Reading …

Introduction …

  • Three recent statements from this pulpit …
    • Chris Warton …
      • Trust me I know what I am doing …
    • Stuart …
      • If you don’t know the real story of Christmas you have nothing to celebrate.
    • I don’t know what the future holds but I do know who holds the future …
      • And He is holding my hand…
    • I am sure that almost without exception we regard 2021 as a disastrous year.
      • Politically …
        • Especially for the ruling party …
        • Who ran out of money, voters and municipalities.
      • Financially …
        • Unemployment …
          • Sitting at record levels …
        • The country can’t afford to maintain critical infrastructure …
        • SOE’s are bankrupt …
      • Personally …
        • We have all been affected in one way or another …
          • We can all tell stories of personal suffering or at least people close to us who have suffered great difficulty due to ill health and financial problems this past year.
            • Eg…Our eventful Christmas season.
          • In this church we have had about 6 members passing away.
            • And many of our friends here have had good reason to shed tears.
            • The pandemic has posed many problems for all of us.
              • Eg…Loneliness and the pet industry.
      • The big question is …
        • To vaccinate or not to vaccinate … that is the question …
          • So many experts, including theologians, voicing their professional but differing opinions.
          • Who is right and who is wrong …
            • We just don’t know.
    • For many of us we are ready to give up …
      • The heartache, loneliness, fear that comes as a result of the loss or suffering of a husband, wife, father or mother, child, brother or sister.
        • This has to be the worst year ever …
    • The truth is, it isn't …
      • Not by a long chalk.
        • It have been far worse years previously
          • Think of the suffering from 1914 to 1950 caused by …
            • Two world wars …
              • Deaths, crippling injuries, post-traumatic stress.
              • The slaughter of Jews in the holocaust.
            • The great depression of the 1920’s
              • Grown men weeping because they could not provide for their families.
            • The influenza of the early 1920’s
              • My father remembers watching bodies being loaded onto a cart in their street in Kimberly.
                • Including his own brother.
      • The reality is …It could get worse in 2022…
        • And if it does, how are you going to manage …
    • Last year we prayed earnestly for …
      • Ruth's daughter in law …with cancer … but He said no
      • Austen Hankey … kidneys … but He said no
      • Coleen Zandberg … corona …but He said no …
      • Nico Beute … caring for Lizzie … but He said no
    • In 2020 we prayed for …
      • Jason and Tatum’s prem daughter … he said no …
    • Angus Buchanans 99 year old wife is praying Lord take me home …
      • And He has said no …
        • Many of us are asking questions …
          • What on earth is happening …
          • We are totally frustrated and anxious…
            • Doubting and questioning.
    • Maurice asked me to give you a word of encouragement …
      • Grietje looked at this introduction and raised her eyebrows …
      • The fact of the matter is we need to be aware of reality … In order to be encouraged about the future.
        • Stuart …
          • If you don't know the real story of Christmas you have nothing to celebrate…
        • It does not help to stick your head in the sand and hope for the best.

Is 2022 likely to be better or worse than 2021 …

  • As we look forward into the new year, in the hope of a better year
    • What can we realistically expect …
    • Better or worse or the same …
      • I say expect not hope for …
      • Because you have to plan around expectation, not vain hope.
  • Politically …
    • Expert commentators are predicting a very difficult year for the president and the A.N.C. party who will be selecting a new leadership at their year-end conference.
      • 2022 is already off to a rocky start.
    • I was shattered to read a survey on the civil service recently which said …
      • 37% of senior managers in the civil service are under qualified for the positions they hold.
        • So service delivery demonstrations will continue.
  • Financially …
    • The GDP growth prediction for 2022 was set at 5% however due to the omicron variant it was dropped to 2.5%.
      • That is not going to solve the unemployment problem.
    • Inflation is increasing worldwide and therefore will increase here.
      • Expert opinion predicts the Rand will remain under pressure for the entire year.
      • As the world economy recovers the price of oil and ultimately the cost of petrol will increase which will also impact on inflation.
  • Personal …
    • All of these things impact our thinking causing concerns, anxiety, fear.
    • Coronavirus is not going to suddenly stop in fact further variants are likely to develop.
  • The question is why is this happening and how do we cope.

Why is God saying no so often …

  • Does He not care, is He punishing us for some reason we don't even know about.
    • After all He invites us to ask and promises to give…
    • He says my plans for you are for your good not evil … Jeremiah 29:11
  • I suggest the reason for this difference lies in a difference of perspective …
    • Our objective is to experience…
      • Ease of days
      • Lord take all my troubles away
        • And so that l can be happy.
    • God's view is that of a father …parent …
      • Don't we as committed parents often refuse our children things …
        • Those refusals are well reasoned and for their good.
        • They always result in a swift and often loud reaction.
          • Tears, slamming of a door, tantrums.
            • This is often how we as immature believers react to God’s no.
          • Often, as parents, our refusal is done with reluctance …
            • But we know it is for their good… so we stick to our guns.
    • Our Father God’s purpose is to …
      • Use us to build His kingdom …
      • Prepare us for eternity.
        • And to achieve that end He never ever promised us ease of days …
          • Rather the Lord Jesus said …
            • Take my yoke
            • Take up our cross.
            • In this world you will have trouble.
      • What the Lord is doing is building up our faith in Him …
      • Yes it is uncomfortable …
        • Very uncomfortable, sometimes leading to tears and heartbreak …
          • But always with a purpose …
    • Remember …
      • What Dr. Warton said about the death of his mother and grandmother on the same day …
        • The Lord spoke to me and said …
          • Trust me, I know what I am doing.
      • Paul prayed 3 times about his health problem …
        • He got 3 refusals … my grace is sufficient.
      • The disciples facing martyrdom …
        • The churches must have prayed earnestly … Lord save
          • Each time there was a refusal …
        • The five missionaries in Ecuador …
          • They all died …
        • And so we go through the history of the Bible and the church history …
          • Many refusals …all with a purpose …
            • The building up and growth of the church.
          • Auca Indians came to know Christ.
  • Never easy … always for God’s purposes and glory …
    • Paul says …
      • I have poured out my life …
    • Jesus pleaded …
      • If it be possible, let this cup pass …
    • The Father refused …
      • Because it was his purpose to come and die.
What has God promised …Isaiah 41
  • A life of ease is one promise that you can discount …
    • The Father never promised it …
  • What did He promise … Isaiah 41:8-18
    • Here Israel is called …and so is the church… vs 8-10
    • Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed …vs 10
      • Then he gives the reasons
        • I am with you , I am your God
        •  I will strengthen and help you
        • I will hold your right hand
      • The consequences of this relationship …
        • So … do not fear … 13
      • In all of these promises Israel is faces huge problems … v11,12.
        • There are good reasons to fear …
          • They rage against you …they oppose you
        • But because we are protected by our God they are nothing and perish .
      • For David the knowledge of the presence of God controlled his fears … Psalm 23:4
        • In the most horrific of circumstances his faith was placed in his God
        • God was his source of comfort
    • So let's summarize what He promises …and apply to the church …
    • He also recognises our weakness … v14
      • O worm Jacob
      • O little Israel … compared to great Babylon.
      • O little Lawrence…or whoever.
        • He knows our fears and disappointments …
          • He does not criticize them …he understands
        • He simply reassures the people…
          • Trust me I know what I am doing.

Well directed faith …

  • I again ask the question …
    • Given even worse conditions in 2022 how are you going to cope …
  • The best place to go for advice is to people who have experienced worse than we have …Listen and learn from the words of ….
    • Job … who lost everything without explanation.
      • You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit… Job 10:12
    • Isaiah … who was cut in half by Manasa.
      • He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:29
      • They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength …Isaiah 40:31
    • Jesus… who was marred more than all the sons of man.
      • In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world… John 16:33
    • Peter …who was martyred.
      • And the God of grace … after you have suffered a little while, will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast… 1 Peter 5:10
  • What did they believe …
    • Job … God preserved my spirit
    • Isaiah … wait upon the Lord and the giver of power will strengthen you
    • Jesus … trouble in this world is common to all men … he overcomes
    • Peter … we all fall but God in Christ restores and makes us strong.
  • In the Lord Jesus we have certainty in a very uncertain world.

Conclusion …

  • We often do not understand why God refuses our requests …
    • But we must trust him … he knows what he is doing.
  • God always has a reason for allowing certain things to happen …
    • Eg… Corrie ten Boom and lice which allowed bible study.
  • You see … When things seem to be falling apart they are often falling together.
    • We may never understand His wisdom but we must always trust His will.
  • C.S. Lewis …
    • Hardship often prepares ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.
      • Humble fishermen surely did not expect to be leaders in the kingdom of God.
  • God has said …
    • You are mine … I will never leave you …
  • We do not know what the future holds … but we know who holds the future …
    • And He holds my hand
  • Isaiah 41:10 says …
    • I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand …
      • When used in Scripture that righteous right hand speaks of God's omnipotent power.
      • Notice he holds our weak right hands with His left and defends us with his all powerful righteous right hand.
        • Righteous means fulfilling all his promises to us.
  • So we face an uncertain 2022 with confidence because…
    • In this world you will have trouble …take heart, I have overcome the world.
    • Do not fear … I am with you …
    • The Creator will not grow tired or weary.
    • I will strengthen you and uphold you with my right hand.
  • Remember …
    • They that wait upon the Lord …
      • Know renewed strength
    • Despite the difficulties we can still rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel… Isaiah 41:16