Troubled Hearts

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-17-2021

John 14:1-6

 

Introduction:  My message this morning will be simple in content and yet profound in practical application. There will be no great “depths of theology,” but rather a simple, down-to-earth message geared to help each of us.

 

A.  I believe that all of God’s people, at one time or another-in one way or the other, have troubled hearts. 

 

1.  Moses, a man who spoke to God face to face, was troubled.  Numbers 11:11  And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

 

2.  David, a man after God’s own heart, was troubled.  1 Samuel 27:1  And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

 

3.  John the Baptist, the greatest preacher born of woman, was troubled.  Luke 7:19  And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

 

4.  Paul, the greatest missionary who ever lived, was troubled.  2 Corinthians 7:5  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

 

5.  The list could go on but I think we all get the message.  There are times when each of us has a troubled heart.

 

B.  One of the signs of the last days (I know that this verse is speaking of the Tribulation Period, and I am simply making application) is “Men’s hearts failing them for fear.”  With great knowledge comes great fear.  With our ability to see or hear the news in a moment’s time lends to more and more worries.  When I was a boy, people did not know what was going on around the world like they do now. 

 

C.  The number one killer in America today is stress related problems.  God’s people are not exempt, and I know of even preachers who have taken their own lives when their fears were not handled properly.  People are different and their areas of concern are often diverse. 

 

D.  Some people are strong in certain areas while having weakness in others.  We can have great faith in one area of live and then have a trembling soul in another.  This makes it easy for us to indict others when they become troubled or worried while we worry about our problems in other areas.

 

1.  Fearful Concerning Our Health

2.  Fearful Concerning Our Finances

3.  Fearful Concerning Our Families

4.  Fearful Concerning Our Future

5.  Fearful Concerning Our Foes

6.  Fearful Concerning Our Failures

 

E.  The key to peace of heart could be summed up in one word:  TRUST!  Trust is a big word! Troubled and fearful are the exact opposites of trust.  God’s Word says much about trust and we will tie those verses to those concerning fears. 

 

F.  Fear is a hard taskmaster that can both control and ruin the lives of God’s people.  Even those who have placed into the Lord’s hands the safe keeping of their souls have concerns and fears.  Fear and faith are polar opposites and cannot cohabitate.

 

Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable-and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God.

 

G.  Martha, the sister of Lazarus, was troubled about “many things.”  Luke 10:41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.

 

H.  Some people worry about not having anything to worry about while others live in a more peaceful existence.  One of the main culprits in this area of worry and distress is found in Psalms 25:17, which reads, “The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.”  (Notice that the troubles were enlarged in the heart.  Not that the problems were enlarged for they remained constant but they became enlarged when the heart became troubled and fearful.  The more you worry about something the worse it seems to get.)

 

J.  God’s Word commands us not to worry - 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.

 

1.  There Is The Certainty Of Troubled Hearts – “be troubled” - 2 Corinthians 7:5  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.  (Notice I said, “The certainty of troubled hearts.”  Everyone is plagued with this problem.  Even God’s men are troubled in heart at times.)

 

2.  There Is The Choice Of Troubled Hearts – “Let not” - 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.  (It is simply up to us when and how much we worry!  We can either have a trusting heart or a troubled one.)

 

3.  There Is The Cause Of Troubled Hearts – “if it were not so”  (Troubled hearts are a result of unbelief and mistrust.)

 

Mark 4:35-38  And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 

 

a.  They Relied Upon Their Own Strength – “so that it was now full.”  (They rowed and bailed until all hope was gone before awaking the Lord.)

 

b.  They Failed To Realize Who Was With Them – “Master”  (Dear Lord, you got us into trouble again!)

 

1)  The Realization Of His Omnipresence

2)  The Realization Of His Omniscience

3)  The Realization Of His Omnipotence

 

c.  They Forgot Who They Were – “carest thou not”  (You had better believe that He cares!  Oh, yes He cares!)

 

d.  They Forgot His Promise – “Let us pass over unto the other side.”

 

4.  There Is The Cure Of Troubled Hearts – “ye believe in God, believe also in me”

 

a.  Trust In The Lord - Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

Psalms 62:8  Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalms 56:3  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

 

b.  Rest In The Lord - Psalms 37:7  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

 

c.  Commit Unto The Lord - Psalms 37:5  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

 

Job 23:10-11  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.