Maintaining Your Joy in the Face of the Enemy
Maintaining Your Joy in the Face of the Enemy
Text: Psalm 37
PPHC – 6-11-06 P.M.
CENTRAL THEME: What to Do in Times of Distress
OBJECTIVE:
Proposition – If the joy of the Lord is your STRENGTH, then maintaining that joy in your everyday walk is extremely important. Every Christian can maintain their joy by following the principles listed by David in Psalm 37. David writes this Psalm as an old man giving advice to those who find themselves under attack by the adversary.
Key Word: PRINCIPLES
Rationale:
I. Principle #1 – TRUST in the Lord* – 37:3
· “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”
A. Trust Speaks of Faith – “Have faith in God” – Mk. 11:22
1. “My faith is very weak right now…!” (WHY is your faith weak?)
a. “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” – Rom. 10:17
· Faith – (pistis) – a conviction, an assurance, a persuasion.
· Cometh by (ek akin to rheo) – out of (pictures a flowing out of). (Artesian flow)
· Hearing (akouo) – not to hear only, but that which comes from an “experience”.
· “Experiencing the word of God pours faith into my being.”
1. Logos vs. Rhema
a. Logos – a general word; a principle; a command for everyone (10 commandments)
b. Rhema – a private word, a particular word, a secret whispered word that denotes intimacy.
· “Experiencing that secret word that God whispers to me alone pours conviction and assurance into my being.”
· All married couples can agree on this statement. “There is no true relationship where there is no communication!”
2. God has prepared a way for our faith to be developed.
3. Something occurs within a person as they hear the gospel preached – their faith level
increases because God is unveiling Himself to them.
a. At Cornelius’ house - Peter’s preached to the Gentiles. Acts 10:44
· “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” (rhema)
· Listen for that word from which life & hope springs forth. One that makes your spirit man stand up and shout…one that brings him to life!
· For too long, there had been division, prejudices between the Jews/Gentiles…and now God spoke an “on-time” word to them…
· Illustration: There are documented accounts of tumors disappearing in services while
the message was being preached. (Why? That person heard a msg (rhema) inside the message (logos); they merged it with trust, and God healed them!)
· 2 Cor. 5:7 – “For we walk by faith and not by sight…”
· Remember David is saying our relationship with God is based largely upon our communication with Him. (Have you heard a rhema from God lately???) One that you can base your life, your steps upon….a word that is so powerful and riveting that its essence cements your soul? Davis screams out to us today… TRUST in the LORD.
II. Principle #2 – DELIGHT in the Lord* – 37:4
· “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
A. Delighting Speaks of the Priority that You Place Upon God
1. The Psalmist contrasts the evildoers with the saints of God.
a. The evildoer – places a priority on riches, notoriety, and prestige in this life.
· Matt. 6:31 – they were discussing what they eat, drink, and their clothing…
· Jesus said take no thought of these things. (> merizo – “to divide” – anxiety!!)
· But seek ye first (proton) – 1st in line
· The Kingdom…and “then” all these things shall be added unto you.
· As Christians we often clog up the pipeline of God’s abundance simply because WE fail to prioritize our life as He demands.
2. Today’s society:
a. Mick Jagger and the Stones – “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”
b. Freddie Mercury & Queen – “There Must Be More to Life Than This”
c. The world – its riches, honor, and fame – in the end will not satisfy.
· The model wants to look just a little prettier; the billionaire wants just one more dollar; the athlete wants to run just a little faster or get just a little stronger….
d. Jesus to the Samaritan woman – “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but
whosoever drinketh of the water that I give him shall never thirst.” – Jn. 4:13
3. To delight in the Lord – “God Himself is your delight, your joy”….
B. Is. 58:13-14 – Placing God as One’s Priority in Life
· “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day;
and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shalt honour him,
not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own]
words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the
high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the
mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].”
1. God promises that we could “ride upon the high places” – this is God’s effort, not yours.
2. Make God your Delight and He will make you able to surmount anything before you.
III. Principle #3 – COMMIT Your Way to the Lord – 37:5
· Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
A. Commit your “works” unto God (your journey in life; all affairs, business of life; relationships)
1. Roll your load upon God
a. In relationships: 1st "Delight" in finding that love (Singing old Osmond Brothers tune of childhood days... “And They Call It Puppy Love”): 2nd "Trust", over time, is established in the relationship.
1. As trust is established, because you know that person has your best interest at heart, you can commit to them
· A metaphor: Taken from the camel that lies down until his load is rolled upon him.
· The load belongs to the man; yet, the camel bears the load for him.
· Spiritual Application: The load, in reality, is our but God is saying….(Below)
2. I Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
a. Casting è epirhipto – epi (upon) & rhipto (to throw up with haste and lack of care)
· It’s not mine to care for…don’t worry about it; don’t lose sleep over it!
· Haste – depicts not holding on to the thing…some go to God as a LAST resort.
2. “He shall bring it to pass…” – He will work it for you…so Commit Your Way to the LORD
How can you Maintain your joy in the darkest of days?….
1 - TRUST in the Lord – have faith in Him.
2 - Make God Your DELIGHT* – Placing Him as Priority of your life.
3 - COMMIT your ways unto the Lord – Rolling every burden upon Him.