The deficiency of not believing God (Psalms 14)

”The fool said in his heart-There is no God-” The word fool refers to one who is morally deficient. He lives his life believing that there is no God, in other word he lives in denial. We would think that only refers to people who don’t really think there is a God, and that’s true, but it also refers to those who reject God’s sovereignty. We may believe God, we may serve God, but if we actually think God doesn’t know what we are doing or that He is not that close, if we actually refuse to see His sovereignty, we become corrupt.

If we don’t recognize God’s sovereignty, we end up living in a different world, with different values- We actually end up thinking we need to take matters into our own hands, life becomes bound by the decisions we make and the circumstances we face.

God looks down from heaven to see meaning His ongoing assessment of the human heart. The reality of the human heart is that we all turn away aside and become corrupt. The problem with not recognizing the sovereignty of God is not calling upon the Lord.

Let us remember that God knows all, sees all and He cares! He is the one in control, despite our fears and circumstances. He cares!

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My eyes are on You Lord (Psalms 13) August 24/2017

 1 How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

5 But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me. 
(Psalm 13, New King James Version)

David once again expressed a heartfelt prayer to God. He speaks as a son speaking to a Father, sharing deep emotional bond. David feels forgotten by God. Don’t we all at times?

But David doesn’t give up. he pleads with God to consider his situation and answer him. In other words, David was saying “God my eyes are on you, I need you to answer me”. David knew there was no hope apart from God.

Despite God not answering David right away David trusts Him “But I have trusted in your loving-kindness”. David praises the Lord with gratitude trusting what God had promised to do; to bring salvation and redemption.

Reflecting on who God is and His divine acts (Psalm 12) August 23/2017

The Psalmist finds himself reflecting on times of trouble and how God’s help is present.

David finds himself asking for deliverance. he knows his need for it. David doesn’t question whether God would bring deliverance, but when.

David knows God’s words are pure and His faithfulness to His promises is grounded in that. David knew that God’s deliverance establishes His kingdom. Because of that, we can find present comfort for the afflicted heart.

David pleads with the Lord because of the sin in the land, and God wasn’t having any of it. The godly is not the one who does what God requires, but the one who strives to do so with their whole heart. Our thoughts and our words proceed from our heart.

When we find that we come before God having a double heart, doing what God requires, but not sincere in our motives, it is time for repentance and deliverance. We must pray in the face of the scarcity of godly people. We must pray and ask the Lord for deliverance, for divine intervention.

Can Jesus resurrect you? (John 11) August 22/2017

This chapter is about a very familiar story. Lazarus is sick & dies. Jesus shows up deeply saddened by Lazarus’ death; then through the power of God, Jesus brings Lazarus back to life. The Jewish leaders of the day are upset.

But I want to focus on something else today. I want to talk about things in our lives that we might not believe God to bring them to life. Do we want Him to? Yes, absolutely! Do we believe Him to? I am reminded of a song written by Nicol Sponberg:

“I’m at a loss for words, there’s nothing to say
I sit in silence wondering what led me to this place
How did my heart become so lifeless and cold
Where did the passion go?

When all my efforts seem like chasing wind
I’ve used up all my strength and there’s nothing left to give
I’ve lost the feeling and I’m numb to the core
I can’t fake it anymore.

Here I am at the end I’m in need of resurrection
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead
What I’ve lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again

You speak and all creation falls to its knees
You raise Your hand and calm the waves of the raging sea
You have a way of turning winter to spring
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering

You have a way of turning winter to spring
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering”

Jesus not only has the power to resurrect, His claim “I am the resurrection and the life” makes Him the very source of resurrection and all life. Believing the truths about Christ cannot be distinguished from trusting the person of Christ. Martha’s confession “You are the Christ, the son of God” implies that He is my resurrection and eternal life.

 

Believe Jesus, Trust Jesus (John 10:22-42) August 21/2017

According to English stack exchange  ” Believe (verb) is defined as: accept that (something) is true, especially without proof: the superintendent believed Lancaster’s story. It is possible to believe someone but not trust them until they earn your trust fully, therefore trust is more of an act of reliance based on accepting something to be true.”

In this portion of John 10, Jesus finds himself surrounded by the Jewish leaders who wanted to know who He truly was. Jesus shows them that He had not hidden His true identity from them. The root problem was an unwillingness to believe.  Though the sign were evidence of Jesus being the Messiah, those leaders not only did not believe, they didn’t trust Him.

The truth of the matter, is that those rulers were not sincere in their quest for truth. Those who wanted to believe the Messiah were “sheep who hear His voice and follow Him”. The idea of   following really meant BELIEVE.

Belief and Trust are grounded in the degree of faith we have in someone.  You believe, meaning you accept Him as truth without proof, but you trust by relying on the one you believe.

Those Jewish leaders had no intentions to accept Jesus nor to rely on Him.

We tend to think that’s just them. But for us “Believers”, do we honestly believe? Do we trust Him? Maybe we just believe…. It is possible to believe someone is who they say they are, but you do not rely on them. Now, it is impossible to trust someone you don’t believe. Do you honestly believe Jesus is who He says He is??

According to Merriam-webster.com, Trust is the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something, while believe is to accept something or someone as true, real or possible. The keyword here is “Reliance”. You most likely rely on the things or people you trust not on the things you believe. Remember, The sheep that hear His voice are the sheep that believe.

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord (Psalms 07) August 18/2017

David declares his trust in the Lord in dangerous times. David had no doubt concerning God’s sovereign protection. David had a close personal relationship with the Lord. Nothing in his life was kept from the Lord, but rather he spoke to God as one speaks to a closer friend. Therefore, when he found himself surrounded by the wicked, it was natural for him to go to God, knowing that God would intercede on his behalf. David knew that God is a just judge, who is angry with the wicked.

David learned that victory from his enemies, no matter who they were, must come from God Himself. Apart from God, David was helpless before even the weakest of enemies.  Such was the case, David was not only willing to submit to God’s chastisement, he encouraged it. He knew he was better off in God’s hands.

David expresses his gratitude to the Lord and praises Him for whatever He chooses to do; no matter what it is, it’s always consistent with God’s perfect will and righteousness. He praises God for vindicating him and making him king.

Fully Admitting my spiritual depravity in order to find the mercy of God (Psalms 6) August 17/2017

Psalm 6 gives us one of those rare opportunities to steal away into the private life of David. We catch a glimpse of his manner of dealing with life when everything seems to fall apart at once.

David sincerely admitted his guilt before the Lord. He asked the Lord to be merciful and not deal with him in anger. David knew God looked at him as a father looks to a son. He does not make excuses for himself or even entertain thoughts of his own innocence. Rather, he humbly falls before God and says, Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak. His relationship with the Lord is such that he is sensitive to God’s working in his life.

David pleads for mercy in life, for there is no opportunity to mention the Lord in death. David’s spiritual depravity had physical consequences so that he felt it in his bones.

David separated himself from iniquity and was confident that God had heard his weeping and received his prayer.

God fulfills covenants in order to bless the righteous (Psalm 5) August 16/2017

David knew God’s faithfulness included the fulfilling of the Davidic covenant (God’s covenant with David). David knew that the righteous will be blessed as they continue their trust in God.

David always implored God to listen and to consider his meditation. David understood God! He understood that God does not look on man’s outward appearance, but He looks upon the heart.  David always focused on God’s holiness and His fatherly compassion.

David knew the only reason he could enter the Lord’s house and worship was because of God’s abundant lovingkindness. God does not take pleasure in wickedness, for no evil lives in God! The boastful do not stand before Him, for He hates all sin; He abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. With this knowledge David continued Psalm 5 with these words,

”But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;

In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;

Make Your way straight before my face.”

David was confident of the outcome of following the Lord. Those who take refuge in Him will be glad.. sing for joy. The Lord will bless the righteous and surround him with favor.

The challenge of trusting the Lord (Psalms 04) August 15/2017

Psalms 04 is a continuation of chapter 03. As painful as the process was for David, he continued longing for God to come and vindicate him. David repeatedly emphasizes his spiritual dependency on God. David not only trusted in who God is, but also in what He does- David constantly reminds himself of all God had already done for him in the past-.

David’s confidence that God alone could fully provide all that was necessary enabled him to rest. David knew God could sovereignly meet his needs. David trusted God to respond how and when He deemed best. David knew God alone is the source of all good.

“Let our hope rest in You, cause us to seek things from Above;

We’re dependent on Your grace, by it we shall see Your face,

By it we shall see Your face”. Isaac Watts

Pray to God today, that He will help you to remember to take all of your difficulties to Him. Then, go to sleep in peace, because they are now in the hands of God. This is the God we serve!

Declare your confidence in the Lord (Psalms 03) August 14/2017

Like the Psalmist, it is easy to loose heart as a Christian, especially when we look at our culture today. We seem to be overcome by the ungodly way of life that is so predominant all around us.

David found himself in one of the most difficult situations one can experience in life. His own son had marched into Jerusalem claiming the kingship for himself. Helpless to defend the city, David was forced to flee with his own faithful army.

David affirmed, nonetheless that God is his shield, the one who will protect him, and the One who lifts his head- that is, the one who will give him victory. By affirming that it was the Lord who sustains him, his mind was set at ease and he was able to sleep soundly.

David had many rich years of living with the Lord. He had been sought on all sides, and yet never had God failed him. Even now, David’s hope did not rest upon himself, or even the strength of his own army. His hope rested upon God, alone.

In spite of Absalom’s rebellion, David continued to hold on to God’s faithfulness and His promises  to provide salvation and deliver His people.