SUNDAY SERMON
Part 2
Pastor Maselo Mosomane
“After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself” Chronicles 32:1
We said previously; there are people who when they do good think that God owes them a complement or public recognition. There are also people who see sin in every misfortune they go through. Not only do they see it in themselves but they see it in others too. Every time something goes wrong they see an angry God with a baseball bat behind the door waiting to hit the sinner on the forehead. This kind of attitude weighs people down.
I think we need to understand what Jesus meant in John chapter 16 verse thirty three when He said; “In the world you will have tribulation.” Tribulation, trouble and attacks are not always an aftermath of sin. As long as we are still in this body of flesh and live here on earth, we remain subject to some of these things. As long as we are on earth there is going to be “time to weep and time to laugh; time to mourn and time to dance” Ecclesiastes 3:4. There is going to be a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.
Our salvation does not take us out of the earth. We get saved and still remain on this earth and subject to the systems of this world. That’s why Jesus calls for a balanced attitude and approach; “in the world you will have tribulations.” Salvation is not an escape route from this world; it is a way of victory. Jesus says though, like any other person we will be exposed to these troubles; we will overcome because He says; “I have overcome the world.” We are not in some sort of a run-away type of religion – a kind of defense-like religion; no, we are in a type of lifestyle where we face trouble eyeball to eyeball, wrestle with it and come out winners. Sometimes with blisters and sometimes with scares; it doesn't matter. What matters is; we always emerge with champion belts hoisted in the air and victor’s crowns on our heads.
What are we saying? We are saying we are aware that in our course we will meet with opposition, obstacles and stumbling blocks all around us; but we will not always blame it on God as punishment. We will not always blame it on sin. You see when we are in a gym or training ground, we don’t blame it on the trainer every time we suffer a muscle pull. Friend, let us allow spiritual muscle pulls to tone our muscles and make us ready to the next battle line.
Hezekiah did not waste time trying to psycho-analyze what might have caused the problem. He immediately turned to the Lord. He did not ask the question; “Oh Lord why Lord” Instead he turned to the people and said; “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.” He did not waste time asking “Oh Lord why the colour of my skin is black” He instead moved the army with a strong leadership courage and said; “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” What do you think this statement did to the people? Listen; “And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”2 Chronicles 32: 7-8
You too my friend; when trouble comes – especially after doing good; after an act of righteousness; when you've just arrived from a successful revival; when you've just tithed for the first time; know that it’s no time to ask questions why these things are happening to you. It’s no time to blame or point fingers in accusation. It’s no time to blame it on apartheid; it’s no time to blame it on lack of education; it’s no time to blame it on the colour of your skin. It’s no time to advance your good works and complain. It’s time to call upon the Name of the Lord for He said; “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” Psalms 50:15. King Hezekiah did and prevailed against Assyria. NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE FACED WITH TODAY; YOU WILL PREVAIL.
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