Faith On Trial!

 

Introduction:

A.   The Book of Psalms is a very valuable book in the

          Bible.

 

B.   It is valuable for several reasons:

1.   It gives us comfort in times of need.

2.   It aids us in praising the great God who created

all things so wonderfully!

3.   It gives us a very honest account of Godly people  in their struggles as they endeavor to serve God!

 

C.   So many times, we find that we can relate to the Psalmist as they write! 

Trans.

Let's look at one such relatable passage today!

 

                            Prayer

                         Psalm 73:1-17

 

I.   A look at the Scripture.

A.   The Psalmist starts out with the conclusion:

"Truly God is good to the upright, to those

who are pure in heart."  (Psalm 73:1)_

1.   The psalmist had arrived at this point but says, "This was where I was at."  "This is my journey."

2.   The psalmist was grateful for arriving at this conclusion, but had found it tough getting there!

 

B.   "my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly

 slipped."

1.   The writer had nearly come to the point of

throwing in the towel!  Life had dealt some hard

blows!

2.   What was the cause of the problem? 

a.   Simply not understanding God's way with

respect to him/her!

b.   The psalmist had become aware of a painful fact.

1)   Even though the psalmist was living a

Godly life, was cleansing his/her heart, and was washing his/her hands in

innocency.  (vs. 13)

2)   Even though the psalmist was avoiding

sin, was in a habit of examining

his/her life, and was confessing it to God with sorrow, seeking forgiveness

and renewal!

3)   Even though, he/she was spending time

in prayer to God and was meditating on

the things of God!

4)   This person, I'm sure, was living a

life that was well pleasing to God!

5)   Yet, in spite of all of this, the

     psalmist was having a great deal of

trouble:

 

"For all day long I have been plagued,

and am punished every morning." (vs. 14)

 

We don't know exactly what was

happening:

a)   maybe health was failing?

b)   maybe trouble in family?

c)   maybe financial problems?

 

6)   Whatever it was, everything seemed to

be going wrong and nothing seemed to be   going right!

7)   As if that weren't bad enough, the  writer could see people living in                              defiance of God, and they were being  blessed!

 

C.   The psalmist came through all of this before arriving  at the conclusion, "Truly God is good to the upright."

 

II.  What can we learn from all of this?

A.   Perplexity in the light of this kind of situation is

not surprising!

1.   We will not always understand all things!

2.   We don't always understand exactly why God allows

some things!

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." Says the Lord in Isaiah 55:8.

3.   We may not understand why God allows some tragity in our lives.   

4.   But we can learn to trust the Lord!!

 

B.   Perplexity is not Sinful.

1.   It is not wrong to not understand and perhaps

feel a little confused or angry at the way things are going!

2.   The apostle Paul was at times perplexed.

(II Cor. 4:8)

              “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;

 perplexed, but not driven to despair;…”

 

3.   We just can't let it move us to despair: loss of

hope in God!

 

C.   Perplexity opens the door to Temptation!

1.   When we don't understand, Satan will take that  opportunity to work on us!

a.   Satan knows our weaknesses.

b.   We must trust God to bring us through even

though we may not fully understand!

c.   We must take on the whole armor of God.

As says:(Eph. 6:13)

For we need it all!

 

2.   Temptation is often times presented as logical.

a.   Satan makes it seem like the logical thing

to do.

b.   Nobody would probably fall into temptation

     if it didn't at the time seem logical.

c.   We've all experienced this because Satan

works on Christians the most.

1)   He tries to discourage us!

2)   He tries to convince us that God isn't

fair!

 

3.   Temptation is not sin.

a.   We can't keep Satan from putting thoughts in

our minds!

b.   But what do we do with them?  It has been said:

 

"You can't prevent the crow from flying over

your head, but you can prevent him from

making a nest in your hair."

 

c.   Let me say it another way, we are not accountable in life for what happens to us, and we are not accountable for the temptations that come to us as a result of it, but we are accountable for what we allow it to do to us!

 

 

4.   How do we know we have dealt with temptation

properly when it comes?

a.   When we finally arrive at the right

conclusion:

"God is good to the upright!"

b.   The psalmist said, "I was tempted to believe

that there are times when God isn't always

good to the upright, but now I know with more surety that God is always good to the

upright!"  (paraphrased)

c.   "No matter what happens to me, I know that  God is always good and God is working to bring good out of this for me!"

d.   I believe that is what the psalmist learned!

 

D.   What if you find yourself here but have not arrived at this conclusion yet?

1.   Don’t feel guilty for feeling perplexed, confused, or even sometimes angry!  That is very normal! The temptation is to let it drive you away from God!

2.   Don’t let the perplexity drive you away from God: we are accountable for what we allow it to do to us!

3.   Let it drive you to God!  Keep coming to the house of God.  Keep asking the questions and reading the Bible!  Keep praying very honestly to God!  Even a perplexed, confused prayer is an admission of faith!

4.   You will get there, and like the Psalmnist you will be able to say, “Truly God is good to the upright!” 

Conclusion:

A.   Maybe you have been going through some hard times:

1.   You have worked hard for the Lord!

2.   You have studied!

3.   You have prayed!

4.   But life has dealt us some hard blows!  People

have been cruel to you!

5.   Satan would have you and me think that God is not

Always fair!

B.   The psalmist says to that, "Truly God is good to the

upright, to those who are pure in heart."  Thanks be

to God!

Prayer