Overcoming Life’s Problems
God’s Answer for Adversity
FILING
INFORMATION:
2000011
Subject:
depression; faith; hope
Preached Originally: 02/13/2000 – Rapid
City, SD
Introduction:
A.
Ever
experienced the agony of defeat?
1.
Used to play basketball w/a
friend who infinitely better than me. Beat me all the time in 21. Kept trying & trying – but at times this got me really down.
2.
wouldn’t it
be great if defeats life handed us were only dealing w/basketball games or
perhaps coming up short in academic competition?
3.
That’s not
real life.
B.
Real
life: filled w/tragic loss of
life; failed business; broken hearts.
1.
Abraham Lincoln failures….
2.
Important to
remember that events do not cause our emotions – only our interpretation
of those events do.
C.
Tonight: want to examine life of a man who
experienced deeper disappointments than any of us ever will – but
survived. That man is David.
I. While experiencing tremendous success;
David experienced terrible losses.
A.
Some of his most famous
accomplishments:
1.
1 Sam. 16:11-13 – anointed
as king of Israel. Small lad from
Jesse.
2.
1 Sam.
17:24-26 – prosperous shepherd.
3.
1 Sam. 18:7 –
defeated Goliath.
B.
But….gut-wrenching
defeat/adversity also came his way.
1.
Psa. 59:1, 3, 6 – Saul
sought to kill him.
2.
1 Chron. 17:4; 28:3 – God
refused to allow him to build temple.
3.
2 Sam. 11 – Sinned
w/Bathsheeba & murdered Uriah.
4.
2 Sam. 12:14 – lost child
born to Bathsheeba.
5.
2 Sam. 15-18 – overthrown
by his own son – Absalom – later regained throne but son killed.
6.
2 Sam. 20_1-2 – dealt
w/rebellion led by Sheba.
7.
2 Sam. 24:15 – caused death
of 70K of his own citizens by numbering the army.
8.
Suffered set backs involving
gross immorality; heart breaking family tragedies; colossal failures as a
leader in governing Israel.
II. How did David Survive?
A.
Emphasize: David DID survive!
1.
1 Kings 1:29
2.
don’t discount this just b/c
David viewed as Bible super-hero.
a)
don’t forget he didn’t always act
like Bible super-hero. Recount
failures above.
b)
Even the great victories….were by
God’s power.
c)
Point: David made mistakes just like we do – yet he
survived. We can too!
B.
What David did to deal with
Defeat.
1.
Psa. 7:3-5 – Looked INWARD –
examined himself.
a)
searched his heart for sin. (not saying all adversity caused by
sin)
b)
self examination – can lead
to one’s asking: “What did this
defeat tell me about my weaknesses?” Can lead one to look for ways to improve himself.
c)
Note: didn’t have these ideas when looking at himself:
1)
All/nothing – nothing ever
goes right for me.
2)
I’ll never be happy again.
3)
I don’t have any abilities at
all.
d)
took an honest approach to
himself.
2.
Psa. 7:1-2 – Looked UPWARD –
to God.
a)
Note the constant focus on God –
which steadied him from the constant blows of life.
b)
1 Chron. 29:10-13, 17 –
note at the end of life: see any
bitterness?
c)
In defeat – not blame God –
but look upward to God to receive help/guidance/strength.
3.
2 Sam. 12:19-23 – He looked
FORWARD – to the future.
a)
did not constantly look back on
things he could not change.
b)
Some: mire up in self pity and negativism.
c)
Sometimes get caught up in
thinking:
1)
Life should treat me
fairly.
2)
If I a good person –
nothing tragic should ever happen to me.
3)
I should have known better
to do this/that.
d)
what “should be” rarely is “what
will be.”
e)
Must accept that this world is
cursed w/sin & inhabited by imperfect people who sometimes intentionally
cruel.
f)
David looked forward – when
defeat came – searched for ways to use defeat as opportunities for doing
something for God he had not planned.
1)
1 Sam. 27:8 – hunted by
Saul – made war on Israel’s enemies to prepare his kingdom.
2)
1 Chron. 22:15 – could not
build temple – gathered all the pieces.
3)
2 Sam. 24:25 – pestilence –
made altar for God.
4.
in face of defeat – all of
us should leave altar before God – as an unplanned act of devotion.
a)
Phil. 1:12-13
b)
Paul made lemonade out of lemons.
III. Adversity can actually accomplish a lot
in our life.
A.
2 Cor. 12:7-10 – can humble
us. We begin to realize that we:
1.
not perfect
2.
make mistakes
3.
can be defeated
4.
should trust in God & not in
ourselves.
B.
Js. 1:2-4 – lead us toward
greater spiritual maturity.
1.
must keep in mind that the trial
will make us stronger
2.
even though we don’t like it at
the time
C.
2 Cor. 1:3-7 – equips us to
comfort others.
1.
been there
& done that.
2.
helps us be there for someone in
their greatest time of need.
Conclusion
A.
During adversity the child of God
must learn to look to Jesus.
B.
Heb. 4:14-16
1.
This an advantage offered only to
Christians
2.
You a Christian? If not, why not???
C. I N V I T A T I O N