Overcoming Life’s Problems
God’s Answer for Adversity
2000011
Subject: depression; faith; hope
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
