What Do You Believe about Your Future
What Do You Believe about Your Future?
January 8th and 9th, 2005
Introduction
What would you say if I told you your future could be bright? What would you say if I told you your future was not so bright? Here is the reality. Whichever of those statements you believe is probably correct.
There is a teaching that says your future is set and you are here as a puppet just to live it out. I believe according to the Bible that God has given us tremendous responsibility concerning our future. We have a choice about a lot of things.
I want to look at a couple of stories from the Bible and then apply their truths to our lives. The first one is about the apostle Paul. He has appealed to Caesar and he is on his way to Rome by ship to stand trial. He is accompanied by a Roman soldier. We pick the story up in Acts 27.
Acts 27 NIV
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster,” swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. 17 When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete/; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” [1]/
-Here they go towards Rome and they get into a hurricane. It is one thing to be on the shore when a hurricane hits. It is another to be in a boat with one.
-The ship is battered and there are no stars. It is really depressing for days.
-Paul tells the crew:
· I told you so…you should have listened.
· You are going to live.
· I saw an angel from God…it will be alright.
· We are going to run aground on an island…it might be scary.
· Don’t be afraid.
25 /So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. [2] (NIV)/
/So, dear friends, take heart. I believe God will do exactly what he told me.[3] (Message)/
25/ Therefore take heart, men, jfor I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.[4](NKJV)/
-Why did Paul believe his future was bright?
-What caused him to have faith?
(Turkey pictures 156 ff)
-Hold your place and turn to Acts 20.
Acts 20
13 /We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.[5] /
-As Paul was leaving Troas he sent his friends ahead and he walked by himself from Troas to Assos. It was his Gesthamane. He was settling his future.
-He receives word after word about what will happen to him in Jerusalem. He has been very successful. He is probably weighing his options.
-We know that he settled in his heart to go to Jerusalem even though he knew it meant his capture.
1. Commit Your Future to God
-Someone said ‘I don’t know the future but I know who holds the future.’
-Paul had settled it that his life was not his own. His future was bright because His future was in God’s hand.
-Settle it. Your life is not your own.
23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me.
-If you want a bright future you have to lose control.
-I was at a seminar this past week and as we were praying for the recently persecuted Chinese leaders I was just thinking how they felt.
-I bet they were lying on a cold floor wishing they could just hug their wives and children.
-How can they trust God in a situation like that? There is only one way….they have to believe that their life is in God’s hands.
2. What Did God Say?
25 “…….for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.”
-Faith begins where the will of God is known.
-Faith isn’t a goal. It is your heart’s response to the grace of God. It is your heart’s response to His promise.
-If we ask anything according to His will we know that He hears us and if we know that He hears us we know we have the petitions we ask. (1 John 5:14)
-Paul’s faith was a response to the word and promise of God.
-What was the promise? You are going to make it and I am going to save the people with you as well in answer to your prayer.
-What did God say to you? What are His promises to you?
-You are going to make it. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. You are going to live forever. You will fulfill your destiny. Etc.
-If you don’t know what He said and promised to you, look it up.
-Write down what God has said to you in His Word and by the Spirit.
-Paul told Timothy to remember the prophecies spoken over him.
-What does God say about your family, your business, your body, or your children?
-Do you have faith that it will be done just as He told you?
3. Your Future is Bright BUT it May not be Trouble Free
-There were still some obstacles in Paul’s way. There will be in yours as well.
-Many are the afflictions of the righteous but…
-In the world you will have tribulation but….
-If you keep reading the story there are some men who try to escape and Paul squeals on them.
-Worse yet, he gets on shore and they are building a fire and out comes a viper and bites him.
-This isn’t a crocodile hunter episode. He just wants to get warm by the fire.
-My first thought is….Lord; you saved me from the ocean. Couldn’t we have avoided this snake encounter altogether?
-What’s up with that?
-Sometimes we think having faith means no problems.
Example
That reminds me of the poster for the lost dog. Lost; one small dog with no teeth, one leg, one ear and many scars and cuts. Goes by the name “Lucky.”
-Doug has had a rough couple of months. He has been in the emergency room many times as well as a car wreck. He is still here.
-Several people in our church were diagnosed with cancer. They are still here.
-Faith just says, “I WILL NEVER QUIT.”
-Be optimistic. Brother Hagin said it is a year of judgment. That is a good thing. It means God is working on His church getting it ready for bigger things.
-Pat Robertson says it is a year of prosperity and miracles.
-SIGN ME UP FOR THAT.
4. What Do You Do When it Just Seems Like You Are Out of Faith?
Mark 9
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil a spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 /He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer. (and fasting)b” [6] /
-I love this story because it shows the humanity of the man as well as the disciples, yet, the request was answered.
· He was honest. He admitted that he was having a struggle believing.
· He spoke what he did believe. “I do believe.”
-Let me add a couple more important things.
· Speak the Word (The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God)
· Pray in the Spirit Much
(Jude 20: /But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.[7] )/
-What’s in store for your future? I say it is as bright as the promises of God.
2 Corinthians 1
18 /But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas a and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.[8] /
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[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ac 27:13). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[2]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ac 27:25). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[3]Peterson, E. H. (1995). The message : New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs (Ac 27:1). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.
j Luke 1:45; Rom. 4:20, 21; 2 Tim. 1:12
[4]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Ac 27:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[5]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ac 20:13). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
a Greek unclean
b Some manuscripts prayer and fasting
[6]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Mk 9:26). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[7]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Jud 20). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
a Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
[8]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (2 Co 1:18). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.