Today I want to talk about where you can find strenght when your power runs out.
Where do you find power and strenght to follow Lord and to contend,
when you feel that you have no more power.
We can walk victoriously and joyfully for many years.
We can be inspired by many tasks and visions.
But human being is built up in a way that whatever we do and experience,
we become blunt of it all.
And we lose our power and we get tired and even spiritually exhausted
of all spiritual work and aspiration.
Where do we get strenght in those situations?
In the Second World War many people survived in concentration camps,
and many of those survivors were even in relatively good mental health.
Studies have been conducted of this subject: what helped them?
It has been noticed that many of them had something to hold on.
They could hold on something in their lives.
Someone had a fiancee who waited for him at home.
Someone had a family.
Someone had a vocation and he hoped to be able to start it someday.
Someone had an escape plan and he clung to it even though he was never able to carry it out.
But he had a plan to cling to.
Even today many people have similar difficulties in their lives.
Future can be more difficult than this day for us.
How do we cope this day? How do we cope tomorrow?
We Christians need also something to hold on.
Jesus says in Luke 8, 13: "Those are the ones who receive the word with a joy when they hear it but they have no root.
They believe for a while, but in the time of testing, they fall away."
Now we can ask why there is a group who falls of.
Jesus says that some people can not keep on believing. They fall of instead.
I think one reason is that they are tired of contention.
Because they have nothing to hold on.
In psalm 119: 49 - 50 it is written:
"Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life."
There is something you can always lean on in all your life crisis.
They are God's promises.
Even today they are real and trustworthy.
And we can hold on them when we have nothing else to hold on.
And by those promises you can participate in heavenly blessings and heavenly help,
that you seem to lack right now.
In Heb. 11: 25 - 26: it is said about Moses that
"He chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt,
because he was looking ahead to his reward."
Bearing the disgrace of Christ is not easy.
Sometimes it is really heavy.
Aspirations of a Christian in the midst of a sinful world takes it's toll.
But what Moses did?
He looked ahead to his reward.
He looked to God's promises.
An so he endured and he won his own battle.
God's promise is like a hand which is streched out from the Kigdom of Heaven to a wanderer in darkness.
And you can grab that hand.
It brings feeling of safety and hope. It guides and takes you to your destination.
It is something that you can hold on.
I became a believer amidst all struggles of my youth.
I suffered a lot of depression and I lacked power.
Then I started to study God's Word and I found God's promises there.
God had promises to me, a little human being.
Those promises lifted me and carried me ahead.
And I could see that those promises were wonderful.
They had enormous power to give to inner being.
When younster my self-esteem was totally broken.
I felt very worthless.
Then Lord started to take me ahead and lead me.
And I remember that there were people who monitored me.
Some one even said about me: "Whom does Tapani think he is."
I didn't imagine anything, but I had a secret that others didn't know about.
I had a promise of God.
"Your promises revive me."
The promise began to carry me ahead.
In the 1990's we had depression in the work of One Way Mission.
And people said: "Perhaps you shoud shut down it all."
And many left off.
And there was a phase when even I thought that it would be wise.
I had no power or solution.
But one day God gave a promise.
And He said: "I will change everything."
That promise started to carry us.
It became to a new source of power.
And God fulfilled His promises.
And soon our work was expanded all over the world.
My friend, it is a powerful word in the bible:" Your promises revive me."
There are two kind of God's promises in the bible.
First there is this "logos" -word which is foundational word and revelation of the bible to all sincere children of God.
And you may hold on them.
Secondly there are "rhema" -words,
They are words of God to a person who is in a specific situation.
And we need them.
We can't take all promises to ourselves
if they are not really given by God.
In the bible there are promises that are for a certain person at a given moment.
Some people have owned a promise from the bible, for ex. the fall of the walls of Jericho.
And they have gone to circle aroud walls that they want to fall.
Once a congregation tried to conquer a theater in order to make it to their church. They went aroud it seven times.
But they did't get it.
Because not all word in the bible is such that what happened once will happen again.
Such a doctrine wears us out, if we dont understand the word of the bible correctly.
Bible says: "Wife, do you know how to safe your husband?
Husband, do you know how to safe your wife?"
Some people think that bible promises that our folks are saved automatically
when we have given our life to Christ.
But the bible does not clearly promise that.
And we can't hold on it, because it is not based on the bible.
I have nothing against that all your relatives are saved.
And if I am wrong about this, I thank God.
But I really think that
Bible does not automatically promise that.
But all our nearest and dearest are specially called by God.
When we are in a situation where promises of the bible will not mean what we wish,
we still have the opportunity to pray.
And there is the "rhema" -word from God.
It can change everything.
I know people to whom God himself has told what will happen to their folks.
One delirict whom many of you know, became a believer.
His mother had years and years before in a prayer received a promise from God:
"Your son will be saved and he will be a powerful weapon of God."
And for years she thanked and praised for what will happen.
God's promise bore the fruit and her son was saved.
And we saw enormous miracles.
One hopeless drug addict had a grandmother, to whom God had promised:
"Your grandson will preach gospel to kings."
This grandmother prayed and thanked God and, hold on that promise for years,
And so happened, that drug addict was saved,
and he was a blessing and preacher to many dignitaries, diplomats and even to a president.
My friends, "rhema" -word belongs to us.
And God can speak us of many things, addition to all great promises of the bible.
And they carry us.
As bible says: "I give you my peace. That I give to you."
God's peace has been a great blessing in my life, because in His peace God often gives His promises.
From time to time we encounter big issues in our work.
And we absolutely need to get understanding from God.
When God gives us peace concerning a certain issue,
that peace is God's promise.
God promises: "You go ahead and I will give all the help you need,
I provide all means and people you need, Go and do it."
When we walk with God's peace in our hearts, we are included in His undertakings.
Peace is a promise that we can hold on when the earth seems to be shaken.
When we seem to have difficulties ahead, we have His promise.
Once we were in China and we were suppposed to visit a congregation,
and our workers Jean and Paul were coming to fetch us
When they came, Jean said: "We have to change the plan because we lack peace.
God didn't give us peace and we can't go that meeting.
It is not safe."
We had to change the plan.
We di not have God's promise.
But next day we felt that we could go there.
We did not worry anymore because we had God's peace.
God is our refuge and he takes care of us.
Even though we sail in hazardous waters.
My friends, peace leads us in the middle of dangers. Peace is a promise.
It brings safety and ease in our lives.
Where do you find safety when you are amidst dangers?
There in one safe place even though we had great anguish.
Even if a great oppression of Christians swept over Europe,
there is allways a safe place and it is in God's will.
When we walk in the peace of God we have peace in our heart
and we are safe even though the world would be in total disorder.
Today many are afraid of the future.
But when you are close to the Lord, you don't have to be afraid.
Because He is a living God.
His heart is full of promises that bring refuge to His own.
That is why I think that future will be a challege to christians,
and it will also be much more difficult than ever before.
But I think that we have interesting time ahead.
We get to experience God's reality and power in a new way.
Where there is fight, hardness and challenge to be a christian,
there is also God powerfully present.
His promises carry us trough the darkest valley.
There are things that God never promised us.
God has not promised us earthly riches or succes.
Nor happiness in our lives.
Nor lack of illnesses or difficulties.
We can't automatically declare it, even though many do just that.
It is wishful thinking, that may function for a while.
But in reality those promises don't work.
They produce exhaustion, depression and apostacy.
It is topmoustly important that we understand what God has promised us and what He did not.
There are people to whom God has promised a lot.
To a certain man god promised wealth.
He saw gold bars in a revelation, and the Holy Spirit gave him great wealth.
Be careful how you use them.
He got a promise, a "rhema" -word from God.
And he became most rich.
One year he was most succesful businessman of Finland.
Everything he did flourished.
He gave a lot of money to God's work.
God can make some one rich. He can bless.
God can give such a promise.
But it does't mean that every one will find gold bars under their bed.
And that all of us would be loaded with money.
But we have great promises in the Word.
Powerful promises.
Bible says: "Everything is yours: Paul, Apollos and Kefas,
yours is the world, life and death, present and future. Everything is yours."
Think about these words of God!
We are not poor.
This is just a temporary defect.
We have been promised all the wealth. We are enormously rich in Christ.
We are His coheirs.
Promises are so great that we don't understand their value.
We can not measure them with gold and silver.
They are much greater than riches of this world.
God's Word is full of promises.
"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and he delivers them."
"Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want."
Rich is not that who owns everything, but that who lacks nothing.
When Lord is your shepherd, you lack nothing.
Even though you have nothing in your purse today.
Because in Lord you have everything.
He takes care of His own.
He may take us to the valley of tribulation,
but we have a promise of God to carry us trough.
They carry us also through times of economical shortage.
My friends, God's promises are given us specially for times of difficulties, anxieties and afflictions.
We know something about our future.
And I want to say:
History is not some river of destiny,
where church drifts without any goal.
Did you know that history is already written.
It was written in advance.
And you will find it in the book of revelations.
You will find it in several pages of the bible.
The book of revelations was not ment to frighten people with the future incidents of the world.
But instead in has a powerful pledge to the congregation:
God has everything under His control.
Everything ends up well.
Whatever happens in the world, remember that God gave His promise.
And he has declared in advance what will happen.
Everything is under His jurisdiction. And everything ends well.
Bible is given to people who believe in God and His Word.
The authority and holiness of Bible is under an attack today.
If Bible could be negated, people would not have anything to hold on in afflictions.
This world needs badly the holy word of God to trust in.
But now it is called "a book which is written by people of less understanding".
In stead of keeping it Sacred Word,
given by God to us to hang on in the middle of all our difficulties.
Bible says : "All who want to live a godly life in Jesus Christ, will be persecuted.
It is also God's word. And it is our reality.
Not only in some veritable persecution, but also here in Finland.
We do experience all kinds of hate and antipathy as childen of God.
We are bullied and victimized in our work and at school.
Amid all that we have vow of God which keeps us from tireing.
I was once in a situation where I was quite beaten by an exprerience of injustice,
and I was mocked.
Then I was in prayer with a couple of friends
Then Lord gave me personally a promise,
which was a wonderful experience,
The holy Spirit said: "I will compell him to apologize."
And that same evening a man gets up
and offers an apology to me of all those wrong testimonies that he had spread around about me.
God keeps us well.
When we give all our burdens to him in prayer, He is a strong defender.
Sometimes in a similar situation, Lord gave me a word as an uplifting of the Holy Spirit:
"If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will fall at your feet."
And this has happened to the letter.
Bible says: "When they drag you in to courtrooms,
don't worry about what you should say there.
And speak up what is given to at the moment, because you are not speaking but the Holy Spirit is."
Once again we have a powerful promise of God here.
We don't have to worry.
God will give you what you need.
If you face persecution and injustice.
Jesus said: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.
And surely I am with you allways, to the very end of age."
My friends, when we go and breach the Gospel,
when we are God's church, that has a burning love to this sinful world
and wants to tell the world about Christ,
Bible says: " I am with you."
That is a strong promise of God.
"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love,
to deliver them from all evil."
That is also a promise to you.
"The eyes of the Lord are on you when you yield yourself to Him wholeheartedly,
so that He can help you mightily in your need."
You can grasp that promise when you are in trouble.
It does not mean that you must fast every day,
and pray around the clock,
that you would have surrendered enough to God.
Some one tried that. He fasted to death.
God does not expect us overwhelming things.
He expect us to be close to Him with a sincere heart.
That we love Him.
And He helps us.
In psalm 54 David cries: "Save me O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might.
Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth."
David prays and calls for help.
He grasps on God's promises in his faith.
And hear how he continues:
"Surely God is my help; Lord is the one who sustains me."
When David prays and turns to God,
The Spirit of faith conquers him.
The Holy Spirit comes to his power.
And he doesn't anymore call for help, but instead
he declares that "God is my helper".
"Lord is my souls support":
When you grasp God's promise and give your burden to Him,
and in faith turn to Him, He will give you the Spirit of Faith.
And you can in faith take refugee in His Word.
And you can be above circumstances like David.
And you can shout: "See, God is my helper!"
We can rise from the darkness with the power of God's work.
And stand in the middle of storms with a steadfast heart.
Lord supports my soul.
Jesus doesn't only support you fysically, but He supports your soul in the battle of faith.
When we don't turn our back to Him but run to Him.
"Sacrifice thank-offering to God, fulfil your vows to the Most High,
and call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you will honour me."
Prayer is a mighty weapon, because God has given a promise:
"Ask and you will receive."
He has promised to hear our prayer.
We don't pray for nothing, but because there is Allmighty God,
who has promised to hear us.
A prayer can change God's plans.
It is said about Hezekiah: In those days he became ill and was at the point of death.
Prophet Isaiah came to him and said:
This is what the Lord says:
Put your house in order, because you are going to die, you will not recover.
He turned his face to the wall and prayed:
Remember O Lord , how I have walked before you faithfully and with a wholehaerted devotion.
And have done what is good in your eyes. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of Lord came to Him:
Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people: This is what Lord says:
I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.
I will heal you. On the thrid day, you will go up to the temple of Lord.
Think! Hezekiah was given God's word.
Your journey will end.
But Hezekiah turned in prayer only to God.
And soon Isaiah had to turn back and bring a new word from God.
That promise of God ended: and I will add your age with 15 years.
Prayer brought Hezekiah a promise from God.
He grasped it and was healed.
Jabez cried to the God of Israel:
Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!
Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.
And God granted his request.
My friends, we have great opportunity to influence.
We are influential people.
We can influence Allmighty God through prayer.
And the destiny of a person or a nation can change.
My friend, God has promised to hear your prayer.
"The righteous cry to Lord, and He will deliver them from all their troubles."
Bible is full of promises and it would take a day to go through them all.
And they are for you and me.
Maybe there is some one who thinks in the middle of trouble:
"If only I could offer something,
so that Lord would hear my voice."
As they did in the Old Testament.
Your broken, distressed heart is in the middle of your anguish,
it is that offer which brings about Father's attention to turn to you.
Bible says: "You are not pleased with slaughtered sacrifice, that I would offer.
Burnt offer does not please you.
The only valid sacrifice to God is a broken spirit."
"Broken and shattered heart You God don't forsake."
My friends, we don't need anything else.
That we come in front of His face with our needs, when we broken and without deceit.
He longs to meet such a heart.
He wants to help those who have surrendered with an undivided heart to Him.
It is God's promise even today.
My friends, as I said in the beginning, we need something to hold on.
God's Word is not just cliche that we need in our Cristian way of life.
Our life depends on that.
We have to grow and learn to draw from the Word.
We have to own God's promises and hold on them.
We must learn to hear His voice.
"Because it is my consolation in my misery."
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