The Appeal of Desperation - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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The Appeal of Desperation

Psalm 63

Intro: One thing that is lacking today in our nation, as well as in our churches, is a desperation for God.

I am afraid that we are dealing with a “take it or leave it” attitude with most people.

If they can have God in their life, they will take Him.

If they can’t, it won’t make much difference.

Vance Havner said, “Sunday morning Christianity is the greatest hindrance to true revival.”

In this chapter, David is praying a prayer of desperation.

A. A Desperate Appeal for the PERSON of God – vs. 1

B. A Desperate Appeal for the POWER of God – vs. 2

C. A Desperate Appeal for the PROVISION of God – vs. 3-5

D. A Desperate Appeal for the PROTECTION of God – vs. 6-11

One thing that I believe has happened is we have lost our desperate need for God.

The Bible is filled with those that appealed to God in a time of desperation, and God answered their prayer.

1. Jacob was Desperate for a Blessing

Genesis 32

· 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

· 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

· 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

· 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

· 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

· 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

· 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

2. Hannah was Desperate for a Baby

1 Samuel 1

· 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

· 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

· 12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

· 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

· 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

· 15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

· 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

· 17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

This title has a double meaning.

The word APPEAL means to ask, or petition or request.

It also means evoking or attracting interest, desire, curiosity, sympathy, or the like; attractive.

I have discovered a truth, not only in the pages of God’s Word, but also in my personal life.

Nothing appeals to God more than an APPEAL OF DESPERATION.

· When He sees that we are not playing games…

· When He sees that we are just not going through the motions…

· When He sees that we do not have a complacent attitude toward Him…

· When He sees that our needs are so great that they require His intervention, THAT IS WHAT APPEALS TO GOD!!

When a person cries out to God, or comes to God out of desperation, He is moved by that.

There is something appealing to God about a person that cannot live without Him!!!

What we need today is a renewed desperation for God.

Just as David did in our text (Psalm 63), God is looking for those that desperately need Him.

· In verse 1, David was SEEKING God

· In verse 1, David was THIRSTING for God

· In verse 1, David was LONGING for God.

· In verse 2, David was ANTICIPATING God.

· In verse 3, David was SAVORING God and PRAISING God.

· In verse 4, David was BLESSING God and REACHING OUT to God.

· In verse 5, David was SATISFIED with God.

· In verse 6, David was REMEMBERING God and MEDITATING on God.

· In verse 7, David was HIDING in God and REJOICING in God.

· In verse 8, David was FOLLOWING after God.

· In verse 9-11, David was REJOICING in God.

We must agree – this was not the psalm of a man with a casual, complacent, formalistic religion.

This was a man obsessed with knowing God and being with God.

I want to turn your attention this morning to just a few examples of what I’m preaching about.

When God sees desperation, it appeals to Him in ways we cannot imagine.

I. The Appeal of a Desperation that cannot be Shut Up

Matthew 20

· 29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

· 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

· 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

· 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

· 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

· 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

These two blind men heard that Jesus was passing by.

They began to cry out.

It was not a subtle prayer; it was not a quiet, formalistic prayer. It was not a prayer impeded or hindered by those standing around them.

They began to cry out for mercy.

The multitude around them rebuked them.

Imagine! Imagine being surrounded by people that not only couldn’t help you, but didn’t want someone that could help you to help you.

They didn’t even want them to ask for help.

They rebuked them and told them to hold their peace.

But that didn’t stop these blind men. They were desperate!

They were sick and tired of living their lives in a state of blindness.

They wanted to see. They wanted to have their eyesight restored.

They refused to be silenced. They refused to shut up.

Their desperation was evident when they began to cry out the more!

They didn’t get quiet, they got louder!

They didn’t hold their peace; they made a greater disturbance!

Their appeal of desperation appealed to Jesus!

He stood still. He had compassion on them.

Jesus was moved by their desperation.

How desperate are you? Do you let those around that don’t want to hear it stop you?

Do you let those around you that don’t want you to get help silence you?

Do you let the crowds around you that couldn’t care less shut you up when you’re needing something from God?

II. The Appeal of a Desperation that cannot be Shut Down

Matthew 15

· 21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

· 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

· 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

· 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

· 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

· 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

· 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

· 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

This woman was given so many opportunities to quit and walk away.

She, like the blind men in 20, was crying out to the Lord.

But this time, the rejection was of a greater significance.

The Bible says that Jesus ANSWERED HER NOT A WORD.

That would have sent most people away.

That would have quenched most people these days.

But not her! She didn’t leave.

The disciples even jumped in on the rejection, begging Jesus to send her away.

Jesus looked at them and was talking about her; not behind her back, but in front of her!

She refused to be shut down.

She came and worshipped him, and asked him to please help her.

Again, Jesus said to her, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. That would have sent most people packing. But not her!

She was desperate!!

She would not be shut down!!

• And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

Jesus was impressed.

Her desperation appealed to Him!!

· 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

How we need to match this woman’s

III. The Appeal of a Desperation that cannot be Shut Out

Luke 19

· 1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

· 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

· 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

· 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

· 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

· 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

Zacchaeus was surrounded by people that were preventing him from getting to Jesus.

He didn’t measure up.

He was on the outside.

He wanted to see Jesus, but wasn’t able.

But he was desperate!

In spite of the press, in spite of his shortcomings, in spite of his inability and his limitations, he didn’t stop!!

Jesus was moved by his desperation.

Jesus came to where he was.

He couldn’t see Jesus, so Jesus came and saw him.

The desperation of Zacchaeus appealed to Jesus!

Out of all the people in that crowd that day, Jesus went home with Zacchaeus.

Conclusion: God is so impressed and so moved by our desperation for Him.

Hebrews 11:6 says He is the rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM!!

Our desperation appeals to God!!