PSALM CHAPTER 38
* * * MAINTAINING HAPPINESS * * *
When trouble comes, is it chastening ?
And, what can I do about it ?
1. ACCEPTING THE TRUTH THAT SOME TROUBLES ARE SENT
BY THE LORD. V. 1.
A. REQUIRES AN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR TENDENCY TO SIN.
PS. 58:3, IS. 53:6
B. REQUIRES AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY GOD WOULD BRING
TROUBLES OUR WAY. COUPLED WITH THE WORD OF GOD,
IT REVEALS OUR ERRORS. 2 TIM. 3:16. (FOR CORRECTION)
C. FAILURE TO RECEIVE IT RESULTS IN FURTHER JUDGEMENT.
JEREMIAH 5:3, THE NATURAL RESULTS OF THIS FAILURE:
PROV. 15:10
2. PLEADING FOR GRACE, NOT JUSTICE.
A. NOT IN GOD’S WRATH. EX.-DEUT. 29:23, REV. 6:17, 16:19
B. NOT IN HIS HEATED DISPLEASURE. PS. 2:1-5,
MOSES KNEW: DEUT. 9:19, EX. 4:24.
C. DISPLEASURE IS OPPOSITE OF PLEASING GOD.
>FAILURE TO BREAK FREE FROM THE WORLD. 2 TIM. 2:4
>FAILURE TO EXERCISE FAITH IN HIM. HEB. 11:6
3. THE DEGREE OT LOVING AND GODLY CHASTENING.
A. NOT TO DEATH. PROV. 23:13
B. LOVINGLY APPLIED TO CHILDREN OF GOD. HEB. 12:7
C. TENDS TO BE WEARISOME IF WE JUST CONTINUE TO ACCEPT
IT WITHOUT REPENTING AND DON’T RESPOND QUICKLY
ENOUGH. PROVERBS 3:11
4. REASONS FOR GOD WITHOLDING OR REDUCING CHASTENING. V. 2.
A. JUDGING ONE’S SELF. 1 COR. 11:31.
B. ENDURING CHASTENING. HEB. 12:7
C. GROWING IN GRACE. 2 PET. 3:18. DOES GROWING IN GRACE
INVOLVE KNOWING HOW TO RECEIVE IT ?
5. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR CHASTENING:
A. BRING THE SINNER TO TRULY REPENT. PS. 119:67
B. AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS. 1 COR. 10:6, 11, 2 PET. 2:6, HEB. 4:11, JUDE 1:7
6. CHASTENING’S STEPS TO SUCCESS.
A. THE SIN.
B. THE DENIAL.
C. THE CHASTENING.
D. THE PAIN. (WHAT I FEEL).
E. THE REALIZATIONS. (WHAT OTHERS FELT, OR FEEL).
F. THE SORROW. (A GODLY TYPE). 2 COR. 7:10. (NOT ENOUGH
TO GET THINGS RIGHT: MATT. 27:4 – JUDAS)
G. THE DECISION TO TURN FROM THE SIN (REPENTANCE)
REV. 2:5, RE. 3:19.
H. THE RESTORATION ACTIVITY. LUKE 19:8, LUKE 17:3.
I. THE PEACE, RENEWED FELLOWSHIP, & RENEWED SERVICE
PS. 51:12
7. THE UNEXPECTED ASPECTS OF CHASTENING.
A. THEY CAN COME THROUGH ANY MEANS.
—DAVID’S ENEMIES. 1 CHRON. 21:12,
—THROUGH SICKNESSES, PESTILENCE, POVERTY, ETC.
1 COR. 11:30
—THROUGH BLESSINGS. ISRAEL GIVEN MUCH MORE FOWL
THAN THEY WANTED. NUMBERS 11:20
—THROUGH A DELAY OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE PROMISED
BLESSINGS. EXEKIEL 20:15
B. THEY CAN COME AND GO WITHOUT PROFIT, IT WE LET THEM.
MUST STAY CLOSE TO THE LORD. MATT. 11:29
C. TEHY ARE EASIER TO FORGET THAN WE IMAGINE. JER. 18:15
8. THE NATURAL RESPONSES TO CHASTENING.
A. REFUSE TO ACCEPT THEM. 2 TIM. 4:3
—RUN FROM THEM ? HIDE FROM THEM ?
B. RESIST THEM. LIFE GETS HARDER. PROV. 21:25
TWO CHOICES IF RESISTING JUDGEMENT:
—NOT SAVED. ACTS. 7:51
—SAVED, BUT IN REBELLION. HEB. 12:15
C. FAINT UNDER THEM. V. 4, 17. “HALT”=LIMP. HEB. 12:5
THE DUTY OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO HELP THOSE WHO
HAVE GONE THROUGH CHASTENING. 2 COR. 2:7
BE SENSITIVE TO THEIR RENEWED SENSITIVITIES.
HEB. 12:14. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SENSITIVE
ENOUGH TO HELP WITH THE GOSPEL. PHIL. 4:3
HELP THOSE WHO DON’T SEEM TO BE CLINGING TO
GRACE. HEB. 12:12-13, EZEK. 3:4 (HIS SENSITIVITY
MADE HIM RECOGNIZE THE HOLINESS OF GOD.)
D. BE BLESSED BY THEM. HEB. 12:11, PROV. 3:11. —SHOULD MAKE US ASHAMED THAT WE DIDN’T LEARN THE
LESSON ANOTHER WAY. DEUT. 8:5. —REST FROM DAYS OF ADVERSITY. PS. 94:10-13.
**A LOT OF CONFLICTS CAN BE AVOIDED !