I've just had anxiety over my whole life, and like I didn't know where I was gonna end up. I didn't know if I was gonna be alone forever. Pastor Greg Laurie helps you find the hope you're looking for at the Harvest Crusades. The Harvest Crusade, July 19th at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Free admission.
Details at harvest.org. What should you do when the bottom drops out? We need to look up. Put our focus on God, not on our problems. When we zero in on our challenges, they seem to loom larger and larger.
But help is found in the Lord. Pastor Greg Laurie urges us to shift our focus. When crisis comes, when problems come, go to Jesus. Lord, I don't get it. I don't want it.
Here it is. I present it to you. That's what we need to do. Cast our cares upon God. This is the day when the lost are found.
This is the day for a new beginning. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. Oh, can you hear how the angels are singing? This is the day, the day when I begin. David had just been chosen by God Himself as the next king of Israel.
God is for him. But quickly it seems everyone else is against him. What do we do when we're surrounded by critics and naysayers, adversaries and avengers? Pastor Greg Laurie brings us good counsel today on a new beginning as we consider practical life lessons learned from David the Psalmist, David the future king. If life has seemed like an uphill battle lately, you'll get some good encouragement for the climb.
This is the day, the day when life begins. Let's turn in our Bibles to two passages. We're in our house of David Series. We're going to look at 1 Samuel 21. And Psalm 142.
1 Samuel 21. Psalm 142. The title of my message is: What to do when the bottom drops out.
So here now are the steps down for David. He just had victory after victory, faithful shepherd of his flock. Called to fight the giant Goliath, he defeats him. He's gone into the court of King Saul and played his instrument to soothe this king who was tormented by demon spirits. David has passed every test, and now all of a sudden, the bottom drops out for this godly young man.
Why? Here's point number one: if you're taking notes: fear replaced courage in the heart of David. Again, fear replaced courage in the heart of David. 1 Samuel 21:10 says, He fled because of the fear of Saul. 1 Samuel 21, 12 says, David was very afraid of the king of Gath.
Fear. That's a powerful emotion, isn't it?
Sometimes we pay good money to be frightened. We want to watch that scary movie. And then, when the most scariest scene of the scariest movie comes on the screen, we cover our eyes. Why? Open your eyes.
You paid for that. I remember the first time I saw Jaws. How many of you have seen Jaws, okay? You know the scene where the captain is eaten by the shark? When I watched that the first time, I was horrified.
Now I look at that scene, and that is the fakest-looking thing I've ever seen. This mechanical shark But I, oh, I can't believe this. I paid money to be frightened, or you get on the craziest roller coaster or whatever it is. But then fear grips you in other areas of your life. It can take you over and warp how you see everything and everyone, including God Himself.
Fear has been identified this way in this acronym, FEAR, false evidence appearing real. That's a pretty good definition. False evidence appearing real. David, at this moment of his life, was frightened by two kings that. Hated him, King Saul.
and another king that we'll look at in a few moments. This is a man that should not have been afraid. This is the guy who wrote Psalm 27. When he writes, The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom then shall I be afraid? And the answer is no one, but in this case, for David, it was a lot of people. Because he took his eyes off of the Lord and put them on circumstances. Why was Saul afraid of David?
Because the very people who are out to get us are often the ones who are afraid of us. Let me repeat that. The very ones who are out to get us are often the ones who are afraid of us. And why are they afraid? Because we're a threat to them and their power.
It could be a co-worker. It'd be a close buddy.
Someone that you hung out with, and suddenly you get that. Promotion. Suddenly, you get the raise. Suddenly, you get the girl, or the guy, or the whatever. The ministry opportunity, even.
And all of a sudden, that close friend and confidant turns against you, and you don't understand why. Because you haven't really done anything to hurt them. Think of Daniel. Why did those other counselors turn against him and devise a plot? To bring him down because he was succeeding and they were failing.
Therefore, they wanted to stop him. David was doing everything right at this point in his life. He was humble. He was dependable. He was full of integrity.
I think he was a very happy young man watching his little flock of sheeps writing songs to God. Life was much more simple than he knew who the enemy was. The enemy was that bear or that lion. which he would handily kill. But now he didn't know who his friends were, he didn't know who his enemies were.
He entered into a world of politics in many ways that he was trying to navigate. And I think that he probably wished he was back with this little flock of sheep again. But here's what was happening: God was removing everything David depended on humanly. First of all, David never had the support of his father and brothers. I already talked about his father not even acknowledging his existence.
And then when David went to the front line, and what I call a pizza delivery. A bread and cheese, because what is pizza but bread and cheese. with some marinara thrown in for good measure. When he made that pizza delivery to the front lines and he heard Goliath bellowing from the valley of Elah, looking for someone to face off with him, his older brother Eliab mocked him and said, Oh, have you left your little flock of sheep to come watch the big boys? You're so full of pride and arrogance.
In reality, His brother was revealing what his sins were. Listen to this: sometimes the things that people accuse you of are the things that they are guilty of. It's really not you, it's them. But they're kind of projecting it on you. That's exactly what was happening.
So his family was not for him. Then David got married, he married the daughter of Saul. But now its own Father-in-law is trying to kill him. And Saul's anger and jealousy erupts again and again. He's calm for a while.
Everything's okay. And it comes back again. It reminds me of a really weird story I read about an elephant in India.
So there was a woman. Her name was Maya Mermu, and she's 70 years old. She went out to get some water, and elephants saw her. And stomped her to death. That's tragic.
So they're having the funeral service for this woman. And the same elephant shows up. And pits are body up and stomps it again. That's an elephant holding a grudge. And that's bad.
What on what did she do to this elephant? But this elephant, you know, they're known for their memories, right? And this is what Saul is like to me. He's like, I can't let it go. He just holds this grudge and.
and still is inflamed with anger and jealousy. And so, this is what David is dealing with at this moment. And I wonder if I'm talking to somebody right now who is effectively in the same boat. Maybe your wife has turned against you. Maybe she no longer supports you or loves you.
All she does is criticize you. And I don't want to see any of those sideways looks, husbands. All she does is criticize you, husband and wife. Or you may not even look, you just kind of looked at the issue. Is she coming under conviction?
Criticism. All day long. This is why Solomon said: better to be on a housetop than with an argumentative woman. From the moment you get home, why didn't you do this? Why don't you do that?
You're such a disappointment to me. You're just wearing him down. Maybe that's happened to you, or maybe wives. I'm talking to a wife who doesn't have a husband that affirms and loves her. You know, the Bible is very specific in what it says to husbands and wives.
It says, wives, respect your husband. It doesn't say wife, love your husband, though it's implied elsewhere. And it's not suggesting wives should not love their husband. But it is to say that God specifically says. Wives, respect your husbands.
Show respect to your husband. When's the last time you said honey? Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for how hard you work. I so appreciate it.
I do not take you for granted even for a moment. But ah, then it says to husbands: husbands, love your wives. Maybe I'm talking to a wife now who would say, I can't remember the last time my husband paid me a compliment. I feel like I'm just hired help to cook for him, to clean for him. He just grunts after he eats a meal and goes and takes a nap.
And he never tells me I'm beautiful anymore. He never compliments me. But see, the Bible says to the husband, husband, love your wife. You're commanded to do these things. And but maybe you have a breakdown there and see the problem with David, he marries Michael.
who he loves. But uh she betrays him. Ultimately, so he was feeling betrayed, and maybe there's someone feeling that way right now. I just want you to know God can fix it. God can heal your marriage.
God can restore your marriage, and maybe it's not as complex as you think it is. I would describe that as a smattering of applause. But I can tell you it's true. Not long ago I had a Married couple come to me. And the wife says to me, This is my husband.
He was unfaithful to me. I'm thinking, oh man. This is really happening. I look at the guy, he says, I was, whoa, okay. And then I said, Do you want this marriage to work?
They both nodded their head. And I said, have you apologized to your wife? Have you repented of this sin that you committed? He said, not really. I said, why don't you do it right now?
Repent, apologize, tell her you're sorry. He did. Then I turned to her and I said, can you forgive him? And she said, yes, I said, forgive him right now. Say to his face, you forgive him.
She said, I forgive you. It's like a burden was lifted. Then they kissed each other and walked away hand in hand. I thought, I like that.
Okay?
Now. It doesn't always work out that way. I spent hours doing marriage counseling, and couples can't find resolution. But in this case, there was resolution. You might say, well, Greg, don't you know that unfaithfulness is grounds for divorce?
Yes, I do. And I also know that unfaithfulness is grounds for forgiveness. God can restore. But then David lost his best friend, Jonathan. Jonathan was the prince, the son of King Saul, the heir apparent.
And he pledges his friendship to David and his support to David. But at this point in the narrative, even Jonathan can't help him because his father's a psycho. And he wants to kill David.
So Jonathan effectively says to David, you need to run for your life. which David is now doing. Even David's dog abandoned him. No, that's not in the Bible. There's no reason to even point out his cat, abandon him, because a cat isn't for you to start with.
They just leave, you don't know where they've gone for months, maybe for years, maybe forever. Hopefully.
So again, Coming back to what we're looking at together, David's problem. was He lost his perspective. He lost His way, and now he needs to get it again. Fear replaced courage in the heart of David. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment.
Yeah. We're thrilled when we hear from listeners that join us from every background and location. Pastor Greg, many years ago when I lived in California and attended Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, you would often preach there. Your sermons were always so wonderful and uplifting. I've lived in Texas for over 20 years now and have missed hearing your messages.
Just over a year ago, I discovered these podcasts and now I listen to them. It keeps my heart filled with God's presence. Thank you so much. Has Pastor Greg heard from you? If not, would you consider calling him and sharing your story?
Here's the number: 1-866-871-1144. That's 866-871-1144.
Well, we're following the life of David today. And the bottom has just dropped out of his life. It seems everyone has turned against him. Pastor Gregg continues with the practical application. Number two.
Listen to this one. Though people abandon us, God never abandons us. Right? Even if people abandon you, God will never abandon you. Jesus said, I will never leave you or forsake you.
And in the original language, it can be translated that I will never, no, never, no, ever leave you or forsake you. Romans 8.31 says, If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:38 says, Paul speaking, I'm convinced that nothing can separate us from God's love, neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, neither our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. But here's the problem. David forgot that.
He was losing heart. The man after God's own heart was having a lapse of faith, and with his focus off of God, he makes some bad decisions. Bringing me to point number three, which is David went to the wrong place for solace. David went to the wrong place for solace and encouragement. With Saul hunting him, David goes to the wrong place with the wrong people.
He goes to a place called Gath. You say, Well, I don't know where Gath is. I don't know what that means.
Well, Gath was basically Philistine Central. That was the capital of the Philistines' kingdom. And here is David walking through Gath. He's like a sore thumb. And the enemy camp, and here's the story now: 1 Samuel 21, verse 10.
So David escaped from Saul and went to King Achesh of Gath. But the officers of Achesh were unhappy about his being there. And they asked, Isn't this David the king of the land? Interesting, even though David wasn't the king yet, Saul was. They even recognize him as the king of the land.
Isn't he the one people honor with dances, singing? Saul has killed his thousands, and David is tens of thousands? We'll stop there. I don't know if David thought he would just blend in, but he stands out. David was the goat.
He was the greatest of all time. He was a legend in his own time. He had songs written about him. They're all saying, that's David. We've seen him in battle.
This guy is like a warrior and he's walking through our town. What is going on here? And I don't know what David wasn't thinking right. You know why sin makes you stupid?
So he had lost perspective. He's right in the enemy's camp. Says she in a round. When everyone recognizes him. And it reminds me of Simon Peter, remember, who went and warmed himself at the enemy's fire after Jesus was arrested, thinking he would go unnoticed in the dark of night?
But there in the glow of the fire, one person recognizes: Hey, I know you, Wade. You're one of the disciples of Jesus. No, you got the wrong guy. Another person recognizes and know you're one of those Jesus people. You're one of those disciples of Christ.
No, it's not me. Three times Peter denies the Lord. Reminds me a little bit here of David, because sometimes, in our estimation, God disappoints us. We don't like our lot in life. We don't like what has happened to us.
And maybe a tragedy befalls us, and our dreams are shattered.
So instead of going to fellow believers or going to church, We go to our old friends that don't know the Lord. We go back to that bar we used to frequent, or we call up an old buddy and say, hey man, let's hang out. And that old familiar spiritual deadness returns again. The Simon and Garfunkel sing in their song, The Sound of Silence. Hello, darkness, my old friend.
I've come to talk with you again. You're back there again. You can't believe you're back in that place again. But there you are. Because you're disappointed with God, so you're turning to the wrong people and you're going to the wrong places.
This is why Psalm 1 says, probably written by David, Happy is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the word of the Lord, and in it does he meditate day and night. You don't hang out with the wrong people in ungodly places. Encouraging you to do ungodly things.
Well, that's what David was doing. And with the eyes of the town upon him, David is suddenly gripped by fear. Look at 1 Samuel 21, verse 12. David heard these comments about him, he was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. Listen to this, he pretended to be insane.
scratching on doors and drooling down his beard. He's thinking, this is bad. I know, I'll act like a crazy person. Scratching the doors, drooling. And I love the response of the king.
Finally, King Akash said to his men, Why do you bring me a madman? We already have enough of them around here. Why should I let this person be my guest?
So now, David. Acting like a crazy person. Really, a bad situation.
So, David again flees. This time he goes to the cave of Abdulam. And if you want to know what he was thinking, He tells us in Psalm 142, go over there now. Psalm 142. It's very interesting.
To look at the context. A where, when, and why David wrote certain Psalms. Because then you can understand what he was really talking about.
So here in this cave, Running from King Akash, still running from King Saul, paralyzed by fear, David writes these words in Psalm 142. I'm reading from the New Living Translation. I cry out to the Lord, I plead for the Lord's mercy, I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me.
I look for someone to come help me, but no one gives me a passing thought. No one will help me. No one cares a bit about what happens to me. Stop there. This psalm is so honest.
Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever felt as though your enemies are setting traps for you? And no one gives a passing thought to you?
So, David's being really honest.
Now, notice how he shifts gears in the song. And he looks up. Psalm 142, verse 5. But then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life. Hear my cry, for I'm very low. Rescue me from my persecutors. They're too strong for me. Bring me out of prison so I can thank you.
The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me. Isn't that beautiful?
So what should you do when the bottom drops out? We need to look up. And put our focus on God, not on our problems. That's what we need to do. When crisis comes, when problems come.
Go to Jesus. Lord, I don't get it. I don't want it. Here it is. I present it to you.
That's what we need to do: cast our cares upon God. 1 Peter 5:6.
So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. And at the right time, he'll lift you up in honor, casting all your cares upon him, for he cares for you. Uh Today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie with great encouragement for our times of trouble. And there's so much more to come in his message called What to Do When the Bottom Drops Out.
Yeah. In Psalms, we read God as our refuge in strength, an ever-present help in trouble. But we need to have a relationship with the Lord to access that help and provision. Pastor Greg, what would you say to the person listening who is just not sure if they've ever come to the Lord and asked Him to be their Savior? Yes, I think they need to make this commitment to Christ.
Here's what the Bible says: Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
So you need to reach out to God. Not just think about it, not just say, one of these days I would like to, just do it. In fact, you can do it right now. You say, well, how do I call out to the name of the Lord? You do it through prayer.
God is just a prayer away. He desires a relationship with you. He wants you to know him. He wants to reveal himself to you.
So you just need to call out and say, Lord. save me and help me. How about if I lead you in a prayer? And you could pray this prayer after me. You can pray it out loud if you like.
You can pray it quietly in your heart, but don't. Direct this prayer toward God, and you could pray it after me right now. You ready? Pray this after me, Lord Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner.
But I know that you're the Saviour, And I want a relationship with you.
So, as your word says, I'm calling on the name of the Lord. I'm asking you to save me from my sin. And I'm asking that we begin a new relationship today. Thank you for loving me and sending your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin and then raising him from the dead. I now put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ, And I ask this In Jesus' name.
Amen. Amen. And listen, if you have just prayed that prayer along with Pastor Gregg and you've meant those words sincerely, well, let us be the first to welcome you into the family of God. And we want to help you get started off right in this new daily walk with the Lord. Pastor Greg would like to send you his New Believers Bible.
It's a special edition of God's Word for those who are new to the faith, with scores of helps for new believers written by Pastor Greg.
So get in touch and ask for the New Believers Bible. We'll send it to you free of any charge. Just call us at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to harvest.org and click the words Know God.
And then, thank you for partnering with us to help these daily studies continue. Your investments have eternal benefits. Why not make this a part of your personal ministry to partner in an effort that's making a real difference with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Thank you for your prayers and for prayerfully considering how God might lead you to help tangibly. Online, you'll find us at harvest.org, and there you'll see the way we'd like to thank you for your donation right now.
That's harvest.org. Or write us at a new beginning box 4000. Riverside, California, 92514. Or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We're here around the clock to take your call again at 1-800-821-3300.
Well, next time, more from Pastor Greg's message called What to Do When the Bottom Drops Out, Insights from the Life of David. Join us here on A New Beginning with Pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie. There's a day, the day when life begins.
