Life Has Its Up and Downs

Text: Psalm 31:1-24
 
Introduction: Have you noticed, life is full of UPS and DOWNS! Are you UP or DOWN? You know whether we are UP or DOWN we can go straight to the Lord Jesus. Our FAITH & TRUST should be in Him. Psalm 31 is Power – Packed with TRUTH:
 

1. First, check out the five (5) REASONS we can have CONFIDENCE in our God! (Psalm 31:1-5)

” In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. 2Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. 4Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. 5Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.”

  • Reason #1. The Lord is My DELIVERER! (v. 1)
  • Reason #2. The Lord is My ROCK! (v. 2)
  • Reason #3. The Lord is My FORTRESS! (v. 3)
  • Reason #4. The Lord is My STRENGTH! (v. 4)
  • Reason #5. The Lord is My REDEEMER! (v. 5)
 

2. Second, check out the five (5) VALLEYS in life we face! (Psalm 31:9-13)

“9Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 11I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. 12I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. 13For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.”

  • VALLEYS of TROUBLE (v. 9)
  • VALLEYS of GRIEF (v. 10)
  • VALLEYS of REPROACH (v. 11)
  • VALLEYS of BROKENESS (v. 12)
  • VALLEYS of FEAR (v. 13)
 

3. Third, check out the three (3) WAYS we can TRUST our LORD! (Psalm 31:15-18)

“15My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake. 17Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. 18Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”

  • We need to Acknowledge our life is in HIS HANDS! (v. 15)
  • We need to ask our LORD for His FAVOR! (v. 16)
  • We need to appeal to our LORD for BOLDNESS! (vv. 17, 18)
 

4. Fourth, check out the seven (7) BLESSINGS for THANKING God! (Psalm 31:19-24)

“9Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 21Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. 22For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. 23O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”

  • THANK JESUS for His GOODNESS! (v. 19)
  • THANK JESUS for His PRESENCE! (v. 20)
  • THANK JESUS for His KINDNESS! (v. 21)
  • THANK JESUS for His CARE! (v. 22)
  • THANK JESUS for His PRESERVATION! (v. 23)
  • THANK JESUS for His STRENGTH! (v. 24)
 
Conclusion: The Psalmist gives us adequate reasons for getting UP when we are DOWN! Our Lord Jesus is TRUSTWORTHY! If you feel DOWN, LOOK UP!
 
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese