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!

Hearing What God Has To Say

Hear The Word Of The Lord.

Psalms 19:1-14

We first learned that we must "trust" in the Lord.

Without "faith" it is impossible to please the Lord!

Last week we learned that we must "cry out" to the Lord.

Without "prayer" we cannot obtain deliverance by the Lord!

This week our theme is we must"hear" what God has to say to us.

We can never understand the foundations of our "faith" if we do not do these things.

What are the two sources of the truth of Jehovah the Living God.

1) God's creation, the physical world we live in.

2) God's, Holy Ghost Inspired Word, the Scriptures which also contain the way of eternal life in our new home.

God says:

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20  "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made", even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

There will be no excuses acceptable when we come face to face with the true and Living God!

*****Psa 19:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Hear again we see another Psalm of David.

This is the Psalm of the two books given to us from God.

There is the Book of Nature, God's created world, and there is the Book of Scriptures, the written Word of Truth.

The Book of Nature is not silent and speaks in every language known to man.

David spent many a day in the outdoors under the day time sky and under the night time sky.

Before David lived the life of a soldier, he was first a shepherd.

David realized the the heavens certainly do declare the glory of God.

And just as our Sun is never seen without it's brightness, Our Father in Heaven is never seen without His Son!

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

The world we live in may cling to the theory of evolution but it is a fact that the heavens declare the glory of God.

God spoke the heavens into existence.

Gen 1:14  And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Gen 1:15  And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

There were signs established in the night time skies.

Job 38:31  Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Job 38:32  Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
Job 38:33  Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

There are also the phases of the Moon, the ever circling Comets, the glorious movement of Space itself.

Nature tells us that there is a God!

Isa 40:26  Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Nature tells us that this God is a glorious God.

Nature tells us that this God is full of knowledge and power.

But Nature also tells us of the mercy of God, God's Grace!

Notice David wrote "the heavens". David was not just teaching us about the celestial bodies but also the air, the clouds, the rain, the wind, everything above the ground which all display the infinite power and wisdom of our Creator.

The word firmament is all the expanse of God's creation that is above us.

God tells us that all these things we see in Nature should be speaking to us all the things that we cannot see, that there is a God!

Isa 40:22  It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

*****Psa 19:2  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Psa 19:3  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Day after day the Sun rises just as the Lord has directed. Night after night we can see the wonders in the expanse of the night sky just as the Lord has directed.

There are no words that can explain the Lord's creation, it speaks for itself.

What we see with our eyes is the great design of our Creator!

The existence of a creation implies the existence of a Creator!

The nature of our creation implies that our Creator was wise enough to plan it, powerful enough to make it happen and sincere enough to maintain it according to His own plans.

Many worry today with all the talk of "global warming" and the many other things that the evolutionists come up with but we have these assurances from God.

What did God tell Noah would happen after the flood?

Gen 8:22  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night "shall not cease".

We know that this promise will hold to be true until the "day of the Lord", which will be the day the Lord will return to judge this world.

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

It is our same Creator that makes this promise and the Lord will never break His promises.

Deu 7:9  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10  And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

This day of the Lord's judgment will not seem as an accident to anyone, they will know it comes from the Lord because they will see Him face to face.

Just as our Creator promises to maintain His creation until the day of judgment, He also promises to repay those that have ignored what His creation teaches and what His written Word teaches.

The Lord will not be slack in His promises!

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

There is no place on Earth where God's silent voice of creation cannot be heard with our eyes and our hearts!

The truth of God is plainly seen in His creation!

The theory of evolution is just that "a theory" punched full of lies!

Much of the world does not know the name of this wonderful Creator and that is the job God has given us to do once He saves us!

*****Psa 19:4  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

That "line" refers to God's entire physical creation, everything in space and time.

Time is a measurement of change that takes place in what we call space.

While we have the ability to control our experience of the first three dimensions (height, width and depth), we do not seem to have the ability to navigate, manipulate or control our experience of time.

It is God that controls all these things!

These are the words that God's creation should be speaking to us!

It is our Lord that is in control of His own creation!

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

The glory of God's creation is the standard by which all mankind is measured!

The Heavens declare the glory of God and by this measurement we all come up short!

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

In the midst of the night time sky, the Sun hides until it will marches out at daybreak.

*****Psa 19:5  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

To us it is the Sun that is the most glorious heavenly body because without the Sun there would be no life on Earth.

The glory of the Sun is seen in it's rays of light.

The strength of the Sun is is felt in it's warmth and reliability 365 days each year and every year for a little more than 6000 years.

The Sun is our source of light, which is the the source of life, and the source of fruitfulness and the prominent witness of life in God's creation.

In this sense the Sun is a type of Christ who is the true light!

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Lord Jesus is that "Bridegroom" who will be coming forth one day soon to claim His bride.

Because The Lord is truly the Son of Righteousness!

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

*****Psa 19:6  His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

To understand Christ as the "Sun of righteousness", we must consider the three main qualities of the sun.

Which
 are light, warmth and gravitation.

From these things we get the Laws of Thermodynamics which states that energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

The total amount of energy and matter in the universe remains constant, merely changing from one form to another.

It has been established scientifically that the sun's gravitation holds the planets in their paths.

This is the force that holds the universe together. If gravitation could be turned off, the universe would come apart.

The righteousness of Christ is the gravitation that draws the spiritual universe together.

Many who reject the truth of the Bible use this verse as one of their proofs. They say the Sun cannot rotate around the Earth which is true.

BUT, Since all motion is relative motion, no one knows where the center of our universe is located nor can they.

We do know that our planetary system does truly revolve around our Sun and our own solar system is constantly in motion around the Milky Way which itself is in motion with respect to other galaxies.

The most scientific way to deal with motion is to assume a spot that is motionless!

We live on the only place, Earth, that can be treated as a reference point.

All surveyors, all navigators, and most astronomers use Earth as a reference point and this is what David did as he was influenced by the Holy Spirit!

All of us know the beauty of the Sunset but truly the most impressive is the Sunrise.

The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West and it has been like this since God first place the Sun in orbit.

Just as the Sun is the light of our world and brings light and heat.

Just as the Sun is the source of gravity that keeps our solar system in place.

So is the Lord Jesus Christ!

What the Sun is to our Earth, The Son of God is as the light of our world.

The Bible states that there is an actual circuit in the heavens for the entire Solar System.

Job 22:14  Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and "he walketh in the circuit of heaven".

And it is the Sun that provides the energy for the things on this Earth.

The first law of thermodynamics teaches us that since the time of Creation the energy that was first created, remains constant, it just changes from one form to another.

The second law of thermodynamics teaches us if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state.

When energy changes from one form to another the energy at the source will depreciate.

In other words when you run out of gas your car will not move until you get more gas but that energy from that gas just changed to another form as it powered your engine.

David also wrote that there is nothing that can be hidden from the heat of the Sun because the Sun is the source for all energy on our planet!

And therefore there is nothing that can be hidden from God who is the source of all things!

Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Since we know that God's creation is an open book for the world to read let's now see the written Word of God.

*****Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
The physical world gives a mighty testimony to the existence of God and His power in creation but only His written Word can give testimony to the power of God in salvation!

God's Word is perfect! God's Word can convert the soul because it contains the saving truth!

At least 3800 times the Bible says "God said" or "thus saith the Lord".

If the Word of God was not inspired it would have disappeared long ago.

If it's God's Word then it must be perfect because God is perfect!

The Scriptures are God's witness to us of who He is, what He has said, what He has already done and what He will do!

It is God's Word that will make us wise unto salvation and our salvation can only come through Jesus Christ.

Paul told a young Timothy:

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, "which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus".

It is also the Word of God that teaches us the principles of successful living!

Pro 8:33  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Once we have felt the power of the Lord's truth, we should demand the truth in our own lives!

The Word of God is the right medicine for the lost soul!

The Word of God is the right counselor for the best advice!

Once our soul has been converted God can then make us wise and this wisdom will cause us to rejoice.

**There are no errors in the Word of God!

Once our eyes are open to the truth we will see how truly foolish is the wisdom of this world.

**The fear of the Lord is clean.

We will never decay or deteriorate if we walk in the fear of the Lord. We have an eternal salvation!

We are made white by the "Blood of the Lamb"!

And no one need to explain the judgment of God, He explains that fully Himself.

God is just as righteous in His judgment as He is in His salvation!

Once we are saved God has sealed us with His Spirit and if we walk in His Spirit, we will live and learn the truth.

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

When we have seen God in His creation, we should desire God's plan in His Written Word.

*****Psa 19:10  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The way we treat the Bible also reflects the way we treat the Lord!

Wealth can be described as prosperity and external happiness but only by obeying the Word of God can true wealth be obtained!

There is a feeling of wealth when you have more than that person beside you but there will always be some one  who has more than you do so your own feeling will fade.

Gold is the richest and most valuable of most all metals but Bible truth is truly the most valuable commodity on this Earth!

Many people base their wealth on the amount of Gold that they own but true wealth is found in the Word of God.

The entire Word of God is Holy Ghost inspired so Spiritual treasure is much more noble than any mere material wealth.

Men may speak of solid gold but nothing is more solid than the truth of God's Word!

How can we obtain true wealth?

Deu 8:18  But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: "for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth", that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

It is God who gives humans the power and the ability to obtain wealth.

But where great pleasure is great instruction has been and that can only come from God's Word.

Honey directly from the honeycomb has a sweetness that cannot be found in refined honey.

The Word of God is the purest of all words and and the sweetest of all words because they come directly from the Lord.

Gold must be refined, Honey must be processed but the Word of God does not need need man for either of these things!

To have an appetite for the Word of God is the sign of a healthy Christian.

But God's Word has many more benefits than these.

*****Psa 19:11  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Do we accept the warnings that are in the Word of God?

We should remember our study of the Book of James.

Jas 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, "to him it is sin".

It is sin not to accept the warnings that God gives us!

The Bible warns us of our duties.

The Bible warns us of our danger.

Then Bible warns us to accept God's remedy for all these things.

If we walk in the Spirit, we will live and learn from God's truth and there will be rewards not only in Heaven but also while we remain here on this Earth.

Notice that there is no debt that can come from obeying the Word of God, there are only rewards.

Pro 13:13  Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Those that despise the Word of God will bring ruin upon themselves!

We should never forget these words:

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

**To deny the Word of God is to deny God!

**To obey the Word of God brings a guaranteed reward!

Pro 11:18  The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a "sure" reward.

That word "sure" means a reward is certain, that reward is guaranteed!

It is the Word of God that points out the sin in our lives.

*****Psa 19:12  Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

How can we be so foolish to not realize our sins and confess them?

No one can be so blind to themselves without sooner or later having to pay a serious penalty for such blindness!

It is a fact that society has become so tolerant of sin that all those in the world just look the other way!

It is also a fact that those that sit in the judges seat are so full of sin themselves that they cannot properly judge and sentence those that come before them!

Sin creates a false standard by which we judge ourselves!

Why is the Word of God so rejected?

Because the more we know of God the more we will realize the wickedness of sin.

But even still there is only one sin that cannot be forgiven and that is the sin of rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me;

For us to understand our errors we must first know the Lord who only can forgive us our sin!

Only the One we sin against has the power to forgive us our sin!

And we must not be fooled there are no sins that can be hidden from the eyes of God.

And every sin will be judged by the standards of Jesus Christ and according to His "Gospel".

Rom 2:16  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

*****Psa 19:13  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Presumptuous means we know we live in the time of God's "Grace" and we believe that we can go ahead with our sin believing that we can go to God afterwards for forgiveness.

This means we are arrogant enough to test God and this is a most terrible sin!

Paul wrote:

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

God forbids presumptuous sin!

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Rebellion was and is Israel's greatest sin for they know the commandments of God and still reject the prophecies that lead to Jesus Christ!

God provided a means of atonement for every sin under the Jewish law but one:

Num 15:29  Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
Num 15:30  But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; "and that soul shall be cut off from among his people".
Num 15:31  Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

Israel will learn this lesson during the 7 years of tribulation.

It is only then that those who repent will be innocent from that great transgression.

Those that presume such things in the time of "Grace" need to question their salvation and repent today.

Repenting is not just feeling sorrow and regret. True repenting is a complete change of mind and a change of ways!

Mat 21:28  But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

Notice it was the one son who completely changed his mind and his direction that was said he repented.

Understanding the Word of God will lead us to our Redeemer.

*****Psa 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

The words of our mouth are mockery unless we have Holy Ghost conviction in our hearts!

But even then our prayer must be accepted!

That prayer can only be accepted when we are certain that the One we are praying to has the strength and power to answer than prayer and is truly our Redeemer!

To be redeemed is to be bought with a price!

We have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Every redeemed child of God is very special to Him!

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

We need to hear what God's creation says but more important we need to hear what God wrote down for us!

If you are not peculiar by the worlds standards then you need to go back to the altar of God and repent!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Cry Out To The Lord

Cry To The Lord

Psalms 18

We should never forget that even the Psalms are the inspired Word of God.

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

So not only is this the praise of David but this Psalm should also be the praise of each of us that know the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior.

We know from our past studies that David was a sinner but he had a very personal relationship with the Lord just as we are to have.

We will never improve our walk with the Lord unless we get as close to Him as we possibly can!

God wants us to get close to Him!

Jas 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

How do we get closer to God?

First and foremost when God calls us by the Holy Ghost we must return God's call!

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Then we must do these other things:

**Then we must present ourselves in His house.
Those that say they do not have to go to church are not in agreement with the Word of God.

**Then we must walk in His ways.
Those that have one foot in the world and one foot in the church are wasting God's time.

**Then we must obey His commands.
Those that think the Bible is a book of suggestions are in the wrong.

**Then we must humble ourselves in prayer.
Those that do not stay in daily contact with Our Father, through Jesus Christ, will have no power at all.

**Then we must exercise our faith toward Him!
Without faith we cannot please God.

BUT, we should never have the feeling that we must draw nigh to God before He will draw nigh to us because it is God that made the first move.

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and "hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us";

If we say when did God do this thing?

Mar 15:37  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
Mar 15:38  And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

God sent His only begotten Son to pay our sin debt with His own death and this one thing opened the doorway to the throne room of God in Heaven.

David had found an even closer personal relationship with the Lord in his later days.

We need to begin our own personal relationship with God as soon as He calls!

Let's begin:

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul:

*****18:1 And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

And David said: "I love thee, O Lord".

We must realize that human love is preceded and generated by the love of God!

God did not wait for us to make some feeble attempt to clean ourselves up before He decided to love us!

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  "Even when we were dead in sins", hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

God's love is shown fully by His mercy and His amazing grace!

We should begin each day by saying "I love you Lord" because we would have no strength to begin our day without Him!

How should we express our love for God?

Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

This is a commandment and not a suggestion!

How does the Lord defend us in all our troubles in order to fulfill the purpose He has for each of us?

*****Psa 18:2  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

In last weeks lesson we learn what the title LORD means.

These things are written about Jehovah, the self-existing, Eternal Living God!

**The Lord is our rock. It is the Lord who is my hiding place. The Lord is my cleft in the rock.

What did God tell Moses?

Exo 33:21  And the LORD said, Behold, "there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock":

And who is this Rock?

Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till "that a stone was cut out without hands", which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

This the same rock on which the Bride of Christ is founded.

Psa 118:22  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, "Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone";

Jesus Christ is our hiding place, our cleft in the rock.

**The Lord is our fortress. The Lord is our place of safety.

Pro 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

**The Lord is our deliverer. The Lord will deliver us our of all affliction, from all temptations, out of the hands of all our enemies, but more important the Lord will deliver us from a body of sin, eternal death, and His wrath that is soon coming.

It is the Lord who rescues our soul!

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

**The Lord is our strength.

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

**The Lord is our God. The Lord is all good things in One God!

God says that every Atheist is a fool.

Psa 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The Atheist is a fool by his nature and having denied God he also becomes a fool in practice.

Pro 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

**The Lord is my buckler. A buckler is a portable shield.

Psa 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

**The Lord is the horn of our salvation.

Luk 1:69  And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

This "horn of salvation" is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

**The Lord is our high tower. It is the Lord who can place us so far out of reach that no evil can touch us. He will do this on the day of the Rapture of the Church.

Rev 21:10  And "he carried me away in the spirit" to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

But the Lord can be none of these things unless we do the first thing ourselves.

*****Psa 18:3  I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

To call is to cry for help. To call is to pray and to pray is to be in conversation with God. To be in conversation with the Lord is to believe that He has the answers we need and that first prayer should be about salvation.

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

Why, because it is the Lord who is worthy of our praise.

Rev 5:12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

How did our Lord suffer just to become worthy?

*****Psa 18:5  The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
Psa 18:6  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

We know that David suffered greatly at the hands of Saul but these things are about Our Lord.

What were these sorrows that encompassed our Savior?

Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

The Bible says that Our Savior tasted death for every believer.

Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; "that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man".

We know that the Lord Jesus suffered the death of His flesh.

But the Lord Jesus also suffered the (spiritual) death of His soul because for a very brief moment He was forsaken by the Father because he bore all our sin.

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth

Just as Our Savior had victory over sin in the flesh.

He also had victory over death because after 3 days he arose.

Act 2:27  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

This was the reason our Messiah had to die. It was our sin that Our Savior bore on the cross that day!

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, "nailing it to his cross";
Col 2:15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

This was the reason God came down from Heaven, to take the sting of death away!

1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. "For this purpose" the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

It was our Savior who saw the sorrows of Hell for us. We will never see this place called Hell.

It was our Savior who escaped the snares of death that we could never have escaped from.

It is our Savior who teaches us by example that if we call upon the name of Lord we can be saved.

Peter said it like this:

Act 2:24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

At the time these things were written these were all prophesy but they were all fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ.

As David described them, the fear of death is like an overwhelming flood.

Verses 7-15 gives us a vivid picture of the turmoil on this earth that is called the flood of Noah's day.

*****Psa 18:7  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
Psa 18:8  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
Psa 18:9  He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
Psa 18:10  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
Psa 18:11  He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
Psa 18:12  At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
Psa 18:13  The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
Psa 18:14  Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
Psa 18:15  Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

These verses give us a word picture of the convulsion of nature at the time of the flood.

But they also tell us many of these same things that happened when Our Lord arose from the death of the grave.

Just as Noah was delivered.

Just as David was delivered.

And because Lord Jesus Christ was delivered.

Then every believer will also be delivered!

*****Psa 18:16  He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

Those same waters that brought death to the world of that day, raised up the Ark of Salvation.

Because the Lord ascended back to His throne in Heaven, He can now rescue everyone that calls on His name.

This is why we can "Cry Out To The Lord".

Noah and his family were drawn out of deaths chilly waters.

Moses and Israel were drawn out of deaths chilly waters brought on by Pharaoh.

David said he was drawn out of deaths chilly waters brought on by Saul's death grip.

Our Savior was also baptized in the chilly waters of agony and ascended back to His throne in Heaven.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

By His own blood He has redeemed all who believe because the Lord had victory over death, hell, and the grave!

*****Psa 18:17  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

David knew the joy of being delivered.

Just as David was delivered from Goliath, and from Saul, we have also been delivered from Satan's power.

It would do us good to occasionally look back from where we came and remember that joy on the day that we were delivered from our sin.

Satan is our strong enemy and he is much too powerful for us to challenge alone but Satan's hold on us was broken through the cross!

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

*****Psa 18:18  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

Calamity is distress. The enemies of Jesus Christ are our enemies and the enemies of the church.

What did they do to the Lord Jesus?

They met Him, they laid hold on Him they insulted Him, they condemned Him, and they crucified Him.

But they could not "prevent Him" from fulfilling the will of God!

When David was greatly distressed, he encouraged himself in the Lord, his God!

Why should we do any different than David did?

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

*****Psa 18:19  He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Just as God brought Joseph from the prison cell to be governor of Egypt and David from the caves of Adullam to throne of Israel, God will also bring us into a large place!

God does not just liberate us from the pangs of sin and stop at that point. Sin is Satan's prison but the Lamb of God brings true freedom.

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, "ye shall be free indeed".

Why? Because He delights in saving all those that love Him.

When we cry out to the Lord, He wants to do everything we ask of Him but we hold that power within our own selves.

We must be obedient to the things He says!

Our rewards come from doing things the right way!

*****Psa 18:20  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
Psa 18:21  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Psa 18:22  For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
Psa 18:23  I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
Psa 18:24  Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

The Bible says it will be our righteousness if we observe to do all God's commandments.

We must keep our hands clean.

We must walk by God's standards.

We must study the Word of God.

We must abstain from even the appearance of doing evil.

We must realize that the Lord always has His eyes on us, not for punishment but always ready to give a reward for doing things right.

What is God's rule of thumb for rewards?

*****Psa 18:25  With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
Psa 18:26  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
Psa 18:27  For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

God will render to everyone according to their own works!

*****Psa 18:28  For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

Darkness is a place where evil goes to hide but evil can never hide from God.

Darkness is also seen as a curse, so death then is also in the land of darkness.

In the time of David many people would burn a lamp all through the night time because they dreaded a dark house.

But the Bible says it is the spirit of man that is God's candle.

Pro 20:27  The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

The question is then are we a lighted candle burning for the Lord or are we in darkness?

We must have that light within ourselves.

It is the Lord Jesus who must light up our souls so that we can give light to others.

Do you have enough light in your candle to light the light of some one else's candle?

We should ask ourselves this question and work on our walk with the Lord until we can be a shining light.

Those that reject the Word of God and look to this world for answers will forever be in outer darkness.

Isa 8:22  And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

Jesus Christ is our only light in this dark world!

Joh 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Jesus Christ is the only light than can light our candle!

*****Psa 18:29  For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

The reality of our world is that Satan has a large army of his followers. We should never under value the strength of the enemies of God.

There are many that look upon the death of Jesus Christ as some weakness on the part of God but we know that Christ Jesus rose through that occasion to be our place of strength.

Jesus did not die for Himself, He died for us. His sufferings were made short and He marched right through His enemies and our enemies.

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, "he led captivity captive", and gave gifts unto men.

Satan shuts the sinner up into a deep ditch of sin and a high wall of immorality.

When Christ comes into our heart, He leaps over these walls and carries each one to safety.

Satan cannot overcome the plan of God because God's plan is perfect.

*****Psa 18:30  As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psa 18:31  For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
Psa 18:32  It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
Psa 18:33  He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

To the sinner God's ways may not seem to be perfect.

And when we are suffering we sometimes forget the promises of God.

The roads in the wilderness of sin are always crooked!

Disappointment most always causes doubt!

The "Gospel" is sometimes a stumbling block to many that want more from this life but do not know how to achieve it.

But pain comes from this world when we refuse to accept the "perfect" Word of God.

The Bible has stood the test of time!

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

There is no other God besides Jehovah the Tri-Une God no matter what the world tries to say!

The girdle in the time of David was a necessary part of clothing. It strengthened the loins, it kept the other garments close to the body, and it gave a place to tuck in the long robe when it was time to move quickly.

The strength of God is to our soul, what the girdle is to the body.

Isa 45:5  I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

That girdle for the soul is the Lord Jesus Christ.

A hind is a female deer or a doe.

It is the Lord that gives us swiftness to avoid trouble but also strength, protection, and a firm footing in this world.

All our strength will come from the Lord if we accept His plan of salvation!

*****Psa 18:34  He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Psa 18:35  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
Psa 18:36  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
Psa 18:37  I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
Psa 18:38  I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
Psa 18:39  For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
Psa 18:40  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

God's way is the perfect way and when our walk in this life is in step with the Lord Jesus Christ then He will make our walk perfect also.

We will be swift and sure footed when our path is slippery.

We will be strong in all our battles.

He will give us the shield of His Salvation.

But we must put on the whole armor of God because there should be no doubt that as Christians we  are living in the war zone.

God will not always strive with the enemies of Jesus Christ!

*****Psa 18:41  They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

Our prayers are such a great weapon in this world that even the wicked will try call out for help in desperation but to no avail.

The Bible says:

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

It is a fact that bad men have called out to God to go against His own children but God will never answer that prayer!

Remember the story of Balaam?

When a sinner refuses to hear the Holy Spirit then God will refuse to hear when they cry out to Him.

Zec 7:13  Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:

In fact God will laugh and mock at these request.

Pro 1:24  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Pro 1:25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Pro 1:26  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

*****Psa 18:42  Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
Psa 18:43  Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
Psa 18:44  As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
Psa 18:45  The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

King David had defeated the enemies of Israel in such a way that they were powerless. God had subdued all his enemies under his feet.

This gives us the example of the Lord during the Millennial Kingdom. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who will sit on David's Throne.

Psa 22:27  All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
Psa 22:28  For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.
Psa 22:29  All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

Even Israel will worship King Jesus at this time.

But even during the 1000 years of the Millennial Kingdom will everyone willingly serve the Lord. There will also be some, such as strangers who are too afraid not to!

All nations must now serve Him because He will reign with a "rod of iron".

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and "he shall rule them with a rod of iron": and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

*****Psa 18:46  The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
Psa 18:47  It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
Psa 18:48  He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
Psa 18:49  Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
Psa 18:50  Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

We do not serve an inanimate, imaginary, or an old dying god. We serve the Living God!

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of "the living God".

The topics of our conversation should be about our own calling by God the Father.

The topics of our conversation must include the redemption by the Son of God.

The topics of our conversation must include the washing and regeneration by the Holy Spirit of God.

It is only the individual Christian that can know these things!

This must be the beginning of our testimony to others!

What is the Psalm we will all sing in Heaven?

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"

Vengeance is to never in our hands, vengeance belongs to the Lord!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ that has delivered us from all our enemies, especially Satan, the Devil.

Though this world we live in tries to stop our mouths from praising the Lord, we must sing out to our God whether they like it or not!

David wrote this Psalm, by the Holy Spirit, because he had been delivered.

If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as you Savior, then you have been delivered!

We should show our happiness in our singing of praises to the Lord!

We should have no problem crying out to the Lord!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

We Must Trust In The Lord

Trust In The Lord

Psalms 11:1-7

Today we will begin a 6 month study in the Book of Psalms.

Psalms are "praise hymns".

In fact the Psalms were lyrical songs that were to be sung to a musical instruments.

The Book of Psalms serves as the songbook to Israel in their worship of God.

The Psalms are God's Inspired Hymnbook!

In these "Inspired Songs" we will find the works of God.

We will find the wisdom of God along with the thoughts of God.

We will find the prophecies of God along with the prophecies of the Son of God, as a babe and of His return.

We will read the personal thoughts and the confessions of many of the writers such as King David.

We will even read where many requested to see God's wrath upon His enemies and our enemies.

We have in the Book of the Psalms, songs from Moses and from many other writers such as David, Haggai, Ezra, Zechariah and there were others.

The Bible is a collection of many books written by 40 different writers across at least 3 continents over a period of more that 4000 years.

The one Book of Psalms is a collection of Spiritual Songs that span more than 1000 years.

All the books of the Bible have one thing in common, they will all lead you to Jesus Christ but also of importance they are all in harmony from the beginning of Genesis to the last written Word of God, in the Book of Revelation.

It is believed that it was Ezra who gathered all these songs into one book, which we call the Book of Psalms.

King David is known as the sweet psalmist of Israel because he wrote at least 73 of the Psalms in this book and by some estimates, many of the others.

The Book of Psalms is the largest book in the Bible and contains 2453 verses.

Psalms 119 is the longest book of the Bible with 176 verses.

Psalms 117 is the shortest book of the Bible with only 2 verses but is not short in importance:

Psa 117:1  O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
Psa 117:2  For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalms 118:8 is the middle chapter in the Bible and the very middle of the Bible verse 8 clearly states the central them of the entire Bible.

Psa 118:8  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

It is far better to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ than to place your confidence in anything in this world!

There is no greater truth in the Bible than these words!

There is no created being that is greater than our self-existing Lord.

The New Testament is full of quotes from the Old Testament with 283 direct quotes but 116 of those quotes are from the Book of Psalms.

Jesus said we could not know everything about Him unless we included a study of the Book of Psalms.

Luk 24:44  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, "and in the psalms, concerning me".

This Book of Psalms has been a great comfort to God's people and this great book of the Bible still brings great comfort to those who read it today.

To many people this is their most favorite book of the Bible.

Even after we have spent 2 lesson quarters in the Psalms we will still have only touched parts of this book so we need to learn that word so often seen which is the word "Selah" which is seen 71 times in the Book of Psalms and means "stop and think on that".

As we study the Psalms, "we need to stop and think on them and their message"!

We should also make note that the Psalms were sung accompanied by musical instruments.

1Ch 13:8  And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

Musical instruments and singing have been a big part in the worship of the Lord for several thousand years. Worship is not to be dull and boring but full of spirit and praise, for we serve a Mighty God.

The style of music may vary from church to church but all music within the church should be to praise the Lord, touch the hearts of the believer, and uplift the worship service!

Gospel music by it's title means to proclaim the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ"!

The church is never to be a place of entertainment, but only a place to worship God but still according to the scriptures.

Church music and church songs must be scriptural!

Our first lesson is titled "Trust In The Lord".

What do we mean by the word "trust"?  It can mean confidence. It can mean to care. It can mean to believe. It can mean depend on or to rely on.

The Bible teaches us to place our trust in the Lord because we simply cannot trust ourselves nor any other human being in our walk with the Lord Jesus.

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

There are only two ways to go through this life.

1) We go through life with God believing on things we cannot see.

2) Or, we go through life without God believing on the things of this world.

Most of those in this world will fail because they cannot see past the end of their own life span!

So lets begin:

*****Psa 11:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

Throughout the Bible we are told that the chapters and verses were separated by ancient Bible scholars but that is not the case of the Psalms.

The verses themselves maybe have been labeled but the chapters are basically the individual songs of those that wrote them.

That phrase "to the chief musician" refers to the choir director or the music conductor.

We see that this was a Psalm of David and David wrote more than half of the Psalms, therefore we get this scripture.

2Sa 23:1  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and "the sweet psalmist of Israel", said,
2Sa 23:2  The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

David was remembered for many things but God made sure for us to know that this mighty man of war who had shed much blood was also the "sweet psalmist of Israel".

We next see the title LORD in all capitol letters.

There should be no doubt in our minds that it is the Lord who is our refuge at all times but especially in times of trouble!

When we see the title LORD in all capitol letters, the Bible is speaking of Jehovah, the Almighty God.

The Jews would write this title as YHWH or JHVH or with vowels added Yah-weh or Jehovah.

When we see the title Lord with just the first letter capitalized in the Bible it usually refers to Adonai or the Supreme Master.

When we this title written lord with all small letters it means someone with absolute control or a ruler over others such as slaves.

The Bible records that the Philistines had five such lordships.

The Palestinians along with many others still allow men to be lords over them in our day.

But many of the Jews even in our day hold the name Jehovah in such high regard they will not pronounce it aloud for fear of using God's name in vain.

And just to throw this in, Allah is not Jehovah.

Allah is the god of the Muslim.

"Allah" comes from the Arabic word "elah", which is any god or some thing that is worshiped.

This word (elah) can be made plural (gods), as in "aleha" and it can be male or female just as the word "god" in English can be "goddess."

"Allah" comes from "elaha" but it needs more clarification and understanding.

Allah = Has no gender (not male and not female"He" is used only out of respect and dignity - not for gender)  

**********(Jehovah is always male in gender, It is Our Father who is in Heaven)

Allah = Is always singular - Never plural  *"We" is used only as the "Royal WE" just as in English for royalty.

*********(Jehovah is always plural and consist of Our Father who is God, The Holy Spirit who is God, The Son, The Lord Jesus Christ who is God, The Tri-Une God not three Gods but One God in three persons, Elohim)

Allah = Means "The Only One to be Worshipped"

*****(Jehovah is the True God who only deserves our worship)

There is a move by so called religious groups to convince the world that The Muslim, The Jew, And Christianity all worship the same God.

This is a lie of Satan.

There are many who will try to convince you that Allah and Jehovah are the same but that cannot be true because to the Christian, Jesus the Christ is LORD and the Living God.

The Muslim do not accept that there is a Son of God and they refuse the Godship of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus Christ is not Allah and Allah is not Jesus Christ!

The Jews are still blind(according to the Bible) to the fact of The Messiah, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

All others including the Muslim are blinded by Satan.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The Bible is very specific on this issue!

1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, "and with his Son Jesus Christ".

1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but "he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ"? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, "the same hath not the Father": (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

The Jew are still looking for the Messiah to come.

The Muslim are still looking for some messiah to come.

The Christian know the truth that the Messiah has come and He was Jesus the Christ!

We simply should not be deceived as there are many today trying to link Christianity, Jewish, and Muslim under one and the same God and this is simply a lie just as the Apostle John says it is.

We either trust all the Word of God or we trust none of it!

It is in the Lord Jesus Christ we must place our trust!

And it is this the only Lord who can and who will be with us in all our troubles just as He promises us!

Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

And just as a fugitive runs for the hills, or a soldier seeks safety from the enemy, every child of God should seek the Lord as the place for protection!

The Lord is our only refuge!

When we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior there is no need to flee like a bird to some mountain to hide, we must flee to the LORD.

Psa 91:9  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
Psa 91:10  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

But evil will always be the enemy of God's people.

*****Psa 11:2  For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

The wicked of this world are always ready for action against the Children of God!

If you haven't figured it out already, the world looks upon a righteous man or woman as someone to take advantage of!

They slander them with their bows in their hand.

Bows were a weapon of war in the time of David but this bow is referring to deceptive and destructive words.

Psa 57:4  My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, "whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword".

That word "for" means because we trust in the Lord and not in the ways of evil men.

That word "privily" means "in darkness". Our enemies will be treacherous in all their actions but they always try to hide behind the ways of the world.

That word "shoot" means they have no fear of God and are morally wrong. They are wicked to the core and they know what they are doing, they just refuse to see the truth of God.

The blindness of all those who remain lost will end in their own destruction.

Pro 4:19  The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

*****Psa 11:3  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

There are four obvious foundations that every human being can build onto which will guarantee the best possible life we can have.

1) There is the foundation of "faith".

"Trust" in the Old Testament relates to "Faith" in the New Testament.

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

When we allow the foundation of "faith" to be destroyed, those that do right will loose hope.

We cannot please God without faith.

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.
 
2) There is the foundation of "honesty".

Honesty is conforming to justice. Remember the just shall live by "faith".

Honesty is fairness, in all transactions, upright in all decisions and conforms to justice.

Rom 12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

3) There is the foundation of "Moral Integrity".

It is the laws of God that must be the basis for our morals.

We simply cannot allow the world to dictate the morals for society!

Integrity is wholeness!

Integrity is pureness!

Integrity is genuine!

Integrity is a sound mind, moral soundness, and incorruptible by God's standards!

1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

4) There is the foundation of "truth".

Truth is conforming to the facts.

Truth is conforming to reality.

Truth is in accordance with that which is, that which has been, and that which shall be!

Jesus said:

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Jesus also said:

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

And Jesus said all these things are of God:

Joh 17:7  Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

If your life is not what you want it to be, then you have weak foundations.

All four of the foundations we have discussed are things that each of us can do!

In fact these are things that we must do!

We can build a strong working faith in God by examining the evidence for His existence.

This wicked world continues to attack these foundations with worldly wisdom that is not from God.

The evidence of God begins with His Creation and God created all things by Jesus Christ!

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

We already know that without "faith" we cannot please God.

The truth of Creation is recorded for us in the Book of Genesis. This is the foundation for the rest of the Word of God, and the faith and the practices of each Christian.

While the world keeps up the attack on God's people, the ungodly world is trying to systematically destroy the truth of Creation by the "Design Of God".

Evolution has dug it's way deep into society and even as this false theory is defeated over and over again with the truth, the Evolutionists have gotten control of the education systems of this world and are teaching a false science that goes against the Word of God.

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

If we allow these foundations to be destroyed within ourselves then it is certain there will be no place for the righteous!

But it is the Lord who sits on the throne in Heaven and will not allow this to happen.

*****Psa 11:4  The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

Unless you are having that rare perfect day in your life, all you see around you are problems.

I don't know if at any other time in history that the world seemed to have as many problems as we see today.

The one thing we cannot see in our world is the answer to these problems.

So where do we look? We Look Up!

When we have trusted the Lord, the place to look for answers is up because Our Lord sits in His Holy Temple.

The Bible teaches us with these words.

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

From His position in Heaven, Our Mediator can see everything!

And this holy temple is the same place where the Lord went to prepare us a place.

Jesus said:

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
This holy temple is none other than the Father's House!

It is in the Father's house where we find the throne of God.

Psa 103:19  The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

**It is Jehovah God who is the final authority of our world!

It is the Lord who is able to control all the events that are happening on this world!

When things happen on this world it is because the Lord has allowed them to happen.

The Lord Jesus is "omnipotent"! God is all powerful and can do anything that is consistent with His own nature. God will never go against His Own Word, but His Word will be fulfilled just as He states it!

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

**It is Jehovah God who has all knowledge. Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven in His glorified body so it is His eyes that can behold all things.

The Lord Jesus is "omnipresent"! God is everywhere present in All Power, in His totality at all times.

In His humanity Jesus is localized in Heaven but in His deity Jesus is present everywhere.

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

**It is Jehovah God who can feel the things that we feel. It is His eyelids that try the children of men.

The Lord Jesus is "omniscient"! God knows all things that can happen and all things that will happen, past, present, or future.

Jesus knows whats in the heart of every man and the Lord will test each man's faith.

*****Psa 11:5  The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Why would the Lord put trials on the ones He has saved?

The Lord tries each of us so He may do us good in the latter end.

God provides opportunities for us to show our faith!

Deu 8:16  Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, "to do thee good at thy latter end";

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

God goes beyond to furnish us with everything we need to survive this cruel world and along the way He will send some trouble so we can be fine tuned for the tasks that lie before us.

God never wants us to fail and we cannot fail in His eyes, we can only fail ourselves in our own eyes!

The trials of our faith are only temporary and even the worst of them will only last a short period of time.

But this is not so for the wicked!

This not so for those that love violence!

The wicked are all those that are morally wrong.

Those that love violence are all those that love to be cruel. These are all those that would be bullies!

The world is more full of bullies who would have things their way, than it is full of racist.

Our government is more full of bullies than it is racist!

As the Holy Ghost led David to write these things we get  to see how God will deal with the wicked and violent people who reject the Word of God and have made themselves gods.

*****Psa 11:6  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

1) God will rain down fire and brimstone upon them.

Where do we find some examples?

Gen 19:24  Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Gen 19:25  And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Isa 30:33  For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

Rev 9:17  And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

2) There will be a terrible storm upon them.

Where do we find examples?

Psa 18:7  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

What is a Simoom?

This is a very hot, dry, suffocating and dust-laden wind that blasts across the African deserts, notably in Arabia, Syria, and neighboring countries generated by the extreme heat of the parched deserts or sandy plains. It can form into whirlwinds. It is one of the briefest winds and lasts only 20 minutes but can carry mounds of dust and sand that it has scooped from the desert floor. This is one of the winds that reshapes the desert and the sand dunes.

3) They will drink of the cup of God's wrath.

Where do we find examples?

Psa 75:8  For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

If we could a picture all these things happening at the same time we should know that the "day of the Lord" will not be a good day for all those that have rejected the Word of God.

But God has better plans for those who love Him.

*****Psa 11:7  For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

C. H. Spurgeon wrote "Upon the roses of grace grow the thorns of justice"

Justice is God's plum line!

If you walk on the wrong side of God's plum line you will see judgment.

If you walk on the right side of God's plum line you will have justice.

Isa 28:17  "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet": and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Our righteous Lord could not be righteous in "Justice" if He were not also righteous in "Judgment"!

The plum line that God uses is His Written Word He has given to us!

What does God have planned for those who choose the right side?

The righteous shall see the face of God!

For God to turn His face away is to reject us but to look upon us with delight is to receive His blessings!

Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Because Our Lord Jesus is also the Creator it is only He that has the absolute right to decide "Justice".

Pro 29:26  Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.
Pro 29:27  An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

Jesus said we will all suffer persecution at some level.

Jesus said the world we live in will only grow worse not better.

We must see these threats for what they are and the only place to flee is the mountain of comfort which is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ must be our foundation in this life!

Questions?

Let's Pray!