A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. (Psalms 130:1-2)
Three points:
1. His plea
The depths refer to a sea of troubles and despair and refer to sorrow and emotional pain.
This reminds me of Jonah, who was literally in the depths.
Jonah 2:2-4
(2) "In my distress, O LORD, I called to you, and you answered me. From deep in the world of the dead I cried for help, and you heard me.
(3) You threw me down into the depths, to the very bottom of the sea, where the waters were all around me, and all your mighty waves rolled over me.
(4) I thought I had been banished from your presence and would never see your holy Temple again.
But didn't the Lord Jesus experience this as well?
Hebrews 5:7-8
(7) In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him.
(8) But even though he was God's Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient.
Sometimes God allows us to go through hard times; sometimes we get ourselves there.
This is the time to especially pray.
Some grow bitter in times and situations like this, but we know better, for it is THE time to pray.
2. He speaks to the one, true God.
God always knows; the word "heard" means "responds to favorably"
He is saying, "Please listen to me and grant me my request, i. e. please do as I ask."
Psalms 55:2
(2) Listen to me and answer me; I am worn out by my worries.
3. God is ready and willing to listen to us.
Let us pray.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Isaiah 51:12
I, even I, am he who comforts you: who are you, that you are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who shall be made as grass. (Isaiah 51:12)
Three points:
1. Comforts
Life can be rough. How are you doing? What do you do when you need some comfort? The Lord Jesus is the only one who can comfort.
2. Fear
Fear is fact of life. Who can be afraid when total protection is by your side?
3. Man and God
Man dies; God does not. Who better to believe and trust than God. Life may not be easy; there may come the time when we say, "I can't live those this". The Lord Jesus will be our comforter.
Three points:
1. Comforts
Life can be rough. How are you doing? What do you do when you need some comfort? The Lord Jesus is the only one who can comfort.
2. Fear
Fear is fact of life. Who can be afraid when total protection is by your side?
3. Man and God
Man dies; God does not. Who better to believe and trust than God. Life may not be easy; there may come the time when we say, "I can't live those this". The Lord Jesus will be our comforter.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Psalms 91:4-5
"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor the arrow that flieth by day." (Psalm 91:4-5
Three points:
1. Hens are protective of their chicks
We have about 25 hens. If it is raining, the peeps hide under her wings--safe and dry. She always gives her best to protect them. God does the same for us--if we are willing.
2. We need to have faith
Saying we trust God is easy; when things are tough, it is then we are seen what we really are--trust God or something/somebody else.
3. Fear
God may send/allow hard times, but we can be assured that He is in control. We are safe. Our souls cannot be destroyed by man or situation.
Three points:
1. Hens are protective of their chicks
We have about 25 hens. If it is raining, the peeps hide under her wings--safe and dry. She always gives her best to protect them. God does the same for us--if we are willing.
2. We need to have faith
Saying we trust God is easy; when things are tough, it is then we are seen what we really are--trust God or something/somebody else.
3. Fear
God may send/allow hard times, but we can be assured that He is in control. We are safe. Our souls cannot be destroyed by man or situation.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
1 Peter 3:15-16
But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say. (1 Peter 3:15-16)
Three points:
1. Be ready
We are not Christians because we grew up in a Christian home; we are not Christians because we live in the USA; we are not Christians because we prayed some kind of prayer. We are Christians because we have understood that we are disobedient sinners who deserve the wrath of God and in faith have asked Him to forgive us. We have faith in Jesus Christ alone. Faith alone saves us. We must be ready to give a reasonable answer to those who are not Christians.
2. Gentleness and respect
No in-your-face attitudes here, but calmly explaining what we believe. Do you know what Christians believe? If not, research it out. There are a number of sites as Apologetics Press to help you out.
3. Keep you conscious clear
Live the kind of life that Jesus wants us to live.
Three points:
1. Be ready
We are not Christians because we grew up in a Christian home; we are not Christians because we live in the USA; we are not Christians because we prayed some kind of prayer. We are Christians because we have understood that we are disobedient sinners who deserve the wrath of God and in faith have asked Him to forgive us. We have faith in Jesus Christ alone. Faith alone saves us. We must be ready to give a reasonable answer to those who are not Christians.
2. Gentleness and respect
No in-your-face attitudes here, but calmly explaining what we believe. Do you know what Christians believe? If not, research it out. There are a number of sites as Apologetics Press to help you out.
3. Keep you conscious clear
Live the kind of life that Jesus wants us to live.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Hebrews 11:7
It was faith that made Noah hear God's warnings about things in the future that he could not see. He obeyed God and built a boat in which he and his family were saved. As a result, the world was condemned, and Noah received from God the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Three points:
1. Faith
Faith is believing God. Faith isn't a mindless unknowing. There may be solid evidence or a reasonableness for what we believe, thus the role of apologetics.
2. Obey
To obey is to do what God says. There are over 1,000 rules that are given us in the New Testament. Here is a short example:
Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers. Ask God to bless those who persecute you---yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise. If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." Instead, as the scripture says: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame." Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:9-21)
3. Righteousness comes from faith
It is not our works, but our faith. Noah had faith and shows us what faith means. He believed God and did what God said. Wondering about salvation? See The Good Test.
Three points:
1. Faith
Faith is believing God. Faith isn't a mindless unknowing. There may be solid evidence or a reasonableness for what we believe, thus the role of apologetics.
2. Obey
To obey is to do what God says. There are over 1,000 rules that are given us in the New Testament. Here is a short example:
Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers. Ask God to bless those who persecute you---yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise. If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." Instead, as the scripture says: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame." Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:9-21)
3. Righteousness comes from faith
It is not our works, but our faith. Noah had faith and shows us what faith means. He believed God and did what God said. Wondering about salvation? See The Good Test.
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