Have You Been Through The Fire And Flood

"Have You Been Through The Fire And Flood?"

By Pastor Ronnie Thrower

Calvary Baptist Church, Zephyrhills, FL

Text: Isaiah 43:2

Introduction:

No nation has ever passed through such deep and troublous waters as the Jewish people. No other people have walked through such fire of suffering and persecution as they have. The reason is clear, He said, "I am with thee." As He is with Israel, so is He with the church.

After looking through God’s Word I see two reasons that we as the children of God suffer. For...

Our Sins.

Christ’s Sake.

This tells us that the fire and the flood are for either judgment or testing and trial. One of the best pictures of Judgment by a flood is that of Noah day. We have to note first of all God himself was the one who launched and executed the judgment. (Genesis 6:17, "I, even I do bring a flood of waters upon the earth."

Second, the judgment of every living thing is coming. "I, even I, will do it.

It is not a matter...

of wondering if judgment is coming

of questioning if judgment is coming

of perhaps judgment is coming

The judgment of every living thing is coming. And God Himself is going to execute the judgment.

There’s coming a day when every man, woman, boy, and girl, will face the judgment of God and give account for how we have lived upon this earth.

Judgment is sure.

Judgment is coming and cannot be escaped.

How can we be so sure of this?

Because it is God Himself who has spoken and declared that

Judgment is coming. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27

When I look in God’s word I also find a picture for testing and trial.

In Daniel chapter 3, we have the familiar account of three Hebrew young men who were cast into a fiery furnace because they would not worship the image of gold which the king had erected. This passage not only pulsates with drama but is a thrilling account of courage and faith. Daniel 3 is a test of the believer’s worship.

We discover here what it is to take a stand for the Lord and refuse to compromise with the gods of this world.

I like verse 17, "if it be so (if you cast us in), our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O King. If Jesus goes with us we can go anywhere _ even into a fiery furnace. He told us, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

We see persecution, and preservation for God’s faithful children. After careful examination of the Scripture I have come to the conclusion that every redeemed one must pass through the Fire and the Waters of testing and trial.

Fire and water are often mentioned in Scripture to denote calamity because one overwhelms and the other consumes. But "Fear not" is the Saviour’s word of cheer, for, "I am with thee" Anytime God puts people through a test it is so that individual can know how they would react. God already knows .

Testing is always for...

Learning

Assurance

Strengthening

Scripture allows us to see that

I. The Fires & Floods Of Life Help Us To Realize Our Limitations.

How often in real life do we see people reaching out for help when they are in over there heads.

They are reaching because they realize they will perish without help.

You can only do just so much.

NOTE: Explain how a person in the water about to drown reaches for a lifeline.

II. The Fires & Floods Of Life Force Us To Reach Out To God.

Psalm 69:1 - 6

Please note that the word waters here in verse one are figurative of overwhelming troubles.

Also the word mire in verse two is figurative of sin and great troubles.

Have you ever been to the point were you realized that there was now other way out.

III. The Fires & Floods Of Life Reveal The Saving Grace Of God.

Turn to Psalm 23:4, 66:12,

Turn to Psalm. 124:1 - 8

I would like for you to note three calamities to be without God

1. We would have been swallowed up quick. (alive, Vs. 3)

2. The waters (referring to the enemies) would have overwhelmed us.)

3. The proud waters would have gone over our soul. (Vs 5)

a. Grace is not limited to those who reach out.

b. Grace provides a way of escape from the bondage of sin.

c. Grace provides security.

d. Grace stands alone.

It does not need a crutch.

It does not need altering.

It does not need repair.

It does not need man’s explanation

It is still sufficient for today! II Corinthians 12:9

e. Grace must be accepted.

1). Through Faith.

2). Through Repentance.