Finding God When You Need Him Most - Experiencing God in Times of Crisis, Part 2

Is life hard for you right now are you going literally through the valley of the shadow of death. Do you have hurt and pain and struggle and difficulty that you just can't make sense of. If you or someone you know is in a crisis. Don't turn the dial. You need to listen to God's word to you today. Thanks for joining us for this Thursday edition of Living on the Edge with Living on the Edges of international discipleship the Bible to the venture continues a series finding God when you need it most.

Reminding us that when were in times of greatest need, good Shepherd, willing and able to open your Bible. Psalm 23 which are picks up with part two of this message to God in times of crisis little phrase here. The valley of the shadow of death is a picture in the physical life of the sheep during the summer. It may take the sheep out from the mountains and the heaven grace and then when the weather changes they need and then the spring comes in all the lush grasses on the mountains and have to take him through these ravines and valleys and something to take him up, and every time where there's two mountains here then there is darkness as they go through it and that's the picture literally in the shadow of death is literally the darkest times the darkness of the valley. One commentator right wrote he said it is the dark darkness, the fear of the unknown. This is just God will take me to the shadow of my fear of death, but it is any crisis where we find ourselves where when we look out. We are afraid and we can't see what's out there crisis but David writes inspired by the Holy Spirit. You don't have to be afraid because he's with you, and when the shepherd would take the sheep he would keep him very close and a great book you might drop this down. It's an old book, but it's a great book by Helen and Philip Keller called a Shepherd looks at the 23rd Psalm he spends a whole chapter on this picture and he was an actual sheepherder for I think 8 to 10 years in Australia and he said in those 8 to 10 years as a shepherded large flocks.

He said never once did I see a cougar or a mountain lion.

I never saw one. He said, but lost scores of sheep. During that time. He said when you go through the darkness. You know where the predators are income out and get the sheep and then be gone eaten dead before I know anything he says it's a fearful thing though sheep when it get when they go to those valleys in the mountains were going up to the greener pasture. He said it's a fearful thing, but maybe three words to write down here and will develop first his presence.

Second is power. Third, his pruning, those are the three things that happened the reason we don't have to be afraid is number one in the midst of your crisis. What ever you're afraid of many things I tax manager afraid your marriage will never get better.

Maybe it's a fear about what's happening with one your kids maybe answer. I know what it is that wherever your crisis is wherever the darkness of your belly is. Here's the promise's presence. I will be with you. Hebrews 13 I will always be with you and never ever leave you or forsake you five negatives can't say stronger.

I don't understand how it works. All I know is that in the worst and most difficult times when we come to the end of ourselves.

God's presence.

This invisible hand is blowing up I think is what the apostle Paul experience in second Corinthians 12 member.

He was in a dark time in his body wasn't working, or some physical affliction in the skies got a vibrant prayer life and he says God image problem here says please take away this affliction, God is not as will perseverance God, please take us like gods is not the gun maybe don't get this. Please take this away apostle 13 books in the New Testament God says no.

And his answer is you need this adversity in your life because of my plan and my program and here's what I'm gonna give you my grace will be sufficient for you and Paul got it to the point that he'll go on to write, therefore he says I will most gladly rejoice in my weakness and distress in difficulties in painful situations because power is perfected in weakness.

God promises if you'll come wherever you're at he'll give you just enough grace for this moment not enough for tonight. Not enough for tomorrow. Not enough for next week.

He will hold you up right now and give you all that you need. That's his presence but notice the line FISA goes on to say Huron number. What I told you the rod was forced to kill predators your Shepherd. You have an enemy and when you're during me when you're in the dark times in your life. What about you, but the enemy swoops and he started to throw lies at you and huge ideas about shortcuts I visited very good marriage. True that when you and try another one you tired so and so blowing off financial needs and steal sophisticated and interesting when steel take life in your own hands.

Take a shortcut to figure out and he says when the enemy comes in and 10-Q or condemns you. He has a rod crushing jot down Ephesians chapter 6 and 18 God says you have armor you have weaponry you have the sort of spirit you have prayer he will protect you with his power. Be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might. Third, he has a staff and when you're in this dark valley time, believe it or not, God has again planned this even bigger than you getting through me getting through. I like to say to you I like to say you know what the times in my life when I, leaned back in my chair one day and said something. God is so good. My marriage is better than it's ever been all my kids are living exemplary lives and I got more money in the bank that I know what to do with my body feels good. Everything is awesome and wonderful. Those are the times I say, oh God in gratitude to you.

I just want to be more committed to you than I've ever been. You know what we do and things like that, left to ourselves. We forget my confession to you and yours probably would be to me. It's when I was in between jobs. When my marriage wasn't going very well. When we had major problems with one our kids, but I've been in ICU with a close friend or one of my children when I've been so down on myself, but I thought God if you don't show up in power and grace. You.

Is there a train somewhere I can get on and just go hide in his been in those dark times that God has shown up in powerful powerful ways and you know what is done. He's usually pruned me. I have learned more.

He's been about changing me, helping me see things that I would've never seen except for I'm in the valley of the shadow. You see, you don't have to fear evil, because you know his presence will be with you is Carl take care the enemy in your own flesh.

He is going to use those difficult times. As James chapter 1 reminds us consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect perfect result, you may be perfect and mature, complete, lacking in nothing. He's in the change you the first thing you need to remember and I mean remember is this, you do not have to be in want because the great Shepherd will provide all your needs. So whatever your needs are run to him.

Second thing is you don't have to fear you can be afraid. You can struggle.

That's human but you don't have to be paralyzed by fear why because the great Shepherd will protect you.

Now the psalmist of something very interesting. He's given us this image and he takes that metaphor and he gently lays it on the shelf and then he comes over, and he reaches another metaphor out of his culture, because where he's going to end with this Psalm is not down in the doldrums is not to be out of fear he is going to celebrate understanding who God is and now the metaphor changes to a bank and banquets and feasts and celebrations were filled with food and music and join relationships and hugs and kisses and people being together.

Notice now. He says I will dwell in the house of the Lord. That's his third confident affirmation. But here's why.

Because the shepherd promises an abundant life now and forever.

And by the way, abundant life. Does that ring a bell member of Jesus in John 1010 I've come they might have life and you can have it abundantly. The word really means spilling over overflowing doesn't mean that you can drive fancy cars and I have great houses never have a problem. It means you can overflow from the inside, out of the overflow of your resources with Christ regardless of what you go through it can be rich. It can be deeply can be powerful can be wonderful and it can be that if you have this income or this and come with your healthy as a horse when they have cancer.

That's what it means to have an abundant life means to be deeply connected to God in such a way that circumstances have the power to dominate your life. You are defined by your relationship with God will notice the three pictures is to give us here. He says you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. This is a great picture in ancient near Eastern culture to eat a meal with more than like going to McDonald's. It was a fellowship. It was a is an especially a banquet piece is prepare a table. The idea is it is a big celebration and when they would have a great military victory. The general who had the picture would come in literally on a white horse. Psalm 68. You might check out Ephesians chapter 4 and he would come in with his troops and then the plunder and then all the captives and then they would have this great celebration giving credit to God for the great victory and they would have a feast I need a awesome eat all you want, but then they would have situated around them. The captives where their enemies would be watching them eat and enjoy the victory and the splendor as a humiliation to let them know our God is greater than your God, the battles in the Old Testament were conflicts of nations and at the heart of most of the battles had to do with a conflict with deities is Jehovah God really the God or is it Molex or is it bail. He says here a banquet in the midst of his enemies. Deliverance see what God promises is a banquet were what he wants to do in your life is he wants to give you victory over your number one enemy which is not taxes, not cancer, not a relationship.

It's not quite as fulfilling not a wayward child, your number one enemy is sin. We are a slave. According to Scripture whatever we obey and left to yourself. You are a slave to sin.

You are a slave to want to do this and find yourself doing that you're slated to knowing what it looks like to be a good dad a good mom, a good person if your person can find yourself constantly doing the opposite.

And this is what he wants to do first is give you peace. The abundant life is characterized by peace, uniting peace and salvation deliverance from your Romans five wants is, therefore, having been justified by faith, we have Present tense peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. If you're here today and you've never experienced the saving grace, the forgiveness of all your sins washed away in the power of sin broken in your life you have a new master Christ and the power to say no to sin. And yes to righteousness, and you want the peace that comes when come to the shepherd. That's the first thing he wants to get the second thing there is in this abundant life is more than peace is joy. Notice it's as you anoint my head with oil my cup overflows. And if you are the host and you get this huge banquet is a victory. Banquets like the victory party as every guest would come and then take olive oil mixed with some perfume and spices and they would pour it on them as they honor they washed their feet and they would want them to know this is a celebration. You are special and ID of the comp overflowing. It's just a little picture of pay, were not giving out goodness in eyedropper seer. It's not you know watch how much you eat. It is, there's the table. It is filled is for you is lavish is a picture of God's goodness he wants to do good things for us spiritually and in every other way. He says an answer and let me give you victory your enemies, peace, and then let me give you joy and joy comes from fellowship with him sit down and eat with me.

Revelation 320 member that behold I stand at the door not if any man, any person, anyone, any child, any student hears my voice and opens the door of their heart, and says I will come into them and what what to say that and will eat with them and they with me. See eating in the Bible is always a picture of fellowship, unity, communion, relationship, byproduct July you see the banquet God invites you to is not just one where there's deliverance and not just joy but look at the last part of verse six.

Surely goodness and love will follow me to work all means pursue what happened to the Asian market where we can turn out. You know what offer to testimonies about cancer. Should I go to check on one of him to cancel when someone allows you cancer you what that is, anxiety and fear.

You want that belief system is a commitment that according to CNN and Fox network, ABC, CBS, the world's a bad, bad, bad place. It happens everyone all the time instead of the world's fallen place sovereignly run by a good God wants to give you goodness. Interesting word lavish love and acid mercy steadfastly loyal covenant commitment to you in whatever you and it doesn't follow behind you kids pursuing your pursuing you how long all the days of your life.

The shepherd says come come. I'll give you peace, forgiveness for your sins.

I'll give you joy fellowship with me and I'll give you hope and get up every day knowing God's plan for today is good, his goodness and his love are like guardrails on your life and everything that comes in, even in a fallen world, even from the enemy, even from your own flesh. He is going to orchestrate in a way to bring about the highest best good in you and is this an offer you can't refuse or what turn to the final page. Let's talk now about an action step shall then can you experience God's peace and power in your situation today. I mean, some of your sitting here thinking man. Fantastic, I just I didn't realize you know Jesus when he say I am the good Shepherd that the sheep know my voice.

I came he might have life and have it abundantly out lots of ear piercing man am I glad Jesus is my shepherd, but what if you're here you asking to be your savior, but maybe it's been months ago or years ago or many years ago and you find yourself here and you feel distant from God, and you think I can I really get in on this. Yes that's why God brought you today so you can get in on this.

He wants you to come back into the fold so he can love you provide for you, protect you and give you his promise and there may be others here.

You say you know something I'm not in the family. I don't know what you're talking about.

I can imagine people standing up and saying this is how God was with me. I can imagine people saying I don't know whether I'm delivered Diane on and with the treatments are but I can tell you I'm not afraid I have peace if there's anything in your heart in your world. It says you know what I like to know that God you need to act on that you need to receive Jesus as your Savior need to receive him as your shepherd to forgive you. Cleanse you come in your life and give you eternal life dwell with him forever. Here's what you need understand it's very simple need understand one that we are all sheet is not picking on us. Jot down if you would Isaiah 53. Six all we like sheep going astray.

We have turned everyone to our own way, but the Lord has laid upon him Messiah Jesus, the iniquities of us all. We are all she Jesus paid the price. Second, every sheet needs a ship. She but don't have a shepherd get in trouble and die. Every sheet needs a shepherd. Third, Jesus wants to be your shepherd today. If you're not as close as you need to be elect to take that staff and kinda pool you in close and if you're not on the second and on the team and his family. He wants you to pray and say will you be my shepherd, I turned for my sin. I believe that what you did on the cross was payment but you rose from the dead. If I can listen to this appeal from Jesus's own lips come to me.

Listen, come to me who all you who are weary and burdened anybody qualify and I will give you rest. Spiritually, physically and psychologically.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. In other words, get in the furnace with me to life my way and you don't have to be afraid, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and not pushy and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy. All carrier and my burden is light. If you're Christian that needs to return to Christ. I encourage you to do that today and if you're a person that is never received Jesus as your Savior.

I like to give you invitation to do that right now. You'll notice that there's a prayer of faith on the bottom. I want to read it and then I'm gonna pray and if you would like to respond. I encourage you to do that right now it says.

Today I ask you Jesus to be my shepherd. Think about if you want to do that. I ask you to provide for my needs and protect me from evil. Today I take you up on your promise of abundant life. And then if you never ask him to forgive you if you never asked him to be your Savior than pray I ask you to forgive my sins and let me dwell in your house forever and then for all of us today. I surrender my life to your wise and good leadership made me the person you want and then are you ready for this. Notice what it says on the bottom sign I like to sign your name and we live in a day working people don't make you think God wants commitments. So let me ask how could you invite Jesus to forgive you of your sins to come into your life and if so, let me give you just a little counsel number one tell someone do it today and get on the phone. Text a friend tell a pastor that you known an old college roommate. I don't know. It is, but that person that you think is the best Christian you've ever met. Tell them you know something you been sharing with me today.

I invited Christ into my life and let them know number two is get connected. You need to be in a good Bible teaching church effect. Beyond that, you need to find a group of people that you feel comfortable with and get in a Bible study get with some people that you like that you can connect with that can help you grow and by the way at as you grow, drop me an email but tell me what's going on your life. Share your story. I have lots of long plane rides and I love to read stories of how God is working in people's lives. God bless you, and I'm thrilled for you today. If you prayed with Chip hope you'll take a minute and call us at 1-888-333-6003. Would love to talk with you and get a free resource in your hands that will help you understand what you just did and where to go from here if you'd rather go to our website LivingontheEdge.org where you'll find that same resource on the new believers tab. We just want to help you get started on your new journey of faith as we close today's program. I just need to tell you thank you thank you thank you I can tell you thousands of people prayed and received Christ and their eternity was changed.

I mean we have over a million people listening to me just even the percentage when the gospel goes out. God uses it, and the gospel goes out because we partner together. We have a group of people that pray thank you very very much. We have a group of people that that give one time gifts with a group of people to give monthly.

I just want to say to each one of you.

Thank you.

I want you to rejoice that God work today because of our joint partnership together. God bless you, keep pressing ahead just before we close. We want you to know that as a staff we asked the Lord to help chips, teaching, strengthen your faith and we ask him to help you no matter where you are on your faith journey to confidently take whatever your next step is. Would love to hear roads going would you take a minute and send a note to chip@livingontheedge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003. Until next time, this is Dave really saying thanks for listening. This edition of living, albeit