full."
The second force that is working in this modern day flood is...the
Savior who wants to lead our city to rescue.
The devil/enemy is plotting & scheming to bring us down.
(Things look bad.)
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!!!
I know what will survive the flood.
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!!!
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 city to rescue and he wants to do it
through you.
Titanic had 20 lifeboats. ONLY ONE went back for survivors.
Some wish to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.
Who will carry a sandbag with me? (Probing Question)
Asian missionary M. V. Varghese told of a commonplace tragedy
in India. An Indian woman named Alila took her tiny infant to
the River Ganges. With tears pouring from her eyes she stood there
for a long time with the water lapping at the baby's feet. Then
she threw her six-month-old baby into the river. Varghese found
her weeping along the river's bank. Through her sobs she said,
"The problems in my home are too many and my sins are heavy
on my heart, so I offered the best I have to the goddess Ganges:
my first-born son." The missionary gently told her of Jesus'
love and forgiveness. She tearfully responded, "I have never
heard that before. Why couldn't you have come thirty minutes earlier?
My child would not have had to die." People are desperate
for what only God can provide.
Who will carry a sandbag with me?
We need SANDBAGS of:
COMPASSION
PASSION
PRAYER
BURDEN
DESIRE
WORK
LEADERSHIP
TEACHERS
