July 22, 2011

I have been sharing some insights regarding the nature of commitment from Psalm 142.

The Psalmist found himself trapped in a cave primarily because of his commitment to God. Sometimes commitment seems like a trap because when you commit you eliminate every other option. Jesus' commitment led Him to a cross. If you are a committed Christian there is a cave or a cross in your future.

Also, his commitment was tested the longer he remained into the cave. He cried out and complained to God but never caved in on his commitment.

Because he endured the pain and loneliness of being trapped in a cave his commitment became stronger and he found a measure of contentment. Here is how the Psalmist found some contentment in the cave:

He Clarified – Where is my focus?

I think the key to contentment is focusing on what you love rather than on what you lack. If you obsess over what you do not or cannot have you will naturally stir up discontentment. Rather, concentrate on what you DO have in the One you love - God. The fact is that when you have God and His love you have all you need!

He Confessed - "I cry to you, LORD; I say, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.'"

Anytime you may feel your commitment wavering and you are tempted to doubt, confess your faith and confidence in the Lord! It will always work! There is tremendous strength in positive confession.

He Committed

Another good practice when it comes to keeping commitments is this - when you feel like getting out of your commitment - recommit! When loneliness and discouragement and the pain of being trapped in your cave weakens you so you are tempted to quit, renew your commitment! Tell God, "I will love you in the cave!"

Learn from David and also from Jesus. Consider this - "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:3

When Jesus' commitment led Him to the cross He stayed focused on the One He loved and the joy of pleasing Him! That's how you find contentment in the cave!

July 21, 2011

“I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.”   Psalms 142

So, here you are in a dark, damp, desolate, disgusting cave and you don’t like it. You feel like you are trapped because you are. That's how commitment works, which is why you need to work on your commitments.  So when you feel trapped and you don't like the feeling what do you do?

The Psalmist could have given up and turned Himself in to the King and hope for mercy. He could have killed the King and do away with his enemy. But His commitment to His God would allow Him to do neither. So he decided to bear the consequences of His commitment to serve God, even though it was terrible in the cave.

You do what David did:

Complain - “I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.”

You don’t have to like it in the cave. Who would? David was innocent. He had done nothing to deserve being hunted down like a stray dog, but he had managed to get on the wrong side of an insecure king.

I imagine it would be hard enough to be public enemy number one if you were guilty but it is very unfair to be totally innocent but still have your life totally disrupted.

Pour out your complaint to the Lord. But when you complain, don’t curse the Lord or don’t accuse the Lord. When you complain, let it out and get it over with – keep it short.

Cry – “Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.”

Being trapped in a cave and having your life completely disrupted is very difficult. Long dark lonely nights in a damp cave can take an emotional toll on a person. The natural way to release emotional pain is to cry out. The Psalmist cried out.

I can think of another innocent Man Who was brutally treated and cried out to God in His agony. His Name was Jesus and He was the Son of God, Who became your Savior. He cried out from the Cross and complained to His Father.

Frankly, most people these days, including Christians bail on their commitments at this point. When they are feeling trapped and life is very uncomfortable they "cave in" rather than stand true to their commitment.

David cried and complained in the cave but did not cave on his commitment. Jesus cried and complained on the Cross but He did not cave-in. How about you? Are you feeling trapped and thinking about caving in on a commitment? This is where character is built and integrity shows. What will you do?

Calm Down and Connect - "LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Once the Psalmist dealt with his ragged emotions and calmed down, he fixed his focus back on His God and reconnected with his faith. He remembered why he had committed to God in the first place. Just when he felt like getting out he got back in. The good news is that when we can't leave the cave, God can come to us! He can comfort and encourage and strengthen so we don't cave in on our commitments.

 

If you have feeling trapped in a faith commitment or a family commitment or a financial commitment - you don't have to cave in. The Psalmist proves it!

July 20, 2011

“I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy! I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.”    Psalms 142

Some of your know that this Summer I am doing a sermon series entitled “Summer In the Psalms”. This week I am focusing on Psalm 142. Some have called this chapter “the cry from the cave” because that is where the Psalmist found himself as he fled from King Saul.

As I studied this portion of Scripture I saw something that I didn’t find in any of the commentaries I have referenced. The obvious theme is that of loneliness and isolation of being trapped in a cave. Certainly that is the case but I asked myself, “Why is he in the cave? Is he a trapped there as a helpless victim? What was he doing in that cave?”

That is when I realized that this Psalm is not primarily a lesson on loneliness but it is an illustration of what it means to be committed.

How so?

David found himself in that cave because of his commitment to God. His commitment to God made him a giant-killer and a hero among his people. That popularity didn’t sit well with King Saul who became jealous of David and insecure about his throne. This apostate King saw the godly David as a threat who had to be eliminated. As a result, David had to run for his life.

If David had not been committed to the Lord he could have surrendered to Saul and saved himself a lot of trouble.

Commitment can put you in a cave at times. When you stand for what is right and true in a fallen, immoral, and godless world you can face ridicule, rejection and vicious attacks on your reputation. It can be lonely standing for what you believe in a politically correct culture.

The fact is, commitment is a trap. I say that because making a commitment means that you have eliminated every other option. You are a prisoner to your choice. But commitment is the only trap that leads to freedom! So David was trapped in the cave because of his commitment to obey and honor his God. He had no “plan B”.

A contemporary example of a good man who has been trapped by his commitment to honor God is Judge Roy Moore from Alabama. Some of you may remember him and may have wondered what Judge Roy Moore has been doing since he was removed from the bench for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from his courtroom wall. Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama! But Roy Moore remains unbowed and not intimidated.

If you are totally committed in your Christian faith there will be times when you feel trapped. When you are totally committed in your marriage there will be moments when you feel trapped. Any important commitment will be the same – because you are by your own choice! In fact, if you never feel trapped you are probably not committed.

Over the next few days I will share some stuff from this Psalm that will help you understand what to do when you feel trapped.

Stay tuned!

July 19, 2011

"I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge, no one cares for my life. I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me."   Psalm 142

Over the years as I have worked and worshipped in the church I have become convinced that one of the most essential components of faith is also one of the most misunderstood. What is that essential? It is commitment.

The misunderstanding centers around the notion that you can be "sort of" committed or "mostly committed". That makes about as much sense as believing you can be "sort of" pregnant or "sort of" sky-diving.

Commitment means "devotion to a cause or a person" or "loyalty given to a cause or a person" or "joining exclusively to a cause".

Commitment begins when a person chooses to become devoted to a cause or to a person and in so doing excludes or subordinates all other loyalties to that choice. In truth, whatever you are committed to is your god. But in this case, the Psalmist is talking about making a commitment to trust God for salvation and becoming devoted to Him. But now that we are on the other side of the cross, that commitment is to be devoted to God through trusting Christ to deliver you from your sins,

That commitment should be made as a decision of the will because you understand He is the only Way to God and therefore, the only hope for Heaven. When you make that decision in that way you give your loyalties completely to Him and eliminate all other options. Jesus said, "Any man having put his hand to the plow and looks back is unworthy of the Kingdom of God."  God said, "You shall have no other gods before me."

Commitment requires you to be all in for Christ. Faith is a plunge from whatever you trusted before into a total hope in the grace of God.

You are either fully committed or you are not committed at all. Are you committed?

July 18, 2011

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  II Timothy 4:6-8

I was channel surfing yesterday afternoon after church service, followed by speaking at the nursing home. Through the wonders of remote control I was alternating between the NASCAR race in New Hampshire, the British Open, the Women's World Cup Soccer match - and an occasional doze.

In the golf event, Phil Mikelson made a charge on the front-nine to get himself back into a tie for the lead. But on the back-nine he began to falter, and then he began to struggle and then he pretty much lost his touch or feel or something but his game fell apart.

Phil Mickelson had a very realistic opportunity to win the world's most prestigious golf tournament and he couldn't finish it. You can't win if you can't finish.

Then, for the next two hours I watched to World Cup final match between USA and Japan. From the very first kick of the game the USA team dominated play. They had several real good shots on goal that just barely missed them. Late in the first half they scored on a beautiful goal to go up 1-0 and looked to be in command. However, while trying to run the clock out in the first half they had a careless moment to give an easy goal to Japan. Despite outplay the Japanese team, Team USA went to the lockeroom with a tie. They failed to finish the first half well. Their dominating play continued through the second half but they failed to finish on some scoring opportunities ending the game tied. Scoring late in the extra-time period, it looked as though the World Cup would be theirs. But, once again they saw the Japanese team get a game-tying goal in the final minutes. Ending in a tie, the winner would be decided via the penalty kicks. One final time the USA girls were unable to finish and they lost a heart-breaker to Japan. It did not matter that the Americans had played better soccer than the ladies from Japan, what mattered is they couldn't finish. Winners know how to finish well.

Paul, writing to his young ministering partner Timothy, testified that he had completed what God had called him to do and was now ready to finish well. In Hebrews 12:1-2 he shares his plan for finishing well - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. "

This aged apostle knew that to finish well he could not afford to take His eyes off Jesus for even a moment!

Are you determined to finish well? What is your plan to make sure you do? Have you fixed your focus squarely and exclusively on Jesus?

July 17, 2011

You and I were born into a troubled world with a world of troubles! Your family had troubles as you were growing up. When you were old enough to go to school your math teacher gave you problems. As you went out onto your own you inherited your own troubles and did your best not to create new ones. You go to work and find troubles and then you come home and find other troubles. Then you turn on the news to hear about the troubles all around the world. You go to church on Sunday only to find out there are problems there! There is only one place you know that doesn’t have troubles but the problem is you have to die to get there!

Before we go any further, let’s pause to define what we mean by “troubles”. In verse one of Psalm 46 it says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble” – the word for trouble literally means – “a tight place”. Ever been in a tight place? For someone who is claustrophobic tight places mean big trouble!

I THINK THERE ARE THREE MAIN CAUSES OF TROUBLE:



1) Not Obeying God’s Word

2) Obeying God’s Word

3) Fallout And Shrapnel From A Fallen World


SEVERAL WAYS WE TRY TO DEAL WITH TROUBLE:


1) Try to minimize them away

2) Try to medicate them away

3) Try to meditate them away

I like what the Psalmist did – rather than minimize the trouble or medicate himself, he MAXIMIZED HIS GOD in the face of trouble! The 46th Psalm reflects that and as we continue our “Summer In the Psalms” series. Here is a guy who had a lot of troubles but who through those troubles came to understand that he had a REALLY BIG GOD!

David’s approach is summarized in verse 10 -- “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” -- and then detailed throughout the rest of the chapter, so lets jump in and get started!

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us the God of Jacob is our fortress."

I. BE STILL – God Is Your Refuge! Vv. 1-3

When you are troubled and under pressure or in pain you really need to be careful what you say. Don’t allow your pain or frustration to cause you to speak for you. That never turns out well and the last thing you need in troubled times is more trouble from self-inflicted wounds!

As your mother told you hundreds of times – “IF YOU CAN’T SAY SOMETHING NICE DON’T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!” – Be still and know that He IS God!

God is a refuge! A refuge is a shelter – a safe place – a place of rest………


A. God Is A Personal Refuge, V. 1 – “God is our refuge…..”

(God = “Elohim” = Triune God)

B. God Is A Present Refuge, V. 1b – “…a very present help in trouble”

(VERY Present = Immediate)

C. God Is A Permanent Refuge, V. 2

(Four “Thoughs” = PERMANENT)

The Psalmist David is urging you to be the strong silent type – YOU BE SILENT AND KNOW THAT HE IS STRONG!



II. BE STRONG – God Is Your River! Vv. 4-7


A. It Satisfies, V. 4a – “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God”



B. It Sanctifies, V. 4b. – “the holy place where the Most High dwells.”



C. It Strengthens, V. 5 – “God is within her, she will not fall”



D. It Stands, Vv. 6 – 7 – “The Lord Almighty is with us…..”



WHEN TROUBLES COME AND ENEMIES MASS AGAINST YOU TO ATTACK – YOU HAVE A REFUGE – God Is Your Refuge



WHEN TROUBLES COME AND ENEMIES MASS AGAINST YOU TO ATTACK – YOU HAVE A RIVER – HOLY SPIRIT



III. BE SURE – God Is Your Ruler, Vv. 8-11



How do you get to be sure that God can help you through troubles?



That’s RIGHT! When you see Him bring your through trouble!



How many of you have seen God bring your through trouble?



David says if you want to be sure Who God is:



A. Behold! - Vv. 8-9 – “Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolation he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.”



Moses beheld………

Joshua beheld……..

Hezekiah beheld…..



B. Believe!, Vv. 10-11 – “He says, ‘Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

a. Believe In His Person

b. Believe In His Plan – “I will be exalted among the heathen”

c. Believe In His Presence – “The Lord of hosts is with us”





ARE YOU FACING SOME TROUBLES RIGHT NOW?



DON’T MINIMIZE THEM – DON’T MEDICATE THEM



MAXIMIZE YOUR GOD!



BE SILENT

BE STRONG

BE SURE



YOU SAY, “PASTOR BRAD, HOW CAN I DO THAT. YOU DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH I AM HURTING!”



THREE GOOD REASONS:



God the Father is your Refuge!



God the Holy Spirit is your River!



God the Son is your Ruler!




I CORINTHIANS 10:13


ROMANS 8:28

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” II Corinthians 4:16-18

WHAT IS TROUBLE TO YOU  IS A TEST TO GOD! WHEN YOU ARE IN TROUBLE YOU JUST WANT TO GET OUT BUT GOD HAS SOMETHING HE WANTS TO GET OUT OF YOU! AND IF YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL IN YOUR TROUBLES YOUR TEST WILL BECOME A TESTIMONY FOR YOU!



July 16, 2011

"He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.'"  Psalm 46:10

If problems were hundred dollar bills we'd all be millionaires, right? Our nation could use more millionaires with the financial problems it faces.  We have debt-ceiling problems and the people who are supposed to solve them have problems getting along and are afraid of creating political problems if they don't solve the problem in the right way.

Have you had a problem this week? Has the whole week been a problem? Has your problem been the least of your problems?

You and I were born into a world of problems. When we were growing up our parents had problems. When we got old enough to go to school the math teacher gave us problems. As we went out on our own we inherited our own problems and tried not to create additional ones. We go to work and find problems. We come home and find problems. We turn on the news and here about all the problems in DC and all over the world. We go to church on Sunday and find out it has problems. There is only one place we know about that has no problems but the only problem is we have to die to get there!

 

David, the Psalmist, was familiar with problems. When he was a shepherd he had lion and bear problems but God helped him solve them. As a teen-ager he had a giant problem and God helped him bring down Goliath. As a young adult he has king-sized problems as the jealous King Saul was chasing him.

Having been faced with real problems he had to learn some real solutions - and he did! In Psalm 46 he shares his three step approach to dealing with problems:

Be Still, Vv. 1-3

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

When you are hurting and under pressure you really need to be extra careful what you say! You don't want to allow your pain or your frustration speak for you. That never turns out well and the last thing you need in troubled times is more trouble from self-inflicted wounds or wounding others.

Like your mother told you hundreds of times, "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all!" Good advice!

Be Strong, Vv. 4-7

 

"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts."

 

Don't speak out in anger or frustration or pain, but be still and know Who God is! It is far better to be silent in faith than to speak out in frustration!

 

What David is urging here is for you to be the strong silent type! If you know Who God is then act like it! Don't panic but praise!

 

Know that God is stronger than your troubles and you can draw from His strengths while you struggle with trouble. Know that His faithfulness and His strength and His grace and His goodness are more real than the troubles you are facing at any given moment.

Be Sure, Vv. 8-11

 

"Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolation he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, ‘Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” 

When trouble comes it helps if you are sure just Who your God is! The Psalms mentions a couple of ways you can be sure:

     Behold, Vv. 8-9

This Psalm was written shortly after God defeated 185,000 of the mighty Assyrians as they threatened the City of God. He sent one angel to destroy the fierce enemy and all those in Jerusalem know about it. They had beheld the power of their God! He is a God Who surely can deliver you in times of trouble!

     Believe, Vv. 10-11

a. Believe in God's Person - "Be still and know that I am God"

The Psalmist uses God's favorite name for Himself - "I AM"! It was the "I AM" Who delivered the Jews out of Egypt by the plagues. It was the "I AM" Who led them through the Red Sea and destroyed the Army of Egypt. It was the "I AM" Who spoke the commandments to Moses on the sacred mount.

b. Believe in God's Plan - "I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

God's plan is to glorify Himself in everything that troubles His people. He allows trouble to come with His permission and when His purpose is fulfilled in His power He will deliver them - just like He did with the Assyrians. All the world heard of them and all the world trembled!

c. Believe in God's Presence - "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

"The Lord of hosts" refers to God's authority over the angels. God is an omnipresent God and wherever He is all of His angels are there as well!

Your God is a God of refuge in your time of trouble. You can retreat to Him and hide in Him and be safe untile you are delivered from your enemy!

In closing, consider this. Who says when trouble has come? What do we mean by trouble? The word used in the original language means to "be in a tight spot". But think about it. If God has put you in this tight spot it might actually be the right spot for you and what you call trouble - He might call a test!

You need to be okay with that! (See I Corinthians 10:13 and Romans 8:28).