Too Big

To Fail

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.

“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)

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:

•#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.

The starting point for overcoming

worry is to realize it is useless.

- It does you no good to worry.

It is “stewing without

doing.”

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.

Lehman BrothersFounded in 1850 in Montgomery,

AlabamaBy Brothers:

Henry LehmanEmanuel LehmanMayer Lehman

At the time of bankruptcy had 26,200 employees worldwide.

“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)

How is the state of our economy

here

in the United States today?

- Better yet, how is the state of

your spiritual life today?

American International Group, Inc.

General Motors

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.

Even small businesses, small

companies have failed in record

numbers this past year.

They’re gone, disappeared

from our world.

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?

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.

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.

What did the papal encyclical

reveal? Here are 9 significant

highlights

found within this encyclical:

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

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

“But immediately Jesus spoke to

them, saying, “Be of good cheer!

It is I; do not be afraid.”

Matthew 14:27

God is not vulnerable like our

economic institutions or even

our spiritual weakness.

- God Is Too Big To Fail!

The apostle Paul reminds us of

the tools we need in this battle

and journey starting in

Ephesians 6:10-18 (CEV).

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.

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.

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.”

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!

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!

We are soldiers on a

battleground, not children on

a playground.

And our “God who is too big to

fail

is with us always!”

King David with all his

weaknesses

and struggles reminds us in

Psalm 46:1-3, 10, 11 (NLV).

“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.”

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!”