From: Scott Ferguson Victorious Living Ministries

Johnstown, Ohio

 

Dear Brethren;

As I was seeking the Lord in prayer this week, a heavy burden was on my heart concerning our country and the condition of the world today. As I meditated on this the Lord began to show me the deterioration of the world and the attitudes toward God and His people. I could see people turning to other gospels and seeking the things that tickle their ears and it was like I was watching the whole world disintegrate before my very eyes and there was absolutely nothing I could do to stop it. An overwhelming feeling of helplessness came over me and my heart was heavy with sorrow. A question rose in my heart and I took it before the Lord and asked him "Do you see this?" This vision and request before the Lord was heavy on my heart for days.

 

Very early Thursday morning the Lord woke me with a dream and a vision of Psalm 11. This burned in my spirit but the Lord gave me peace to return to sleep. When I got up Thursday I looked up Psalm 11 and was blessed and excited at what I read. The Lord answered me as I read this passage. His response is "Yes, I see."

 

I have read this in different versions and each one blesses me. I will not reprint it here for you. I challenge all of you to get your bibles out and read this passage. If I could make it mandatory for you to read I would.

 

Remember, in this day of fear mongering that is being put forth by the press both secular and Christian, God is still on the throne. Don't focus on the fear the enemy is spewing through the world. Focus on the one who sees all. God the Father. Let us all take our eyes off of man and put them where they belong, on God himself.

 

If you are not looking up you are looking the wrong direction!!!

 

I welcome all comments and take full responsibility for this email.

 

Peace In Christ; Scott

LIVING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY

 

Psalm 11:1-7 (NKJV)
1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"?
2 For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?
4 The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.

 

 

 

LIVING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY

SERMON STARTER

 

          I started researching this sermon after a discussion with pastor Ron Wasilchak. He mentioned the "Delta Factor" in physics. Fascinated, I started to explore the Delta Factor in relationship to the unstable world of today. This physics theory was first advanced by German physicist Werner Heisenberg in 1927. His theory involved the Uncertainty Principle in the early development of the Quantum Theory in physics.

          I do not have the math skills, nor have I studied college level physics, so I leave further analysis to the experts in this field. What caught my attention about the Delta Factor was the concept of instability and uncertainty in our world. Technically, there is no place for absolute certitude about much of anything in our physical world.

          The owner of Family Radio, Harold Camping, has been a man of certitude in the area of Bible knowledge. Camping spoke with certitude that the world would end May 21, 2011. When it didn't end last May, he defended his theory by using stipulation and calling May 21st, "Doomsday." He decided that October 21st was to be "Judgment Day."

          Well, these two days came and went and nothing happened. Twenty-three days after May 21st, Judgment Day came for Harold Camping. The 89 year old Camping suffered a debilitating stroke that incapacitated him. He has been in a nursing home ever since, unable to care for himself or speak clearly on his Family Radio Broadcasts.

            Human existence is filled with uncertainty. A newspaper publisher sent a telegram to a noted astronomer:

"WIRE COLLECT IMMEDIATELY FIVE HUNDRED WORDS ON WHETHER THERE IS LIFE ON MARS."

The astronomer dutifully replied:

"NOBODY KNOWS" -- 250 times.

          This sermon explores the Delta Factor of uncertainty using a text from Solomon's cynical words of wisdom in Ecclesiastes. It should make you ponder about what is stable in our world!   Pastor Phil    <><<

March 4, 2012 - Sheepfold Ministries

Pastor Phil Roland

 

LIVING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY

Ecclesiastes 11:1-10

 

I. THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTIES - v. 1

"Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days."

            A. Maritime Commercial Activity in the time of Solomon was risky

                        1. Commercial goods would have to “Cross the Sea”

2. Weather, Wind and Tides were unpredictable

                        3. Perils in Navigation

                        4. Perils from Pirates then as now

                        5. Sending your trade goods by boats was to. . .

                                    "Cast your bread upon the waters,”

            B. Commercial Activity is Uncertain

                        1. Pipe production industry is threatened

                                    a. More Economic Uncertainty

                                    b. Hundreds of Jobs on the line

                        2. Economic Threats come from abroad “across the sea”

C. “The Preacher,” Qoheleth could be referring to Taking a Chance

                        1. At Pymatuming/Linesville you cast your bread to carp

                        2. Doing something risky, when others think you’re nuts

            D. The Preacher is probably referring to Sowing and Reaping

                        1. Yearly flooding of the Nile River

                                    a. Farmers had a unique way of sowing their seed corn

                                    b. As flood waters subsided they would plant in boats

                                    c. Casting their “Bread Corn” into the water in faith

                        2. At Harvest there would be a new crop of “Bread Corn”

II. HOW ARE WE TO LIVE IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY?

          A. Be Patient – Galatians 6:9

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall

              reap if we do not lose heart.”

1. Impossible to Plant and Harvest at the same time

                        2. Results require Patience and Time

            B. Be Generous – Eccles. 9:1,2

”Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.

 2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil

will be on the earth.”
         1. Our Natural Tendency is to Hoard and not to Give

2. The Bible instructs us, be generous w/others – Matt. 5:40-42

"If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have

 your cloak also. 41  "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go

 with him two. 42  "Give to him who asks you, and from him who

wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”

LIVING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY, cont., p.2

3. Seven is the Number for Completeness – Give on to Eight

4. Give Generously – Proverbs 11:24,25

“There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one

  who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 25  The

  generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be

  watered himself.”

a. Give even to your Enemies – Luke 6:30-35

  “Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes

    away your goods do not ask them back. 31  "And just as you

   want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32  "But

   if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For

   even sinners love those who love them. 33  "And if you do

   good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?

   For even sinners do the same.34  "And if you lend to those

   from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to

   you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much

   back. 35  "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping

   for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you

   will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful

   and evil.”
            b. Stockpile Food – Hoard Gold – Buy Guns

   c. No! Pass Out Food when the Crisis comes – Eph. 4:28

“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor,

  working with his hands what is good, that he may have

  something to give him who has need.”

            C. Be Trusting – Ecclesiastes 11:3-5

“If the clouds are full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth; And if

 a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there

 it shall lie. 4  He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards

 the clouds will not reap. 5  As you do not know what is the way of the

 wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you

 do not know the works of God who makes everything.”

                        1. God’s in Control – We are “out-of-control”

                        2. There is no way to figure out God

                        3. Our lives are filled with Uncertainty

4. Some people are consumed by the Uncertainty

5. They just put off, procrastinate and do nothing
            6. Eg. The Alabama Farmer

            D. Be Persistent – Eccles. 11:6

“In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your

 hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or

             whether both alike will be good.”

1. You cannot control the outcome of your work

                        2. Sometimes you work hard and get nothing

                        3. Other times very little effort produces great success
                        4. Easy to become frustrated and give up

               5. To Feel Frustrated“Out-of-Control” is no excuse for Idleness

LIVING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY, cont., p.3

               6. We must continually do what is the right thing

            E. Be Joyful – Ecclesiastes 11:7,8

“Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;

 8  But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him

 remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming

 is vanity.”

                        1. The Preacher of Ecclesiastes is referring to physical life

                        2. Roland's Paraphrase on Verse 8a,

                        "Let a man or woman remember the days of darkness, the near

                         death experiences of the past for they are many in the total days of                            your life on this earth. They will pass like the morning mist."

                        3. Since your life on earth is brief, rejoice in the light of day

                        4. Remember Nehemiah 8:10?

                            ". . .the joy of the Lord is your strength."

 

III. OUR RESPONSE TO UNCERTAINTY: TAKE A RISK

          A. Go against your natural response of running and hiding

                        1. Our Inner Response has been to Cower in Fear

                        2. Protect what you have from the needs of others

            B. Move in Opposition to your Natural Tendencies

                        1. Sow into the Lives of Others: This is True Discipleship

                        2. Be Generous with your Time

                        3. Assess your Talents and Personal Gifts, give the best

                        4. Give out of your own Treasure House

                        5. You will Reap what you Sow

            C. Make a Decision about how you will Act and what you will do

                        1. Pursue what you have decided with all your might

                        2. Trust God for the Results

                        3. Sometimes the Rewards are Out-of-this-World

 

 

 

 

LIVING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY

 Ecclesiastes 11:1-11
1 Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.
2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth; And if a tree falls to the south or the north, In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.
4 He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.
7 Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;
8 But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming is vanity.
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.

 

LIVING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY

 

HUMOR

A Georgia farmer was sitting out on the steps of his tumbledown house. A stranger stopped by for a drink from the farmer’s well and asked:

“How’s your cotton coming along?”
The farmer replied:

“Ain’t got none.”
The stranger asked,

“Did you plant any?”

“Nope,” said the farmer,

“Afraid of boll weevils.”
The stranger then asked,

“Well, then, how’s your corn?”

“Didn’t plant no corn either. Afraid there weren’t gonna be enough rain.”
The stranger persisted.

“How are your potatoes?”

“Didn’t plant none. Scared of potato bugs.”
The stranger was now frustrated. He asked,

“Well, what did you plant?”

The farmer said,

“Nothing. I just played it safe.”

 

 

 

 

A GUIDE TO LIVE BY

The most powerful force in the world                                       LOVE

The greatest asset                                                                         FAITH

The most powerful channel of communication                     PRAYER

The most important thing in life                                           THE POWER OF GOD

The greatest joy                                                                              GIVING

The worst thing to be without                                                     HOPE

The most destructive habit                                                          WORRY

The world’s most incredible computer                                    THE BRAIN

The greatest loss                                                                           SELF-RESPECT

The greatest natural resource                                                    YOUTH

The ugliest personality trait                                                         SELFISHNESS

The greatest problem to overcome                                           FEAR

The most beautiful attire                                                              A SMILE

The most crippling disease                                                         EXCUSES

The most dangerous pariah                                                        GOSSIP

The two most powerful words                                                    I CAN

The most worthless emotion                                                      SELF-PITY

The greatest shot in the arm                                                    ENCOURAGEMENT

The most effective sleeping pill                                                  PEACE OF MIND

The most prized possession                                                      INTEGRITY

The most satisfying work                                                            HELPING OTHERS

The greatest attitude                                                                     GRATITUDE

 

 

Gratitude unfolds the goodness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order and confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast and a house into a home.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

May God bless you in a special way this day.

Pastor Phil Roland