Oct 23

October 23, 2011 - Getting the DIS out of Disappointment Part 3

Written by Pastor Joseph Adams.

#1 Everybody Has Been Disappointed – Even Heroes of the Faith

Adam
Jeremiah

Jeremiah 12:1-2 - 1 You are always righteous, LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? 2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

John The Baptist

Luke 7:18-19 - 18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Gideon

Judges 6:12-13 - 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” 13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

#2 Express Your Disappointment to God

Judges 6:13 - 13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

Luke 7:19b - “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

#3 - Embrace the Blessings You Have

Judges 6:14 - 14 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

Ephesians 1:3 - 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 1:7 - 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Philippians 4:13 - 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

#4 Exchange Your Thoughts of Disappointment for God’s Thoughts of Who You Are and What You Can Do in Him.

Judges 6:12 - 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

Judges 6:15-16 - 15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 16 The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

God gave Gideon a declaration of the present (“Mighty Warrior”) and a vision of the future (“you will…”).

#5 Extend Your Offering to the Lord

Judges 6:18 - 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” And the LORD said, “I will wait until you return.”