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The Struggle Between Faith in God and Real Life

Text: Psalm 22:1-8
2 July 2018

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN FAITH IN GOD AND REAL LIFE

A. FAITH

1. Faith in God

a) But You are holy   (Psalm 22:3a)
b) Enthroned
i) In heaven
ii) In the praises of Israel   (Psalm 22:3b)

2. Trust in God

a) Our fathers trusted in You   (Psalm 22:4a)
b) They trusted and You delivered them   (Psalm 22:4b)

3. Praying to God

a) They cried to You, and were delivered   (Psalm 22:5a)
b) They trusted in You, and were not ashamed   (Psalm 22:5b)

B. PERSONAL LIFE EXPERIENCE

1. Low Self-Esteem

a) Imagery of a worm
But I am a worm, and no man   (Psalm 22:6a)
b) Reproach
A reproach of men   (Psalm 22:6b)
c) Despise
And despised by the people   (Psalm 22:6c)

2. Terrible traumatic life experiences

a) Ridicule
All those who see Me ridicule Me   (Psalm 22:7a)
b) Derision
They shoot out the lip, they shake their head   (Psalm 22:7b)
c) Taunts
He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him   (Psalm 22:8a)
d) Mockery
Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him   (Psalm 22:8b)

C. SUFFERING IN LIFE

1. 8th Beatitude

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”   Matthew 5:10

2. Personal suffering of David

Two known periods of suffering
a) In the days of King Saul   (1 Samuel 18-31)
b) In the days of Absalom who sought to usurp his throne   (2 Samuel 13-18)

3. Prophetic suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ

a) Prophetic   (Isaiah 53)
b) Actual   (Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 18-19)

4. Our Personal suffering