“IF”
“Jesus for the IF in LIFe”
By
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
2nd Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.
There is an insurance company called “Metlife”. The actual name is Metropolitan Life Insurance, but it’s called Metlife for short. Metlife has commercials on T.V. that say “For the IF in life – there’s metlife”.
The commercials go something like this: IF for such a small word it packs quite a wallup.
IF I live to 100.
IF social security is not enough.
IF my heart gets broken.
IF she says yes.
IF in the blink of an eye my 6 year old turns 16.
IF my families future means the world to me.
IF I can’t count on a goof pension.
IF your life is full of things that need to be protected.
IF you get in a fender bender.
IF your identity goes sailing without you.
IF your savings is lost.
IF you have health issues.
IF you need money for college or home improvements – there’s Metlife.
They go on to say that together we can build a safety net or a launching pad for all those IF’s in life. One commercial even says guarantees for the IF in life.
From that commercial and this text I like to use for this subject “Jesus for the IF in life”.
The word IF as mentioned a moment ago is a very small word yet it packs quite a powerful wallup. Not only is it a very powerful word. It is a conditional word. In school we learned that the word IF is a conjunction. Thanks to Saturday morning cartoon, when cartoons were cartoons and not this mess they have on now, we learned that a conjunctions function was to hook up words, phrases and clauses. Remember the Saturday morning School House Rock said Conjunction Junction what’s your function hooking up words, phrases and clauses. So we know that it is a conjunction; however, I said that the word “IF” is a conditional word. Unlike the word “BUT” that negates whatever precedes it, the word “IF” means that there is an effect or consequence that is to follow.
Let me give and example of this: Romans 6:20-22 “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Romans 7:5-6 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter. Romans 8:5-6 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace 8:13 For IF ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but IF ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
See the conjunction “BUT” negates everything that preceded it; however, the word “IF” is a conditional word that produces a result.
In the technical or computer field for example the “IF” statement is called “Conditional Programming”. It simply says IF this happens then the effect or result will be this. It is the most basic of control flow statements. It tells the program to execute a certain code or result IF a particular circumstance is performed.
Let me give a little example: On your computer key board there are 85 different keys. Each key has a code to it and IF you press a certain key then a certain result will happen. For Example: IF you press the letter M on your key board the letter M will be seen on the computer screen because a condition was met which then produced the result of the letter M to appear on your screen. Now IF you press the letter M on your keyboard and the letter Z appears on your screen the IF statement condition was not properly met; therefore, it produced the wrong result.
Let’s make it even so the children can understand it. IF you are playing Xbox or Playstation and you are playing a fighting game like Mortal Combat or Virtual Fighter, in order to make you character do their special move you have to press the buttons in a certain order. IF you press the X & Y buttons and make the arrows do a half circle at the same time and IF you do that correctly then scorpion, who was my favorite character in Mortal Combat would send out his daggers into Sub-Zero and say get over here. Scorpion would pull Sub-Zero over to him and hit him with a punch that would zap him of his strength and even kill him. Now IF you didn’t do it correctly or in time then Sub-Zero would do his special move the result would be that he would freeze you right in your place a literally hit you out of the picture screen zapping a great portion of your life IF it wasn’t enough to kill you. It’s all based on the “IF” statement which controls the flow of how things happen.
Well we find in our text that God appeared to Solomon for the 2nd time. Understand that Solomon was the King of Israel, the son of David. Here God makes a covenant with Solomon and in this covenant with Solomon we find some IF statements, remember an “IF” statement controls the flow of how something goes.
To get the full understanding of this covenant we must go back to 1st Kings 9:3-9 “And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And IF thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, [and] wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. [But] ( WHICH WILL NEGATE ALL OF THAT) IF ( CONDITIONAL PROGRAMMING) ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments [and] my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: Then he goes on to say IF I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or IF I command the locusts to devour the land, or IF I send pestilence among my people. And at this house, [which] is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house? And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil”. BUT he goes on to tell Solomon even after all of this “IF ( conditional programming that controls the flow here of God’s blessings) my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.
Someone may say well that’s good, but that was Solomon and the Israelites. True but the subject of this message is “Jesus for the IF in life” let’s make it personal.
IF the economy fails.
IF the doctors says you have a terminal illness.
IF your job decides to downsize and you are the first one on this list.
IF your house is facing foreclosure.
IF your marriage is on the rocks.
IF your children are gone totally out of control.
IF you feel as though you’re gonna loose your mind.
IF you feel like you can’t go on.
IF you’re down to your last dime.
IF the rent is due and the baby needs a pair of shoes.
IF the bank said no.
IF your heart has been broken.
IF it seems like you’re in the middle of a storm stuck in a boat with a hole in it.
IF you’re hooked on drugs.
IF you’re hooked on alcohol.
IF you’re involved in a homosexual relationship.
IF you’re in an abusive relationship.
IF you’re in a loveless relationship.
IF hell is breaking loose in every aspect of your lIFe.
IF you have thought of taking your own lIFe.
IF you’re wondering what will the new President do.
IF your car is about to be repossessed.
IF you know somebody in Iraq.
IF it seem like every time you come out of one trouble you walk right into another.
IF it seems like every time a door opens it leads to a brick wall.
IF it seems like you are all alone.
IF your family has forsaken you.
IF friends have turned their backs on you.
IF you’re struggling with the guilt of your past.
IF grief has gripped your heart.
IF you’re not saved.
IF you are saved.
IF trouble is all around you.
IF your life is turned upside down.
IF you have breath in your body.
I want to tell you to hold out just a little while longer. I am reminded of a scripture that says weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning. IF you can hold out until the morning time everything will be alright.
But someone may say preacher that sounds good, but you just don’t understand I’ve been holding on for so long. I can’t make it another minute I came here today as a last ditch effort I made up my mind IF I don’t get help right now IF I walk out those doors I won’t make it to the end of the street. See the gun is in the car and I gonna blow my brains out IF I don’t get help and you want me to hold on till morning I don’t think I will make it to the morning. So what am I going to do? We are quick to tell people to hold on, but in times like these they may have been holding on long enough THEN WHAT.
Well this is where we as saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled people come in. The Bible says that the strong are to bare the infirmities of the weak. So we are to be our brother & sisters keeper and bare them up and help them make it. BUT – so many times we that are supposed to be strong CHURCH FOLK have so many issues that we can’t help somebody else. We so often times say I just don’t have the time I’m to busy. I’m talking about Church Folk. We go through the motions of what we call church at church, but when we leave the church building the world doesn’t even realize that you are a Christian because you are doing the same thing they are doing. You haven’t maintained a standard of Holiness. So how can they help me?. This is what the world is saying.
I am reminded of a song we used to sing that simply said “IF you call on Jesus he will answer prayers”. Conditional Programming that controls the flow of blessings.
IF you call on Jesus he will answer prayers. IF you call Him in the morning. IF you call Him in the noonday. IF you call Him in the midnight hour He will answer prayers. Simply call Him up and tell Him what you want.
The thing I like about Jesus is all you have to do is say His name. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. See there is something about that name. At the name of Jesus the demons tremble. At the name of Jesus we have the victory. At the name of Jesus demon have to flee. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. Who can stand before us when we call on His great name Jesus Jesus precious savior we have the victory.
JESUS FOR THE IF IN LIFE
Make it personal JESUS FOR THE IF IN MY LIFE.
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
