Matthew 11:2-12; 14:1-13

 

Years ago an S‑4 submarine was rammed by a ship off the coast of Massachusetts. It sank immediately. The entire crew was trapped in a prison house of death. Every effort was made to rescue the crew, but all ultimately failed. Near the end of the ordeal, a deep‑sea diver, who was doing everything in his power to find a way for the crew's release, thought he heard a tapping on the steel wall of the sunken sub. He placed his helmet up against the side of the vessel and he realized it was the Morse Code. He attached himself to the side and he spelled out in his mind the message being tapped from within. It was repeating the same question. The question, from within was: "IsYthereYanyYhope?"  The Tale Of The Tardy Oxcart  Charles R. Swindoll, Word, p. 275.

 

A construction worker working during the night five stories in the air tripped and hanging on the edge of the building he was screaming for dear life but no one could hear him because of the equipment that was running.  When he could hold on no longer, he let go and fell three inches because of wood planks of lumber that been placed there on scaffolding for some work to be done. 

 

If you struggle with your faith, then you are not alone. Jesus assessed John the Baptist as a great man of God yet he had a great crisis of faith.  He didn’t say he was the greatest but he was great; thus, that means you and I can achieve that same level of greatness in the eyes of the Lord.

 

For me to say I understand so I can convey to you how to understand - well that would be a misunderstanding.  Why? The bible Says,

 

Romans 11:33 O the depth (extent) of the riches (wealth) both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable (not searched out)  [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out (untraceable, unsearchable)!

 

However, I do understand some things that you can understand that will help us understand that we don=t have to understand. Do you understand?

 

Job, who had been extremely and abundantly blessed by God, was suddenly, forcibly and without warning, struck with the decimation of virtually all he possessed, responded with an almost  incomprehensible loving and virtuous faith:

 

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

 

Verse 15. Though he slay me I have no dependence but God; I trust in him alone. Should he even destroy my life by this affliction, yet will I hope that when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. I will NOT hope; One translator renders the verse similar to this: “Lo, there is nether comfort nor hope for me, if he will slay me.”

 

This reminds me of those famous works of Simon Peter,

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

 

Paul Said,

Ro 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

AThere are basically two responses to what God is doing in the light of eternity - Trusting Faith or Unbelieving Rejection.@  Dennis Deese

 

In the midst of those things we don=t understand, there are some things about God that we can understand and be assured of that will allay our fears and questions.  I want to lay out a clear path of understanding that will help you when you don’t understand.

 

I want to give you something to hang your hat on. Some certainty in the midst of your uncertainty and unwanted changes:

 

I.          HE=S OMNISCIENT

 

 (Having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.)

 

Psalms 147:5 Great [is] our Lord, and of great power: his understanding [is] infinite.

 

Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding.

 

II.         HE UNDERSTANDS 11:4 AGo show John again@

 

III.        HE=S SOVEREIGN  11:5 AThe dead are raised@

 

(Unmitigated Control,  supreme power)  Consequently He=s in control and won=t give to or share with no one or no thing his control.

 

Yahweh - AThe Self‑Existent One@

 

Pr 21:1 The king=s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

 

Job 9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

 

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

 

IV.       HE=S PREEMINENT

 

(Eminent above or before others; superior; surpassing:)

 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stated in Da 3:17-18 If it be [so], 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.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

 

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.