Knocked Down But Not Knocked Out: November 29,2009
2 Corinthians 4: 8-9
‘We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.’
Introduction:
From a newspaper article:
CHIPPIE the PARAKEET never SAW IT COMING. ONE MOMENT he was PERCHED PEACEFULLY in his CAGE & the NEXT MOMENT he was SUCKED IN, WASHED UP, & BLOWN OVER. The PROBLEMS BEGAN when CHIPPIE’S OWNER decided to CLEAN CHIPPIE’S CAGE with a VACUUM CLEANER.
She REMOVED the ATTACHMENT from the END of the HOSE & STUCK it in the CAGE. The PHONE RANG & she TURNED to PICK UP the PHONE. She had BARELY said HELLO when “PHUMP” CHIPPIE got SUCKED IN. The BIRD OWNER GASPED, PUT DOWN the PHONE, TURNED OFF the VACUUM CLEANER & OPENED the BAG. There was CHIPPIE STILL ALIVE but STUNNED.
The BIRD was COVERED with DUST & SOOT. She GRABBED him & RACED to the BATHROOM, TURNED ON the FAUCET & HELD CHIPPIE under the RUNNING WATER. Then REALIZING that CHIPPIE was SOAKED & CHIVERING she did what ANY COMPASSIONATE BIRD OWNER would do. She REACHED for the HAIR DRYER & BLASTED the PET with HOT AIR. POOR CHIPPIE never knew WHAT HIT HIM.
A few days after the TRAMA the REPORTER who had PREVIOUSLY REPORTED on the EVENT CALLED to CHECK & SEE HOW the BIRD was RECOVERING. “Well,” she replied, “CHIPPIE doesn’t SING MUCH ANYMORE. He just SITS & STARES. It’s HARD NOT to SEE WHY
SUCKED IN – WASHED UP -- & BLOWN OVER that’s ENOUGH to STEAL the SONG from the STOUTEST of HEARTS.
CHIPPIE is an ILLUSTRATION to us today of being DOWN & OUT.
HOW MANY of us have EVER BEEN at a PLACE in LIFE where you FELT DOWN & OUT?
DOWN & OUT – DOWN & OUT.
In our TEXT for this morning the APOSTLE PAUL writes of being DOWN but NOT OUT.
& as BELIEVERS in the LORD JESUS CHRIST the ENCOURAGMENT that I want to BRING to us TODAY is this:
Just because we may be DOWN DOESN’T MEAN that we have to be OUT.
Hear again this morning the WORDS from the APOSTLE PAUL.
II Corinthians 4: 8-9 ‘We are troubled on every hand, yet not distressed, we are perplexed but not in despair. Persecuted but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed.’
That is a TESTIMONY of CONFIDENCE. It says to us that WHEN we FACE the TROUBLES & the TRIALS of LIFE --- even the HARDEST TIMES of LIFE, when we GO THROUGH the BATTLE we MIGHT get KNOCKED DOWN but we DON”T have to GET KNOCKED OUT.
We can RISE AGAIN every time. We can RISE AGAIN.
The SCRIPTURE declares in the BOOK of PROVERBS 24:16
‘The RIGHTEOUS MAN may FALL 7 TIMES but he GETS BACK UP AGAIN
& the WORD from the LORD TODAY is this:
IF we are DOWN don’t GET OUT!
DOWN but NOT OUT!
The APOSTLE PAUL as he WRITES this PASSAGE he WRITES from the AREA of MACEDONIA & we KNOW from PAUL’S OWN WORDS to the CHURCH at CORINTH that THIS has been a SEASON of GREAT TRIALS & DIFFICULTIES in HIS LIFE.
In FACT PAUL would WRITE to the CORNTHIANS & say to them:
‘When we CAME unto MACEDONIA we FOUND NO REST for OURSELVES whatsoever. There were ALL KINDS of FIGHTS & COMMOTIONS on the OUTSIDE & we had FEARS & TURMOILS on the INSIDE.
There was TROUBLE on the OUTSIDE & there was TROUBLE on the INSIDE when we came into MACEDONIA.
Later in the BOOK of II CORINTHIANS PAUL would WRITE about the GREAT TRIALS & the TRIBULATIONS he had BEEN THROUGH & the LIST of THINGS he ENCOUNTERED looks like he was LIVING under MURPHY’S LAW. WHATEVER BAD COULD HAPPEN DID HAPPEN.
II Corinthians chapter 11: & this was written 10 years BEFORE PAUL’S DEATH:
He was in PRISON OFTEN – He had a JAIL MINISTRY.
195 STRIPES from the JEWS--- 39 times 5 = 195 STRIPES
3 TIMES he was BEATEN with RODS
STONED & LEFT for DEAD ONCE
SHIPWRECKED 3 TIMES
ONCE he SPENT a DAY & a NIGHT in the DEPTHS of the SEA
He was ROBBED
He knew what HUNGER & THIRST was
He knew what NAKEDNESS & COLD was
He was FALSELY ACCUSED by HIS OWN BRETHERN in the CHURCH
& yet in the MIDST of his TROUBLES & TRIALS the APOSTLE PAUL DECLARES this CONFIDENT DECLARATION:
“Lo we might BE DOWN but we are NOT OUT.’
So THIS MORNING I want us to EXAMINE from this TEXT these 2 THINGS.
#1: CONSIDER WHAT WE ARE –
SOMETIMES WE ARE DOWN
How many have BEEN DOWN RECENTLY? Have you had a DOWN TIME RECENTLY?
How many in this PAST YEAR you have HAD SOME REAL DOWN TIMES?
How many in your LIFETIME you have HAD SOME REAL DOWN TIMES.
The WORD of GOD is CLEAR to SAY this morning that YES at TIMES we GET DOWN
So #1 let us LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE SOMETIMES.
Then #2: We LOOK at WHAT we ARE – WE ARE DOWN SOMETIMES
CONSIDER WHAT WE ARE NOT
Or as the GOOD PREACHER MIGHT SAY: WHAT WE AIN”T:
We may BE DOWN but WE AIN’T OUT:
LOOK at the OUTLINE:
WHAT WE ARE:
WHAT does the APOSTLE PAUL say about those DOWN TIMES in LIFE?
He says a VARIETY of THINGS here in VERSES 8 & 9
WE ARE PRESSED:
‘TROUBLE on every hand..”
He says WE ARE PRESSED: we are HARD PRESSED on EVERY SIDE.
UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE:
This WORLD is FULL of STRESSES, isn’t it?
This WORLD is FULL of THINGS that PRESS UP AGAINST US & PRESSURE US.
The BIG SQUEEZE:
Is there ANYONE here THIS MORNING that KNOWS what it FEELS LIKE to be UNDER STRESS?
Do you KNOW WHAT it is like to be PUSHED & PRESSURED in LIFE
Do you KNOW WHAT IT IS to have THINGS AROUND ABOUT YOU that PRESS IN ON YOU & you FEEL like you are PRESSED into a CORNER & you DON’T KNOW WHICH WAY to TURN & you DON’T KNOW if you COULD GO if you DID KNOW WHICH WAY to TURN.
WE FEEL PRESSED:
HARD PRESSED on EVERY SIDE:
It SEEMS that when it RAINS IT POURS & it SEEMS SOMETIMES that TROUBLES can be OVERWHELMING & SUFFOCATING & NEVER LETTING UP.
There is ONE STORM AFTER ANOTHER. We FIND OURSELVES in DIFFICULT TIMES.
We FIND OURSELVES PRESSED.
#2: WE ARE PERSECUTED:
We KNOW that we are NOT ONLY PRESSED by CERTAIN THINGS & SITUATIONS in LIFE BUT we are also PERSECUTED by TROUBLES & TRIALS but also by the ENEMY HIMSELF – the DEVIL.
We UNDERSTAND – we are NOT IGNORANT of the DEVIL’S DEVICES to us as SPIRITUAL BEINGS
How MANY here this MORNING are BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS in the LORD JESUS CHRIST?
Then WE ARE a SPIRITUAL BEING & WE are LIVING in the MIDST of a SPIRITUAL WORLD & in the MIDST of this SPIRITUAL WORLD we DON’T WRESTLE against FLESH & BLOOD but we WRESTLE AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES & POWERS & STRONGHOLDS of DARKNESS & SPIRITUAL RULERS in the HEAVENLY REALMS.
We WRESTLE against SPIRITUAL FORCES. & they are REAL! VERY REAL!
We are PERSECUTED by the DEVIL HIMSELF. SATAN is our ENEMY.
Peter wrote
I Peter 5: 8 ‘The DEVIL WANDERS ABOUT as a ROARING LION seeking whom he may DEVOUR.
So we are PERSECUTED by the ENEMY
PAUL said that we are PRESSED. WE are PERSECUTED. & the INTENT of the DEVIL is ALWAYS SPIRITUAL in OUR LIVES.
The INTENT of the DEVIL is ALWAYS SPIRITUAL.
Now we DON’T BLAME EVERY TRIAL & TROUBLE under the DIRECT WORK of the ENEMY.
But we also KNOW from a # of PLACES in the BIBLE (from both the OT & the NT) that SATAN is WELL ABLE to BRING all sorts of ATTACKS & TROUBLES into OUR LIVES that though they MAY APPEAR to be PHYSICAL in NATURE they are at the ROOT SPIRITUAL ATTACKS.
& in EVERY ATTACK that COMES OUR WAY the ENEMY’S INTENT is SPIRITUAL.
His INTENT is to DRAG us DOWN SPIRITUALLY & to DEFEAT US & to DISABLE US from DOING the LORD’S WORK.
He DOESN”T want us to GO to HEAVEN.
His INTENT is to PULL us AWAY from OUR RELATIONSHIP with the LORD.
So we UNDERSTAND that WHEN we are PRESSED & PERSECUTED it is a SPIRITUAL ATTACK from the DEVIL..
#3: WE ARE PUNCHED:
Not only are we PRESSED & PERSECUTED but we are PUNCHED.
PAUL said, “…. We are STRUCK DOWN….’
There are these FORCES COMING AGAINST US & STRIKING US DOWN.
We have been HIT HARD & the HIT was so HARD it KNOCKED US DOWN to the GROUND.
We don’t TAKE the TROUBLES of LIFE LIGHTLY because SOMETIMES the TROUBLES of LIFE CARRY QUITE a PUNCH.
& the TROUBLES & the TRIALS we GO THROUGH have the POWER to KNOCK us DOWN FLAT if it WASN’T for the LORD.
& SOMETIMES when we are PUNCHED DOWN or STRUCK DOWN we FACE SOME INJURIES & we’re HURT.
We are DAMAGED & INJURED & HURT by the TRIALS & the TROUBLES that have PUNCHED us DOWN.
We’re BROKEN & we’re BRUISED.
#4: We are PRESSED. We are PERSECUTED. We are PUNCHED.
We are PERPLEXED.
Here is the GREAT APOSTLE PAUL who we THINK has ALL the ANSWERS but here is PAUL saying that SOMETIMES we are PERPLEXED.
We’re CONFUSED. Have you EVER BEEN THERE?
We’re a CHILD of GOD WHAT is GOIN ON HERE?
We DON’T KNOW WHY we’re GOING THROUGH THIS.
We KNOW that THINGS are COMING AGAINST US but we DON’T KNOW WHAT to DO. or WHEN.
We DON’T KNOW HOW LONG this THING is GOING to LAST.
We are DOWN says the APOSTLE PAUL.
But that is ONLY HALF of the STORY!
#2: WHAT WE ARE NOT:
Paul writes: again in II Corinthians 4:8-9
‘We are TROUBLED on every hand, yet NOT DISTRESSED, we are PERPLEXED but NOT in DESPAIR, PERSECUTED but NOT FORSAKEN, CAST DOWN but NOT DESTROYED.’
WHAT WE ARE NOT:
#1: WE ARE NOT FLATTENED:
We are NOT DEFEATED: We may have been KNOCKED DOWN but we DON’T STAY DOWN.
WATCH FOOTBALL PLAYERS get KNOCKED DOWN but they GET UP!
They are CONDITIONED to GET BACK UP AGAIN.
PAUL says, ‘We are CAST DOWN but NOT DESTROYED.
There is STILL LIFE in us. We’re STILL KICKING!
We’re HERE THIS MORNING WORSHIPING GOD. The DEVIL didn’t WIN.
There’s SOMETHING WITHIN US the DEVIL didn’t TAKE into CONSIDERATION – The STRENGTH & the GRACE of GOD.
SATAN’S GOAL is to DEFEAT US but we’ll NOT BE DEFEATED there’s POWER STILL in us.
SERVING the LORD is a LOT LIKE being MARRIED.
When SHARON & I MARRIED we were JUST KIDS – 18 YEARS OLD.
There have been some HARDSHIPS ALONG the WAY. We could have THROWN in the TOWEL & CALLED it QUITS.
But WHEN we got MARRIED we DETERMINED THEN there would be NO TURNING BACK. We were COMMITTED to EACH OTHER for BETTER or for WORSE.
That’s the WAY it is in SERVING GOD.
We have WALKED THROUGH some VALLEYS & OVER some MOUNTAINS but THROUGHOUT IT ALL we have BEEN DETERMINED.
DETERMINED to GET UP! I’ve GOTTEN UP so MANY TIMES!
& the LORD’S HAND has ALWAYS BEEN THERE to PICK ME UP.
I John 4:4 declares
‘GREATER is HE that is WITHIN me than he that is in the world.’
JESUS is IN US & HE is NOT going to BE DEFEATED by the ENEMY.
JESUS is a VICTORIOUS LORD, DEFEATED by NOTHING.
& HE LIVES WITHIN US!
We have GONE THROUGH some TOUGH STUFF but we’re STILL HERE TODAY.
Even on OUR DEATH BED if we have LIVED for the LORD we DON’T DIE IN DEFEAT but in VICTORY.
SISTER CHESTER DIED SPEAKING in a HEAVENLY LANGUAGE, PRAISING & GLORIFYING the LORD.
She didn’t DIE DEFEATED. She was a WINNER!
#2: WE’RE NOT FORSAKEN:
‘We are PERSECUTED but NOT FORSAKEN.’
The LORD is WITH US. & the LORD is ON OUR SIDE.
We have NOT been LEFT ALONE. We have NOT BEEN DESERTED.
The LORD is OUR CONSTANT COMPANION. ‘Lo, I am WITH YOU ALWAYS.’
Proverbs 18:24 There is a FRIEND that STICKS CLOSER than a BROTHER.
HIS NAME is JESUS.
HE is the 4th MAN in the FIERY FURNACE.
HE is the ONE that comes & SHUTS the MOUTH of the LIONS.
HE is the ONE who PARTS the RED SEA so HIS PEOPLE can WALK THROUGH.
OUR GOD is a FAITHFUL COMPANION to HIS PEOPLE.
HE has PROMISED to NEVER LEAVE us or FORSAKE us.
We are NOT FORSAKEN.
Psalm 27: 10 ‘When my father & my mother FORSAKE ME, then the LORD will take me up.’
Romans 8:31 ‘If GOD be FOR US WHO can be AGAINST us?’
We’re gonna MAKE IT.
# 3: WE’RE NOT IN DESPAIR:
‘We are PERPLEXED but NOT in DESPAIR.’
We are NOT FAITHLESS or WITHOUT HOPE.
GOD is a WAY MAKER. In the WILDERNESS GOD MAKES a WAY!
We might BE DOWN but we’re NOT OUT.
Psalm 121:1 ‘I look unto the HILLS from whence comes MY HELP; MY HELP comes from the LORD.’
We may be PERPLEXED but GOD is NOT PERLEXED.
GOD is NOT in DESPAIR.
GOD WILL ALWAYS MAKE A WAY FOR HIS PEOPLE.
Song:
Learning to lean, Learning to lean, Learning to lean on JESUS.
Finding more power, than I’d ever dreamed
I’m learning to lean on JESUS.
Psalm 27: 14 ‘Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, & HE SHALL STRENGTHEN THINE HEART, wait, I say, on the LORD.’
