'How To Keep Your Sanity In A Crazy ... - Sermon Outlines. Org



"How To Keep Your Sanity In A Crazy World"

Proverbs 3:1-8

INTRO. We are indeed living in a crazy world. More money, time, and energy is spent each day in this country trying to save the whales and the rain forests instead of these same resources being used to save the souls of lost mankind! This is sad considering the fact that every two seconds, three lost souls slip off into a Christless eternity. The changes in the political, social, moral, and medical worlds are unbelievable. Man today has it better than he ever had it before. He is better financially, materially, and comfortably, and yet with all we have there is less happiness and contentment and much more mental, emotional, nervous, and depression pressures than ever before. All the time-saving devices made has invented have not created less stress, but in reality have caused more. Because of greater expectations of performance and productivity!

Political Correctness has become the "buzz" word of our day. This too causes much undue stress in that people are expected never to say anything about another person that might hurt their feelings. I'm afraid if our LORD Jesus were here today He would have a tough time being politically correct. Jesus was controversial and confrontational. He called men hypocrites, vipers, and thieves. He would have never made it with the political correctness crowd! In a fast paced, changing, wicked world, how can we as God's people keep our sanity or soundness of mind? Sometimes we hear people say, "I think I am losing it or I think I have lost my mind." Sanity is only possible through a personal relationship with God. Isaiah 57:

20-21 tells us, "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Paul Tournier said, "I am convinced that nine out of every ten persons seeing a psychiatrist do not need one. They need someone who will love them with God's love.. .and they will get well."(Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. p. 133).

How do you keep your sanity in a crazy world? :

(1) KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE LORD

A. He Is Our Pattern

1. He Was Patient In Tribulation. "For what glory is it, if, when ye be

buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and

suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even

hereunto were ye called: Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us

an example that we should follow His steps." (1 Peter 2:20-21)

2. He Did No Sin. No guile was found in Him. He didn't revile or threaten

(1 Peter 2:22)! When we react like the world to our circumstances we

are no better off than they are!

3. He Committed Himself (His cause) to Him That Judgeth Righteously (1 Peter 2:23). Vengeance is the LORD'S (Romans 12:19). Seeking revenge will destroy us both physically and spiritually. It will make us bitter. And if we are bitter, we cannot serve God right (Hebrews 12:14-15). We all could use a good dose of humility, for if we followed His example in this, we would be more interested in others than ourselves (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:3)!

4. Men and women Are Not Good Patterns. We fail each other often (Psalm 118:8). But thank God, Jesus never fails! He is our perfect pattern in Love, humility, patience, perseverance, in everything! We must follow His example!

B. He is Our Pilot

1. No Man Knows How He Should Direct His Steps (Jeremiah 9:23-24). We have not the wisdom or the understanding.

2. Jesus Lived For Us. He has gone before us and He can pilot us the best. The hymn-writer wrote:

"Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life's tempestuous sea, Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rocks and treacherous shoal; Chart and compass come from Thee, Jesus, Savior, pilot me."

3. You Can Trust Him With All Your Heart (Proverbs 3:1-8). He knows

what is best for each of us!

4. He Won't Mislead You. He won't misguide you. He knows the way. Why? He is the Way (John 14:6)! Jesus Christ doesn't merely point the way or tell a person how to walk through life, He Himself is the Way!

C. He is our protection

1. He Sustains Me Day by Day (Psalm 3:5)!

2. He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5-6).

3. He Is My Shepherd Each Day, Every Day, And All The Day (Psalm 23:1)!

D. He is our peace

1. The LORD Will Keep Us In Perfect Peace (Isaiah 26:3).

"Amid the trials which I meet,

Amid the thorns that pierce my feet,

One thought remains supremely sweet,

Thou thinkest, LORD, of me!

Let shadows come, let shadows go

Let life be bright or dark with woe,

I am content, for this I know

Thou thinkest, LORD, of me!" E.D. Mund

(Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. p. 49).

2. We Will Face Tribulation, But Jesus Gives Us Blessed Peace (John

16:33; 14:27)!

3. Jesus Can Calm You In The Storms of Life (John 8:26—“And he said

unto them, Why are ye tearful, 0 ye of little faith? Then he arose, and

rebuked the winds and the sea and there was great calm."

(2) KEEP YOUR EARS OPEN TO THE WORD OF GOD

*It Is:

A. The Truth

1. God's Word is Truth (John 17:17; Romans 3:4—“…Let God be true,

but every man a liar..")! It is inspired (2 Timothy 3:16)! It is food for

the soul (1 Peter 2:2).

2. God's Word Tells Us Of The Past, Present, and Future.

3. Many Warnings Are Given Concerning The End-time (1 John 4:1).

4. Through His Wisdom God Forewarns Us And Encourages Us Not To

Lose Faith!

B. The Trust.

1. The Issue We Face As Believers Is Can Or Will We Trust God. God is

faithful! He will keep His promises!

2. Our Trust Is Dependent On What We Know About God From His

Word!

3. God Is Faithful And True. His Word is also faithful and true (Psalm

119:89; Isaiah 40:8)!

4. We Are To Completely Trust In The LORD. You can depend upon His

promises, provisions, plan, and purposes!

ILLUS: We ask Nature to say-whether her God, who is our God is true

to His Word? Whether He ever says, and fails to do? By the

voices of the sun, stars hills, the valleys, the streams, the

rolling thunders, and the roaring sea, she returns a majestic

answer. Spring comes with infant Nature waking in her arms;

Summer comes bedecked with a robe of flowers; Autumn

comes with her swarthy brow covered with vines, and on her

back sheaves of corn; Old Winter comes with his shivering

limbs, and frozen locks, and hoary head; and these four

witnesses-each lying one hand on the broad table of nature,

and lifting the other to heaven-swear by him that liveth for

ever and ever that all which God hath said, God shall do. --Dr.

Guthrie (Elon Foster. 6000 Classic Sermon Ilustrations. p.

383).

C. The Trouble

1. We Are Not To Lean On Our Own Understanding (vv. 5-6).

2. The Wise Man Is Not To Glory. The Mighty Man Is Not To Glory.

(Jeremiah 9:23). What God has given, He can as quickly take away, if

we fail to use what He has given for the glory of God!

3. We Often Take Our Eyes Off The LORD And Put Them On

Circumstances, On People, And On Our Own Inability. When we do

this we find ourselves in trouble!

4. We Are To Keep Our Eyes Fixed On The LORD Which Will Help Us

Keep Going. Peter, in Matthew 14:33, did not keep his eyes on Jesus

and he began to sink!

(3) KEEP YOUR EXPECTATION ON THE LORD

A. He Will Not Disappoint You.

1. Jesus Does Not Change As Man Does (Hebrews 13:8)!

2. Our Disappointments Come From The Actions Of Others.

Sometimes We Are Disappointed In Ourselves.

3. But Jesus Will Always Satisfy The Longing Soul (Psalm 107:9)!

4. He does all things well in His own time! Expect great things of the

LORD and you will be able to attempt great things for the LORD, AND

ACCOMPLISH Great things for the LORD!

B. He Will Not Discourage You.

1. You Can Always Rejoice In The LORD And His Ability (Philippians

4:4; 13)!

2. You Can Always Be Assured That The LORD Will Amaze Us With His

Power And The Way He Works Out Things (Ephesians 3:20-21)!

3. The LORD Encourages Us In His WORD, WAY, and TIMING (Psalm

19:7-11)!

4. We Are Often Discouraged Because We Expect Much From People.

5. Our Closest Friends And Acquaintances Will Let Us Down and

Discourage Us. But Praise the LORD, He never will!

C. He Will Not Depress You.

1. The Circumstances And Situations We Find Ourselves In Depress

Us. Jeremiah wanted to quit preaching. Elijah lost faith and Job

wanted to die.

2. The People We Have High Expectations In Depress Us.

3. Our Weakness And Failures Depress Us.

4. The Words Of Criticism Of Others Often Depress Us!

5. But Jesus always challenges us to greater things (Mark 9:23)!

(4) Keep Your Exaltation Of The LORD

A. Exalt Him as Savior

1. He is the One Mediator Between God and Man (1 Timothy 2:5)!

2. He Is the Ever Intercessor For All Men (Hebrews 7:25)!

3. He Is the Advocate and Propitiation For Our Sins (1 John 2:1-2)!

B. Exalt Him as the Shepherd

1. He Is Our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1). A shepherd is one who tends to the

sheep (Isaiah 40:11).

2. He Finds Food and Water For Them. He Leads Them.

3. He Protects Them. He Watches Over Them! The hymn-writer wrote:

"Savior, like a shepherd lead us, Much we need Thy tender care;

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare:

Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;

Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.”

C. Exalt Him As The Solution

1. He Is The Answer To The Sin Question (1 John 3:5; 2 Corinthians

5:21; 1 Peter 2:24)!

2. He Is The Answer To Satan's Quest. Satan desires to destroy men's

lives, Jesus came to save men's lives (1 John 3:8)!

3. He Is The Answer To The Saint’s Quiz. How can we serve God and be

acceptable to Him? The Bible tells us that the only way is through

Jesus Christ (John 15:5; Colossians 1:27)!

4. He Is The Answer To The Sincere Quitting (Ephesians 6:10-11;

1 Corinthians 16:13)!

CLOSING: People need the LORD! He is the only way to keep sane in a crazy

world! Listen to the song writer's words:

"I thought I could build a lot on my own, I thought I could make it

all alone. I thought of myself as a mighty big man, but I can't even

walk without you holding my hand. I can't even walk without you

holding my hand. The mountains to high and the valleys too wide,

down on my knees I learned to stand because I can’t even walk

without you holding my hand"

Do you know Jesus today as you personal Savior? He wants to be a

part of your life to strengthen you, and encourage you, and give you

peace of mind, will you come to Him today?

If you are saved today, are you resting by faith in Him? He is your

strength, your wisdom, and your all? We can't do it without Him!

He is the only way to keep sane in a crazy world!

L

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