We Were Soldiers Series
"Soldiers Hold Back The Flood" 2 of 3 * Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)
March 30, 2003 Chester’s FBC Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction: Flood video
A Text: Isaiah 59:19 NKJV
"So shall they fear The name of LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him."
a ESS: Isaiah told King Hezekiah how God would protect Judah from the path of an immanent raging flood.
b ETS: God wants us to protect against an enemy that is flooding our town.
B I hope you’ll volunteer to help in at least one of three Servant Evangelism events during the week preceding Easter. (Objective)
a Who will carry a sandbag with me? (Probing Question)
b T.S.: Let’s look at two forces that are working in this modern day flood that is racing towards our town.
John 10:10a "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.....
I The first force that is working in this modern day flood is...the enemy that wants to leave Chester in ruins.
A His plans includes causing a devastating flood that takes everything not fastened down.
a Matthew 24:38/39 [38] For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; [39] and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
b They didn’t even know it was coming. They were in the dark about the flood.
*The flood sirens should have been blaring...the gates should be secured...levies should be reinforced & guarded...but they didn’t know it was coming. THEY WERE IN THE DARK.
B Clip of "The Ghost & The Darkness"
C I Peter 5:8 "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
a Lions don’t hunt exclusively at night, but usually they do hunt under a cloak of darkness. (Their eyes are designed for preying on unsuspecting victims in the dark.)
b When we drift away from the light that Christ Jesus, we drift into the shadows...we become easy prey for the enemy. (We are surrounded by community that is in the dark about the enemy. Dark about the flood waters that are lapping against the gates.)
T.S.: There is a force that is working to leave Chester in ruins, but praise God there is another force that is work here!
John 10:10b "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
II The second force that is working in this modern day flood is...the savior who wants to lead our town to rescue.
A The devil/enemy is plotting & scheming to bring us down. (Things look bad.)
a Fig. 5.1 & Fig. 1.1 (Surprising insights from the unchurched: And proven ways to reach Them, Thom Rainer)
*Barna Research Group "2/3 of all adults who have accepted Chrsit as their Savior made their decision to do so before the age of 18."
b He’s flooding our towns with divorce, broken homes, loneliness, alcohol/drug addiction, young adults who are making up their own rules, throwing out the Bible, immorality, gangs.....easy to say "We’re finished.", because it does look dark.
*It reminds me of another dark day on hill outside Jerusalem. 3 nails and a crown of thorns...Jesus Christ said, "It’s finished."
We are in the flood!!!
B I know what will survive the flood.
a The nails that held him on the Cross have turned to rust & the thorns have turned to dust. He’s risen and he’s living in me!!!
b God will survive the flood. (Ps. 146:10)
The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.
The Church will survive the flood. (Matt. 16:18)
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
I will survive the flood. (1 John 2:17)
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
*He’s plucked me out of the flood. John 10:28
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
*My job is now to grab a sandbag and try to keep back the flood. Why?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
*Jesus wants to lead our town to rescue and he wants to do it through you.
C Titanic had 20 lifeboats. ONLY ONE went back for survivors.
a Clip of "Titanic"
b Some wish to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.
Conclusion:
A Isaiah told King Hezekiah how God would protect Judah from the path of an immanent raging flood. ETS: God wants us to protect against an enemy that is flooding our town.
(We’ve looked at two forces that are working in this modern day flood that is racing towards our town.
a An enemy that wants to leave this town in ruins.
b A Savior that wants to lead this town to rescue.
B I hope you’ll volunteer to help in at least one of three Servant Evangelism events during the week preceding Easter. (Objective)
a Explain the 3 opportunities. (Ushers pass out sign up cards)
aa. April 15th (Stamp give-away at post office)
bb. April 19th (Donut give-away)
cc. April 19th (Gas give-away)
b Bad News & Good News.
Bad news is that the flood waters are rising
Good news is the Lord is raising His Church.
C Who will carry a sandbag with me? (Probing Question)
a Asian missionary M. V. Varghese told of a commonplace tragedy in India. An Indian woman named Alila took her tiny infant to the River Ganges. With tears pouring from her eyes she stood there for a long time with the water lapping at the baby’s feet. Then she threw her six-month-old baby into the river. Varghese found her weeping along the river’s bank. Through her sobs she said, "The problems in my home are too many and my sins are heavy on my heart, so I offered the best I have to the goddess Ganges: my first-born son." The missionary gently told her of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. She tearfully responded, "I have never heard that before. Why couldn’t you have come thirty minutes earlier? My child would not have had to die." People are desperate for what only God can provide.
b Who will carry a sandbag with me?
Pray
I will volunteer to help in at least one of three Servant Evangelism events during the week preceding Easter by.......
Circle the ministry (or ministries) you would like to serve in.
Buying ____ roll(s) of stamps. Help with the gas give-away on April 19th
Handing out stamps on April 15th Give $________ towards these events
Passing out donuts on April 19th I’ll help anyway I can.
Name:_________________________________ Phone: ___________________________
***Notice: I have used Sermon Central sermons for a very long time. If this or any of my sermons are similar to a sermon that is currently already on Sermon Central by another pastor or teacher.....chances are I have used it. Actually, there is probably absolutely nothing in this sermon that hasn’t been preached before! If I used your sermon and haven’t given you credit, please write me and I’ll give you credit by name. I have in no way intentionally withheld credit to any work I’ve used/borrowed from. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF I HAVE "USED" YOUR WORK IT WAS BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU HAD A SUPER SERMON! I prefer to preach with an outline and just rearranged your sermon. My intent is to make sermons relevant and easy for outline guys to use. If you use MY work, feel free to claim it. I do not care!!! Simply realize that I have borrowed from other preachers, too.
Mike Fogerson, Pastor, Chester’s First Baptist Church
