Larry Siegle · Psalm. 73:1, 2
Link to sermon video: God’s Fitness Program – L Siegle
The Heart Posture
“God’s Fitness Plan”
(Psalm. 73:1, 2)
Series: The Healing Heart Posture
Thesis: There is a “sickness” in the human heart that only God can heal.
INTRODUCTION
1. We continue the special series to identify and explore the depths our “heart posture” and why our hearts need God’s touch to heal and to restore us in every area of our lives.
2. The title of the series is The Heart Posture
3. The title of our message today is: “God’s Fitness Plan”
HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT “FITNESS” AND GETTING “INTO SHAPE”?
1. Some months ago, the doctor told me I needed to get “into shape”—(I reminded him that ROUND is a shape).
2. You cannot read the NT writings of the apostle Paul without concluding that he was indeed a “sports fan” and used athletics to illustrate the need for “exercise” or “training.”
a. Paul wrote to the young minister Timothy to express the depth and importance of “exercise” or “training” (I Tim. 4:6-9).
b. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul discussed relationship with God as a “race” and the level of “discipline” necessary in order to reach the “finish line” (I Cor. 9:24-27).
1) If was here speaking to us today, he would be talking about college sports, football, basketball, tennis, soccer (Is bowling actually a sport?).
2) The lessons we learn from sports speaking to our understanding of the relationship between mortality and the need for endurance in whatever our situations and circumstances may be.
3) The reality is that God has placed all of us in a world environment where various challenges arise and has given to us, the gift of “choice” for each of us to decide how we react and respond to the difficult (impossible) things we face.
3. The life cycle is evident all around us:
a. The four seasons of the year reminds us of birth, growth, decline, and death.
1) But even the seasons of the year are not predictable: floods, tornados, hurricanes, storms, earthquakes also.
2) God provides each of us with the opportunity to prepare and respond to ‘whatever’ may come.
b. Attention to physical fitness (training) Paul tells his audience is most appropriate.
1) Jim Fixx was a well known “Marathon Runner” in the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s who did everything to remain strong and active physically—even having written a best-selling book about running.
a) The age of 52, while running, Jim Fixx suffered a coronary (heart attack) and died suddenly.
b) He was completely unaware that the vessels of his heart had blockages of 95%.
c. “Is life fair?” According to a survey taken, 1/3 of Americans believe life is faith…which means 2/3 are unconvinced or believe that life is not fair.
1) We have to understand that fairness is not equal to “equality of either circumstance or outcome (equity)”
2) Those who live in other countries where violence, disease, and poverty are most evident, those who believe that “life is fair” would be far less than those living elsewhere.
THE SPIRITUAL “HEART POSTURE” OF ASAPH (PSALM 73).
1. Sometimes what we see has an effect on what we feel in the innermost parts of our being—especially when it appears that no matter how tender our hearts may be, and how consistent our thoughts, desires, and actions may be,
there is no sense of “fairness” in how God distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked (Matt. 5:45).
2. Solomon’s book of Ecclesiastes takes a “horizontal” view of life in the world—the phrase “under the sun” is used 28 times in providing a description of what life appears to be (from a human perspective).
a. Life apart from God “under the sun” is like ‘chasing the wind’ (meaningless) (Eccl. 1:3, 4, 14).
b. As it pertains to situations and circumstances from the “under the sun” viewpoint, there is no difference between what happens to the righteous and what happens to the wicked (Eccl. 9:1-6)
c. Just “live while you’re alive” (as Bon Jovi sang) because that is the best you can hope for “under the sun” (Eccl 9:7-10).
d. The conclusion of Solomon from the “under the sun” perspective is there is NO point (Eccl. 9:11, 12).
3. Some of the attitudes and actions of those who reject God arise from this depiction of the problem of evil and the question of why does God not do something about it!
THE CHARACTER OF THE PSALMIST ASAPH
1. Psalm 50 and 73 to 83 are credited Asaph are in what is considered “book 3” (of the psalms) and a variety of subjects are explored by this psalmist, including the issue of whether or not life is “fair”
2. Psalm 73 is the heartfelt cry for understanding what we see that does not make sense—why bother walking with God, living a godly life, if those who are wicked (ungodly) are going to have the “good life” anyway.
3. How each of us sees the problems of life, creates within us a perspective that ‘gives up’ and says, “why should they have everything when I have nothing!”
a. Psalm 73:3-5—it seems like nothing bad happens to the wicked.
b. Psalm 73:6-12—those who are wicked are full of pride and say “look at me” (social influencers).
c. Psalm 73:13-16—Like Solomon Asaph is looking “under the sun” and it is not a pretty picture and concludes by saying in his heart What is the point?
d. Psalm 73:17-28—Asaph has a changed (transformed) perspective between how God deals with those who are upright over against those who are wicked.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRONOUNS
1. When you follow the ebb and flow of this psalm, the inspired use of the pronouns becomes more evident:
a. (1-3) Asaph discusses his own heart posture (condition)… “me” and “my” “I was”
b. Notices the identifiers in the next section of verses (4-12), it is about “they” “their” “them”
c. Asaph goes back to contrast himself (13-16) “I” and his situation that felt tiring a wearisome.
d. Once he enters into God’s Presence his heart and mindset are transformed (17-28)…Asaph sees the bigger picture and once again life makes sense to him.
2. In our own situations and circumstances how do we see God’s perspective?
a. God does not cause evil circumstances to enter into our lives, but as they do, He give us the opportunity of having a godly attitude and response—even when the situation seems hopeless.
b. There is a process pictured by the apostle Paul in Romans 5:1-5 through which believers can actually increase in our own godly character development through the trials and difficulties of life.
1) In reality we tend to become the quarterback “under pressure” (in the pocket) who begins to dance around.
2) But God wants us to learn to have a. sense of calmness in the midst of adversity.
3) Elihu one of Job’s friends gives him a different perspective (Job. 36:1-16).
4) God does “in the end” rescue the righteous (Psa 35:17; 71:2, 4; 82:4).
3. Our sense of timing never matches God’s process of “rescue” and “deliverance” from whatever it is we are facing.
a. Can we trust God with the deepest cries of our hearts….even when it appears that His wisdom does not match what “we think” He should do in our situation?
b. When something serious and unexpected comes knocking on our door, how do we respond (react)?
c. Like Asaph, it is imperative that we see the bigger picture as we enter into His place of safety, His sanctuary, the place of His dwelling deep within our spirits.
1) God used the ten plagues to actually harden the “heart” of Pharoah (Exod. 9:12).
2) The “outward” situations and circumstances are a measurement of where our hearts are and whether or not we will soften our hearts to God or harden them.
CONCLUSION
1. Has a “heart” fitness plan or program designed to mold and to shape us into do what Christ would do as we reflect the “image of God” in all of our situations and circumstances.
2. If we are becoming angry and bitter against God, based on what we see “under the sun” then we miss how it is that God ultimately blesses us, heals our scars, comforts us, delivers us, and protects us.
3. We see events on the “world stage” that do not make sense to us, unnecessary violence, murder, every evil we can imagine, and it becomes confusing to us.
a. What God allows in order to test our free moral agency in the realm of response, has a purpose and a design in how it transforms our hearts and lives for so much better.
b. Like Asaph, when he entered into the very presence of God, saw the wonder and majesty of God at work and knew the end result.
Outline (Word document): The_Healing_Heart_Posture_II.docx