Why The Trials? (Prov. 17:3)

Read Proverbs 17:3.

The refining pot and the furnace both require heat to work correctly.  When God wants to test what's in your heart (trust, anxiety, peace, doubt, etc.), He uses trials.  He lets things "heat up" for a while.

Trials do not cause reactions in your heart; rather, trials reveal what's already in there.  God doesn't need your trials to educate Himself concerning you.  Why the trials, then?  That you might see what He does -- areas that still need to be brought under His lordship, areas where you still rely upon self, areas where He alone can satisfy.

When You're In Dire Straits (Psa. 77:2)

Read Psalm 77:2.

When you're in dire straits, frequently your soul doesn't want to cooperate.  You seek comfort, but it seems that it isn't coming.  If this happens, remember that God hears you.  He isn't teasing you.  Press on all the more!  Don't let your soul be lazy and dictate a false conclusion (in this instance, the conclusion God must not care, since you've been trying yet nothing happens).  Keep seeking God, keep pursuing Him, keep close to Him until the answer or relief comes. Tell your soul to conform to the desire in your spirit.

God's Oozing Compassion (Psa. 56:8)

Read Psalm 56:8.

This verse oozes the sympathy and compassion of God.

1.  God takes account of our wanderings.  This is not to scold us.  He remembers our default state without submission to Him, that we are prone to wander.  In His gracious dealings with us, He remembers we are so unlike Him -- dependent, finite, easily confused or deceived.  Why would God keep account of our wanderings, then? In order to bring us back to Him.  The purpose of His keeping records is restorative, not punitive.

2.  God collects our tears in bottles.  When we wander, it is sure to cause us pressure, trouble or deficiency.  As that pressure builds, we tend to gravitate toward anger or sadness.  How desperate we become, hoping for relief!  Each tear -- God sees it and preserves it.  He is the Archivist of your sorrow.  How great is His compassion toward us!  With God's watching,  we have no insignificant tears and no unnoticed disappointments.

3.  God keeps notes about each tear.  He is not only the Archivist of our tears, but He is also the Historian of them.  Each tear has its own notation.  Why?  Surely, it is not because God has any memory deficiency.  The Almighty God does not have Alzheimer's!  This record, I suggest, is for our benefit, as an eternal testimony to His faithfulness. Perhaps, someday, we can sit in God's library and read these "tear books."

Where's God? (Psalm 42)

Read Psalm 42.

When you're struggling with the question "Where's God?" . . .

1.  Don't stop passionately pursuing intimacy with God.  Let trouble drive you to Him, not pull you away (42:1-2).

2.  It is okay to cry and to release emotion (42:3).  You can experience a range of emotion when limited by circumstance, time, energy or lack of answers.

3.  Don't forget to remember the good times (42:4).  You weren't always in the situation you're in.  Things weren't always this way (42:6).

4.  Tell your soul what to do (42:5,11).  Discipline your words, thoughts and conclusions (42:6-9).

5.  Keep on waiting for God (42:11).

Opportunity Within The Obstacle (Mt. 14:25-33)

Read Matthew 14:25-33.

When the "storm" of life is fierce, and the "wind" of adversity is howling, there could be opportunity for you to do something you never attempted, something others would avoid.  During the storm and wind, Peter walked on water as he responded to Jesus' invitation.  This account ranks as Peter's finest attempt (His sermon in Ac. 2:14-36 isn't bad either.)  One of his finest accomplishments happened in one of his most threatening moments.

Are you in one of life's "storms" right now?  Is the howling "wind" of adversity threatening your hope?  Within the obstacle could be an opportunity.

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 5)

Conclusion:

• There is nothing wrong with talking to God about your obstacle. 
• However, that's not the invitation for today.
• There is nothing wrong with talking to your obstacle about the greatness of your God. 
• However, that is not the call for today.
• Today's opportunity is for you to talk to one another about the greatness of God.
• It is an invitation to remember and report His faithfulness.
• There might be a “Saul” here, someone who desperately needs to hear your testimony as much as you delight to give it.
• Be one who declares boldly, “He is faithful! I can prove it!”
• When you carefully steward God's faithfulness, you will be able to praise when others are panicking.
• Since God came through for you many times before, you should look for Him to come through for you again.
• God cannot not be faithful.

We ended the service with antiphonal testifying.  Someone from the left side of the congregation testified to the right side about a specific experience with God's faithfulness.  Then someone from the right side testified back to the left side. How quickly 15 minutes went by!

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 4)

Transition: Since the best way to deal with adversity is to focus upon God's faithfulness, you must carefully steward it.

YOU MUST CAREFULLY STEWARD GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.

• EXPLANATION
• How do you carefully steward God's faithfulness? You must be “apt”.
• Awareness > To steward God's faithfulness, you must recognize it. Are you in the habit of looking for God's faithfulness?
• Preservation > To steward God's faithfulness, you must record it. If you rely only upon your memory, you will forget many occasions when God showed Himself faithful. For this reason, I suggest keeping a journal.
• Testimony > To steward God's faithfulness, you must repeat it. This will strengthen your own faith and another person's.
• ILLUSTRATION
• Beware of any narrowing, dismissing, limiting, downsizing or belittling comments about God's faithfulness.
• “It happens to everyone.”
• “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
• “It was pure luck.”
• “It's no big deal.”
• APPLICATION
•  If you're guilty of using any of those sentiments, or others similar to them, right now is a good time to repent.
• Every act of God's faithfulness is a unique expression of His unchanging nature!
• Okay, so maybe you haven't received supernatural courage to grab a lion by its mane and club it to death, but what has God done for you?
• Why isn't that a big deal to you?
• Why isn't it still a big deal to you?
• Is it any less impressive or worthy of praise only because time has elapsed?

In tomorrow's post, we will conclude.

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 3)

THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH ADVERSITY IS TO FOCUS ON GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.

• EXPLANATION
• How does David not deal with adversity?
• He does not get proud.
• He does not cower in fear.
• He does not panic.
• He does not implement the power of positive thinking and deny the size of the obstacle.
• He does not form a committee and thus talk himself out of contention.
• He does not wait it all out, hoping the situation will resolve itself.
• How does David deal with adversity?
• He focuses upon God's faithfulness.
• Can you hear him?
• “If God did it before, he will do it again. The only thing that has changed is the kind of predator.”
• ILLUSTRATION

“What the Lord has done for me,
I cannot tell it all.
He saved me and washed me in His blood.
Now I can sing, 'Hallelujah',
I can shout, 'Hallelujah',
I can shout and praise the Lord.”

• APPLICATION
• No, you can't tell it all, but what can you say?
• What has the Lord done for you?
• Has He saved you?
• Has He healed you?
• Has He comforted you?
• Has He strengthened you?
• Has He provided for you?
• Has He loved you?
• Has He convicted you?
• Has He forgiven you?
• Has He set you free?
• Has He directed you?
• Has He revealed Himself to you?
• Has He given joy and peace to you?
• Has He restored you?
• Has He baptized you in the Holy Spirit?
• Has He given to you a new name written down in glory?
• Has He proven His exceedingly great and precious promises to you?
• Has He guided you into the paths of righteousness for His name's sake?

In tomorrow's post:  What is your responsibility, considering God has been faithful and will continue to be faithful?

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 2)

Background:  There are five things you need to know so that today's message will make sense.

• David is the youngest of eight sons and he is set apart to become the next king of Israel.
• Saul, the current king of Israel, is with his troops at the war zone.
• The Philistines, Israel's enemy, are people who live in the territory of Philistia.
• Goliath is the over-sized champion fighter of the Philistines.
• No fighter in Israel will accept Goliath's challenge to fight one-on-one to the death.

Introduction:

• In today's story, David shows up at camp when the soldiers and king are wondering, 'What are we going to do with Goliath?”
• The giant you face might have a different name – finances, health, career, relationships, grief, etc. – but the question remains the same.
• What is the best way to deal with the obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you?
• The answer to that question is the focus of this week's sermon.
• Context: Read 1 Sam. 17:31-37.
• Do you remember the question I mentioned earlier?
• What is the best way to deal with the adversity before you?

In tomorrow's post, I will answer that question.

Faithfulness Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 1)

This post is for pastors and preachers.  Actual sermon content will begin tomorrow.

Title: Faithful Then And Again

Text: 1 Samuel 17:36-37

Theme: Remembering & repeating God's faithfulness Expository

Exegetical Subject: (1 Sam. 17:31-37) > How did David persuade Saul to permit him to fight Goliath?

Exegetical Complement: (1 Sam. 17:31-37) > David persuaded Saul to permit him to fight Goliath by reporting God's faithfulness.

Homiletical Subject: What is the best way to deal with the obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you?

Homiletical Complement: The best way to deal with the obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you is to remember and report God's faithfulness.

Homiletical Proposition: Since the best way to deal with adversity is to focus on God's faithfulness, you must carefully steward it.