The Lord Is My Provision and Strength

All right. Good morning. It's good to see everybody. You guys want to go ahead and stand with me, and we'll pray, and we'll get started.

Father God, we thank you for the day. God, just thank you for who you are and how much you love us, Lord. Thank you for all that you've done for us, Lord, and all the ways you provide for us, Lord, and just take care of us, Lord. And God, just help us to have an attitude of thanks, thanks, thankfulness, Lord. Father God, we just ask that you bless this time, Lord. Help us to

position our hearts rightly, Lord, and just lift a joyful noise to you this morning. And God, just may you bless this time, and may your word go out with power, Lord. We just ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. You guys can go ahead and have a seat if you like, and we'll continue on. Amen, Lord. One day in your quarter is better than a thousand elsewhere, Lord God. Lord, we praise you this

morning.

A path for the Lord, Jesus is coming soon. At the center, wake up the saint. Let every nation shout of your fame. Jesus is coming soon. Ready for you, every heart long you sing. Even souls is coming. Yes, Lord God, we just wait anxiously and patiently. Lord God, we know that you're coming again, and you're coming soon, Lord.

You answered prayers back then, and you will answer now. You are the same God. You are the same God. Power then, God, you are the same God. You touched the lepers then, I feel your touch right now. You are the same God.

Father God, God, we need you so much. We need you so much. We need you so much. We need you so much. We need you so much, Lord, more than we realize. God, every hour, we need you. Every day, we need you, Lord. God, forgive us if we've tried to make it on our own, Lord. God, when in reality, Lord, it's you that gets us up each and every day, Lord. It's you that gives us our next breath, Lord.

It's you that strengthens us. Lord, we need you. Every hour, we need you. Father God, I just pray that as Robbie comes, this morning, Lord, God, that you would just speak mightily through him, Lord. Use him in big ways, Lord, and just speak mightily to our hearts this morning, God. We love you. We praise you, God, and we thank you. All God's people said, amen. Amen. Would you guys go ahead and have some

fellowship? All right. If you guys want to go ahead and locate your seats, we'll do some announcements here, and then we'll get into our responsive reading here. So as far as announcements go, I think everything is happening this week like normal. December 3rd, there's a women's conference at Calvary Chapel in Wellington. The sign-up is in the lobby. It's from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Reminder, Prophecy Study is this week. It's Thursday at 7 in the Agape room here. And then lastly, I wanted to throw up a picture of the Operation Christmas Child Group. That's them down in Dallas. So they said that they are with us in spirit. But it looks like they're having a good time there, and God bless their work there. Glennie D., you want to come on up, and we'll do our responsive reading.

Today, we're going to be in Psalm 32, and we're going to use the New American Standard. So if you don't have one, there's one in there in your row. I'll read the evens. If you want to read the odds, Psalm 32. A Psalm of David, a Mass... How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me. My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to you, Lord, and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely, in a flood of great waters, they will not reach him.

You are my hiding place. You preserve me from trouble. You surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go. I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle, to hold them in check. Otherwise, they will not come near to you.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, loving kindness shall surround him. Read verse 11 with me. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, you righteous ones, and shout for joy, all you who are upright and hard. And Father God, we thank you for your word, God, and how sharp and powerful it is, Lord. Forgive us for our sin and our transgression, Lord.

God, if there is anything in our hearts. Lord, that is not of you, Lord. Help us just to confess it to you, Lord, and just allow you to work in our lives, Father. God, we just ask that you would be with Brother Robbie as he comes this morning, Lord, and just brings the word. We pray that you would speak mightily through him, Lord. Father God, and just bless him, and bless the word as it goes out.

In Jesus' name, amen.

God bless you. Good morning, y'all. Boy, that Psalm 32 is a heavy-duty psalm. Heavy duty. David understood, you see. Well, I may talk about that a little bit later. I don't want to start preaching on another psalm when I'm getting ready to do this one.

Would you turn in your Bibles to Psalm 27 this morning?

I'm going to focus on the light so that I don't all of a sudden start turning around this round table. Going this way and that way.

Psalm 27.

Shall we pray? Father, we thank you for this opportunity. We thank you for this opportunity to be in your word together. Father, would you impart your spirit of wisdom to us this morning in the revelation of the knowledge of you?

Open the eyes of our understanding, Lord, that we see clearly that which you have for us this morning. That we would allow you to cause us to be sensitive to the leading of your Holy Spirit. Would you fill us afresh this morning? We thank you for your word, Lord.

Would you do your work in our hearts, Lord, this morning? We praise you. We thank you. In Jesus' name, amen. Let's go ahead and I'm going to read this psalm. Now, just hang in there with me. I'm King Jimmy-ing it today. As Josh McDowell used to call it, the King Jimmy version. But hang in. You've got your... It'll be a good way for you to see, you know, the little changes.

But this particular time, this is what I'm doing. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. The war should rise against me.

In this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion. In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me. He shall set me upon a rock, and now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies, round

about me. Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my heart. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my heart. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my heart. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my heart. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my heart. Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

When thou saidst, seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me. Put not thy servant away in anger. That has been my help. Leave me. not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies. Deliver me, not over unto the will of mine enemies.

For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And then verse 14, wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. Amen? The book of Psalms, it's wonderful. It's really a wonderful songbook. There have been many songs, even in the day and age in which we're living, that

have been put to music. It was the hymn book of the Israelites. And it's interesting to think as we read those songs. They sang those psalms. The interesting thing about, do you know what I understand to be the actual center verse of our Bible is Psalm 118.8. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. Amen? Isn't that the truth? Yes. One sees a wide gamut of emotions when you're going through the book of Psalms, and

the overriding theme really is pointing to Jesus. Oh, the psalms as they point to the Lord. He's our hiding place as we just read in Psalm 32. Each psalm writer, whatever the condition of their heart, whatever they were dealing with, the emotions they were experiencing,

whatever was going on in their heart, they were focused on the fact that the Lord, God, is our source. He was their source of strength and life, you see. And so as we draw in here to our attention to Psalm 27, this is a psalm of David, 14 verses. In the first six verses, we're going to see David, the writer of the psalm, being encouraged as he recognizes or remember God's provision. And then as we look at the last, from verses 17 through 14, and this is

just an overall little outline, it's not, and we'll kind of focus in on little things as we go, but 7 through 14, we're going to see him praying, really, a prayer, and it's a prayer of sustenance, it's as the different commentators had pointed out. First of all, verse 1, we see that the Lord, he said, is my light and my salvation. Now that word, that now when he talks about his salvation, it, I think it, I think we can look at it in two ways. As David went about his life all those many years, he saw the Lord as his light, he saw the Lord as his salvation, as he saved him through many things, didn't he?

He saved him through many things. in battle, but He was also His salvation. You see, the Old Testament saints, as they were in that economy of bringing the lambs and the rams, the cattle, as they did their sacrifices, it was to cover sin, you see. It was a picture of that which Jesus Christ would do. And so, when they would sin, you noticed in Psalm 32, David used the word,

cover my sin. You see, they were covered, but it wasn't that final atonement, you see. But the Old Testament saints look forward to the work of the cross. It was prophesied as soon as you read about Adam and Eve falling in sin. Genesis 3.15 immediately gives us the first prophetic mention. of how God is going to send a Savior. There will be, there is that battle of light and darkness

that goes on, but Jesus supersedes it all, you see. Satan would try to bruise His heel, but oh, Jesus died on that cross for you and me, you see. And so, they looked forward to that. Now, we look back at the cross, but David expressing, the Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid, you see?

And so, they looked forward. I remember listening to Dr. McGee. You hear Ryan mention him, and a lot of us who study for a study will end up hearing, you know, something Dr. McGee said, but he kind of talked about you over there in Hebrews 11, you know, called the Hall of Faith. Notice, the world uses the term the Hall of Fame, Fame is big, see, in the world. Look at me. When we talk about the Hall of Faith,

we think of those folks, Abel and all those that lived by faith, looking to the work that would happen on the cross. As Dr. McGee pointed out, he said, I'm sure that Eve, when she had talked to Abel, and I think Cain too, he just chose a different way, didn't he? And she informed him that you look forward to the work of the cross. Look forward. There's a Savior going to come. And so, what they did, they did by faith, you see. And oh, what a chapter that

is. But the Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Notice in 1 John 1, verse 5, it says this, this then is the message, which we have heard of Him and declare unto you that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. I want to give you three characteristics of light. Number one, light reveals things around us. God reveals Himself to us through His Word. Amen? Stop and think of that,

that whole idea. Light extinguishes darkness, doesn't it? Yeah. How many of you have been in a…now, you hear stories about people that have been to the Carlsbad Caverns and go down there deep, and over here at the salt mines and these different places where you're down deep into a cave or a low part, and they turn off the light, and it's so dark that it kind of could freak you out.

You know what I mean? Darkness, see? And that light comes on and it extinguishes it. Light came into the world, you see? Jesus came into the world. And over in John 3, after He had pointed out to Nicodemus He needed to be born again, it goes down in there in John 3, 16, He says, For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life. He goes, that keeps going down. But He talks about then later, Light came into the world, but there were those that loved darkness more. Because what was happening? What happens? When light reveals something, you've got to do something about it. Light causes you to see something. Most of your…I'm thinking most of your places where,

you know, the boozing and all the different things are going on in these places, usually they're darker, aren't they? Yeah. Why, sure. But you see, light reveals things, around us. David said, the Lord is my light, you see. Oh, how the Lord revealed things to David. And in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon them on different occasions. But do you know

that David really very seldom made a move without checking with God? Lord, do I…are we to go up against those Philistines? He was seeking the Lord.

Now, the Lord said, The second characteristic I want to share is light is a measure, you see. We can measure ourselves with God, you see. He's light. He's sovereign, absolute. Sovereign means what God rules is always right, you see. Now, the third characteristic is light energizes and imparts life. Oh, don't we need light for life? I'll tell you, we've got a piece lily in our house. And it's an interesting kind of an example

because it needs light. And it's comfortable. Oddly enough, this summer, Diane, I think she put it…well, it was growing big enough that it needed to be put in another pot. And so, she repotted this piece lily. And so, she thought, well, I'm going to leave it out just for a little bit. But you know, that doggone thing wasn't acting right. I know that sounds weird, but it was kind

of droopy, not quite. And we put it back in its spot, and it responded, you see. In the morning, you turn the light on, and our front room, we open those curtains, and the light comes in nicely. That, I'm telling you, that's… The piece lily responds to that. It needs that light for energy, doesn't it? It also needs water. And you know what it does when it begins to need water? It starts

drooping. The old branches start kind of drooping down, you see. And we need, we need God's light and the water of the Word. Amen? You see, God's Word is transparent. It reveals Him to us and us to us. How often are you reading God's Word, and you're, you know, He's speaking to your heart, and He begins to speak to your heart about you, because it's the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, speaking to your heart. You see, life needs light.

Now, over in John chapter 1, verse 4, it says this, in Him was light, you know. I mean, in Him was life, and the life was the light of men, you see. And you read a little further in that, and it talks about how that light, you know, the Word of life, and He was light, and it, you know, and it wouldn't, it couldn't be extinguished, you see. Psalm 119, 105 says this, thy Word is a light.

A lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. You see, light to my, a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Think of how that, how that does for us. You see, He's right, as we're, as we're walking this walk, right here in the present, He meets us right where we are. But He also gives us instructions on things to expect. Doesn't He? It's a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path.

I remember, and I've, and maybe I've shared this through the years, but my dad was a night hunter, you know, and they would, they would, when they would hunt raccoon and this kind of thing for the furs, that doesn't, I don't think that's going on as much nowadays. But anyhow, I remember those hunters would have, they would have flashlights, but they'd also have these lights that had a, a, a strap that, they could put them on their head, and that light was right there, so we could go, you know, kind of see out a ways. See, that, that lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path. How important that is, you see.

That light, the light of God. Now, the psalm also declares that the Lord is our salvation. And I just quoted John 3, 16 to you. For God's soul is our salvation. For God's soul is our salvation. For God's soul is our salvation. He loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

You see, he died on the cross. We have to come to the cross.

Acts 4, 12.

In the context of Acts chapter 4, well, 3 and 4 particularly, you remember there was, the lame man was, and he had been laying there at the temple, the beautiful gate there, and so it was, it was the time where people would go to pray there, in the morning there, I think it was 9 or so. But anyway, when Peter and John went to prayer, this lame man was laying there, and we used to do that little song, you know, he stuck out his palm and asked for an arm, and this is what Peter did say. Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And of course, we know what the result was.

He went walking and leaping and praising God. It was beautiful, but the religious leaders rejected that. And so they're giving Peter and John and the boys rough time. And then, along with the fact you've got the Roman Empire going on, you know, persecution, rough times. But here's what was said in Acts 4.12, Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men,

whereby we must be saved, you see.

And so let's just, let's just look at verse 1 again here. The Lord is my light and my salvation, you see. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? Now, so David points out, whom shall I fear? And then mentions the Lord being his strength, the strength of his life. You see, it is his strength we depend on, the Lord's strength.

Over in 2 Corinthians 12, verse 9,

Paul says this as he wrote, And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Oh, most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, you see, that, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

And you remember the context of that section of Scripture. You remember, Paul talks about being buffeted with a infirmity, a, a, a, that which was allowed by the Lord. He said Satan buffeted him, you see. And he, and he prayed three times that the Lord would remove that. But God allowed whatever that was to stay, which then, Paul, you see that verse. You see, God's grace is sufficient for you.

You feel those infirmities sometimes. You, you, you sense those times when you just, you see, he, he wants us to realize it. Well, I'm just going to read that verse again. I love that verse. And he said, unto me, my grace is sufficient for you, for thee. So whatever you're going through today, whatever you might be going through, whatever it seems to be that which causes you

to realize that without him, you're weak. God is using that so that you look to him. He says, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. And oh, David, as he's writing this Psalm, I think he had experienced that various times. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities. You see, Lord, whatever you allow in each of our lives, that would be that which we'd rather not have.

We'd rather be strong in ourselves. You know, that's, that's the flesh. But in, but, but our strength, where, but our strength is in you, Lord. In our weakness, you're made strong. That the power of Christ may rest upon me. See, we want to give God the glory, don't we? And so in verse two, we see David look back at his life. Now think about David, this, this shepherd.

But I want to mention something else about fear. Over in, over in, you know, whom shall I fear? Over in the first John also, really the big emphasis in, in first John, you know, is of course, because of the, the Gnostics and all that, that are creeping in. And he pointed out that Jesus was truly the son of God. He was a God. He was, he was man of very man and God of very God.

And then he, then he points out really he's light. He's loving his life, you see. And so we see then, so in verse two, we see David. Oh, let me finish my thought. So this whole idea over in about verse 18 of chapter four, chapter 4 he talks about how perfect love casts out fear when when we when we are seeking God to help us love with his love it can cast out the fear you see what isn't it interesting how easily

we can fear man but not fear God as we should right you see because we see man directly don't we and we we can fear repercussions sometimes but oh it's better to fear the Lord isn't it amen reverence him and and it's better to pay more attention to him who you know gives and takes life and you know and all that you know but we fear man so much of the time oh but his perfect love casts out fear you you and now let's continue on then in verse 2 we see David look back at his life you remember David started out well these little guy is a shepherd well you see the Lord was using the Lord used that boy as a shepherd to prepare him to be a king didn't he because he had a because of the love he had for his sheep and of course to protect

those sheep he had to protect his sheep and he had to protect his sheep and he had to protect those sheep he had to protect his sheep and he had to protect his sheep and he had to protect his she fantastic well he told David that Galilee were one of those things that shocked him so Shiva you know writers Jaime's ancient momentum all these things think I need to follow what ismotion I feel it came at us to deliver demons to his work but it sounds like God was planning something to fly am as we know today90らい what had he done a lot of씨we were doing and we're working through history in particular he wrote at the time by Jim he denied having to destroy a thing that waseen the God he would not stop and all

this Ye who was doing all this to harden the earth was the idea of being god the god who has made men they listen shrooms were born and Lazarus was a relationship with Satan when Jesus was but first of all and it's all too busy you can find Jesus God to're not the single ekb King and why you have to do things. The things you've had to deal with, the things as you've grown up, maybe you were picked on. Maybe you had extra things you had to do that you wonder why do I have to do that? They don't have to do anything.

God's preparing. He was preparing you for the continued work He wanted to do in your life as you're growing up and as you're living now. You see? And so David, this shepherd boy who looked after the sheep, who had a heart after God. It's interesting when you look, and we won't read there, but over in Psalm 19, it's kind of an interesting, it's a beautiful psalm.

The first part of the psalm, and you could just picture David maybe out and looking after the sheep and laying there and looking up at the stars and all and, and just recognizing how creation declares God. You see what I'm saying? And then when you get to about verse six, seven, then he talks about the law of the Lord. It is perfect converting the soul. You see all those different things

about the law of the Lord. And then as he finishes the psalm, he's asking the Lord, he's placing his heart before the Lord. Don't let any presumptuous sin, be there and let the meditations of my heart, you know, be acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord, all those things. What a fellow David was, but he used those things in his early life to prepare him to face the wars, the people who would cope against him.

You see, don't be weary and well doing.

As Galatians six talks about carrying your burden and sharing burdens with others and encouraging us not to be weary and well, but hang in there knowing that as you're, as you're faithful in the small things, he entrusts you with more serving right where you are. Don't worry about the big stuff serving right where you are. There's nothing more important than another. It's what you're called to do.

Serve him where you are. David served him in those younger years, which, which later he became a leader for a band of about 600 fellas, didn't he? And I want to tell you, he had some warriors among him, but he had a heart after God, a sensitive hearts. You see what causes us to have a heart after God, a willingness to yield, to, to, to let him speak to you, be in, be in his word.

And so he, as he protected those sheep, he would have to face lions and bears. And this shepherd's life is, you know, was a preparation for the leadership that he would be involved in. Now think about in verse three here, we see that David's confidence, confidence is in the Lord through it all. And so in verse three, we see that David's confidence is in the Lord through it all.

And then in verse four, what a, what a wonderful Psalm. We used to sing a song from this that was put to words, but in, in verse four, we see David's really his heart toward God, a man after God's heart. How important that we, that we be people after the heart of God. You see, with a, with a, with a heart. You see, God allows different things in our heart to not to break our spirit as much as to,

to, to cause our will to be broken. So it's yielded toward him. You see, the tendency of us is to want to be in control ourself, but you see David, one thing he desired of the Lord. You see, let's just, let's just look at this right quick here. I want to, I want to read two through four. Okay. When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me, to eat up my flesh,

they stumbled and fell. You see, though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.

It was a work of the Lord that took place in his heart for that to begin to take place. Though war should rise against me in this, will I be confident? You see, his confidence was in the Lord. One thing have I desired of the Lord. That's will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life and notice to behold the beauty of the Lord.

Oh, that and to inquire to learn, you see in his temple. What a beautiful, what a beautiful section there. And so you see, he wasn't always around the tabernacle there. What the temple hadn't been, built yet, but that tabernacle that was brought, you know, as they were in the wilderness and brought through that tabernacle was that point of that picture of heaven and that point where they would, you know, the sacrifices would be made.

You see the holy of Holies. You see where the priest would go in once a year and sprinkle that blood. You see on that mercy seat and all that, that going before the Lord that that priest would do. You see, his heart was focused on inquiring of the Lord, beholding his beauty. You see, in order to live and walk with him without fear, we must be walking in the light of his word.

Walking in the light of prayer. In the communion that you have with God daily in verse five, we see that David wants to enter. Into the holy of Holies, see holy of Holies in time of trouble or any time. He wants to let the Lord hide him. Wasn't that what isn't that Psalm 32 a beautiful Psalm there and remember the background of Psalm 32 David after having committed adultery trying to hide his sin really trying to cover it himself as he as he had best.

She was trying to hide his sin really trying to cover it himself as he as he had best. She was trying to hide his sin really trying to cover it himself as he as he had best. She was husband murdered basically. He went that period of time trying to hide all this and that that Psalm there at the beginning describes how it was eating at him. You see. Oh, but God touched Nathan the prophet to go speak to David,

didn't he? And you remember how he used that and isn't it interesting the word picture that Nathan used? Was one that would that would really hit David David had been a shepherd had any Nathan uses that word picture this fella the only he only had one you lamb this other guy had if he had all kinds, you know, he was in really good shape, but that fella took that you lamb. And then from from the other guy that then that's all he had and boy that moved David's heart.

That word picture, didn't it? You see God has a way of saying the right thing to us pointing out the right thing that causes us to see ourself because David begins to say that man should be killed all this, you know concerning that you am Nathan said David. You're that man. And notice what David didn't do. He didn't blame everybody else. You see that that that's the way of the world.

Didn't add him kind of blame. He's a that wife. You gave me huh?

David said I've sinned against the Lord and there were the consequences of that happened. But oh as he as you see that Psalm 32 there and Psalm 51. Oh how he how he repented. And then I think it's I believe it's for seven there. You are my hiding place. You know, we sing that song. What a beautiful verse there. You see, he is our hiding place.

We read in Psalm 46 one. God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. You see David knew that now. How did he know that? He went through some trouble. Didn't he? It wasn't a pic. When he had these wars, but but God always was the when God when God was directing him. He was his strength. He would deliver them into his hands. But he saw that it was the work of God.

And so then in verse six here, we see him encouraged encouraged. Let's read five and six and then we're going to jump in here. Okay, I for in the time of. Trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion. You see in the secret of his Tabernacle. Shall he hide me? He shall set me up upon a rock. Oh, he's the rock of our salvation, isn't he? And notice what he says here and now shall mine head be lifted up.

Above mine enemies round about me.

I believe I was listening to. Raul Reese last night and his on blue letter there. He talked about when he first went to Vietnam. And when they'd be out with the enemy and you know, he said the younger ones the newer ones. But have their head down, you know, but the other ones who had been a battle their heads were up. They want to see where the fighting was coming from.

Do you see? But you see God put. Him with his head up. He was on a rock. You see? We have an enemy Satan. We fight not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principles and all that you see, you know why you know why there's there's friction among folk. So often at the time. There's all that little. Stuff that Satan's do to try to cause. Dissension.

You've heard it said before. But as Dr. Ironside said when I remember reading his commentary and when we get to Acts chapter 6 and he said typical way that that that the church is attacked in the text. It's. Persecution from without dissension from within and that is the truth. Oh, how many churches? Will begin to call to have trouble because there's dissension within there's talking that goes on me and behind instead of straightforward.

You see? There's not that direct working through things always but it's talking to those. Instead of talking to who you need to talk to if there's a problem you see Satan seeks to kill still and destroy. We have Satan to deal with and the world. The world system. It's always me or into me oriented, right? And then we have our flesh and wants to keep cropping up.

You see? And so there and then and then as he asked for he says that this my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. Therefore. We see what is there for? Those things that were just said as a result. But the Lord. It set me on a rock when he says my head lifted up. Therefore. Well, I offer in his Tabernacle sacrifices of joy. Some translations shouting you see.

As we as we're looking to the Lord, we see him as our strength. The reason the result is wanting to worship him in it. I will sing. Yay. I will sing praises unto the Lord in that beautiful. I appreciate the worship this morning. Oh, it's a blessing to come before the Lord sing praises to him. Now in verses 7 verse 7. He begins his prayer. You see, he asked the Lord to hear him.

And he appeals to his mercy. You know,

there was a particular time that David appealed his mercy. There was a there was a point at which. David asked. Joab his captain his leader to number the people. You want to know where he stood battle-wise you see, but he wasn't supposed to do that. Was he? When supposed to ask Job. In fact, I think Job even said you sure you want to do this, you know, and but he did it.

Anyway, you see David wasn't he just like us. He wasn't perfect. There had to be consequence. You know, there were consequences as to what took place after he did this, but he had those three choices that were given to him. And his response was I'll appeal to the mercy of God. Amen. All we appeal to his mercy. I'm reminded in Ephesians to the first. I say three verses if I'm just I'm just trying to use my memory.

Hello, but the first three verses really points out before Salvation, you know, we were walking aimlessly basically according to the course of this world. And that picture of that chorus word course is like a weather vane. And so before we come to Christ, you see, we were just like the weather vane. We we were seeking something to confide in, but we weren't seeking God because the scripture says there's none to see God.

No, not one. No, but God then you see. Sought us. But he gives the condition of us in those first three verses, but then he says in verse four uses that conjunction. The word, but but God who is rich in mercy. Amen. And then you get down there and a little further and he says for by Grace, are you saved through faith? You see, the motive was love. Love is not what saved us Grace.

It's by Grace through faith that unmerited favor, you see. And so then we come to verse eight here in verse eight when the Lord says, seek my face. David's seeks the Lord. It is his desire to seek. He said,

my face. Will I seek? It's wonderful. You see, God draws us. He loves and we respond in that the truth. You see, as we are drawn by him by his Holy Spirit, the love of God constrains. Yes, you see, we respond to him. You see. Now,

let's read seven and eight. Then we'll jump in a little bit more. I just want to kind of review. I wouldn't have to do this, but I'm going to hear Oh Lord when I cry. With my voice and so remember the first six verses, you see him just declaring the provision of God, the way he delivered him, the way that he was his life and salvation, the strength of his life,

you see, and then he just kind of pours out his heart here and says, Oh Lord, when I cry with my voice, have mercy also upon me and answer me. You see. In verse eight, when thou said, seek ye my face. My heart said unto thee thy face, Lord, will I seek? You see, God draws us, you see. Wonderful thing. And so then in verse nine, you see him appealing to God.

He doesn't, he doesn't want anything. To be in the way. Of Fellowship. Of course, obviously what can put us, what can put that wall? That affects our Fellowship sin, right? It talked about the Lord being his hiding place. Don't you know as he pinned that Psalm 32 there, he gets down there after he has talked about how the Lord had covered his sin and all and all the relief the peace that one

feels when we confess our sin. And then he says you are my hiding place. You feel my heart. A songs of deliverance. You see that Fellowship can be broken with sin with not being obedient to the Lord, but what he calls you to do or going against that, which you know is right, you see. So it's important then what to confess our sin agree with God. You see, that's what David did.

Didn't he agree with God and accept his forgiveness? What we have to remember to do is accept the forgiveness.

Typically that word forgiveness means it's been cast away. You see now Dr. McGee. He feels like a better translation. There would be here in verse 10 had my father and mother forsaken me with the Lord would take me up. He sees his you see David sees his sustenance in the Lord. And so of course the way 10 is read here. Well, let's look at nine again. Hide not thy face far from me date David experience.

You remember, you know, as we talked he experienced that that that separation that that wall of sin that separated him it ate him up and that's what it does when we when we seek to hide and not that just come to the Lord confess. He said put not thy servant away in anger. Thou has been my help. Leave me not. Oh, amen. Never forsakes us or leaves us doesn't he?

But if sin does get in the way it affects that Fellowship. He says neither forsake me. Oh God of my salvation. And this is this is where McGee says had my it says here when my father and my mother. Forsake me then the Lord will take me up. And then I love this teach me thy way. Oh Lord. And notice the order of this guy's first it starts at first. He asked to be taught doesn't he?

Teach me thy way. Oh Lord. And then then what does he say? Then he as you teach me Lord, would you lead me? In a plane path. Make that pass smooth for me. Because of my enemies.

You see. He's he's asking the Lord to teach him. He wants. A good testimony. He wants the Lord to lead him. You see Proverbs 3 5 and 6 couple of my favorite verses trust in the Lord. With all thine heart. Lee not unto thine own understanding and all thy ways. Acknowledge him and he'll direct thy past. You see. You want to be on that path of the Lord trust in the Lord trust put your confidence in him.

What do you fear today?

What are you trusting today? Trust in the Lord. With all thine heart. What are you leaning on today?

Lee not unto your own understanding. Oh my you see our hearts are fickle. We think all kind. We think I you know, you think about different things. We think about and we think oh, it might be good to do this. Try that. I guess it's not as good as I thought. I'm going to lean, you know, maybe I've got the strength to do this. I want to do it my way to say, oh,

you get nowhere quick, but trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lee not until thine own understanding. And so as you're leaning not on your own understanding, but looking to him. Acknowledge him in all your ways. And whatever you're facing, whatever you're doing, acknowledge him. Say Lord, what would you have? I acknowledge that you need to be the leader of my life.

Because I mess it up. See? Oh, what time we're what time I am afraid. I'll trust in you. Amen. He'll direct your pass. Now I'm going to read verses 12 through 14 and then I'll comment. Okay. 12 through 14. We're getting near closing up here. Deliver me. Not over unto the will of mine enemies. Oh, how important for false witnesses are risen up against me. And such as breathe out cruelty.

I had fainted. Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord. In the land of the living. And then 14. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage. And he shall strengthen thy fear, thy heart. Wait, I say on the Lord. And so you see in verse 12, he does not want to be at the mercy of man.

And so in that case, we fall in the mercy of God. Because you can't trust in the mercy of man. Remember Psalm 118 8. It is better to trust in the Lord that they put confidence in man. You see. Now in verse 13, he was encouraged by the goodness of the Lord. Oh, God is good. All the time. God is good. You know, I remember when we first started saying that Mark Pastor Mark had been.

Over in Africa. I believe it was. And that was something they were saying a lot over there. And Mark came back and this was way back when probably the nineties, I guess. And shared that with us. And from then on. We have a lot of a lot of times was that God is good and all the time. God is good. Amen. Now in verse 13, he was encouraged by the goodness of the Lord.

You see, God is good. All the time. See, he loves us. He and what you see, what is good for us? Isn't always what we want or what we like. But he will do those certain things that are good for us. That can be painful sometime because he knows our heart. He knows what it takes to draw us closer to him. He knows our very thought before we think it. He knows the motives of our heart.

You see, we can't judge motives. That's what gets us in trouble with people and how we respond to people. If we begin to assume what people are thinking. That that leads that leads to that can lead to division because we're assuming somebody's things them. They're not if you're concerned about that, you better talk to him. Don't assume you see, we can't assume motives.

God knows motives. He knows everything. Everything about us. You see, before the foundations of the world. He chose us. You see,

now, as we draw to a close here in verse 14, he says, wait on the Lord. And there will be a result of that. You see, I think about this waiting. It does not mean you don't do anything.

Oh, I'm just waiting on the Lord. That's good. But do what you know to do. Right? What you know to do is right. What he's given you right now to do. Just, you know, continue to serve. And as you're waiting, as you're praying, as you're seeking. He'll direct you. What is the verse over there in Isaiah? What is it? 4031. They that wait upon the Lord. She'll renew their strength.

They shall mount up like wings of eagles. They shall run. So it's not saying they shall stop and wait. They shall. Run and not be weary. They shall walk. And not faint. Amen. You see, we're doing as what we know. The Lord has told us to do as we're waiting, I think. But there is that important time that you wait. So how are you waiting? Well, you got to be patient.

That's what we have a hard time with. You know, we have an idea that we think it'd be good if the Lord did this, or if the Lord did that. Well, you better wait on the Lord about it. Serve where he has you now. Serve with what you know, he's told you to do and pray about what he wants you to do more. You see? And so how does this take place? Well, you got to be in the word and it's got to be more than just Sunday and Wednesday night.

But it's that daily time of just reading, praying, being real. There's times you'll read along and I remember a time of depression I went through and I by faith I would get up and I remember reading the Psalms and and I just wasn't getting much but I began to pray as I read the Psalms. You know, if you're in Psalm 37, you know, delight thyself in the Lord. I might say, Lord, help me to delight myself in you.

Because I don't have it.

Commit your way to him. You know, there are those times, whatever you're going through. You may not feel like you can do anything. But if you'll by faith, read his word and pray. Don't neglect the Fellowship of the Saints. Don't look like coming and being with people. See, that's what Satan wants you to do. To what happens? What? What happens with with with with a flock of sheep?

There was little sheep. They kind of want to wonder off don't they? And that's what puts him in a place. Be devoured by the wolf.

You see, forsake not the assembling of the Saints.

Be real before the Lord with your heart. He knows your he knows your heart. He knows our heart. So if we'll just plain be honest. Oh, how many times have I had to say Lord man? I've just this this thought pattern in my life is just driving me nuts and it's really pulling me down. I confess. I agree. It's there. I can't I can't deal with it. It reminds me of what Dr.

McGee talked about, you know, when you go through I hope I'm not going when you go through in Ephesians 6 there and it gives the your your those spiritual weapons, you know, he, I remember him talking about the shield of faith and there's those times that you'll have a thought pattern. You'll have a doubt here and there about something just ask the Lord to put up that shield of faith bring you through it. And he'll confirm to you what you need to know about that thing. You're concerned about being the word put up that shield of faith.

A shield of faith is important because those fiery darts were coming and that's what Satan does. He shoots at you with things messes with your your head. But if that shield of faith Lord by faith, I'm trusting you. I know what your word says here. I'm having a hard time right now, but I know you are in control. Amen. So wait wait on the Lord who we strengthened you see and encouraged when you wait.

Oh, continue in this word prayer and Fellowship you see with him and with others. There's joy in that Romans. We'll close with Romans 8 28 that says this and we know that all things work together for good. To them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose. Amen. Now there are things that go on in our lives. You see each each one of them individually what they seem pretty bad.

But when they're. Put together. And they're doing a work.

We're being drawn closer into the image of God of Christ. When you put the elements that go that go up to make salt. Each of them individual would not be so good for you, but you put them together. They may say they make a nice thing to flavor food. No. Huh? Yeah. And then you think about the fact that we're supposed to be salt. In light, right? And salt preserves.

It stings. When it's put on something that's kind of sore, you see? Light. We're to be the light, you know, let our light so shine that we may glorify our father, which is in heaven. We're kind of like stars in the moon. You know, we reflect the light. We're not the light. Amen. This doesn't the moon reflect the sun. I'm not a very good scientist. I never never never was good at getting up here and start telling you all these scientific facts.

That's not my thing. You know, you hear some of them. They're good at all that. But but I do know that's the truth. Trust in the Lord. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Amen.

As the worship team comes up, we'll close in prayer. Father, we thank you for this opportunity. We've had to be in your word this morning. We thank you that as we look to you, the author and finisher of our faith, you are so faithful. To do your work in our hearts. And so as we as we leave today and we begin another week in walking with you, strengthen us with your might for on our weakness,

you're made strong and we give you thanks and praise in Jesus name. Amen. The Lord bless you.

The world's I hands. I may I see the star. I hear the rolling Thunder. Thy power throughout the universe display. It seems my soul might say your God to thee. How great that one great that one. Through the world and for his blades. I wonder and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the. And. Chants my soul,

my savior God to be great thou. All. How great thou. Are you. Great. That. All. All. What? What? What? Why? What? Why? Why? I'll start. My. My. My. My. My. My. My. My. My. You know my soul. My. Your. God. To be. How great thou. All. Great. The law. How. Great. Thou. All. Great. You. Are. My. Soul. My. Set. Sings. My. My soul, my Savior God, to Thee, how great Thou art.

That God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. And on that cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. My soul, out of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. And I shall bow in humble adoration. Amen. And there proclaim, my God.

Father God, how awesome and great You are, Lord God. And just help us just to recognize that, Lord, each and every day. Father, we love You, God. We thank You and we praise You, God. And we just pray these things in Your precious and holy name. Amen. You guys have a wonderful week. God bless you.