The Certainty of Life: Crisis, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

The Certainty of Life: Crisis, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

What do you do when everything you trusted in collapse? How do you prepare for a sudden change in life? How do you recover when life hits you on your blind side? After a lifetime of hard work, dedication, commitment, and loyalty to a chosen career, how do you suddenly change your vocation and skill sets? What do you do when a lifelong dream and investment is suddenly taken from you through no fault of your own? How do you bounce back after institutions that were expected to protect you suddenly pull the rug out from under your life?

What do you say to your family when you face the reality that you may no longer be able to fulfil their expectations for security, support, and provision? What do you do when everything you trusted in collapse? How do you prepare for a sudden change in life?

How do you recover when life hits you on your blind side? After a lifetime of hard work, dedication, commitment, and loyalty to a chosen career, how do you suddenly change your vocation and skill sets? What do you do when a lifelong dream and investment is suddenly taken from you through no fault of your own?

How do you bounce back after institutions that were expected to protect you suddenly pull the rug out from under your life? What do you say to your family when you face the reality that you may no longer be able to fulfill their expectations for security, support, and provision? All these are examples of what is called crisis.

What is Crisis?

An emotionally stressful event or traumatic change in a person’s life; A time of intense difficulty, trouble or danger; A time of great disagreement, confusion or suffering; A situation in which something or someone is affected by one or more very serious problems; An event over which one has no control, or an experience one did not anticipate or prepare for; Etc.;

Who go through Crisis?

Anyone & Everyone:

– Governments

– Multi-national corporations

– Established organisations

– Families

– Individuals: Believers & Unbelievers alike

Certain Crisis scenarios

Losing pregnancies about the same period for several years; Suitors always walking away when you think something concrete was about to happen; Parents finding fault in every suitor that comes; Rejection at interviews you were confident about, and a lot being at stake as a result (settlement visa, rent, dependants); Burgled or stolen from, especially in a regular pattern and not knowing the culprits; Your image has been torn apart and your secrets spread by people you have trusted; You are an illegal immigrant waiting to be deported anytime; You have been disappointed by people you have come to trust;

The World is in Crises

Economic recession/depression;

Armed conflicts;

Political instability (Nations; Regional – NATO, EU, G8, etc);

Natural disasters (Hurricane, typhoon, floods, earthquake, tsunamis, drought, tornadoes, etc.);

Terrorism; Etc.

The Believer and Crises

God assured the Israelites (Isaiah 43: 1-3).

The Israelites in Egypt (Ex. 3:6-10).

Jesus as touching His followers (John 6:25-69).

Jesus at end of His ministry (Mt. 26: 31-56).

Jesus forewarned His disciples (Jn. 16:33).

The Apostles & the Early Church (Acts 6: 1-7).

Paul & Barnabas because of John Mark (Acts 15:35-41) – they reconciled though (2 Tim. 4:11, Col. 4:10).

The Intent of Crisis

Fear; Trauma; Depression; Despair; Frustration; Anxiety; Loneliness; Worry; Hopelessness; and ultimately Premature death

It is very necessary for one to develop the required mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual maturity to withstand these? As it is possible for two people to go through the same crisis, but their end results will be different.

Ways to manage Crisis

Have faith in God (Ps. 125:1).

Hold unto God’s word (Rm. 8:28).

Have a good attitude (Gen. 40:1-15).

Be hopeful, life occurs in seasons (Eccl. 3: 1-8). People don’t discard clothes for next season. Why? They know that surely as the earth remains, the next season shall surely come.

Be patient, the suffering may be long, but it shall not be forever (Ex. 34:6, Num. 14:18, Neh. 9:17, Ps. 86:15, 103:8, Jer. 15:15, Lk. 18:7, Rm. 2:4, 9:22, I Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 3:9,15).

Be calm, don’t panic (Ex. 14:13).

Ask God what to do (I Sam. 30:1-19).

Realise that you are been watched (Heb. 12:1, 2 Sam 12:13-23).

Control your tongue and your thought (Prov. 18:21 GNT; Prov. 23:7).

Maximising the benefit of Crisis.

If handled properly. Crises are:

True tests of one’s acquired skill and strength Prov. 24:10 (I Sam. 17: 1-54 – David rescued his nation).

Incentives for spiritual growth and maturity (Acts 8:1-8 – Philip exploits in Samaria).

They reveal your true beliefs and convictions (Gen. 22:1-18 – Abraham believed Isaac will be resurrected by God).

They generate creativity and innovative thinking (Peter walked on water – Mt. 14:24-33).

They offer testimony to the glory of God (John 11:1-45 – many Jews believed in Jesus as Son of God).

Conclusion

While believers are not exempted from crises, we can however overcome them. Hold on to these scriptures and practice them:

I Peter 5: 8-9 – 8 Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings.

Mt. 7: 24-27 – 24 “So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.  25 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock.  26 “But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  27 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!”

Bibliography:
Dr Myles Munroe, Overcoming Crisis, The Secret to thriving in challenging times.

The sermon was delivered on January 20, 2019.