Let's open up our Bibles to the book of Psalms.
Normally it's our practice here at Seawee Bay to preach through books of the Bible.
We were in a series in the book of John, and we'll pick that back up, Lord willing, in the fall.
But for the summer, we're spending some time together in the Psalms.
And this morning we've made it to Psalm chapter 5.
So if you're using the Pew Bibles there in front of you, if you didn't bring your own Bible,
I believe you can find this passage on page 419 of the Pew Bible there in front of you.
But we want you to have God's Word open in front of you and look to what He says as we read it together.
So if you would, follow along with me as I read Psalm chapter 5.
This is a Psalm of David. He says,
Give ear to my words, O Lord. Consider my groaning.
Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God.
For to you do I pray.
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice.
In the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness.
Evil may not dwell with you.
The boastful shall not stand before your eyes.
You hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies.
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies.
Make your way straight before me.
For there is no truth in their mouth.
Their inmost self is destruction.
Their throat is an open grave.
They flatter with their tongue.
Make them bear their guilt, O God.
Let them fall by their own counsels.
Because of the abundance of their transgressions, cast them out.
For they have rebelled against you.
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice.
Let them ever sing for joy.
And spread your protection over them.
That those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous, O Lord.
You cover him with favor as with a shield.
Amen.
The grass withers and the flower fades.
But God's eternal, perfect, beautiful word stands forever.
Would you bow with me once more as we pray?
Lord, I cannot begin to know the various sufferings and trials and difficulties that are represented in this room.
But you do.
And so we pray now as we open up this psalm of suffering.
This psalm of groaning.
Lord, that you would comfort us with your presence.
And with the hope that can only be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We pray in his glorious name.
Amen.
How do believers respond in the face of danger?
This is the question that we've been taking up week after week after week from the psalms over the past several weeks.
And here as we make it to Psalm chapter 5, it is no different.
David is still facing threats, still facing trials.
I believe that he is still on the run from Absalom, his son, and the army with him.
And I thought, you know, just for a change of pace this morning, we would quote three different prosperity teachers to hear what they might say about how we should respond to the dangers in our lives.
These are our prosperity gospel teachers.
The prosperity gospel, you may be well aware, is a false teaching that tells us that believers should have really no difficulties and no dangers, no trials.
And if we just simply have enough faith, then we'll live a life of health, wealth, victory, happiness, and everything will be well.
I'm willing to bet that we've seen enough just four chapters into the book of Psalms by this point to not listen to anything that these people have to say.
All right, so let's take a look at three of them.
Creflo Dollar from My Stomping Grounds.
Creflo Dollar says,
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it?
Yet here in Psalm chapter 5, David trusts God and he groans.
He trusts God and he cries out day and night.
He is irritated by the disturbing circumstances around him.
Number two, Joseph Prince.
He says,
You are destined to reign in life.
You are called by God, the Lord, to be a success, to enjoy wealth, to enjoy health, and to enjoy a life of victory.
It is not the Lord's desire that you live a life of defeat, poverty, and failure.
But here, David is on the run from his son.
Once again, he's in danger.
He's in turmoil.
He's in trials.
His throne has been ripped away from him.
He's been torn out of his city.
His entire life is in shambles.
This is not a life of comfort and victory.
Last one.
Joel Osteen, he says,
That difficulty is not there to defeat you.
It is there to promote you.
You can handle it.
Take hold of your strength.
But here, of course, David hasn't taken hold of his strength.
Has he?
What's he doing?
He's taking hold, trusting in the strength of the Lord.
He's responding as believers do in the face of danger and looking to the strength of God.
You know, this type of false prosperity teaching, it sells books.
It draws crowds.
It's very popular.
But it simply doesn't fit well with the testimony of Scripture.
In fact, it doesn't fit well with the message of our passage this morning.
You know, the book of Psalms, one of the reasons why we are drawn to the book of Psalms,
one of the reasons why we love this book is because it gives us an honest picture,
an honest look at the sufferings and the trials and the difficulties of life.
The Psalms give us bad news and good news, and we'll see both this morning.
The bad news is that the life of a believer is filled with groaning.
The life of a believer is filled with groaning.
But the good news is that we groan with hope in the Lord.
So this morning, what I want to do is to let God's Word equip us to groan as those who have hope.
To groan as David is groaning here in this psalm.
So this morning, we're going to see four ways that believers groan in suffering.
This will be our outline this morning.
If you're taking notes, we'll see four ways believers groan in suffering.
First, believers groan with frequency.
Believers groan with frequency.
Look with me again to verse 1.
David says,
It's clear that David is once again in distress.
We've seen over the past several weeks that David is on the run from his son Absalom,
and the Lord has sustained him through the night.
Last week, we saw Psalm chapter 4.
He laid down and slept in peace.
And now, Psalm chapter 5, he wakes up again.
And once again, what does he do?
First thing in the morning, he groans.
Cries out to the Lord.
Now, if indeed this is the same event as I believe Psalms 3 through 9 are all focused around this event with Absalom,
I think it's important for us to realize that David's prayer for deliverance,
his lamenting of his situation, his groaning to the Lord, his crying out to God,
is not just a one-time event.
This is constant, frequent, regular groaning, praying for deliverance, calling out to the Lord.
It's day and night.
In fact, I wonder if you've noticed the pattern here in the book of Psalms over the past several weeks.
Psalms 1 and 2 kind of gives us the introduction to the whole book of Psalms.
And then Psalm 3 was a morning prayer.
Psalm 4 was an evening prayer.
Psalm 5 this morning is another morning prayer.
In the morning, he calls out to the Lord.
Lord willing, next week, Psalm chapter 6, we'll see another evening prayer.
See, there's a rhythm here of frequent suffering, frequent groaning, frequent calling out to the name of the Lord.
Day and night, day and night, day and night.
He wakes up again here.
The Lord has sustained him through the night, but the issue is still there.
And because the suffering is still there, he is still groaning.
As we read through the Psalms like this, Psalms that have groaning and calling out to the Lord like this,
we should ask ourselves, is this how we call out to the Lord?
Is this how we speak with him?
Believers are those who groan constantly to the Lord.
Are you crying out to the Lord now because of pain?
Because of weakness in your flesh?
Because of sickness?
Because of illness?
Are you groaning and crying out because of loss?
Because of grief?
Are you groaning and crying out to the Lord because of your sin?
We have to realize, Christian, that this type of groaning and crying out to the Lord
is not abnormal for the believer.
The groaning and pain and suffering, I'll be honest with you,
are a normal part of the believer's life on this side of eternity.
All of us, I don't know the issues that you're facing in the room, not all of them,
but I do know that all of us face all sorts of various trials.
Some may be trials of attack like David is facing here.
Others, trials of loss and grief, trials of sickness, trials of temptation, trials of sin.
And all of them ought to lead us to groan and to cry out to the Lord,
Lord, save me from this.
Lord, look at what's happening here.
Lord, help me.
Day and night, we should groan and cry out to the Lord.
You know, that is good and normal for a believer.
If we're not grieved by anything in our life,
if we look around us, the world that we live in as broken as it is,
if we're not groaning for the Lord to act,
if we look within us and notice our own sin
and we're comfortable with everything in our life,
we're not grieved by our own sin,
we're not groaning and crying out,
who will deliver me from this body of death?
You know, if we're not groaning to the Lord frequently,
something might be wrong.
Believers groan regularly.
I want you to hear me on this very clearly.
Please don't listen to anyone
who would tell you that having a stronger faith
would mean less suffering here in this life.
Don't listen to anyone who would tell you
that if you just believe, just trust,
just have a stronger faith
that you would be relieved of your groaning in this life.
And don't listen to anyone who would tell you
that you're not allowed to groan in your suffering.
What do I mean by that?
Well, I think if you're like me,
we all try to be tough, don't we?
And we tend to believe that the Lord is most pleased with us
when we just tough it out.
We just grit and bear it.
Men especially, I'm talking to you,
I'm talking to myself,
we don't want to whine.
We don't want to seem weak.
We don't want to seem less than.
But listen,
our groaning to God in suffering
is not a sign of weakness.
Our groaning out to the Lord in suffering
is not a sign of lack of faith in God.
On the contrary,
we honor God
when we cry out to Him in faith
in the midst of our trials.
We need to feel the freedom to lament.
Not grumbling and faithless complaining
like the Israelites in the wilderness,
but faithful groaning,
groaning in faith to the Lord.
There's an eternity of difference here.
We're going to see this more
as we go through the book of Psalms,
but do you realize that
over one-third of the book of Psalms is lament?
Over one-third of the book of Psalms,
the author is calling God's attention
to some particular trial,
some particular issue,
some particular enemy,
some particular difficulty,
calling God's attention to the trials
and groaning to the Lord,
asking Him to do something about it.
We need to recover a sense of freedom
to groan and cry out to the Lord.
His frequent groaning
isn't a demonstration of lack of faith,
it's a demonstration
of strong, deep trust in the Lord
to do what only God can do.
The Psalms,
they invite us to cry out to God,
not in bitterness,
not in despair,
but in faith in a good God
who hears our cries.
Believers groan frequently.
Not only this.
Second,
believers groan with confidence.
Believers groan with confidence.
Let me ask you something.
What makes a believer confident
in the face of trials?
When trials, temptations,
suffering comes into your life,
what is the source of your confidence?
What will you cling to?
For the believer,
the believer's confidence
in the face of suffering
is the character of God.
It's the character of God.
Look there at what David says here.
King David, ruler of God's people,
what does he say in verse 2?
He cries out to God and he says,
you give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God.
He calls out to God,
his God,
his Lord,
his covenant God,
the covenant faithful God.
His confidence is in the person
and the character of God,
his God.
It's like a child
who falls down on the playground
and scrapes his knee.
What happens?
Where do they turn right away?
To mom or dad?
Out of all the people there
on the playground,
many kids,
many parents,
they run straight to mom,
run straight to dad.
Why?
Because they trust
in the character
of mom and dad.
They know that
they are there
to protect them,
that they are there
to serve them,
that they love them.
There's relational dependence
and trust and love there.
And so it is with David.
This is David's confidence here.
His confidence
in the face of suffering
is the character of God.
Look there to verses 4-6.
4-6
because David gives
four statements
of confidence here.
All of them
rooted in God's
holy character.
And I'll be honest,
some of these are hard
for us to swallow.
Some of these statements
of confidence
are hard for us to hear.
Some of these
will not sell books,
it will not draw crowds,
but when we understand them,
these are the root
of our confidence
in suffering.
So look there
to verse 4.
He groans with confidence
because, number one,
truth number one,
because God is holy.
Because God is holy.
What does he say
in verse 4?
You are not a God
who delights
in wickedness.
David's confidence
is rooted
in the holiness
of God.
When we look
at all the evil
around us,
the evil inside of us,
wicked acts against us,
how can we be confident
that God will deal with it?
It's because God is holy.
And so we can call out
to God in confidence
because we know
that as much
as it displeases us,
it really does not
please Him.
Our confidence
is that God
will deal with wickedness
because God is holy.
It's in His holy character.
And so because of this
second statement,
we can be confident
with David
that the wicked
will not dwell
with God.
The wicked
will not dwell
with God.
He says,
evil may not dwell
with you.
This is what
Psalm chapter 1
has already laid out
for us, isn't it?
The wicked
will not stand
in the judgment
nor sinners
in the congregation
of the righteous.
David is essentially
praying back
the truth of Psalm 1
back to God
and affirming
this is who you are.
This is what you've said.
This is my confidence.
So whatever success
the wicked may have
here and now,
whatever victory
it may seem like
they've gained
here and now,
at the end of the day,
with confidence,
David prays,
the wicked
will not dwell
with God.
They will not triumph.
Why?
Truth number three,
because the Lord
sees every sin.
Look how David
draws attention
to the specific sins
of his enemies here.
Do you think that God
doesn't see this?
Do you think that God
isn't already aware
of what David
calls his attention to
here?
Of course he knows.
God sees every act,
he knows every thought,
he hears every word,
but David here,
he calls God's attention
to the specific sins
of his enemies.
He's calling on God
to see and to act.
He says,
those who boast
will not stand before you.
His enemies are boastful.
The proud will not stand
before the Lord.
And not only that,
David says that
these enemies are liars.
They're bloodthirsty.
They're full of lies.
I wonder if you've ever
been lied about.
If you know how this feels.
David's enemies,
they want him dead.
They've lied about him.
Now they're boasting
in their arrogance.
David's confidence
in the midst of all of this
is that surely God sees it.
Surely God knows
about the wickedness
of these people.
But not only that,
he knows about it.
Number four,
verse five,
his confidence
is that God hates it.
Verse five says,
the Lord hates
all evil doers.
The Lord abhors
the bloodthirsty
and the deceitful.
Now,
here's where we have to pause.
This is hard for us to hear.
Did he just say
what I think he said?
That the Lord hates
all evil doers?
What happened to
love the sinner,
hate the sin?
This is a lot of hate
for a God of love.
How can we understand this?
That David is saying here,
the Lord abhors
bloodthirsty
and deceitful men.
The Lord hates
all evil doers.
Well,
we have to understand,
church,
that the Lord
deeply,
deeply
hates
sin.
He hates
sin.
This truth
is both
an offense
to the sinful
and
it is the hope
of the righteous.
We can't minimize this,
that God hates
sin.
And of course,
that's an offense
to the sinful.
Everybody wants to be
affirmed in their sin.
Everybody wants to keep
their sin around
like a pet.
And nobody wants to hear
a message of God
hating their wickedness.
We all
want a God
that just loves us
and accepts us
just as we are.
We don't have to change
a thing about us.
That's the God
that we want,
but that's a God
of our imagination.
That is not
the God
of the Bible.
The God
of the Bible
hates
sin.
It's truth.
This is the offense
of the gospel.
But,
it's also
the hope
of the righteous.
David's confidence
in the face
of evil
is God's
hatred of it.
We have to understand,
if we take away
God's hatred
of sin,
then we should have
no confidence
that God
will deal
with it.
If we
minimize
and undermine
God's complete
hatred of wickedness,
we should have
no hope
that God
would ever
do away
with it
as He's promised
that He will.
But God
hates sin.
Because God
hates wickedness,
we can be sure
that He will
do away
with all wickedness.
But here,
He says,
God hates
the sinful.
sinful.
Now,
this is hard
for us to swallow,
isn't it?
This is hard
for us to swallow.
You know,
one reason why
I think this is hard
for us to understand,
why we struggle
with this,
is because
we tend to want
to divorce
sinful actions
from people.
As if sinful thoughts,
sinful words,
sinful actions,
sinful motives
exist apart
from sinful people.
They don't come
from sinful people.
But the Bible
doesn't speak like that.
The Bible,
Jesus says,
the good person
out of the good
treasure of his heart
produces good.
The evil person
out of his evil
treasure produces evil.
Out of the overflow
of the heart,
the mouth speaks.
Lies come
from a lying heart.
Murder comes
from a murderous heart.
Boasting comes
from a boastful,
prideful heart.
And the Lord
sees it
and the Lord
hates it.
But you know
the real reason
why this is hard
for us to swallow?
It's because
all of us
know
that we
are wicked.
That we
are wicked.
Look there
to verse 9.
He's describing
his enemies.
He says,
there's no truth
in their mouth.
Their inmost self
is destruction.
Their throat
is an open grave.
They flatter
with their tongue.
This is not
a very lovable image.
And Paul
in Romans chapter 3,
in fact,
turn there with me
if you can
very quickly.
Paul in Romans chapter 3,
he takes
these same words,
these same descriptions
of the wickedness
that God abhors
and he applies
them to
everyone.
You
and me.
Turn with me
to Romans 3.
Look there.
Romans 3 verse 10
very briefly.
Here's what he says.
None is righteous.
No, not one.
No one understands.
No one seeks
for God.
All have turned aside.
Together
they have become
worthless.
I'd love to hear
a prosperity teacher
preach on this passage.
I'm not going to
hold my breath.
No one does good.
Not even one.
Their throat
is an open grave.
There we go,
quoting this passage.
They use their tongues
to deceive.
The venom of asps
is under their lips.
Their mouth
is full of curses
and bitterness.
Their feet
are swift
to shed blood.
In their paths
are ruin
and misery
and the way
of peace
they have not known.
There is no fear
of God
before their eyes.
If this is us,
if this is our wickedness
and if God feels
about our wickedness
the way that David says
he feels about
our wickedness,
this is not good
for us.
No one is righteous.
No, not one.
But if this is true,
and it is,
then how in the world
could this possibly
give us any confidence?
If this is true,
how can David,
a wicked man,
a bloodthirsty man,
one who is deeply sinful,
has already demonstrated
his sin
and the issues
with Bathsheba
and with Uriah,
how can David
pray with any confidence
that the Lord
would judge his enemies
for their wickedness
and not him
for his wickedness?
Do you see the issue here?
There is one hope.
Point number three.
Third,
believers groan
with hope
in the steadfast love
of God.
Believers groan
with hope
in the steadfast love
of God.
What is David's hope?
God hates the wicked.
God hates sin.
When David looks out
and sees armies approaching,
when he knows
that wicked men
are coming for his life,
but he knows
that he himself
has shed innocent blood,
that he himself
is guilty
and sinful.
What is his hope?
It's not his goodness.
It's not his strength.
It's not his skill.
What does it say?
Verse seven.
But I,
he says,
through the abundance
of your steadfast love
will enter your house.
I will bow down
toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
So lead me,
O Lord,
in your righteousness
because of my enemies.
Make your way
straight before me.
Now,
how does David
enter into the presence
of God
as a wicked man?
Listen to this.
David escapes
the judgment
of God
through
the love of God.
Say that again.
David escapes
the judgment
of God
through
the love
of God
and so do we.
This is the hope
of the gospel.
Do you know
the hope
of the gospel,
church?
I know you do,
but do you cling
to it
as your only hope?
Do you cling
to the steadfast
love of God
for you in Christ
as your only hope
to escape
the wrath of God
against your sin?
Do you realize
that that wrath
of God
against your sin
is much bigger,
much more serious,
much weightier
than any trial,
any suffering,
any difficulty,
any attack
you could ever face
in this life?
But if you have
the steadfast love
of God
offered freely
through Christ,
then no trial,
no pain,
no suffering,
no grief,
no loss,
no heartache,
nothing can separate
you from the love
of God
in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
This is the gospel.
This is the hope
that we have.
And hear me,
this love of God
is offered freely
to sinners
in Christ.
Any who would turn
from their wicked ways
and put their faith
in their risen Savior
can know
the steadfast love
of God
for the rest
of eternity.
This is good news.
There are so many
words that we could
use to describe
the gospel.
I want you to remember
just two this morning
from this psalm.
The gospel is a message
of love
and justice.
The gospel is a message
of love
and justice.
And we see both of them
here.
Now look there with me
to verse 10.
Psalm 5,
verse 10.
David prays,
Make them bear
their guilt,
O God.
Let them fall
by their own counsels.
Because of the abundance
of their transgressions,
cast them out.
For they've rebelled
against you.
You know,
that's what the wicked
deserve.
David is praying
in light of the holiness
and the justice
of God
that the wicked
would get
what they deserve
for their guilt.
And they will.
God will one day
address every ounce
of wickedness.
All of us
will have to give
an account
to the Lord
and He will bring
justice.
But our hope,
believer,
our confidence
is that because
of the mercy
and the love
of God,
we do not
get what we
deserve.
because of the mercy
and the love
of God,
we do not
get what we
deserve.
The wicked,
because of the abundance
of their transgressions,
are cast away.
But I,
David says,
through the abundance
of your steadfast love,
will enter the presence
of God.
How?
Because Christ
has taken
the wrath
that my sins
deserve.
That's our confidence.
confidence.
That's our hope,
that Jesus Christ,
the true,
innocent King
of God's people,
bore the wrath
of God
in our place.
You know,
God doesn't just
look away
from sin.
He can't do that.
He's just.
All sin
must be
paid for.
All sin
must be
atoned
for.
And so Christ
died not for
His sin,
but for ours.
Justice
was satisfied
in Him
so that
the steadfast
love of God
might be given
to us
who believe
in Him.
You see,
the difference
between the righteous
and the wicked,
the difference
between those
who are righteous
in God's sight
and those who are
wicked in God's sight,
is it's not that
they sin
and we don't.
It's that by the grace
of God,
we have been
made righteous,
declared righteous
because of His
faithfulness,
not ours.
And we stand
before Him
as holy
because of the
greatness of
His love,
not ours.
Apart from the
unmerited,
steadfast love
of God
given freely
to sinners in Christ,
we are rebels.
We are wicked.
We are deserving
of the fires
of hell.
We are deserving
of the wrath
of God,
but God demonstrates
His love for us
and that while
we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
We were those
who deserve
His judgment
because of our
transgressions,
but because Christ
was pierced
for our transgressions
and crushed
for our iniquities
by His wounds,
we are healed.
That's the gospel,
church.
Now,
what does that
have to do
with our groaning
and our suffering?
Well,
because of the
love of God
given to us
in Christ,
believers don't
groan in despair.
we groan
in hope.
If God did not
spare His own
Son,
but gave Him
up for us all,
how will He not
also graciously
along with Him
graciously give us
all things?
What can suffering
do to us
but draw us
closer to Christ?
What can suffering
do to us
but make us
more like Him?
What can suffering
do to us
but bring us
to the presence
of God?
You know,
one of my favorite
passages to quote
for those who are
suffering is 2 Corinthians
chapter 5.
And Paul says
to the believer,
So we do not
lose heart.
Though our outer self
is wasting away,
your inner self
is being renewed
day by day.
For this light
momentary affliction
is preparing for us
an eternal weight
of glory
beyond all comparison.
As we look not
to the things
that are seen
but to the things
that are unseen.
For the things
that are seen
are transient
but the things
that are unseen
are eternal.
For we know
that if the tent
that is our earthly
home is destroyed
we have a building
from God,
a house not made
with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
For in this tent
we groan,
longing to put on
our heavenly dwelling.
If indeed by putting it on
we may not be found
naked.
For while we are still
in this tent
we groan,
being burdened
not that we would
be unclothed
but that we would
be further clothed
so that what is mortal
may be swallowed up
by life.
He who has prepared us
for this very thing
is God
who has given us
the spirit
as a guarantee.
Do you have this hope?
Are you clinging
to the steadfast love
of God
available to you
freely in Christ?
If not,
the offer is made
now to you
to turn from your
wickedness
and to trust
in the risen Savior
Jesus Christ
who bore the wrath
of God
for you
so that you
might know
the steadfast love
of God.
If you do
know that love
believer
then cling to it
no matter what
happens to you
in this life
believer
we can groan
with joy.
This is our
fourth and final
point this morning.
Fourth,
believers
groan
with joy.
David ends
here with another
contrast between
the righteous
and the wicked.
Look there with me
to verse 11.
The wicked
are cast out
away from the
presence of God
but he prays
in verse 11
he says
let all
who take refuge
in you
rejoice.
Let them
ever sing
for joy
and spread
your protection
over them
that those
who love
your name
may exalt
in you
for you
bless the
righteous
O Lord.
You cover him
with favor
as with a shield.
David
claims
two great
promises
here
for the
righteous.
Do you see them?
He claims
God's blessing
and he claims
God's
protection
over the
righteous.
And you know
this is
where those
prosperity
teachers go
wrong
isn't it?
Because they
want to claim
these promises
right now.
Total
blessing
total
protection
no
suffering
total
health
total
righteousness
total
wisdom
total
wealth
total
victory
right now
no
suffering
but we
have to
realize
these are
eternal
promises
aren't they?
And we
get hints
and taste
of these
promises
here and
now
but their
fulfillment
is yet
to come
when Christ
our King
returns.
Suffering
comes before
glory
for Christ
and for
the people
of Christ
but what
we can
have
right now
even in
the midst
of trials
is joy.
You see that
there in
verse 11?
He says
let all
who take
refuge in
you
rejoice
let them
sing
ever sing
for joy
and spread
your protection
over them
that those
who love
your name
may exalt
in you.
Do you know
what it's like
to rejoice
in suffering?
I know
that you know
what it's like
to suffer.
Every morning
every Sunday
morning we
gather
we share
prayer requests
we talk
about our
suffering
I hear it
I know it
but do you
know what
it's like
to rejoice
in your
suffering?
This is what
we're called
to believers.
This is why
James calls
us to count
it all
joy my
brothers
when you
meet
trials
of various
kinds
for you
know
that the
testing
of your
faith
produces
steadfastness
and let
steadfastness
have its
full effect
that you
may be
perfect
and complete
lacking
in nothing
do you
know what
it's like
to suffer
with joy?
I want
to close
this morning
by reading
to you
some of
an article
that I
read this
week
by someone
named
Joni
Erickson
Tata
you may
know that
name
if not
I would
highly
encourage
you to
go read
some of
what she's
written
Joni
Erickson
Tata
was paralyzed
at a
young age
through a
terrible
accident
and she
doubted
was angry
was bitter
towards the
Lord
but the
Lord
restored
her joy
in the
faith
if anybody
knows what
it's like
to suffer
with joy
it's her
so please
listen to
this as
we close
she says
no one
understands
the relationship
between joy
and suffering
better than
the son
of man
my God
became human
his love
insisting
that I
might not
be alone
in my
struggles
when I
hurt
he knows
but Jesus
does not
merely
sympathize
with me
he's done
something
about it
through his
death and
resurrection
he has
freed me
from sin's
power
and in
part
from the
suffering
that results
from it
and he
will free
me fully
in the
age to
come
that
coming
age
is my
joyous
hope
is hope
that sees
Jesus
on his
throne
with his
kingdom
filling
every
corner
of the
cosmos
hope
that
envisions
sorrow
and
sighing
erased
from the
face
of the
universe
hope
that
eagerly
awaits
the
moment
when
pain
and
tears
will be
banished
and evil
will be
punished
but that
hope
the better
country
of Hebrews
11 16
is still
in the
future
I've likely
got miles
to go
before I
sleep
and it's
getting harder
to adjust
to the harsh
encroachments
of older age
and increasing
pain
I could easily
throw down
my pick
and shovel
collapsed
by the edge
of my ugly
field
and say
God I am
so tired
of this
please no
more
so
listen to
this
so I
stoke
my hope
I am
heartened
by my
precious
savior
and the
way
he
endured
unthinkable
suffering
for the
joy set
before him
I follow
him
parking
my
wheelchair
on Romans
12 12
rejoice
in hope
be patient
in tribulation
be constant
in prayer
now it's
easy to see
why God
commands us
to be
constant
in prayer
for it
can be a
struggle
to pray
when we're
suffering
and we
understand
why God
commands us
to be
patient
in tribulation
for it's
hard to
muster
patience
when you
are in
misery
but it's
really
hard
to rejoice
in hope
hope can
feel so
far off
vague
and nebulous
yet God
commands it
for if Jesus
laid aside
his robes
to put on
the enormous
indignity
of human
birth
for our
sake
then his
father
has the
right
to command
our
joy
he has
the
prerogative
to call
forth in
us a
happiness
that's
commensurate
with his
son's
sacrifice
we are
to cultivate
a joy
that's
worthy
of Jesus
our
blessed
hope
believer
respond
to the
dangers
of this
life
by taking
refuge
in him
respond
to the
suffering
of life
by groaning
to him
in confidence
him
who spared
not his
own son
to Christ
who suffered
for us
that we
might join
him
in glory
let's pray
lord would
you lead
us
because of
our
enemies
would you
go before
us
and lead
the way
as we
walk
through yet
another
week
as we
go home
this afternoon
as we
face
all the
many
trials
of our
life
lord we
pray
with confidence
in you
groaning
to you
lord
would you
see
our
weakness
god
and give
us
strength
would you
see
our
trials
father
and go
before us
lead us
lord even
through the
valley of
darkness
father
and we
thank you
for sending
christ to
live and
to die
and to
rise
for us
that we
might have
hope even
in the midst
of our
suffering
we love
you lord
and we
pray this
in christ
name
amen