Download... May 30, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Danny Sanders.
We can be so "caught up" in the daily burdens of life that we forget where our hope and help is. Colossians 3:2 exhorts us "Set your affections on things above".....
SUB-TEXT Ecclesiastes 9:1-3
1For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
2All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
v.2 All things come to all. v.3 Things that happen both to the good and evil, may seem unfair (or evil) yet that is the way life is decreed. What will we do with that knowledge? Too often we can get so cumbered down with the overwhelming cares, we can forget how to fight in this spiritual battle. Our spiritual battle is right out on the "front line." We must not forget in the midst of those spiritual battles, that we are supposed to continue the work of the Lord. This is not a time to draw back in our spiritual warfare. None of us gets a "free pass," with nothing bad coming our way. Yet every child of God can attest to the facts of God "intervening," on their behalf! That is one of the differences we will learn about this morning. Solomon recognized these seeming "imbalances" of life, portrayed in the above scripture. God and God alone is our hope!
FOUNDATIONAL TEXT PSALMS 42:1-11
1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
These scriptures touch on such a real part of our lives. When the trials of life are so heavy, the devil is spiritually screaming, "This way is too hard, you'll never make it!"
Sound familiar? That is what Satan does. v.11 The difference for God's children is that they have a hope,... in trusting Him.
Too often people put their trust in things that can be of a temporal help, but are not of a spiritual foundation. Education, jobs, possessions, people, etc. Then when these temporary "resources" fail, ..they are let down. "Those things", are not where God's children must put their hope. God alone can meet all our needs. When our spiritual focus is correct, then verses 1 & 2 .." my soul thirsteth for God" truly resonates with us. Our very hope depends on God. It is especially true when we are really at our lowest point. Verse 7 "deep calleth unto deep" (or trials upon troubles and trials) overwhelming us. So much that you are caused to wonder "what's next?" A true testing of your faith. We are reminded of Job's lot of losing everything, in such a time of devastation. Life can feel and be like this. But it does not change our hope being in God, as His child. So as verse 1 says, "..so panteth my soul after thee, O God."
We don't know the traumas that are ahead. But one thing we do know is, that God is in Control,.. and there our hope must stay. If I lean upon myself, I will not be able to do it. But with God,..I can. Even in those times, we are caused to wonder where God is. This is Not the time to draw back! Our prayers, bible reading and studies, must not be let down, especially when we need it the most. We must pray, read His word, fellowship with His saints. To draw back from these is a trick of the enemy, one he has used throughout the ages of time. The enemy knows to attack at our very lowest and weakest of times. A time that when "attending" our perseverance in faith, can help us most. Otherwise our "tears" will become our "meat." verse 3 (or we will start to wallow in our troubles.) We must dig deeper than that. It is not minimizing our problems to know we must get beyond them.
Jesus gave a very good example in dealing with Satan during those weakened times.
Matthew 4:1-11 When can we expect Satan to attack? When like with Jesus here, we are at our weakest place. Yet we can also be reminded with Jesus example in (verse 10) to put Satan in his place. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. In those times when "deep calleth unto deep" or troubles upon troubles. At your lowest point. Satan attacks with everything he knows at this time. Yet Psalms 42:11 again, says ......."hope thou in God, who is the health of my countenance and my God." It is a reminder of the well known adages, "Brighter Days are Coming", "This Too Shall Pass," and "Every Storm Has an Ending,"..And with God as our hope,..it is so. Eventually "the sun will come back out."
Back to Psalms 42: 7,8 How encouraging! While trials may be upon trials, let me not be in despair. God will command the daylight and song of His loving-kindness for those spiritual "night-times" of my life! We do have a hope,..in God!
Isaiah 41:10, 11 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.
11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
You are not alone! Isaiah 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. God promises to hold our hand. In those hardest and darkest of times, there's a comfort in knowing God is holding your hand! Often you may feel alone, but you are not. God's help is so real! So while we cannot avoid those dark times of life, we have very clear promises of God and His hope. Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Another scripture showing Jesus example in offering His hope, is found in Matthew 14:23-32 In verse 23 Jesus saw the need to get away, alone in prayer. Are we any less in need of our time alone with God? verse 30 Peter sinks and cries out in fear, seeing the effects of the stormy winds, which likely would affect any one of us the same. It is not all that unheard of for a non-religious person to call out to God in a traumatic and fearful dilemma. We were created to realize our limitations and to comprehend that real hope comes only from God. verse 24,25 As in this storm, when things are contrary in our life, in the heat of the battle against imaginations, doubts, and fears from Satan, we need to "see" Jesus as our promise of hope. It is then that Jesus will open that door to us, that previously was not there. Only God is hope,.. for the impossible!
Inwardly God's children know that God will be their eventual hope and rescue, yet the human part of us, is sometimes trembling in anticipation for it. "When is that door going to open our flesh might ask?" The above scripture(Matthew 14:23-32) clearly illustrates God will make His presence known to us, as He did here on the stormy waters. Christ did the impossible of walking on the water, to illustrate His limitless power to help us with hope. At first in fear they did not recognize Jesus, but when He drew closer, they had His assurance, "..It is I, be not afraid."(Matthew 14:27c) Today it is the same voice of His promises that can dissolve our human fears. He would that all that are of heavy heart and burdens find rest in learning of Him. Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. In Peter sinking, it wasn't about the whether or not they could swim to safety. The disciples as fishermen were acclimated to the challenges of being in the water. So it is not about what our human abilities consist of. It was about the spiritual need and dependence for God,.. to be our hope. At some point we need to cast our burdens upon God, to obtain rest in Him as our only real hope. It is not about us, for only God can get us through the storms,.. to His hope and rest. When they were all together on the ship, with the master, the wind ceased.(Matthew 14:32b) That is how it is when we are in complete unity, and surrendered to God. There is then,..hope.
Another promise along this line. Luke 9:56A For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. God is about saving us,..He did not come to destroy! No matter how devastating our circumstances, it is not trivializing them to recognize God as the only one true hope and answer. Satan would like us to attempt to again look for answers in the things offered by the world. But God has given us the better and supreme alternative of His hope. If perhaps this is a foreign concept to one here,..realize that God is not willing that any should perish. II Peter 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. All means You!
II Chronicles 16:9A For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. God's assurance towards us.
Psalms 34:7-18 Many may think the promises contained in this passage are outdated.
How current are His promises to us? God never changes! Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. On the other hand He expects us to "work out our own salvation", Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. It is important that it is that way, so that the responsibility lies with us individually. How far was God willing to go for our hope? John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Still His promise is so strong as to give us His only begotten son, a promise paid for, for even 2,000 years later! Even for those gone astray.
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Yet a great way off, His father was looking for him with compassion. He still cares even though our life may have been "wasted." If we will come or return with a full surrendering, God is still willing to give us His best, with compassion! Are you tired of dealing alone with life's trials? Come and place your hope in God! Our only true hope!
