Setting: Contemporary Worship
Length: 38:24
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Title: Four Ways to See God at Work When Tragedy Strikes
Occasion: Remembering the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001
Main Scripture: Topical
Main Topics: tragedy
As you listen, select, copy, and paste the following outline:
When tragedy strikes, we can see God at work by….
1. looking into our ____________
-we see this “looking back” in the life of Joseph
-the sermon recording mentions Genesis 44. The actual passage is chapter 45
Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Because He is at work…
-we see it by looking into our past…..and….we can see HIM by….
2. looking at our ______________
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Job 23:10
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
But when tragedy strikes, we have a reason to trust in God….
Because He is at work…
-we see it by looking into our past…
-we see it by looking at our present….and….we can see HIM by….
3. looking into our ______________
Psalm 73:1-3
1 Psalm 73 A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
-Psalm 73:17
till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
-final justice is reserved for their final destiny
-Heb.9:27
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
And when complete justice is handed out on that final day
-then all tears will be wiped away
-all sorrow will be no more
-that is why we ought to desire His coming
-note the second to the last verse in the whole Bible
Revelation 22:20 ........Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
-I know it’s not a complete answer….it’s a partial answer
But when tragedy strikes, we have a reason to trust in God….
Because He is at work…
-we see it by looking into our past…
-we see it by looking at our present….
-we see it by looking into our future….
-did you know there is one more way to see God?
...we can see HIM by….
4. Acknowledging His own unique ______________
Job had that confidence
-and he uses court language in that climactic chapter (23)
Job 23:6-7
6 Would he oppose me with great power? No, he would not press charges against me.
7 There an upright man could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge.
Well, God gives Job the chance….
Job 38:1-12
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone --
7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
8 "Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, `This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?
12 "Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place
Job’s response: Job 40:4
4 "I am unworthy -- how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. (NIV)
-an expression of shame and humility….
-I know it’s not a complete answer….it’s a partial answer
But when tragedy strikes, we have reason to trust in God….
The greatest tragedy of all
-Jesus the son of God being killed
-God used that to His glory
* we certainly can trust Him to pull all things
together
The purpose of this message is not to just trust Him in some passive sense
All 4 of these ways are being redone and amplified into 4 separate sermons. Click:
Click the following relevant sermon on how tragedy and personal suffering are actually part of God's plan:
The following sermon mentions the terrorist attack and the unfortunate Christian responses to it, namely that God is judging America and that God hates America. This unbiblical response is assessed.
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