Karen Rinaldi was driving her car to work Tuesday December 15th of 1998. As she would tell it later it was just like any other Tuesday drive to work. As usual she was running a bit late and she was driving faster than she should have been. Driving along listening to traffic and weather reports she was barely paying attention to the road that she traveled down five days a week for the last eight years.
It all happened so suddenly. She came around a bend in the road and had to swerve to miss the large boulder that was right in her path. When she veered her car to the right Karen lost control of the car and it went recklessly off the road and toward the lake on the side of the road. In spite of her best efforts the car plunged into the lake and began to sink to the bottom. In a state of panic Karen could not get out of the car before it was completely submerged in water. Now hysterical all Karen could do was scream. When she tired of doing that she once again tried to exit the vehicle, but the pressure of the water on the doors held her captive. Nothing she tried worked and she sat back and began to cry knowing it was hopeless and knowing no one was coming to help.
Then she remembered her cell phone and quickly got it out of her purse and dialed 911.
It was a beautiful summer night this past July in Columbus, Ohio. The temperature during the day had been in the nineties but it had cooled off a great deal and the weather was perfect for a good night’s sleep. On the top floor of his third story apartment building Michael Bass with his windows open and a cool breeze blowing in laid his head down on his pillow. He knew the next time he lifted it up it would be time to go to work in the morning.
But something happened in the middle of the night before morning ever came. Michael woke up with a start at first not knowing what was wrong but then he determined that he could not breath. It felt like an enormous weight was on his chest. He tried to scream, to talk, to do anything – but all that would come out was a --- whisper. In terror he tried to think of what to do. There was no one else in the house. He was all alone. He knew his days on this earth were coming to an end and he leaned back down on his pillow.
Wait a minute. If he could just get to the phone. He reach over to the table by the side of his bed and after the second try got the phone in his hand and dialed 911.
Elizabeth McDaniel was awakened by a sound in the night. She was a mother of three and so she was used to getting woke up in the night. Her husband Jim had just started working third shift on his job so he was at work. Earlier in the week she had fallen and sprained her wrist and ankle. She really didn’t want to get up but the sound persisted and finally she began to hobble up the stairs to the kids rooms. She was half sleeping when she checked on the kids and then became alarmed when she realized the sound was coming from the outside. Someone was trying to get in the house.
Elizabeth froze in horror not knowing what to do and then she silently tiptoed to the phone and dialed 911.
What do you do when something happens that is beyond your control? What do you do when you stand by watching, wanting to help but completely helpless to correct the situation. Panic has set in as you try to figure out what to do. And then you think of it “Of course” you dial 911 and ask for help. When you dial 911 help is immediately dispatched to your location.
When life deals you a tough blow and you find yourself in a situation that you can no longer control, what are you going to do?
In life when the controlling factors say this is a helpless situation, what are you going to do?
In life when things happen that leave you hopeless and alone, what are you going to do?
® You could go to the doctor.
® You could go to a lawyer.
® You could go to a psychiatrist
® You could go to the banker for a loan.
® You could go to a friend
But I suggest that you dial 911!!! When you dial 911 help is immediately dispatched to your location.
Life’s circumstances are caving in all around you. There is no solid ground that you can see to stand upon. All means of earthly help have been exhausted. On the left and on the right there is chaos. In front and in back there is devastation. Your:
® Overwhelmed
® Discouraged
® Sick
® In financial distress
® Down and out
® Disheartened
® Depressed
® Broken
® Demoralized
What should you do? Let me suggest to you again this evening you should dial 911!!!! And help will be immediately dispatched to your location.
You might be saying Pastor your crazy. Why would I dial 911 when I have a problem in life.
Dial 911 - Psalm 911
Psalm 91:1
91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
If we can just get to the secret place of the most high and under the shadow of his protection everything will be alright.
If you need healing tonight dial 911
Luke 9:11
And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
Dial 911 - Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Dial 911 - 1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Dial 911 - Exodus 15:26 … I am the Lord that healeth thee.
If you need peace tonight dial 911
Isaiah 26:3-4
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Psalm 107:28-31
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Isaiah 25:4
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
If you need direction in your life dial 911.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
If you’ve got a financial need dial 911.
2 Corinthians 9:11
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
The cattle on a thousand hills belongs to God.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Dial 911 – Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
If you need salvation tonight dial 911.
Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 2:1-4
2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:37-39
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
If you have a need tonight come on down to the alter and dial 911. God will meet your need. He will be there right on time.
Dial 911
ÿ He is the mighty one
ÿ He protects us
ÿ He sustains us
ÿ Restores us
ÿ Rescues us
ÿ He watches over us and cares for us
ÿ He is the king of kings and lord of lords
Dial 911
ÿ He is our shield and stronghold
ÿ He is the shade at our right hand
ÿ Refuge in the time of trouble
ÿ Rock of ages
ÿ He is our strength and the lifter of our heads
Dial 911
ÿ He crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies
ÿ He is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path
ÿ He is our light and our salvation
Dial 911
ÿ The joy of the Lord is our strength
ÿ He has given us the oil of joy for mourning
ÿ With joy we can draw from the wells of salvation
Dial 911
ÿ He is our rock
ÿ He is our fortress
ÿ He is our high tower
ÿ He is our defense
ÿ He is our banner
Dial 911
ÿ He holds us in the palm of his hand
ÿ He places his seal over our heart
ÿ He is our shepherd
ÿ He is our hiding place and preserves us from trouble
Dial 911
ÿ Under his wings and under his feathers we are safe
ÿ He is the one who hemmed us in behind and before and laid his hand upon us.
ÿ Daily he loads us with blessings
ÿ In his presence is fullness of joy
Dial 911
ÿ He is the supplier of all our needs
ÿ His mercies are new every morning – great is your faithfulness
ÿ He is the giver of life
ÿ In him there is abundance
Dial 911
ÿ He is the light of the world
ÿ Bread of life
ÿ Lamb of God
ÿ The living God
ÿ Lily of the valley
ÿ Sweet rose of sharon
Dial 911
ÿ He is the resurrection and the life
ÿ Alpha and omega
ÿ Beginning and the end
ÿ First and the last
ÿ Bright and morning star
Dial 911