Lamentations Sermons

Lamentations Sermons by Rev. Mike Jones [Revised October 12, 2020]

Lam 03:1-36 THE TROUBLED CHRISTIAN

Lam 03:8 WHEN PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED

Lam 03:1-36 THE TROUBLED CHRISTIAN

It’s great to talk about all the good things the Lord can do for us but what are we to think in the midst of war and worry? What about Christians who have bad children, broken marriages, serious illness, or job problems?? How do you come Triumphantly thru a time of Trouble?

I> THE TROUBLE (1-21) What a horrible list of troubles, trials, and tribulations {It didn’t work out like I thought it would, I’m in bondage to bitterness, a rut has become a grave, I feel alone, misused, discouraged, and mocked. I can’t forget the past and have no hope for the future}. A list that almost all of us can relate to.

2> THE TRIUMPH (22-36). This is what the Christian learns FROM and IN his Troubles.

vs 22 NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD BE (Because of God’s Compassion)- It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

vs 23 HOPE THAT THINGS WILL GET BETTER (God is Faithful)- They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

vs 24 AFTER ALL, GOD IS ALL I NEED (I will rest in that)- The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

vs 25 I LEARNED TO PATIENTLY WAIT ON GOD’S TIME BECAUSE I HAVE A HUNGER FOR GOD- The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

vs 26 PERSEVERANCE BRINGS PRAISE (Faith is the Result- James 5:10-11)- It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

vs 27 PAST PROBLEMS DEVELOP PRESENT PERSEVERANCE- It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

vs 28-36 THE CHARACTER OF PERSEVERANCE:

1. CALMNESS: He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

2. HUMBLENESS: He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

3. CHARACTER: He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

4. PATIENCE: For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

5. CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S LOVE: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

6. CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S JUDGMENT: To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High, To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.

The Christian comes to realize that his Circumstances will not be better than those of other people; many times they will be worst because of persecution. We simply learn that the trying of our faith works patience; which in turn produces Christ-like character.

What a difference it will make in our outlook and attitude when we realize we’re not in this thing FOR ourselves or BY ourselves.

Lam 03:8 WHEN PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED

C:\Users\Mike Jones\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\ICHR2052.jpg When it appears that God will not hear your prayers‑When I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. (Lam 3:8). Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through (Lam 3:44)‑ then it’s time to find out why‑ Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. (Lam 3:40).

I. THERE ARE TIMES THE ANSWER IS DELAYED:

A) By Satan‑ Dan 10:12‑13 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, Thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me;

B) To Increase Our Faith

1. The Canaanite woman who asked for the crumbs from the table after Jesus delayed her answer prompted Jesus to say, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour (Matthew 15:28).

2. The death of Lazarus‑Jesus delayed coming to him in order to show God’s Glory. John 11

3. By waiting on God, Habakkuk went from doubt to trust in God even in the midst of famine, bankruptcy, and trouble.

C) To take our eyes off the Gift and put them on God. Time after time Jesus had to get people to focus on WHO HE WAS rather than on WHAT THEY WANTED. (We may not intend to but many times we try to make God OUR Servant instead of seeing us as HIS servant!!!)

II. THERE ARE TIMES YOU SHOULD NOT PRAY:

A) When God has already given an answer (Even though the answer is not what you want! Remember the trouble Balaam got into because he wouldn’t accept God’s answer‑Num 22?)

1. Sin in the life of Moses‑ Deut 3:25‑26 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter

2. Sickness in the life of Paul‑ II Cor 12:8‑9 For this (thorn in the flesh) I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficent for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

B) When God has already decreed Judgment Jer 7:16 Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.

Jer 11:13‑14 According to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

I C:\Users\Mike Jones\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\PRAYER2.jpg II. THERE ARE REASONS YOU FAIL TO RECEIVE ANSWERS.

1. DISOBEDIENCE‑ Deut 1:43,45 As I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord,…And ye returned and wept before the Lord; but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear to you.Their disobedience was caused by disbelief (They believed the report of the 10 spies instead of God’s Word and would not enter into the promised land.) If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,…nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matt 17:20

2. SECRET SIN‑ Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. If my heart is set on sin can a Holy God have fellowship with me???

3. INDIFFERENCE‑ Prov 1:24,28 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded,…Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: Zech 7:14 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: Ignore God and there may come a time when HE will ignore YOU!!

4. NEGLECT OF MERCY‑ Prov 21:13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. You reap what you sow.

5. DESPISING GOD’S LAW‑ Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings Micah 3:4. Prov 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Would YOU give something to someone knowing they would use it wrongly??

6. INIQUITY‑ Is 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say.

7. SELFISHNESS‑ James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Sometimes people want things that aren’t good for them‑ you don’t let a child eat an entire gallon of ice cream at one time, even though they think they want to.!!

8. REFUSING TO TAKE YOUR PLACE IN GOD’S PLAN‑I Pet 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered. God is concerned about what you do with what He gives you. If you aren’t willing to accept His plan and purpose for your life then He can’t give you the blessings that come with the Responsibilities.

9. UNBELIEF‑ Matt 17:20‑21 Jesus said to them, Because of your unbeliefs for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard see, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.