How to face dead end

Romans4:17-20

Sermon titled: How to face dead end by Pastor Hideki

Japanese Christian Church in Redlands

I was at the Tuesday Bible study last week in Costa Mesa. We had a very good and deep discussion about our life with Christ. We talked about how we deal with the sense of emptiness  or dead end. Because our Economy is dead, unemployment is still high, our Government is unreliable (ever?), World affairs are gloomy. Personal relationship seems ever staled. Faith ,which we supposed to have, does not really help as much since there is no real faith manifested at the time of trials. I have a friend and his young daughter is a stage 4  cancer( leukemia) and  she  needs bone marrow transplant ASAP. What would you say to him who feels facing the almost dead end? I lost my
word when saw him. Do I really believe in God of miracles?

There are actually four things to do while you wait upon the Lord for the time that you face dead end. Our scripture today is Romans chapter 4

Romans 4:17-21 (NIV)
¹⁷ As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. ¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." ¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

I. V17 I. Remember God’s promise is an immutable (unchanging)

1)      Focus on what God can do. God who gives life to the dead

Abraham was 70 years old when he had a promise that he will become a father of many nations(Gen17:2-4) Not only that but also the entire world would be blessed through his seed(Gen12:3) When Jesus was born from the line of David and ultimately from  the seed of Abraham. The salvation was offered by one of his descendants Jesus Christ. However, when Abraham had a visitation from God, his wife Sara was barren. Sara’s womb was considered dead in verse 19. His promise did not come to pass until 29 years later. He had a son Isaac when he was 99 years old. Abraham had kept his faith。

2)      Remind yourself God can create something out of nothing (ex-nihilo)

After God’s promised son was given to Abraham at last, God’s challenge for Abraham yet continued. God demanded to sacrifice his only son Isaac to Him. Abraham did not hesitate to sacrifice his promised son to God. He left his house right away like next day.  God saw his faith and cancelled the execution. Why was Abraham so strong about his faith in God? There are two hints in Genesis   As he climbed  the Mountain,  Abraham said to the servants “We will be back.” Indicating that Isaac will be back with him. He also said to Isaac

When he asked “Father, where is the lamb for sacrifice?” Abraham again said, “God will provide.” “Paul wrote “God who give life to the dead can calls thing that are not as though they were.” V17 God can even create anything from nothing. Abraham had faith in God who can re-create his son if he had to.

God can change unchangeable persons and, God can control uncontrollable situations. Have faith in Jesus. God can change impossible possible. 

II. V18 Remember God’s Word is eternal.

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations”

We must relay on God’s spoken Word. It is the Scripture in which we trust. There are two things would remain the same, and there are The Word of God and The love of God. These God’s attributes are immutable and also eternal. We trust God for His eternal Word of God. His promises do not have expiration date. It does not have end. We can relay on His Word since He does not change His mind nor forfeit his promises. Abraham received his promise  “Genesis 15:4-6 (NIV)
⁴ Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir."
⁵ He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
⁶ Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

When we believed the Lord and His promise, God credited it to him as righteous. We are only cleansed by Jesus’ blood and His righteousness by believing Jesus was dead on the cross for our sins. By believing, God is declaring us  as righteous. By faith, we can be saved. This promise is immutable and eternal. Abraham is the ultimate example of person who was being justified by faith alone. He believed therefore, he is justified by God. He is cleansed by the divine power not human efforts (ei. circumcisions or keeping the laws)  God’s promise never changes, God’s love for you and I would never change. He is the same yesterday today and forever (eternal).

III. v19-20  Remember, focus on God’s promise not you’re our circumstances.                                                             

We have tendency to focus on our circumstances where actual incidents are taking place. We have tendency to focus on problems not the solution. We can not resolve the problem as long as we focus on the situation itself. Abraham knew his wife is barren. That was the fact. He did not deny the fact. He accepted and moved on. He looked beyond her barren womb. He saw God’s promise as solution to the present impossible situation. We have tendency to panic since we do not see what the future holds. This is what we really should do. We can focus on not the circumstances but God’s Word and His promises.

We must fix our eyes on the Promise giver whose name is Jesus Christ. We are in trouble when we focused on troubles. We accept the fact and fix our eyes on Jesus who can solve the situation. Looking at situation would not solve the problem. Looking on Jesus for solution would give you “HOPE” in your impossible situation. To God nothing is impossible. God is the God of deliverer. None can change the situation but Him who created this world. Where is your eyes fixed now? Jesus or your situation?

IV Remember, God’s power can deliver us from evil.

What do you expect of Him today? I would assume that you want to have deliverance from your problems. For instances, Every family has some kind of  family affairs, difficult financial decisions, problematic relationship with your in-laws, troubles at work, or  health issues like an Allergy or even cancer. We have so many issues, which we need to be resolved. We do not know how to face and to solve, do we?

Abraham believed God’s promise even though Sarah was barren. God can raise the dead and Abraham trusted His power to resurrect his son even if he had to sacrifice him. He believed God’s promise to him “He will be a father of many nations” He trusted the power to deliver his problem in God. God does not test us with evil. On the contrary to God, Satan would tempt us. Be aware of his tactics. He is a smooth talker.

Conclusion

The ultimate form of faith is thanking God in advance for what he is going to do. Abraham praised God for the promise of his son. He gave thanks to God even before his son was born.

2 Corinthians 1:9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. We have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.

V10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

Abraham praised God for the blessing even before it happened . God delivers us from three things

1.He delivers us from present circumstance

2 He delivers from our personal issues

3 He delivers us from evil.

There is one condition in order to receive these solutions. Have faith In Christ.  Do you have hope today? We should give thanks before hand. Since Jesus middle name is Hope.(Well sort of)

V11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

We expect the deliverance from God.  However, we still keep trusting and believing God in prayer. In our prayer , we thank God for what He is going to do. His promises would never be turned empty. He will come through. Jesus is the faithful God.

This is why I believe not the replacement theology. The covenant theology believes in supersessionism (replace chosen people from the Jews) God abandoned His chosen people of Israel, instead the salvation was given to the gentiles. The church is now carrying the touch and represents God’s people according to the reformed theology.

 I believe that God would never abandon His people nor replace them. Even if He did, it gets worse than the previous choice. Church could not replace Jews and Jews were not abandoned by God. (According to the dispensationalist such as me) Remember first point “God is immutable”. God’s promises would never be changed. Once we became a son or daughter of God, God can not change His mind. We are forever His children.

God has chosen us not we chose Him. In Jewish law, a son belongs to a real father can be disowned, but an adapted son could never be denounced nor disowned. It is the Jewish law and Jesus is God and He was once born as a Jew. We are adapted sons in Christ. He will never be able to disown us. He just can’t and he would not.

Shall we pray