Hope in Perilous Times

A professor was giving a lesson on pain and stress management. He raised a cup of water and asked his, How much does this cup of water weigh?” “Twenty ounces. “, said one student. “Eight ounces”, “Sixteen ounces”, “Twelve ounces” answered other students. The professor smiled and explained, “It doesn’t really matter what it’s absolute weight is. It’s heaviness really depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minutes, it’s not to heavy. If I hold it for an hour, my arm will start to ache. If I hold it for a day……you may need to call an ambulance! It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it gets!”
The professor went on to explain, “If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier. What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while before holding it up again. We have to put down the burden periodically, so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on.”
When life seems impossible, it is often hard to cope. What seems impossible for us is never impossible for God. It is important to follow God’s directions and to listen to His wisdom–applying these things to our lives. Sometimes it is as simple as seeking Godly advice that provides a workable solution that maybe hasn’t been considered.
In seeking refuge in Jesus and seeking His advice, we are able to begin to let the pain go, in effect, putting the glass down. His advice will be to forgive, to humble our hearts, to soften our hearts, and often to sublimate the pain by focusing on others and other task. In these ways we are letting the pain go or putting it down and finding rest from the burden of it’s weight.

Text: 

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Matthew 11:28-30  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

I.                   A Negative Example:  The Rich Young Ruler Chose to Retain His Burdens

Matt. 19 Mark 10 Luke 18

·        Pride

o   Wealth

o   Position

o   Reputation

·        Religion

·        Responsibility

II.                A Positive Example:  The Woman at the Well (John 4) Gladly Released Her Burdens

·        Sin

·        Reputation

·        Guilt

Transition:  In perilous times, if we carry heavy burdens, we will surely despair.  If we cast our cares on Him, we have great reason to hope!

 III.             Perilous Times Can Become Powerful Times

·        Economy – Obamacare - Unemployment

·        Social Problems – Crime – Immorality – World Gone Wild

 Ephesians 6:12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Psalm 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

•           The righteous remnant is a Biblical principle which guarantees the church’s survival.

•           It is not a time for gloom and despair; it is a time to stand firm and pray.

CONSIDER THE EXAMPLE of God's judgment on Sodom, and Abraham's intercession on their behalf:  ABRAHAMS NEGOTIATED THE NUMBER DOWN TO 10. God would have spared Sodom for 10 righteous persons. There are far more than 10 righteous saints in America!

 IV.      The Church Cannot be Defeated

•                     The White Star shipping company thought the Titanic was unsinkable

•                     Adolph Hitler thought the Third Reich would rule 1,000 years

•                     Stalin thought Communism would rule all the Earth

•                     Christopher Columbus thought the Earth was flat

•                     The Claims of this world often fall flat

·        BUT we have a MORE EXCELLENT knowledge in Christ!

UPON THIS ROCK I shall build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it!

Conclusion:  Call to Action! 

2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

•           Set our burdens down and take up HIS cross!  A nation will stand or fall on our prayers!