Sinking In the Mire - Part 2 of 2

This is Michelle Bailey Junior welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible. I plan to have you with us today will be continuing the message sinking in the mire. This is a very vivid expression used by the psalmist to describe what it is like to be sinking down trying to find solid footing and not able to discover yet he learned that in that condition. His hope and help was in the Lord. That's a lesson we have to learn over and over again, we sometimes forget it, we lead on the arm of the flesh, and it only makes our situation worse. I pray that the message will be a blessing to you if you'd like to get the complete message on CD request that when writing this, the financial need is especially great right now if you can assist us so we can keep this program on the air.

Address your letter to the Baptist Bible I are box 17/37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 way to call a number of years ago that listened our daily broadcast and she said her to preach this morning and you were talking about what kind of attitude were to have it work and I just want tell you that I'm in a difficult situation. I was passed over for a promotion.

I should've gotten that I was entitled to it. I deserved it and I didn't get. You could tell she was upset she said how do you think I would have to pass it like a Christian that you must feel the kind and gracious and considerate and respect those in authority all Paul's descent.

I'm afraid of already bonded when in a game. I'm also careful I said then your next step is to go back and admit you were wrong you might get depressed at work. Just because you got the wrong here, looking around at other people and saying get all the hard jobs not appreciated and began to complain. The Scriptures tell us that when we go to work with and remember that we're going there as workers for Jesus Christ and that a change or two about the job. The workplace and everybody that you have to encounter you might be depressed over severe financial conditions and that might be.

As a result of the fact you failed to follow biblical principles in the past. You are a good student of what God gave that some things, since we have no control over Job's losses were not because he was a bad manager was within the province of God. God allowed this trouble to come in the Job's life, and it may come to us in like manner, but sometimes it may be because we spent when we didn't have we spent our money foolishly. We bought things that were not to the glory of God. We were selfish and greedy about family problems. How do you get there legitimate family problems don't flare up overnight. It's something that is result of long term activity long-term faith. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 26 be angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath, neither give place to the devil to get upset, get over it settled at bay for the sun goes down, don't take it to bed with you.

Don't get mad. The next morning people that harbor anger, bitterness, evil thing that springs up in the files. Many the Scriptures tell us. Verse 29 let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace on the here when things are out of order in the home. People will say things to each other. There they would not daresay anywhere else if they spoke in that tone I use those words at work. They know they get fired if they acted that way church. They have to be disciplined. But somehow they feel free to unload on each other in the home. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, only that which is for the edifying of others may build them up ministering grace to the hearers and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby your seal of the day of redemption. Let all bitterness candidate resentment, anger, bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice and be ye kind one to another.

My basic sometimes family members are not even kind to each other harsh easily disturbed bickering be saying one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you look like those practical admonitions after while family problems being in the can seem to be with solution that I don't know what to do next is going on so long. Initially hurt feelings.

What to do next in the battle with the flesh how to get there. Maybe some of those evil thoughts. Some of those temptations of been arising because you been reading the wrong interior you been looking at the wrong movies you been looking at the wrong television programs.

Remember years ago going to visit an old sister and she had the TV on when I came in and she was obviously embarrassed not know if they still have some poppers but this was in the day that had so and she began starter little bit about what she was going to say she obviously hadn't expected the preacher to come in and see her afternoon fare on television. I just believe I need to keep up with what's going on.

That's all I don't like any of this stuff, but I doubt I will be informed about take their areas where it's all like to be on the inside have to be up on it all fact in the book of Ephesians, he says it's a shame to speak of those things that are none of them in secret and wrath exploring all to watch the wrong stuff. Read the wrong stuff. Travel with the wrong people here the wrong conversation and you begin to have a battle with the flesh. What about the struggle with unbelief that may be because your influence the world. Maybe somebody at work and a lot of confidence in them and you been listening to their conversation, they raise a lot of questions you couldn't answer. We decided to read some materials that you thought would be educationally beneficial. You focused on the fact in the process you neglected God's work there be unbelief unless we are constantly in cons word. Many of those Old Testament stories which are accounts of how God gave his people for, but it was David against Goliath or in the days of the fat coming before the Lord and admitting we have no plan to have no mind but are either publicly and you see God give them the victory read those stories and they give you confidence you, your faith is strengthened. Read 11 chapter the book of Hebrews about those who live and walk by faith and your courage, your faith is built up, but when you're constantly listening to the philosophies the world when you become intrigued by them your influence by worldly wisdom neglected the word eclectic prayer than unbelief. Section come to the matter of forgiveness you're doubting yourself praying. Ask God for to forgive me buddy I have to wait a minute, so the matter of how you feel.

The issue is you believe that God is faithful, you confess your sins he is faithful and just to forgive you if it is just because of your child about your sin is argument put on Jesus Christ. So is in keeping with his holiness and injustice that he forgives you and he says he will is impossible that God would lie and then afflictions, there's no end to the description. How do we get there. So we bring on our self because of our neglect. Because of our failure to do what God has joined us to to because we have phone friends that have influenced us. He said evil communications corrupt good manners that we tell our young people that over and over again. But that's just as applicable to older people as it is the people you travel with the wrong people.

Nobody here is tough enough to say I can travel with the wrong people and I will not be influence. God says you are not tough enough to overcome. You spent all your time with people going down the wrong path is I'm not going with them, but I like nice people know you'll soon be like but sometimes afflictions come simply because it's God's design. It was God's design for affliction to touch Job's life. James chapter 1 verse one James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad reading my brethren counted all joy when you fall into divers to from the human standpoint just doesn't compute. How on earth could James be writing to a people who are already under persecution had been driven from their homes and tell them counted all joy said brother James golf deeply and truly can't mean what he said. How can we Enjoy what we are in deep trouble. I really didn't mean that you're going to feel whole. Hallelujah.

I love trouble I like to be sick. I like to suffer.

I like reversals expect you counted joy knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience or endurance. The words God has a purpose in the trial he sent to teach you to strengthen you, but let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. In other words, he says do not hit the eject button you say the way is rough. This is a bumpy road. I can't take it, trying to escape reality.

I'm drink or take drugs or become involved in some kind of sexual activity or do whatever it takes. I just can't take anymore about escape reality.

It says no you stay in the race the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work. The times we would like the circumstances to be changed, and sometimes God intervenes and changes the circumstances, but sometimes he gives us the same answer he gave to Paul and Paul pray Lord deliver me from the thorn in the flanks. He prayed three times in God's answer was, not going to change your circumstances. I'm not going to remove the phone. I know it hurts but are going to give you grace my grades are sufficient, see how many times even Christians to escape reality, I believe there is a place for drugs.

The right kinds of sicknesses at the right time and place, but I attended a conference here in Cincinnati a few years ago there were 100 physicians present for psychiatrist on the panel and these other physicians were asking the question over and over again. The doctors confess when people come to me and say I'm depressed I don't have time to talk to. I don't have time to figure out what's wrong. I put up on depressed and I many times feel guilty because I know they're going nowhere, on the other hand, psychiatrist said send them to us.

We can analyze what we can work to the problems now I'm admitting that there are times when people have certain situation where it is required that they have medications.

I remember having one case where a person came to me that obviously were so heavily medicated. We couldn't have an intelligent conversation.

I never tell anybody what to do about� And would you go back to your doctor and ask could you possibly reduce the dosage so we can get to the place that we can at least converse. The doctor agreed and we were able to have a conversation. There's no question but what medications often overdone prescribed when it's unnecessary. God's children ought not to be looking for the escape hatch.

Pray for grace to get through the trial that brings us then to consider. How do we get out of the mire when were sinking in the mire. What can be done well you face discouragement to remember that David encouraged himself in the in a time when his own man work.

Interesting. He was in danger. He was deeply troubled, but he did. He encouraged himself in the Lord somebody says well nobody has come around to encourage me in a long time.

Nobody said a kind word to me. Well, Everyman was Barry's own burden. The book of Galatians. If you wait conflict because nobody is paying you the attention you think you're entitled to the bodies encouraging you.

You just get more and more discouraged will encourage myself to stop and remember that God is described in the Scriptures as being the God of hope was of the child of God.

There is never a reason to say I am hopeless know nobody is the God of the whole. Please give her that he's the source and and he is the God of comfort your trouble. You depressed or discouraging family sinking you need comfort. He is the God of comfort and he comforts us in such a way that we are able to comfort others with the same comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God that were not comforted by some trite phrase well cheer up you know it will get better and it might not make it worse. How can you tell us about is going get better. It may get worse tomorrow what talent you can tell if it does get worse, God is still your helper. He still your whole piece.

Did your trustees to your salvation. You must turn to him. He is the God of hope, the God of comfort. Remember that his mercies are new every morning. Jeremiah said that in Lamentations 323, he was down saying my hope is perished from the Lord. But then he recalled until the Lord's mercy that when I consume.

Great is thy faithfulness to his mercies are new every morning is brings us to the point of being when you're sinking in the mire you're going down you not think about anything for which to give thanks for your trouble and it's so easy when you're sinking down to make matters worse, you just start pulling everything.

And on top of you thinking about all the things the trouble all the things that might all the negative things you can pull it in the top note thankful heart.

No Thanksgiving. His mercies are new every morning and remember that your labor in the kingdom of God. Your labor in God's service is not in pain you may feel your sinking in the mire because you say I look at my life and I've I've accomplished much. I just thought at this stage of life I would be farther along.

I would be in a better position I would've accomplished more.

Paul tells us in first rent is 1558 that your labor is not in vain in the Lord matter how small the effort might be. We are not to despise the day of small things when you're discouraged. Remember that his strength is available to enable you to do whatever needs to be done. Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 10 says whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with my might, for there is no worker device for knowledge and wisdom in the grave with her about whatsoever. Your hand finds to do it often and talking to people who become very discouraged. The point of being depressed. So tell me about your day and if it's a real serious case. Many times a well.

I have trouble getting up in the morning had several cases were so messed up about noontime and what you do well.

I just cannot sit around that much to do press. God didn't make us to be lazy, diminished market is a good thing it was designed by God to people's all right. We can't change overnight so this week and setting up a 12 M and we worked it back to get a decent said sometimes people what to eat for breakfast. I don't eat breakfast what you have for lunch, junkfood have to suffer not much in bad shape.design these bodies we have to have sleep. Sleep is good. Jesus said what to pray. Give us this day our daily bread was bad not eating the wrong stuff is bad, but eating healthy food. You can expect your body to be in good shape. If you don't give it rest times that figure contributes to somebody being down and discourage so well. I don't feel like working, but do it anyway you don't think I don't I don't like the lesson matter that your obligations that your responsibility this wife is not governed by how you feel in a given moment. Your to do what's right whatsoever thy hand finds to do, and obviously we all have see ourselves. We all we have this great sense of week in our own inability so we have to come back with the words of the apostle is 413 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. I don't feel like getting up at a decent fire. But I'm going to do it, but the grace of God I don't feel like going to work with doing. I don't feel like getting up this lesson because it's something that God requires. What about the battle with the flesh first Quinton chapter 10 verse 13 says there is a way of escape can't just say well I guess this is me. I just and I just got a weakness in this area that area know the grace of God we can overcome whatever the temptation is sometimes have to pray Lord protect my mind just helped me that those evil thoughts to come there. But if they do, don't give them a lodging place like Depaul's think lesson Philippians for first aid, think on these things, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good what about your struggle with unbelief. You need to be feeding on the word to survive even had facts about the word. What you may have facts about sometimes godly people admit that they didn't have doubts about the existence of God. For a time but God uses his word to strengthen us to build up our faith. Psalm 19 verse seven law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony, the Lord is sure, making wise the simple distracted to the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure lightning that were doubting.

We need to be enlightened.

We need to rejoice in our hearts or discomfort. God uses his word to bring this about the fear the Lord is clean, enduring forever.

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous together to be desired are they than gold gay than much fine gold sweeter than also than honey and the honeycomb move about them is not servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward understand his errors cleanse thou me from secret, old Lord, search Medtronic, cleanse me, even those things are down deep and with the you that I don't even like to admit. Lord, I need help I need by grace. Keep\servant also from presumptuous sin. Let them not have dominion over me shall I be right, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression, but the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in fireside Lord, my strength have to be like the man who came to Jesus with the song that was tormented by demons. Jesus said do you believe he said Lord I believe help file my unbelief. Mark 924 when you're struggling with tax come before or the best I know how. I believe I want to believe. I want to be a doctor, helped found belief than what about the various afflictions that come our way.

Remembering that God has a purpose in our trusts. It may seem like we're wasting time. These trials are common. My plans have been disrupted. I can't go where I want to go do what I want to do because these afflictions now are bearing down upon the David said in Psalm 119 verse 71 it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes.

It's hard to say when afflictions are difficult difficult to bear. But he says it's it's good for me but I've been afflicted. Remember that God is working all things together for your food. What's happening to you right now you can't see any good in it and it may not be anything good.

In the event itself but in the experience that God brings you through the process of learning to depend upon him. It will be good. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God with them for the call come back to back problems and finally, remember that the sufferings of this present time sinking in the mire is tremendously unpleasant and you know if the Lord doesn't pull me out.

If he doesn't come to my rescue down for the count to make it to remember these words in Romans 818 for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us some time to get to situations that you know they're not going ever be changed in this life if you thought this is all of it. I'm missing out on so many things my life is not turning out to be like I thought it would be. I'm terribly sorry, but you remember this whatever we have here is temporary. Something better on the other side. Someday all the batter living fault. All the troubles will be over all the tears were shed in the something better as we go home to be with the Lord who would like to get this complete message on CD requested when writing this and also if you last report will send you a sample copy of our publication. The Baptist witness. Our address is the Baptist Bible box 17 old 37 Cincinnati, OH 45217, who we greet you next time. This is Sarah Bradley Junior bidding goodbye and may God bless you all and in all