Dealing with Disappointment

Darren Rogers, Bethany Baptist Church, Pwallguam, United Kingdom 

Dealing with Disappointment

Exodus 15

We we gain victory in one moment, be prepared, disappointment is probably "just around the corner."

Exodus 15 is a song of victory from Moses.

• It will affect us personally
• We will need to encourage others
• v2 - my strength...my song...my salvation
• a song of praise and testimony
• then, v 23 came bitterness at Marah

Always the same, a great victory, then disappointment.  The wilderness or human experience.

"Great success is often followed by great failure." Usually, "when we let our guard down." Murmuring follows victory which leads to failure. See verse 24.

Moses never promoted himself as the greatest leader Israel ever had.  In fact, at the burning bush, he asked the Lord to "send someone else." (Exo 4.13)

Murmuring about the water, which is a big problem considering over one million people plus animals that needed to stay hydrated in the desert.

1. too much water at the Red Sea
2. no water in the desert
3. bitter water - could not drink it

Red Sea experiences are often followed by "Marah" or bitter experiences.  After every mountain top, one may expect a valley. However, remember "God will provide."  Bear in mind the One who brought you to this place. Following the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, God lead them to this place, not Moses. Moses merely obeyed.

Verse 25, God allows these things and provides.  Is your water bitter?  God can fix it. Our witness and testimony is not tested on the mountain top(s) but proven in the hard, dry, bitter times. Indeed it is easy to trust the Lord in the successes but what about the failures? It is difficult to like somebody when they disagree with you or just plain "get on your nerves."

"Disappointments reveal more about us than the circumstances"

-Ps 34.18-

• The model seems to be "when in doubt, blame someone else."
• "Moses, we were better off as slaves in Egypt than free men in the wilderness."
• the tendency is to focus on what is wrong in the moment rather than what He has done for us before. answered prayer is typically forgotten during the times of failure.
• murmuring and complaining leads to resentment which is like a cancer eating away inside        (Eph 4.31)

Moses did not lash out at all the murmuring and complaining.  His response? He cried unto the Lord. (verse 25).  He prayed.  Bitter water was made sweet. The tree that made bitter water sweet had been there all along.  God's solution to your disappointment(s) was "there all the time."

The tree at Marah that made bitter water sweet.

The solution to make bitter into sweet.

A truer statement has never been said, "sometimes the thing we are disappointed in will never change." But we understand the Lord can "change us." (I Pet 5.7)

"God is the Master of reversing hurts"

Look at Joseph in Genesis 37.  Sold into slavery and treated unjustly by family and friends, so-called. He could have become bitter and gotten revenge. Yet in the end he forgave and was restored.  He had to wait a long time but was rewarded in his patience and forgiving heart. (Gen 50.20)

• Verse 27 demonstrates an oasis in the middle of the great Sinai desert.  "All the water they could want." 
• "A place of rest and restoration."
•  How far was Elam from Marah? "Just around the corner!" Just a few steps away from giving up! 
• Too close to victory and often we give up too quick.

There is an oasis in your disappointment when you wait on the Lord to change you even if He does not change the circumstance.

Wait, I say, on the Lord

-Ps 27.14-

How long should a believer wait? Keep going! Past the frustrations, bitterness and disappointment.  Elam was a few steps from Marah.  "Just around the corner."  Not the time to "throw in the towel."  Take it to the Lord.  Perseverance is a hallmark testimony for every believer.

God bless and keep you is our prayer.

Danger of our Days

 The voice is gone but sounding like a trumpet in the hearing today!

                                      Danger of our Days - Billy Mitchell                                                              (you may find the entire message by clicking the title above)

• "A lost person gets disturbed.  If you can LIVE in sin and not be bothered," you better check up! 
• FREE WILL? "Man can will to will but not will to act."  "Will" died in the garden.
• "Folks have been trained 'how to do it' without the Holy Spirit inside."
• "Did you have a Good meeting? "Well we had some professions."  "Wait two or three years and see."
• "The reason you are saved, He came to where YOU were."  "You COULD NOT come to Him."
• "Just because they have religion, they think they are right with God."
  
• "knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men..." (2 Cor 5.11)
• "Salvation is by grace not works." (Eph 2.8, 9)
• A man that will not submit "has a rotten place in their life."
• "They are thinking about a TV program, not the preaching - asleep while awake." (Eph 5.14)
• "The devil wants you occupied in legitimate things, (smartphone, laptop, TV, cable, golfing/football etc...on Sunday) so your mind is messed up because you took off the helmet of salvation.
• "We are not like the liberals 'down at that other church.' But we are as cold as they are."
• "How long has it been since you went out to get somebody and told them what God did for you?" Not door to door but a specific individual the Lord led you to.

This preacher came into my life in my early teens.  His message on sin and the dangers of it never wavered.  He backs it all up by the scripture.  One service I filled up two or three pages front and back while he quoted bible along with his preaching.  You may trust the Spirit filled words from this man.  God bless you as you soak it up.  It is my pleasure to witness and share with you.  Ps 57.7

Bible Math

The verse that generated the idea of "Bible Math, " is found in Psalm 90.12.  ...Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom."  What does it mean to number our days?"  When one looks at numbers in the bible, one usually thinks of what a number means.  

While various numbers DO have meaning, that will not be the focus of today's topic.

When the writer of Psalm 90, most likely Moses, penned these words, what was he thinking?  If you believe Moses wrote the Word of God and was inspired by the Spirit of God, then you will want to pay attention.  

Moses has been characterized as the "meekest" man in the scripture, except for the Lord Jesus, of course. Moses would have to be such a humble man to have led two million plus people across the desert sands thru the Red Sea.  He encountered complaints galore;  

•  Lack of Water (Bitter Water at Marah): Shortly after leaving Egypt, they complained about no water and then bitter water, which Moses fixed.
  

Lack of Food (Manna and Quail): They complained about starving and missed the meats and vegetables of Egypt, leading God to provide manna and quail. 
Constant Complaints about Manna: They eventually grew tired of the manna, calling it "wretched food".
No Water (Rephidim): They complained and threatened to stone Moses when there was no water to drink, demanding to know why they were brought out of Egypt.
Rebellion of Spies (Numbers 14): After hearing a negative report from spies, the community feared entering Canaan, accused God of bringing them to die, and demanded to return to Egypt.
Leadership and Authority: Aaron and Miriam questioned Moses's authority, and later groups like Korah rebelled against his leadership.
Impatience and Fatigue:  Because of the difficult journey, they grumbled against God and Moses again, causing the punishment of poisonous snakes.
Complaining Relative: Moses' sister, Miriam complained about his authority. The response? God struck her with leprosy and held up the march thru the wilderness for seven days until she repented.

All of these things and much more took place in the space of 40 years.  We know that when Moses came down from Mount Sinai the first time, (Exo 32.19) he saw the people dancing around a golden calf.  He was so enraged by their lack of obedience to God concerning idol worship that he smashed the tablets written by the finger of God! God gave him a second set of tablets but as long as the Ark was in evidence, the broken things were kept inside as a reminder of such disobedience.  

Reaping and sowing are still in the book (Gal 6.7-9) as well as repentance (Acts 3.19) and forgiveness (1 Jn 1.9)

So, where does "bible math," fit in with humility and anger?  I believe that given who wrote the words teach us to number our days, that we may apply our heart to wisdom, we have much to learn.

Each day should be regarded as a fresh start, a new page, a beginning.  Regardless of how "messed up" previous day(s) may have been. 

As/when we grow older and reflect back on our days, we should be inclined to see the errors so we may "do better" and "get it right" the next time.  This is how we grow in grace. (2 Pet 3.18) Scripture also teaches to take one day at a time. (Mt 6.34)

So, Brother Moses learned to number (his) days, that he could apply (his) heart to wisdom. In other words, if one thing didn't work, he tried, by faith and prayer, something else.  He also learned to wait on the Lord in the beginning of this forty year trek thru the wilderness.  Remember when seven plagues had to visit Egypt before Pharaoh would let (the) people go? (Exo 9.1-7)

Conclusion? No matter how old you are, there is always something to learn.  This is the Lord's purpose and plan for us. The Holy Spirit, as Teacher and Guide (Jn 14.26) will be available to any believer who trusts Him.

Instead of counting your days as you get older, determine to ask 

• What have I learned from this experience? 
  
• What can I learn from this experience

That, dear believer, is "Bible Math."

God bless and keep you.

the Vine

A very healthy Vine

 

O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; (Ps 80.14)

What/who does the "Vine" represent?

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 

• Plainly stated, the Lord indicates He is the "true vine."  
• We will look further in answer to the Psalmist statement to "visit this vine."

The first question that we would entertain is "why did 'they' go away from this vine?"

The Lord is very clear on what happens to those who do so.  Why did the "branches" wither on the vine?

Working in the Vineyard

Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that i may bring forth more fruit. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;

I AM the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.

IF a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they ARE burned. (Jn 15.1-6)

"Vine" in the Hebrew means, "to bend; as twining, particularly the grape vine."

Simply put, the branches that did not bend and dried up, were probably never fully developed shoots.

Branches may die due to disease, overwatering or winter injury.  There are techniques to bring them back to health. However, it's best to prune them all the way back to the vine so new shoots may replace them.

The point of the branch is to "bear fruit."

To any believer, spiritual application should be obvious.  The Lord was plain about His role as the vine. He was also clear about what happens to unfruitful branches.

• The Psalmist prayed that the God of heaven would visit the vine.

What will God find when He visits your branch?  Clearly, God the Father and God the Son have much communion and fellowship.  A Father loves His Son and wants to visit Him often.  Again, "what will God find when He visits The vine you are attached to?  

• Will He find ripe, juicy fruit attached to The healthy vine?
• Will He find a withered, brown, good for the fire branch?

The Lord has no use in His work for things that are withered and used up. (Mt 6.30)  Joshua reminds us in 24.15, to choose you this day whom ye shall serve.  

• Will you remain healthy and fruitful by absorbing His Word? (Eph 5.26)
• Will you remain disease free? (Deu 7.15, Eph 4.13)
• Will you stay confessed up and free from sin as much as possible? 
• (Mt 24.12, I Jn 1.7-9) 
• Do you desire fellowship with the Father?
  

or this?

Does your fruit look like this?

• 
  

Ups and Downs

 Sometimes our emotions ARE up and down.  

• How are we to remain even and "steady?"

Recently, this blogger has been in that frame of mind.  

• How is one to combat such conflicting emotions? 
• It is true that life gives us plenty of emotions, "up and down," "happy and sad," "calm and anxious..."

Current devotions have been in the Psalms. The Psalmist reflects this posture frequently.  It simply means we are human.  Still, 

• how do we remain more constant, thus peaceful?

The first verse that comes to mind is not in Psalms but in the NT, in 2 Corinthians.  The statement, yea, declarations, have calmed my heart on many occasion(s).  In verse 8 and 9, the most profound thoughts should calm any anxious soul; We are troubled on every side, YET NOT distressed; we are perplexed, BUT NOT in despair; Persecuted, BUT NOT forsaken; cast down, BUT NOT destroyed; (my favorite)

Why or how can we stay "upbeat?" Because we are always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest IN OUR (the believer's) body. (V10)

Then, in verse 15 we are given further explanation on how we may remain steady and peaceful.  We have the knowledge that For all things are for your sakes, that the ABUNDANT GRACE through the THANKSGIVING of many redound to the GLORY OF GOD. Bro. Paul said this best, I die daily. (I Cor 15.31)

Grace, grace and more grace with thanksgiving may keep a believer, "steady and peaceful."

Back to current devotion in the Psalms.  The writer said in 75.1, Unto Thee, O God, do we give thanks...for that Thy name is near any wondrous works declare.  Then, he recognized that "fools" act "foolishly." The tone of the verse also seems to indicate that such ones are proud and arrogant in their dealings and behaviors, indicated in verses 4-6.  

When realizing how "foolish" such behaviors are, he also notes a truth in verse 6 and 7; 

promotion cometh neither from the east...west...(or) south. BUT GOD is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another. After this realization, faith comes back into the light when he says in verse 9, I WILL declare for ever; I WILL sing praises to the God of Jacob. 

With this affirmation, another truth is remembered in verse 10, ...the wicked also will I cut off; BUT the righteous shall be exalted.

IT IS peaceful, in the arms of my Lord...

Yes, as human beings we are prone to "ups and downs."  As believers, however, when immersed in the Word of the Lord and what words we have "hid in our hearts," we may remain calm, steady and peaceful.  The song writer said it best, "it's so peaceful in the arms of my Lord..." 

God bless and keep you as you navigate this most holy faith. (Jude 1.20)