When God Says No

When Prayer Seems to Fail

Book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 12

The biggest problem in the church of today is that the Word of God is not accepted as the truth. It is a great misunderstanding to think of the Bible as just a book of ancient writings. The Bible is the actual Word of God! The Bible is an actual message from Heaven to humanity! God Himself is the author of the Bible!

When we understand these things, we can then begin to understand what God is saying.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

After all what is "faith"?

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

"Substance" is something real, not imaginary, something solid! Faith is the assurance of things we hope for! Things we hope for are our personal achievements.

"Evidence" is the things that enables the mind to see the truth. The evidence we see is also the proof of things we cannot see. A Supreme being with a supreme cause for His creation.

Faith then is "Believing all the Word of God".

When we accept the Word of God as the truth, we can then enter in to a new life, a new mode of power and a new mode of existence!

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Listen and believe what the Apostle Paul writes by the Holy Spirit:

*****2Co 12:1  It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 

It is never a good thing to boast of our accomplishments because we could not accomplish anything long lasting without the Lord in our lives!

Paul had begun this church at Corinth by the power of God and because of false teachers Paul saw the need to defend his ministry.

Paul's salvation was real.

Paul's call into the ministry was real.

Paul had to defend his calling.

Paul began his boasting by lifting up the Lord. Paul is saying "let me tell you what the Lord has revealed to me".

*****2Co 12:2  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 

2Co 12:3  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 

First if we skip down to verse 7, where Paul says "lest I be exalted" we can see that "this man" Paul was talking about was himself!

Paul had kept quiet about this for 14 years and the truth is, deep matters between ourselves and God should never be subject to boasting unless there is a real reason to do so!

No doubt Paul had many revelations from the Lord on many different occasions. This was the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ and we know Christ is very involved in His Church!

Paul recognizes that he did not know what the state of his consciousness at the time of this revelation. In other words, Paul knew he had a vision and he had seen clearly what God had wanted him to see but he did not know if the soul was in or out of his body. Paul did not know if he was conscious or unconscious.

Just so we are clear, the third Heaven is God's dwelling place! The place where the clouds are is the first heaven, the place where the stars are the second heaven. Even the Apostle Paul rejected the notion of 7 heavens and we should also!

No doubt that as Christians we are all a part of the Body of Christ:

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 

Paul had a glorious vision that had only one answer.

*****2Co 12:4  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 

The third heaven and paradise are then the same place.

Paradise is then the unseen world! The spiritual world! The spiritual dimension of being!

These two worlds are separated by a great gulf that is impassable. One world a place of sorrows, known as Hell, which continues to enlarge itself because of unbelief and the other Paradise where all believers go at the very moment of death.

Paradise is a picture of Heaven and Heaven is where God dwells in all His presence and glory.

It would never be against any law for Paul not to speak of Paradise, the truth is there are simply no words in any language that can describe the beauty of Paradise.

Isa 64:4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. 

We should understand that there is nothing in the Word of God that is to be hidden and God does not hide anything from us. God just ask us to believe the words He gives to us!

Paul's life was all about the "Gospel". Paul's life was with the Lord, Paul's dreams were of the Lord, Paul saw God as not many see God. Paul heard a Voice that not many hear because most people have of a lack of "faith".

This is the One in which we all should praise and glorify!

*****2Co 12:5  Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 

2Co 12:6  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 

Paul was answering his critics who said that he had no authority to preach the "Gospel" but Paul does not stay there long, because Paul knows that our true strength comes from our weaknesses!

It is when we know our weaknesses that we can depend on the strength of the Lord. This is not speaking of our weakness of sin but our weaknesses as servants of the Lord and they are different for every one of us.

These are our difficulties in this life, our great afflictions and even our persecution.

We all, at some time, have tendency to glory in our own accomplishments even when we are foolish to do so but we must always speak the truth and that without exaggeration. The truth of the Lord must never be seen as boasting!

It is a fact that Paul had many visions and many sessions with the Holy Spirit or there could not be so many books of the New Testament which carries his name!

Paul clearly understood that these things did not make him special in any way. In fact, had Paul refused God would just have used someone else!

*****2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

The Strong's Dictionary describes this thorn as a bodily annoyance or a disability.

A "thorn" can also be anything that is troublesome to our mission to serve Jesus Christ.

Paul also says this thorn was "the messenger of Satan to buffet him".

We could also say this was a "demon".

To "buffet", means "to beat with the fist"! So, Paul's thorn was certainly something evil!

We know that a thorn can cause pain and a thorn is impossible to forget. A thorn always seems to make contact with something as we go about our daily routine. To stop this, this thorn must be removed!

*****2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Obviously, this was something Paul could not do himself and something that no other human could do for Paul.

Remember Paul had all the powers given to him by the Lord.

Paul had the power to heal others but he could not use those powers on himself!

We should clearly understand, it is the Lord Jesus who chooses His servants and the mission of each servant.

It is the Lord who oversees their qualifications, their support, their trials and their deliverance from those trials. When that person has a problem and they do not take it to the Lord they show that they do not belong to the Lord! To Paul his prayers seemed to fail.

Notice Paul sought the Lord on 3 separate occasions to remove this obstacle of pain by the time he had written this epistle and it is possible he did so on other occasions.

We should understand the purpose of this life time trial of Paul. (lest I should be exalted above measure)

It is obvious that pride can be our greatest enemy after all it was pride that ruined the life of Lucifer and God tossed him out of Heaven along with his followers.

We are to always be humble servants of the Lord and constant physical pain can be the greatest humbler.

But there is an even greater reason than this!

The Lord Jesus Christ sets us free from the bondage of sin, but the Lord does not give us independence to serve ourselves!

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

God says we are to bear one another’s burdens.

Notice things happen to us because we live in a sinful world, but our trials come from the Lord for His reasons and one day we will understand that these things had a real purpose that we may not understand while we are living.

In this case of Paul, God appointed this evil and Satan with the Lord's permission inflicted it.

Job 1:9  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 

Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 

Job 1:11  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 

Job 1:12  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So, Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 

Satan needs to have God's permission to bring evil on a child of God! If God allows it then God has His own reasons for doing so!

How did this affect Paul?

****It made Paul a better missionary!

God wanted to reveal His power in Paul. The weaker the vessel the more God will be glorified!

Grace is the unmerited favor of God. God's presence, God's love, God's favor, and God's blessings are all we need in this world to do the work that the Lord has given us to do. In fact without God's grace we would falter and fail in our mission!

God's Grace can carry us through any circumstance we face in this world!

We see that Paul suffered physically and many times this is true of others but there can also be spiritual suffering.

A self-sufficient person is saying that they do not need God!

So the truth is, we should all glory in our infirmities so the world can see the power of God in our lives!

*****2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

This may sound like a hard saying but in fact it is the truth if we remember that God can only do things that are the right thing to do, all the time!

We can take pleasure in the weakness of our mind and body, when we know the power of Jesus Christ will overcome those things.

We can smile and keep going, when we are ridiculed for serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

We can always feel secure, knowing that God will always meet our needs.

We can always feel safe, knowing that we are in the hands of the Lord when persecution comes.

We can always feel the victory, even when we are in tight situations and it looks like there is no means of escape, the Lord will make a way.

All we need to remember is that the power of Christ Jesus is much stronger than all the combined forces that mankind can put together!

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 

Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

Nothing on this earth can overcome the "will of God"!

*****2Co 12:11  I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 

2Co 12:12  Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 

Paul is saying, "to many of you I may seem to be a fool" but in fact this church was in error "because they had not defended their Pastor".

Every church who has a Pastor who preaches the truth of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" must come to his aid when he is attacked by those who do not follow the Word of God.

We cannot pick and choose what part of God's Word we will follow. We must accept all God's Word as the truth and we must rightly divide the Word of God to keep it in context.

There will never be a volume 2 of the Word of God. There will never be a revised version of those old Hebrew and Greek scrolls.

We already have the truth of God in our possession!

Every Pastor should ask himself if he can defend his ministry before Jesus Christ.

Every Pastor should ask himself if he is following the lead of the Holy Spirit in his ministry.

Every Pastor should ask himself if he is totally committed to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If he can be positive in his answers, then he needs to stand on his ministry and that church needs to stand with him at all cost!

2Ti 1:11  Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 

2Ti 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 

A church that stands with such a man of God, will not be inferior to any other Bible believing place of worship!

*****2Co 12:12  Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 

2Co 12:13  For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 

Paul ended verse 11 saying "though I be nothing".

We are all nothing in comparison to the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can only boast in the Lord, we would fail without Him.

We can only trust in the Lord, if we trust in anything else we will fail.

We are nothing to be considered in the work of the Lord, the Scriptures will be fulfilled with or without us!

What is the truest sign of a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 

Paul had done this many times. Paul had also planted many churches.

Paul had been consistent in his Christian life after his salvation and his calling.

These people had witnessed supernatural miracles showing the Divine Power of God.

These people had seen wonders that could not be explained with man's knowledge.

These people had witnessed many things that just could not be explained away, acknowledging the Power had to come from God.

Act 19:11  And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 

Act 19:12  So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 

Anything that any of the other Apostles could do had been witnessed by this church by the hands of Paul!

In fact, the only thing Paul had done differently was to refuse to demand that this church support him financially.

Paul says, "if this was wrong then forgive me".

2Co 11:9  And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 

What Paul was saying was, it was this body of believers who had wronged their Pastor!

In fact it seemed to Paul, that the more he loved them the less he was loved by them!

In fact, Paul's critics accused Paul of using the money given for Jerusalem to help him in his ministry which was an absolute lie.

*****2Co 12:14  Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 

2Co 12:15  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. 

2Co 12:16  But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. 

It is a fact that if we have a sin that gets us in the most trouble we are usually quick to believe that all others are just as prone to it as we are but that is simply not true. Over and over again, Paul was accused of making money from his ministry as if it were a business. We can be sure that those false critics were guilty of this very thing. In fact, the more they could stir up the people of the church the thicker their wallets got.

The truth of the "Gospel" is that God requires a personal surrender!

Paul was not interested in what these people possessed, Paul was interested in their person. (I seek not yours but you)

At one time, scientist thought that the earth was the center of the planetary system and then they became confused about the heavens.

When it became clear that the Sun was the center of our system they began to see how truly organized our solar system was and it open the doors to exploration.

When we see ourselves as the center of law and order in the universe all other things are confusing but when we make the Lord Jesus the center of all life, confusion becomes order and reality.

Jesus Christ seeks a personal relationship with each, and every one of us. Jesus Christ seeks us. Jesus first saves the soul and then expects our reasonable service until He has us all. This universe already belongs to God to do with as He wishes!

Paul was not seeking their money.

Paul was not seeking their praise.

Paul was not even seeking their affections.

Paul was trying to get them to give themselves over to the Lord Jesus Christ!

This is the purpose of every minister of Jesus Christ!

We are then to follow the Word of God and make application of the Word of God to our lives.

The treasures of Paul were his love and his mercy which came from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 

Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 

Eph 3:12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 

God as our Father in Heaven is laying up all His riches for His children of "faith" the body of Christ!

These Corinthians could not say that Paul had been a burden to them in any way. Paul had truly preached the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ freely and it could not be denied!

The critics then said that Paul had deceived them when he sent Titus and those other two to prepare these Corinthians in advance for those collections making Paul out to be a criminal.

Every man called of God must always be on guard against greed and worldliness and giving the impression that he is a cheat or a thief.

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

Joh 10:12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 

Joh 10:13  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 

Joh 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

And Paul responded to these accusations:

*****2Co 12:17  Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 

2Co 12:18  I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? 

2Co 12:19  Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 

Paul clearly understood that he was accountable to God and not to men!

It is obvious that Titus and those with him also had made no request for financial support. Paul had anticipated that he would be accused of using any monies that were gathered.

Titus walked in the same Holy Spirit as the apostle Paul.

Every minister must be willing to preach the Word of God freely when it is necessary!

Titus walked in the same methods as Paul.

Titus lived in the same manner as Paul, "according to the Word of God".

Titus just like Paul worked with his own hands to supply his needs rather than be a burden to this church.

The ministers of God must never show "covetousness".

Paul was not defending himself, in order for them to judge his actions. Paul was called to build the church and not to tear it down

Paul was called of God, he answered only to God, God expected Paul to keep his ministry clean.

Paul only desired for this church to repent and return to the work of the Lord and this a quickly as possible.

It is for certain that God will unmask every deceiver in His own time!

The Apostle Paul did the things he did for the "Bride of Christ".

What had John the Baptist said?

Joh 3:29  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 

Joh 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease. 

These are the same feelings of Paul and every true minister of God!

Paul also had the same "Fatherly Fears" as our Father in Heaven!

*****2Co 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 

2Co 12:21  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

We can be sure that Paul was still not completely sure this church would repent and may still reject his ministry.

Paul feared that the church would not deal with these false teachers and Paul's critics.

Those evil attacks against Paul would have to cease in Corinth if the church was to survive and then Paul listed some things that can cause any church to divide.

1) Debates: Quarreling within the church that cause strife.

2) Envyings: Jealousy among the members.

3) Wraths: anything contrary to the Word of God

4) Strifes: Contention, law suits, caught up in things just to prove you are right.

5) Backbitings: Speaking evil of one another, spreading rumors, hurting some one's good name without cause.

6) Whisperings: suggesting evil things of each other.

7) Swellings: Pride and conceit

8) Tumults: Interrupting the worship service for no reason but just to do so.

9) And being unrepentant!

We know of one who had relations with his father's wife but it is obvious that there were others who were committing such sin.

Any and all relationships outside the relationship of one man and one woman in marriage, is sin and is an abomination to God!

It was obvious that some in this church had refused to repent and Paul was sure to address this issue when he returned to Corinth and Paul was making them aware.

Act 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 

Act 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 

We need to clearly understand if we refuse to repent of our sin, God will never hear our prayers!

Psa 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

If God will not hear our prayers they will certainly fail! 

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Seeking The Lord

Seek The Lord

What is it to "seek the Lord"?

To "seek" means to go in search of.

We should always keep in mind that the Lord has a purpose for each of us.

Our legacy should read, "what God has accomplished through us" and not what we accomplished through God!

The entire Bible will lead us to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Sin and troubles in our life take our focus off of the Lord and we will begin to focus on ourselves.

Salvation is our only means of denying ourselves and returning to God!

When God has us in His place of salvation, He can accomplish His purpose for our lives.

Even during this time we will still have troubles that will try to drive a wedge between us and the Lord.

We simply cannot wait until these troubles arise to "seek the Lord", we must continuously be seeking Him.

God is not very far away from His children.

Act 17:27  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, "though he be not far from every one of us":
Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

If we have trusted the Lord for our salvation, surely we must trust Him for His counseling.

We can tear ourselves apart worrying about the things in our lives and have no profit or we can just give them to the Lord!

We cannot trust ourselves for the right answers.

We also cannot trust the world for the answers.

If our trust is in the Lord then we must trust in that trust!

Just because we are having a bad day does not mean the Lord has gotten weak, it just means we are having a bad day!

Confidence in the Lord is the best answer to all life's problems!

It is believed David wrote this Psalm during the rebellion of his own son Absalom.

David won the battle that day but he also lost his son forever!

All of us who have family members that die not knowing the Lord will feel the remorse that David did this day and the only one to turn to is the Lord!

Prayer is acknowledging our dependence on the Lord and the willingness to accept and do whatever He answers.

We must remember there is only one line into the throne room of God and that line is Jesus Christ and only those things that are asked for in His name are heard and answered!

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

The most reliable defense we can have in this world will come by Jesus Christ.

So if we look at all our troubles "from Heaven's point of view" and not through our own eyes we will receive comfort knowing the Lord is concerned about us.

Let's begin:

Psa 27:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Here again we see that David had a close personal relationship with God. (My light, My salvation)

The Lord Jesus saved us while we were in darkness. Darkness is the place of distress, trouble, and sorrow but light is the exact opposite.

There is happiness in the darkness only for a season but joy comes from the Sun of Righteousness!

When there is not enough light to see our own darkness and we remain in darkness to long, then there is no evidence of salvation.

Salvation found us in the dark but salvation will not leave us there!

David wrote in a familiar Psalm these words:

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

If we do not truly believe this then we will never be able to get God to answer our prayers!

The Lord does not just light up our path, He is that Light!

The Lord does not just offer salvation to those that believe, He is that salvation!

Every light is not of the Sun but the Son is the Father of all light!

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all!

1Jn 1:5  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

We know all these things if we belong to the Lord.

Both salvation from sin and light for our daily living are to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ, and only in Him.

In times of trouble, we must "Seek the Lord"!

The Lord had everything David needed and the Lord has everything we need today!

Isa 12:2  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

What were the first words written down for us in the Bible?

Gen 1:3  And God said, "Let there be light: and there was light".

So why on Earth do we allow our fears to interfere with the joy of the Lord!

*****Psa 27:2  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

First, this verse is not speaking about cannibalism by humans but as the actions of wild beasts.

This word cannibalism depicts the viciousness which God's enemies will try to use to destroy God's people and I think we can see this happening more often in our world today.

The enemies of the Church are becoming more vicious.

Remember God 's enemies are our enemies. Those that attack the Church, no matter their walk in this life, are our enemies!

Our enemies are called "the wicked" in this verse. God never intends for godly people to cause harm to godly people!

Even when our enemies cannot destroy us they still have victory when they can destroy our testimony!

If you are allowing your light to grow dim, you are allowing the enemy to have victory over you!

When our strength is in the Lord our enemies will stumble and fall!

What happened to the enemy when Jesus rose up from His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Joh 18:4  Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
Joh 18:5  They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
Joh 18:6  As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, "they went backward, and fell to the ground".

The enemies of God will always stumble and fall when they are before Him, our Lord gave Himself to His enemy to save us from having to do so!

*****Psa 27:3  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Though our enemies are great in number our confidence must remain in the Lord!

It is because the Lord is the "Light of our salvation" that we can be so confident!

Our confidence then comes by our faith!

We already know that without faith we cannot please God and it is that same faith in the Lord that we can use to defy all our enemies.

In Bible times, if the enemy could not directly defeat an enemy they would lay siege on the enemy and just wait them out.

This is exactly what Satan is trying to do to the Church today!

Satan has laid siege round about the Church and he has succeeded in many places of worship where the "Light of Jesus" has been extinguished.

It is only by allowing the Lord to be our strength that we can be confident against our enemy!

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

What should we desire most if all?

*****Psa 27:4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

The falsehood of evolution is on display in this verse.

Animals are satisfied and live in the contentment of this world because they can know no better but humans are never satisfied here in this world.

The world says live today because tomorrow you die.

Because those of the world see themselves as an accident that just happened they have no great desire!

Death truly is a reality for all mankind but the Bible says there is judgment after death.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

The fact of reality is that the body might die, but the soul, the life principle of mankind, lives on!

Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: "but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell".

When we know these things then we should have that great desire to spend eternity with Our Creator!

At this time in the life of David, the Temple had not yet been built, the place of worship was still the Tabernacle.

David certainly was not desiring to spend everyday in the Tabernacle though we should all have a great desire to worship the Lord in our places set aside for worship.

David had that desire that we should all have.

Our desire to spend eternity with the Lord must be real!

Paul said:

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, "and reaching forth unto those things which are before",
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Jesus said these words:

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

We must have a desire to be with the Lord. We should show this in our prayers!

We must know the means and the way to get to the Lord. We show this in our faith!

We must know the beauty of the Lord. The Beauty of the Lord is in His "Grace".

While we are still living in this body of flesh we must inquire of His Temple.

That word "inquire" means we must learn more and more about the Lord and His purpose for each of us!

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Bible says we must avoid the ways of the world.

Pro 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

We must shy away from false science.

1Ti 6:20  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
1Ti 6:21  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen

To desire, to seek, and to inquire of the Lord, are the things that protect us in our times of troubles!

What did Mary the sister to Martha do?

Luk 10:39  And she had a sister called Mary, "which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word".

What was Martha doing that was wrong?

Luk 10:41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

The answer is to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His Word and not concentrate on our worldly troubles!

Luk 10:42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, "which shall not be taken away from her".

There is nothing more important than sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing His words!

*****Psa 27:5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

In the time of David a pavilion was a large, richly decorated tent. The Tabernacle of Moses could be considered a pavilion by this standard.

BUT, the image David wants us to see is an image of God's protection because of His presence.

Psa 31:20  Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

All those that who trust the Lord are safely housed in the Holy of Holies, where no sinful man can approach.

Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and "which entereth into that within the veil";
Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The world is a sea of iniquity. This is the place where the "Body of Christ" dwells at this time. Every believer is as a ship bound for the Heavenly port, with Christ Jesus as the pilot, and our hope as the anchor and that anchor of hope is firmly planted inside the veil of the Holy of Holies, the place where God dwells.

That rock is the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

How can we not praise Him?

*****Psa 27:6  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Let's wrap our minds around what David is saying here.

David was king, he lived in royalty but David is not praying for the comforts of his royal palace.

David is not praying for the great feasts in the banquet hall.

David is praying for the joy of worship, the opportunity to sing praises in the House of God!

Even in America we see the freedom to worship come under attack more and more.

We see cities and even counties that change the laws to stop a new church from being built.

We see a government that seeks ways to close the doors of the existing places of worship.

We see churches close for lack of worship because the pulpits have grown cold.

There could come a day when we are like David and we and our own children will have this longing to worship and sing praises in the House of the Lord, because we are no longer able.

We certainly must be diligently seeking our Lord.

*****Psa 27:7  Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Psa 27:8  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

In the last verse David was tuned to joy, music, and praises but now he is crying.

We live in a world where many who pray do not care if the Lord answers them. To be honest most do not have enough faith that God can help them through their troubles.

The answer to these prayers will never come, in fact it is sin to have doubt in the power of God!

Rom 14:23  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin".

If we do not have faith in answered prayer we cannot even be saved!

Act 2:21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If we have this faith enough to be saved, then we can expect an answer to our prayers.

David so dearly wanted God to answer his prayer and He will in His time and we already know that David's prayer was answered.

Verse 8 plainly states that if we expect to hear from the Lord and then we do, we are then also expected to be obedient to what He says!

Jesus said this:

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

David knew it was God who sat him on the throne of Israel. If that was still God's will, then the prayer of David would surely be answered.

God expected David to rule Israel according to the Word of God, this was the will of God for David's life.

This is what God expects of every ruler!

God has a purpose for each of us. When we seek the face of God "according to the fulfillment of that purpose" then we will certainly get an answer to that prayer and it will always be a positive response.

As soon as the Holy Ghost led David to prayer, He was sincere in seeking the will of God.

God will never hide from us the things He has promised!

*****Psa 27:9  Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

We can be sure that if the Lord commands us to seek Him, then He will not hide from us to make it impossible for us to meet Him in our prayer.

There is only one thing that increases the distance between us and our God.

Isa 59:1  Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Isa 59:2 0 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God", and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

David had been a witness to the time that King Saul had been set aside by the Lord.

David also knew he had not led a perfect life.

Truly we must always realize that we are unworthy of the mercy of God!

We should also realize that we would already be in Hell if not for the mercy of God!

If God saved us then He certainly has a plan for us and God will see that His plan moves forward and if we will be a part of God's plan God will make sure this happens!

God uses human beings to get His will done on this Earth. God will never refuse the volunteer and God will never forsake His own children!

The Lord is truly the God of our salvation!

*****Psa 27:10  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Even if our own families withdraw from us, the Lord will never forsake those that love Him!

Though our parents have protected us as long as they could, the Lord days are never ending.

There is no time while we are alive in this world that we are beyond the mercy of the Lord!

*****Psa 27:11  Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

The most important thing we should realize as the children of God is that we do not need instruction in our own ways because our way will always lead to failure.

We need instruction in the ways of God that can never fail!

What is the remedy for success?

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

You see, we not only need a map while we are on the path of righteousness, we also need a guide to assist us on our journey.

We have both in Jesus Christ!

Pro 15:19  The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

The enemies of God will always try to hinder our walk with the Lord but we need to know the simplicity of Jesus Christ and remain in His ways!

*****Psa 27:12  Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

We know from the Book of Job that Satan cannot just have his way with us. He needs God's permission to do so!

Job 1:8  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:9  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

BUT, Satan will always have his eyes on each child of God. He knows our weaknesses. He knows our secret sins.

But Satan has no power over us without the divine permission of God!

When we are tempted God will supply the "Grace" needed to overcome Satan.

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: "for my strength is made perfect in weakness". Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

When Satan cannot touch the individual saint of God, he will then use his followers to slander them.

Slander is that old fashioned weapon out of Satan's arsenal.

No matter how well we walk by the Word of God there will always be some one who will find fault with us!

We can be sure that when Satan is attacking in this method it is because God will not allow him to make a personal attack on our being!

We can also be sure that all those that breath out cruelty will find themselves in Hell!

Those that persecute God's people will find themselves under God's persecution!

*****Psa 27:13  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Faintness of heart is a lack of faith!

BUT, Hope in the promises of God is the medicine for faintness of the heart.

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

When distress comes from the circumstances around us and we are about to fall to pieces, we need to remember we are "Born Again" and our new man within us is in a prosperous position.

Our souls are in good health. The more we cling to the Lord the more we will grow.

We must be patient. The Lord has not forgotten about us and He cannot!

*****Psa 27:14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

We must wait in confident expectation!

Most every child of God is ready to go home to Heaven but not one of us want to see a member of our own family left behind.

This is exactly the way the Lord fills.

The Lord wants us all to be home with Him but He is patiently waiting until He knows that very last soul has been saved!

Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

It will take a certain amount of courage to be in the Army of God!

If you are busy about the work of the Lord, it will sometimes be hard to be on the front lines day after day.

Patience is a part of maturing in our Christian walk with the Lord!

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

We must wait, I say, wait on the Lord!

Questions?

Let's Pray!