How to Stay Up in a Down Time
Psalm 37:1-9
Sermon by Rick Crandall
McClendon Baptist Church - March 15, 2009
*Do you ever fret? -- Charles Spurgeon tells us that “to fret is to worry, to have the heart burn, to fume, to become vexed,” or angry, irritated, agitated, annoyed. (1)
*Anybody who’s been paying any attention to what’s going on in our world has plenty of reasons to fret.
-And even if you aren’t fretful about what’s going on in the world, you can fret about your family, your friends, your job or your checkbook.
-Everybody gets fretful at times. But God wants you to stay up in the down times, and in this Psalm He shows you how.
1. How can I stay up in the down times of life? -- First: Calm yourself by realizing that God is in control.
*Let this great truth calm you down: God is in control. The Lord is always on the job, and He is going to straighten out this world’s mess. God’s judgment is sure. His judgment is always right, and at just the right time, the whole world will see it.
*As King David said in vs. 1&2:
1. Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
*Then down in vs. 7-9, David said:
7. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret it only causes harm.
9. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.
*Sounds like God wins to me! -- So those who trust in the Lord can stay up in any down time.
*Pastor Rodney Buchanan says, “The reason I am an optimist is because I serve a God who is in control. I often think about the early church and the culture in which it not only survived, but thrived.
*Most early Christians lived within the bounds of the Roman Empire where there were persecutions. It was literally a national sport to throw the Christians to the lions as cheering crowds watched them be torn apart.
*The Roman roads were often lined with crosses on which Christians hung because they would not denounce Christ.
-Not only was abortion acceptable, a father could kill his child at any age.
*The government was completely hostile toward Christianity and anyone who was a follower of Christ. And yet it was during this time of enormous opposition that the church grew from just 120 believers to untold thousands. . .
*God is unstoppable. It doesn’t matter how much opposition there is, God is in control and He will have his way! God is in control no matter how things look.
-That does not necessarily mean that our nation will always be prosperous or safe. -- But it does mean that there is a God who is control of history, and he will have the final word. This is our hope and confidence. (2)
*How can we stay up in the down times of life? -- Remember that God is in control.
2. And keep putting your confidence in Christ.
*In vs. 3&5, David twice tells us: “Trust in the Lord.” The word picture behind this word “trust” is rushing to someone for refuge and safety.
*R.G. Lee was talking about trusting God when he said,
-“If you trust in administration; you will get what administration can do.
-If you trust in hard work; you will get what hard work can do.
-If you trust in your sparkling personality; you will get what personality can do.
-(But) if you trust in prayer; you get what God can do.” (3)
*Keep trusting in the Lord, and in vs. 5, “commit your way to the Lord.”
*The word picture for “commit” is someone who is loaded down with a heavy burden, but then he rolls it onto the Lord.
-This reminds me of 1 Peter 5:7, where God tells us to “cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” And that’s what we need to do.
*Listen to David again in vs. 5&6:
5. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
6. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
*How is the Lord going to “bring forth your righteousness as the light?”
-There is only one way, and that is through the cross of Jesus Christ.
*What if you were the best person in Ouachita Parish?
-What if you were the best person in Louisiana?
-You’re probably not, -- but what if you were?
-You would still not be good enough to go to Heaven!
*The only person good enough to go to Heaven was the one who came down from Heaven. The only person good enough to go to heaven was the one who died on the cross so you could go there.
*Without Jesus Christ you are simply lost and on your way to hell, but Jesus did die for you and He rose again.
-Now he offers eternal life to anyone who will trust Him as their Savior and Lord.
*Trust in the Lord to save you. -- Then keep trusting Jesus to carry you through the hard times in life.
*Louisa Stead was a faithful missionary to Africa from about 1880-1915. Around the time she left for Africa, Louisa tragically lost her first husband. She watched him drown off Long Island in New York, while he was trying to rescue a drowning boy.
*In response to that tragedy, Louisa wrote the words to this song:
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more! (4)
*How can you stay up in the down times of life? -- Keep putting your confidence in Christ.
3. And do some good things for God.
*As David simply said in vs. 3: “Do good.”
-Do good. That is God’s simple and sure command for us, with the wonderful result that our doing good can lift our spirits when we are down.
*Charles Spurgeon reminds us that “True faith is actively obedient. Doing good is a fine remedy for fretting. There is a joy in holy activity which drives away the rust of discontent.” (5)
*Christians, remember what Paul said about good works in Eph 2:8-10:
8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9. not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
*One of the ways we are trying to do good works is through Acts of Random Kindness. -- We’ve still got 4 full weeks to go before Easter.
*Have you tried to do any Acts of Random Kindness? -- Last week someone told me they were in line at a fast food restaurant, and they decided to pay for the person behind them in line. They were a little nervous to do it, because money was a little tight. But the guy behind them only ordered a milk shake. -- Pshew!
*Could the simple gift of a milkshake change someone’s eternal destiny?
-The amazing answer is, YES!
*Remember our 5 ideas for acts of random kindness:
1. Pay or help pay for someone’s meal at a restaurant.
2. Pay or help pay for someone’s meal behind you at the drive through line.
3. When you are in a check-out line, let someone go in front of you.
4. Buy a snack, bottle of water or soft drink for your cashier.
5. Or a Sunday School class could have a free car wash at the church. (But be sure to call the office to put it on the calendar.)
*With every act of kindness, hand them a card from our church.
-The card has our church information on the back.
-On the front it simply says, “This is our simple way of saying that God loves you.
*When you give them the card, you could say, “We are doing this to remind people that God loves you.”
-Pastor Steve Sjogren says, “Small things done with great love will change the world.” -- They can also change your world, as they lift you out of the blues.
*How can I stay up in a down time? -- Do some good things for God.
4. And feed yourself on God’s faithfulness.
*In vs. 3, the KJV says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily (or faithfully) thou shalt be fed.” -- But I love how the NKJ puts this verse, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.”
*That word “fed” or “feed” is the word picture of a shepherd faithfully feeding his flock. And that takes us back to David’s most famous Psalm:
1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
*The Good Shepherd Jesus Christ certainly wants to feed His flock, but what are you feeding on?
*Stephen Weber writes: “We are all feeding on something. We of course need nutrition for our physical health, but we are also regularly feeding our soul and mind. An abundance of feed is available, some of which is absolutely destructive, while others are wholesome. On the internet I am but a few keystrokes away from spiritually enriching resources and edifying materials to feed on. But a dark, sinister world of destruction is also available on that very same screen.”
*What is our response to be?
-May God help us to feed on His faithfulness.
-A green pasture of God’s faithfulness has been set before all of us.
-We have a choice. -- We will be feeding on something. (6)
*Chris Adams is a husband, father and pastor in south Alabama. Chris writes that “God’s table is loaded with good things!
-Bowls of blessings
-Platters of promises
-Glasses of grace
-Help yourself -- All you can eat!! -- Sharing allowed. (7)
*If you want to stay up in a down time, feed on God’s faithfulness.
5. And make Jesus the joy of your life.
*Vs. 4 makes this great promise to us: “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
*Delight yourself in the Lord! -- How can we do that?
*John Gill gave us some good guidance:
-“Delight yourself in the persons in God, Father, Son, and Spirit.
-Delight yourself in the perfections of God, his power, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, love, grace, and mercy.
-Delight yourself in his word, his Gospel, in his worship and his people.
-Delight yourself in his works of creation, providence, and redemption.” (8)
*James Merritt says: “That word ‘delight’ literally means ‘to take pleasure in.’
-Nothing or no one should give you more pleasure than God Himself.
-Nothing should take priority over your personal relationship to God.
-It is more important than your relationship to your spouse.
-It is more important than your relationship to your children.
-It is more important than your relationship to your business.
-It is more important than your relationship to anything or anybody.
-As a matter of fact, the better your relationship is with God, the better it will be with other people.”
*Merritt adds: “Let me give you a principle never to forget. When you want what God wants, God will always give you more than you want.” (9)
*Sooner or later, you are going to run into plenty to get you down. -- But you keep making Jesus the joy of your life.
1. Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
3. Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
*Let’s go to the Lord in prayer.
1. Charles Spurgeon in “The Treasury of David” - Psalm 37:1
2. Adapted from SermonCentral sermon “Why I Am an Optimist” by Rodney Buchanan - Psalm 46:1-7 - Nov 23, 2003
3. SermonCentral sermon “Commitment to Trust - Part II” by Steve Shepherd - Psalm 37:3-5
4. Information on Louisa M. R. Stead found at:
www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/i/tissweet.htm
www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/t/e/stead_lmr.htm
5. Charles Spurgeon in “The Treasury of David” - Psalm 37:3
6. Adapted from www.dailyencouragement.net/archives/2007-07-12.htm
7. http://theunfoldingword.com/Exposition.html
8. John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible - Psalm 37:4
9. Adapted from ChristianGlobe.com sermon “Why You Should Spend Time with God” by James Merritt - Psalm 37:4-7)
