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IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL, GOD IS THERE #1) Is it well? A) In 1870 Horatio Spafford lost his only son at the age of four to scarlet fever. - In 1871 the great fire of Chicago financially ruined Horatio Spafford. - In 1873 He decided to take a vacation and go to Europe with His family. - This was also a missionary endeavor; Horatio was a close friend of Dwight L. Moody. - Horatio and His wife Anna had arranged to help Moody as he evangelized. - He was delayed because of business and decided to send his wife and for daughters ahead. - Half way across the Atlantic the ship collided with another and went down killing all four girls. - News of the tragedy reached Horatio before any details. - His wife made it to Europe and sent a two-word telegraph that read “Saved Alone”. - He immediately boarded a ship for England to be with his wife. - The ship passed the exact location where the tragedy took place. - It was there that He wrote the Hymn “It Is Well With My Soul”. - Let me read the words of this hymn. B) Revelation 1:8-11 We have all been in troubling situations and cried out to God, 'WHY ME?" - At these times we feel alone. - Confusion sets in and we feel as if there’s no way of escaping these horrible tragedies. - We feel as though we are caught in the middle of a pool of quick sand with no help in sight. - It’s at this time that CONFUSION quickly takes over. - We don’t seem to understand why these things happen to us. HOWEVER… C) Lets stop for a moment and consider Johns' situation. - Here we have a man that had devoted His entire life to the cause of Christ. - John writes the book of revelation while in one of the worst situation he had ever experienced. - John tells us in verse 9 that he’s there because He was doing the will of God; He was a witness. - Yet the only negative thing John has to say isn’t negative at all. - In verse 9 he says he is a “companion in tribulations”. - If anyone could cry out “WHY ME” it was John. D) He was boiled in hot oil and sent to this island in the middle of the ocean to die. - If anyone could feel alone, confused, abandoned and without a way to escape it was John. - John possessed a working knowledge that we need to understand to a greater degree. - “I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING” #2) Right in the middle of Gods plan. A) John learned that if God is the Beginning and the End then right now we must be in the middle of His plan. - John was in the middle of the ocean right in the middle of Gods plan. - For the child of God there is no such thing as being alone. - No problem or tragedy can ever remove God from our presence. - If we are in the MIDDLE then we can be assured of one thing, Gods right there with us. - It’s wonderful to know that you’re in the middle of Gods plan. - In verse 10 John says “I was in the Spirit” John wasn’t crying why me. - John was told, “I AM THE BEGINNING AND THE END”. - Revelation 1:17 He was told to follow a specific instruction… “FEAR NOT” B) There’s nothing wrong with wondering why you’re in any given situation, but don’t allow that situation to overtake you. - Jesus told John “Fear Not”, the same is true for us today. - Let me show you why we should “Fear Not”. - Daniel 3:10-13 Here are three men just like John who were only serving God. - These three men are given an ultimatum, worship idols or be thrown into the MIDST of the fire. - Right into the MIDDLE of your worst nightmare. - Yet they didn’t fear, they knew that God is both their beginning and end. - Daniel 3:16-17 They said “Whatever my lot IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL”. - They didn’t cry out WHY ME GOD, they didn’t worry they didn’t panic… - They knew that Jesus was in their MIDST. - Daniel 3:24-26 Jesus was right in the midst, right in the middle of their fiery trial. - THE CHILD OF GOD IS NEVER ALONE. - Jesus is always in the middle of our difficulties just waiting to help and protect us. - Four were in the midst of the fire but only three came out. C) God is the Alpha and Omega, He knows our trials BEFORE they ever come and He’s there just waiting to help us. - Had these three men ran from this trial they would have never come to see Jesus face to face. - If John ran from tribulation He would have never been the recipient of Jesus' Revelation. - For these men whatever Gods will for their life may be it was “Well With Their Soul”. - Trials and tribulations should never cause us to be afraid. - Trials and tribulations should never cause us to feel abandoned. - And they should never cause us to feel confused. - What we need to know above all is that I’m putting my faith in the Alpha and Omega. - We may never know the “whys” to our trials; what’s more important is the “HOWS”. - Did we handle the situation “HOW” God desires for us to? - These men dealt with their trials exactly as God desired for them to, they allowed God to be in control. - Allowing God to be in absolute control is an amazing blessing.- He wants to make our decisions for us, He wants to be our strength and courage, and He wants to fight our battles. - God is the Alpha and Omega and we are here in the middle of His wonderful plan for our lives. - For me that’s “Well With My Soul”. D) Tragedies, trials and difficulties will come but the saved child of God never has to go through them alone. - Matthew 14:23-25 With Jesus as our savior we have nothing to fear. - Some of us may very well be in the “MIDST” of a terrible storm right now. - Jesus is there just waiting for us to reach out for His help. - Will you take His help today? - Matthew 14:27 “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” - We can all leave here today and say “It Is Well With My Soul”. - God is our Alpha and Omega, allow Him to be your complete Refuge,
Strength and Help today.
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