Spiritual Crashes and Cures

Alta Vista Baptist Church service for May 9 2021. Pastor David Elliott will be continuing with the series After God’s Heart.

Video

Join with us at 10:30 am on Sunday morning: https://youtu.be/IZ7hhRGihLY

Audio

mp3 link: 20210509_Spiritual_crashes_and_cures.mp3

Notes

Printable notes: Sermon-Notes-10-Spiritual-Crashes-and-Cures.pdf

Text: 1 Sam 21

Spiritual Engine Shut Down #1

A SHIFT FROM ______________ TO DECEPTION

You belong to your Father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.  He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful.  (Proverbs12:22)

Spiritual Engine Shut Down #2

A SHIFT FROM  ________________ TO _________________

1 Sam. 21:8-9

  • David foolishly trusted in his own ________________.(Matt.26:52)
  • David foolishly trusted in his own _____________________.

Q: What happens when a believer crashes?

  • God’s __________________ is tarnished.
  • The ungodly do not receive a clear _________________.
  • The people of God get _______________.

1 Samuel 22:9-11a, 13-18, 20-22

Q: Is failure final?

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous…where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:19,20b, 21)

1 Sam. 23:1-5

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Digging Deeper

(For personal study, family devotions or Care group use)

Q1: Have you ever been involved in any kind of “crash”…motor vehicle or otherwise?  If so, what conditions or circumstances may have contributed to the “crash”?  What emotions accompanied the “crash”?

Q2: Reread the following quote…“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” Have you seen a real life positive example of that statement in someone’s life?  

If so, explain how.

Q3: When confronted with a stressful situation Peter’s natural reaction was to grab a sword and start swinging?  Have you identified your “go to sword” that you tend to grab when things get tough?  If so, what is it? When faced with adversity, what would the Lord have you do instead of grabbing this familiar fleshly sword?

Q4: Have you seen the people of God hurt when someone crashed in their walk with the Lord?  If so, what was some of the negative fall out?

Q5: Conversely, have you seen the people of God strengthened and stabilized when a leader stayed true to their walk with God?  If so, describe. 

Q6: Read John 18:25-27 and John21:15-19. What do these passages teach you about spiritual “crashes” and Jesus’ response to them?

Q7: Is it possible that you may have replaced a simple sling of trust in the Lord with a fleshly sword of self-reliance?  If so, what must you do differently to return to a more authentic and dependent walk with Jesus?