Psalm 55:1-23

SAILING LIFE'S STORMY SEAS

Intro: Ill Spurgeon, "I bear willing witness that I owe more to the fire, the hammer and the file than to anything else in the Lord's workshop. I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod. When my schoolroom is darkened, I see the most." Do you ever battle discouragement? Sail stormy seas? Face giants greater then yourself? We all do! But, remember today that victory lies in the Lord Jesus Christ. In this passage, we are presented with a man whose own son had turned on him, whose best friends were trying to kill him. A man who felt very alone. A man who was sailing one of life's stormy seas. We can learn to sail them also, let's learn from David.

I. v.1-4; 9-15 DAVID'S DISCOURAGEMENT

(Ill the context) (Ill. how he felt, is usually how we feel!)

A. v.1-2 HE FELT DESERTED - Heb.13:5; Matt. 28:20

B. v.3 HE FELT DECEIVED - (Ill v.9-15; 20-21) (Ill Ahithophel - 2Sam.17:23; 2 Sam. 23:34; 2 Sam. 11:1-4 - He was angry with David because Bathsheba was his granddaughter!)

C. v.4 HE FELT DIRTY - (Ill Uriah) (Ill Satan's attempts at guilt - Rom. 8:33.) (Ill. Already clean - John 13:4-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-11)

D. v.5 HE FELT DEFEATED - (1Cor.15:57; 2Cor.2:14)

II. v.6-8 DAVID'S DESIRE

A. v.6 TO FLY AWAY

B. v.7 TO FLEE AWAY

C. v.8 TO FLOAT AWAY

D. The fact is, no one can run from problems, we must face them with the help of the Lord. (Ill Giants - Num.13:33; Deut. 9:1-2) HOW??

III. v.16-23 DAVID'S DELIVERANCE

A. v.16-17 CALL ON GOD - Pray - Isa.65:24; Jer.33:3; John 14:13-14 James 5:16 (Personal Commitment; Powerful Confidence)

B. v.18 COMMUNE WITH THE RIGHT COMPANY - Heb.10:25; Psa.122:1 (Ill v.14)

C. v.22a CAST AWAY BURDENS - 1Pet.5:7; Matt. 11:28

D. v.22b CONTINUE IN HIM - 1Cor.15:58

E. v.23 CONSIDER HIM - Heb.12:1-2 (Remember what He's done and can do.) Eph.3:20.

Conc: Do you ever feel like David? Does discouragement haunt you? Do burdens weigh you down? Learn the secret of victory: get it to Jesus and He will help you as you sail life's stormy seas.