Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE DAY OF TROUBLE

1. The day of trouble:
   1. Comes to all, regardless whether we are Christians or not
   2. "A brother is born for adversity" - Prov. 17:17; Ps. 78:33
2. Important is what to do in the day of trouble:
   1. Shall we do what Job's wife did? - Job 2:9
   2. Or shall we take troubles as Job did? - Job 2:10, 13; 13:15 B. THE DAY OF TROUBLE
3. It comes to all men - rich or poor - righteous or unrighteous:
   1. The Psalmist did complain that the ungodly are not in trouble as he was - Ps. 73:3-5
   2. Some of the most devout believers in God had their cup of troubles full and running over - Examples: the man Job - Job 3:26; 5:7; 14:1; 38:23; Jacob had his share of trouble - Gen. 47:9; Joseph, Moses, David and the prophet Jeremiah and many others went through the valley of trouble
4. What to do in the day of trouble:
   1. Our text says, "call upon me and I will deliver thee" - Ps. 50:14-15
   2. Prayer, earnest and persevering prayer is the door of hope in the day of trouble
   3. "They cried unto the Lord in their trouble" - Ps. 107:6, 13, 19
   4. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" - Ps. 46:1
   5. The Lord is night unto them that are of a broken heart, and delivereth them out of all their troubles - Ps. 34:17-19
5. God allows trouble to come even to his children:
   1. Not to hurt them
   2. But to draw them to himself
   3. We never feel our need of the Lord more than when we are in trouble and find ourselves helpless when the waters seemed to cover our soul C. LET US NOTE THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE FOR PRAYER
6. "Offer unto God thanksgiving"
   1. This is one of the divine stipulations for deliverance - thanksgiving - that is hard to do for many people - to have the spirit of thanksgiving in the hour of trouble - Examples: Job's wife did not have the spirit of thanksgiving in the hour of trouble; but her husband had - Job 2:9-12; 13:15
   2. When we are in trouble we should remember also, the blessings, the good things we have received from the Lord
   3. Praise and thanksgiving are missing in so many of our prayers - and that is too sad
7. "And pay thy vows unto the most High"
   1. A vow is a promise made to God
   2. And the performance of our vows is a solemn duty of God's people - Eccl. 5:4; Prov. 7:14; Is. 19:21
   3. "Better is it that thou shouldest vow and not pay" - Eccl. 5:5; Ps. 20:25
8. Vows have had a large place in the lives of God's people:
   1. Jacob made a vow to the Lord - Gen. 28:20-22
   2. Hannah made a vow to dedicate Samuel to the service of the Lord - I Sam. 22-28
9. Thus we learn:
   1. That God is very high unto the people that are in trouble - ready to deliver them - Examples - Daniel and his friends were in trouble and God delivered them - Dan. 3:17-26; 6:16-22; Joseph was in deep trouble when the brethren sold him; he was in trouble when the lewd woman sought to tempt him to sin and his later experience; Jacob was in deep trouble but God delivered him.
   2. But we learn too that God's help is conditional just like all God's promises
   3. Retain the spirit of thanksgiving and pay thy vows
10. Yes, trouble comes to all - good or bad; but there is a difference between them how they meet trouble and what God will do for them to deliver them in the day of trouble.