June 28-29, 2003              GOD’S SECURITY SYSTEM! Proverbs 3:25-26

EMERGENCY BACKUP!

*** Proverbs 3:25-26 “No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner, Because God will be right there with you; he'll keep you safe and sound.” [Message]

HOW TO HAVE GOD’S SECURITY WHEN CRISIS COMES!

1. BY KNOWING CRISIS FACTS!

*** Proverbs 3:13-14 “Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding. For the profit of wisdom is better than silver, and her wages are better than gold.” [New Living Translation]

FACT #1 THEY ARE INEVITABLE!

*** James 1:2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials….” [New American Standard Version]

*** John 16:33 "In this world you will have trouble. " [New International Version]

FACT #2 CRISES ARE VARIABLE!

*** James 1:2 “… when you encounter various trials….” [New American Standard Version]

THREE TYPICAL TYPES OF CRISIS:

A. SITUATIONAL CRISIS!  B. RELATIONAL CRISIS! C. EMOTIONAL CRISIS!

FACT #3 CRISES ARE IMPARTIAL!

*** Matthew 5:45 (NIV) “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

! FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST ARE ONLY EXEMPTED FROM ONE THING: HELL!

FACT #4 THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE!

*** Proverbs 24:22 (Msg) “Without warning your life can turn upside-down, and who knows how or when it might happen?”

FACT #5 I CAN CHOOSE MY RESPONSE TO A CRISIS!

*** Matthew 8:18, 23-27 (NIV) “When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

THE DISCIPLE’S: SCARED & PANIC! JESUS : SLEEP & PEACE!

2. BY HANDLING CRISIS BY FAITH!

A. BY REFOCUSING ON GOD’S CLOSENESS!

*** Matthew 8:23-24 “Jesus got into a boat, and his followers went with him.”

[New Century Version]

! FOCUS ON THE CHRIST NOT THE CRISIS!

*** Isaiah 43:1-2 (NLT) “But now…the Lord who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up….”

*** Romans 8:31-39 (Msg) “So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing,… None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.”

“GOD IS WITH ME, WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I WORRIED ABOUT?”

B. BY RELYING ON GOD’S CARE!

*** Mark 4:38 (NIV) “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

*** Psalm 112:6-8 “[Believers] will not be overthrown by evil circumstances. God's constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it. He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that God will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid….” [Living Bible]

“GOD IS WITH ME AND GOD CARES, WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I WORRIED ABOUT?”

C. BY RELAXING IN GOD’S CONTROL!

*** Mark 4:39 “Then Jesus got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, "Be still, absolutely still!" The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm.” [God’s Word to the Nations]

! THERE IS NOTHING BEYOND GOD’S CONTROL!

*** Mark 4:40 (NLT) “And he asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?"

! OUR FEAR IS TOO BIG BECAUSE OUR FAITH IS TOO LITTLE!

*** John 16:33 (NIV) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. Take heart! I have overcome the world."

*** Matthew 8:27 (NLT) “The disciples just sat there in awe. "Who is this?" they asked themselves. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"

“GOD IS WITH ME, GOD CARES, AND GOD IS IN CONTROL. WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I WORRIED ABOUT?”

Psalm 91:1-5 “Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, can say to him, "You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust." He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers. He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you. You need not fear….” [Today’s English Version]