If We Believe!

Introduction: Let me begin with a story that took place back in WWII.

Once a refugee pastor from Nazi Germany give his testimony. He had been a well-known figure in Germany and was personally known to many of the Nazi leaders. He told how once he attended a giant rally at which the speaker launched into the usual tirade against the Jews. Then he spotted this pastor in the audience. He picked him out for special mention. “Pastor Schutez,” he said, “you are a fool! Imagine anyone believing in a crucified, dead Jew!”

The pastor jumped to his feet. “I should indeed be a fool,” he cried in ringing tones, “if I believed in a crucified, dead Jew. But I believe in the risen, living Son of God!”

Scripture Reading:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV 1900

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Proposition: There are 3 promises that God gives us today from these verses.

Transition:The first promise,

If We Believe, We Have Hope- Vs 13

Exposition- To expect with confidence

Nothing is sadder than for a person to die not knowing Jesus as their savior

There is no hope in which a lost person can go through this life and look forward to dying.

However, Paul makes a great statement about death. For those who believe, it is as if we are simply asleep.

Illustration- John Maxwell tells about a small town in Maine that was proposed for the site of a great hydro-electric plant. A dam would be built across the river and the town submerged. When the project was announced, the people were given many months to arrange their affairs and relocate. During those months, a curious thing happened. All improvements ceased. No painting was done. No repairs were made on the buildings, roads, or sidewalks. Day by day the whole town got shabbier and shabbier. A long time before the waters came, the town looked uncared for and abandoned, even though the people had not yet moved away. One citizen explained: “Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.” That town was cursed with hopelessness because it had no future.

Application-

Hope is what gets you through the day!

Hope is what anchors your soul as Peter put it. It keeps you moving forward when everything else tries to get you to quit.

Life can be discouraging, it can be crippling, but if we believe then we have hope that this is not the end. Death isn’t the final destination.

One fact still rings loud and clear and that fact is YOU MUST BELIEVE!

Transition- The first promise is hope, the second promise is...

If We Believe, We Have Comfort- Vs 18

Exposition- Paul takes great care to tell the people comfort each other.

We can find comfort in God’s promises.

God cannot lie and he is the original promise keeper.

You will go through difficult times in your life. The loss of a loved one, new careers, finances, marriage problems. These are all things that can bring us to our knees.

Sorrow, sadness, pain, was not meant to be a place that you live in. It is simply there to let you know you are still alive. You are not alone. We can take comfort in the fact that even death can’t keep us from the love of God.

Illustration-

Elisha A. Hoffman was born May 7, 1839, in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. His father was a minister, and Elisha followed Christ at a young age. He attended Philadelphia public schools, studied science, then pursued the classics at Union Seminary of the Evangelical Association. He worked for eleven years with the Association’s publishing house in Cleveland, Ohio.

Then, following the death of his young wife, he returned to Pennsylvania and devoted thirty-three years to pastoring Benton Harbor Presbyterian Church. Hoffman’s pastime was writing hymns, many of which were inspired by pastoral incidents.

One day, for example, while calling on the destitute of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, he met a woman whose depression seemed beyond cure. She opened her heart and poured on him her pent-up sorrows. Wringing her hands, she cried, “What shall I do? Oh, what shall I do?” Hoffman knew what she should do, for he had himself learned the deeper lessons of God’s comfort. He said to the woman, “You cannot do better than to take all your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.”

Suddenly the lady’s face lighted up. “Yes!” she cried, “That’s it! I must tell Jesus.” Her words echoed in Hoffman’s ears, and he mulled them over as he returned home. He drew out his pen and started writing, I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! / I cannot bear my burdens alone; / I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! / Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

Hoffman lived to be ninety, telling Jesus his burdens and giving the church such hymns as What A Wonderful Savior, Down at the Cross, Are You Washed in the Blood?, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, and a thousand more.

Application-

God has sent us here today to realize that we must comfort each other during those rough times in our life.

What’s greater than that though, is if you believe, then you have also received the comforter. Complete joy, peace, and strength.

Transition- We have the promise of hope, and a promise of comfort, the third promise we have is...

If We Believe, We Have a Future- 14-17

Exposition- The Old Testament foretold of a coming Messiah to save the world. The New Testament tells us that He indeed did come, and He will be coming again.

For over 2000 years Christians have watched, waited and wondered is Jesus coming back.

Faith has been tested and many have gone to sleep eternally during this period of time.

This makes some wonder is it true? Has God forgotten about us? Did it already happen?

To me this shows that God has not forgotten about us. Just the opposite, it shows the great patience that God has for us that he is giving you ample opportunity to surrender your heart to Him.

The day will come, the trumpet will sound, and the battle cry will ring out and Jesus will be coming to gather the saved!

The voice that wakes the dead will be heard once more!

Illustration-

The first time it was heard was with Lazarus, He called out and Lazarus came forth

The second time was on the cross, Jesus cried out and gave up the ghost and the graves were opened after his resurrection.

The next time it will be heard there will be a mass exodus from the grave! The voice will be heard on every continent, and ocean and the dead in Christ shall rise!

The will come by the 10,000’s and thousands of thousands!

Application

Death can not hold us back! For if we believe, on this day our bodies will rejoin our eternal soul.

We will meet Jesus in the air

We will once again be reunited with our loved ones who have gone on before

As the song says what a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see!

There is a catch! You Must Believe