Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "The more deeply we grow into the psalms and the more often we pray them as our own, the more simple and rich will our prayer become." Join us as we spend the next few weeks of the summer growing into the Psalms and enriching our conversations with God.
When Faith Gets Wobbly
Speakers
Tonderai Bassoppo-Moyo
Associate Pastor
Worship
Notes
First Time Guest? Let us know!
Lessons from Asaph:
What we do, who we are, and where we are does not exempt us from our faith in God having to stand trial.
Psalm 73:1-28 (NIV) “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?” This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”
Lessons from Asaph:
God is the rule by which our faith is to be evaluated.
QUESTION #1: WHAT LEADS TO WOBBLY FAITH?
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Psalm 73:1 (NIV) “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.”
1 - A faulty understanding of God’s goodness
Good = Towb
What God does externally is always perfectly consistent with who He is internally.
2 - A faulty understanding of the evidence of faith
QUESTION #2: WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT OUR FAITH HAS BECOME WOBBLY?
1 - Envy
2 - Discontentedness
3 - Victim Mentality
Psalm 73:3 (NIV) “For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
Proverbs 14:30 (NIV) A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
James 1:2-4 (NIV) Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I never knew the meaning of God’s word, until I came into affliction. I have always found it one of my best schoolmasters.
Martin Luther
QUESTION #3: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR FAITH BECOMES WOBBLY?
Psalm 73:15-20 (NIV)
If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
1 - Watch your confession
2 - Go into the sanctuary of God
3 - See faith as eternal and not momentary
QUESTION #4: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF WOBBLY FAITH?
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Exodus 25:22 (NIV) There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Psalm 73:21-28 (NIV)
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.