Bring My Soul Out Of Prison

THERE ARE NO SUPER SAINTS! That is the first lesson of our look at David today. We all struggle with the same challenges in life—that is the message of James 5.17.  

       James 5:17 "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months."

The only other time this word "with a nature like people of Lystra" was used (Acts 14:15) they were human and not divine. Sometimes we need to realize the same thing. God's greatest servants—David, Paul, and Elijah are made of the same stuff we are. Their greatness is of God not of themselves.

GOD WANTS TO USE US.  Life is hard, and people all around us struggle. Here is what one wife and mother who was active in church, had a wonderful home and marriage once said: "Eyes get red from weeping.  The heavy weights of sorrow press down.  Depression, that serpent of despair, slithers silently through the soul's back door."

Depression is debilitating, defeating, deepening gloom. 

Trudging wearily through the grocery store, unable to make a simple choice, or to count out correct change.    

Surveying an unbelievably messy house, piles of laundry, work undone, and not being able to lift a finger.

Doubting that God cares, doubting in my prayers, doubting He's even there.  

Sitting, staring wild-eyed into space, desperately wanting out of the human race.

So how can God use us? By each of us learning from the Scriptures and then applying them to our own lives. To start today, turn back again to I Thessalonians 5.  In this chapter there are more imperative commands than in any other paragraph in God's Word. It is one of the clearest descriptions of the basic duties of a believer in Christ's church.

Why not underline or circle these commands we are to present ourselves as willing servants to our Master to fulfill?

I Thessalonians 5:11-26

• v.11a Therefore comfort each other and
• v. 11b edify one another, just as you also are doing. 12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.
• v. 13b Be at peace among yourselves.
• v. 14a Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly,
• v. 14b comfort the fainthearted,
• v. 14c uphold the weak,
• v. 14d be patient with all.
• v. 15a See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone,
• v. 15b but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
• v. 16 Rejoice always,
• v. 17 pray without ceasing,
• v. 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• v. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
• v. 20 Do not despise prophecies.
• v. 21a Test all things;
• v. 21b hold fast what is good.
• v. 22  Abstain from every form of evil.  23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
• v. 25 Brethren, pray for us.
• v. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

Please copy and paste this URL into your browser bar to go back three thousand years ago, into the harsh conditions of the cave of Adullam we can start to see the emotional and physical furnace of adversity and affliction that David had entered: http://www.dtbm.org/sermon/bring-my-soul-out-of-prison/