Sermon: Extrication
by Chris Cumming
Let us begin by turning to Psalm 23
Psalm 23:1-6
1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still
waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his
name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will
dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
All but twelve of these 122 words are absolute declarations about God:
…the Lord is my shepherd. …He restoreth my soul.
…He leadeth me in and to righteousness. …I will fear no evil.
…He provides for me. …He anoints me. …He fills my cup.
Then there are those twelve words that we find in verse 4:
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”
In fact, virtually every other word of the psalm is focused on our common and
frequent journeys through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Let us talk about
that valley for a moment. Let’s look at it in the physical sense, the way David
probably did. Who here wants to walk into the Valley of the Shadow of Death?
Is it possible that if I go into this valley that I could die? Surely this is
the case.
The question is not whether we will ever enter this valley but what our attitude
is going to be each time we do. The words of Psalm 23 absolutely tell us what
David’s attitude is.
When we read of a youthful David going out to meet Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, we
see him in verse 48 running headlong to face the mighty Goliath. He ran into
the Valley of the Shadow of Death. His attitude was faithful and positive.
However there is another attitude on this battlefield. Notice:
1 Samuel 17:23-24
23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up
the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the
Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were
sore afraid.
The word for this is, “Defeatism.” Some people, like David, run into the
valley with a positive attitude. Others run from it sore afraid and with a
negative attitude knowing they are going to die.
Which are you? What is your attitude? My purpose today is to encourage and
embolden all of us to run into the valley with the power of God.
What does David say in Psalm 23:4? “I
will fear no evil for thou art with me.”
What’s true is that He is with you in all the valleys we have to cross.
All through our lives we enter these valleys. There are physical, emotional,
mental, and spiritual valleys that must constantly be crossed.
They are not always valleys of death but almost always valleys of defeat. To
enter these valleys is to say there is a possibility of defeat. Whether you
make it or not will depend almost exclusively on your attitude and faith.
Let us take a look at that word, “defeatism.”
de•feat•ism
---the attitude, policy, or conduct of a person who admits, expects, or no
longer resists defeat, as because of a conviction that further struggle or
effort is futile; pessimistic resignation.
---a ready acceptance or expectation of defeat,
---a ready attitude that defeat is inevitable because it is possible.
---a state of mind in which one expects and accepts defeat too easily.
I can tell you right now that if a man enters into the valley of defeat with the
expectation of defeat and/or an attitude that defeat is inevitable, then he is
already lost. My advice to him is, “Don’t enter that valley!!!”
Case in point: Several years ago I entered into a business deal with a
friend of mine. As we were carrying out our various duties, he began expressing
to me the possibility of our losing our investment in the business. It then got
really bad when he began expressing to me that our defeat was inevitable simply
because it was possible. His main expression was, “If it is possible for us to
lose everything, then we probably will. His attitude was one of pessimistic
resignation despite the fact our investment was doing just fine, thank you very
much. I had to rebuke him more than once that his negative attitude was pulling
me down and that if this continued we WOULD find ourselves failing.
Well, things went from bad to worse. His pessimism became so profound that he
could not remember any of his assigned duties and could not even remember any
aspect of our business plan. It was so bad that we had to end our business
arrangement and totally liquidate our investment.
His abysmal attitude literally blew every fuse in my head. I was about to
explode into a million pieces. Just thinking about that incident leaves me with
a bad taste in my mouth, a churning stomach and a throbbing headache.
This is just what a negative attitude can do to you. Do not allow it. Notice
some positive quotes about being positive.
Watch as I go through these quotes as they get closer and closer to God and His
spiritual pathway.
Michael Jordan said, "If you accept the expectations of others, especially
negative ones, then you never will change the outcome."
"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a
negative thought."
“Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power”
“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having
positive results.”
"God never ends anything on a negative; God always ends on a positive.”
“Man is lost and is wandering in a jungle where real values have no meaning.
Real values can have meaning to man only when
he steps on to the spiritual path, a path where negative emotions have no use.”
What does the Bible have to say on the subject?
Should we be thinking negative thoughts or anything that leads to a negative
attitude?
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things.
Note: Anything in this verse about
listening to negative statistics or discussing potential or possible negative
outcomes?
What does a negative attitude do to our health?
Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Should we be anxious about anything?
Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Can we be successful at everything?
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Note: If it be God’s will for you, you
will know success in what you put your hand, heart or mind to.
Additionally, remember the individual I described who stated that if defeat or
death was possible, then it would probably happen. My answer to him in the form
of a question is, “Isn’t overwhelming success possible here to the same and even
greater degree than the possibility of defeat?” THEN THINK ON THE OVERWHELMING
SUCCESS!!
Are negative attitudes the possession of a fool? If so, where will his
attitudes lead?
Proverbs 18:7
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Does being negative and making negative statements defile us?
Matthew 15:11
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of
the mouth, this defileth a man.
What should we do with all the negative statements and thoughts?
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be
put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Note: How can one possibly be kind and
tenderhearted to others if all that is coming out of his mouth is defeatism?
Do negative thoughts and defeatism give rise to anger?
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
The Matthew Henry commentary says, “A right cause will be better pleaded with
meekness than with passion. Nothing stirs up anger like grievous words.”
The word, “Grievous” means “causing grief, pain, or anguish.” Clearly
negativity and defeatism cause grief, pain and anguish. Negative statements and
attitudes are driven by negative passions like fear, resentment and personal
anguish.
How do we receive what we pray for?
Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Note: How can we possibly pray before
the Living God if your mind is full of negativity and defeat?
Why are firstfruits without fear?
Hebrews 13:6
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man
shall do unto me.
Note: Negative individuals are the
opposite of boldness and they are always full of fear.
Do negative statements have power in our life? Do negative statements result
in negative outcomes? Do positive statements result in success?
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat
the fruit thereof.
Notice the commentary on this verse:
Death and life are in the power of the tongue -
Of witnesses, according to the testimony they bear; of judges, according to the
sentence they pass; of teachers, according to the doctrine they preach; of all
men, who, by their well or ill speaking,
bring death or life to themselves and others. Some,
by their tongues, by the too free use of them, or falsehood they utter, are the
cause of death to themselves and others; and some, by their silence, or by their
prudent speech and prevalent intercession, secure or obtain life for themselves
and others; yea, judgment at the last day will proceed according to a man's
words, "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be
condemned", Matthew 12:37; the tongue is the instrument either of a great deal
of good, or of a great deal of evil; and they that love it shall eat the fruit
thereof - that delight to be talkative; that love to use the tongue, whether in
a good or in a bad way, shall accordingly be recompensed; shall enjoy the
advantages or disadvantages arising from it. ~John Gil
Is defeatism about fear? Are negative people troubled in their hearts and
minds? Is this what Christ wants for us?
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
How can a firstfruit be full of defeatism and expect things to work out?
Romans 8:28-31
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called,
them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against
us?
Note:
Verse 28: How can one be negative and think that he or she loves God?
Verse 28: Were we called to be negative? Is that God's purpose?
Verse 29: How can we be a defeatist and conform to the image of Christ?
Is He a negative thinker?
Verse 30: How can a negative mind expect to be glorified? What glory is
there in always expecting the worst in every situation?
Verse 31: If God is for you, then what power do negative thoughts and
expectations have?
Someone might be thinking here, "What do all these spiritual scriptures have to
do with my physical, mental and emotional life?" What does God care about my
job or pastimes or projects and goals?
How many times have I preached about all the living metaphors of this human
life? God is fully involved in all our endeavors to include our education, job
or career, our finances, our health and even our hobbies and entertainment. He
wants us to win at everything. All of these elements like our job and hobbies
are training ground for invoking all the positive laws and promises of God.
Notice:
Deuteronomy 29:9
Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in
all that ye do.
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even
as thy soul prospereth.
1 Chronicles 22:13
Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and
judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of
good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
Read the end of that verse again: "Be strong, and of good courage; dread not,
nor be dismayed." Positive people are strong and full of courage. Negative
people are full of dread and dismay.
Questions for the individual who says, "If it CAN happen, it probably WILL
happen."
1] Every day about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Should I give up
swimming?
2] In the US in 2009, 93 individuals died each day in car accidents. Should I give up driving my car?
3] 1.6 to 2 million people die every year from violence? Should I stay home for the rest of my life or avoid all people?
4] 5,600 pedestrians die each year and 80,000 injured, mostly at crosswalks. Should I refuse to cross any street?
5] 20 commercial airliners crash each year killing about 185 people. Should I give up air travel?
6] 8 to 9 out of every 10 new businesses fail within the first year? Should I avoid starting a new business?
7] Over 180,000 homes went into foreclosure in September of 2012 alone. Should I give up the idea of buying a home?
8] In the prophetic parable of the ten firstfruit virgins, five of them have the door to eternal life shut in their face. Apparently I have a 50% or less chance of being in the Kingdom. Matthew 22:14 says, "Many called, few chosen." Matthew 24:12 says, "the love of many shall wax cold." Should I just admit defeat and leave the Salvation Process now? God forbid!