Saturday, July 30, 2011

July 31, 2011

"When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”  The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy,carrying sheaves with them."   Psalm 126

America has long been the land of dreamers for at least two big reasons:



a. Freedom allows us

b. Profit motivates us.


When it comes to chasing a dream and profiting from it, few have done it better than this guy.


All of us have benefited from his dreams as well!



Dreams have two main purposes:


1) To Escape Reality

2) To Shape Reality


Most of us start off life with a dream of making a good life for ourselves and making a positive difference with our lives:


We want: A Good Education At A Good College - Get A Dream Job With A Great Salary – Marry The Most Attractive Human Being Possible And Be Deliriously Happy – Have 2.5 Of The Smartest Best Looking Kids In the World – Live In The Best House In The Best Neighborhood With The Biggest Luxury Vehicle We Can Afford Out Front – And, In 30 Or 40 Years Retire Fabulously Wealthy And Become A Care-Free Beach Bum.


Maybe a few are able to shape a reality that fits that dream, but most don’t. For many their job becomes a hassle or their marriage becomes a nightmare or their kids become delinquents and they are looking for ways to escape reality.


Most of us spend life dwelling between the dreams trying to keep the dream alive so we can survive the nightmare. We spend part of our time trying to shape the world and the rest of our time trying to escape it.

For the context of our Psalm we must remember that the dream of the great King David and his son, King Solomon had brought such joy and prosperity to God’s people as they turned the nation back to God and then building the glorious Temple. However, when God’s people turned away from Him and rejected Him the dream came crashing down as the Babylonians destroyed the Temple, burned Jerusalem and took them into a nightmare 70-year captivity.


THEN SUDDENLY, when it looked like God had abandoned them and the dream was over – here’s what happened – TURN TO II CHRONICLES 36:15-23


Most Old Testament Scholars believe that was the event that inspired the writing of our next Psalm in the Summer In the Psalms Series – Psalm 126, follow me to that Scripture.


Doesn’t it seem that we spend the majority of our lives dwelling between the last big thing God did for us and the next big thing we need Him to do. Since that is true for most of us – shouldn’t we learn how to live there? Wouldn’t you love to know how to keep the dream alive during those nightmare times of your life? Wouldn't you like to keep believing you can shape the world in a postive way?


LEARN FROM THE PSALM:


I. REALIZE – You Can Live In Freedom, V. 1


It had been 70 years since they had seen a move of God. Their dream was dying and their hope was gone.


HAD THEY FORGOTTEN ABOUT JOSEPH?

HAD THEY FORGOTTEN ABOUT DANIEL?


These great men were both in captivity but they chose to live in freedom. They never forgot that God was in control of their lives and their circumstances. They never gave up on the dream He had placed in their hearts!


God shaped them in their nightmare experiences so that when their dreams came true they could shape their world. And after they had been faithful God delivered them in miraculous ways!


And once again – GOD DELIVERED HIS PEOPLE BY TAKING THEIR CAPTORS CAPTIVE!


Should we only serve God when things are easy and our dreams are coming true? Should we doubt Him when life gets hard?


HAS A CAREER SETBACK TAKEN YOU CAPTIVE AND MADE YOUR JOB SITUATION A NIGHTMARE?


HAS YOUR DREAM MARRIAGE BECOME A NIGHTMARE?


HAVE YOU BEEN TAKEN CAPTIVE BY A TROUBLED TEEN?


HAS ILLNESS OR DISEASE STOLEN YOUR DREAM?


MAYBE YOUR HOUSE IS SO FAR UNDER WATER THAT IT HAS TURNED INTO A FINANIAL NIGHTMARE.


PERHAPS A FINANCIAL SETBACK OR THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY HAS TURNED YOUR DREAM RETIREMENT PLAN INTO A NIGHTMARE.


You see God moving and doing miracles in other places and over bigger situations than yours, but it isn’t happening for you. You are hanging on by the only fingernail you haven’t chewed off in your anxiety.


What do you do? How can you keep life from taking you captive and crushing your dream like a coke can?



REALIZE:



1) If you belong to God, He is in control of you and your captivity! (Ro. 8:28)



2) If you belong to God, He has taken your captor captive – you are free!



JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T SEE GOD WORKING DOESN’T MEAN YOUR DREAM IS DEAD! LET THE SAME GOD WHO WAS IN CONTROL OF YOUR DREAM TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR NIGHTMARE! HE MAY NEED TO TAKE THE DREAM TO SHAPE YOU SO YOU CAN SHAPE YOUR WORLD.



WHEN YOU REALIZE HE IS IN CONTROL YOU REALIZE YOU CANNOT BE A CAPTIVE!



II. REJOICE – You Can Live In Fullness, Vv. 2-4



There are those times when God seems to be making dreams come true all around you but you are stuck in a bad dream – what do you do during those times?



REJOICE!



1) In His Fullness



The Psalmist knew that joy was to be found in WHO God IS not just in what He does. For Him joy was a FACT not a feeling! It was the fact of what God had done for them. It was the fact of Who He was! It was the fact of what He had promised to do!



YOU CAN ALWAYS REJOICE IN HIS PRESENCE

YOU CAN ALWAYS REJOICE IN HIS PARDON

YOU CAN ALWAYS REJOICE IN HIS PURPOSE

YOU CAN ALWAYS REJOICE IN HIS POWER

YOU CAN ALWAYS REJOICE IN HIS PROMISES

YOU CAN ALWAYS REJOICE IN HIS PRAISES



“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psa. 16:11



“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” Psa. 19:8



“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7



2) In The Dreams of Others


 
This is not the normal or natural thing to do… but we are not here to compete, we are here to complete!


Any great thing done for any child of God makes the world sit up and notice! That is worth rejoicing over!


At FredWes, one of the things that makes us a little different from some churches is that we are not here to convince you or sell you on jumping in to help my dream come true, we are here to help you discover your dream that God has birthed in your heart and help develop it and nurture it and find a place for it to be expressed so it can help shape the church and help our church shape the world.


III. RISK – You Can Live In Fruitfulness, Vv. 5-6


The signifcance of the "sowing in tears" is that a farmed had to take a large portion of his stored grain which  also represented his food supply and plant it in the ground. What if there was a drought and he lost the grain? His family would be at risk for food. What if the crop was attacked by locusts or stoled by mauraders such as the Midianites. When that seed was sown there was an even chance that it wouldn't return a yield. So, it was with tears of anxiety that he sowed his seed.


What is a farmer’s dream as he plants his seed?


Dreams are like seeds – they have to be planted and allowed to die….


The farmer puts his seed to risk because he hopes in the harvest.


The harvest comes when we sow our dreams into His! HIS DREAM IS HEALTHY LOCAL CHURCHES WHO DREAM OF BEING USED BY GOD TO SHAPE THEIR WORLD!


In the final analysis it isn’t about your dream or my dream it is about HIS dream and He is dreaming of a HARVEST! The harvest IS HIS DREAM!



THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD’S DREAM FOR THESE PEOPLE DID COME TRUE – and we are beneficiaries of that and every generation since who learn how to dwell between the dreams and learned to live in FREEDOM AND IN FULLNESS AND IN FRUITFULNESS through the good times and the bad!


So, how are you going to spend your life?


Are you going to dream up ways to escape the world and waste your life in fantasy land?


Or are you going to sow your dream into a local church with other dreamers who want to be used to shape the world!

















Friday, July 29, 2011

July 30, 2011

"When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed."  Psalm 126:1


 Most of us start off life with a dream of making a good life and making a difference with our life.

GOOD EDUCATION AT GOOD COLLEGE
GET A GREAT JOB WITH A GOOD INCOME
MARRY THE BEST LOOKING HUMAN BEING POSSIBLE AND BE DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY HAVE THE SMARTEST BEST LOOKING KIDS POSSIBLE - LIVE IN THE BEST HOUSE IN THE NICEST NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A LUXURY CAR PARKED OUT FRONT
IN 30 OR 40 YEARS RETIRE FABULOUSLY RICH AND BECOME A CARE-FREE BEACH BUM

A few are able to shape their reality into that dream. Most don’t. Their job becomes a nightmare or their marriage turns into a nightmare and before they know it they are looking for a way to escape reality.


Dreams have two main purposes: 1) To escape reality (Disney World) or:  2) To shape reality.

For most of us life is spend dwelling between the dreams trying desperately to keep the dream alive so we can survive the nightmare.

The dream of King David and King Solomon had brought such joy and prosperity to God’s people as they turned the nation back to God and then built the Temple. But when God’s people turned away Him and rejected Him the dream came crushing down when the Babylonians took them into 70 nightmare captivity. During those long years held captive in a foreign land, they struggled to keep the dream alive.

And suddenly, the dream was revived in a way that seemed like – a dream!


So, when you are dwelling between the dreams and your life has become a nightmare – when it has taken you captive – when it has been a long time since you have seen God move in your behalf – is there a way to keep the dream alive?

Learn from this Psalm:


REALIZE - You Can Live In Freedom, V. 1


While they were longing for the freedom to return to Jerusalem so they could worship God, God sent the Persian army to take their captors captive! They could be as free as they would allow themselves to be!

Did they forget how Joseph found freedom even as a slave in Egypt?

Did they forget how Daniel maintained his freedom even when held in captivity or thrown into alions den!


They were in captivity but they chose to live in freedom. They realized that God was in control and no one could put them in spiritual or mental bondage.


Has a career setback taken you captive and your dream job is a nightmare?


Has your dream marriage become a nightmare….?


Has a financial setback turned your dream retirement plan into a nightmare?


Have you been taken captive by a troubled teen?


Maybe your dream house is so far under water that it has turned into a financial nightmare?


You see God moving and doing miracles in other places and over bigger situations than yours, but it is not happening for you. You are hanging on by the only fingernail that you haven’t chewed off in anxiety.


What do you do? How do you keep life from taking you captive and crushing your dream like a coke can?


REALIZE:


1) If you belong to God, He is in control of you and your captivity (Ro. 8:28)


God had allowed the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and capture them because of their sin and disobedience. And in time, He took their captors captive and set them free!

2) If you belong to God, He has taken your captor captive – you are free!

JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T SEE GOD WORKING DOESN’T MEAN YOUR DREAM IS DEAD! LET THE SAME GOD WHO WAS IN CONTROL OF YOUR DREAM TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR NIGHTMARE! HE MAY NEED TO TAKE THE DREAM TO SHAPE YOUR WORLD SO YOU CAN SHAPE THE WORLD!

REALIZE HE IS CONTROL AND IF HE IS IN CONTROL, HOW CAN YOU BE A CAPTIVE?





Thursday, July 28, 2011

July 29, 2011

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” Psalm 14:1


Researchers say they may be close to answering one of the world’s biggest mysteries.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) recently announced that researchers will know whether the Higgs boson particle, commonly referred to as the God particle, actually exists by the end of 2012. Some say the particle could be responsible for the creation of the planets and stars and that it may be the key to understanding the Big Bang.

Rolf Heuer, director-general of the CERN research center told the International Business Times, “We can settle this Shakespearean question — to be or not to be — by the end of next year.”

According to an International Business Times’ report, a recent experiment that involved shooting streams of protons through the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) obtained some atypical results that have led to a resurgence of confidence in those who have searched relentlessly for answers. For those of us who don’t know, the LHC is a large particle accelerator that sits deep in a tunnel beneath the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva. Experimenters say the findings are exciting.

CERN’s Director for Research and Scientific Computing, Sergio Bertolucci, told the International Business Times that any discovery- either the confirmation of the particle’s existence or otherwise, would be good news for the world. Both results, he said, would push the research forward.

It may seem like a big question to answer in a little less than a year and a half, but with the Worldwide LHC grid’s ability to process 200,000 physics analyses simultaneously, some think the work may get done.

They seem to be working awfully hard to disprove something that they say doesn’t exist. While at the same time they are trying equally hard to prove something else they are not sure exists. Some of their statements sound a lot like faith statements to me - they believe it exists but are yet to prove it……

There are a couple of key questions that remain unanswered even if they discover this particle. The obvious question is still, “Who created the particle?”

The other question is, “Why would they rather find their origin in a sub-atomic particle rather than a Gracious, Eternal, Redemptive God?”

July 28, 2011

“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.” Psalm 126:1




Sometimes we fall captive to what my friend, John Maxwell calls, “destination disease”. That may have been the case here in the 126th Psalm. Sure, they had suffered 70 years of being held captive by the Babylonians but I think the greater captivity was in their spirit where they longed for the days when they could worship God in a certain way at a certain place.


It seems they had forgotten that though they were restricted to a foreign land, their God wasn’t. He was longing to meet them right where they were. It seems they failed to remember that Abraham had worshipped God in his travels and Moses had worshipped God in the desert. They failed to miss His presence because their experience with Him was mired in the past.


Because of this “destination disease” they almost missed the wonderful new thing that God was doing! As they longed for God to restore them back to the sacred soil of Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple, God sent a captor to take their captor captive! Cyrus the Great and his Persian army overwhelmed the Babylonians and God put it on his heart to “restore the fortunes of Zion”!


Are you suffering from “destination disease”? Are you held captive to notions that worship has to happen in a certain way at a certain place? Are you holding God captive to your traditions and your comfort zone? Are you missing a new thing God is doing because you are locked into the old? Are you waiting for Him to show up or are you seeking to find Him where He is?


God has called us to freedom! God has sent Jesus to take our captor captive! Even when the circumstances of life take us places we don’t want to be , we should live in spiritual freedom! We should meet Him where we are! We should not look for God in old places and retreat to comfort zones, we should expect God to do knew and wonderful things for us!


Tradition can be a wonderful thing but it can also inflict us with “destination disease”. Be thankful as you remember what God has done in past places and in past ways, but also realize that He is doing something new! Remember the past and respect the past but don’t retreat there! Live in His freedom! Live in His freshness! Right now! Right where you are!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

July 27, 2011

“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” Psalm 126
My “Summer in the Psalms” series has become more than I expected. I am not sure why because I should have learned by now the Word of God is always filled with wonders. God always exceeds our expectations so why wouldn’t His Word?
Psalm 126 is no exception. I came to it with one paradigm but it is taking me in another direction – a better one! It will be a joy to share my discoveries with you.


Barbara and I discovered a restaurant recently. We had driven past it almost every day and had wondered about it but never stopped to try it out. The steak sandwich I ordered exceeded my expectation. She enjoyed her wrap. We left contented but both commented on the way out, “Wow! We will definitely come back here!” Our contentment with the experience had already put a “discontent” within us. We went back this Sunday!



Today I want to share a thought with you that may seem to contradict my post from a couple of days ago when I shared how to find contentment. Psalm 126 shows how to live in what I call a state of “holy discontent”.

Contentment is the result of knowing you are exactly where God wants you while the “holy discontent” has moved you to this place, and it is what will keep you chasing Him. It is the dynamic tension that Christ-followers have as they live in relationship with an infinite God. Contentment is the moment you enjoy with God and the “holy discontent” is the momentum that moves you to the next God-moment. It is like Abraham building an altar to mark where he met God yesterday as he packs up his tents to move on.



This is how God deals with those who have allowed His dream to be birthed into their spirit. Psalm 126 gives us insights into where this “holy discontent” comes from, how to manage it and where it takes me. It is how you dwell between the dreams with a God Whom has done great things in the past, is doing great things today that you are yet to recognize but has also promised His best for tomorrow.

It is hard to dwell between the dreams as you witness the great things He is doing for others and you remember when He did it for you and you long for the next big thing He will do – but it doesn’t seem to be happening for you now. If you don’t understand the “holy discontent” you may find yourself doubting, disillusioned or just plain discouraged.



Are you “stuck” between dreams? Do you long to see God move for you like He is for others? Are you struggling to keep your discontent “holy”?

Monday, July 25, 2011

July 26, 2011

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalms 119:105


I was saddened to learn this week that Borders Bookstores are going out of business. That was one of the favorite places for Barbara and me to go for our Friday Date Night when the weather was bad.

For less selfish reasons, it also means 10,000 more folks will be out of a job nationwide. The nagging question for me is, “Why are they closing?” Is it an indication that the popularity of books is declining or is it the result of a 40 year-old business plan that hasn’t adjusted to the times? Perhaps it is a little of each. I guess most people are buying their books on Amazon via the internet.

There is a lesson there to be learned. We must be careful to adapt to the times.
I hope books aren’t becoming a thing of the past. That would be tragic. As convenient as the internet is and as neat as the Kindle-type reading devices are, we need to be book people! I hope there is never a generation that doesn’t get the great pleasure of cozying up with a good book.

Speaking of a good book, the most important Book is the Good Book – the Bible. Friend, we need to be people of the Book and this Book will never go out of style! It doesn’t need to adapt to the times, times adapt to it! So should you! I know you can read it online and sometimes I do. And I know that you can listen to it on CD’s. No doubt you can get it on Kindle, as well.

But those are not substitutes for The Book! You need to have the Book on your night stand. You need to have the Book underlined and marked in the margins. And you should carry the Book to church with you. This Book should never go out of style. This Book can never go out of style and it still the top-selling book in the world!

Leaders are readers and spiritual leaders MUST be Bible readers! Learn it! Love it! Live it!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

July 25, 2011

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5


This seems to be the Summer of discontent.

The NBA players and owners are at an impasse and the players are locked out. So is the NFL. And our political leaders can’t seem to agree on the best way to address our massive debt and deficit problems. We are discontent in our play and in our plan to pay.

Contentment is hard to find. In our study of Psalm 142 we learned that the Psalmist finally found some contentment in the cave and he did it by focusing his heart and mind on what he loved not on what he lacked.

That appears to be the same approach the writer of Hebrews took in this challenging verse. If you love money will you ever have enough? Certainly, if you love $100’s then you will want $1,000’s. When you get $1,000’s you will meet someone who has $10,000’s and you will be discontent again because you will be focusing on what you lack. I think you see the point.

This verse implies a very important fact, contentment is a choice. You are content when you decide that you will be content. And the key to that is to fix your heart on Who you love rather than on what you lack. When you have Him, you have everything you need! He will fill the God-shaped vacuum in your heart and until that happens you will never know contentment.

 
I like the verse to the old chorus we used to sing – “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace!”

Stop fussing about what you lack and begin focusing on what you love! You will find contentment!



July 24, 2011

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 

How do you know that God loves you?

How would God know that you love Him?
God made a commitment to you when He sent His Son to die for your sins. And He requires a commitment from you.
I have been beating the commitment drum for the past week. There is a good reason for that. Love is a relationship and relationship requires commitment. God desires a relationship with you so badly that He made the first commitment. For you to receive His love you must make a commitment to Him.
The most important human relationship is marriage and marriage requires a commitment from each partner to the other. Love cannot begin without commitment and it cannot grow without further commitment and it won't continue to grow without continued commitment. It is this hard work that builds healthy relationships.

If you want to do relationships better do commitment better. Commitment means I sacrifice first. Commitment means I serve first. Commitment means I forgive first. Commitment means I listen better. Commitment means I become more patient. Commitment means I give the benefit of the doubt. Commitment means I love unconditionally, like God loves me.

Obviously, if I am to commit to loving like God I must be committed to God. How can I love like Him if I don't know Him? To love like Him I must allow Him to love through me. And, if I need to grow in my love I need to deepen my commitment.

If you are struggling in relationships, examine your commitment level.









Friday, July 22, 2011

July 23, 2011

“I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Psalms 142:5


It amazes me how many Christians are looking for the fast, flashy, quick-fix, five-step formula to spiritual maturity. If there is something that looks like a sure short-cut, they are on it.

Before I get off this topic of commitment I want to assure you that there is no short-cut or superhighway to becoming a spiritual giant.

Don’t get caught up in these shallow stupid fantasies of the flesh. The only way to spiritual maturity is the way David did it – commitment. Commitment was the one constant of his life. It didn’t matter if he was caring for sheep, confronting a giant, cowering in a cave, conquering enemies, or wearing a crown he was fully committed to His God.
You will have to be committed in the mundane tedious tasks that meet the needs of others when God calls you to that. There will be some giant risks you will be called to confront and some giant-sized spiritual enemies you will have to defeat. There will be lonely difficult times when you will feel like you are trapped in a cave and no one cares – even God. Every one of those challenges will require a commitment to keep chasing and embracing God. David had his cave and Jesus had His cross and so will you!
But, the fact is you will be committed to something. Everyone is! And whatever you commit to will cost you – ultimately it could cost you your soul.
Do you need to renew your commitment to obey and follow God? Have you been thinking about bailing on your commitment? Where is your commitment being tested? Usually when it feels like you want to get out it is time to get back in.
 Jesus proved God’s commitment to you. David showed us what it looks like. It’s your move!



Thursday, July 21, 2011

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!











Tuesday, July 19, 2011

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!

Monday, July 18, 2011

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?







Sunday, July 17, 2011

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?











Saturday, July 16, 2011

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!




















Friday, July 15, 2011

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).





















July 15, 2011

"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."   Psalm 46:4-6

When trouble comes your way, there is a refuge!

Also, when trouble comes there is a river!

What is the significance of that?

Rivers are life-giving bodies of water. They supply a steady and reliable source of water. Most great cities of the wold are situated near a river because of the fresh water supply the  river provides. Also the river provides recreational opportunities for boating, sailing, fishing and swimming. Rivers provide navigation and transportation to allow life-sustaining supplies to be delivered and items to be sent out in trade. The great rivers like the Potomac or the Mississippi or the Nile or the Amazon support and sustain great cities along its banks. In the Bible we are told that when God created Eden, the first paradise, He put a river in the midst of it. We know that there is a crystal river flowing in the midst of the New Jerusalem in Heaven.

Rivers are important! In times of trouble a river can provide a calming influence. Sitting on the banks of a river and watching the boats and barges drift by can be a very calming experience. Wading in the river or going for a swim in the river can be quite calming. It is a good place to retreat when troubles plague you.

While all these benefits are true of an actual river, there is also a spiritual symbolism here. Many have opined that the reference to a river here represents the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. I like that!

Get your mind and spirit around the thought that in troubled times you can flee to God the Refuge and to God the River. Or, take refuge in the Father and find comfort in the Holy Spirit!

Is God is your "Refuge" and He is also your River. Will you flee to Him? Will you hide in Him? Will you rest in your Refuge?





Wednesday, July 13, 2011

July 14, 2011

"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."  Psalm 27:1-3

Trouble is all around us. Maybe it has you surrounded and you don't know where to turn.

I just got off the phone to a pastor friend whose wife is struggling with some serious physical problems and his church is struggling. He is understandably discouraged. Barbara and I wanted to assure him of our love and prayer support. I invite you to pray for him as well - God knows who they are.

The Psalmist was well acquainted with trouble and out of his troubles came most of the beautiful thoughts and words that have inspired so many for so long! You could sum up the 46th Psalm in this way - "Trouble? No Trouble!"

Why is that true?

Because you have a God Who is a refuge! What does that mean? How does that help?

First, it means that God is a personal refuge - "God is OUR refuge and strength....."

A refuge is a place to flee trouble. A refuge is a place of safety. A refuge is a place to hide. For the believer, God is that refuge! You can flee to Him and hide in Him in the day of trouble and be safe!

Furthermore, God is strong and His strength can become your strength because His IS a personal God!

Second, it means God is a present refuge - "an everpresent help in trouble."

Troubles come and go, but when God comes to you and when you flee to Him, He NEVER leaves! He will remain with you after the trouble has subsided. Where ever trouble might find you, God is already there! In fact, trouble has to get through Him in order to get to you and so if it gets to you He has allowed it because He knows that with His present strength you can handle it!

Third, it means God is a powerful refuge - "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."

Your God is not only a personal God and a present God but He is also a POWERFUL GOD! When you flee to Him and hide in Him and there is nothing that can trouble you that will be more powerful than Him!

"Though the earth give way" - your powerful God CREATED the earth! So even if your trouble seems bigger than the world and though it seems your world has crumbled - He made the world and He can protect yours! If necessary He can put yours back together!

"and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea" - your powerful God CREATED the mountains AND the seas! Your powerful God can move and mountain and walk on the sea! So why should you be troubled by your troubles when you have such a powerful God?!

"though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." - trouble can rock your world and overwhelm you like an earthquake and a tsunami! But your powerful God will shelter you while He calms the storm! You may be wet and you may be shaken but you won't be harmed because your Personal, Present and Powerful God is your Refuge and your Strength!

Trouble? No trouble!











Tuesday, July 12, 2011

July 13, 2011

"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."  Psalm 27:4-7

Here is where it is important to study Biblical history. According to Wikipedia, the ancient city of Jerusalem, being on a mountain, is naturally defensible from almost all sides, but suffers from the drawback that its major source of fresh water, the Gihon spring, is on the side of the cliff overlooking the Kidron Valley. This presents a major military weakness as the city walls, if high enough to be defensible, must necessarily leave the Gihon spring outside, thus leaving the city without a fresh water supply in case of siege.

The Bible says ( 2 Kings 20:20; II Chronicles 32:2-4; II Chronicles 32:30) that King Hezekiah, fearful that the Assyrians would lay siege to the city, blocked the spring's water outside the city and diverted it through a channel into the then Pool of Siloam.

This shows that Hezekiah had planned ahead of time to provide for his people in the time of trouble. The spring of Gihon, located below the steep eastern hill of Ophel in the deep Kidron Valley, Jerusalem’s most ancient water supply, was exposed to enemy attack. Hezekiah diverted the spring through a conduit, 1777 feet long and hewn out of a solid rock, into a reservoir inside the city’s walls. He then completely covered the ancient spring so that the enemy would not know it was there. Throughout the fearful seige there was "a river, the streams whereof made glad the city of God."

A. God Has Revealed Himself in the Midst of His People

Like Hezekiah, God has provided for His people in their time of trouble in three ways:

1. Old Testament-God the Father was a Fountain of Living Waters

Jeremiah 2:13--"My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters."

2. New Testament--God the Son was a Well of Living Water.

John 4:13-14--"But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

3. New Testament--God the Holy Spirit was a River of Living Water---John 7:38--"Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

EACH ONE IS DEEPER THAN THE PREVIOUS.
Like the man of God he was, Hezekiah made sure that he provided a life-giving supply of water so they could survive the attacks of the mighty Assyrians. As good as that was we’ve Got more than Old Testament Saints, Contemporary Saints of Jesus’ day. More than a Fountain or a Well, A River!.





Monday, July 11, 2011

July 12, 2011

"1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."   Psalm 46
 
Introduction:

This Psalm was written after Hezekiah had prayed and God sent one angel to destroy 185,000 Assyrians. So God's people knew what God COULD do for His people who would trust in Him.

In other words, when trouble comes your way - NO TROUBLE!

I. BE STILL AND KNOW HIM AS THE REFUGE--Vs. 1-3

A.  A Personal Refuge--Vs. 1--"God is our refuge"


1. Nations find refuge in Battalions and Battleships
2. Lost men find refuge in Positions and Possessions
a. Battalions--can be defeated
b. Battleships--can be sunk
c. Positions--can be taken away

d. Possessions--can be lost

3. "God" (Elohim) is our refuge"--Elohim is the word for the Triune God---The Enemy will have to go thru all Three to get us.
B. A Powerful Refuge--Vs. 1--"a very present help in trouble."

1. "Trouble" literally means "in tight places."

2. "Present help"--means right now

3. "Very"---means "speedily"--I thought, "How can you be better than present which means "right now". God has no problem with time you will notice it does not say "in the time of trouble." God has the help already there before the trouble arises.
 
C. A Permanent Refuge--Vs. 2- "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

There are Four "Thoughs" illustrating that even if the whole world is destroyed, when all the noise subsides and all the dust settles, he will still be standing because God is his refuge.

Is God your god? If He is, you have a refuge in the time of trouble! When you flee to God as a refuge,
trouble? No trouble!