Ps.108:12 "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. "
 
INTRODUCTION:

  A. A SIGN OF THE TIMES
    1. Back in 1997 a movie was release and became one of the largest money making movies at that time. With 14 Academy award Nominations and winning 11 Oscars it caused a tremendous amount of interest and following about one of the greatest maritime tragedies that ever happened. It was an epic fictional story about the sinking of the Titanic starring Leonado Di Caprio and Kate Winslet
    2. I along with million of other movie goers watched in awe as the story unfolded and the tragedy that took place. This week my mind was drawn back to that movie and I started to read on line and a couple of books about the Titanic

As history is told

    3. The Titanic was called an "unsinkable ship."
    4. There were those who said, "Not even God Himself could sink the Titanic."
    5. Man had come to the conclusion that he was in charge of his own destiny.
    6. There was no longer any fear of the elements.
    7. There was no longer any fear of the deep, dark oceans.
    8. It was believed that man's intelligence and wisdom could conquer the universe!
    9. This was the spirit of the day.

  B. AN UNSINKABLE SHIP?
    1. The owners, the builders, and the news media, had all claimed that the Titanic was unsinkable.
    2. Man’s attitude was , "We don't need God's protection. We've built an unsinkable ship!"
    3. Man was saying, "We don't need God's help. We don't need God at all anymore!" ( sounds like the tower of Babel-Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. )

Dan 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

    4. But, a strange thing happened to that unsinkable ship.
    5. It sank on its first voyage out to sea.
    6. It became a spectacle to tell the world, "Maybe we still need God after all!"
    7. Psa. 108:12 says, "Vain is the help of man."

  A. THE WORLD'S MOST LUXURIOUS SHIP
    1. For her maiden voyage the Titanic had received world-wide publicity as the world's largest and most luxurious ship ever.
    2. She was billed as the safest of all ocean-going crafts.
    3. Never before had a crew and passengers been so secure on a sea-going vessel.
    4. No ship was as luxurious as the Titanic.
    5. The Titanic had:
        a. Tennis courts
        b. A gymnasium
        c. Ball rooms
        d. It even had elevators (that was really something in 1912).
    6. The Titanic had all of these accommodations, but not enough lifeboats!
    7. They had a false sense of security.

Like today many have a false sense of security-

Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

B. A KNOWLEDGEABLE CROWD –stamp of approval
    1. The passengers on this ship were' world-famous.
    2. There were men with incredible fortunes on board the Titanic.
    3. There was John Jacob Astor, one of the world's most wealthy men
        a. His fortune was estimated at $150,000,000
        b. He was returning from a trip to Egypt with his pregnant teenage bride.
    4. There was Major Archibald Butt, the military aid to President Taft.
    5. There was Benjamin Gugenheim of the American Smelting and Refining Company,
        worth $95,000,000.
    6. There was Isadore Strauss, the famous clothing merchant worth $50,000,000.
    7. There was Jay Bruce Ismay, owner of the International Mercantile Marine Company,
        a. He was worth $40,000,000.
        b. One string of his wife's pearls was worth $250,000.
        c. Today it would perhaps be worth $1,000,000
    8. These brilliant men, as they walked calmly on that ship, were a sign to all that everything was secure. In todays market worth 8.5 Billion

But they had 3^rd class people below deck with gates locked
    9. The Titanic had all of these wise and knowledgeable men, but not enough life boats.
    10. They had a false sense of security.

There are many world famous people riding this planet called earth . the Elton Johns of the music industry saying do away with religion, Tom Cruises’ of the movie world claming Scientology is the hope, all clamoring to crazy world a false sense of security

The world and even some churches cater to the rich , famous and upper class not wanting to associate with the poor, migrant and needy people- But Jesus does not care about your class standing, or how much you do or don’t have – He just wants your heart

 

In Luke

Luk 12:21 "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."

 

  C. AN EXPENSIVE RIDE
    1. The Titanic was an expensive ride.
    2. The best suites were reserved for $4,300.
    3. A suite without a private promenade went for $2,300.
    4. That was big money then (it would be pretty big money even today).
    5. These were the most expensive transatlantic accommodations ever offered.
    6. One would expect for that kind of price that everything would be taken care of.

    7.But after investigation they discovered that the steel was sub par for the construction of the hull and that the rivets were poorly manufactured- huge money was spent on the outside appearance leaving the most important part the foundational part below standard

Many people put on a façade [everything looks good on the outside but the foundation is sand.

1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

 

    8. Because they did not want to clutter the decks and give the impression that the ship was unsafe they only had enough lifeboats for half the passengers
    9. They had a false sense of security.

Placing your security in stocks and bonds, real estate investments, Pyramid schemes – all a false sense of security
 
  D. THE WORLD'S LARGEST SHIP
    1. The Titanic was the largest marine vessel in the world at that time.
    2. It was 882 1/2 feet long, almost three football fields long
    3. The anchors weighed 15 1/2 tons, with each chain link weighing 175 pounds!
    4. It had a double bottom 5 feet thick to insure additional safety.
    5. There were nine decks on the Titanic.
    6. Below the top most boat deck were decks A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
    7. Below G deck were the boiler rooms and holds etc.
    8. The hull was divided into sixteen water tight compartments by means of fifteen water tight bulkheads extending up through deck F.
    9. Heavy water tight doors provided communication between bulkheads during normal operation, these were electrically operated and also had a floatation mechanism for automatic closing.
    10. The Titanic was designed to remain afloat with any two compartments flooded, possibly three, enabling her to withstand a collision at the joint of two compartments.
    11. It was widely regarded that such "Olympic Class" liners as the Titanic were unsinkable and were themselves life boats.
    12. There was no ship that ever gave her passengers more confidence.
    13. There was no ship that ever made her passengers feel more secure.
    14. All seemed well as the Titanic sailed through the blue waters of the North Atlantic.
    15. But, they would soon discover that their sense of security was false.

 E. THE TIME OF TESTING

The waters were extremely calm and the air grew colder. There was an ice field 70 miles in length directly in front of the Titanic.
   10:55 p.m. Some 10-19 miles north of Titanic, the Californian is stopped in ice and sends out warnings to all ships in the area. The radio officer on the Titanic replied

11:35 p.m. Californian's wireless operator Evans turn off his set, and retires for the evening

1. On April 14, 1912 at about 11:35 p.m. there were three warnings sent from the crow's nest that ice had been spotted.
    2. The first two messages were ignored.

    3. Finally, the officer picked up the phone but it was too late.
    4. A great portion of the passengers were drinking, dancing, gambling and having a great time, unaware that the ship would soon sink.
    5. A group of gamblers went on deck to look around and returned to their cards to sink
        with the ship.
    6. Even after they were warned, many went on to bed with confidence in the Titanic's ability to stay afloat.
    7. Others joked about the life preservers, with some actually putting the life belts on and dancing around the deck while others stood back and laughed.
    8. Others refused to put the life preservers on because they said they didn't want to get dirty and mess up their gowns.
    9. Some were urged to get into the boats and they said, "Why should we get into the boats and go out into the cold night, when we'll just be coming back on board in a few minutes?"
    10. Many of them laughed when the porters and stewards tried to warn them that the ship was going to go down. But they have been sold a bill of goods that the ship was unsinkable

Church we look around us to see a world being lured into a complacency , even when wars and rumor of wars are all about us, North Korea and the Middle east – We had a warning in 2001 when the towers were hit, American’s feel secure that nothing can come against us and win, eternity is a long way off – I have plenty of time- but every day people climb out of bed and never to return to their families a false sense of security. And Just like the man who cried out to warn about the iceburgs – the church cries out to others about heaven and hell – but just like when the man came back on radio and told him to shut up- we have friends, family that when we witness to them rebuke us or tell us to quit preaching to them and after a while we quit sharing the gospel and become silent- when they are heading for disaster. We can’t stop.

THE FATEFUL NIGHT
    1. On the night of April 14, 1912, at 11:40 p.m., the greatest maritime disaster in history   began to unfold.
    2. The great Titanic, pride of the White Star Fleet and of the United States, was approaching    an iceberg.
    3. First Officer Murdoch ordered the engines stopped, then reversed at the same time
        as ordering Hard-a-Starboard, this action caused the Titanic to turn to Port.
    4. The iceberg glanced the side of the ship causing her plates to buckle and rivets to pop below the water line 300 feet in length. ¼ inch wide.
    5. The Titanic was doomed.
    6. There were 322 first class passengers, 277 second class passengers, 709 third class
        passengers,  and 898 crew members for a total of 2,206 people on board the ship
        when the Titanic struck the iceberg.
    7. The first ever S.O.S from an Ocean Liner was sent out.
    8. Although the California was only minutes away, the Car-pa-thia, which was nearly 58 miles away, would be the first to arrive.
    9. The unsinkable Titanic broke in two and went under at 2:40 am April 15, 1912 with over two thirds of the people still on board.
    10. Eventually 705 passengers and crew were rescued by the Car-pa-thia.
    11. Over 1500 people went to an icy grave that night.

 

 

  F. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
    1. Friends, many today are laughing at the old-time religion.
    2. Many today are laughing at the thought of meeting Christ.
    3. Someone asked John Jacob Astor, "Man, where is your life belt?"
    4. Mr. Astor replied, "I didn't think I would need it."
    5. Many today have a false security based on what they see in the world.
    6. But, at the Great White Throne judgment, they will stand before God and the question will be,
        "What did you do with Jesus?"
    7. They will say, "I didn't think I'd need Him."

  A. MANY LIFEBOATS WERE OVER HALF EMPTY
    1. They did not have any lifeboat drills( cruse story) Many of the people would have been saved had they gotten into the lifeboats.
    2. Lifeboat after lifeboat pulled away from the ship with only 10, 12, 15, when they had a   capacity of nearly 60-65.
    3. The total capacity of all the life boats put together was 1100 souls.
    4. Only 705 people could be convinced to get into the life boats.

  B. PEOPLE REFUSED TO GET IN THE LIFE BOATS
    1. Many of those boats pulled away with only a few people in them.
    2. This was not because they didn't have room for more, but because people wouldn't get in them.
    3. They wouldn't believe that the ship was going to sink.

  C. MORE CAN BE SAVED FROM HELL
    1. There are many today who would take Christ as Savior if they really believed that there was any need.
    2. If they only knew that they were headed for an eternal Hell, they would accept Jesus.
    3. If they only knew they could miss Hell and gain Heaven, they would accept Jesus.
    4. There would be many more in our churches today if they really believed what the Bible says about eternity.

  A. THE PARTING WAS HORRIBLE
    1. When I watched the movie, it brought tears to my eyes to see a daddy put his little red haired daughter in a life boat, knowing he was probably going to die on board the ship and never see her again.
    2. Eyewitnesses say that the historical parting of families on that fateful day was horrible.
    3. Women were torn from their husbands.
    4. Children were literally snatched from their parents' arms and in many instances, thrown into the lifeboats.
    5. Husbands and wives stood clutching each other as the ship went down.

  B. WHAT LOVE IS THIS?
    1. One eyewitness of the real event said that a man was holding onto his 12 year old son.
    2. He said he didn't know how many people came and begged the man to let the boy loose and let him get into the lifeboat.
    3. Every time that man tried to push his son away, the little boy would grab him around the waist and hold on so tightly that no one could pull him away.
    4. That daddy and that little boy went down together to an icy grave.
    5. When I read that eyewitness account, I thought to myself, "Can you imagine the love that that father had for that son, to hold him like that and to go down beneath the waters together!"
    6. Then, I realized that he didn't love that son as he should have.
    7. If he really loved that boy, he would have literally thrown him into the lifeboat.

Tell the story about Jerry Counters sister in law how he didn’t like for her to preach to him- I said Jerry she does it because she loves you- if your son was on a railroad track and he did not see the Amtrak bearing down on him – what would you do – would you shout to him just one time- what if he did not move would you quit shouting- wouldn’t you do everything in your power to save your son- that’s all she is trying to do – to save you from disaster

  C. DO YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN?
    1. The other day, I was on my way home from church and saw a man and kids 4 wheeling down the road and made the comment- wow that look like fun . Moms taking daughters shopping.
    2. Great that Mom and Dads spend time with their children- but is that the norm

    3. Then, I thought, he doesn't really love that boy at all.
    4. He may love him from the world's standpoint.
    5. But, if he really loved that little boy, he would teach him what he knows about Jesus Christ instead of about boating and fishing. You can do both but Christ first
    6. If he really loved that boy, he would take him to church the way he knows he ought to.
    7. If he really loved that boy, he would teach him how to be saved and go to Heaven.
    8. He would live right and be a good example for that boy, if he really loved him.
    9. Many a man today, is going to Hell with his sons and daughters hanging to his waist.

  A. THE CALIFORNIAN WAS ONLY MINUTES AWAY
    1. Did you know that there was another ship only minutes away when the Titanic went down?
    2. Later, at a senatorial investigation, the captain of the Californian was asked why he didn't come to the rescue of a ship in distress.
    3. He said, "I didn't realize the ship was sinking."
    4. He was  then asked why he didn't hear their cries for help.
    5. He said that at midnight he had turned off the wireless and went to sleep.
    6. Then he was asked if he didn't see the Titanic sinking.
    7. He replied, "We didn't know it was sinking because you see, as deck by deck went below the waters and the lights went out one by one, we thought the ship, being faster than we, had sailed off into the night."

  B. YOU ARE CLOSE TO SOME WHO ARE SINKING INTO HELL
    1. Many are sinking into Hell with a Christian only a few feet away.
    2. But, the church is asleep!
    3. Wake up, Church!
    4. Lost men all around us are dying and going to an eternal Hell!
    5. Unless we come to their rescue, it will be too late!
    6. Eph 5:14-16 says, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

  A. THE CARPATHIA WAS ON IT'S WAY
    1. Most sources agree that the Titanic collided with the iceberg at 11:40 pm and finally
        sank at 2:40 am.
    2. Out in the darkness, there was no moon that night, the people waited for help.
    3. They wondered if anyone had heard their distress signals.
    4. They wondered if anyone would arrive to help.
    5. Then, at 4:10 am, one and a half hours later, the Carpathia began picking up the first of Titanic's lifeboats. The Captain commanded that all personnel be ready to work to rescue all they can, drink plenty of coffee to warm your body and get clothes and blankets ready to help the surviors.

Church just as the Carpathia prepared to help the Titanic, we must be ready, prepared and everyone ready to reach souls for Christ.

  B. JUST AS RESCUE WAS IMMENENT FOR THEM, IT IS FOR YOU
    1. During the darkest of nights, when all hope seems lost, help is only a prayer away.
    2. God is there to reach out and pull you into the warmth of His loving arms.
    3. Like the lights of a ship approaching from the distance on a dark sea, He brings hope
        into troubled lives.
    4. He is the light in the darkness.
    5. As our text says, "Vain is the help of man."
    6. But, there is a savior you can depend on.
His Name is Jesus