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SERMON DATE AND TITLE: 2011-02-13: "Why Me?"This page streams the audio-only sermon, when available, in downloadable SWF flash format. It begins playing upon opening this pageWant a download or CD copy? Read this. The sermon outline is below. |
WHY ME, GOD? SERMON STARTER Amid all of our country's wealth and affluence we still maintain a "cult of victimization." Our political system rests on a majority bullying the weak. Our jurisprudence system is based on a dichotomous system of plaintiff and defendant, which is perpetrator and victim. Society itself is divided between the "haves" and the "have-nots." This dichotomy has bred a mentality among people that reason simplistically in black and white. We have people whining to us about life's injustice. No matter what the political, financial, or cultural climate, the whiners never stop their endless litany of complaints. "That's not fair!" "Why's everybody picking on me?" "Nobody has troubles like me!" "Everything bad happens to me!" Why me?" This sermon explores from a Biblical basis the role of victims and how to change from being a victim to being an overcomer.
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February 13, 2011 - Sheepfold Ministries Pastor Phil Roland
WHY ME, GOD? ROMANS 8:34-37 - LUKE 13:1-5 “It's easy to like a victim to life's circumstances and get mad at God. God doesn't need to repent from our anger over injustice, we do.” Pastor Phil
Romans 8:37 "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." I. "WHY ME?" PEOPLE FEEL LIKE GOD'S VICTIMS A. Bad things happen to Good People - Luke 13:1-5 "There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 1. Religious people worshipping God, die for their faith 2. Hard-Working people, building tradesmen, die unfairly 3. Jesus Message: Repent and Be Ready B. The "Rain" of Calamity falls on the Just and Unjust - Matt. 5:45b ". . . He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. " 1. There is no way to predict when prosperity or calamity fall 2. God allows bad things to happen to good people 3. God allows good things to happen to bad people 4. Life's not back and white B. We wrongly believe we deserve to be blessed 1. We have honored God 2. We have been a good person 3. We have fed the hungry 4. We have helped our neighbor C. We wrongly believe that this will keep us from harm's way 1. Something bad happens, it always will 2. We are confused and ask God "why" 3. Grow up and change your immature thinking D. "Why?" questions are impossible to answer 1. God didn't even answer His own Son on the Cross 2. Why should He answer you? 3. His Word, however, does have the answer
WHY ME, GOD?," cont. p.2
E. "Why Me" Christians have a "Victim Mentality" 1. We are NOT God's Victims 2. We are God's Victors - Romans 8:35-39 (NKJV) distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. II. "WHY ME?" PEOPLE CAN BECOME GOD'S OVERCOMERS A. James says Trials can lead to Joy - James 1:2-4 (NKJV) the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." 1. Why can we consider trials JOYFULLY? Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." 2. God always provides a way of escape - 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 3. The Buzzard, the Bat and the Bumble Bee Illustration B. It is Possible to step out of the Immature "Victim Role" 1. "Why's everybody pickin' on me?" 2. Children see life in black and white: victims and bullies 3. Victim Roles are handed out in very Dysfunctional families 4. You can reject the role and become an "Overcomer" C. Five Steps to becoming an Overcomer 1. Become Pro-Active instead of Re-Active a. Avoid “Buying into someone else’s emotional state” b. Someone else may be agitated and/or angry c. This doesn’t mean you have to become like them. 2. Don't allow others to set your Personal Boundaries by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.” James 5:12 a. Tell others around you what you like and/or dislike. b. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no. . . 3. Decide to become a Mature Person in Relationships a. Never do anything for anyone that they are capable of doing for themselves b. Respect the right of others to determine their own destiny by making their own choices
WHY ME, GOD?," cont. p.3
c. Decide that you do not need someone else to become d. God has made you whole. e. God in you is a majority 4. Practice Assertiveness in your Relationship with Others a. Tell the other person how you feel without intentionally causing them pain b. Speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:14-15 ". . .we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. . .but, speaking the truth in love, may (we) grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--" c. Do not attempt difficult confrontations on the telephone, US Postal Mail, email, text message or d. Jesus taught us to communicate face to face "So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, (against you) rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:3 (NIV) a. Don’t major on the minors b. Do you have to win every argument? c. Be sure the hobby horse you’re on is the right one. d. Never give an adversary the choice of battle topics f. The war in your heart must be won first. -2 Cor. 10:4,5 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," g. Remember, sometimes the one who wins the battle loses the war. D. Jesus Christ makes us His Overcomers WHY ME, GOD? Illustration:
TRIALS AND FRUSTRATIONS If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight yards square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top. The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches come slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash. A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself. In many ways, there are lot of people like that buzzard, the bat, and the bee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there "above" them. Author Unknown
WHY ME, GOD? TEXTS: Luke 13:1-5 (NKJV) Romans 8:34-39
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