Thank you God for the Broken Road Psalms 73:1-73:28
Last week as we were worshipping
• a man entered a Baptist church in Maryville Il
• And shot the senior pastor in mid-sermon and then stabbing two churchgoers.
• The pastor had stood on an elevated platform delivering his sermon about finding happiness in the workplace,
• Pastor Winters deflected the first of the gunman's four rounds with a Bible,
• And then managed to run halfway down the sanctuary's side aisle before collapsing.
• Worshippers initially thought it was a skit,
Pastor Winters was described as a bold pastor in sharing his faith
• And that he would want his death to be an opportunity for everyone
• To hear that there is hope and faith in Jesus Christ.
A Message issued by the church said
• Please pray for Dr. Winter’s family, our two brave members
• Who were injured when they stopped the assailant,
• Pray for the assailant himself and his family,
• And pray for our church members as they deal with this tragic loss.
• In this day, where uncertainty seems to create an environment in which
• People are vulnerable in doing things they might not otherwise do,
• One thing is certain, we, as human beings need a foundation upon which we can live our lives.
• We at First Baptist Maryville, along with other Christian believers,
• Share this conviction: that foundation is God’s Word.
• In the pages of the Bible, we find the pathway for peace, hope, and a quality of living life despite what circumstances we find ourselves in.
• To those who believe in the power of prayer, we covet your prayers right now.
It’s obvious that in todays world things have gotten out of hand
• The Maryville incident comes on the heels of a shooting in July in Knoxville, Tenn., that killed two people and wounded seven.
• In December 2007, at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo.,
• A man with a gun entered a church concert for teens, Killed one and wounded two before being shot and killed by a security guard.
• In March 2005 in Waukesha, Wis.,
• A gunman entered the Living Church of God’s service at a local hotel.
• He fired 22 shots, killing seven and wounding four before turning the gun on himself.
So the question that we find ourselves asking is
• How could this happen
• Why would God allow this to happen
• Is God even there and is He paying attention to what’s going on down here
Right now, someone- somewhere needs to know that God loves them,
• They also need to know that we love them,
• I believe that everything God does is for a purpose.
• Every time God meets us here it’s for a reason.
• I believe there is someone here today who is struggling with something
• And that something seems to be winning.
Sometimes life’s problems seem bigger than we are.
• A lot of times we feel like a squirrel fighting a lion.
• But it’s during these hard times,---- these life testing times
• That we are taught the lessons in life that we come to value the most.
If it weren’t for the broken road I had to go down
• I wouldn’t be where I am today.
• Loneliness, Rejection, Addictions
• All these things led to a point where I was looking for answers
• The need for answers led me to Christ.
• And Christ led me to the three things that I have come to love most in my life
• Jesus,.. My Wife,… And my ministry.
Another lesson that God has taught me,
• Is that now that I have learned to embracing the broken road
• It doesn’t matter where you are on the time line of your life,
• It doesn’t matter when you surrender your will to God,…
• He will use your past struggles to prepare you to be the person
• That He has planned for you to be
Why?... because God’s plan for your life isn’t subject to a time line,
• You can be 66 years old and surrender your life.
• And God can take your past stumbling blocks
• And turn them into stepping stones.
• You just have to change your perspective of your past.
• You have to change the way you look at it
• And then we can use these past struggles
• As God’s way of equipping us for the future that He has planned.
God has blessed each one of us
• So that we can be a blessing to others.
• You just never know where a person is in their life
• And we never know what they are going through.
• So we should never judge another person’s scars,
• Because you don’t know how they got them.
Here are three purposes God has for our struggles...
• First, they are there to prepare and equip us.
- Because we are always tested before we are trusted.
• Second, as an Way for God to reveal Himself.
- God is constantly looking for ways to express His character to us.
• Finally, to teach us about appreciation.
- The most appreciated goals in our lives
are the ones we have to work hard and struggle to obtain.
Turn in your bibles to psalm 73.
I want to give us a few ways to succeed through our struggles...
1.) Stay focused on your struggles. V. 2-12
Ps 73:2 But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. Ps 73:3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. Ps 73:4 They seem to live such a painless life;
their bodies are so healthy and strong.Ps 73:5 They aren’t troubled like other people or plagued with problems like everyone else. Ps 73:6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty. Ps 73:7 These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! Ps 73:8 They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. Ps 73:9 They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. Ps 73:10 And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. Ps 73:11 “Does God realize what is going on?” they ask. “Is the Most High even aware of what is happening?” Ps 73:12 Look at these arrogant people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
Blinders on horses Elab
• They put blinders on horses to keep their eyes forward.
The bible teaches us to press forward!
• Thomas Edison failed over two thousand times before he had successfully created the light bulb.
• He did not let that discourage him he simply said;
• I discovered over two thousand ways how NOT to make a light bulb.”
• If we are not focused on what is going on in front of us
• we are destined to come across some unseen obstacles.
• When we only focus on the negatives we find our self pulled in that direction.
2.) Maintain your integrity. V. 13
Ps 73:13 Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong?
• Story about the pastor who went to the music store and was over charged
Integrity is standing for what is right, instead of what’s easy.
3.) Remember God’s faithfulness. V.17
Ps 73:17 Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I thought about the destiny of the wicked.
- (example) The second time bungee jumping is always easier than the first.
• With each victory God brings us,
• It builds more confidence inside of us for future battles.
• The definition of insanity is;
• doing the same thing-- the same way, and expecting a different result.
God is not a sell-out!
• He will be Who He has always been!
• David remembered God’s faithfulness over his fears.
4.) Speak truth to yourself. V. 22- 26
Ps 73:22 I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Ps 73:23 Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand.
Ps 73:24 You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Ps 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. Ps 73:26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Sometimes even when we don’t feel like it ,
• We are encouraged by speaking truth to our self.
• verse 25 says Whom have I in heaven but you?
• Sometimes hearing the truth is just as important
• As knowing the truth ----Speak God’s truths to your struggles.
5.) Allow the struggle to draw you near to God. V. 27 – 28
Ps 73:27 But those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. Ps 73:28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
A mistake is only a mistake if we don’t learn from it.
• We need to start allowing stumbling blocks to become stepping stones.
• We should never fall backwards , We should instead fall forward.
• We grow in our wisdom when we allow mistakes to become lessons.
6.) Finally, we have to embrace the truth of the matter.
1. God is still present.
2. God is still God.
3. We are still His Children.
4. He designed each one of our lives, with great purpose.
5. And it takes the Broken road to prepare each one of us for our destinations!
