Discover yourself in frustration.

NCC Sermon 28th Nov 2010

Text: Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Psa 88:9 blinded by tears of pain and frustration. I call to you, GOD; all day I call. I wring my hands, I plead for help. 10 Are the dead a live audience for your miracles? Do ghosts ever join the choirs that praise you? 11 Does your love make any difference in a graveyard? Is your faithful presence noticed in the corridors of hell? 12 Are your marvelous wonders ever seen in the dark, your righteous ways noticed in the Land of No Memory? 13 I'm standing my ground, GOD, shouting for help, at my prayers every morning, on my knees each daybreak. 14 Why, GOD, do you turn a deaf ear? Why do you make yourself scarce? 15 For as long as I remember I've been hurting; I've taken the worst you can hand out, and I've had it (msg)

This passage reads like an extract from the pages of the book of most people’s lives. I know, I can recognize with so much of it.

The pain and frustration of rebellious children, the worry and anxiety about making ends meet, the loss of employment, the marriage that has fallen apart, the illness that eats away at life itself.

So many times we plead with God, asking Him to turn fate around, to take away the heartache and the tears and the concern, and when we wake up the next morning – same situation, nothing seems to be getting any better, as a matter of fact it seems to be getting worse.

Why? What’s up with this?

David experienced all of the above, running and hiding in caves like a wild animal fleeing from the hunter.

Yet, he continued in his faith in God. Yes he did say “For as long as I remember I've been hurting; I've taken the worst you can hand out, and I've had it”, but still, he did not give up, still he did not surrender to the depression and the fear.

Why not? Why did he continue?

Mic 7:9 I can take GOD's punishing rage. I deserve it--I sinned. But it's not forever. He's on my side and is going to get me out of this. He'll turn on the lights and show me his ways. I'll see the whole picture and how right he is. 10 And my enemy will see it, too, and be discredited--yes, disgraced! This enemy who kept taunting, "So where is this GOD of yours?" I'm going to see it with these, my own eyes-- my enemy disgraced, trash in the gutter. 11 Oh, that will be a day! A day for rebuilding your city, a day for stretching your arms, spreading your wings!

Maybe David did not know this prophet and maybe David did not have the promise of the New Testament and maybe he did not meet Jesus, but he knew, oh yes, he knew.

Ø He knew that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob made a covenant and he knew that God is not a man and that God does not lie and that God is faithful and true.

Ø David knew that this life and all the challenges form a small speck in the greater scheme of things. He knew that without faith it is impossible to please God and he knew that God will not leave us never forsake us.

For a time we may experience hardship and contention, but it will not last.

Jesus took the book of the prophet and read from it

Luk 4:17 he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written, 18 God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, 19 to announce, "This is God's year to act!" 20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. 21 Then he started in, "You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place."

Challenges and test and trials will come.

How do we learn to endure:

We need to go and find out who we are.

1 Rise up (rather be a wet water walker than a dry boatsitter) Abraham packed his belongings, Ruth followed her mother in law,

2 Discover your true identity (read the Word, Jesus did)

3 Face the challenge – allow God`s Spirit to lead you (David faced Goliath, Samson faced the crowd, Moses faced the people, Jesus faced the cross)

4 Be willing to make sacrifices – Pentecost was always honored but only after sacrifice the power of God became truly manifest (we need to lose to win)

5 Do not give up. (never, never, never surrender) Nehemiah called on God. Joseph stuck it out, Isaac wrestled with God.

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy, He came to set us free from all of this. But, I believe the key lies in this:

Luk 4:20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent.

Ø Every eye should always and intentionally be “on Him”, never wavering, never turning away, always focused on the One who sets us free.

Maybe the cash flow won’t change, maybe the kids will remain rebellious, but I have a friend and a comforter, who helps me understand, who holds may hand, encouraging me telling me “you will make it”

Ø Holding on to His hand, I can walk on the waters of life, the stuff that wants to drown me. I have the worlds number one life-guard holding my hand, helping me to navigate it all.

Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.