Month: August 2016

Posted on

No Evil Formed Against You

But thou, O LORD, art a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Psalm 3:4

Some days it’s hard to lift up our heads, isn’t it? The world seems to beat us up such that we feel we can’t go on – but we can! We can go on because the Lord is the one who lifts our head. He is the one who becomes our shield so that none of Satan’s flaming arrows hit their mark. The Lord does all this and more, but He doesn’t do it against our will; it remains for us to call upon the name of the Lord. And, the moment we do, all the powers of Heaven lift us up, shield us from the evil one and give us the glorious victory in Jesus.

In Psalm 3 we read how King David was having one of those days when he couldn’t go on. He was troubled by the amount of evil that was formed against him (vs.1-3. David’s own son, Absalom was trying to kill him). Yet, as he laments the attempts upon his soul, he is reminded he has a protector. David knows that God will defend him against all evil, because he trusts in God’s faithfulness. Notice in verse 6 how David didn’t let his fears paralyze him. He laid down and went to sleep knowing the Lord would be with him.

Although the Psalm was written by David, it is written prophetically of Jesus. We can hear Christ in his humanity crying out to the Father (vs. 5) in His most difficult moments, knowing the leaders of the people were seeking to kill him. In verse 9 we can hear His affirmation – “Salvation is of the Lord. And Your blessing is upon your people”.

What are you going through right now? Are these difficult times for you personally as you struggle to understand things that are happening to you or to those close to you? If so, read Psalm 3 as a prayer of confidence as you cry out to the Lord. He will hear you. He is the one who lifts your head. Then tonight, lay down your head on your pillow and know… no evil formed against you will stand.

Shalom,

Pastor Brad

image credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/8444318026524191/

 

Posted on

The Truth About Wisdom and Fear

 

Serve the LORD with fear, with trembling, kiss his feet, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2:11-12

Wisdom is highly valued in every society. But, what is wisdom really? Is it the accumulation of much knowledge? Perhaps in a sense it is. Or, is wisdom the ability to use common sense in everyday life? Some people are said to be wise in “street smarts”, or from the “school of hard knocks”, where they were educated in such common sense wisdom. Whatever wisdom is, it must have a beginning, a time when we really begin to learn. Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the beginning of wisdom is when we “fear” God.

Psalm 2 teaches us just why fear of God is where all wisdom begins. In the Psalm, the Lord (vs. 2) is God the Father, but the voice of the Psalm is Jesus, the Son who was begotten of the Father (vs. 7). The Father has given the world and all that is in it, kings and kingdoms, rulers and authorities, over to the Son as His inheritance. Fear of God will always lead us to love Him, because we will see how much He has loved us through the giving of His Son.

It seems there are many to fear in this world; criminals, terrorist, evil rulers. Yet, in all of these things there is really only One whom we must fear, One who is greater, One who rules with all wisdom and authority because the world is His and He made it:

“Thus you shall say to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens. It is He who made the earth by His power, Who established the world by His wisdom; And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.…” Jer. 10:11-12

So, how do we live in this world and not fear the, “terror that stalks by night, or the arrow that flies by day” (Ps 91)? By learning to develop a healthy fear of God our Father, which only comes as we grow in relationship to Him as He is revealed to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. And, by learning to know Jesus as the Good Shepherd how watches over His sheep (Jn 10). In verses 11-12 the Psalmist admonishes us to, “be instructed” and to “lay hold of His instruction”. If we fail to learn from Jesus we may, “perish from the righteous way” (vs. 12).

Do you have a healthy fear of God? Are you being instructed by Him as you walk through your everyday life? I hope so. Fearing God and learning from Him are the hallmarks of an intentional disciple of Jesus. Remember, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”, for they are truly wise.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Brad

image credit: http://aneshwithword4mgod.blogspot.com/2012/03/do-you-fear-him.html

Posted on

The Perfect Example

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:3

Humans are very impressionable. We all pattern our life after someone whether we want to admit it, or perhaps even realize it. The problem is we often pattern after the wrong persons. As Christians there is one life we should all pattern after – Jesus. It’s the calling of every Christian to pattern his or her life after Jesus Christ, not just in belief, but in practice. St. Paul puts it like this, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21).

When we claim the name “Christian”, what we are saying is that we are a “Little Christ”, that’s the actual definition of the word. I don’t know about you, but I often feel as though I fail to live up to that name. So, just what does it take to live up to the pattern of Christ?

The Psalms hold the answers to our questions when it comes to living a Christ like life. In Psalm 1, we read about a man who is blessed. The man is blessed because he lives in relationship with Lord God. He exhibits his life in three very important ways that each of us can and must strive to emulate, if we are to live as Christ.

First: The man lives in such a way as to not listen to the advice of the ungodly, and doesn’t join in to the ways of sinners (Vs. 1).

Second: The man is hungry for the truth of God (Vs. 2).

Third: By virtue of the first two, the man lives a steadfast, virtuous life (Vs. 3).

Who is that man? He is Jesus Christ, and he is you and me when we live our lives in faith, surrendered to His leading. He is the one in whom we can trust without reservation, the one who will never fail us or forsake us, the one who has promised to keep us from falling (Jude 24). He is our perfect example.

If we live for Jesus Christ, with Him, in Him, and through Him, we too are that blessed man.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Brad

image credit: http://bestofpicture.com/psalm-113.html