Surrounded by Danger Yet Safe

Would you have a seat for this morning and with the lights down I want to just take you into the place that we’ve been this morning a holy place with him and Be still my soul is a this is a song that is so deeply personal and profoundly true and I know it is for many of us it takes me back 43 years ago to when I Had my first experience of being with people who were grieving the loss of a family member and I was

responsible to Say things of comfort And that song is part of our gathering and it still is part of my soul. It’s it’s really a prayer you and I do Would you bow your heads with me and Lord we come to you as we’ve done in song we do in word Be still and know that I am God you tell us in song 46 Be still and know And then you tell us about stuff that’s troublesome at any level not only That we hear about but

stuff we go through And you’re that God that says be still and the purpose for our stillness is for us to behold you And in beholding you to find that you are our refuge and our strength our constant companion Come what may I know people in this place hearing these Songs in my prayer at this moment that have been hit by hurricane like storms We’re still standing We’re still hoping we’re still trusting We’re still resting and being still Because the day will come when we are

home with you For room full of Dear Saints that love you Others that are just figuring out what to do as they begin this relationship with you Doesn’t mean dangers go away or troubles cease to visit us. It just simply means we We know a God that will get us through it So we’re still in this moment before Help us to look at our dangers differently today as your Holy Spirit teaches us now In the name of Jesus Christ the one that we long to be

with we pray all God’s people said Today even if you have plans at five o’clock, I’d like you to change them So I’m gonna be your plan changer right now at least in rec at least in a recommendation and that would be this room will be a gathering place again for him singers and We have a wonderful evening at five planned it could go till midnight, but it’ll only go an hour so come come and be Part of it. I hope you are we plan to

be and I think it’ll it’ll it’ll be news and new information new songs to some but most of us it will It will be that anchor that’s held us in the storm, right? So come tonight five o’clock right here in this room so Danger is the topic that I want to talk about today.

You can see my title surrounded by danger Yet safe Which might sound like poppycock nonsense pie in the sky dreamy stuff But I think you’re gonna find I hope you will as I did in discovering these things that it’s not only possible it’s Preferable and in fact God’s purpose is to teach his people you will go through storms and trials and danger But I will show you how to be safe and all of that So that’s a pretty good promise. I hope I don’t disappoint but

think of think about the word danger for a minute because it’s kind of one of those strange words. It’s meaning actually morphs over time Follow with me at least for most people has been my experience and I’m describing myself to some extent but take children, okay? Go back to little people and they they seem to lack most of them a Sort of intrinsic Sense of danger They that’s why they have parents by the way. That’s one of the big reasons, right?

So a child just goes there’s my ball and it’s bouncing out into the middle of a busy boulevard and a child doesn’t think like a dog or a cat or a squirrel They learn over time, but a child hasn’t learned that yet and a child Completely oblivious might give chase were it not for a mom or dad that says whoa, whoa, whoa? That’s not a good idea and and they stop them so parents are important for warning little children about the dangers of cars and pit

bulls and and stuff like that poison Right, it’s it’s we lock it up. Well, and that’s Kind of thing, but you even have to warn your children and this is a tough one to teach about dangerous people You know stranger danger. How do you do that without freaking your child out and making them think everybody but mommy and daddy are dangerous and That’s a that’s part of the risk. I I How many of you remember the lion king?

Remember? But then there was who was the king? Huh? Oh, yeah, no Who? Who did a Mufasa was bad?

Scar Hold on You remember the lion king? Oh Good you do that’s great. So you probably knew that Mufasa was the king right and Scar was Like a distant relative that was a bad guy and trying to record then comes young Simba Simba the son of Mufasa right and Simba as a lion king cub Remember his immortalized words. I laugh at the face of danger And you would expect Simba to talk that way but over time He learned it wasn’t a laughing matter at all he

had learned as he grew up and gained wisdom then we come to teenagers of course Which is a weird anomaly in this whole human experience and it was for all of us they become it seems fearless thrill seekers teenagers Lanking on my mind but at times they I’m gonna say it I watch teenagers and More often than not I want to parent them even if they’re not mine even if I have no idea who they are I want to go, you know, that’s not smart and

And then I would be speaking to an alien because they don’t know smart most of them and I’m talking about myself Please don’t take offense if you’re a teenager or no one But I was warned many times. That’s not smart Good idea.

That’s dangerous and so they they actually are so sort of Weirdly drawn to danger. They almost appear to have a death wish Right and if you don’t if you don’t feel that way or you’ve been away from observing things like this Motorcycles are almost an irresistible attraction to teenagers and they haven’t learned to be smart and And so they they do risky kinds of things. Here’s one for you on your way home. Go by the skate park and tiger Any questions? You know, I don’t pull in I was gonna suggest you pull in there and just watch him But you’ll get arrested.

They’ll think you’re creeping on him or something weird But the truth is what’s going on there. There’s this little disclaimer on the side Not responsible for injuries enter at your own risk and teenagers go let me in There’s this magnet that draws them in and says I can try it and I can beat that bungee jumping is Another one. Have you seen the new one wheel? It’s called one wheel and it’s electric and the wheels in the middle and you got a foot over here on and a foot over here How many have ever tried that? I Didn’t expect a hand but Are you noticing what I’ve got in the air?

I? Warned Krista Westfall Krista Michael’s son Micah can get on that thing Choo-choo-choo and zip around everywhere. Everything’s fine. I thought I could do that about a month ago by the way and And as I got over next to it It was on and I got ready to stand on it Everybody every adult in the room and including the children said that’s that’s that’s that’s not a good idea. That’s not a good idea He had just got off it.

I thought he can do it. I can do it And I literally put one foot here and barely got the other one here and then it started moving and I went Boom right in the office like like I’m sure I should have broken an arm or more in the moment Teenagers are kind of like that. They they like that But adulthood comes along and things change Or should change right they should change At least they do for some of us and by no means all as

my story illustrates, but we start to play more carefully We’re just aware of that they were drawn less To danger and we were we distance ourselves from it actually we go the other direction and and we employ metrics like you know why? I didn’t do it last month, but I’ll do it next month That could actually That thing right there that could cost me That could hurt or even kill me if I land wrong And so I’ve started to add to a list of things don’t

even invite me to do them. I don’t do them Okay, so I don’t ice skate anymore How many of you I skate at this age?

When you were a teenager remember, okay, I don’t water ski anymore And here’s one I was really good on rollerblades Not now I gave him away and I had no problem giving him away. I had the guy sign a liability waiver and So that’s also why I stay away from scary parts of town I do when I hear that crime is high in the street location I do not go there without thought Is that a smart place for me to be? Maybe you act the same

way Okay Because those places are actually known to be say the word with me dangerous So a quick question before we open acts chapter 22 I want to ask you a question that I hope you’ll answer today in detail Somebody what’s on your list right now of things that are dangerous and a follow-up to that Whatever’s on that list could be that one wheel or whatever it is But what do you stay away from or do you stay away from those? Things that are on your

list so now for a strange item Some of you will want to protest when I say it But I’m gonna ask you if on your list is the word Christianity Your list of dangerous things might include ice skating and rollerblades and water skiing etc, but does it include Christianity? Actually the biblical message seems to be mixed when it comes to the dangers that you and I Actually will face not are not likely to face, but will face as Christians Check out these words by Jesus.

He warned And by the way when you look at these that’s Peter. We’re looking at Matthew 10 When you look at the words in Matthew 10 do we have that slide? It’s up there now It is sorry my bad remember the Lion King anyway, so it’s gonna stay with me forever Matthew 10 you need to know the context It’s the first time Jesus gathered his disciples and said hey fellas we’re heading out actually you’re heading out and This is what he actually told them as he

was waving goodbye. I’ll see you soon. Okay Matthew chapter 10 you will be casually disliked Hated when somebody hates somebody they’ve got a heart that wants to hurt them That’s assumed in the word hatred you will be hated by everybody Not a few because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end Will be saved he continues when you are persecuted in one place Hold on if you’re about to leave town and Jesus says hey Steve Steve don’t don’t forget what I’m saying you

will be persecuted I Just want to change that so badly to you you might your walk with God might involve persecution It’s not what the Bible is that’s not what Jesus said It will happen Maybe it’s happened to you already you hear where this is going you will be persecuted in One place so go home and never go out again I do with the Bible I start to think of other ways you could write the Bible and It would change the whole meaning Jesus said no

move on to a different place Truly I tell you you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the son of man comes and One of the guys in that crowd that day was Peter and he did that and he described later much later in his life in his words that were up there As a follower of Jesus that he actually describes danger as Fairly may I use the word normal These words first Peter for dear friends don’t be surprised He’s telling younger Christians

at the fiery ordeal that has come upon you to test you as Those some strange thing were happening to you We could go on all day, and I hope we do this is really cool important stuff How many of us get hit by a dangerous?

Something as a Jesus follower and wonder why me Do you ever think that way I do? Don’t always but sometimes I think that was that was like a fast pitch for my head Nobody else’s I was like beating the batter And he’s saying no don’t don’t be surprised as though some weird thing were happening to you fiery ordeal But as as though some strange thing were happening to you rejoice instead in as much as you are participant in the sufferings of Christ So that you may

be overjoyed when his glory is revealed We’re hearing it there from Jesus Peter was one of those that went out and we hear it many years later when Peter Pins these words and the first of his two letters There’s another place the writer of Psalm 91 Versus 9 through 12 makes it sound like we will be actually kept safe Despite the dangers we face if you say the Lord is my Refuge and you make the most high your dwelling That means you’re tight. Let’s just say

we’re tight with Jesus with God No harm will overtake you it might come But it won’t overcome you with me That hurricane hit me, but I’m still standing that’s okay You make the most higher dwelling no harm will overtake you and no disaster Will come near your tent For he will command his angels almost the direct quote of Psalm 34 as well Concerning you to guard you in all of your ways and I love this image Because hurricanes hit hard and sometimes we’re knocked down. He

says they will lift you up in Their hands so that you will not strike your foot against the stone And it’s into this presence Danger of those Standout passages there by no means the only ones That we probe as we journey with the Apostle Paul who was may I say it at the outset surrounded by danger yet safe Some background Matthew or acts 22 is where my Bible is open to and last week we left off With Paul sharing his testimony it was it was inspiring

to many of us And I hope you’re doing something about your testimony You’re writing down a paragraph of who you were before Jesus how you met Jesus and how he’s been working or changing your life since coming to live inside you That’s all the stuff of meeting Jesus and having a testimony So Paul’s testimony was that his sins were forgiven and he was sent by this forgiver Jesus On a mission Actually several there were three mission trips that are recorded and contained in many of the

details in acts the acts of the Apostles And it’s these missions trips that he’s he’s sent on so that he can tell people his story I was a bad guy in a religious kind of weird way. I had it all together But I was a wreck and I and I was lost I was terribly confused I did not have it clear or straight and I met Jesus and he forgave me and I’m here to tell you he can he can forgive you as well And that’s

not just words on a page here.

That’s words for us now And all of that comes through Jesus so when he comes to telling His salvation story in a single sentence verse 21 he utters one word It’s actually 10 words, but he utters one word in particular that had the effect of rolling a grenade into the gathering it detonated a bomb that brought a head-on collision and I’ll just say it with great danger With one word the word is Gentiles the mostly Jewish audience that was listening to him talk and quietly doing

so Exploded they were instantly crazed you can’t see my eyes if you could it’d be like that Like they were just shocked at what they heard Gentiles the full statement the Lord said to me go I will send you a far away to the Gentiles and Things blew up. Let’s read on the crowd listened to Paul until he said this Then they raised their voices and shouted him out basically Of him he’s not fit to live crucify him crucified remember those words As they were shouting

and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air that is a flashback almost word for word and Development by development to saw when he stood there watching them stone Stephen all the way back in chapter 7 Terrible the commander ordered in this Erupted scene that Paul be taken into the barracks and he directed that he be flogged so that he could be interrogated in order to find out why the people went nuts Why they were shouting at him like this so as they stretch

him out to flog him I’ll spare you the details, but it’s a whipping beyond belief As they stretch them out to do so Peter said or Paul said to the Centurion standing there and there’s a tone of calm When you read how verse 25 ends say fellas is it legal for you to do what you’re about to do To flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty That’s the end of the quote by the way He’s the guy about to do it. He’s strapping

him in he went straight to the commander and reported it What are you gonna do? He asked this man. He just told me he’s a Roman citizen Commander went to Paul and asked tell me is it true?

Are you a Roman citizen? Yes, I am Paul answered Then the commander said well, you know, I had to pay a bunch of money for my citizenship Paul’s answer, but I was born a citizen well Just took it up. He’s pure bread Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately Can I paraphrase that for you? They ran for their lives Because they thought their names would be listed in those that get to pay heck for this Oh My goodness no due process no proper adjudication

of this charge against nothing We’re gonna beat the snot out of him and get him to confess to something ridiculous Those who are about to interrogate leave leave quickly immediately and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul a Roman citizen in chains Look how the chapter ends so the commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being Accused by the Jews so the next day he released him in order the chief priests and all the members of this religious

group the Sanhedrin to assemble and then they brought Paul and had him stand before them So an outcry had erupted It was a method akin to torture I Save the word till now. That’s exactly the Kind of danger the apostle was about to face by the way if you took the time to read Second Corinthians chapter 11 It’s it’s so harsh to read it’s almost nauseating But it is first person it’s a confession it’s a testimony if you will by Paul of all the stuff he

went through the dangerous whippings and The list is horrible and it happened So this is one of those that made that list This torture was about to be used to extract from him a confession of a crime that he was suspected of committing keep in mind the commander is a Roman the the temple leadership The Jewish leadership was the Sanhedrin very different It’d be like the us having a fit in here and it went to fists Terrible image But they called the police and we’re having

a fit over whether we should read the King James version or new international I don’t know Do people fight about that?

I think they do Hopefully not hopefully not but if we did and it went crazy and somebody pressed 9-1-1 The police came they go. I’m not sure what you guys all worked up about. It’s the Bible But you know what I I’ve got to forget to the heart of this because I don’t know why but this side’s ready to kill this side You need to get what I mean? That’s what’s going on here and so the Romans are just like huh? You guys have weird things

going on and Indeed they were they were they were revved up the scourgings about to begin when I love verse 25 well Paul says legal for you to flog a Roman citizen I mean in that moment you can barely if you listen you can hear the oxygen sucked from the room and As a result of an exchange between Paul and the commander Paul’s Citizenship is right there in the moment and the ones that ran ran but the ones that couldn’t Were stuck they were frozen What

are we about to do so with that this little call the fly in the ointment the torture of Paul was saved Danger averted right Not so fast After a restless night’s sleep the commander convened a meeting of this religious group called the Sanhedrin Verse 30 that’s what’s happening there and what we have in the preceding the next morning where Paul faced the Jewish High Council Made up of two prominent groups of theologians if you will the Pharisees were one the Sadducees were the other you can

call it political groups.

I don’t choose to do that because much greater People who are religiously revved up then we’ll ever see in Washington DC So go bigger than that because this is really not about that this is about two very different groups of theologians thinkers about God in the same body known as the Sanhedrin That’s what’s going on here and after this night’s sleep Paul is facing this council and It’s a picture of being surrounded by danger But safe Chapter 23 Paul looks straight at the Sanhedrin and said

My brothers I’ve fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this very day At that at that moment at that precise moment the high priest Ananias ordered those near Paul To strike him in the mouth. I hope you’ll read verse one ten times and Ask yourself the question. What did I do if that was me? What did I just say? That caused of Actually most read the Greek here to be not a slap a punch in the face It was a violent moment In

church, it’s not church you get what I’m saying Kidding me and it’s and it was ordered by the high priest Verse three then Paul said to him God will strike you you whitewashed wall And that’s the tone he said it in you see the exclamation point there He’s not being nice either.

It’s going God’s gonna get you to dude We would say but you whitewashed wall you sit there to judge me according to the law You yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck What a moment Those who were also standing near Paul said bro, listen, how dare you insult God’s high priest? Look at his response Paul replied brothers I didn’t realize that he was the high priest For it is written do not speak evil about the ruler of your people a quote of Exodus

22 Knowing that some of them and I told you about the people that made up this council Knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisee he called in the Sanhedrin called out my brothers. I am a Pharisee. I’m dissented from a Pharisee That means I’ve I’m super-sized Pharisee And I stand on trial today because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead Can you guys pretend on this side of the room that you’re Sadducees? Let me read that statement again.

I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead Yeah, yeah, good. Some of you know They don’t buy the resurrection at all and a few other things I’ll mention When he said this a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the assembly was divided and in parentheses We’re given a little information here the Sadducees say there is no resurrection and that there are neither angels nor spirits But the but the Pharisees they believe all that There was a great uproar and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and pointed finger We’re not gonna play all this out. Okay. We’re not gonna act though. You don’t have to get up They got up and they and they argued vigorously we find wrong with we find nothing Wrong with this man said the Pharisees.

Wow, they’re kind of circling around him Nothing wrong with him. What if a spirit or an angel had spoken to him the dispute became so Violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be what? Kill torn to pieces By them that he ordered the troops to go down take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks Let’s stop right now Let’s just admit a couple of things. This is a very inauspicious start To a proceeding, right? I mean, you know verse one doesn’t play out very well And there’s there’s weird twists that come along with it.

We don’t have time to go into all of them, but he gets struck for that for claiming to be Person that’s got a clean conscience And He was struck for a reason not only to establish That you’re not the big deal Paul the priest is There’s speculation out there for a lot of different reasons why he was struck but he was he was struck to stop him from talking and And this in rage Paul verse three not for being I don’t think I happen to lay

on the side not because he was slapped or punched whatever it was But because of the gross hypocrisy that he calls out So you’re here to carry out a proceeding based on the law and you violate the law yourself When you punch an innocent man Or order him punched Who are you mr. High Priest? There’s actually there’s there’s some thought out there and I tend to agree with the interpretation of this moment that that Paul’s response was a bit sarcastic It was a way of saying

you know the guy asked him. Do you know who you’re talking to? What is it verse three?

And no verse for those standing near Paul said how dare you insult God’s high priests and Paul’s response There’s a tone of sarcasm. I didn’t realize that he was a high priest I used to read that is just I had no idea And I think what he was saying is no You know what I didn’t recognize you as the high priest because you’re not behaving like the high priest Because the high priest is supposed to live by a code It’s called the law And above the

rest of us you’re supposed to have it down And look at you you take cheap shots like this now. That’s my speculation There’s difference of opinion there. I think it’s worth noting because it captures some of the tone here Then he calls him of course a whitewashed wall direct quote of Jesus His words of woe do you remember these words? I think they’re coming up right now Matthew chapter 23 woe to you teachers this came from Jesus and it was directed at whom Teachers of the

law the Pharisee teachers of the law and Pharisees your hypocrites You’re like a whitewashed tomb which looks beautiful on the outside You got it.

You got the big robe You got it all going for you and people are impressed with the look but inside you are full of bones of dead people and everything unclean in the same On the outside you appear as righteous Paul I think had this in his mind by calling them the same name You you appear righteous, but on the inside you’re full of hypocrisy and wickedness So a lot of different beliefs about important things quickly I’ll mention them the Pharisees believe in the Oral law

the Sadducees only accepted written law and minutiae that Big difference, but it gets even more interesting Pharisees believed in fate and predestination Sadducees believed in free will Sounds like arguments that still go on some extent doesn’t it? Here’s one more Pharisees believed in angels and spirits Which is a doctrine in the Bible Sadducees don’t believe in any of that, but biggest of all The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead and the Sadducees did not So now you know what lit up the place And

by the way it marked the end of the trial It was over as the place exploded and It was quite a ruckus removing him from the scene Paul to save him from certain death a mauling that would have been ugly and horrible He’s taken really to the barracks Really as a protective custody. We would say that’s what was going on in verses 9 and 10 and while there overnight look at verse 11 The Lord stood near Paul and said My Bible has it in red take

courage Take courage Paul as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome Which to give you a little foreshadow that’s where we’re heading in the last few chapters of our study is journey to Rome Starts with words that could I just look at verse 11 and it’s the ultimate Stand by me. It was truly a standby me moment those guys wanted me dead this turned out really bad and Jesus came to his side talk about being surrounded by danger Which

is what we’ve just read 9 and 10 yet verse 11 says safe Lots of other scenes in the Bible like this I love second king 6. I hope you will read it today It’s a scene involving Elisha being hunted by by the king of Aram and he wants them dead and he comes down to he fought where the Prophet was in Dothan and He was close they were in Samaria and and so anyway comes that one morning and the king Has a bunch of warriors positioned

all around I sometimes visualize a little cabin or something little house where they’re staying Elijah Elisha the Prophet and his assistant the assistant went out that morning and Beheld with his own eyes something shocked him and made his knees knock in fear.

There’s trouble everywhere dangers 360 Everywhere and he comes back in and says oh my master speaking to Elisha the Prophet we’re surrounded we’ve had it the the enemy and his soldiers are everywhere and The Prophet gets up and goes outside to see with his own eyes His answer is beautifully different He said oh wow look at that we are surrounded If I can animate that scene if you’re the assistant you’re going You’ll be okay. What are you seeing? Of course the answer will strike you when you read second king six, okay? So do that today. I’m not gonna tell you That’s not fair pastor It’s my rule.

Okay, so Here’s the deal This moment versus 11 to me in this story would have been a perfect time for the clouds to clear Would have been a great moment for the threat to disappear Jesus is here problems vanish right I Think that way sometimes and I bring that up because some of you do too and it belonged to Jesus That means you can you can Sleep at night Paul Peacefully And tomorrow the danger you’ll get up and you’ll look around you’re not surrounded by anything.

It’s all done gone behind you. Let’s move on Wishful thinking in this story Are you with me? We’re not quite done. We’re almost staying with me think so Okay, so here’s the deal turns out the danger overnight Had actually increased let’s call it deaf con one This is in Hyper speed things had developed into a clear and present danger verse 12 the next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed Paul By the

way they knew where he was more than 40 of them were involved In this plot and they went to the chief priests and elders and they said we’ve taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul Now then you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring Paul before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about the case and We are ready as he passes by on the way To get him and kill him but when the son of Paul’s

sister Who knew?

His nephew his nephew heard of this plot He went into the barracks and told Paul somehow he’s dropped. We’re not sure how he got the info But he goes in because he’s member. He’s not arrested. He’s under protective custody. He freely goes in to see his uncle Paul Then Paul called one of the Sincherians and said take this young man my nephew to the commander.

He has something to tell him So he took him to the commander the Sincherian said Paul the prisoner sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you Commander said come over here young man Let him by the hand drew him aside from others. What is it you want to tell me? He said some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring I don’t think he said uncle Paul they just he stuck with Paul Paul before

the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the priest Text of wanting more accurate information about him. Don’t do it. Don’t give in to them because more than 40 of them are waiting to ambush him They have taken a nose not to eat or drink until they’ve killed him They are ready now waiting for your consent to their request to move the prisoner The commander dismissed the young man with this warning this caution don’t tell anyone that you’ve reported this to me Folks that were reading about an assassination plan

a plot And it’s and it’s put together by some really serious people a lot written about this But they’re they’re basically that people that would vow make it take a vow of Their own harm.

I’m not gonna eat or drink a thing unless I do this thing That’s how dedicated these 40 are to this outcome Danger on steroids You know it reminds me the scene I read this and I automatically went back to chapter 12 Wasn’t Paul there it was Peter He was arrested and he was facing death the next day Called danger, right? Do you remember that night? It’s the last night of his earthly life an angel springs him from prison and gets him out of there he was

kept safe he was delivered and And it made me wonder on this night for Paul I’m I’m speculated, but I think it’s a good guess that he knew what happened in chapter 12 It wasn’t written as a chapter then he knew the oraltry he knew the story Peter got out of this God came through But God of angel army we just sang about he did it He pulled it off It’s it’s my guess that he knew that story And it makes me wonder did did that

help him? Stay calm In custody did it help him to sort of hearing of that outlook Come for Peter help him in his outlook for what’s ahead in this incarceration and I want to ask you something at the end here. Do you let’s bring it to you and me?

Do the deliverance stories like chapter 22 or chapter 12 and there are many others that we’ve read do do those stories give you sort of a Confidence level When you face danger Because I think they’re supposed to I think as I read them it’s it’s possible to read them like a seminary grad that’s read them more time than is healthy But I think they’re meant to say wait what it happened with Peter that way We just read it happened to Paul that way Let me ask

you ever been really Your own you get to decide this surrounded by danger and felt in that surrounding Uncommonly safe Like your hair wasn’t standing on end you were you were confident You were at peace We remember these names you know their stories but Shadrach Meshach and Abednego The fire is hot seven times hotter than normal I Love their words want to hear the kings about to throw them in how to have them thrown in and And they have words that say you know something We

were not we’re not worried To quote them directly if we’re thrown into the blazing furnace the God we serve is able to keep us safe Deliver us from it and he will deliver us King Nebuchadnezzar from your hand That’s not the whole statement but even if he does not Some of the best words in the Bible Daniel 3 17 and 18 verse 18 even if he does not we want you to know King that we will not serve Your gods and we will not worship an

image of gold that you have set up because we belong to the one true God capable of keeping us safe in any and all danger Folks, let me have you close your Bible here. We’re gonna we’re gonna read how it all turned out There’s a purpose in letting you hold on to this I want us to take a good long look this week at life I’m not gonna say which news outlet does this I think they all do But I think they are a giant syringe

called fear And they will squirt it in any vein they can find Does it mean I’m Pollyanna and I hide my head in the sand if somebody can tell me in a Bible Verse that that’s not a good approach tell me but I’ll take that label any day of the week Don’t care about the news and don’t plan to care about the news And I sleep better at night Paul knew he was about to face serious danger And he had made up his mind that no

matter how like Shadrach Meshach and Abednego no matter how it turns out I was gonna be safe in the sovereign plan of God Folks, there’s nothing outside of his control. Am I correct? Are you? Are you persuaded by that you should be that’s biblical Nothing outside of his control Friend of mine used to say everything that happens to us is father Like that it makes me feel safe Which I think is the point of this message today One other takeaway Paul knew he was gonna face

danger all alone He was told that back in chapter 21 yet.

He was calm and composed when trouble found him his secret He realized he wasn’t all alone It’s why verse 11 so cool Jesus came when it says stood by him. What’s that mean except come here buddy? Yeah, I mean I don’t know what it would look like he held him if they sat next to each other in the cell I don’t know But you have that place too he realized that he wasn’t alone it was Joshua the great successor under Moses Who landed in the land

and went oh my goodness And you know what? What do you learned right away multiple times in the first chapter? Joshua 1 verse 9 have I not commanded you he heard these words be strong and courageous do not be afraid do not be discouraged For I the Lord your God and with you wherever you go and may I add in whatever dangers You face a man Would you bow your heads with me this morning even in the midst of danger?

You and I are safe in the in the secure hands and arms of a sovereign God Who says I’m here with you? John Newton wrote a song that we love to sing amazing grace In it the fourth verse says through many dangers toils and snares I Have already come To as grace had brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home. I’m struck by the fact that that describes us today through many dangers toils and snares Was 500 years ago that a German teacher

And in the midst of that danger he wrote the words of a beautiful song that has given many of us facing danger strength and courage is a song that is a must sing today and as we sing it I want to invite you to give God your dangers and Ask the Holy Spirit to do whatever Needs to happen in whatever language you can hear it To reassure you that you too are safe Would you stand as we sing together you

Transcript machine-generated from the sermon audio, so it may contain errors. 7,250 words.