Dennis L. Finnan Commentator
"The World, the Word & You! Broadcast"

LET'S MAKE A DEAL!

“What would you rather have: this cash, what’s in this box, or what’s behind the curtain?”

  I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll answer that odd but important question…

...I think everyone in America, knows that phrase “Let’s Make a Deal,” very well, for it was the title of a popular and successful television program that began on December 30, 1963 on national television. It continued to run successfully for over a decade. The show hosted by Monty Hall, was centered on getting contestants to answer questions to win prizes, but then to gamble their prizes on opportunities to gain more by rightfully guessing what’s behind a closed door or in a black box. Always, with about eight minutes left in the show, Hall would offer two contestants who had won real prizes, to trade them for a chance at the “Big Deal of the Day,” which was generally worth several thousand dollars (about $5,000-$10,000 by 1975, and even more in the syndicated edition). The risk was if they didn’t catch the Big Deal, they might trade for prizes of greater or lesser value that resided behind a closed door. Each contestant, by their own choice, could win larger prizes or alas, lose what they had by a wrong choice. It was a fun thing for the American public to watch winners and losers too.
Now you may be saying, what does all this have to do with the Bible you preach on this broadcast? Well, in the Scriptures we can find that God is also saying “Let’s Make a Deal!” Indeed, there are Scriptures that tell us, God also offers opportunities to be richly blessed and cared for, or to make a wrong choice and lose a promised blessing or worse, lose what one already has. Sound interesting? Good! After our second pause for another moment of music, I’ll return and tell you all about it…

...Have you ever watched that old television program, “LET’S MAKE A DEAL?” Well, as I mentioned before, it was a guessing game where one in a sense gambled their prizes won on the hopes of gaining greater simply by swapping theirs for another, yet hidden. Well, there are a number of differing scriptures where we find that God also offers a “deal” to those who would follow Him. In particular, in the book of Isaiah we come across the specific Scripture that can give us a measure of hope and comfort today, knowing God is offering us a deal we can’t refuse. We read of this first in,

Isa 41:10 (NASB)  'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Here we find that God wants to make a deal with those whom He created.  God anticipates our need as fallen sinners, and wants to meet us in the anxiety of life in this fallen sinful world. Why? Well, because of His love for His creation, the human race, and because of our fears of the unknown that stand before us all, especially in this New Year, 2002.

Now as all in America look back on a tragic year of unexpected death and turmoil for thousands, in what was once a place of safety – most Americans today have lost the measure of security we once had and enjoyed in the course of life in these United States.

At this point, although this is an Old Testament text given to the nation of Israel, the principles can be applied to the New Testament Christian, who follows and loves the Lord God through His Son Jesus Christ. Yes, God wants to make a deal, imagine that! God in effect says, if we are willing to follow Him, to serve Him and obey Him, and to share His love with others, then God outlines what He will to do for us in exchange for lovingly obeying Him in this life. If you’re a Christian today, know this. God truly want to bless your life, and give you that special inner peace only God has and can offer. Listen to what the Bible says about this special peace.

Phil 4:7 (NASB)  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Rom 5:1 (NASB)  Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Isa 26:3 (NKJV)  You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Now all must admit, peace is an illusive thing in every age, and expressly in ours today. Yet, we long for peace in our world. The Middle East is filled with violence and there seems to be no solution. Then again in our own personal lives peace can be illusive. Millions of homes today are not filled with peace. There within is anger, strife, fighting, and quarrellings. Just the other day my wife and I entered our car after shopping. Across from us, facing us in another car was a man and woman apparently shouting at each other. We could not hear a word for the windows were closed, but we could see their eyes flashing fire, faces red, their body’s shaking, fingers stabbing and pointing at each other, and their mouths wide open with a torrent of angry words spewing out toward each other. How sad! There was no peace in their hearts. Yet, millions of other homes tonight will not have peace either. However, God wants to make a deal! He longs to exchange His peace, tranquility, and calm for your turmoil, pain and unrest.

Isa 41:10 (NASB)  'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Psychologist tell us that today there are four basic fears all humanity suffers – 

(1) Fear of failure,
(2) Fear of losing security 
(3) Fear of the future
(4) Fear of death itself. 

In this God says, “Let’s make a deal!” Do not fear these things! Do not be anxious about them! Why? Because, I am your God. Now, that last part is the most important part, for the question we all have to answer is, “Who is our god?”

For many, their god is only themselves. They trust in and rely upon no one but their own abilities to carry them through life. Yet, when tragedies strike and one or more of these four fears comes true, how does their god help them? Well, all the money in the world, all the gold stored in vaults, all the youthfulness of life, could not help the tragic victims of September 11^th 2001 at the World Trade Center in New York City. The future held for them one thing – DEATH, whereby everything they had, was taken away in the tragedy of the loss of their lives. Well, God is saying to Israel and to all believers today who will love and follow Him, who will make the Lord God and Creator their God – “ I will be with you, and “strengthen you and surely I will help you.”  You see, for the Christian, God answers all these fears and pain. We go to the New Testament where God says about the (4) fear of death, it is lifted from those who love and serve Christ,

Phil 1:21 (NASB)  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

John 5:24-25 (NASB)  "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live.

Then to the (1) fear of failure, that so easily can paralyze us, God offers another good deal in this life to those who will come to Him and love and serve His Son Jesus Christ,

Phil 4:13 (NASB)  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

This phrase “do all things,” refers to the fact that you can manage all the positive and negative things that come your way and life can never be a failure! Yes, you can have victory over all these things and that nothing, even the negatives things in life, cannot defeat you. Listen again to God’s Word which further states,

Rom 8:28 (NASB)  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

There’s a good deal if anyone ever saw it. Yes, that’s a promise from God for those who will turn their lives over to His care and His love, by embracing His Son Jesus Christ as their God and Savior. The Father God promises us, that He will “cause all things” to work together in your life to work good for you in the end. That is, when all is over and evaluation is taken of your life it will add up to something very positive, valuable and of blessing! Now I admit, I don’t know how God can do this, but remember He is God, and He can do anything and everything He wills and commands.

Ah, but then there is the fear of the (2) loss of security we all painfully know today in our world and especially in America these days. How can God help us here? Well listen to the Word of God, for God’s deal is a good one,

Phil 4:19 (NASB)  And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Mat 6:33-34 (NLT)  and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. 34 "So don't worry about tomorrow…”

Yes, Jesus Christ is the God of all true security. He promises all who become His children, that He will provide for their entire needs. Oh, this doesn’t mean we can stay in our beds each morning and find the paper at our door, the rent or mortgage paid, and food nicely placed in the refrigerator overnight. The great evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody once said, “God feeds all the birds in the trees, but he doesn’t throw the food into their nests. They have to go out each morning and get it.” Indeed, that is God’s method, we go, we labor, we work and He promises to provide all that is necessary for daily living by it. No true believer needs to worry about his or her security needs for food, clothing, housing, and even safety. In the will of God, all Christians are invincible. Did you know that? Listen to God’s Word again,

Psa 31:15 (NIV)  My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Even King David, at a time of great peril and war, could say with confidence that God made him a deal. His life and all daily security were in the “hands of the sovereign God who ruled over all.” Therefore, nothing could come his way, even death unless God permitted it. That’s peace! That’s security! That’s God’s fantastic deal for all who surrender their hearts and life to His great loving care.

Lastly, there is perhaps the greatest fear for us all, (3) the fear of the future. What does it hold for us, our nation, and our world? Well, God again offers a “great deal” no thinking person should ever refuse. He promises us He very presence and personal care, even unto death and beyond, for all eternity.

Mat 28:20 (NASB)  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Heb 13:5-6 (NASB)  … "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," 6 so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT SHALL MAN DO TO ME?"

Yes indeed, God wants to make a deal with you and all who will come to Him. He is willing to take away all your fears, your worries, confusion, and even your weaknesses that come because of it, and…  trade them in for His strength, His security, His love and peace. However, there is one great insecurity and worry, we all have, that must be traded in or the worries and fears will undoubtedly come true for all, none excepted. What is this? It is the fear and worry of being accepted in eternity by our Creator God. Are we good enough? Have we done enough? Have we passed the test of righteousness in this life? Well, the answer is already struck for all humanity. We haven’t and cannot measure up no matter what we do. This is a worthy fear. All fear is not wrong. We fear crossing the street in the face of oncoming traffic. That’s a good fear for it causes us to pause and be careful in where we step, lest we be killed. Jesus once said,

Mat 10:28 (NASB)  "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The greatest fear all of us have is our coming death, and what happens to us when we die. Yet, God wants to make a deal here, most of all. Yes God wants to trade your awful future as a sinner, destined for a place called Hell, and trade it for a place in Heaven, by His side. He does this by exchanging His righteousness for our rottenness. That’s the best deal of all!

Isa 64:6 (NASB)  For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Psa 14:3 (NASB)  They have [humanity] all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Yes, the truth is none of us have anything to offer our holy, righteous and sinless God. But in His love, grace, and mercy, God says in effect, “Let’s Make a Deal!” I’ll take away all your sins, all your fears, worries, and even your punishment to come, and in place of this I will give you my righteousness, my peace, and my joy in eternity. What’s the price? Unlike Monty Hall’s “Let’s Make a Deal” television program, where behind the hidden door or unmarked box, one could lose what they had won by their choice – God makes no such hidden or secret offers. He says all this is yours, in exchange for one thing  -- your heart! The Bible says God cries,

Prov 23:26 (NIV)  My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways,

Yes, God wants your heart. That’s an expression of everything you are, your body, mind, soul and spirit and your will. If you will turn this over to God’s Son Jesus Christ and surrender to His love, care, protection, concern and keeping, God will make the deal and it will never be taken away or lost!

This is the GOOD NEWS of the Bible! Come to Christ, confess your sins, call upon Jesus Christ to save you, on account of His substitutionary death on the cross, and God will accept you as His child, and grant you forgiveness of all sin, the gift of eternal life, and the promise of His keeping care! Now, that’s a long statement, but also a good deal, no correction,  it’s the “greatest deal” ever offered to beggars such as us. But you must take it, and appropriate it personally. Have you? Come, and exchange all your sins and problems, for God’s forgiveness and solutions! It’s the deal of a lifetime and the offer stands before you today. What are you going to do?

...Yes, that old TV program “Let’s Make a Deal!” was a fun thing to watch from time to time to see how people responded to losses and winnings. But remember now, God is also making a deal no intelligent thinking person should ever refuse. Yet sadly, millions do so daily and one day the prize door will not open up except the door of Hell will be its substitute. May it not be so in your life because of neglect, or foolish rejection of God’s offer of love, peace, safety, care and forgiveness.  Jesus Christ makes all the difference. May he be the Lord God and Savior of your life now and forevermore. I’ve taken God’s deal, and I am resting in His love, as millions of others are too. I pray you will join us, right now for Jesus sake. Amen.

·         Radio talk #0502

·         Broadcast date: February 03, 2002

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.

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