From Distress to Destiny

Scripture:
 Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Introduction:
 Webster’s New World Dictionary describes distress as pain; grief; anxiety; suffering. Distress implies mental or physical strain imposed by pain, trouble, worry or the like and usually suggests a state or situation that can be relieved.
 Everyone experiences distress of one kind or another every once in a while in their life. It’s not the problem that causes the distress that is the problem, but how we face those situations. It’s a question of our coming through these stressful times in our lives and into the destiny that God has purchased for us. If we handle the storms of life properly, we will grow in grace and take continual steps toward the fulfillment of our destiny.

I. What brings on distress?
A. Joseph imprisons his brother Simeon while the other brothers are instructed to return home and bring the younger brother back.
Genesis 42:19-22 “If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.”And they did so. 21Then they said to one another, “We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.” 22And Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.”
1. These brothers experience distress because of their guilt in selling Joseph into slavery.
2. They experienced distress because of their insensitivity to Joseph’s pleas for mercy.
3. As they remembered their sin, they knew that now payday had come.
B. Distress comes because of our failure to respond to the voice of God.
Proverbs 1:24-29 “Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 53 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,”
1. Distress will always come when God gives direction and we refuse to listen.
2. Fellowship with God is absolutely vital if we are to avoid distress in our lives.
3. Disobedience is rebellion and God will allow distress to come to the rebellious.
C. Nehemiah was in distress because Jerusalem and its walls were broken down.
Nehemiah 2:17 “Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”
1. The distress was actually because they had not reached their potential.
2. Distress was also caused by the conflict they were having with the enemy.
3. The enemy was out to make sure the people of God did not come into their destiny.
4. We must not be weary in well doing for weariness brings on distress.
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
II. If distress is handled properly, we move further into our destiny.
Romans 8:28-29 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
A. The distressing circumstances have the power to bring the transformation into our lives that produces sonship.
B. Distress brings about an enlargement in the spiritual realm for us.
Psalm 4:1 “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.” (KJV)
C. Distress causes me to call upon the Lord and as a result I grow spiritually. I am moving in accordance with a divine plan and destiny is being fulfilled.
Psalm 118:5 “I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.” (KJV)
D. Because of my distress, the Lord fights for me.
Psalm 18:1-19 “I will love You, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. 4 The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. 7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. 8 Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it. 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under His feet. 10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. 12 From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire. 13 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire. 14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. 15 Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. 16 He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. 19 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.”
1. It’s time to put our trust in the Lord.
2. All we have to do is call upon Him.
3. God gets angry at that which causes us distress and the enemy is put to flight.
4. We discover God’s power in the time of our distress.
5. As a result of going through the distress, our faith is enlarged.
6. We discover that God is truly on our side.

III. We overcome distress by the simple matter of calling upon the Lord.
Psalm 120:1 “In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He heard me.”