FAITH IN THE DARK HOURS. . .

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Pastor Rick Jackson

We must have FAITH IN THE DARK HOURS

HOURS OF FAILURE…

HOURS OF SIN… something you should not have done,   something you left undone

HOURS OF SADNESS…  perhaps a friend has disappointed you or you may have disappointed them, someone has strangely turned away from you without you knowing why

HOURS OF SORROW… loss affects us all

HOURS OF THE UNKNOWN…      the corona virus, the elections, your finances, sinkholes, fires, flooding

The Christian has all these problems just like the world, but the Christian should have something the world doesn’t have because the Christian has Someone the world doesn’t have! The Christian has Christ! The Christian has the indwelling Holy Spirit! The Christian has the Heavenly Father! The Christian has the Word of God! Therefore, no matter what happens, who happens, or when it happens, the Christian should have faith!

Obviously, we cannot name every situation and every particular problem every person is facing but let us see something that can help every one of us! My wife and I were sick with the flu this week. My brother in serious condition in the hospital. My plans for this week all demolished or delayed. My ability to do much about the situation severely limited… but God was not sick. God was not infirm. God’s plans have not changed. God’s purpose has not wavered. God is not limited. So…

I. HAVE FAITH IN GOD!

In Mark 11:22 Jesus said this very thing, “Have faith in God!”

1. Have Faith in His Unfailing Goodness [2 Chronicles 6:41] Arise, O LORD God, …and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

2. Have Faith in His Abundant Mercy [Micah 7:18] … he delighteth in mercy.

Romans 9:16 … God that sheweth mercy.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

3. Have Faith in His Amazing Grace [1 Corinthians 15:10] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

1 Peter 5:10 The God of all grace,

4. Have Faith in His Loving Kindness [Psalm 63:3] Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

5. Have Faith in His Matchless Power [Psalm 62:11] God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

6. Have Faith in His Immeasurable Wisdom [Romans 11:33] O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

7. Have Faith in His Gracious Guidance [Psalm 32:8] I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death

Have faith in God!

II. HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST!

Once again, we have the words of the Saviour ringing to us down through the ages. In John 14:1, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Do you know when He specifically said that? Right after He told the disciples that He was leaving them for a while. Right after He told Peter that Peter would deny Christ three times. Then He spoke these words of comfort, hope and faith! Have faith in Christ!

1. Have Faith in His Sinless Life [1 Peter 2:22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

2. Have Faith in His Vicarious Death [1 Pet. 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.

3. Have Faith in His Victorious Resurrection [Romans 8:34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather , that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

4. Have Faith in His Full Salvation [Jonah 2:9] Salvation is of the LORD.

5. Have Faith in His Faithful Presence [Hebrews 13:5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6. Have faith in His Never-Ending Advocacy [1 John 2:1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

7. Have Faith in His Coming Again [John 14:3] I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Have Faith in Christ!

III. HAVE FAITH IN THE SWEET SPIRIT OF GOD!

In those dark hours before the cross, those hours when Jesus told them He was going away, those hours Jesus told them they would scatter from him, that hour in which he told Peter of his upcoming failure Jesus also said in John 14:16-17, ”And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

1. Have Faith in His Inerrant Word [2 Peter 1:21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2. Have Faith in His Impressive Empowerment [Acts 1:8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me

3. Have Faith in His Loving Leadership [Matthew 4:1] Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Acts 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Acts 11:12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.

Acts 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

4. Have Faith in His Blessed Indwelling [1 John 4:4] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5. Have Faith in His True Teaching [1 Corinthians 2:13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth ; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

6. Have Faith in His Perfect Guidance [John 16:13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

7. Have faith in His Ultimate Comfort [Acts 9:31] Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Have faith in the Holy Spirit of God!

IN THE DARK HOURS MY FRIENDS, HAVE FAITH IN GOD!