LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

RF Online May 3, 2020

ME Sandia cave story…

WE We have all had experiences with the dark. Many of us grew up being afraid of the dark. Hold up your phones and turn the flashlight on. Why do phones have flashlights? People can’t see in the dark!

Ruidoso story…

GOD The past several weeks have been a time of darkness for many. The good news is that God always operates in the dark times of our lives. He gives light in the darkness.

Psalms 139:11–12 (NKJV) If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not an oncoming train!

Imagine the beginning of time…

Genesis 1:2–4 (NKJV) The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

Just as God created light in the beginning of time, God speaks light into your darkness today! Let’s look at some encouraging words from 2 Corinthians 4.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NKJV) For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Gideon: torches, pitchers, trumpets, and shouts: The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon!

Broken vessels of light… SPECIAL SONG

2 Corinthians 4:8–10 (NKJV) We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

The walls may feel like they’re moving in on us, but they cannot crush us. We do not know what’s going on, but we know the One who holds everything in His hands. People may make fun of our trust in God and walk away, but He will never leave us. We may get knocked down, but we are not knocked out! We are the gettin’ up people! When we are weak, He is strong!

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NKJV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Now, Paul is not saying that what you are going through in your life is trivial. On the contrary, all darkness is debilitating. We all struggle in darkness: things that are easy in the light become hard in the darkness; things we take for granted in the light become essential in the darkness; what you can see in the light become hidden in the darkness. God is working, but when you are in darkness, you can’t see it. That’s when we have to see what we can’t see.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV) while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Oral Roberts: If you can see the invisible, you can do the impossible!

How do we do that? It’s hard; it’s difficult. But it is possible! Hebrews 11 tells many stories of people who did it. Let me pick a couple to illustrate.

Hebrews 11:27 (NKJV) By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

How? by faith! 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 4:18 (NKJV) (Abraham) who, contrary to hope (against all hope), in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

Abraham was 100 and his wife was 90. Yet he believed God’s promise that he would become the father of many nations.

Romans 8:24–25 (NKJV) For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Illustration: Back in 2001, God told me I had to plant a church. I didn’t want to plant a church. God said it was necessary because I had never done anything by faith, and He could not use me unless I learned to do things by faith!

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Romans 1:17 (NKJV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

How do we build our faith and our hope? If we build our faith, our hope will naturally grow. Let’s go to the book of Romans, starting where we left off in chapter 8.

1. Pray in the Spirit.

Romans 8:26–27 (NKJV) Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

2. Listen to faith building preaching.

Romans 10:8 (NKJV) But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

3. Read and listen to the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God.

Now a word of inspiration…

I know some of you are tired of the fight. I can’t even begin to understand all you are going through. The enemy of teams attacks us on multiple fronts all at the same time. Hang in there. It is not in vain. God is coming to you and He will it tarry. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not an oncoming train!

Hebrews 10:36–37 (NKJV) For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

In the same way that God spoke and created light in the middle nor darkness, He can speak a Word and bring light into the darkness of your life. Don’t despair, God is on the way!

MINISTRY PRAYER