SAILING LIFE’S STORMY SEAS
Psalm 55:1-23 (NKJV)
Trust in God Concerning the Treachery of Friends
To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments.
A Contemplation of David.
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
2 Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.
4 My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.
6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7 Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah
8 I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest.”
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues,
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls;
Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.
11 Destruction is in its midst;
Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.
12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.
13 But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng.
15 Let death seize them;
Let them go down alive into hell,
For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
16 As for me, I will call upon God,
And the Lord shall save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.
19 God will hear, and afflict them,
Even He who abides from of old. Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has broken his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
But war was in his heart;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction;
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in You.
Intro:
Illustration : Charles Spurgeon said, “I bear willing witness that I owe more to the fire, the hammer and the file than to anything else in the Lord’s workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see the most.”
Do you ever battle discouragement? Sail stormy seas? Face giants greater then yourself? We all do! But, remember today that victory lies in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this passage before us, we are presented with a man whose own son had turned on him, whose best friends were trying to kill him. A man who felt very alone. A man who was sailing one of life’s stormy seas. We can learn to sail them also, let’s learn from David.
I. v.1-4; 9-15 DAVID’S DISCOURAGEMENT
(Ill The context) (Ill. How he felt, is usually how we feel!)
A. v.1-2 HE FELT DESERTED – Heb.13:5; Matt. 28:20
B. v.3 HE FELT DECEIVED – (Ill v.9-15; 20-21) (Ill Absalom his son 2Sam Chap 17) (Ill Ahithophel – 2Sam.17:23; 2 Sam. 23:34; 2 Sam. 11:1-4 – He was angry with David because Bathsheba was his granddaughter!)
C. v.4 HE FELT DIRTY – (Ill – Adultery/Murder – Uriah – Bathsheba’s husband) (Ill Satan’s attempts at guilt – Rom. 8:33.) (Ill. Already clean – John 13:4-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-11)
D. v.5 HE FELT DEFEATED – (1Cor.15:57; 2Cor.2:14)
II. v.6-8 DAVID’S DESIRE
A. v.6 TO FLY AWAY
B. v.7 TO FLEE AWAY
C. v.8 TO FLOAT AWAY
D. The fact is, no one can run from problems, we must face them with the help of the Lord. (Ill – Giants (Obstacles) – Num.13:33; Deut. 9:1-2) HOW TO OVERCOME GIANTS ??
III. v.16-23 DAVID’S DELIVERANCE
A. v.16-17 CALL ON GOD – Prayer – Isa.65:24; Jer.33:3; John 14:13-14 James 5:16 (Personal Commitment; Powerful Confidence)
B. v.18 COMMUNE WITH THE RIGHT COMPANY – Heb.10:25; Psa.122:1 (Ill v.14)
C. v.22a CAST AWAY BURDENS – 1Pet.5:7; Matt. 11:28
D. v.22b CONTINUE IN HIM (JESUS) – 1Cor.15:58
E. v.23 CONSIDER HIM – Heb.12:1-2 (Remember what He’s done and can do.) – Eph.3:20.
Conc:
Do you ever feel like David? Does discouragement haunt you? Do burdens weigh you down?
Learn the secret of victory: get it to the Lord Jesus and He will help you overcome as you sail life’s stormy seas.
Praise the Lord!
God bless!
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Flaming the Revival Fire In Christ 