September 17 – Meeting Needs (Acts 4:32-37)
In
science, heat is naturally and reliably transferred from something that has a
lot of heat to something that has very little heat. It’s just how nature
works. If you put a cold pot of water
over a fire, the pot and water get hot. We use this principle in everything
from power plants to automobiles. In the church, since love is the operating
principle, there is a similar natural flow that we see in the early
church. In fact, the church of Jesus
Christ should always act like this. Many of those in the first century who
became believers also were in great financial need. And those who had resources naturally rose up
to meet that need – even at personal sacrifice and expense. What has changed in the church today? Perhaps a key to the impact that the church
should have in our world is how normal this kind of activity is in the body of
Christ!
Acts
4 – shared all things in common –
The
connection – v. 32-33
Shared
everything they had – didn’t claim it as their own – the apostles power in
testifying to the resurrection
The
Nuts and Bolts – v. 34-35
What
does this reflect? Couldn’t God have met
everyone’s needs without this love for one another – this connection? Why would God choose to meet our needs (even
financial ones) through one another?
Great
theory – how eager and ready are we to do this?
What would be a big enough signal that it was time to sell something for
the sake of another’s need?
Barnabas
– v. 36-37
A
Levite – transformed into a Christ follower
Called
“son of encouragement’ – his influence went far beyond his time – not a speaker
or an evangelist – just someone who gave and encouraged!
Influence
on Paul ch 9:26-27 – the connection between Paul and the apostles is made by
Barnabas – also accompanied him on his first missionary journey
QUESTION:
Is God asking us to see our possessions and money like this? If so, what would He be calling us to do this
month / year? What stops us from having
the kind of impact that Barnabas had?
September 24 – Provoke Each Other (Hebrews 10:19-25)
If you had siblings growing
up, you probably know the meaning of the word “provoked”. It often carries a
very negative feeling of irritating someone into doing something they shouldn’t
do. However, the Bible tells us that
Christians should naturally be provoking one another – but not in a bad
way. We’re going to look at this passage
in Hebrews and see part of the reason we should faithfully be in church – and
connected deeply to the body of Christ. Perhaps what we each needs is some of
this God ordained ‘provoking’.
Hebrews
10 – provoke to good works, encourage, exhort, remind of hope
Let
us – draw near to God
Let
us – hold unswervingly to hope
Let
us – spur one another on to love and good works
Let
us – not give up meeting together
To
forsake – to cast aside or treat as less than important or valuable
What
do we lose when we give up meeting together?
We
decide that this is OPTIONAL instead of VITAL – and we act accordingly
QUESTION: How close are you to God today? How strong is your grip on hope? Have you grown this year in love and good
deeds? Each of these fundamental
Christian callings is tied to regularly being at church!
October 1 – Wise Connections (Proverbs12:18,
25, 15, 26) - COMMUNION
Your
mobile phone most likely keeps you constantly aware of the need for a good
connection. Having signal so that you
can text or call is a basic necessity.
Of course, now we’re also dependent on a data connection to keep up to
date on all that’s happening on social media and in the world. The quality of your connection has everything
to do with how well your phone works.
Likewise, people need quality connections. Many times, people don’t see the correlation
between the people they choose to be around (or the ones they don’t choose to
be around) and the experience of their life.
As we talk about how important church is in your life, we’re going to
take a look in Proverbs and see the way that wise connections can make all the
difference in your life!
Proverbs
– the benefit of being connected to one another – a book full of descriptions
of the impact we can and should have on one another
There
is power for the biggest issues you’ll face in life in connection with the
right people
Intro – many reasons to be
deliberate in who you hang around with – those we invite to our inner circle
and embrace as close friends have an impact on the direction and feel of my
life – as well as the destination at which I will arrive
Negative connections – to be
rejected – 1:10-17 – hanging around the wrong people brings destruction
Benefits… reasons (Proverbs
12)
1. Wounds v. 18 the tongue of the wise brings healing
Your choice – you can be
wounded by those you hang around – pierced like swords
Or – shockingly – you can
find healing in words
The difference is the person
you’re listening to – the reckless or the wise
Who do you give ear to?
2. Worry v 25 – Anxiety
weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up
3. Wisdom
12:15 – the way of a fool
seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice,
v. 26 – The righteous choose
their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray
13:20 – Walk with the wise
and become wise
Where do we find the wise (so
we can hang around them) – the wise are those who receive instruction!
Calling
11:25 –a generous person will
prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed
Culture vs God – Who’s Right About Sex?
It seems that today, more so
than any time we can remember, sexual issues are being reshaped from
traditional ideas. In some sense, a
fresh look is always good. However, as
Christians, we need to be sure we actually know what our Creator has to say
about these topics. We probably hear
vastly more argument and logic from our culture than we search out from what
God has said on the topic. Since these
are really important topics, let’s take the next few weeks and look at what we
can find in the Bible to address today’s sexual controversies.
October 8 - Foundations (Romans 5:12;
7:25; Psalm 145:17; James 1:12-17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)
Where should we start on our
discussion about how a Christian should think and act sexually in our world
today? Let’s start at the beginning and
touch on a few foundational truths. Without these, we have no footing in
today’s swirling obsession with sex and sexuality. It is vital that we have a good grip on these
concepts and that we are able to express them simply and clearly whenever we
need to talk about right and wrong from a believer’s perspective. Do you know that a heterosexual is no more
prone to do the right thing than a homosexual?
This comes from a very basic understanding of Scripture and our
spiritual condition. But so often we
don’t grasp this reality. And do you
firmly and unshakably believe in the goodness and right-ness of God? How about your understanding of love? We’re going to address all of these topics as
we dive into the deep end on the cultural wars all around us.
Some may be able to do much
more with this than I can – but I’m inviting us to think this through
WHY should we live by the
Biblical standard of sexual morality?
Love compels us – much is at
stake – much is guessing
Much harm has been done to
people by the church in this area – in the name of love
Those of you here today who
are same sex attracted or transsexual, we want this to be a safe place for you
You are a human being first,
and Jesus died for you – you can (and many of you have) receive Him and have
eternal life
But all of us are called to
follow Jesus – wherever that leads
I want to present this as a way for US to know what WE should do about our
lives
Someone who is not a believer
– this isn’t really for you – you need to know Jesus!
Getting this stuff right
won’t save you – and messing it up won’t condemn you – where you stand with
Jesus’ sacrifice for your sin is what determines that
1. The Background (Romans 5:12; 7:25)
Fallen / consequences – all
of our humanity struggles with the fallen nature of this world and our human
nature
Our sexual makeup reflects
this too –
Great gift – lousy god
What’s at stake – much more
than sexual pleasure or even self-image or gender identity
2. Our Guide (Psalm 145:17; James 1:12-17)
Christians live believing
that God knows the right way (Psalm 145:17)
And that the wrong way has
deadly consequences James 1
That puts us out of step with
many
We don’t try to FORCE others
to follow God… .but we are passionate about inviting them to give their lives
to Jesus (1 Corinthans 1:18) it is foolishness to ask them to see when they are
blind – and engaging in the ‘world’s wisdom’ is a losing cause
AND we don’t try to make a
‘measure up’ culture – people in process can belong here!
However, for all those
interested in following Jesus, we want to make it clear what He says and call
each of us to follow it
We see by faith – we trust in the Creator
That doesn’t mean there isn’t
plain logical sense to what we believe on sexual issues
This is how Christians see
the world and their mission
3. What is love? (1
Corinthians 13:4-8a)
Love is love – love whoever
you want
God
is love – whoever loves is born of God and knows God
SO
just do whatever is loving
Love is NOT sex – sexuality,
sexual expression, sexual identity
Love
and sex are so often connected that we almost assume they are one and the same
Love is NOT compatible with
PRIDE – all the movements to marching for pride or power inequality are not
going to produce love!
But what is loving? By its very nature it is selfless, patient,
devoted, exclusive and enduring (1 Cor 13)
How does that compare with
what
What
is love – 1 Cor 13 –
By
definition self-denying, exclusive, and faithful
Some key elements – love can
surrender self-interest, love can be gentle with others, love can wait, love
looks for the good of others
OF COURSE! But how often does the discussion today about
sexual issues revolve around standing up for your rights? Doing what makes you happy?
And how much of our culture
trains people to believe that the most passionate love is the one that isn’t
grounded in exclusive – porn, affairs, swinging
And isn’t grounded in self-control
– sleeping together while dating, living together unmarried
Or self-denial
We almost believe that if we
don’t have a sexual or romantic love, we’re destined to live less of a life!
Yet many have been called to
this – including both Jesus and the Apostle Paul!
PURE
and
Think
about the discussion we see all around us in the world today – music, movies,
etc…. how does it compare with self-denying, exclusive, and self controlled?
Porn
teaches us and PROGRAMS us to sexuality for self-fulfillment – using others for
our own sexual gratification
There
isn’t an isolation barrier or some kind of mode switch between this behavior
and interaction with a spouse (Present or future)
The
love God has given in romance, marriage, and sexuality is BEST when it is
exclusive
Everything
about porn destroys trust, intimacy, selflessness, and healthy connection
QUESTION: Do you understand
that the real issue in every one of us is that we are all fallen and our flesh
will always twist God’s gifts? Are you
willing to live by faith, trusting God to tell you what is right and what is
not – even if that means your natural desires will be unfulfilled? Will you let God teach you what true love is?
October 15 – Follow Your Heart (1 Thess. 4:3-8; Psalm
101:3; Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:3; Hebrews 11:6)
What is the key to a happy
and satisfying life? Some might answer health or money or success, but most
people will express some version of the same concept: follow your heart. What we mean when we say that is that our
desires are there to guide us and bring us to happiness. And to our human mind, this makes sense. Unfulfilled desires often make us miserable,
so fulfilled desires must be the key to happiness. So if you want a happy and satisfying life,
look to your desires and do all you can to get what you want. Unfortunately, this is a devastating and
deadly lie. And it drives much of the
damage done in sexual behavior. We are
told to trust our desires, which James tells us will not end well. As believers, are we aware of the lies that
barrage us from within and without on this topic?
1. Living in Lust (1
Thessalonians 4:3-8)
The world around us lives by
lust
The way to happiness is to
pursue and get what you want – no one should be able to tell you what you
should do, you deserve the freedom to do whatever makes you happy
EXCEPT – murder, stealing,
pedophilia…. Etc
The lie is obvious and common
sense, yet it has been used as an absolute
In part because these issues
are now falling into the category of morally neutral instead of right and wrong
– because our culture rejects God and the Bible as authoritative and
trustworthy
That is why we CANNOT and
WILL NOT ultimately live like they do or agree with their conclusions
We are NOT to live by lust –
but to live pure
Rejection of this is not a
matter of ‘agreeing to disagree’ – we are rejecting the Spirit of Almighty God
2. The Lust-driven Life (Psalm 101:3; Matthew 5:27-28; 1
Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:3)
What does a lust-driven life
engage?
Whatever you want –
Porn, extramarital
relationships
Living
By Lust (A Case for a Biblical Sexual Ethic)
Not
WORSE sins – all of them are acts that reject God’s call and way – but
certainly included in what is wrong!
A. Porn
I
will set no wicked thing before my eyes Psalm 101:3
Whoever
looks on a woman to lust Matthew 5:27-28
The
availability of free and anonymous pornography is overwhelming
Estimates
have 80% of men and 25 to 33% of women addicted to porn – destroying their
souls, their relationships, and their lives
Is
it cheating? What does Jesus say?
Do
we overlook tv shows and movies that have content we shouldn’t be looking
at? Is it OK for a Christian to live
this way?
B. Immorality
1
Corinthians 6
Affairs,
unfaithfulness, sex outside marriage
Aduterly
- Engaging in betraying conduct emotionally or relationally – romantic
expressions or interest (with or without actions) outside your marriage
Christians
are called to live morally pure – resisting and actively engaged in the battle
against lust and immorality
It
means setting boundaries – acknowledging the pathways that get us in trouble
It
means putting sin to death (Colossians 3)
Ephesians
5:3
We
shouldn’t LOOK like we’re engaging in immorality
We
should be wise about the ‘opportunity’ we give our flesh (Romans 16)
3. Something Killed by This Deception (Hebrews
11:6)
Key
element of any relationship – trust
Hebrews
11:6 – without faith it is impossible to please God – whoever comes to God must
believe – it is the foundational element of our relationship with God (Trust =
faith)
And
therefore it is the foundational element of relationships
Immorality
– if you can’t control yourself now….
Trust
is built by being trustworthy in the face of options to be otherwise
The
most overlooked opportunity for that today is being able to control your desire
sexually (and deny gratification of it) in dating
That
has real consequences in marriage
QUESTION:
As a Christian, where does your life and thinking stand in comparison with
God’s instruction? If you are going to
be serious about following Jesus, what needs to change in this area?
October 22 – A Wandering World (Ephesians 4:15;
Philippians 2:3-4; Matthew 15:13-20; Deuteronomy 22:5; Psalm 139:13-16; Genesis
1:27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 1:24-27; Leviticus 18:21-23)
Advertisers believe that if
they show you something often enough, and sing its praises loud enough,
eventually you’ll believe what they are telling you and want what they are
selling. When you look at that concept
on paper, it seems so harsh and insulting.
And yet data shows it to largely be true. We like what we are familiar with and are
predisposed to believe what we hear often, as long as it makes some kind of
sense to us. Our world is having a
similar effect on us as Christians as they hammer home their ideas and thinking
on sexuality. It is understandable that
their ideas and arguments will ring true to us since we are human just like
they are. However, it is vital that we
walk by faith and not by sight. So,
we’re going to look into some of the passages in Scripture that teach on
sexuality – specifically in the areas of LGBT stuff. Come and see for yourself what the Bible has
to say about these current issues and decide for yourself what a Christ
follower should do in these areas.
We’re going to talk about the
political issues on sexuality that have played out over the past decade –
homosexuality and transgenders
We are not here to condemn
anyone – to stand in the place of judge
But we are here to be honest
about what we’re taught – about our Creator’s design and intention – and about
the fact that ultimately, we all answer to our Creator
1. Our Approach
Ephesians 4:15 - Speak the
truth in love… have we thought about what this actually means in this
discussion and debate?
Philippians 2:3-4 – seeking
the best for others, considering them above myself… who would be the target for
our consideration and our honor in this?
Love is kind, gentle, not
forcing itself on others…. 1 Cor 13!
We don’t need to FORCE anyone
else to act like God directs or to accept His instructions – its why I’m not
put off by the changes in laws
Matthew 15:13-20 – blind
leaders of the blind – it is a heart issue
I don’t expect a child to
understand the ins and outs of a mortgage payment or have the capacity to drive
– it is beyond their current ability
I am enlightened by the
surveys that reflect the change in opinion on these matters – people are being
persuaded – but I think without any real case made for the traditional ideas
While we live in a fallen
world – created / DESIGN is clear
Those who identify as LGBT –
while they are invited into a relationship with God – and may truly have one –
there are some realities
First, if you read what is
written by Paul and by Moses and by others, it is really hard to stamp God’s
approval on same sex ACTIONS as well as gender identity transition
Second, those who take our
best scientific and psychological advice almost universally wind up – in
relationship to connection with God - feeling on the outside looking in
Third, this may be your
situation – your makeup – your bent – but all of us are called to TRUST God
more than our understanding or feelings – all of us
While it may seem like more
is at stake for an LGBT person (and this may actually be true) in human terms,
we all are in the same boat spiritually with the same answers
Worryer isn’t hurting anyone
– convinced it is an expression of love – but really missing out
By NATURE / BIRTH /
PERSONALITY – but there’s a better way
2. Gender Identity (Deuteronomy 22:5; Psalm 139:13-16; Genesis
1:27)
How should a Christian
approach this – what advice should we give?
Transexuals – if the gender
of your birth does not feel right to the core of your being, you are invited to
a choice between what you believe is your identity and the one assigned to you
at birth by God
Psalm 139, Genesis 1,
Deuteronomy 22:5
3. Same Sex Attraction (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 1:24-27;
Leviticus 18:21-23)
How does a Christian deal
with these feelings? How do we treat
those who live in this manner?
Homosexual – the choice you
have is between the one (or the gender) you’re attracted to and God
1 Corinthians 6 – it’s a long
list, and one is not better or worse than the other, but it is definitely and
specifically included here
Today’s arguments that this
is a power relationship don’t actually line up with history or language – and
strike me as an attempt to make the text say what we want it to say to fix our
tension
But this is not the only
place - Romans 1:24-27 – hard to argue the words here!
Leviticus 18:21-23 – look at
the types of sexual behavior listed…. Same morally as eating shellfish?
Incest, child sacrifice,
beastiality
Why would God do this to
me? Fallen world does this to us – and God
uses it to call us to meaningful trust in Him
Does God use personal
sacrifice and pain for good? (the cross)
Would God use something like
this to make the path of faith so clearly separated from the path of flesh?
QUESTION: Is my approach to
these topics twisted in any way, or does it genuinely reflect Jesus? What will
be my authority on these matters? How
should I respond to those who are facing hard decisions on these sexual
matters?
10/29 – A Drought-Proof Life (Psalm 1)
You probably take water for
granted. Whether it is drinking water,
cool and clean, or water for washing, or water for some other purpose, most of
us have had very little experience where water was scarce. That is not the case around the world today,
and it is very unusual historically.
Most of the people who have lived understood the life-threatening danger
of a water shortage. As we begin Psalms,
we read about a life that is well-watered and able to withstand the
drought. Try to put yourself in the
mindset of the first ones to read this (or sing it) and the many billions of
people who understood from first-hand experience how much of a privilege it
would be to have plenty of water. We’ll see how the writer uses this picture to
teach us about a life that can stand up to the heat and weather that each of us
face in this life… and a soul that can stand before the Creator when this life
is over.
1. Life Choices (v. 1)
Not walking, standing, or
sitting
Progressive entropy
Why would someone choose to
turn away from these?
Why would someone even
recognize them
2. Deep Roots (v. 2-3)
The law of the Lord =
Scripture – what God has given us over time through prophets
Meditate in it day and night
– WHY? Seems like a lot of energy and
time focused on this
Result – v. 3 – planted =
roots
River of water – in context,
God’s way through God’s words – meditating is like gathering refreshing water
through the roots of a tree by the river
Leaf doesn’t wither – heat
comes, but the tree is still green and strong
The environment above ground
does not determine this tree’s health – the situation below ground at the root
level trumps the surface conditions
3. Blown Away (v. 4-5)
Chaff – blown away –
lightweight and ungrounded – no defense and no strength
Wicked – in the day of
judgment – WON’T STAND
Those in ‘sin’ won’t stand
with the ‘righteous
The Lord sees – no defense,
no case
Destruction – that is why v.
1
QUESTION: Is your life
drought-proof? Have the times of heat
and hardship blown you around or are you still well-watered? Would you decide
today to embrace the opportunity given in this song – embrace the truth, deal
with your sin, and have the Lord watch over your way!
11/5- Family or Foe? (Psalm 2)
If you ever find yourself
watching a mystery show on TV, whether it is a recounting of something that
actually happened or a fictional story meant to entertain, you’ll find that the
suspects are generally those closest to the victim. Of course, this is a betrayal of the greatest
magnitude, since family is supposed to be loyal and dependably protective of
one another. But David writes this song to draw a distinction between the roles
of family or enemy. He begins by marveling at the powerful people in the world
who think they can oppose God. Then he
talks about his own relationship with the Lord, using terms that speak of
family and affection. The song ends with
David making a recommendation to everyone to choose to see God in His rightful
place of power and authority. Which side
of this song describes you? Let’s
embrace the wisdom of the choice David calls us to in this song!
1. Enemies of God (v. 1-6)
2. My Son (v. 7-9)
3. Your Choice (v. 10-12)
QUESTION: Are you fighting
the hopeless battle of opposing God somewhere in your life? Do you recognize the amazing privilege of
being called God’s child? Do we have the
respect for the Lord that He deserves?
11/12 - What’s Next For Hope? (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
Our church is growing and God
is doing incredible things in our people. As we head towards Thanksgiving, it
is very appropriate to let our hearts be filled with wonder and gratitude. But it brings up some natural questions among
our church family. Maybe one question
serves as a good summary: What’s next for Hope?
We’re going to take this morning and talk about God’s direction for our
growth. Not everything is clear and
certain (the plan of God rarely affords us this luxury). However, there are some elements of our
mission and some aspects of God’s direction for our future that we can
share. Don’t miss this morning if you
are a part of Hope as we talk about where we will be directing our energies as
God continues to add to Hope!
Ambassadors – making His
appeal
Message of reconciliation
What makes me go after this
everyday? People… seeing restoration and
transformation by the power of the Spirit
I deeply believe what Paul
wrote – and I want to do what I can do to be a minister of reconciliation
between people and God
Mission – everyone we can –
are there more? Assume there is….
Any healthy church grows –
any healthy Christian shares
More people with hurts? Broken? In need of God’s redeeming work?
First steps – small groups
rock
Streaming and posting of
video from Wed and Sunday – if you have to choose between small group and Wed
night, we’ll stream Wed nights and you can watch it live or later
It does us no good to gather
if we don’t grow – if all we are is a show or a big crowd, we don’t see the
kind of reconciliation that Jesus offers on the scale that represents God’s
power and love
Growth options – build / buy
something bigger….
2 issues that seem out of
step with US – first is feel…. Walking in and not being able to know most
people is de-energizing for us – smaller works better – 1000+ in one room works
for many people, but probably not for us
Second is money – investing
millions of dollars into a building seems like a lot of money to spend unless
we’re sure that’s what God has
Better ways to spend money to
reach more people – do the most with what we have
More services here…. Need
assistant pastor or something akin
Potential for 3rd
service if we can reasonably manage the workload
A group of people feel a
burden to bring Hope to a new town – maybe we rent a space, maybe a small empty
church or a struggling church will be an open door to a building…
The plant / multisite option
Looking for God to move in
our people to reach a town… community
Maybe one, maybe several
Some technology stuff to
figure out – start streaming and posting videos
Some staffing needed – tech
person, and assistant pastor
In the 3-5 year range we’re
looking for who believes in sharing Jesus to their core and recognizes the call
of God on them to step out and reach more
This can’t be about US – has
to be about mission and cause – calling and eternity
11/19 – Praise Service
Each year we kick off
Thanksgiving week by extending our time in music and by opening up the service
to those who would like to give thanks.
It is hard to explain how great of a blessing this service will be, but
to those who have attended before, no explanation is needed. Come with a heavy heart or a heart full of
joy. Come if you feel thankful or if you
don’t. And then listen to what God is
doing and can do in our lives. Be
encouraged that His plan is still unfolding in you and around you, and let God
use our church family to speak to your heart in our service today!
11/26 – Safe Under Attack (Psalm 3)
COMMUNION
The hurricanes that swept
through our country this year were devastating and powerful storms. It is hard to imagine the amount of damage
that was done, or the overwhelming cost to clean it up. But what seemed ever-present were the calls
from government officials for people in danger zones to take refuge. Of course we know that nothing can stop a
storm of this size from going where it wants and doing tremendous damage. However, in the midst of those storms, there
were strong buildings in strategic locations that protected the lives of
people. This idea of protection from a
storm is a common theme in music, and David writes about it from his own life
in this Psalm. He knew how it felt to be
in danger and to face the threats of others.
His song is one of the many times he writes about how he responds to these
moments in life.
1. People Talking (v. 1-2)
Their voices are many and
their message is to discourage or deflate
2. My Shield (v. 3-6)
You are a shield around me
My glory
The one who lifts my head
high
I call and He answers me
I sleep, I wake, the Lord
sustains me
I WILL NOT FEAR though tens
of thousands assail me on every side
3. Calling to the Lord (v. 7-8)
Arise, deliver
Strike their jaw, break their
teeth
From the Lord comes
deliverance – essential to the peace and safety of soul described in this song…
this convinced belief
QUESTION: When people tell
you that God won’t help you or save you, does it feel true? Do you have this
discussion with yourself about God being your shield and not living in
fear? What is your hope for deliverance?
12/3 – An Unanswered Prayer (Psalm 4)
Have you ever felt like you
prayed for something over and over, but God just didn’t answer? All of us
understand that we may have to wait a little for God to address our situation,
but there are times when it feels like He just hasn’t heard at all. In those moments, we have to figure out what
we’re going to believe and how we’re going to respond. This song from David is about that very spot
in life. David cries out to God for an
answer. It is as though he has been asking
about something over and over, but God has not answered. How does David process this and what does
this song teach us about a situation like this?
1. I Need An Answer (v. 1-2)
Seems that this has been a
prayer for a while – and no answer has come
Relief from my distress
Mercy on me – HEAR my prayer
Possible that v. 2 is David’s
original complaint – people aren’t taking God seriously – they are turning to
worship other gods
Ultimately, the content of
David’s request isn’t as important to us today as David’s way of dealing with
God’s lack of answer
2. What Do You Believe? (v. 3-5)
Know
The Lord has set apart His
faithful servant for himself – I am the Lords, even when He doesn’t answer
The Lord hears – v. 1, please
hear me… now, I know he hears me
Do not sin – still worthwhile
to obey – do right, and stop doing wrong – listen to Him, even when it feels
like He isn’t listening to us
Offer sacrifices – still
worth sacrificing, honoring, worshipping God
Trust in the Lord – what do I
believe?
3. I Know You’ll Answer (v. 6-8)
Who will bring us prosperity
– who will meet our needs – we have lack now, we need supplies now, but God
isn’t answering
David’s answer…. God loves us
and is just about to let the light of His face shine on us
WHEN their grain and new wine abound, I will be filled with joy – it’s coming,
and I’m already envisioning the answer that seems like it will never come
I will be at peace – I will
sleep
You make me live in safety –
you alone
QUESTION: Are there prayers
in your life that seem unanswered? Do
you believe that God still hears, that He still holds you, that it’s still
worth living for Him? Can we put our
faith in Him even when He hasn’t answered yet?
12/10 - Cantata
12/17 – Kids Program
12/24 – Christmas Eve Service
