Avoiding Easy Street part 3)

Allow us to Continue from Last week when we were Dropped out for some reason.

Matt 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

7. We have darkened intellects due to unruly and dominating passions –

Our strong and unruly passions cloud our mind and seek to compel our will. Too easily, without training and practice in virtue, our baser faculties come to dominate our higher faculties, making unreasonable demands for satisfaction. And thus we love to tell ourselves lots of lies.

We suppress the truth and our senseless minds become darkened ( Romans 1:21).

Romans 1:21 KJV 1900

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:21 KJV 1900

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

8. We are lemmings –

We are too easily swayed by what is popular. We prefer ephemeral notions to ancient and tested wisdom. Tattoos, tongue bolts, and piercings are in? Quick, run out and get one! Whatever the fad or fashion, no matter how foolish, harmful, or immodest, many clamor for it.

Let a Hollywood star get a divorce and soon enough everyone is casting aside true biblical teaching against it. The same goes for many other moral issues. What was once thought disgraceful and the stuff of back allies is now paraded on Main Street and celebrated.

And like lemmings, we run to celebrate what was once called sin (and is still sinful from any biblical stance). Instead of following God we follow human beings. We follow them and the “culture” they create, often mindlessly. Yes, lemmings is the right image.

9. We live in a fallen world, governed by a fallen angel, and we have fallen natures.

Many seem to abide all of this quite well and make quite a nice little home here.

10. If all this isn’t enough to show that we are a hard case, consider a “few” others.

We are so easily, in a moment, obnoxious, dishonest, egotistical, undisciplined, weak, impure, arrogant, self-centered, pompous, insincere, unchaste, grasping, harsh, impatient, shallow, inconsistent, unfaithful, immoral, ungrateful, disobedient, selfish, lukewarm, slothful, unloving, uncommitted, untrusting, indifferent, hateful, lazy, cowardly, angry, greedy, jealous, vengeful, prideful, envious, contemptuous, stingy, petty, spiteful, indulgent, careless, neglectful, prejudiced, and just plain mean.

So if the road to destruction is wide (and Jesus says it is), don’t blame God. The road is wide for reasons like this.

We are a hard case. We are hard to save. It is not that God lacks power, it is that we refuse to address much of this. God, who made us free, will not force us to change.

We ought not kid ourselves into thinking that we can go on living resistant to and opposed to the Kingdom of God and its values, but that then magically at death we will suddenly want to enter His Kingdom, which we have resisted our whole life.

Jesus said that many prefer the darkness. Is it really likely that their preference will suddenly shift? Will not the glorious light of Heaven seem harsh, blinding, and even repulsive to them?

In such a case is not God’s “Depart from me” both a just and merciful response?  Why force a person who hates the light to live in it? I suppose it grieves God to have to abide such a departure, but to force a person to endure Him must be even more difficult to abide. I am sure it is with great sadness that God accepts a person’s final “No.”

Yes, the road is wide that leads to destruction.

It is wide because of us. The narrow road is the way of the cross, which is a stumbling block and an absurdity to many (1 Cor 1:23), who simply will not abide its message.

1 Corinthians 1:23 KJV 190023 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

So, we ought to be sober about the Lord’s lament.

We ought also to be more urgent in our attempts to secure our own unruly soul and the souls of those we love for the Kingdom. The blasé attitude of most moderns is rooted in the extremely flawed notion that judgment and Hell are not real issues. That is a lie, for it contracts Jesus’ clear word.

Why is the road to destruction wide?

Because we are hard cases; we are hard to save. We ought not be unduly fearful, but we ought to run to Jesus in humility and beg Him to save us from our worst enemy—our very self. If you don’t think you’re a hard case, read the list above and think again.

WHY FEW FIND THE NARROW WAY (Matt. 7:13-14)

Matthew 7:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Introduction

Jesus shows that there is a way that leads to life and a way that leads to destruction.He shows that the way to destruction is broad, and many will go into destruction by it.He shows that there is a narrow way that leads to life, and few find it.Actually, He gives two illustrations: a gate and a road.One gate and road is: narrow, difficult, is entered by few, and leads to life.The other gate and way is: wide, broad, is entered by many, and leads to destruction.In this lesson we will concentrate on the expression, "and there are few who find it."Why do only a few find the narrow way?

A- BECAUSE THE WAY IS STRICT, RIGOROUS AND DIFFICULT.

The word "strait" as used in the KJV, is not the word "straight" which means without curves, crooks or bends.It is spelled "s-t-r-a-i-t", which means nearly the same as the word "narrow" (the second word used here) and means "being narrow, restricted, hemmed in, hard pressed." As Paul said, "I am in a strait betwixt the two..."

Phil. 1:23 The KJV and ASV uses the two words interchangeably. KJV says, "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way," whereas the ASV says, "narrow is the gate, and straitened the way."The NJKV says, "Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way."

Philippians 1:23 KJV 1900

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Our Lord's use of words shows that the way to life is hard, rigorous and difficult.

Many people do not enter the narrow way because of the difficulty involved.

Being a Christian is the most challenging task ever laid upon anyone. It takes all that one has, and is, to be a faithful Christian.It takes one's whole being.

Matt. 22:37 Most people shun a difficult task.

Matthew 22:37 KJV 1900

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Moses (Ex. 4).

First, he said the people will not believe or hear me. God worked two miracles and said, "If they will not harken to the first sign, they will believe when they see the second."

Second ,Moses then made the excuse that he could not speak. Ex 4: 10

Exodus 4:10 KJV 1900

10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Matthew 22:37 KJV 190037 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Notice God's answer.

Ex 4:11-12 As we know, Moses accepted God's challenge and went on to be a great leader.

Exodus 4:11–12 KJV 1900

11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

There are many examples in the Scriptures of those who courageously accepted difficult challenges.Abraham left the Ur of Chaldees, not knowing where God was leading him for he looked for a city which has foundations.

Heb. 11:8-10 Noah was not one who shunned a difficult task.

Hebrews 11:8–10 KJV 1900

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Heb. 11:7 Rahab hid the Israelite spies from the King of Jericho because she had faith in the one true God.

Hebrews 11:7 KJV 1900

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Joshua 2:11 We need to determine that though living the Christian life may be often difficult, we will be up to the task

Joshua 2:11 KJV 1900

11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

. Luke 9:23 Let us continually remind ourselves of the reward.

Luke 9:23 KJV 1900

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17

Romans 8:18 KJV 1900

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

B- Another reason many do not find the narrow way is BECAUSE OF PREJUDICE.

"Prejudice" is forming an opinion, or holding to something as true, without examining the facts.

Isaiah the prophet condemned this frame of mind.

Isa. 6:9-10 This was quoted by Jesus and applied to the people of His time.

Isaiah 6:9–10 KJV 1900

9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, And make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Matt. 13:14-15 They were blinded to the truth because of their preconceived ideas.They were looking for a Messiah who would sit upon the literal throne of David, destroy all their enemies, and restore the kingdom to its former power and glory.Jesus tried to teach them that the kingdom would be a spiritual one.

Matthew 13:14–15 KJV 1900

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Luke 17:20-21 When Jesus did not fit into their preconceived ideas, and when He began to expose their wickedness, they hated him and set about to destroy Him.Prejudice did not die with the scribes and Pharisees.Many today have their preconceived ideas of how the religion of Christ should be.

Luke 17:20–21 KJV 1900

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

For example, Jesus said, "Because strait..." (Matt. 7:14)

Matthew 7:14 KJV 1900

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

However, many proclaim, "Broad is the way that leads to life, and many there be which go in thereat.""We are all going to the same place, but by different ways," they say.They say, "If your teaching (of the church of Christ) is right, look at how many you are saying are wrong."

They have pre-conceived ideas that most all religious people will be saved, for they are good moral people.

Let us put away prejudice and simply go to the Bible with open minds in order to learn what God wants of us. 2 Cor. 13:5; 2 Pet. 1:10

2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

2 Peter 1:10 KJV 1900

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

C- Many do not find the way that leads to life -- BECAUSE OF DECEPTION.

There are many false prophets in the world, disguised as preachers of the gospel

. 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Pet. 2:1-2 It is significant that Matt. 7:15-20 follows Matt 7:13-14.Many well-known denominational preachers claim there are many ways to heaven.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 KJV 1900

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Peter 2:1–2 KJV 1900

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Matthew 7:15–20 KJV 1900

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 7:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Billy Graham once said, "There are many right ways to heaven, but only one wrong way."

Again, the opposite is true--there are many wrong ways, but only one right way.No one will be excused because he has been deceived.The scriptures repeatedly warn against false teachers.

Eph. 4:14; Col. 2:18 We are to know them by their fruits--by what they teach and do.

Ephesians 4:14 KJV 1900

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Colossians 2:18 KJV 1900

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

The Bereans showed the right way to determine if one is teaching truth. Acts 17:11

Acts 17:11 KJV 1900

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

John's exhortation -- 1 John 4:1

1 John 4:1 KJV 1900

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

D- Another reason many do not find the narrow way is because they SUCCUMB TO PEER PRESSURE.

Many succumb to the pressures of family, friends, associates, religious leaders, etc.The parents of the man who was born blind failed to confess Jesus because they feared their religious leaders.

John 9:18-22 It was not because they did not know (they had the strong, open testimony of their own son), but because of the pressures of men they did not take advantage of an opportunity to confess our Lord.Many of the rulers believed on Jesus, but did not confess Him because they wanted the admiration of their fellow men.

John 9:18–22 KJV 1900

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

John 12:42-43 For this same reason, many did not believe at all.

John 12:42–43 KJV 1900

42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

John 5:44 For one to be of the narrow way, he cannot allow anyone to discourage, pressure, or in any way hinder him from finding and entering it.He cannot submit to wishes of anyone but God. Matt. 10:37; Luke 14:26

John 5:44 KJV 1900

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Matthew 10:37 KJV 1900

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Luke 14:26 KJV 1900

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

E- Another reason many do not find the narrow way is because we FAIL TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT IT.

Let us considers ourselves debtors as did Paul.

Rom. 1:14-15 Let us be like the early Christians.

Acts 8:4; 1 Thess. 1:8 We need to proclaim the word at every opportunity we have.We should not consider it a hard task or heavy burden, but a joy and privilege.

Acts 8:4 KJV 1900

4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 KJV 1900

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

If more of us were diligent in proclaiming the word at every opportunity, more would find the narrow way.Let us, as servants of the Lord, go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in.

Luke 14:23 Lets us always be ready to give an answer to everyone.

Luke 14:23 KJV 1900

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

F- Many do not find the narrow way because they are PREOCCUPIED WITH WORLDLINESS OR MATERIALISM.

They are like the seed which fell among the thorns.

heir problem is that they lack true interest in saving their own souls.They don't understand the value of the soul, not even of their own.

Matt. 16:26 They do not fear God. As Paul said -- Rom. 3:18.They think that God is so merciful that somehow they will get by and God will save them after all.They need to come to understand the true nature and character of God.

Matthew 16:26 KJV 1900

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Romans 3:18 KJV 1900

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Rom. 11:22 God will render vengeance on all those who do not know Him and who do not do His will.

Romans 11:22 KJV 1900

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

2 Thess. 1:6-9 For one to find the narrow way, he must come to have a genuine interest in saving his own soul and escaping the wrath of God.Any who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled.

2 Thessalonians 1:6–9 KJV 1900

6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Matt. 5:6 One must come to love the truth.

Matthew 5:6 KJV 1900

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

2 Thess. 2:10 Those who truly want to do the will of God shall know the truth. John 7:17; 8:31-32

2 Thessalonians 2:10 KJV 1900

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

John 7:17 KJV 1900

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

John 8:31–32 KJV 1900

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

WELL

Why do only a few find the way that leads to life?

A. Because the way is strict, rigorous and difficult.Because many are prejudiced--blinded to the truth.Because many have been deceived by false teachers.Because they succumb to the pressures of family, friends, or religious leaders.

B -Because we, as Christians, fail to tell them about the narrow way.Because many are so preoccupied with the affairs of this life, they have no genuine interest in saving their own souls or escaping the wrath of God.Remember, Jesus gave only two choices.

C- There is no third alternative.You can travel the easy road where nearly everyone is traveling.It is unrestricted. There is room for every opinion, doctrine and practice.You can do whatever comes naturally--be a lover of self, enjoy the pleasures of sin.There is no need of learning of the true religion or practicing it.

But rest assured and remember: this way leads to destruction, eternal damnation.Or, you can travel the other road where there are only a few.

This way is strict and difficult--setting before us a great challenge.Its boundaries are ordained by divine revelation--the way of truth.It requires sacrifice, self-denial, and obedience.

But rest assured, this way leads to eternal life.Jesus is encouraging us to travel it.

"Enter by the..." Matt. 7:13 May God help us to travel in the narrow way which leads to life.

Matthew 7:13 KJV 1900

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

How about you tonight? Do you seek the narrow way that leads to life?

Jesus says in Luke 9:23-24,

Luke 9:23–24 KJV 1900

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Why not chose to save your life eternally and start following Jesus every day?

The 5 Hardest Things About Being A Christian

would you agree that sometimes it can be difficult being a Christian?

It’s certainly a joy and a pleasure to be a Christian, but it’s far from easy.

Why? Well, here are just some reasons:

1. We have to behave morally in an immoral world.

And let’s face it—the world is in really bad shape right now. I was recently reminded of St. Augustine of Hippo’s words: “Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. Right is right, even if no one is doing it.” Sometimes I feel like the world has gone crazy, don’t you?

It’s getting harder and harder to be a Christian in a world that encourages, promotes and applauds immoral behavior. And for a Christian who’s called to evangelize or to glorify God in such a world, it can be difficult to stand your ground.

2. Some non-Christians love to question our faith.

Maybe they’re questioning our knowledge of our own faith, or maybe they want to feel justified as non-Christians. Or maybe they really are interested in learning more about being a Christian. But regardless of the intention, it just feels as if we constantly have to defend our beliefs.

3. Sometimes non-Christians will mock our devotion. 

Or we’re made to feel ridiculous. Recognize any of the following? “Everybody’s doing it—you need to just chill out.” “How foolish you are to believe in a book written 2,000 years ago by random guys.”

“Hey, if you really want to follow the commandments, how come you still eat shellfish?” Many non-Christians—and many Christians, I might add—are unfamiliar with scripture, and so they throw it back at us, as if interpreting it the wrong way will justify their actions.

4. We don’t always feel the benefits of being a Christian. 

Right? When we’re dealing with the aggravation of the world conflicting and confusing and contradicting our faith, we wonder when things will be made right. And it can be discouraging when those who aren’t following God’s Word or glorifying Him in their words and deeds seem happier and more successful than we are. We have God, right? What’s that all about?

5. It can feel like we’re missing out on all the fun.

Ugh! Sometimes it does, you know? When friends tell their stories about all the fun things that happened at that party the other night, or share their secrets about intimate moments with their boyfriends, it can make us feel like we’re missing out, right?

But are we missing out? No, of course not. We have something amazing to look forward to. But in the meantime, there will be sacrifices. And we will feel their impact more in a world where temptation is everywhere. Satan uses these things to entice us. He wants us to feel like we’re missing out or that we’ve got it all wrong.

Ladies, scripture reminds us about persecution, and living in the world and knowing right from wrong. Don’t be discouraged. Keep your eye on the prize that is your Lord God, and keep Him close daily through prayer and praise, and you will find it easier being a Christian in this world.

HERE IS A GREAT SUGGESTION

1 Timothy 6:13, 14

1 Timothy 6:13 KJV 1900

13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

1 Timothy 6:14 KJV 1900

14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

The command Paul is talking about is back a couple of verses: “Flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…” ( 1 Timothy 6:11-12).

1 Timothy 6:11–12 KJV 1900

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Pursue godly character (1 Timothy 6:11). John Stott says endurance is patience in difficult circumstances. And gentleness is patience with difficult people .

1 Timothy 6:11 KJV 1900

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the battle (1 Timothy 6:12). Remember, the world will always reject Christ, and so those who confess “Jesus Christ is Lord!” will always be in conflict with the unbelieving world.

1 Timothy 6:12 KJV 190012 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Take hold of eternal life ( 1 Timothy 6:12).

1 Timothy 6:12 KJV 1900

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Notice the language—pursue, fight, take hold of.

The Christian life will be a struggle. Sometimes it is hard to keep going. There are too many disappointments, unanswered prayers, and failures. You feel run down and weary in the struggle. How do you find the strength to sustain the demands of this Christian life?

When Paul gives this charge, he adds: “in the sight of God, who gives life to everything” (1 Tim 6:13). He is saying, “God will give you the strength you need for this. He gives and sustains your life. He will give you strength for each day. He will quicken you by his Spirit.

1 Timothy 6:13 KJV 1900

13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

Are you relying on God in the struggles you are facing now?

Where Is God When Life Is Hard?

Scripture: Psalms 73:1-26

Psalm 73:1–26 KJV 1900

1 Truly God is good to Israel, Even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: But their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; Neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; Violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: They speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, Who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; Behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, It was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Summary: When you get blindsided by life, when things get overwhelming, and you find yourself surrounded by pain or terrifying circumstances, how do you handle it?

This message seeks to begin to answer those questions.

Where is God When Life is Hard?

Part I: Where is God?

INTRODUCTION:

When you get blindsided by life… how do you deal with it?

When things get overwhelming, those times where life doesn’t make much sense… you find yourself surrounded by pain or terrifying circumstances… your confused… your hurting… how do you handle it?

How do those times affect your faith?

Do you find yourself growing in your faith… or do you find your faith being challenged?

That’s a good question to ask yourself because reality is… one of the few constants of life that we can depend on… is that life is messy… and will continue to throw curve balls at us.

NEWS FLASH

Reality is…

• Life throws the unexpected at us all the time… we think we are on the right road… going in the right direction… and then out of nowhere the un-expectant happens…

• Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect it to… we end up in a job that we never anticipated…

• Our family turns out different than what we expected…

• Our kids don’t turn out the way we thought they would…

• Reality is…Life is just unfair… bad things happen to us out of the blue… when we least expects it…

• Life at times seems to go out of its way… just to throw the absurd at us… all most like it is trying to catch us of guard… so it could swallow us up…

• Reality is…Life is just confusing… it’s hard to know which way to turn at times…

• Reality is… Life seems to be flying past so fast… that it feels like we can barely hang on…

• Reality is…the problems Life throws at… at times seem too big for us to handle…

• And lastly… Regardless of why life is hard… it affects everything about us… how we feel about ourselves… how we look! Life is a mess!

Thus the question: So how good are you at handling the messes that life throws at you?

Do you find your faith rises to meet the challenge?

Of do you find yourself reacting emotionally in ways that quite honestly embarrasses you?

I think if most of us if we are honest… we would say we have more negative responses than positive ones.

Why is that?

• I remember reading years ago about someone’s observation on how the faith of the Christian community here in Australia, doesn’t seem to go very deep! That there is not much substance once you get below our church’s faces!

And the reason they say that… is because when most Christians come under pressure… or are knocked down by life… what spills out isn’t pleasant to behold!

• Why is it, when we are commanded by God to forgive everyone… forgiveness seems like a lost commodity?

• Why is it… when we are commanded to be content in all situations, we hear Christians complaining and whining about life… as much as everybody else does!

• And why is it… that there are there so many unresolved issues between spouses, friends or children? Why are there so many people who chose to run from their problems rather than face their problems and work them through?

Here is what I believe…I believe that the problem or the reason we see so much superficially in Australian Christianity is that because the foundation for our faith is entirely wrong.

You see, in Australian and in America, what we have done is conformed our Christianity to an Australian or American way of life. In other words… we have tried to get Christ and our faith to serve us rather than the other way around… Where we realize that we exist to serve God!

To help make that clearer Bob Shogren, who is a missionary leader, makes the observation… that the difference between cats and dogs… gives us the perfect illustration of the difference between being God centered and me centered… as seen in this clip

• Clip

• Bob says that… the problem with us in Australia or America is the Bible was written for dogs, but it is read by cats! Now here is what he meant, a dog says if you pet me, feed me, you shelter me, you love me, therefore you must be God! But a cat says, you pet me, you feed me, a sheltered me, you love me, therefore I must be God! So now here’s a problem, the Bible was written for dogs, but it is read by cats. You see, a cat says I love Christ because he’d bless his me. A dog says he loves Christ because of who he is. A cat says that Christianity is good so long as it works for me. A dog says Christianity is good because it’s true. A cat says with times are hard and God is not given me what I want, I am going to run from God and run from the church. A dog says when times are hard and God isn’t giving me what I need, I am going to drawn near to God and drawn near to the church. The cat says this whole life exists to glorify me, to meet my needs. But a dog says that this whole life exists to glorify God.

My goal is to begin to place in your life a different foundation…so that instead of approaching Christianity from the point of view… what can I get out of it… we grow into the mindset that acknowledges that we exist for God… and that regardless of what we are going through as individuals… we want our lives to glorify God!

The primary question that we ask throughout this series is…

“Where is God?”

And the first question we want to address…

is where is God when life is hard?

This will be followed by other significant questions like…

Where is God when we have to wait?

Where is God when we suffer?

Where is God when people hurt me?

And where is God when we doubt?

I think these are all important questions that need to be answered…especially right now.

The first question that rises to my mind… is how do I (a cat) transform myself into a dog? Answer… I can’t!

But God can…

and will if we cooperate with him.

And the way he does it… is by taking us through trials and difficult situations that cause us pain… sometimes its spiritually… sometimes emotional… or relational… sometimes it’s even physical!

• Now I understand that for most of us… we don’t like to hear that!

• I certainly will confess… that in my earlier years… my hope was that God would give me a pain free existence… but it wasn’t long before I realized that wasn’t going to happen.

• I remember going through painful experience… and then teaching about it by saying… this is the hardest experience I have ever had. But then a few months later… I would go through something even more painful… and once again, I would say this was the worst experience I ever had.

• And then it would happen again and again and again. It almost seemed like every time I said that this was the worst experience of my life… God would say… really? You haven’t seen anything yet. So eventually, I quit saying… that this was the worst experience of my life!

• Now I have to confess, after going through all those experiences… I have come to realize… that more than anything else in my life… it was pain that brought real change into my life.

• Another way to say this is that… Our lives are not transformed when we are brilliantly succeeding… we can do that without God. Search the scriptures… the message is clear… most of the changes God works into our lives don’t happen on the mountaintop, but in the valley!

• Which is exactly what we discover in text today… Psalm 73

Psalm 73 KJV 1900

A Psalm of Asaph. 1 Truly God is good to Israel, Even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: But their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; Neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; Violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: They speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, Who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; Behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, It was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all thy works.

For the sake of simplicity … I want to break this psalm down into three parts… three things we all do in life!

1. We struggle…

2. We search…

3. We discover…

I. WE ALL STRUGGLE: We need to set the context…

• This is a psalm written by a man captured and taken into captivity, into Babylon, back in the Old Testament.

It was a very dark time for Israel, everything precious to them had either been destroyed or stripped from them.

Their temple was destroyed… something they thought was impossible. Their city Jerusalem had been destroyed… the pride of the nation.

They were torn from their homes and now replanted in a culture where almost everything was repugnant to them… because it was full of idolatry and witchcraft.

• In this context… this believer found himself surrounded by unbelievers who were seemingly experiencing blessing… even though they didn’t trust God. This paradox caused him to struggle and wrestle with God in a way that he never had before. And it was in the midst of this struggle… that God began to transform him from a cat into a dog!

• First off… let me make this observation about this person’s circumstances:

NEWSFLASH… ALL CHRISTIANS STRUGGLE! IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU ARE A BRAND NEW CHRISTIAN… OR YOU HAVE BEEN ONE FOR YEARS. STRUGGLE IS PART OF LIFE!

• No matter how hard you try to protect yourself… you are going to go through struggles in which you have no control over. That’s life. Life is pain, so learn to deal with it.

• I still remember how Scott Peck… author of a Road less traveled… said… 80-90 percent of mental illness is a result of not accepting that one simple truth… that life is pain.

• Meaning… that maybe it would be wiser to stop spending all your energy in trying to avoid pain… to learning how to deal with your pain and struggles in a kingdom way.

• The second observation I want to make… is that each of us have our own different struggles.

What is a struggle for one person… is not necessarily a struggle for someone else! For the author of this psalm… here was his struggle…

> Ps 73:1-2 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.

Psalm 73:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Truly God is good to Israel, Even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped.

> The psalmist begins with good theology, sound theology!

He says God is good! This is what the Bible teaches…God is good, he is always good… He is good in every situation, and as the Don Moen song says…

He is good all the time! So what’s the problem?

> So we read in verse two… But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. He is saying… as for me, my faith has almost drained away, I almost lost my faith. I struggled to hold on; I was so filled with confusion and doubt, why?

>The problem with the psalmist was…his life experience wasn’t squaring with his theology.

If God is so good… then why is my life experience so bad?

This doesn’t make sense…When he looked at his life and lives of other people who were going through tough times… he said, this isn’t jiving with my theology or with what I had been taught by other people. What gives?

> This is actually a good question.

And I think Part of the problem… was His understanding of Good! Somehow his definition of good became more or different than what God meant.

> For him… good had come to mean… “I am no longer going to have to really struggle or wrestle with life… After all, now that I am a believer… God will give me a good life.

Therefore He will protect me from struggles... especially the really big ones.

Thus, finances should always fall into place, relationships should always work out… and physical health should always stay in tacked!

From here on out… life is going to be a blessing… at least certainly more than those that don’t have God!

> He had expectations of how life was supposed to be… that he didn’t even know he had! This is the way of struggles… they expose our false expectations and beliefs! This is actually a core principal when it comes to us making sense of our struggles.

• CORE PRINCIPAL: our struggles expose our false expectations and beliefs His false expectation was that if God was good… then he shouldn’t ever have to go through hard times or struggle.

But then real life hits… and now that he was going through a crisis of faith.

-- Now jump down to verse 14… Ps 73: 14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning Here we see that he had other problems plaguing him… and that these problems weren’t going away.

Psalm 73:14 KJV 1900

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning.

— All day… every morning…He is telling us that he is being overwhelmed with struggles that seem to have no end… day in and day out!

He doesn’t tell us what the natures of his struggles are… only that he experienced and was inflicted with. Perhaps God did this on purpose so we could apply it to all difficulties, hardships, trials that we experienced.

-- Maybe this man’s plague was physical…have you ever been in so much physical pain, just physical pain where you began to doubt the goodness of God?

-- You pray God I have heard teachings about healing… and your word says that you are gracious towards your children… I know it is nothing for you to stretch out your hand right now and heal me… if I had a child suffering something like this… I would reach out if I had the ability and heal them…and so here I am… with the tumor or slipped disc or migraine… and you are not healing me.

-- Have you ever been there? In so much physical pain that you wondered about the goodness of God?

-- Maybe the psalmist problem was financial?

Maybe he was indebted, hounded by his creditors…he was about to lose the family estate or his inheritance.

So he says Lord…your word tells me that you own cattle on 1000 Hills…why won’t you meet my need?

• Maybe the problem in this man was relational?

Maybe he was experiencing the great pain of broken relationship, or he’s struggling because he is experiencing great pain in his marriage…maybe his spouse has been unfaithful…or maybe his child is in rebellion…or maybe he has had a fallen out with some of his friend.

We just don’t know… any one of these things can challenge a person’s concept of God… and cause them to question their faith!

— The point being… is that we all struggle!

And each struggle brings with it… its own unique temptation.

Heading 3

Here are four different ways we are tempted.

--All designed to get us to throw the towel in on our faith…and all of them designed to make our struggles 10 times worse than what they really are!

1. WE STRUGGLE WITH COMPARING OUR LIFE WITH OTHERS

This man was already struggling in his faith…and then he compounded it by looking at others. He started to compare his life with them… especially the ungodly… Ps 73:3-9

Psalm 73:3–9 KJV 1900

3 For I was envious at the foolish, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: But their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; Neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; Violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: They speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.

Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. This is what the wicked are like — always carefree, they increase in wealth. Wow… what honesty!

a. If he was talking today… he would be talking about a crude professional athlete.

I remember years ago their was this very famous basketball player who claimed to have slept with several thousand women…in 50 different cities…he has six kids with five different women, not married to any of them. And he was bragging about it!

So here you a guy completely arrogant and vulgar…yet sports writers are breathlessly hanging on every word that he says!

b. Or the palmist could have been talking about…the arrogant businessman…the person who cuts corners, scams the public, who is constantly cheating, and obviously has no ethics.

Yet he is quoted all the time, and he is celebrated, and we see him shaking hands with the mayor and meeting with other politicians.

c. Or the psalmist could have been talking about the totally absorbed Hollywood celebrity, the person who just moves from marriage to marriage without even blinking, yet he or she is talked about in US magazine, or is featured in EXTRA.

They have perfect teeth and a perfect complexion and perfect bodies… yet they never give God a passing thought…and so the psalmist cries out…what gives?

d. All these folks who are ungodly… yet seemed to be so blessed…yet they spit in-your-face? They blaspheme you… they deny you have any knowledge… they deny your judgment… and beyond that they abuse your people.

They make fun of your people in movies, they mocked your people, they drag your people to court and yet it seems that you bless them. What is going on here?

•e. Why are they blessed and I am not… what gives… This doesn’t seem fair to me…

f. Now when this happens… we have reached a point of vulnerability…where the enemy attacks!

g. He comes alongside us and whispers to us…you know…you have been taught that God his good, but is God really good… to you? He has not been good to you.

h.Or maybe he whispers… maybe God is good to people faraway, or maybe he is good to the really good Christians across the street, so why not you? You must be doing something wrong!

i. At this point the enemy takes it a step further…he says…Christianity doesn’t work for you! Maybe it works for some of your family…maybe somebody else…but not you!

j. Have you ever heard the voice? That voice that says… Because of your particular problem, struggle or the way you are wired… Christianity doesn’t work for you! And then he says…look at everybody else and how happy they are! Christianity works for them… but not for you!

k. We need to understand that the enemy wants to hit us…with the combination punch. Not only does you want to hit you with a right to cross, he wants to do you in with a left upper cut…he wants to knock you down completely.

l. So He comes along and exaggerates the size of our problems… to the point that our problem gets so big… that it’s the only thing we can see.

m. And then enemy tries to go even further by saying…there is no blessing on your life. (At this moment of crisis… this seems like such a real possibility!)

n. Here you need to stop for moment. Is that true?

Is a true that there is nothing of God’s blessing on your life?

You see no goodness of God in your life? Do you have any children…is your child healthy?

There’s a blessing of God. Are you able to worship God in freedom? Do you have any Christian fellowship available to you?

Do you get any Christian teaching? Are you able to walk today? Are you able to eat today? Of course we are… yet the enemy tries to blind us to them…

o. And if that wasn’t enough, the enemy comes in with a second attack… and exaggerates the blessing of God of those that don’t believe…so we need to ask ourselves… are the ungodly as happy as it seems they are?

p. Think about it… If people are so happy, then why are so many Hollywood’s celebrities going to drug or alcohol rehabilitation?

If they are so happy, if that’s such a great life…why are so many of them addicts?

If the wealthy are so happy, if all you need is a money to be happy…why are so many caught up in dysfunctional families?

q. But we lose sight of this… so we begin to question our personal faith…

2. WE STRUGGLE WITH THE VALUE OF OUR PERSONAL FAITH…

Ps 73:13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

Psalm 73:13 KJV 1900

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocency.

Can you can hear the palmist heart cry out…I have tried Lord…to obey you, I have tried to pray, I have tried to seek your face, but it doesn’t seem to work!. It doesn’t seem to matter if I obey or not. I am not getting what I want! It doesn’t seem to matter if I pray…you don’t answer my prayers. There is no breakthrough; there is no change in my circumstances…where are you God?

If this man lived in the 21st century, maybe he would say, the evolutionist are right, maybe the whole universe is just random. Maybe it’s all just a crap shoot… and it doesn’t matter if you obey or disobey, to follow Christ or not follow Christ, love God, hate God, it is all just a matter of what your luck is in life, if you’re number is up, it’s up.

Listen to his statement again… Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. Can you hear the false belief and expectation behind his cries… that if I work hard enough at pursuing God; I should not have to struggle more than those in the world!

The reality is… our ongoing pursuit of God is preparing us for our struggle!

3. WE STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND…

Ps 73:16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me.

Psalm 73:16 KJV 1900

16 When I thought to know this, It was too painful for me;

Can you hear the hidden expectation and belief that if I just understand what is going on… I can get through this… or I can fix this… or I can overcome this… if I can just understand what is going on! Can you hear that? Catch this now… that whole line of things is simply NOT TRUE!

Unfortunately that it is in this place of seeking that we find ourselves once again very vulnerable to the enemies’ wiles…

Who goes on to say… you don’t understand. You know you are seeking God, you are seeking wisdom, and you are seeking insight to why this is going on. But he is not giving you any understanding in the moment… so what is wrong with you… if you were close to God… he would certainly tell you what is going on… therefor, you are failing God because you do not understand…

I want you to understand this…you are not sinning when you do not understand… when you look at life and it’s all confusing to you…you are not failing as a Christian.

Listen to what the apostle Paul said in 2 Cor 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; in other words… it is okay to be perplexed…you’re not failing God when you are perplexed. You can be perplexed…but you don’t have to go all the way to despair, and throw the towel in on your faith.

2 Corinthians 4:8 KJV 1900

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

You don’t have to give up your hope…and say nothing will ever change, nothing will ever get better, God will never hear my prayers. It’s okay to be perplexed. Scriptures are full of stories where people were perplexed. Paul was perplexed. The psalmist was perplexed. Job was perplexed.

And why do we expect that we will understand the ways of God anyways? Isa 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. In other words…God is God! God is infinitely huge.

Isaiah 55:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.

He is infinitely wise, he is at work… not just in your life…in your little part of the world…he is at work transforming the entire universe! He is bringing about a new creation! Meaning… Even if God explained his plans to us…we would not understand it! I don’t think we could grasp it!

Therefore, it really is okay not understand why everything is happening the way it is.

But watch out for the enemy. If you begin to wonder about the goodness of God…and you begin to look out and see that everybody is happier than you…and you’re struggling because you do not understanding… be warned… you are in a dangerous spiritual place.

4. WE STRUGGLE WITH BITTERNESS…

You know you have hit bottom of the valley when you get to verses 21 and 22 … which I believe represent the most dangerous spiritual position of all…

Ps 73:21-22 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.

Psalm 73:21–22 KJV 1900

21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

.

It is absolutely essential that when you are going through times of difficulty and hardship and your life is not working out the way you think it should…you need to guard your heart!

When you find yourself confused and you don’t understand…it is absolutely imperative that you protect your heart from growing bitter!

The author of Hebrews says the same thing in Heb 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Hebrews 12:15 KJV 1900

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

So why is it so essential that you guard yourself from bitterness? It is my observation after 30 years in the ministry…that when a person allows bitterness into their heart…any sin is possible! And almost any behavior becomes thinkable.

And most people don’t realize that it doesn’t take much to get there… A person gets hurt…they have been wounded by another person…or they have been wounded by the church…or by something that has happened in the family…and that they believe God should have done something but didn’t.

And instead of going to God and giving him their wounds and hurts and asking to be cleansed from their pain…heal them of their pain. Asking God to make them free from this… and going to God and say I forgive them of this…instead…they nursed those wounds…and they become infected…and bitterness grows up in their heart.

And the more that the bitterness grows…the more it defiles every aspect of their being…so that even their thinking grows irrational. You try talking to someone who was bitter…and the psalmist says it’s like talking to animal.

Ps 73:21-22 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. They can’t hear…they are not thinking rationally…like an animal, they are reacting just instinctively.

Psalm 73:21–22 KJV 1900

21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

Over the years… I have seen people do all kinds of crazy things that you’d never would have expected them to do …because when life didn’t work out the way they thought it should …they reacted!

I am going to live my life my way… regardless of the cost… regardless of who it hurts! At that point… your Bitterness will take you down!

So there you have it… four ways the enemy loves to tempt us when we struggle. So the nex question becomes… how do we escape this downward spiral…how do we keep ourselves from slipping?

II. WE SEARCH… we set out to find God in the midst of our struggle…

1. We must come into His presence!

Ps 73:16-17 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

Psalm 73:16–17 KJV 1900

16 When I thought to know this, It was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then understood I their end.

He is saying here… I tried finding meaning in life…and I couldn’t find it. You know people are asking all the time…what is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of this particular tragedy? This plane crash, this death, this car accident, this cancer, this financial disaster?

The reality is…we can’t find meaning from life! You can look at an event…you can analyze it, scrutinize it and spin it around and try looking at it from every aspect…but you will never be able to find the meaning.

When you try to look at life this way…many times you’ll end up like the writer of Ecclesiastes…who said I have tried to find the meaning of life in every way imaginable, I have used all my natural mind and natural reason to search out meaning… and have discovered that all life is vain… there is no meaning!

But here the psalmist said in verse 17, that I didn’t understand until… I entered the sanctuary of God.

What is the sanctuary of God? In the Old Testament, it was the temple that one could find the presence of God and were taught the law of God.

Its only here we discover the meaning of life… in God’s presence… from the word of God. It’s God’s thoughts, God’s truth that provide meaning for life. In other words…We don’t derive meaning from life, you bring meaning to life!

Let me give you an example of this…let’s say you hear about a godly person who prays and obey his God…they love the Lord…and then you hear that person has literally punched right in the face. The police have come and drag them away in handcuffs and threw them in jail for their faith. Scattered their children and looted the house and burned to the ground… and you look at that situation and ask yourself what meaning can I draw from his?

Once again… You could end up like the evolutionist…who look at this and say here’s this godly person, who praying and obeying, loving God… yet he is treated that way…maybe there is no sense to life. Maybe it doesn’t matter if we obey or disobey …

But if you go to the sanctuary…and you hear Gods thoughts… you hear God’s perspective… which gives this situation a whole different meaning…you say “oh my goodness”…there is a totally different meaning I get from persecution.

The apostles had to do this when they got persecuted…the apostles had to remember what they heard Jesus say about persecution…in other words… they let their thoughts get formed in the sanctuary…where they heard Jesus say….

Matt 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:11–12 KJV 1900

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

So when the apostles were beaten and thrown into jail they rejoiced… why… because they said that this was their graduation day… we have made it, finally! The people think we are enough like Jesus that they persecuted us! Thank you, Lord; finally, the world takes me to be a threat! Thank you Lord, I am finally associated enough with Jesus to be treated like him!

This is godly thinking, it is spiritual thinking! This is thinking that will be different than you get from life.

How do we get to spiritual thinking concerning our hardship…the psalmist says…

2. We must learn to look at things with eternity in mind.

We need to learn to see not just in moment, but where life is headed. He said… Ps 73:16-20 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! 20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

Psalm 73:16–20 KJV 1900

16 When I thought to know this, It was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

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Natural thinking, natural perspective always looks at life just in the moment. We take a snapshot of where we are at right now, we take a snapshot of what other people are at right now…and we say that is what is going on.

The psalmist says start thinking spiritually… start thinking biblically! How do we do this? By understanding that Biblical thinking always looks at the end of behavior… biblical thinking always looks ahead, not just in the moment.

Biblical thinking says… roll the camera a head to 20 years, 30 years… if you continue on with the behavior that you are currently engaged in… where you going to be 20 years now? Thirty years from now?

If you continue on the road you are on… spiritual thinking will ask… where will I end up? Don’t just look at the moment, are you happy right now… are you enjoying sin for a moment…but where will you be in old age?

In fact… let’s take the film a little further… let’s roll the film all the way to death…where will you be then at death? With Christ…without Christ…if you continue on the road you are on…

Let’s roll the film even further…where you will be when you stand before the judgment of God? This is what spiritual thinking is all about. Spiritual thinking says…think ahead!

That is exactly what Jesus tells us to do on sermon of the Mount... Matt 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Once again… Spiritual thinking looks ahead…so where are you headed? This is the key question…where is your life going? The road you are on now determines where you will end up…

III. WE DISCOVER… God transforming of our hearts

Ps 73:23-26 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:23–26 KJV 1900

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

What a remarkable transformation this person has gone through… how did this happen? What brought on this incredible transformation?

Answer… He met God in the midst of the crisis… he discovers that God was always there for him… He discovered that God held him together enough to get through his difficult situation… he discovered that somehow God navigated him through the tough times… and he discovered that God alone gave him HOPE!

The end result was…the revelation that the only thing he really needed was God! … And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

In conclusion:

Let’s look at the whole picture… the psalmist had a problem at the beginning because he was saying…I was trying to please God…obey God…pray to God…but life still came crashing in… and God wasn’t giving him what he expected!

The psalmist went on to say… my life does not square up to what I think it is suppose to be…I am not getting from God what I want. And he was tempted to throw the whole faith deal away… because he wasn’t getting the blessing from God, that he thought he should get.

But while he was enduring his hardship, he discovered a God that he didn’t know!

This is important… so catch this… It is only in the midst of trial do we experience a revelation of God that can never be experienced during a season of success or peace!

The end result being him saying that he has now come to the point in his life where the only thing he wants…is God! I don’t want God plus something else…I just want God. I’m not looking forward to heaven because I’m going to get Jesus and something else…I am looking for to heaven because I am going to get Jesus!

This is what the Lord is trying to do in our lives… he is trying to get our fingers pried off the death grip that we have on this world and the expectations we have about how we think life should be.

And then… God wants to change the very desires of our heart… that we would only want Him!

All those expectations we have… that insistence that if we don’t have this particular thing… your life is going to be a failure… need to be let go!

He is trying to open up our hands and say to us… if you just have me… Jesus… that’s enough!

And so the question becomes… what is God asking you to let go of… so that you can get more of a hold on him?

This is the secret to being changed from a cat to a dog! Let’s pray