The Great Rescue - The Amazing Plan, Part 1

You asked me the kind of movies I love the most. They're the ones that are based on a true story and there's an amazing rescue. I made this special team comes in and they rescue someone out of an amazing, difficult, impossible situation.

I want to share with you in the next few days. The greatest rest ever occur. Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge good with children Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry featuring the Bible teacher. This program should begins a new series called the great risk rescues are often dramatic, usually availability celebration rescue ships talking about this week is no different doesn't follow the typical goal great risk just before we get started, let me encourage you to try using chips message notes while you listen chips notes containers outline to Scripture references and much more will help you remember what you hear and maybe even share what you're learning for a quick download just go to LivingontheEdge.org click the broadcast tab Listeners Filling notes and you're good to go Bible heavy opening now to Ephesians chapter 1. Let's join Chip for his message. The amazing plan. There are few things that capture our attention and calls our hearts to soar like a successful rescue if you've ever been a part of one or been the recipient of being rescued. You know what I'm talking about the stories that are real and true usually start with the crisis. Young teenage girl is kidnapped and evidence points that it's by a serial killer. Minors are trapped hundreds of feet below the surface and time is running out. Missionaries are held hostage by militants in their demanding millions of dollars in ransom bill be killed within days if it's not paid US Embassy is under siege in a foreign country. 17.

Employees can hold out much longer. A little boy is in Yosemite and is lost it's starting to get dark and the temperatures will dip below freezing eight Americans are held hostage and one will be killed every six hours.

Unless the demands are met.

Somali pirates capture commercial vessel and their holding the captain the prisoner in each case when the person or persons are dramatically rescued in our spirit something source and it's more than just relief.

It's more than a tragedy averted. There's something about the whole there's hope, and it always creates heroes. In fact, this is the stuff that movies are made of and books are written because even though we may see it on the news. We want to know what really happened and what were the obstacles and we want to know about the pilot or we want to know about the special ops team. We want to know about the bystander who became the hero something in our soul when we see people rescued out of horrendous situation that looked like there was no hope. And then there's hope. It really captures our attention so I was thinking about rescues and so I googled rescues great rescues, miraculous rescues, there's lots of information there is the five most amazing rescues. There is the best rescues of the last hundred years, there's the rescues of World War II there is a five rescues that you've never heard of before. I mean there's rescues rescues rescues so I started reading about these rescues and other fascinating me and some of them I mean the probability of of them doing what they did. You just think, and there's no way but what makes him the great rescue is it was seemingly impossible, but there were five characteristics as I begin to read the stories are put on the front of your no great rescue seem to have five things in common. Number one they have a great plan. Number two, they have the right people to execute the plan number three almost always there's innovative methods, it's impossible in these people think of something, but no one's ever thought about or it would likely be impossible and than they do it. One of the great World War II. One was that we had prisoners and the enemy was. It was in a large large prison there were hundreds of prisoners and they were all going to be killed and they wanted to deliver them. And there is absolutely no hope in these planes flew in solo and they actually drop bombs, hoping to knock out just one wall that would cause it to cave in to where the people who held the prisoners and where the wall would fall down and the prisoners a go free.

Mean it was like and they need on a haystack and it was accomplished was called one of the greatest rescues of all the second world war and then you have to have not just innovation, but perfect timing. And even when all that is aligned flawless execution. As you open your notes. I would say that is amazing is all those rescues were that I read about. There is the most amazing, the most powerful, the most stunning rescue not just an all time, but all history, and we usually call it by something like the Christmas story and what happens with the Christmas story is we've heard it a lot and were Western and we live in America and there's a lot of commercialism all around it and so I want to do is I want to take the Christmas story I want to talk about the rescue that happened and I'm going to suggest that there is a great plan that there was just the right people that there was innovative methods that literally will blow your mind that the timing was perfect and there was flawless execution so you read it again little bit pull out a pen if you will keep your Bible handy and let's look at the great rescue the great rescue starts like this. Notice Ephesians chapter 1 there's a great plan. It's God's plan for consider what he has done before the foundation of the world he God chose us to becoming Christ is holy and blameless children living with in his constant care.

That's Phillips translation Ephesians 13. Notice the timing of God's rescue before the foundations of the earth before there was even creation. This plan, this rescue was in the mind and in the heart of the triune God in verse 11, he tells us how he pulled it off and what's going to happen. It says for God has allowed us to know the secret of his plan and it is this key purposes in his sovereign will that humanity shall be consummated in Christ and everything that exists in heaven and on earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in him, namely Christ. Here's the plan. It's really simple. Jesus, God the son will rescue humanity from the foundations of the earth before anything ever happened in the heart of God. Jesus is going to rescue mankind will learn later, whosoever will will who are the right people.

What I want to tell you about the right people is there unlikely people know God is all knowing he's all wise.

He started from the foundations of the earth that he had centuries to to see all this play out and just ask yourself if you had centuries to come up with a plan to break into human history and to rescue it and save it and deliver would would you use a teenage girl, a probably young twentysomething guy your lowest class citizens that have no respect shepherds some foreigners who spend their time gazing at stars, a very very old man who apparently was very sensitive in the prompting of the Holy Spirit that he would see the Savior before he died in one really really old lady has been a widow for years and spends decades fasting and praying in the temple. That's the cast is gonna pull this thing off a great plan. The right people at this this is fascinating to me. Innovative methods listen to the prophecy 700 years before Christ was born. Isaiah would write in Isaiah 714 therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

Behold, a virgin will be with child, and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel literally God with us. So the innovation will not be a prophet will not be just a message.

Actually, God is going to come and the innovation is that there's going to be a woman that has a baby who's a virgin little oxymoron. Here, if you have your Bibles roll handy to open it up if you would, to Matthew chapter 1 and we see the fulfillment of this prophecy. Most scholars think Mary was probably the youngest of 15-year-old may be a 17-year-old young woman who is very godly and as you read her prayers. Somewhere along the line, her mom and dad helped her learn the Scriptures to she quotes multiple passage in her classic prayer. Verse 26 we hear the fulfillment of the prophecy 700 years earlier of chapter 1 of Luke. Now, the six month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendent of David and the virgin's name was Mary Ann coming in he said to her, greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you, but she was very perplexed that the statement he kept pondering what kind of situation. This was the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus now can you imagine this your likable 16-year-old girl you love God with all your heart, you got this picture of the right guy at the right time and you think you found them in that you didn't find him in and he's stunning and godly in your parents have worked all these things out and it's just a normal day and angel shows up in your bed Mary all favored one, you have a baby will not Joseph who, like you can see we we've sung this for so long we've lost the all we lost all of the innovation of God's rescue will talk a little bit later about why it's so important and why she had to be a virgin. You will be greatly called the son of the most high, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever in his kingdom will have no end. So you're going to have this baby but you do not have any relationship with a man and it's going to be the son of the most high, and this girl knows her Bible and is going to be a kingdom that's going to be eternal.

That will never end. Mary said to the angel I like this.

How can this be, since I'm a virgin and the angel answered and send her the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you and for that reason, the holy child shall be called the son of God's an amazing amazing innovative method of rescue were God himself after sending prophets and revelation and judgments and extending kindness would come when determined by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus the Messiah would be fully man because born of a woman, but fully God, born of the Holy Spirit and the God man, fully man and fully God without confusion. The theologians call it the hypostatic union would then reveal and explain what God is like usher in a kingdom to let people know how things work in heaven and how they're supposed to work here and then to make disciples and calls this rescue to be a viral movement and chain reaction that would change the course of history. I was thinking about this rescue and and I thought you know we live in such a psychological date. This was like the first intervention I mean a real intervention. I came to my mind so I thought an intervention is the act of inserting one thing between others like a person trying to help interventions come from the Latin word meaning to come between or to interrupt. Jesus comes in between and interrupts human history and is going to come between God the father and his Holiness the people that are far from them with really big problems that end in dad and he's going to intervene and he does his classic intervention. I love the last line and intervention is a deliberate process by which change is instrument introduced into people's lives, thoughts, feelings and behaviors and so I did little thinking and little research and I thought what we learned about interventions in our day. Some of you I've been involved in one with my father many years ago was a very professional but worked. I've been with people that have been in interventions done interventions, but whether it's alcohol or drugs. A sexual addiction codependency of what we know is that some people get addicted begin to live in such a way that is destroying their lives and the people around them and then something happens where people realize we can't allow this to continue. And they do what we call a intervention.

Let me give you the characteristics of a successful intervention of drug, alcohol, or sexual addictions. First, there is denial by the one you're seeking to help words. Yes, I have a little problem. It's not that bad. Second, there's a deep concern by loved ones the realist people that really care enough third trusted friends and family are willing to risk rejection because these interventions don't always go well and they're willing to risk rejection because they realize if we don't this person is going to destroy themselves and everyone around them. Fourth, there's an element of surprise. You don't say to someone we know you have a sexual addiction and what we need on this and talk about next week will bring some trusted friends and family will tell you how we really feel about you, doesn't work that way. It's a surprise and a safe neutral place for there is the extraction from the current environment.

People never get out of addictions and let you take him from where they are into some new environment. Six. The addict commits to get help right then a bag is already been prepared a rehab center is already been contacted. Options are on the table and the person then goes I am willing to get help.

That still doesn't make it successful. Finally, the treatment begins and have a completely new start in which they admit their need to confront the lies that they believe and they have a genuine desire to change in the 12-step world. It's the hit bottom.

No more cons.

No more lies.

No more manipulating. I need help.

As I was doing my research is think of the spiritual parallels I went online and and found a number of places that you know if you were thinking – my son or my husband, my wife, you know him my best friend, someone I really love how they're just killing themselves with alcohol or drugs or something like this, where would you go, what, how would you actually start an intervention and so I looked in a number of them, but this is five tips for a successful intervention and as I read it do, the spiritual math to yourself and think boy God.

Sure knew a lot more about this the man to number one, don't wing it. Okay, God had a very long careful plan but you don't wing it research and planning is critical to stay positive. It's interesting interventions are not people beating up on someone. It's about love and commitment, and we care in your valued and think Jesus ministry and how he didn't come with shame how it came with love and healing people and raising them from the dead and delivering people that no one cared about. Third hope for the best prepare for the worst lots of interventions don't work, seek just because someone comes to rescue doesn't mean people get rescued. Someone can come to rescue us, but we have to be willing to accept the help and I think of how God planned for the best but allowed for the worse. Those who didn't want help he's made provision for us for professional interventionalists and numbers don't try this at home. Get outside help and finally six secure your drug or rehab center before you do this. It's not like you have this event to go boy now what we do and I was thinking of Jesus, the very last thing he said to his disciples remember he said I go to prepare a place for you.

He prepared what was going to happen to all people that is going to rescue just a fascinating way for me to begin to take the trees in the songs and the sweet baby Jesus in all the ways that we get familiar and realize Christmas is about the greatest rescue that is ever occurred listening part's message. The amazing point is series the great rescue in this little three-part series reveals that God's great rescue mission utilized an incredible plan and relied on a very unlikely team and yet is exactly what people desperate for rescue can rely on. With absolute certainty. If you'd like to hear this message again the chipping roadmap is perfect for free access. The ups also an easy way to share this message with a friend if you like CDs take advantage of our on-air discounts and remember the MP3s are always free. Just visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org Special offers on the app or give us a call at triple late. 333-6003 well chip Christmas is almost here as were taking time out of busy days to listen to what's special about this series in water may be a couple things we can look forward to getting out of it in a day.

There's something so wonderful so amazing, so warm about Christmas time that people are happier people are more generous. I mean, I love the lights. I love the trees. I love the songs on and on and on but you can lose Christmas, we can actually completely forget what it's all about this whole series is going to help you look at the whole Christmas story with a completely new set of glasses. It'll be a set of glasses that for some of you like me when I was about 18, a light came on and I thought oh it's not just about a baby it's not just about long ago. It's not about giving people presence. It's about a rescue. It's about the most amazing rescue God left heaven for me personally and I don't know where you're at. I recommend a Christian for many many years. I don't know if you go to church maybe like I did growing up you like Christmas and Easter. I don't know if you are a faithful follower that you're just overwhelmed with ministry and Christmas activities, but I want you to lean back and say I'm going to follow along on this journey with chip. I want to see Christmas through the lens of a rescue and I wanted to be personal. I want to remember. He came to rescue me the baby all the festivities all that is just sort of context.

This is really about God's pursuit and love of you. Let me encourage you stay with me and they be read Luke chapter 2 this year with new eyes will I hope you will set a reminder to be with us for the entire series, the great rescue was full of powerful reminders as we approach Christmas, but because of Jesus rescue is available not only for salvation but every single day whatever challenge you're facing God's aware of your needs and has all the resources necessary to help you through the storm, whatever it may be, you know someone who could use that type of encouragement today.

Why not share this message and invite them to listen with you for the next two days okay chip let's get your application as we wrap up today's program. I want to come back to the five things that all great rescues have in common. Number one, a great plan number to the right people. Number three.

Innovative methods number four. Perfect timing and number five flawless execution. That's a lot to take in and as we go through this series. In the next several days were going to go into the details of those things. But here's what I want you to get just for today, God took care of all those things. The plan, the people, the method, the timing and even the execution and he did that for you and he did that for me and so as we think about where were at in our world today.

Whatever burn your caring whatever relationship you're worried about. I just want you know that you can trust him. He's proven himself. He has the resources he loves you in our next program are going to talk a lot more detail. If so, let me encourage you to be back with me as we dig into the series together, and if for any reason you can't make it, just download the Chip Ingram app and you can listen any time or simply go to LivingontheEdge.org and daily it'll be there along with the notes you know what, in this season. We have a great opportunity to make a great difference.

Let's do it together as we wrap up today's program. I want to say thank you to those who make this broadcast possible through your generous giving. If you've been blessed by chips, teaching, and you'd like to bless others in the same way. There's never been a better time because thanks to some very generous friends of the ministry. When you make a donation during the month of December. It'll be matched dollar for dollar. If today's your day to join the team.

Just go to LivingontheEdge.org Donate on the app or give us a call at triple late. 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003, on behalf of everyone here. Thanks in advance for your generosity that wraps up this program until next time. This is really saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge