For I Believe God
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A BLIND girl, one day, was caught in a fire on the tenth floor of a building.
She could make her way to a window, but she couldn't see anything. She felt the heat and smelled the smoke of the fire. Then she heard a fireman yell,
"Jump, jump!"
She said, "I'm scared to jump. I can't see."
The fireman said, "If you don't jump, you're going to die. Take the risk, and jump."
It's bad enough to jump from ten stories high, but to jump when you can't see where you're jumping— that's terror. In the midst of the chaos and confusion, she heard another voice, "Darling, jump, I've got you." She smiled and said, "Okay, Daddy, I'Il jump."
Jesus Christ is inviting us to jump. He knows we're nervous, but just jump. He knows you're scared, but just jump. Remember, we're talking about your Daddy. We're talking about Somebody you know. You've seen what He can do.
Lets turn to Acts 27
At this point Paul is a prisoner .
They are on a boat with about 276 prisoners headed to Italy
Paul warned the captain and the owner of the boat that there would be a big storm, Paul said “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, but also our lives.:”
I can imagine the captain and the owner of the boat saying to themselves what is this prisoner talking about .
-This storm was indeed a hurricane that ripped through there path.
this storm lasted many days .
The storm was so bad they didn’t see the sun nor the stars for many days.
They got to the point where they wanted to give up hope.
They started throwing cargo aboard than ship tackle.
They Started to get very desperate for survival.
Then Paul stood up again!
21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
The men had a gone day without food. they had anxiety, seasickness.
The seasickness possibly caused them no to have a appetite.
Pauls not saying “I told you so” lol
But he essentially saying its time for you to believe.
Stop doubting and believe.
Jesus told Thomas,
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
You see the manifestation of Gods word come true. You see real life testimonies of men and women who where delivered from addictions, prison, and even death. You see Gods word come alive and He gave you that peace and comforted you in your time of need. But yet your still unbelieving?
How many of us truly believe God?
22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
Paul told them once to take heart !
23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
The angel of God told Paul he would be brought before Caesar.
The quote “God has granted you” Some translation say “has graciously given you “ suggest a granting in response to prayer for the safekeeping of all.
Paul has been asking for deliverance on behalf of everyone on the ship.
Like Abraham interceding for the people of Sodom Gen 18:23.
He gave him a guarantee that this will happen.
If Paul wasn’t on the boat they would’ve died.
But because God had a plan there lives where saved.
25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
When Paul said “take heart” he saying be inspired with confidence!
Be cheerful, be encouraged.
To keep ones courage.
Essentially he’s saying have good feelings about this one be in good spirits.
Paul saying I have faith in God. I entrust God for this situation and what He told me.
Essentially God is as good as His word!
The challenge for us as believers is to trust that God is as good as His word.
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
David would worship at the place of Gods dwelling . He would worship God in His own way in His own terms.
David didn’t fall into the will - worship of superstition (this is where man builds his own God) , or the wild worship of skepticism ( this is when man doesn’t know what he believes and questions everything).
But He worship God as He ascribes us to worship. On His terms.
The Jew looked to the temple but we look to Jesus.
What God has freely promised He has freely performed.
IN COURTHOUSES, you see policemen on post to keep the peace. The fact that a judge may have made you upset by ruling against you does not change the fact that you have to behave respectfully in the courtroom and stay in your seat. Your feelings of frustration do not justify an emotional response or causing chaos in the courtroom. You have to control yourself in the court-room. Why? Because if you don't, the policemen have the backing of the law to make you behave. Your feelings have to adjust to the reality of where you are.
In the same way, we must measure our feelings and emotions against the reality of God's Word. His Word sets the tone for how we live, not our feelings.