Seven Times The Righteous Rise Up Again!

SEVEN TIMES THE RIGHTEOUS RISE UP AGAIN!

Prov. 24:16

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Some people fall at the worst times. Like the high school graduate who fell down the platform stairs just after receiving his diploma (in front of 4,000 people).

2. A waiter in a restaurant told of slipping on a wet spot and baptizing a lady customer with a cold pot of clam chowder.

3. Bridget told how she went to court for a traffic ticket. While waiting, with legs crossed, her legs fell asleep. When called by the Judge, she got to the end of her row and fell on her face. Of course, she busted out laughing (who doesn't laugh at falling?!). The judge didn't think it funny and put his glasses at the end of his nose and asked if she’d been drinking that morning (it was 9 AM). He made her pay the full ticket!!!

B. TEXT

“For though the righteous fall seven times, [seven times] they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” NIV

C. THESIS: REBOUNDING

1. Wilt Chamberlain holds the NBA record for the most REBOUNDS, leading the NBA in rebounds in 11 different seasons, and has the most career rebounds in the regular season (23,924).

2. Watching a basketball game, you quickly realize that rebounding is just as important as getting the ball in the hoop is when you miss the hoop!

3. The Bible is chocked full of examples of REBOUNDS – i.e. Samson, Moses, David, and even Peter, Paul, and Onesimus. [R. Mangold]

I. THE CONUNDRUM OF GODLY SUFFERING

A. CHRISTIAN LIFE ISN’T PAIN-FREE

1. God’s people aren’t promised freedom from worldly cares, losses, trials, or attacks of the enemy (Jn. 16:33; 2 Tim. 2:3; 1 Pet. 1:6–7; 5:8). The Lord Jesus said that the rain falls on both the just and the unjust (Mt. 5:45). We’re not exempt.

2. Even so, the Lord watches over His children. He promises to be with us in our trouble, to deliver us, and honor us (Ps. 91:15).

3. The true mark of your success is NOT in never falling, but in always getting back into the game!

B. WHY DOES GOD ALLOW DIFFICULTIES?

1. PERFECTS OUR FAITH/ CHARACTER. “the testing of your faith...that you may be perfect and complete” Jam. 1:2-4.

2. PROVIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITY. Only when we have the ocean in front & the Egyptian army behind will we need God to open the Red Sea to make a way of escape. Only a great crisis requires a great miracle (John 11:4).

3. MAKES US STRONGER. Biologists recognize "the adversity principle;" “habitual well-being is not advantageous to a species.” A challenge is necessary for vigorous life. Ex. 1:12, “the more they afflicted them the more they multiplied and grew.” Adversity often brings growth.

4. TO BRING US CLOSER TO HIM. When we reach the end of our own resources, we have no recourse but to turn to God, to depend upon Him more. (Psalm 119:71)

5. TO CUT AWAY PART OF OUR WORLDLY NATURE. To make the right choice often requires us to lose something or to deny our desires in preference to God’s will (Matt. 16:24). Flesh must be denied to make room for spiritual priorities.

6. TO MAKE A NEW VESSEL. Jer. 18. The Potter has to squash your old life to make you a new vessel. Sometimes it’s not possible to have one without the other.

II. IT’S OK TO FALL DOWN/ TO FAIL!

A. REASONS PEOPLE DON’T GET UP

1. It’s one thing to fall down, and all believers do from time to time…but sadly, there are many today who never get up. They remember how it used to be with them and God, and how they used to go to church and live their life, but somewhere along the way they fell and didn’t get back up.

2. One of the biggest factors that keeps many from serving God is not peer pressure or lack of desire, but guilt. I’ve talked to many people who have done something in their past that they are totally ashamed of. Or they fell out of church years ago and would be embarrassed to return.

3. The problem is we are looking backward instead of forward. Jesus said, Luke 9:62, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Phip. 3:13, “…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, & reaching toward the things which are before...”

4. You may’ve fallen, but I have good news today: You can get up! Tell God you’re sorry and then start over. Don’t let Satan keep you from living the Christian life because he keeps bringing up your past.

B. THE TRUE DEFINITION OF FAILURE

1. YOU’RE NOT A FAILURE BECAUSE YOU FALL…only if you don’t get back up. If you get up just once more than you fall then you’re a success!