LET NO YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED
By Brother Progress Ayikimi, Station Minister, GKS Lagos State Branches
Sunday morning Service December 20, 2020
In John chapter fourteen verse one our Lord Jesus Christ, gave his disciples the exhortation from where this sermon is drawn. He told them: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1) He had to encourage them because he had told them earlier that he would soon be leaving them, as recorded in the previous chapter. This made them to be in distress and sorrow. – John 13:33-36.
In this age, called the last days, the nations are in distress. They are also fearful of the future. (Luke 21:25,26) Hence this exhortation of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the end that he would continually be with his people, to protect, provide and save them is also very relevant or apposite. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Apostle Paul Stated: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (2 Timothy 3:1) He went on to say in the succeeding verses (2-5) that people would be opposed to God and hateful of their fellow men. Indeed the travails of mankind are manifold in this age. These problems include those of childlessness, poverty, (in some homes, they live from hand to mouth and poverty runs in a vicious cycle). Some are afflicted with debilitating illnesses – even mental disorder as well as early deaths. Other are being buffeted by witches and wizards. Many are caught in the throes of wars. A pandemic, called COVID 19, is now threatening human existence, leaving debilitation and death in its wake.
However, people of God should not fear but always have strong faith in His almightiness. In Isaiah 41:10, it is written: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Examples
After the Israelites had left Egypt, Pharaoh pursued them, with the mind of forcing them, on pain of death, to return to Egypt. This made the people to be afraid. They murmured. But God used Moses to exhort them, as it is written: “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:13-14) The miraculous deliverance by God by way of creating a path for the Israelites through the Red Sea is now an everlasting testimony to the fact that God is mighty to save. The Jews sang in praise of God, saying, among other things, “…I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” – Exodus 15:1, 2, 11.
The people of God are today marching to the antitypical land of Canaan. Just as the Israelites were delivered from the hands of Pharaoh, so God would save His people from the oppressive hands of satan the devil.
Another striking example to illustrate the fact that when people show faith in God, He delivers them from all their troubles, was that shown by the three faithful Jews, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They refused to worship the image of gold made by King Nebuchadnezzar, believing that God Almighty could deliver them. But if it pleased God that they should die, they were ready to be thrown into fiery furnace. Infuriated by what he felt was their impudence, the king ordered that the fire be heated seven times, such that even the men who carried the Jews into the furnace died from the heat. But the unthinkable happened, which made Nebuchadnezzar and his men to dash closer to see what was a sight for sore eyes. “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” – Daniel 3:24-25.
The fourth person was Jesus Christ in his prehumen days. The king had to change his word from “who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15), to “…Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, …and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.” (Daniel 3: 28) Instead of death, the Jews got promotion.
We should not let our hearts to be troubled, because God will always provide for our daily needs. (Psalm 37:25; 23) In times of illness he cures us. (Jeremiah 33:6; Malachi 4:2) Those without children, He has promised to grant their hearts’ desires. (Psalm 113:9) He protects us in time of danger. – Psalm 23:4; Proverbs 18:10; Isaiah 43:1-3; Psalm 91:1-10.
However, we should have faith and be patient for God’s due time to fulfill His promises. (Isaiah 40:28-30) God Almighty exhorts us thus: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” – Isaiah 26:3, 4.
Summary by Brother Benedict Hart,
Publicity Secretary, GKS