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How to Keep from Backsliding

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Psalm 26 & Jeremiah 3:1-11

As we navigate the slippery slopes of life we need the Lord, through David, to teach us how to keep from backsliding!   

Psalm 26 teaches us how to keep from backsliding.  Notice the opening lines of the Psalm “I have walked…I have trusted…I do not slide…”.  Now notice how the Psalm ends “My feet stand on level ground…”

In Psalm 25:21 David declares God’s integrity but in Psalm 26 David declares his own integrity.  Because God is characterized by integrity we as His people can also be characterized by integrity!  The way to victory over backsliding is to walk the pathway in integrity!  

Illustration: of ice storm in 1998 and walking home.  Illustration of falling back into sin…

1. Walk in Integrity in Verses 1 and 11

  1. The Prayer of Examination.  In verse 2, I am an open book seeking God to put me into the refiner’s fire and purify me…both mind and heart…
  2. The walk is characterized by focusing the eye of faith upon God’s commitment to us and the unfailing, unfaltering truth of His Word-Note: “Steadfast Love” in verse 3.
  3. Walking in God’s faithfulness and not our own-Verse 3
  4. The walk of integrity is characterized by NOT making plans to break God’s laws.  Moral Integrity.
  5. Walking closer and closer towards the Lord and further and further away from the parts of myself and anyone else who is not walking with God.
  6. it is a separation based, not on a sense of our being better than others but of not being good enough to survive in such company… “Many people have a very strong desire to meet celebrated or ‘important’ people, including those whom they disapprove.… But I am inclined to think a Christian would be wise to avoid, where he decently can, any meeting with people who are bullies, lascivious, cruel, dishonest, spiteful and so forth. Not because we are ‘too good’ for them. In a sense because we are not good enough. We are not good enough to cope with all the temptations, nor clever enough to cope with all the problems, which an evening spent in such society produces.”[1]
  7. Illustration:  A jet moving through the air…Forward Motion!
  8. Walking and washing of hands suggests seeking God’s forgiving grace and becoming pure so that I can take part in worship…which is suggested by the altar in Verse 6.
  9. The natural resultant outcome of all this is proclamation of who God is and what He is like in verse 7
  10. A Healthy Fear of God.  This point suggests brokenness.  We know that God is just and He will take away the lives of those who break His laws and harm innocent people in verse 9-10.  This portion is a plead with God for His justice to not swallow them up. NOTE:  There is a powerful contrast between “hands” in verses 10 and 6.
  11. Walking to God’s house and loving every minute of it. -Verse 8 

Conclusion:  We can be filled with integrity because God is filled with integrity.  The victory over backsliding is to walk, sit and stand with God and NOT the world around us.  This is the way in which we can stand on level ground whilst navigating the slippery slopes of life.

[1] Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 1–41: An Expositional Commentary (pp. 233–234). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

August 23rd, 2020 | Category: Sermons | Comments are closed

The Christian Life from A-Z

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Psalm 25

As we gather in God’s school-house called the local church, let us take the textbook of the Bible and learn from our Master-Teacher through king David concerning how to live In-Christ!

During our study of this great portion of God’s Word may we come to God seeking His teaching grace in our lives!  There are at least 4 major lessons to learn from our Master-Teacher in Psalm 25:

  1. The Lesson on Perseverance
    1. Shameless Trust. The first key to persevering in faith is found in the opening verses of the Psalm.
      1. Surrounded by Enemies. David mentions enemies in verse 2, 15 and 19.
      2. Sin-Consciousness. David speaks of his sin in verses 7, 11 and 18.
    2. Serious Concern
    3. Staggering Hope. The message of this great Psalm is that when we hope in God we will never be put to shame!  “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame,”- Verse 3
  2. The Lesson on Teach-ability
    1. Concerted Effort
    2. Companionship Encouraged
    3. Character Revealed. Here are at least 10 things David learned about the Character of God while enrolled in the School of Christian Living:
      1. God is faithful, because “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame” (v. 3).
      2. God is characterized by truth, because his paths are paths of truth (vv. 4– 5).
      3. God is his Savior (v. 5).
      4. God is merciful and loving and has been “from of old” (v. 6).
      5. God is good and upright (v. 8).
      6. Again, God is loving and faithful in all his ways (v. 10).
      7. God is forgiving (v. 11)
      8. God is open with his people and freely confides in them (v. 14).
      9. God is gracious (v. 16).
      10. God is powerful to rescue his people; therefore, he is one in whom they can take refuge (vv. 15, 20).
  3. The Lesson on Mercy and Justice
    1. Dilemma Answered.
    2. Deleted Memory.
  4. The Lesson on Receiving God’s Blessings
    1. Heart Attitudes. There are at least 4 attitudes of the heart that are necessary to receive the Blessings of the Lord—
      1. Humility
      2. Obedience (v. 10). 
      3. Reverence (vv. 12, 14).
      4. Expectation (v. 15). 

Conclusion:  As we learn from the Master regarding the way to live the Christian Life let us take up the final words of David; “Redeem me, O God, out of all my troubles”-Verse 22

August 16th, 2020 | Category: Sermons | Comments are closed

Song of the Ascended Warrior-King

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Psalm 24

Psalm 22 asks the question “why” and Psalm 24 asks the question “who”?  This 24th Psalm was written for the occasion when David returned to Jerusalem from battle with the Ark of the Covenant.  The Jews would carry the Ark out from the Tabernacle or Temple when they went off to war.  Numbers 10:33-36.  And when they came back from the Battle they would bring the Ark of the Covenant back to its proper resting place in Jerusalem.  Psalm 24 is the song which the Hebrews sang while the Ark was coming back into the Tabernacle/Temple.  Psalm 24 tells us something about what happens when the Lord and humanity cross each other’s paths.

The 24th Psalm asks the questions “who is the Lord of Glory?” and “who will stand?” when He comes.  Let us explore what the Bibles says will happen when the 2 worlds of the human and the Divine collide!   

  1. Who is this King of Glory? Verses 1-2 & 7-10
    1. He is the Creator of Creation-The earthly sphere is the direction in which the Lord is moving in this Psalm—and the Earth is the Lord’s because He created it.
    2. He is the Sustainer of Creation.  One Who brings order into chaos.  
    3. Illustration:  The Homeowner   
    4. Application:  Thus, the physical creation which the Creator has made is dependent upon His presence in order hold chaos at bay and continue to sustain order in our world.
    5. He is the True King
    6. He is the Lord of Hosts
    7. Interpretation:  The Lord has the power and presence to deliver His creation from all threats of chaos and He has the power grant salvation to those who seek Him.       
  2. Who may stand in the King’s Presence? Verses 3-6.
    1. A Striking Question:  The question above is really what does the coming of the Creator Warrior-King mean for mere mortals?  Does the coming of the Lord of Glory require any changes on the part of humans? —The answer is Yes!
    2. A Transformed Life.  When the Lord comes He will be looking for His people to be living their lives out according to the profession they make.  The phrase: “he who has clean hands and a pure heart who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”  All of this refers to the “moral purity” of God’s Law.  The 10 commandments.
    3. A Holy Nation.     
    4. Bearing the name of the Lord.  Exodus 20:7-“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.  This is all about how we bear the name of the Lord to the people around us.  We are the representatives of the Lord just like Israel.
  3. Application:  
    1. A Complete Obedience
    2. A Collision Course-Like a computer animated projection of an asteroid shooting towards Earth this great poem reveals an inevitable, inescapable conflict.
    3. A Conundrum
    4. A Cosmic Conflict-Like every good Clint Eastwood film, the Hero comes into town to face down the outlaws.  
    5. Christ as the King of Glory
    6. Uncompromising Holiness
    7. A Twist in the Plot-The N.T. tells us that when the Lord of Glory did come and He had all power, authority and sovereignty to take back what was rightfully His but instead of killing…He chose to be killed…“You who were once estranged and hostile in mind … he has now reconciled in the body of his flesh through death” (Col. 1:21–22)…But He has put death to death…“We have been buried with him by baptism into death … we have been united with him in a death like his, and we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Rom. 6:4–5).

Conclusion:  Who is this King of Glory?  Christ Jesus is this King of Glory!  Yet, He is not a Warrior-King in the way we think of.  He came to us meek and lowly—

have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 

  1. Who, being in very nature God,  did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 
  2. rather, he made himself nothing  by taking the very nature of a servant,  being made in human likeness. 
  3. And being found in appearance as a man,  he humbled himself  by becoming obedient to death—  even death on a cross! 
  4. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place  and gave him the name that is above every name, 
  5. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
  6. and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father.–Philippians 2:5-11 
August 9th, 2020 | Category: Sermons | Comments are closed

The Suffering Israelite

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Psalm 22

This Psalm comes to us as a prayer to God in a time of great suffering.  It is customary for us to comfort those who are afflicted and feeling forsaken by God by showing them all the passages that teach God would never leave them nor forsake them; and that is totally appropriate.  

But this Psalm does something shocking by showing us that its equally appropriate for people to ask the question of “My God, my God, why?”

Let us come to God’s Word for understanding concerning how our suffering and His sovereignty are complementary to each other!

Psalm 22 explores one of the darkest places to which a believer can descend down into.  A place so dark and despairing they beg God for the answer to the question of “why have you forsaken me?”

  1. The Reality of Human Suffering. Psalm 22 puts words to dark feelings of being abandoned by God…and validates those feelings…
    1. A Model Prayer for the Afflicted People of God.
      1. A Model Prayer when you feel overwhelmed, feeling like you are falling apart or staring in death’s face.  
        1. Illustration: Charles Haddon Spurgeon suffered from deep depression.
        2. Application:  If the “Prince of Preachers” Charles Haddon Spurgeon felt this way how much more you and I?
      2. A Model Prayer in the Midst of Persecution. Psalm 22:6-8 & 11-18 
      3. A Model Prayer when feeling forsaken by God. Psalm 22:1 DO NOT hide from feelings of being abandoned by God but rather OWN THOSE FEELINGS AND TELL IT LIKE IT IS.  This challenges the common Christian thinking that God is present in our suffering.  The Psalmist said God was not present with him…We must give people room to wrestle with God…
    2. A Mature Prayer.  We may think its immature to pray and ask God “why?”.  But the faith being put on display in Psalm 22 is the exact opposite.  This Psalm confesses 2 seemingly contradictory realities…The twin Realities of Human Frailty and God’s Sovereignty coalesce and form a powerful declaration that these 2 sets of facts are NOT at odds with one another but rather in the 22nd Psalm they “live in the same room” together.
  2. The Reality of Divine Sovereignty-Psalm 22:28-“The Kingship belongs to the Lord…”
    1. 4 Keys to Victorious Suffering in Psalm 22
      1. We must remind ourselves of God’s redemptive saving graces in the past! Psalm 22:3-5.
      2. We must remind ourselves of God’s involvement in bringing us to deliverance from the very moment of our births. Psalm 22:9-10
      3. We must urge God to change our circumstances and/or deliver us rather than leaving us as victims of persecution and injustice. -Psalm 22:19-21.
      4. We must believe our own petition.  Immediately begin to exercise faith that God will act on your behalf even before He brings about the answer to your prayers. 

Here is the question:  Is God present in our suffering?  And if so, why does He not intervene?

There are at least 3 guiding principles in helping us to answer this question:

  1. If we define the presence of God as deliverance from human suffering then absolutely not.  God was not present in the sense He removed Spurgeon from his ill fate.
  2. God could have rescued Christ, Spurgeon and David from their suffering but He chooses not to.  God did not make the world a place whereby He constantly intervenes to remove injustice and harm which human beings do unto one another.  Maybe we think God should have made the world that kind of place but He did not.
  3. Sometimes God does intervene but many, many other times He does not.

Here is the answer:  God chooses to do something that is far more staggering than remove us from suffering and evil…He chooses to suffer with us.

The key to how to suffer victoriously is found in learning to cling to God in the midst of the trial. 

There is a vast difference between “God, God why have you forsaken me?”  and “My God, my

God why?” the former is accusatory and the latter is relational.  The fact that Psalm 22 is in the

Psalter means God has made room in the Christian experience for believers to pray “Why?”

Here are 4 takeaways for our study of Psalm 22:  (SEE VERSES 19-31)

  1. The first 2/3rds of the Psalm acknowledges human feelings of hopelessness while the final 3rd acknowledges a faith so pure it’s as if deliverance has already occurred.
  2. Therefore, this Psalm encourages us to do 2 things:
    1. Do not deny the reality of what’s happening to us, and also; 
    2. Do not lose faith in what we know of God.  Grim facts about our circumstances are eclipsed by gloriously greater facts concerning God and His redemptive purposes.  The grimness of human suffering has the first word…the Glory of God has the final word.  
  3. The 22nd Psalm showcases the staggering reality that our facing 2 seemingly contradictory truths has the potential to bring worldwide implications for the glory of God manifesting to all nations.  When the unredeemed see the people of God facing these 2 realities triumphantly they cannot help but want to know Him for themselves.  Our victorious suffering has a global impact for God’s kingdom…this has been true for 3 millennia according to Psalm 22.  (SEE Psalm 22:26-31)
  4. Christ Jesus the Lord was able to face the 2 realities of His grim death but also of His glorious resurrection because He understood this concept: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”-Hebrews 12:2

Conclusion:

Perhaps the deepest darkness a Christian can ever feel this side of eternity is found in the opening phrase of Psalm 22.  In Christ, God can now fully grasp the utter despair His children feel when we ask Him “Why?”  In the 22nd Psalm we have a holistic understanding of Human Suffering and Divine Sovereignty put on display!

July 26th, 2020 | Category: Sermons | Comments are closed

The Shepherd Psalms

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Psalm 22

John 10:11- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  

Hebrews 13:20- “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant”

I Peter 5:4- “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

These are 3 key titles for the Lord Jesus given to us in the N.T—The Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd which correspond to the messages of Psalm 22, 23 and 24.  

Let us give praise to God as we rejoice in the Shepherd-hood of Christ in these Shepherd Psalms!

Psalm 22 gives a complete description of Christ’s suffering in 3 distinct portions.  Now when we usually speak of these things this is the normal order:

  1. Physical Suffering
  2. Mental Suffering
  3. Spiritual Suffering

But these are completely reversed in the 22nd Psalm:

  1. Spiritual Suffering-Psalm 22:1
  2. Mental Suffering-Psalm 22:6-7
  3. Physical Suffering-Psalm 22:15-16

Based upon this analysis we must be careful with any description of the Cross which does not center upon the spiritual sufferings of the Lord as being foundational to the rest.  

*How does Psalm 22:22-31 help us enter deeper into Christ’s death on the Cross? 

These verses describe the results of the Cross while the first 21 verses give the sufferings of Christ on the Cross.  The sufferings first then the results.

  1. Resurrection Deliverance.  
  2. Worldwide Blessing.  

The important truth about the Lord Jesus which is revealed through a comparison of Psalms 23 and John 10 is as follows:

Psalm 23 begins with “the Lord is my Shepherd” and John 10 records Jesus as saying “I am the

Shepherd”.  The truth here is the deity of Christ, that is to say Christ is God.  Christ claimed to be the Shepherd of the OT.  When He did this, he was automatically claiming to be the deity of the OT…Almighty God.

Specifically, how does Psalm 22 help you enter into the message of Psalm 23?

Psalm 22 helps describes the Cross of Christ and Psalm 23 describes the results of the Cross of Christ.  In other words, the 22nd Psalm is foundational and the 23rd Psalm is super-structural.  You cannot have the 23rd Psalm unless you have the 22nd Psalm.

Psalm 22:1- “…my God, my God, why have you forsaken me…”

Psalm 23:4- “…I will fear no evil: for you are with me…”   

“you have forsaken me…you are with me…” there is only one way I can say God is with me and it is predicated upon Christ saying thou hast forsaken me.  God forsook Christ so that He could be with me.

Psalm 22:1- “Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”

Psalm 23:2- “he leads me beside still waters.”

The only way I can have still waters in my life today is because of Christ’s roaring and groaning.   

4 times in the 22nd Psalm we read of wild animals which picture the enemies of Christ as He died on the Cross.  Verses 12, 13, 16 and 21.  In verse 12 we have bulls of Bashan mentioned.  

Then in Psalm 23:4- “your rod and your staff they comfort me.”

A shepherd uses their rod to protect the sheep from wild animals who seek to ravage and destroy.  The only reason we have the shepherd protecting us from ravenous animals is because He was devoured by the wild animals Himself in order to protect His Sheep. 

Conclusion:  No one has any right whatsoever to the 23rd Psalm except by way of the 22nd Psalm.  One of the most frightening things is when people try to claim the 23rd Psalm without the 22nd. The 23rd Psalm is cold and lifeless unless they first experienced the 22nd Psalm… Christ as their Suffering Substitute.

July 19th, 2020 | Category: Sermons | Comments are closed

Praise for the King Delivered

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Psalm 21

Psalm 20 is a prayer for the deliverance of the king and Psalm 21 is praise for the king delivered. One Bible teacher describes it thus “Psalm 20 is God Save the King and 21 is God Saved the King.”

Psalm 20 ends with the phrase “O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call!” and verse 1 of Psalm 21 states “O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices…” and then goes on to recount all the many answers to the prayer in Psalm 20.

Psalm 20:4 asked God to give David the desire of his heart. Psalm 21:2 says, “You have granted him the desire of his heart.”

Psalm 20:5 says, “May the LORD grant all your requests.” Psalm 21:2 answers, “You … have not withheld the request of his lips.”

Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” The twenty-first psalm declares, “the king trusts in the LORD.” Therefore, “he will not be shaken” (v. 7).

Let our hearts look to Psalms 20 and 21 as a perfect model for prayer and praise!

This 21st Psalm teaches us some great truths regarding the life of praise.

  1. Let our Praise be as Prominent as Prayer-Did you notice that this 21st Psalm’s praise for the victory won is longer than the prayer for the victory to be won? Psalm 21 is longer than Psalm 20. What this suggests is that we ought to praise God more for the victory afterwards than the prayer for victory beforehand.
  2. Let Proper Praise Permeate our Hearts-See Luke 17:11-19. There is a vast difference between being healed and praising God. God allows people to be healed everyday but the overwhelming majority of people are not thankful to God, they do not offer up praise to God. We must see ourselves as unworthy Samaritans and praise God for His healing graces in our lives.
  3. Let our Praise follow the Scriptural Model-There are at least 6 clear praises David gives God in Psalm 21.
    1. Victory through Gods Strength in Verse 1
    2. Answered Prayers in Verse 2
    3. Rich Blessings in Verse 3
    4. Length of Days in Verse 4
    5. Glory, Honor and Splendor in Verse 5
    6. God’s Presence in Verse 6

Praise and Prayer go hand in hand in the 20 and 21st Psalms. May we take note of the truths found herein and ask God to seal His truths upon the tablets of our hearts!

July 12th, 2020 | Category: Sermons | Comments are closed

Positive Co-dependency

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Psalm 20

The term “codependency” was first developed in Addiction Recovery work and is defined as:
“excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically one who requires support on account of an illness or addiction.”

Psalm 20 showcases a positive co-dependence between a king and his people. There is a 2-way relationship between the people of Israel and the people whom the king governed. In ancient Israel, the people were dependent upon David for his proper, God-centered relationship with them. Likewise, David is dependent upon the people that they will continue to support him as he seeks to lead the nation into the will of God. Now, in our day politicians who seek to live for God are rare. So, how does Psalm 20 apply in our day? We may not be dependent upon a king in Israel for our spiritual welfare but we do depend upon our spiritual leaders in a similar fashion.

May we learn how to effectively pray for our spiritual leaders as they lead us into all the Will of God for our lives!

In Psalm 20 we have the prayer of the people for their king and then David’s response to their prayer. Let us take note of several key truths concerning the relationship between king David and the people of ancient Israel in order that we may learn how to have a positive codependency between our spiritual leaders and the people they serve in our modern times!

  1. The People Pray for the King in Verses 1-5
    1. A Prayer of Responsibility-this is a reciprocal relationship. The destiny of David and the people of Israel are intertwined.
    2. A Prayer of Lordship: There is only one source of blessing and hope and it is in Yahweh the God of Israel.
    3. A Prayer for Consecration in verses 1-3: “day of trouble…the God of Jacob… may He remember all your offerings”.
    4. A Prayer for Fulfilled Plans in Verse 4. “May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans”. The people pray for David’s plans to be fulfilled. David needs to have desires for the people that honor God. *SEE Isaiah 30:1-7
  2. The King Responds in Faith in Verses 6-9
    1. Praise to God for Answering the Peoples Prayer. “Now I know…” David believes God will hear and answer the prayers of the people… before the victory is realized.
    2. Churches need to earnestly pray:
      1. As our spiritual leaders take on and are attacked by the forces of darkness. One main responsibility of the leader is to protect God’s people. -Verse 1
      2. For our spiritual leaders to be protected everywhere they go. -Verse 2
      3. For our spiritual leaders to have full assurance of their acceptance before God. -Verse 3
      4. For the plans of the leaders to be led by and fulfilled by God. -Verse 5
    3. Final Application: Believers have capacity and responsibility to bless one another.

This Psalm presents a 2-way blessing, the people bless the king and the king blesses the people. As believers in congregations we have the power and privilege to bless and be blessed by our leaders. May God give us hearts attuned to His song of praise in the 20th Psalm so we can effectively pray for our spiritual leaders!

July 5th, 2020 | Category: Sermons | Comments are closed
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