“Facing Frustration”
Wilderness Pt. 2 – by Pastor Nick S. Panico
(Rom 8:28-29 NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. {29} For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
I. Our pre-determined destiny is to be conformed to the image of the Son of God
A. Before time began, God determined that all those who would come to love the Son of God, would eventually be conformed into His image
1. This idea of being conformed into the image of God means that God would use various circumstances in our lives to transform our inner heart – attitudes…
a) Once the attitudes of the heart are changed, the behavior will change
b) The goal – that our heart attitudes will reflect the beauty of Jesus Christ, and our behavior will resemble what He would do in the situations we find our selves in life.
B. The process to bring about this transformation – the “all things” of Romans 8:28
1. As God weaves the tapestry of our lives, He weaves into that tapestry – blessings and mountain top experiences, and wilderness experiences
C. The wilderness experience is a time of leanness
1. It is the difficult road
2. It is a time when your usual support and provision is removed from you
3. It is a time when your human effort cannot measure up with the need around you
4. The Wilderness is a time when you cannot easily see the hand of the Lord in and around your circumstances
5. It is a place where it seems as if the Lord is not hearing your prayers
6. It is a dry place, spiritually speaking
7. It is a place of great pressure – pressure with a purpose
D. A wilderness experience can take on many forms in our lives
1. It may have to do with your health
2. It may be a relationship issue – in your marriage or with your children
3. Maybe it’s job related
4. Or having to do with financial issues
5. Sometimes your wilderness has to do with a lack of direction…
E. No matter what your wilderness experience looks like, there are some temptations which you most likely will face on your journey through
1. I believe it is the decisions we make on this journey through our wilderness that effects how long we stay in and what we look like when we come out
F. Last week we dealt with the temptation of FEAR
G. Lets look at the next temptation – Ex.15:22-24
I. Facing Frustration
(Exo 15:22-24 NIV) "Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. {23} When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) {24} So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?""
A. For three days they walked in the desert with no water
1. There is no more powerful drive and need that that of thirst
2. You can go weeks without food…
3. …But only days without water…
4. Water is a matter of life or death
B. Finally they come to Marah, and they find water…
1. Can you imagine how excited they were when they saw the glimmering pools of water?
2. Deliverance from their problems seemed at hand.
3. …and then as they attempted to satisfy their thirst, they find the water bitter…
4. It’s not that the water just had a bad taste to it…
5. It was undrinkable brackish water that would not quench their thirst but only make it worse.
C. The water was a picture of what was in their hearts all along…
1. All along this trip in the wilderness the bitter water was there
2. They focused on their lack
3. They were angry about what they had to leave behind, even though it was bondage
4. The bitterness was a heart attitude, and came because of their frustration over their circumstances.
D. Watch out for the temptation of frustration
E. Frustration
1. a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs
2. Once frustrated a person often becomes embittered
3. Bitterness seeps into the heart attitude of the person frustrated
F. This heart attitude can be heard…
1. “I don’t deserve this”
2. “God, why did you allow this to happen to me?”
3. “Where are you anyway?”
4. “You don’t really love me, if you did you would never allow this to go on.”
G. Many people become angry and bitter over their circumstances
1. …And when they do, they will usually complain…
2. Complain to friends, to family, to God
3. …Their focus is on their lack and not on God who meets all their needs.
H. There is only one cure for the bitter waters of frustration
(Exo 15:25 NKJV) "So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them,"
I. The tree is a picture of the cross of Christ
1. It speaks of salvation
2. …Of turning your life over to the God of deliverance
3. …Giving the circumstances of your life wholly over to the one who died for you.
J. When Moses took the tree and cast it into the water the water became sweet
1. When you give your heart to Jesus He can take the bitterness out of the circumstances of your life
2. It’s often the hard times in life that bring us to teachable moments
3. For some it takes removing all of the stuff before they can hear the message of God’s love
4. And when a person becomes powerless to change the circumstances of their life, it’s at that moment… if they reach out to the living God of Love, that they will find mercy and help.
5. And when they take the cross of Christ and let it touch the bitter waters of their life, it becomes sweet
K. If you don’t have a relationship with the Lord today, then come to the cross today
1. Allow Jesus to touch your life
2. Acknowledge your need of Him
3. Open up your heart to Him and surrender
4. Ask Him to heal the hurts and free you and fill you with His life.
L. If you are already saved and yet you see bitter water in your heart, bring these frustrations and circumstances to the cross of Christ.
M. If you want to be free from frustration
I. Acknowledge your anger
A. Don’t bottle it up…
1. Anger turned inward leads to depression
2. Depression can lead to despair
B. The other end of the spectrum is just as bad
1. Don’t become a rage-a-holic yelling at every one you see and kicking every dog you meet.
(Eph 4:26 NIV) ""In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,"
2. If you want to be free from frustration begin by acknowledging your anger about your circumstances
II. Confess your bitterness
A. Bitterness is sin and it must be dealt with like all other sin, confession and repentance
1. You say, “well Pastor, I can’t help the way I feel…
2. It’s ok to be sad
3. It’s ok to be angry
4. It’s ok to be frustrated
5. But it’s sin to allow these emotions to poison your heart and soul
(1 Th 5:18 NIV) "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
(Col 3:15 NIV) "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
(Phil 4:11-13 NIV) “{11} I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. {12} I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. {13} I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
III. Change what you can, accept what you cannot change and place it all in the hands of the Lord
A. What can’t you change? =
1. people and some circumstances
B. What can you change?
1. Your attitude about your situation
2. The choices you make
C. You must not only acknowledge and confess the bitterness…
D. Change what you can, accept what you can
IV. you must also diligently obey the Lord your God.
(Exo 15:26-27 NKJV) "and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." {27} Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters."
A. Do what is right in the sight of the Lord
1. Obedience can bring healing to your heart and your soul
2. Obedience brings blessing,
3. Obedience in the wilderness is essential… it can effect the length of your stay
a) Remember, if the children of Israel had obeyed the Lord when He told them to go into the land the 1st time, they would not have been in the wilderness
4. Times of refreshing come because of obedience
5. A deeper revelation of Jesus will come, because of obedience
(John 14:21 NKJV) ""He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.""
B. The Psalmist who pens Psalm 84 understood the wilderness
1. He understood the pain of grief and sorrow and troubled times
2. He walked through the wilderness and found something there
3. He gives us some keys to conquering the temptation of frustration
(Psa 84:1-7 NKJV) "How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! {2} My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. {3} Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young; Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God. {4} Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah {5} Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. {6} As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. {7} They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion."
C. Notice 1st the heart of Psalmist
1. The soul that longs for the courts of the Lord, the heart and flesh that cry out for the Living God
a) This speaks of a vital, intimate relationship
b) It is the cry of the lover seeking out the one they love
c) It shows a detachment from the things of this world, because they cannot satisfy
d) It is a passion for communion with Father God
2. In the wilderness, He seems so distant, but friend don’t loose hope
3. Don’t allow the temptation of frustration tell you that God has abandon you in the wilderness
4. Yes, the circumstances are difficult
5. I know that you don’t feel His presence
6. But His word is sure to you…
(Heb 13:5 NKJV) "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.""
(James 4:8 NKJV) "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
V. Here Pursue the Lord in the Wilderness
A. Through prayer
B. Through worship
C. Through serving others
D. 2ndly notice the Psalmist says
(Psa 84:4 NKJV) "Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah"
VI. Stay connected in Fellowship
1. there is something that takes place when the saints gather together in His name to worship
2. Something you can’t get alone
3. Something which takes place in corporate worship and fellowship
4. Be careful when you are tempted with frustration that you don’t throw your hands up in the air and walk away from the fellowship
B. During those wilderness experiences you don’t seem to get much out of coming to church
1. Worship is empty
2. The word doesn’t seem to touch your heart
3. People irritate you
4. It’s too hot, or too cold, or too loud, or too (fill in the blank)
5. And the enemy of your soul is hoping you will fall to the temptation of frustration and walk away
6. If he can isolate you he can defeat you
C. However, the psalmist says that the person who “dwells in your house will be blessed and be ever praising you…”
1. Stay attached,
2. Stay connected
3. Even when you seem like your not getting anything out of coming
4. There is safety and help here
5. There is faith here
6. There is hope here
7. There is love and care here
8. It’s in the house
9. And Jesus promises His special presence when two or three are gathered!
D. Thirdly, the psalmist speaks of the dark times of the wilderness
(Psa 84:5-6 NKJV) "Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. {6} As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools."
1. The Valley of Baca = weeping
2. This speaks of grief, sorrow, frustration that brings you to tears
3. It seems like the circumstances will never change
E. Notice the way through this valley in the wilderness
1. Blessed is the man whose strength is in you…
a) The apostle Paul had an infirmity
b) We don’t know for sure what it was, but we do know that Paul prayed about it much
c) He was a man of great faith and saw miracles through his own hands…
d) In his frustration he cried out to the Lord
(2 Cor 12:9 NKJV) "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2. Look to the Lord
3. Ask Him for grace to get you through another day
4. Ask Him to help you trust in Him
5. Ask Him for the faith to believe when you are wavering
6. His promise to you is that He will give you what you need to get you through your wilderness
7. His grace is enough, His power is sufficient
F. If you want to break the power of frustration and defeat this temptation in your wilderness you not only need to:
1. acknowledge your anger
2. confess any bitterness
3. change what you can, accept what you can’t change
4. diligently obey and do the right thing
5. Pursue the Lord with all your heart
6. Stay connected in fellowship
VII. You need to have the right attitude and say the right thing
A. Notice the necessary attitude of this pilgrim
(Psa 84:5 NKJV) "Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage."
1. The heart is set on pilgrimage
2. That means that you know you are going to get through this
3. Are you saying to your self, I am going to get through this?
4. Or are you telling yourself “I will never survive this?
5. Yes, it’s hard
6. Yes, you don’t like it
7. I know you would rather be somewhere else
8. But tell yourself… I am going through this
9. It will change
B. Note also what these pilgrims do…
(Psa 84:6 NKJV) "As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools."
1. It’s not just the message you send yourself…
2. what you do with your frustration is important
3. You have heard it said, “if life hands you lemons, make lemonade”
4. You can turn your tears in the valley of weeping into springs
5. How? – by doing the right thing, no matter how you feel or what the circumstances are
C. Bring your frustrations to the cross
1. Acknowledge your anger and confess any bitterness
2. Do the right thing – obey
3. Seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
4. Stay connected to the fellowship
5. speak a positive message to yourself
D. And you will go from strength to strength
1. Let the cross of Christ have it’s perfect work in you heart and life
E. The word of the Lord to us last week was… fear not
1. You don’t have to be afraid because of what you are going through
2. The Lord is with you and He will take you through
F. This week the word of the Lord is this… Set your heart on pilgrimage
1. Tell yourself you are going through
2. Tell the world around you, no matter what happens, I am going to stay connected to the Lord
3. I will get through this by God’s grace
G. If you are in the wilderness and battling the temptation of frustration stand up and let’s pray
