Ancient Reflections, Part 1 “Greater Than My Confusion”

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S.O.A.P. – “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer”

Have you experienced prayer as a “safe place” to pour out your real heartfelt emotions to your Father?

Scripture:

O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free. Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors. Psalms 71:1-4 NLT

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. Psalms 139:7-12 NLT

Sermon Insights:

In times of uncertainty and confusion, God wants to do something IN you! He wants you to feel his presence and his power.

In the Psalms, the writers at times express frustrations, fears, anger, indignation, and despair…sometimes implying that God is not doing his job well. There are the raw emotions of failure and moments of begging forgiveness for sins. There are many occasions where the future is grave, dangerous, and uncertain, and the writer is saying, “God, I cannot make it through this without you…help please…God, do not turn away!”

So … what about you? Have you ever really tested this in your life, I mean in times of uncertainty … have you conscientiously, intentionally leaned into and called on God?

On a spectrum between “1” (formal and full of high-sounding propriety) and “10” (raw and uncertain and difficult) where do you often experience conversations with God?

When you face uncertainty in life, what is your response?

Lord, thank you for being my “rock” and my “refuge.” Thank you for knowing me and my life situation better than I do. Thank you for being with me through thick and thin, through delight and disaster. Forgive me for judging you according to my preferences and personal expectations, for you are God and I am not.

Who was someone you trusted as a child? Were you glad you trusted that individual?

Scripture:

O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you! My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long. And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.

For my enemies are whispering against me. They are plotting together to kill me. They say, “God has abandoned him. Let’s go and get him, for no one will help him now.” O God, don’t stay away. My God, please hurry to help me. Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me. Psalms 71:5-13 NLT

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Hebrews 11:1-3 NLT (Got a few minutes? Take a look at the rest of this chapter!)

Sermon Insights:

The foundation of David’s life was God’s faithfulness.

David clearly knew where to go in the middle of uncertainty. He would directly say to the living God, “Turn your ear to me and save me!”

Hebrews 11 is called the “Faith Hall of Fame” because it lists out many people throughout history who experienced major confusion and chose to follow God in the midst of their uncertainty.

Is there an area of your life you would describe as a “wilderness”?

Where are you turning for refuge, strength, and guidance?

David had people actively trying to destroy his reputation and take his life. Notice that David did not actively seek revenge but trusted God to deal appropriately with people bent on evil. When you are angry or frightened by your enemies, do you express your deep anger and frustration to God and then trust him to deal with them?

Lord, when a cloud of confusion envelopes me, when I wonder “Why me?” and I feel like I’m in a wilderness, help me to ask you, “What do you want to do IN me…so YOU can do something through me!”

What is a memory of someone giving you really great news that changed your life?

Scripture:

But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just.

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? Psalms 71:14-19 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

Sermon Insights:

David is so passionate about the faithfulness of God. He wants to live long enough to speak God’s love and faithfulness to the next generation and make God’s glory known to all who will take the time to look.

Who shared the good news of Jesus with you?

On a scale from 1-10, “1” being “not interested” and “10” being “completely passionate,” where would you rate your desire to help the next generation learn about Jesus’ faithfulness and plan for their lives?

Did you note the similarity between David’s confidence in God since his childhood and Jesus’ promise to always be with his disciples “to the end of the age”? How does God’s presence and power influence your sense of security and confidence?

Sometimes Christians are intimidated by the thought of telling someone about Jesus. Christianity has been described as one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. You don’t have to be a master chef—you just need to share what you’ve been given. Who do you need to share your bread with?

Lord, you have been faithful to me since I was a child…before I even knew your name. You are good, faithful, and continue to do amazing and wonderful things. Help me tell the next generation about your amazing love!

What is your greatest fear?

Scripture:

Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?

You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.

Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israel. I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me. I will tell about your righteous deeds all day long, for everyone who tried to hurt me has been shamed and humiliated. Psalms 71:19-24 NLT

Sermon Insights:

God’s anointing didn’t make David’s life free of challenges, temptations, uncertainty, and confusion.

Have you come to know God through comfort AND difficulty?

Many people reject God because he did not fulfill their expectations or preferences…as if God was responsible for serving them, and his performance did not measure up. David presents a more mature viewpoint of God. How have you come to trust God “through” your confusion?

Does your understanding of “trust” necessitate some amount of personal confusion? In other words, in order to trust God, does there have to be something you don’t fully understand?

Lord, David experienced your power before…during…and after his challenges. Teach me to trust you in the midst of the “storms” of life.

What is your personal preference: do you like foggy days or clear days better?

Scripture:

And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing. For my enemies are whispering against me. They are plotting together to kill me. They say, “God has abandoned him. Let’s go and get him, for no one will help him now.” O God, don’t stay away. My God, please hurry to help me. Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.

Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again. Psalms 71:1-21 NLT

What is the strategy for us to move through a cloud of confusion and into the future – knowing that God is doing something IN us so that he can do something THROUGH us?

We recognize who God is.
We acknowledge his past faithfulness.
We remember all God has done to bring us to this point in our life.
We put our trust in him and take refuge in him.

Lord, thank you for being a good, good Father to me. Thank you for creating me and walking with me every day of my life. Thank you for continually intervening in my life, both when I recognized it and when I did not. I CHOOSE to trust you, because you are worthy and faithful, because I desperately need a Savior, and because frankly…like King David asked…who else could I turn to? There is no one like you!

Ancient Reflections, Part 1 “Greater Than My Confusion”

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