The Titanic And Me - Dwight Mast

Good morning and greetings in Jesus name is good to be here. I slipped

in late this morning, so I haven't been able to totally follow the theme

of the service. But our brother here and what is your name? Brother,

I'm sorry, Levi So Levi here had mentioned your theme already a little

bit about centered around the Word of God cling to the Bible, and we're

gonna go into the Word of God this morning and study and see what we

can find out about life. I have a personal testimony to share this morning,

and bear with me and pray for me because this is a little bit

close to my heart. So about nine what was it, nine thirty,

I got a call from my co pastor and he said that the mother of

some twin boys from Jacksonville who are members of our church, passed away this

morning. As far as I know, she's not a Christian. And this

testimony is is Last Sunday, after church, my wife and I was planning

to go visit her in the hospital, and we had some people follow us

home from church, some people that needed to talk, people that visit our

church. There were two men whose wife had left them, and they spent

the afternoon talking with us and we had a wonderful time. And Nick,

who is the one of the twins, was there as well, and that

often happens on Sunday afternoon, and I told him, I said, tell

your mom that we're not going to be able to come tonight. And he

said, that's new problem this morning. She's in eternity. If God lays

on your heart to speak to someone who's not right with God, don't wait.

Please pick that phone up, make that call. So if my mind

is scattered this morning and you can't understand or follow me, just pray for

me, because it really set me back. So this morning, our life

is a journey. If you're here this morning and you're alive and breathing,

you are on the waters of life and you are sailing for a destination.

No one in this building this morning is exempt you are on a journey of

life. The title the message is the Titanic. And me and I want

to take just a minute to talk about the Titanic and then we're gonna move

on. But we know this was a big ship, eight hundred and fifty

two feet long, and it weighed over forty six thousand tons, and it

says it took five tugboats to get it to water. We know the story

that four days later, four hundred miles from land, it struck an iceberg.

Just under three hours, it slid beneath the surface of a cold,

dark ocean. The question was asked why what went wrong? This boat was

supposed to be unsinkable. We're gonna come back to this maybe a little bit

later, but this morning I want you to consider what you have that is

far bigger than the Titanic in your journey of life. What we have is

powerful. What we have is huge, and I want you to make it

personal in your life. This morning, we're gonna continue the thoughts of the

Bible. Turn with me to Matthew chapter four. The theme for this weekend

is growing in Christ and your Sunday school lesson for the adults anyways, was

in First Peter chapter two, and I didn't get here and hear what the

brother had to say. I don't know if you discussed verse number two or

not, but it says, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the

Word, that we may what grow. I don't know who the oldest man

is here this morning. Maybe brother Jason are the oldest one here this morning

on farther back? Are you still growing? We're all growing. We're on

a journey, and we're growing in our Christian lives. Matthew chapter four.

I got sidetracked here number verse number four. But he answered and said,

it is written man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word

that precedeth out of the mouth of God. If we want to grow this

morning, we need to be in the word. Do you know I don't

know a few people out here in organ work too much or not? Do

y'all work too much? Put too many hours in? We do back in

Florida, on the other side of the world, we work too much.

But do you know that you could pick this Bible up and start in Genesis

chapter one and read it all the way through in seventy two hours. Did

you know that Alison did? It was in her book at Bible School.

You can do that seventy two hours. You can read it all the way

through, front to back. It's proven. It's on tape. How close

is your Bible to your heart this morning? Did you read it this week?

Brother John? Back there ask you some hard questions over the last couple

of days. He said, don't you read your Bible? Do you know?

And do you realize? This is the living word of God? How

close is it to your heart this morning? I'm not have to get Jordan

to get me more water if I run out. The Bible contains the mind

of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom

of sinners, the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts

are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read

it, my friends, to be wise, believe it to be safe,

practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to

supports you, comfort, to cheer you. It is the traveler's map.

It is the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and

the Christians Charter. Yes, you're on a journey of life this morning.

You're in the water. You're not in the harbor. You're out sailing,

and you need the word of God. First John, Chapter one, well

well known scripture. I hope you read it very often. First John one,

that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we

have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands

have handled of the Word of life, for the life was manifested, and

we have seen it and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life which

was, which was with the Father and was manifested. Unto us that which

we have seen and heard. Declare we unto you that you also may have

fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his

son Jesus Christ. And these things right we under you, that your joy

may be full in the journey of life on the ocean of time. There

is nothing you will face that you cannot find an answer in the Holy Bible.

Nothing ask some of these older brethren. Verse five. This, then,

is a message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you

that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If

we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie

and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light as He

is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood

of Jesus Christ, his son cleanses us from all sin. The writer goes

on that I was quoting earlier to say this about the Bible. It says

here paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and Hell disclosed. The Lord Jesus

Christ is its grand object, our good. Notice that our good. It's

design. The glory of God is its end. Young people, Read it

slowly, read it frequently, Read it prayerfully. Let it fill the memory,

rule the heart, and guide the feat It is a mine of wealth,

a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It has given

you in life, will be opened in the judgment and remembered forever. It

involves the highest responsibility and will reward the highest labor, and will condemn all

who trifle with its sacred contents. We also know the Bible says that all

scriptures given inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,

for correction, for instructions, and righteousness. Verse twenty one says, for

the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy

men of God spake as they removed by the Holy Ghost. What you have

this morning is inspired by Holy God. Men wrote it down, people translated

it. But it is inspired by the Holy God, and it's from God,

and it's for us this morning. Treasure it, Handle it carefully,

and read it often. This is huge in your journey of life. You

know, reading your Bible is probably the most important discipline that you will do

to be a faithful Christian? Is that right? John? Read it.

We sing a song that's titled hold Fast to the Right, and I believe

it's the last stands. It says you will find in your satchel a Bible,

My boy, It's the book of all others, the best. It

will help you to live and prepare are you to die, and will lead

to the gates of the blessed. May we each let it fill the memory

and guide the feet. That is the first thing we're gonna talk about this

morning. That's big. The second thing is the church. And I don't

know how many churches are represented here this morning. I don't know. I

know there's a church from BC, I met him earlier. And there's some

people here that used to be from North Carolina. I don't know there's different

churches here. But do you realize and understand the tremendous value of being a

part of a biblical church. Matthew Chapter sixteen, verse eighteen, And I

say, unto THEE thou art Peter, And upon this rock I will build

my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And

I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. And whatso

Ephesians two nineteen I didn't realize we changed chapters here Ephesians two nineteen Ephesians chapter

two, picking up in verse number nineteen. Now therefore a year no more

strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of

God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus

Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, and whom all the building fitly framed together

groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom also are builded together

for an habitation of God through the Spirit. So what is the church this

morning? What is it to you? If you was to open a dictionary

and read the definition, what would it say. It says it's a religious

institution. It says it's a place of worship, or a group of worshippers.

But the Church of Jesus Christ is so much more than that. First

Corinthians twelve says, for as the body is one and half many members,

and all the members of that one body, being many are one body,

so also is Christ. For the one body is not one member but many

verse sixteen. And whether one members suffer, all the members suffer with it,

or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Can

you relate to that this morning, dear people, what it means to be

a part of a church? Isaiah chapter sixty two as an interesting verse,

and I want to read too much into it. Isaiah sixty two, Verse

three. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the

Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of God. Picture your church.

I believe this is halsey men a night. There's there's different churches out

here, and forgive me if I get the wrong one, but I believe

this is Halseym in a night. Right. Here is this church a crown

of glory in the hand of the Lord. Is it a royal diadem in

the hand of Thy God? And I trust this morning it is. You

know. The church should be a nursery for the young, a hospital for

the sick, a staging area for battles, and the rallying point for the

faithful. The church this morning should be a shelter for the week, and

a springboard for the strong. It should be the rest for the weary,

and a tempering for the energetic. But most of all, the church is

the body of Christ. How does this church here, fittan? How does

my church? Fittan? Go with me? Now to the New Testament,

Acts, chapter fourteen. We have a picture here of a church, a

situation that probably no one here can even relate. To Acts fourteen, in

verse number nineteen, it says this, and there came thither certain from Antioch

and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew

him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit as the

disciple stood round about him, it says here in the Bible that he rose

up and came into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnamas

to Derby. And we're gonna stop reading there. It'd be interesting to keep

on gone, but we're out of time. So what happened here? A

man was down. I've never been stoned to death. I had some rocks

through at me, and I threw some rocks back, But I've never experienced

this. But it says here in verse twenty that the people stood around him,

and what did he do? What does it say he did? Says

he got back up. My heart aches for young people who do not have

a church to stand around them. We're gonna fall. We're gonna take a

stone right into forehead and hit the ground. It's going to happen. We

need a church when the clouds are big and the waves are high, to

stand around us. Not the most important decisions you ever make, but one

of the most important decisions you ever make is to join and be a part

of a biblical church. It's huge. One chapter back, or maybe two,

in Acts chapter twelve, we got a man that's in prison. He's

in prison for his faith, and he's fixing to be beheaded. He's fixing

to die. And it says here in Matthew our Acts twelve, verse number

five, Peter therefore was kept in prison. But notice this. It says,

prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Herod

had recently killed James Any some sort of sick way thought people really like this.

I'm gonna I'm gonna kill this man too. But this church stood round

about him in prayer night and day. It says without ceasing. It was

a united prayer. It was an earnest prayer. It was a prayer of

the church. Brother LEVI, have you ever got your members here together and

prayed without ceasing for a lost soul? We haven't either, But why not?

Why don't we get together and pray without seizing for a need? Can

you and I grasp this morning the magnitude of what we have for this journey

of life. We have the Bible and we have the Church. So back

to our title, what caused this tragic shipwreck? On that faithful night?

What happened? And I would like to look at three things from this story,

Three things that took this boat to the bottom of the ocean. The

first one is pride, the second one is not heating warnings, and the

third is a lack of communication. Pride. They were trying to beat a

record. They had a name to get in the newspaper. I think they

had the newspaper back then. They had to get they had to get there.

I want to look at a couple of verses on pride, because I'm

gonna go ahead and tell you that struggling with pride doesn't go away when you're

Levi's age, is that right? Or when you're Jason's age, it don't

go away? Proverbs chapter eleven and its short don't go away when you're my

age. Proverbs eleven and verse number two. It says, when pride cometh,

then cometh shame. But with the lowly is wisdom. What do you

think would have happened if them arrogant people who were commanding the control or maybe

guiding that boat, would have had a little wisdom A couple more chapters back

thirteen, verse number ten. Only by pride cometh contention, but with the

well advised is wisdom. Think about that, dear people, as you think

about your life and your journey and your struggle with pride. Then we know

the one in sixteen and eighteen Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before

a fall. This morning, I don't know I had to sugarcoat this,

but pride is sin, let's face it, and it has pulled many,

many people to the bottom of the ocean. Do you know what pride means

really means? According to Strongs, it means arrogant and presumptuous. Presumptuous means

failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate sell inordinate self esteem

is how Webster defines it, delight or elation arising from some act's possession or

relationship. Pride was the downfall of that boat that night. Pride was at

the helm. Pride was in the hearts of men. Go with me to

the book of Psalms, Psalm ten, Psalm ten, Verse two. The

wicked, in his pride doth persecute the poor. Let them be taken in

the devices that they have imagined. For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire,

and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord uphoreth. The wicked, through

the pride of his countenance will not seek after God. God is not in

all his thoughts. Is that a picture of that boat screaming through the water

all of twelve point two miles an hour, whatever fast it went. It

wasn't even that fast, but they were still proud of it because it was

a little bit faster than competition. Second one is not heating warnings. You

know that night, as the Titanic slid through the water at full throttle fast

as they could go, trying to beat that record, it was driven by

pride and no thought for safety. Does anyone remember that, I know you

know the story. Does anybody remember how many warnings were given that night?

From what I can find, it was six, six warnings of icebergs up

ahead. They were repeatedly advised to slow down, to take a different course,

maybe even turn around. They never cracked the throttle. They plowed ahead

full speed. Six warnings, and it didn't no good. First Corinthians,

Chapter four, first number fourteen. I write not these things to shame you,

but as my beloved sons, and I'm gonna add daughters, I warn

you, for though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, you have yet

have you not many fathers? For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through

the Gospel. Think about the man or the men who were up in that

crow's nest that night, peering out through the darkness, trying to see what's

up ahead. If I understand rightly, if you look just right from their

vantage point, that you could see the outline of an iceberg. Think about

them. If only they would have been gone a little bit slower, they

may have seen that outline a little bit quicker, and this story would have

had a different ending. A right. Not these things to shame you,

but to warn you. Number three, there was a lack of communication.

There were other ships. They weren't the only one out on that water that

night, And dear people, this morning, you're not the only one on

the water. There's people all around you. These other ships repeatedly and persistently

warned the crew on the Titanic of what was about to happen, of the

danger. And do you know what happened? From what I understand, I

don't know if we had radio's back then, I don't know how they communicated,

But from what I understand, they finally told them in anger, leave

us alone. We don't want to hear about it. We are on an

ego trip. Sad to say, when that Titanic hit that iceberg and the

immediate danger that followed afterwards, what do you think happened? Then the radio's

got cranked back up, They grabbed the mic and they called for help.

Do you know those ships on the water, From what I understand, the

story goes had their radios off. There was no communication. They were told

to stay out of their lives, to leave them alone. Communication was lost

because of a rash response of the crew earlier, and here we have this

massive vessel taking on water, fixing to sink to the bottom of the ocean,

Job Chapter thirty five, Job thirty five and verse No. Twelve.

There they cry, but none giveth answer because of the pride of evil men.

Pride, not heating warnings, and a lack of communication sent this massive

ship to the bottom of the ocean, and a lot of people went with

it. Let's bring this into this church building this morning, into your life

this morning, young people. First, Peter, Chapter five, verse number

five. Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves into the elder yea, all

of you, all of you, the old ones too, be subject one

to another, and be clothed with humility. For God resisteth the proud,

and giveth grace to the umble. Umber yourselves now for unto the mighty hand

of God, that He may exalt you and do time justice. Pride played

such a big role in this ship gone to the bottom. It's gonna play

a role in whether you or I make it spiritually. Think of the outcome.

If they would have only slowed down, could it have been different?

If they would have turned will two turns and move that boat over two feet?

What could have been different. Friends, Be careful of pride. It

can take us down. How can we heed the warnings that come our way

today? You and I, how can we make this practical? Honor your

father and your mother, Respect your preachers, Build your church, Be a

part of the structure. Don't buck the system. You are the church of

tomorrow. We talked about that yesterday. All the bishops and deacons and pastors

on this side, and their wives on this side. It's happening. You

are the ones of tomorrow. Be a part of building the church of today.

We must all give an account for how we will lead and what we

stand for. Don't turn your back on the vision that's been a part of

who you are. Look at history, look at what works and what don't

work. You know, if the captain of the Titanic would have pulled the

throttle back at that first warning and slowed down and went off course, you

know, far too often we plow ahead and dismiss the warnings. It's just

a little iceberg. I'm unsinkable. Honor the leaders in your life. Pick

up your cell phone, shoot him a message, give him a call,

Tell them you care about them. Pray for them. They need it.

They need it. Do you know that the target on their back is a

lot bigger than the one on yours. If the devil can get this,

this man on the front bench to fail, he can ruin this church.

Honor your leaders, heed their warnings. Be a part of the solution.

Help to build the Church of Jesus Christ. Communication. How can we keep

communication open in our homes and in our churches? Friends, this morning,

we must first be open to Almighty God. Be open to those in your

life, your parents, your friends, your uncle, your aunt, your

pastor, the deacon, a brother, a friend, it doesn't matter.

Find somebody to be open with. Never cut the ties of communication to those

around you, even, yes, even when they step on your toes,

or when they give you some encouragement or some criticism. Remember the scripture teaches

at iron sharpen at iron, build relationships early in life. And I love

what we have here this weekend, and I would like, I'm not going

to do it, but if the committee would just stand up and everybody look

at them and say thank you. This is where it's at. We're building

relationships and communications and being open with each other. You know, there was

around one hundred thousand people watch that boat leave that shore that day. There

was family, There was friends, loved ones, probably some pastors, preachers,

teachers, grandparents. They were waving and they were cheering them on.

And I like to think about that as the church and your journey of life.

When you're four hundred miles out and you hit an iceberg and you start

taking on wa we face things in life that could take us down. We

need the arms of our brothers and sisters in the church. We need communication,

we need support. We cannot do it alone. Dear people, never

close the door of communication with your church family. Be a part of a

biblical church. Be open to communicate with God and fellow believers. You know,

I believe that open communication goes a long way in establishing strong biblical churches

in this world we live in. Back to the Titanic, if they would

have simply had communication that night, if they would have had a civil conversation

over those radio waves and says thank you brother for your warning, how would

have it had turned out? If all those ships on the Sea of Life

would have come in there and gathered those people that were flailing around in that

cold water, maybe they all could have been saved. If only there could

have been communication. First Timothy Chapter one. First Timothy Chapter one, in

verse eighteen says this charge I commit unto these the words of Paul Son Timothy,

according to the prophecies which went on, which went before, on thee

that thou, by them mightest wore a good warfare, holding faith in a

good conscience, which some, having put away concerning faith, have made shipwreck.

Young people here this morning, you have so much. You have the

Word of God. You have a faithful church. Never put it away.

Don't let pride raise its ugly head. When warnings are given, sit up

and pay attention. Listen, be a part of them, and communicate.

Young people, you have a responsibility to each other to give warnings, to

heed warnings, to be a warning, to live your life that shows others

what it means to be a Christian. Remember to think your pastors, Thank

your deacons and their wives for what they do. We are all on this

journey, and we all have a destination, and we all need each other.

Shall we pray Father and have and thank you for this beautiful day.

Thank You for blessing us with life and health. Thank You for the opportunities

that are sitting here this morning, energy, ambition, and zeal. Lord,

May you direct it in a way that brings honor and glory to your

name. Help us Lord to look to you as mortal man. We struggle

with some of these things we talked about this morning, every day, sometimes

every hour. Help us Lord to be humble people, teachable people, people

that are willing to learn, to give warnings and to heed warnings. We

thank you, Lord for each and every person that is sitting here this morning.

Thank you that you have died for them, to save their souls and

help them to walk in newness of life. We thank you this morning for

the pastors and the deacons, and the bishops and their wives and their families.

Lord, the sacrifice say make to lead and guide the churches they're part

of. We pray this morning for the fathers and the mothers and their children,

their little ones, and the responsibility of leading them on this journey of

life. And Lord it we was reminded again this morning how suddenly our life

can be over. Help us Lord to be faithful and reach the other side

ready to meet you face to face. Thank you again for this privilege and

for this opportunity. In Jesus name. Amen,