Too Big To Fail

1. Too BigTo Fail

2. What are the things you're worried about? The economy? Your health? Your bills? Your kids? Are you worried about the future? The fact is, there are lots of reasons to be afraid in today's world, but God's promise is that even in your darkest valleys, he is walking beside you.

3. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

4. Worry Is Something You Learn To Do.There is no such thing as a “born worrier.” It’s a learned response to life. You learned to worry from two sources:

5. #1 - You learned to worry from experience. • #2 - You learned to worry from examples. - Studies show that children usually pick up their parent’s worries. Anxious parents raise anxious kids.

6. The starting point for overcoming worry is to realize it is useless. - It does you no good to worry. It is “stewing without doing.”

7. One year ago last Monday, one of the largest investment banking companies in the United States, Lehman Brothers started a near financial catastrophe by going bankrupt.

9. Lehman BrothersFounded in 1850 in Montgomery, AlabamaBy Brothers:Henry LehmanEmanuel LehmanMayer LehmanAt the time of bankruptcy had 26,200 employees worldwide.

10. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

11. How is the state of our economy here in the United States today?- Better yet, how is the state of your spiritual life today?

12. American International Group, Inc.

17. General Motors

19. Even some of us at this church have been hurt by job loses, retirement portfolios shrinking, your pay checks reduced and your homes values dropping.

20. Even small businesses, small companies have failed in record numbers this past year. They’re gone, disappeared from our world.

21. Can you comprehend the magnitude of zeros involved in the economic bailout or TARP? The amount of money is staggering. Why so much money? How have you been able to handle this past year?

22. Two months ago, in early July, President Obama went to Italy for the G-8 economic summit. While in Italy, he also had a personal interview with Pope Benedict XVI during which the pope presented Obama with a copy of his latest papal encyclical entitled, Charity in Truth.

23. A papal encyclical is one of the most authoritative documents a pope can produce. Charity in Truth is a 44-page letter in which Pope Benedict XVI comments on the world's current economic crisis and, from his perspective, what he sees as the solution.

24. What did the papal encyclical reveal? Here are 9 significant highlightsfound within this encyclical:

25. #1.  A Global Government. Pope Benedict is calling for a “true world political authority” to fix the problems that plague planet Earth. (P. 67)#2. Church and State.  The pope says this new political authority must make its decisions based on spiritual values. (Ch. 5)

26. #3. The Papacy at the Head.  These spiritual values cannot be derived from just any religion, since not “all religions are equal.” (P. 55)#4.  Religion, Politics and the Economy.  The “church” must influence all areas of society because God must have “a place in the public realm, specifically in regard to its cultural, social, economic, and particularly its political dimensions.”  (P. 56)

27. #5.  Power to Enforce Law.  This “political authority” must have “real teeth” and “be vested with the effective power” to enforce law around the world. (P. 67)#6.  Control Buying and Selling. The new world governing power will institute policies for government to redistribute wealth. (Ch. 3)

28. #7.  Resurgence of Labor Unions.  Labor Unions are to be empowered to “play a decisive role” in the new world order (P. 25). Remember what happened in Poland, leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union? #8.  The Church's Goal.  Pope Benedict says that his encyclical will help achieve “The goal of the history of the human family,” which is to build “the universal city of God.” (P. 7)

29. #9.  Redefining Religious Liberty.  The pope redefines “liberty” as when the world obeys laws shaped by the Roman Catholic Church's spiritual values. According to the pope, as the church influences states to enforce “truth” upon others, such people are then set “free.” “This mission of truth is something that the Church can never renounce.” (P. 9)

30. The proverbial handwriting is on the wall.“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered after the beast . . . and power was given to him over all peoples, and tongues, and nations.” Revelation 13:3, 7

31. “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27

32. God is not vulnerable like our economic institutions or even our spiritual weakness.- God Is Too Big To Fail!

33. The apostle Paul reminds us of the tools we need in this battle and journey starting in Ephesians 6:10-18 (CEV).

34. Vs. 10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Vs. 11, Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks.Vs. 12, We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.

35. Vs. 13, So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.Vs. 14, Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God’s justice protect you like armor. Vs. 15, Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet.

36. Vs. 16, Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Vs. 17, Let God’s saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God’s message that comes from the Spirit.Vs. 18, Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God’s people.”

37. So what’s the message for us today? What are we to do?- Sometimes there may be failure, and sometimes there may be discouragements.- Sometimes our tactical efforts may fail but when we align ourselves with the God who cannot fail, we will be victorious!

38. The Bible says that God will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him (According to Isaiah 26:3).The difference between faith and failure is FOCUS, and the difference between worry and worship is TRUST!

39. We are soldiers on a battleground, not children on a playground. And our “God who is too big to fail is with us always!”

40. King David with all his weaknesses and struggles reminds us inPsalm 46:1-3, 10, 11 (NLV).

41. “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.”

42. The Good News of Jesus reminds us that despite whatever economic struggle, family struggle, health struggle, relationship struggle or spiritual struggle that you may be enduring. - The Word of God reminds us that our “GOD IS TOO BIG TO FAIL!”