January 25, 2017
Worship:
The grace of God has reached for me
And pulled me from the raging sea
And I am safe on this solid ground
The Lord is my salvation
I will not fear when darkness falls
His strength will help me scale these walls
I’ll see the dawn of the rising sun
The Lord is my salvation
CHORUS
Who is like the Lord our God?
Strong to save, faithful in love
My debt is paid, and the vict’ry won
The Lord is my salvation
My hope is hidden in the Lord
He flow’rs each promise of His Word
When winter fades, I know spring will come
The Lord is my salvation
In times of waiting, times of need
When I know loss, when I am weak
I know His grace will renew these days
The Lord is my salvation
CHORUS
And when I reach my final day
He will not leave me in the grave
But I will rise,
He will call me home
The Lord is my salvation
CHORUS
Glory be to God the Father
Glory be to God the Son
Glory be to God the Spirit
The Lord is our salvation
CHORUS”
— WORDS AND MUSIC BY KEITH GETTY, KRISTYN GETTY, NATHAN NOCKELS AND JONAS MYRIN©2016 GETTY MUSIC PUBLISHING (BMI) / SWEATER WEATHER MUSIC (ASCAP) (ADMIN BY MUSICSERVICES.ORG) / CAPITOL CMG PARAGON (BMI) / SON OF THE LION (BMI) (ADMIN AT CAPTIOLCMGPUBISHING.COM)
(recommend watching and singing with this video -beautiful scenery and lyrics)
Witness:
I struggled with using this song for worship tonight. After all, with the words “The Lord is my salvation,” wouldn’t it be more appropriate to use this song when I get to Psalm 27? At least that was my first thought. But as the song progressed in the background as I prayed for a song to open with there was a strong conviction that I should use this one. The Holy Spirit brought a strong conviction to my heart concerning a decision I had just made. I have been debating sitting out Band of Brothers this wave and concentrate on personal growth. After all, I never really felt comfortable going to the meetings. I am an introvert by nature and not good at small talk. Since this is a guy’s meeting sports is a conversation starter for many, but I don’t watch sports let alone much TV. So, I feel cut off from much of the conversation. I am also vexed by the coarse language of some of the men. I am never comfortable when Christian men use the D or S or A word. How does using such superfluous word make one a man? Yet I have been used I believe to help some of my brothers during the waves I have attended. As I listened to the words of the song even as I was praying, I asked myself, “What if I could be an instrument of God in leading someone to Christ or help them overcome something they were struggling with?” Not that I was essential to God meeting that need since God could raise that help from somewhere else but who wasn’t to say That I was not appointed for “such a time as this”?
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Est 4:14 ESV
But I'm getting ahead of myself, putting my reasoning before the information about the decision I made. I had all but decided to sit this one out unless a young man I have been praying for decided he would go to BOB. I had also told one of my brothers that I would not be going to the leaders meeting this Saturday because it was during the time I go to bed. I was convicted of my selfishness and reluctance to make the sacrifice. So, barring complete exhaustion, I believe I will show up. As I end this portion, a song has begun to sing that is ministering me by King and Country called “Shoulders.” God used this song before to minister me in another Witness portion of my journal dated February 16, 2016. I recently shared that journal entry on my blog. The words “My help comes from You” are so applicable and encouraging in this time of my life. Another song is playing now that puts the Amen to this thought. It’s is the song “I Need You More,” by Jesus Culture (see Sept. 27, 2016). If that applies to me how can I not share this good news with others so they too can sing these songs as well to the praise of His glorious name?
I need You more,
more than yesterday
I need You more
More than words can say
I need You more
Than ever before
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
more than yesterday
I need You more
More than words can say
I need You more
Than ever before
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
Verse:
More than the air I breathe
More than the song I sing
More than the next heartbeat
More than anything, and Lord as time goes by
I'll be by Your side
‘Cause I never want to go back to my old life
More than the air I breathe
More than the song I sing
More than the next heartbeat
More than anything, and Lord as time goes by
I'll be by Your side
‘Cause I never want to go back to my old life
Bridge:
We give you the highest praise
We give you the highest praise
We give you the highest praise
We give you the highest praise
We give you the highest praise
We give you the highest praise
Ending:
More than the air I breathe
More than the song I sing
More than anything
I need You more
Read more: Jesus Culture - I Need You More Lyrics | MetroLyrics
More than the air I breathe
More than the song I sing
More than anything
I need You more
Read more: Jesus Culture - I Need You More Lyrics | MetroLyrics
WORD:
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Ps 26:1-8
Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the Lord
without wavering.
2 Test me, O Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
3 for your love is ever before me,
and I walk continually in your truth.
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Ps 26:1-8
1 Declare me innocent, O Lord,
for I have acted with integrity;
I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.
Test my motives and my heart.
3 For I am always aware of your unfailing love,
and I have lived according to your truth.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved..
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Ps 26:1-3
Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
KJV
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Ps 26:1-3
Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.
ESV
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To reiterate what I said at the beginning of this study on Psalm 26 let me quote from the Believer’s commentary:
When we first read Psalm 26 we might conclude that it is the product of a surpassing egotist. More sober consideration, however, will show us that it is really just a factual description of a life that has been separated to God from the world. Reading between the lines, we find that David had been accused of fraternizing with ungodly men and of thus being untrue to Jehovah. Here he pleads his own defense. Nowhere is he claiming sinlessness, but he certainly does plead “not guilty” to the specific charges that were being made against him.MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 584). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
The child of God should always go to God first when they are unjustly accused. He is the only perfectly just Judge and Advocate. Paul defended himself before his accusers, but only because it was affecting the spread of the gospel and his ability to minister to the churches under his care. He was more concerned about what it was doing to other believers than concern for himself. From reading this Psalm and the testimony of other Psalms, I believe David was not as concerned with himself but that the LORD’s name would be praised (vs. 6-8,12). We are promised, yes promised, in scripture that we will suffer in the form of slander and accusations as followers of Christ. Christ says we will and are blessed for it.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Matt 5:11-12 NIV
In fact, this is a word of assurance the Lord will bring to mind to those who are unjustly accused by others as a believer in Christ. And in the end, we can say with the Psalmist
My feet stand on level ground;
in the great assembly I will praise the Lord.
Ps 26:12 NIV
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What a comfort it is to have the approbation of one's own conscience! If there be peace within the soul, the blustering storms of slander which howl around us are of little consideration. When the little bird in my bosom sings a merry song, it is no matter to me if a thousand owls hoot at me from without.
(from The Treasury of David, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
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