enjoy this life

Calvin

appreciation in all situations • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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Ways to navigate challenges and keep enjoying life.

We’re beginning a new series today, Appreciation In all Situations.

Don’t you love those times in life when you are really enjoying God’s blessings and experiencing God’s joy? Don’t you just love it when you love the life you live?

Then there are those other times, times when life is challenging, when it’s drudgery and hard work. When you have to search for happiness.

It is commonly reported that depression affects 16-18 million Americans each year! We’re not talking about a rainy day feeling; we’re talking about a serious condition.

It ought to concern all of us that so many people have a difficult time enjoying life. And we don’t need to judge depressed people. Any number of things can weigh a person down to the point that they lose hope. And even those of us who aren’t depressed have to admit that there are times when we struggle with maintaining happiness.

5 percent of the U.S. population experiences seasonal depression in any given year.Four out of five people with seasonal depression are women.The average age of onset is between 20 and 30 years old

8.5 percent of women have depression 4.8 percent of men have depression

Anxiety Disorders affect 18.1 percent of adults in the United States (approximately 40 million adults between the ages of 18 to 54). It's thought that this number is much higher - closer to 30 percent - as many people don't seek help, are misdiagnosed, or don't acknowledge themselves as having issues with anxiety.

The good news is that God’s Word gives you insights into your human condition and offers you tremendous help to deal with your battle to stay encouraged!

The Scriptures teach that God intends for you to enjoy life! You don’t have to let life’s challenges overwhelm you. God wants to help you face life with confidence and enthusiasm! He wants you to be encouraged and He wants you to experience a happy life!

I’m not preaching that you won’t experience any trouble if you follow Christ. I’m saying God wants to help you stay encouraged in spite of your trouble.

1. What is my source for enjoyment?

What is my source for enjoyment?

ENJOYMENT definition

A. the state or process of taking pleasure in something. synonyms:pleasure, entertainment, amusement, diversion, recreation, relaxation; More B. the action of possessing and benefiting from something. synonyms: benefit, advantage, use, possession, ownership,

2. the action of possessing and benefiting from something. synonyms:benefit, advantage, use, possession, ownership, bl

There are many verses of Scripture that teach that God wants you to have joy and enjoy life. Let me share a couple.

The New International Version Chapter 6

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

"God…richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment." (NLT)

You don’t have to feel guilty about enjoying God’s blessings. That’s what He gives them to you for!

You don’t have to feel guilty or weird about enjoying God’s blessings. That’s what He gives them to you for!

We don’t have to use worldly enhancements for enjoyment. God has provided this in us already

And in The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

2. Does my source for overcoming provide encouragement and restoration.

If we’re going to experience God’s joy and fullness we’re also going to have to overthrow the things that compete for our love for life, things like doubt, fear and guilt.

I want to talk to you over the next several weeks on issues like believing in yourself and forgiving yourself and loving yourself but we’re going to begin by learning how you can encourage yourself in God.

Today we’re just going to lay some foundational principles, some general principles on Loving Life. It starts with being able to handle the rough spots. What do you do when dark days confront you? How do you stay encouraged?

Perhaps no one in the entire Bible is a greater example of being able to encourage himself in God than David.

Let me set the stage for you. David is running from his own King, Saul, who is envious of him, hunting him down to kill him. Saul is so eaten up with envy and paranoia that he mistakenly thinks David is trying to steal his throne. So he tries to take David’s life on several occasions.

David has to flee to the nation of the Philistines, enemies of Israel, where he and his soldiers fight for the Philistines as mercenaries. But one day the Philistines go to fight the Israelites and David and his army are sent home. When they arrived at their temporary home in Ziklag they find that the Amalekites, a band of marauders, have raided their town, burnt their homes to the ground and taken their wives and children hostage.

David and his men were already tired and hungry. They thought they were coming home to the welcome and warmth of their families, to rest and food, but instead, they come home to a shocking scene of emptiness, desolation and loss. These strong warriors, these grown men, were overwhelmed by their sorrow.

When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”

These men look around at what’s left of their homes smoldering on the ground and as the smoke rises from the ashes so does their hurt and anger.

"Then David and the men with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep." (Amp)

Their discontent and anger were also more than likely aroused by David’s close connection with Achish, which had entailed upon these valiant Israelites the bitter degradation of having had to march against their own countrymen under the banner of the Philistine King of Gath; and now, finding that David also did not arranged for their families homes and families to be protected.

Man was that ever a sad day! It was a bad day. It was hard to love life on that day. These strong men cried until they couldn’t cry any more.

Perhaps you’ve had days like that, days when the sun refused to shine, days when your heart ached so violently that you wished you could imagine yourself to be someone else and somewhere else.

"David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters."

These men look around at what’s left of their homes smoldering on the ground and as the smoke rises from the ashes so does their hurt and anger.

For the people spake of stoning him.—Probably the discontent and anger of the people had been previously aroused by David’s close connection with Achish, which had entailed upon these valiant Israelites the bitter degradation of having had to march against their own countrymen under the banner of the Philistine King of Gath; and now, finding that David had neglected to provide against the Amalekite raid, their pent-up fury thus displayed itself. Then David, we shall see, threw himself, with all his old perfect trustfulness, upon the mercy of his God.

Then David, we shall see, threw himself, with all his old perfect trustfulness, upon the mercy of his God.

This was one of the most difficult situations imaginable. Away from his real home, chased by a mentally ill king, living like a vagabond, forced to side with the enemy, and now his own men speak of mutiny by making him a scapegoat for their misery and threaten to kill him.

I want you to sense the desperation of this dark chapter in David’s life. One reason I want you to sense it is to know that you are not alone when you face feelings of desperation.

Most people would have been totally overwhelmed by this turn of events. Most would have thrown in the towel. But in one of the most dramatic 180-degree-turns in history the Bible says this in

(Amp)."But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God."

"But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God."

This is one of the many reasons you’ve got to love the Word of God! This is why you’ve got to love being a child of God.

Even in life’s darkest days there is hope! There is a source of encouragement! You don’t have to believe the circumstances and what they look like when you can believe instead that God is going to work things out somehow!

David became so encouraged and so strengthened in the Lord that he rallied his troops and went after the Amalekites, whipped them soundly, and recovered every family member safe and sound that had been taken captive!

It’s one of the most dramatic instances of a personal turnaround anywhere – and the Word of God gives us the key insight into how it was achieved.

Just exactly how did he do that? How can you do it? When you’re handed a startling scenario of alarming proportions – how do you not only maintain your equilibrium, but also become so strong, so courageous, that you take off after the enemy, even though you’re weak and hungry and tired, and whip that enemy soundly? How do you encourage yourself in God to be a winner when everyone and everything around you sounds out the message that you’re a loser?

When even your family and friends aren’t willing or able to encourage you – which is the precise situation David was in – how do you encourage yourself in God?

I’m a fairly optimistic person by temperament but I want to tell you it’s tough staying optimistic sometimes! Perhaps you can identify with David like I can.

And God wants you to identify with David, not only in his sorrow but also in his breakthrough!

3. Lets put worship before all we do.

It’s an astounding victory. The soldiers in both the Philistine army and the Israelite army view the spectacle in disbelief. A little shepherd boy with a sling and one small stone from the bed of a brook fells the blasphemous emissary of the enemy.

And when David knocks the hulk of a hero down with his projectile he then confiscates the giant’s sword and cuts his head off with his own weapon. The Israelites soldiers cheer and rout the Philistines as they flee in fear for their lives.

After that David joins Saul’s army and becomes so well known as a warrior that they sing songs about him.

But don’t miss the point of David’s entire life.

Before anything else – David was a first rate worshipper. Here, in our text today, David didn’t just get angry and stomp off to battle against the Amalekites to reclaim is family and property. He paused to spend time with God.

You will find this is the most important principle in all of your life! You will find that spending time with God is your first priority if you are to stay encouraged in the midst of the demands of life.

Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

(NLT)"As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands."

7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

Your struggles are not the center of your life. And even though we’re talking in this series about enjoying life – your joy is not to be the center of your life – God is to be the center of your life!

We are going to have times when we have to fight for our place in life sometimes. But Before you fight, you need to find time for God.

You’re going to have to fight for your place in life sometimes. But before you fight, you need to find time for God.

But the point is, David was asking God what to do. Talk about getting good advice! David wasn’t about to go off half-cocked, not having consulted with God. Instead he was going to leave for battle confidently, knowing the will of God.

The second practical pointer for encouraging your self in God is:

2. ASK GOD FOR DIRECTION.

“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

After David spent time with God listen to what he did next that brought encouragement into his life.

That is what helps us to find joy!

"David said to Abiathar the priest, ’Bring me the holy vest.’ 8 Then David asked the Lord, ’Should I chase the people who took our families? Will I catch them?’ The Lord answered, ’Chase them. You will catch them, and you will succeed in saving your families.’ (NCV)

The priest wore the "holy vest" to symbolize the presence of God. David was symbolically going into the presence of God, and, in some way we no longer understand, the vest might even have been used to determine God’s will.

First he regained his composure by worshipping God. Now he makes his plans by consulting God.

If you start off worshipping God that’s great, but don’t forget to follow God’s instructions if you want to stay encouraged.

David would face more challenges in life after this incident. But the key to staying encouraged in life is to walk with God and live according to God’s instructions. When you deviate from that you will lose your joy.

King Saul was getting ready to go to war and the prophet Samuel who had guided him so many times before was recently deceased. So do you know what Saul did? He received advice by consulting with a psychic.

"Saul said to his servants, ’Find me a woman who is a medium so I may go and ask her what will happen.’ His servants answered, ’There is a medium in Endor.’" (NCV)

King Saul, against his own laws for the rest of the nation, disguises himself and goes to Endor to ask a psychic for direction. How sad. Saul was so far from God that the only way he had heard from God in the past was through the prophet Samuel. In desperation he goes to the wrong place for advice. The channel conjures up the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel in order to give Saul advice.

Or was it really Samuel?

Now there are two possibilities. One, she was able by demonic power to bring Samuel’s spirit to the séance with Saul. I personally doubt that but there are others who think this is what actually happened. I think God is the only one who has power over the whereabouts of our spirits. Although I do believe demonic spirits are often involved in the work of psychics.

The second possibility is that the spirit was not Samuel’s. Either a demon was masquerading as Samuel or the woman was a good ventriloquist and faked the appearance of Samuel.

The Hebrew word for medium literally means "a water bottle." That’s right, a water bottle, because of the sound made when one blows over the opening to a water bottle. It’s a hollow sound; some people believe a ghostly sound, whatever a ghost is supposed to sound like.

A lot of people parading around giving advice are only using smoke and mirrors. They’re tricking and deceiving people by deceptive magic like Elymas the wizard/magician in who tried to keep a government official from coming to Christ on the island of Cyprus on Paul’s first missionary journey.

Consider what Paul said to this charlatan.

"You master in every form of deception and recklessness, unscrupulousness, and wickedness, you son of the devil, you enemy of everything that is upright and good, will you never stop perverting and making crooked the straight paths of the Lord and plotting against His saving purposes?" (Amp)

Elymas was then struck with blindness and the government official he was hindering came to God.

Satan’s purpose in offering other forms of counsel is to keep you from coming to God for direction! Don’t fall for it!

There are only two types of advice: godly advice and ungodly advice. And the Bible promises blessing for NOT following ungodly advice.

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly."

You must opt for godly advice if you want to stay encouraged. Ungodly advice will only mess up your thinking and eventually lead to more misery.

If you want to encourage yourself in God ask God for direction.

Another practical pointer for encouraging yourself in God as seen in this chapter of David’s life:

3. TREAT OTHERS FAIRLY.

What does that have to do with encouraging your self in God?

A lot of times when your life gets hairy you’re tempted to do what David’s troops did. You’re tempted to take it out on someone else. Misery loves company. You’re in the pit of despair and instead of spending time with God and asking Him what to do you do the stupid thing. You’re hurting so you hurt someone else. Hurt people hurt people.

Now what happens after the crisis passes and you have time to reflect on having behaved badly toward someone else because you were in pain?

Now you have another problem. You have to mend the fences you took down in your anger and your pain. So do yourself a favor, when troubles come be aware of your self AND behave yourself.

David was aware of this principle when he left to hunt down the Amalekites that had taken his family. Two hundred men in his army of 600 were so tired they couldn’t go on. So he let them rest. He didn’t browbeat them into riding on. He told them to stay with the stuff. And when he returned with the spoils of battle he gave them an even portion with the 400 who fought the battle.

This even became a rule in Israel after that point. If you went off to battle and someone else kept the stuff you had to share the spoils of the battle with the ones who stayed with the supplies even if they didn’t fight.

David, encouraged in God, behaved like God.

Dark days can be real tests of your behavior. And if you want to encourage yourself in God you need to act like God would act. Express kindness toward others. Love them in spite of their failures. Don’t take your anger and frustration out on them.

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