“WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO A MELT DOWN ?”
WHEN PEOPLE GET LOW ON SUPPLY OF SOMETHING MATERIAL, THEY OFTEN PANIC AND FIND A SCAPEGOAT. BUT WHEN THEY GET LOW ON SPIRITUAL STRENGTH, THEY MERELY ACCEPT IT. IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO WORRY. IT IS THE NEW NATURE THAT OVERCOMES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OLD NATURE.
One of the world’s greatest hypochondriacs, bumped into his doctor one day at the supermarket.
“Doc!” the hypochondriac exclaimed, “I’ve been meaning to tell you, remember those voices I kept on hearing in my head? I haven’t heard them in over a week!”
“Wow! What wonderful news! I’m so happy for you!” his Dr. exclaimed.
“Wonderful?” asked the dismal looking hypochondriac. “There’s nothing wonderful about it. I’m afraid my hearing is starting to go now!”
GOD REWARDS FAITH.
IS THERE A REASON FOR US TO BE CLOSE TO A MELT DOWN ? WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOSE TO ONE, OR HAVE EXPERIENCED ONE. THEIR EXAMPLE SHOULD TEACH US SOMETHING. EVERY DAY WE HAVE SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR !
Psalms 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
HAVE YOU CHANGED THIS INTO A NEW VERSION THAT SAYS INSTEAD . . . “This is the day the Lord hath made, and I will be afraid of what it holds for me” ?
1. FEARING THINGS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN.
This is a major strategy of Islamic terrorists today. They make it appear as if terrible things MIGHT happen tomorrow. So, people keep that forefront in their thinking.
ISRAEL CAME INTO THE WILDERNESS WITH FOOD, BUT NOT WATER, EXCEPT THE LITTLE THEY HAD IN FLASKS AND BARRELS IN WAGONS. THAT WAS SOON GONE. THEY WERE BROUGHT INTO A DESERT. IMAGINE THEM SEEING FOOD AND WATER DISAPPEAR EACH DAY. THEY ANTICIPATED STARVATION.
Exodus 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
Numbers 17:12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
A. WHAT SHALL WE DO WHEN THE PHYSICAL NEEDS SEEM TO BE ALMOST GONE ?
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
B. WHEN YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY EXHAUSTED.
WHAT SHALL WE DO WHEN THE SPIRITUAL RESOURCES SEEM TO BE ALMOST GONE ? PEOPLE PANIC AND BECOME AFRAID. THEN, THEY CANNOT GO IN FAITH. GOD BLESSES FAITH, NOT WORRY.
Matthew 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
C. ASAPH THOUGHT HE WAS DOOMED SPIRITUALLY BECAUSE HE NO LONGER COULD SEE STRAIGHT.
HE WAS THINKING IN TERMS THAT GOD HAD LET HIM DOWN. HE EVENTUALLY GOT CONVICTED, AND BECAME STRONG AGAIN.
Psalms 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
2. MAKING ASSUMPTION AS IF YOU WERE A PROPHET.
A. ANTICIPATING THE WORST IS A COMMON SPIRITUAL CRIME TODAY. JESUS WARNED AGAINST IT IN THE BEATITUDES.
Matthew 6:25-31 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Luke 12:31-32 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
3. FEAR CAN BE HABITUAL….BUT CAN BE OVERCOME WITH JOY.
Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
A. WE NEED TO TRAIN OUR SOUL TO THINK BY FAITH, NOT NEGATIVE ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE USUALLY WRONG.
Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.
B. PAUL EXPECTED HIS JUDGMENT TO GO WELL.
WHY ? HE KNEW HE WAS DOING RIGHT. DO YOU ?
Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
C. ABRAHAM SHOULD HAVE HUMANLY BEEN WORRIED WHEN HE WAS PHYSICALLY TOO OLD TO HAVE CHILDREN.
Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
Genesis 18:10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
D. EVEN WHEN ATTACKED AND THREATENED, IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO BEND. STAND STRONG.
Psalms 119:87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
–MOSES COULD SEE THE GROWING RAGE AGAINST HIM. EACH DAY HE COULD SEE THEM MORE ANXIOUS TO KILL HIM.
Exodus 17:4 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.
E. JESUS SAW HIS PHYSICAL STRENGTH DETERIORATE OVER 40 DAYS.
DID HE PANIC ? THE DEVIL THOUGHT HE WAS WEAKEST THEN.
Luke 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered.
F. WHEN YOU THINK YOUR TROUBLES ALMOST HAVE YOU….
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.
Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
WHEN RELATIVES AND PEOPLE AROUND YOU ALMOST HAVE YOU GOING TO HELL WITH THEM……. REMEMBER THAT JESUS CAN PULL YOU OUT OF THE FIRE RIGHT NOW. HE CAN SAVE YOU AND GIVE YOU REAL FORGIVENESS AND JOY AND A FUTURE OF ETERNAL LIFE.