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October
26-27, 2002 WHEN YOUR BACK’S
AGAINST THE WALL! Selected WHEN THE FUTURE LOOKS UNCERTAIN! *** Ecc. 8:7 “Since no man knows the future,
who can tell him what is to come?” *** Eccles. 10:14 “Foolish people claim to know
all about the future and tell everyone the details! But who can really know
what is going to happen?” [NLT] c HOW
CAN I FACE AN UNSURE FUTURE? 1. BY
CONFIDENTLY TRUSTING GODLY TRUTHS! *** Psalm 119:160 “All you say can be trusted;
your teachings are true and will last forever.” [Contemporary English
Version] *** Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will never pass away.” [New International Version] A. GOD
KNOWS OUR FUTURE! *** Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all the world can
be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before him….” [New
Century Version] *** 1 John 3:20 “God is greater than our
hearts, and he knows everything.”
[NIV] c GOD IS NEVER SURPRISED AT WHAT HAPPENS IN
THIS WORLD! B. GOD
HAS PLANS FOR OUR FUTURE! *** Ps 139:16 “You saw me before I was
born. Every day of my life was recorded
in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
[NLT] *** Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I
have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” [NIV] cI CAN MISS OUT ON GOD’S PLAN FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE
OF: APATHY! ARROGANCE! INGNORANCE! REBELLION!
CORRUPTION! *** Psalm 139:17 “How precious it is, Lord, to
realize that you are thinking about me constantly!” [Living Bible] C. GOD
WILL STAND WITH US IN OUR FUTURE! *** Heb. 13:5 “God has said, "Never will
I leave you; never will I forsake you." [NIV] *** Deut. 20:1 “When you go to war against
your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not
be afraid of them, because the Lord your God…will be with you.” [NIV] *** Psalm 23:4, 6 “I may walk through valleys
as dark as death, but I won't be afraid.
You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe. Your kindness and love will always be with
me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord.” [CEV] *** MT 28:20 “And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age."
[NIV] 2. BY
CONTINUALLY TRYING GODLY TOOLS! c WHEN I’M FACING AN UNSURE FUTURE, I NEED TO USE: A.
GOD’S COUNSEL WHEN I’M CLUELESS! *** Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust God from the bottom
of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do,
everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.” [The Message] *** 2 Tim. 3:16 “Every part of Scripture is
God-breathed and useful one way or another showing us truth, exposing our
rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way.”[Msg] *** Psalm 91:15 “When you are in trouble, call
out to me. I will answer and be there
to protect and honor you.” [CEV] B.
GOD’S STRENGTH WHEN I’M SLIPPING! *** Luke 4:13 “When the devil had finished all
this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” [NIV] *** 1 Peter 5:8 “Keep a cool head. Stay alert.
The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you
napping.” [Msg] ***
Romans 8:31-39 [Selected] “If God is on our side, who can ever be against
us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is
it because he doesn't love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in
danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us? No…but despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through
Christ who loved us enough to die for us. For I am convinced that nothing can
ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels won't,
and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for
today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are--high above the sky, or in
the deepest ocean--nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of
God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Living] *** 1 Cor. 10:13 “You are tempted in the same
way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be
tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.” [CEV] C.
GOD’S SUPPORT WHEN I’M SWAMPED! c TWO CHOICES: LIVE IN FEAR OR LIVE IN FAITH! *** Isaiah 43:2-5 “When you pass through deep
waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be
burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your
God…. Do not be afraid—I am with you!”
[Today’s English Version] D.
GOD’S REWARD WHEN I’M READY! c OUR UNCERTAIN FUTURE WILL BECOME AN
UNDENIABLE FACT! *** Gal. 6:9 “And let us not get tired of
doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we
don't get discouraged and give up.”
[Living] *** 2
Cor. 4:16-18 “So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the
outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside,
where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.
These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the
lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye.
The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't
see now will last forever.” [Msg] *** 1
Peter 1:4-6 “And God has reserved for his children the priceless gift of
eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the
reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will make sure that
you get there safely to receive it because you are trusting him. It will be
yours in that coming last day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is
wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here.” [Living] “You,
Lord, are all I want! You are my
choice, and you keep me safe. You make
my life pleasant, and my future is bright.” Psalm 16:5-6 [CEV] |