Lesson 6“In Time of Confusion”

Finding God When You Need Him Most

Each lesson addressesa need common to us all

Each lesson is viewed in the light of a specific Psalm.

Psalm 901 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men." 4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning--

Psalm 906 though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10 The length of our days is seventy years-- or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of your anger?

Psalm 90For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.

Confusion – Perhaps no malady is more common, or more often denied than confusion!

Two Ways to Clear Up Confusion

1.Reduce the complexity – KISS “Apply the carving knife of priorities and talents; cut away everything that is not necessary”2. Increase the clarity – GBT TB (Vince Lombardi, John Wooden)

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Moses’ ResumeA personal friend of God – Ex. 33:11Personally received the 10 commandments.Exodus 20The humblest person in the world. Numbers 12:3Spent forty years in trainingSpent forty years on taskSpent forty years in “time out”

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Back to the BasicsStep One – Recognize the greatness of God. vs. 1,2

The word “Lord” in verse one is Adonai, which means creator, ruler, sovereign. The phrase “dwelling place” refers to an intimate place of safety in the midst of opposition.

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step One – Recognize the greatness of God. vs. 1,2

God is Creator – “he brought forth the earth”God is personal – willing to be “ours”God is superior – not different, otherGod is protector – both a refuge and a place of love.

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step One – Recognize the greatness of God. vs. 1,2

Diagnostic Question #1

Am I rightly related to God?

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Two – Know that life is short. vs. 3-6

“a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday” vs. 4

You have swept them away like a flood. Vs. 5”

People’s lives are “like grass..in the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew, toward evening it fades and withers.”

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Two – Know that life is short.vv. 3-6

Diagnostic Question #2

Are you ready to die?

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Three – Know that sin is serious. vs. 7-11

Death was not part of the original plan.

Sin brings terror, grief, and sorrow, it can consume us. It causes God to be angry, to be indignant and wrathful.

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Three – Know that sin is serious. vs. 7-11

Diagnostic Question #3

Are you taking sin seriously?

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Four – Know that wisdom is essential. vs. 12

Wisdom – knowing how God intended us to live and exercise that skill effectively.

The pursuit of wisdom is not optional, it is critical. Proverbs 2

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Four – Know that wisdom is essential. vs. 12

Diagnostic Question #4

Are you spending or investing your life?

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Five – Know that mercy is available. vs. 13-15

Mercy – not getting what you deserve.Grace – getting that which you do not deserve.

Mercy withholds the punishment we deserve and grace offers of the forgiveness we don’t deserve.

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Five – Know that mercy is available. vs. 13-15

Diagnostic Question #5

Are you experiencing the joy of the Lord?

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Six – Know that success is possible. vs. 16-17

Make the events of every day life:

A practical means to move us closer to God.

A venue by which the glory and splendor of God is manifest.

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

Step Six – Know that success is possible. vs. 16-17

Diagnostic Question #6

Are you impactingyour world for good?

Back to the Basics

God is Our Refuge.

1. He will personally be your place of safety.2.

2. He will personally be your source of strength.

In his wisdom He provides internally and externally!

The Basic The Question

God is good. Are you rightly related to God?

Life is short. Are you prepared to die?

Sin is serious. Are you taking sin seriously?

Wisdom is essential. Are you experiencing the joy of the Lord?

Mercy is available. Are you impacting your world for good?

Back to the Basics

These lessons are based on a

Finding God When You Need Him Most

By Chip Ingram