Christ Church of Ballenger Creek

Home |  Worship | Sharing in Missions | Building Relationships |

Growing & Discipleship | Service & Ministry

Sermon Notes

August 28, 2005

John M. Wunderlich, III

Christ United Methodist Church of Ballenger Creek

“Rock Bottom”

Acts 16:19-34 and Psalm 31

I. Introduction

A. “When I got home from school, Dad was throwing a suitcase into his car. I said, “Hey Dad!” but he quietly got in the car and drove off. As I entered the kitchen I found Mom staring blankly out the window.”

B. “As soon as I got into my office, I knew something was wrong. My boss followed me in and shut the door behind him. After 17 years with the company they’re letting me go. I can’t believe I got laid off.”

C. “I called my best friend today and she told me she’s been diagnosed with cancer. The doctor said she only has a month, maybe six weeks. What’s she going to tell her kids?”

D. “Back at school this week and that same group of guys is giving me trouble again. They jumped me during lunch today, but none of my “so-called friends” seemed to care.”

II. Transition

A. Did hearing any of these situations make you uncomfortable? Did any of them hit a little close to home?

1) Were you filling in the gaps with names and faces?

2) Did you find yourself thinking of specific situations and people in your own past? Or maybe your own present?

B. I’d venture to say that most of us, if not all of us, have hit rock bottom at least once.

1) Do you remember what that feels like?

2) Do you remember how desperate, lonely, depressed and without hope you were?

C. How did you respond once you picked yourself up off the floor and looked around?

1) Did you sulk? Did you get angry? Did you blame someone?

2) Did you shake your fist and get determined to get back on top?

III. We all have days when all we can do is look up.

A. The question is: how do we deal with being at the very bottom and looking up?

B. That’s important because I think there are three important pieces for us to consider when we hit rock bottom.

1) Our situation, our response, and God’s response.

2) When we hit the bottom we tend to have problems in all three of these areas.

a) We have too narrow a view of our situation.

b) We don’t give enough thought to our response.

c) We really don’t expect God to respond!

IV. Let’s look at two guys in the New Testament who hit the bottom hard. Let’s check out their response see what we can learn and find out how God acted to support them.

A. Acts 16:23-34

B. First, look at their situation.

1) Through our eyes it can only look like this: they’re in jail.

a) They had just been dragged through town.

b) The authorities stripped them, had them caned and then flogged.

c) Finally, they were thrown into prison, in the innermost cell where they were chained and put in the stocks.

d) Essentially, they’re toast (beaten, imprisoned, and soon to be forgotten).

2) Through spiritual eyes their situation looks much different:

a) They have a long-term perspective.

b) “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18.

c) The present gets overwhelmed by a God-given picture of the future.

d) Only things that matter are God, His plan, His faithfulness.

e) “But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” – Daniel 3:18.

3) Most of us have too narrow a view of our situation and never develop the ability to see what God sees.

a) We never develop spiritual sight (“cloudy” vision).

b) A heavenly perspective that puts events in the context of eternity and God’s plan.

C. Now, look at Paul and Silas’ response.

1) Now that they have a clear picture of their situation and develop a heavenly picture of events (they get “cloudy” vision) they are ready to respond.

2) Through our eyes their response makes no sense:

a) I’d be planning my daring escape!

b) Chained in prison, beaten and bloodied, they decide to have church. They are singing and praying and proclaiming the word of God.

3) Through the eyes of faith …

a) It’s a response that is both Biblical and obvious (if not to us, certainly to them).

i. “I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise will always be on my lips.” – Psalm 34:1

ii. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints.” – Ephesians 6:18.

b) They understand that God’s wisdom far exceeds their own, that God’s plan is far greater than they imagine.

c) They are content to rest in God’s care even in the midst of jail.

4) We don’t typically give much thought to our response.

a) We usually let one of two things determine our response: our anger and our fear.

b) Therefore, responding out of our “cloudy vision” means responding from a more heavenly and Godly perspective.

D. Now, look at God’s response to Paul and Silas.

1) Through our eyes or God’s the response is immediate and unmistakable.

2) Deliverance, relief from suffering, power, salvation.

3) Did anyone there doubt that God had intervened on Paul and Silas’ behalf?

4) I think one of the reasons that we don’t see God respond in this way is that we don’t expect to see God respond at all!

a) After all, God helps those who help themselves.

b) It’s really all up to us!

c) It’s all about God, until the going gets tough and then we want back in the driver’s seat.

V. To close, let’s look at Psalm 31 and talk for a minute about some things that make “looking up” easier.

A. God’s response is out of our hands. God will respond as God sees fit.

1) Our perspective on our situation needs to change, too.

2) But the place where we have our biggest area of influence is over our response. (Influence over ourselves, not influence over God)

B. So, from Psalm 31; here are: “Five Things To Do When You Are Down and Looking Up.”

1) Take refuge in God. (verse 1).

a) Refuge means safety and strength.

b) Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”

c) Recognize that your hands are in the hands of “the one who calmed the sea.”

2) Commit your situation to the Lord. (verse 5)

a) This involves two things: giving up your control (or the illusion of it).

b) And giving control over to God.

c) I Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.

d) Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

e) Let go! Give up!

3) Rejoice in God’s love. (verse 7)

a) Paul and Silas did this (Acts 16:25).

b) Don’t rejoice in the situation; rejoice in God!

4) Trust God. (verse 14)

a) Trust that God has your best interests at heart.

b) Trust that like a good parent, God will give you what you need.

c) Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

d) You’re not that smart.

5) Call to God for help. (verse 22)

a) It’s okay, admit you need help.

b) The Bible calls it “crying out to God.”

c) Psalm 72:12 – “For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.”

VI. Hitting the bottom is never something you plan for. It’s always a surprise.

A. And because it comes so suddenly, it catches us off guard.

B. In order to be ready when we hit the bottom, we have to cultivate the attitudes we need at the bottom while we’re at the top.

1) That’s the value of the list from Psalm 31.

2) It gives us a head start before we ever hit bottom.

C. Ask yourself a question like this … “Today if it all falls apart I’m going to …”

D. Even if your at the bottom right now; spend some time with Psalm 31 and begin to get “cloudy vision” that will let you respond as the psalmist responds.

E. And soon you will find that God will raise you up!

end