Trust in the Faithful One

August 26 - 28, 2017

Worship: Faithful One by Selah

I find no hope within to call my own

For I am frail of heart, my strength is gone

But deep within my soul is rising up a song

Here in the comfort of the faithful one

I walk a narrow road through valleys deep

In search of higher ground, on mountains steep

And though with feet unsure, I still keep pressing on.

For I am guided by the faithful one.

Faithful, faithful to the end,

My true and precious friend,

You have been faithful,

Faithful, so faithful to me

I see your wounded hands, I touch your side

With thorns upon your brow you bled and died

But there's an empty tomb, a love for all who come

And give their hearts to you, the faithful one.

Faithful, faithful to the end,

My true and precious friend,

You have been faithful,

Faithful, so faithful to me

And when the day is dawned and when the race is run

I will bow down before God's only Son

And I will lift my hands in praise for all you've done

And I will worship you, my faithful one.

Writer(s): Chris Eaton, Brian White

Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

Lyrics: http://www.songlyrics.com/selah/the-faithful-one-lyrics/

Video: https://youtu.be/nCPUAGhJKpw

Because of the length of my witness portion and the scripture content included as well, I have decided to depart from my usual format and combine the two as I have on rare occasions in the past. I will, Lord willing, continue my study in the Psalms in my next journal entry.

Witness & WORD:

As I lay in bed after another fitful time of sleep, my thoughts turned towards my finances. I had just checked my bank balances. They did not look good. I knew that my checking account would not cover the upcoming bank drafts before next week's paycheck. My daughter needed to buy food which depleted my second checking account. I knew my friend in Uganda would need help shortly, and my wife would be taking her usual 80+ each week. I realized I would probably have to dip into the emergency funds. However, the Emergency Fund was already below the amount I needed to cover my mortgage for next month if it became necessary. Worry set in and I thought of strategies to come up with more available funds to cover everything. I thought of canceling my weekly tithe draft, but that would be a step back in my aim to be a faithful giver.

 As I wrestled with my thoughts, I began to realize how unbelieving I was. Did not God say He would provide my needs? Had I forgotten that He was my Shepherd? Does He not desire cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)? As I showered, I thought of the words, “Emergency Funds.” If God was sovereign then is this a good title for this fund?

It is interesting that the word “emergency” appears nowhere in the Bible. Even the word “urgent” is hardly used. To our finite minds and with the future mostly unknown to us we use words like “emergency” and “urgent” to describe situations unexpected and out of our control. Yet, in God’s mind, they are not unexpected and never out of His control. Am I saying that having an “Emergency Fund” is wrong or sinful? Of course not. Even the Bible speaks of storehouses. However, we must not put our trust in these storehouses but in the God of the storehouse.

He is sovereign. He gives and takes away (Job 2:10), but He never takes out of malice, and He never gives without a purpose. We see this in the life of Joseph. He suffered much at the hands of his jealous brothers. Sold into slavery, raised to a prominent position as a servant only to be cast into prison for many years, after being falsely accused by his master’s wife. Finally, he was raised to a position second to Pharaoh in power. The wealth of all Egypt was in his control.

One might question, when Joseph languished in prison, whether God took away his freedom and family out of malice, because of some supposed pride Joseph had when he was with them. And one might believe that bringing Joseph to the heights of power was a well-deserved gift for such deprivations, after all, look at the exemplary life he lived during those times. However, neither of these conclusions are valid. Joseph understood as Job did that we must accept both good and ill from the Lord. Not in some fatalistic manner out of resignation to “what will be will be.” Note what Joseph said to his brothers as he looked back on his life.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Gen 50:20-21 ESV

Rather than malice, Joseph saw God’s deprivation as part of a larger plan for good. He did not see the blessings he received as a good merely lavished on himself to make up for all the “bad” in his life. No, he understood that God never gives without a greater purpose. God gives with the intent to bless so that we share that blessing with others and not hoard it for ourselves. Joseph could have felt justified in using his position for selfish ends. He could have punished his brothers for their part in his misery. Yet he looked beyond the circumstances to the intentions of the Sovereign LORD of all conditions and events in our lives.

I will still struggle with worry about my finances. Hey, I am sure Joseph worried about his circumstances too. However, I know my Father loves me and only has good plans for me. Some of those plans don’t look good at the moment, but they will ultimately lead to a glorious end. In the mean time, I will follow the righteous paths God has for me through the hills and verdant fields and through the dark valleys and still waters. In all circumstances, to be content. In every situation, to be satisfied. In tranquility or turmoil, to be thankful. In plenty or paucity, to give praise. In advantage or adversity, to adore. And in triumph or tragedy, to trust in the Faithful One. As I close a song is playing in the background.

When I feel like I can't go on

You deliver me

When the road is winding and way too long

You deliver me

You deliver me

(Lyrics from “You Deliver Me” by Selah)

Phil 4:11-13

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  

NIV

1 Tim 6:8-10

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

NIV

Heb 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

            "Never will I leave you;

            never will I forsake you."

NIV

Heb 12:9-11

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

NIV

 

Hab 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to go on the heights.

NIV

Some final thoughts on Psalm 26

August 18, 2017 

Worship: Satisfied in You by the Sing Team

I have lost my appetite
And the flood is welling up behind my eyes
So I eat the tears I cry

And if that were not enough
They know just the words to cut and tear and prod
When they ask me "Whereʼs your God?"

Why are you downcast, oh my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
I can remember when you showed your face to me

As a deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for you
And when I behold Your glory,

You so faithfully renew
Like a bed of rest for my fainting flesh

I am satisfied in You

When Iʼm staring at the ground
Itʼs an inbred feedback loop that brings me down
So itʼs time to lift my brow
And remember better days
When I loved to worship you and all your ways
With the sweetest songs of praise

Why are you downcast, oh my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
I can remember when you showed your grace to me

As a deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for you
And when I survey Your splendor,

You so faithfully renew
Like a bed of rest for my fainting flesh

I am satisfied in You

Let my sighs give way to songs that sing about your faithfulness
Let my pain reveal your glory as my only real rest
Let my losses show me all I truly have is you

Cause I truly have is You

So when Iʼm drowning out at sea
And Your breakers and Your waves crash down on me
Iʼll recall your safety scheme
Youʼre the one who made the waves
And your Son went out to suffer in my place
And to tell me that Iʼm safe

So why am I down?
Why so disturbed?
I am satisfied in you

I am satisfied in you

I am satisfied in you

Lyrics: https://www.last.fm/music/The+Sing+Team/_/Satisfied+in+You+(Psalm+42)/+lyrics

Corrected by me

Video: https://youtu.be/A7O7LQpQaoc?list=RDA7O7LQpQaoc

Witness:

As I drove home from shopping, I was meditating on my life and my actions. My soul was disturbed because when I was in the store picking out a card for my oldest son’s birthday, I was reminded of my present situation and it brought tears to my eyes. In other years, I would have been with my wife picking out a “From Both of Us” card. Now as I looked at them, deep sorrow filled me. I also saw the cards “From Mom” and “From Dad” which only exacerbated my feelings of sadness. In such a mood, I drove home, and my thoughts turned in on myself. Before I sat down, I wanted to write about this, but I could not remember my thoughts and feelings at the time. The song above brought back those memories, and I am thankful to God for that, as well as for the message of the song itself.

On my way home these words surfaced in my mind, “My life is an empty shell, an outline without substance, bullet points that I cannot adequately defend.” I asked the Lord to “fill in the empty shell.” I was determined to make my life be more than words but one full of a vibrant faith, and a heart full of godly, sincere feelings.

Tonight as I recalled what I was thinking, I realized that if I accepted my assessment of my life, I would be listening to the lie of the enemy of my soul. I am not just an empty shell. The Lord has filled me with His Spirit. I am not an outline without substance. The Lord is writing my story into my life every day all that He has written from eternity. And I am not just bullet points I cannot defend. I may not be the most eloquent defender, but my life is a testimony of the grace of God, who saved me and is sanctifying me, and is conforming me into the likeness of His Son. I am not what I was, and I am not what I shall be.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-8 NIV

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.Rom 8:29-30  NASU 

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
1 John 3:2-3 NIV

https://image.slidesharecdn.com/090719centeredonchrist07likechrist-090719152401-phpapp02/95/090719-centered-on-christ-07-like-christ-8-728.jpg?cb=1248020508

WORD: 

Ps 26:8-27:1 8 I love the house where you live, O LORD                the place where your glory dwells.                        9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,                             my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,                 whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 But I lead a blameless life;                 redeem me and be merciful to me. 12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great       assembly I will praise the LORD.                                                    NIV (’84) Ps 26:8-27:1 8 I love your sanctuary, LORD,                 the place where your glorious presence dwells. 9 Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners.                 Don't condemn me along with murderers. 10 Their hands are dirty with evil schemes,                 and they constantly take bribes. 11 But I am not like that; I live with integrity.                So redeem me and show me mercy. 12 Now I stand on solid ground,                and I will publicly praise the LORD.                                                                                                      Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved. Ps 26:8-27:1 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. 9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD. KJV Ps 26:8-12 8 O LORD, I love the habitation of your house                 and the place where your glory dwells. 9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,                 nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are evil devices,                 and whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;                 redeem me, and be gracious to me. 12 My foot stands on level ground;      in the great assembly I will bless the LORD. ESV

- Some final thoughts and then onto Psalm 27

      THE LESSONS TAUGHT BY THIS PSALM

1.  We should live such holy lives that we feel no guilt when our enemies attack us.

2.  We should purpose to maintain our integrity at all times and at all costs.

3.  We should believe that God will deliver us out of all our troubles.

                           Gingrich, R. E. (2005). The Book of Psalms (Book One) (pp. 40–41). Memphis, TN: Riverside Printing.

If I were to categorize each point made above it might look like this:

·        Consecration

·        Commitment

·        Certitude

However, I believe some points were left out. Here a few I would add. I’m sure there are others.

1.     We should live self-examined lives with the LORD’s help.

2.     We should live separated lives from all evil.

3.     We should seek and savor the presence of the LORD and worship Him

4.     We should celebrate God’s protection and preservation privately and publicly

5.     We should strive to receive the blessings of the LORD so that we can return back praise and thanksgiving and glorify and bless the LORD.

Categorizing these might look like this:

·        Contemplation

·        Cut away

·        Covet and Cherish

·        Celebration

·        Compliment

Albert Barnes sums up the message of the Psalm in his final comments on verse 12:

[In the congregations will I bless the LORD] In the assemblies of his people will I praise him. Compare Ps 22:22. The meaning is, that in the great assembly he would offer special praise that God had resolved his doubts, and had given him so clear evidence that he was truly his friend. He would go to the house of God, and there render to Him public praise that he had been able to find the evidence which he desired. No act could be more appropriate than such an act of praise, for there is nothing for which we should render more hearty thanks than for any evidence that we are truly the friends of God, and have a well-founded hope of heaven. The whole psalm should lead us carefully to examine the evidences of our piety; to bring before God all that we rely on as proof that we are His friends; and to pray that He will enable us to examine it aright; and, when the result is, as it was in the case of the psalmist-when we can feel that we have reached a level place and found a smooth path, then we should go, as he did, and offer hearty thanks to God that we HAVE reason to believe we are His children and are heirs of salvation.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The psalm begins with a plea and ends in praise (and more than that as I have said). It commences with a prayer to Yahweh and culminates with that glorious name on David’s lips in the midst of God’s people. Here is a foretaste of heaven.

Some sage has said concerning this final phrase in the Psalm:

The public praises of the Church are the emblem of heaven itself.H. Gurnall, (from The Biblical Illustrator Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 Ages Software, Inc. and Biblesoft, Inc.)

Matthew Henry’s says this in his concluding comments on this psalm:

Those that hate the congregation of evil-doers shall be joined to the congregation of the righteous and join with them in praising God; and it is pleasant doing that in good company; the more the better; it is the more like heaven.(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights reserved.)

Sing all you saints of God

Tell of His glory near and abroad

Join with the celestial ranks

Shout for joy and give Him thanks

Unite with the heavenly throng

Worship with testimony and song

Of our God’s mercy and love

With those who have gone above

Our heavenly Father seeks true spiritual worshipers who seek to worship Him in spirit and truth

John 4:23-24 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. NIV

How can we bless the Blesser?

August 10, 2017

Worship: Worn by Tenth Avenue North

I'm tired
I'm worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing

I've made mistakes
I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Cause I'm worn

I know I need
To lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won't let up
And I know that You can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Cause I'm worn

And my prayers are wearing thin
I'm worn even before the day begins
I'm worn I've lost my will to fight
I'm worn so heaven come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Yes all that's dead inside will be reborn
Though I'm worn
Yeah I'm worn

Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Jeff Owen / Mike Donehey

Worn lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics: https://www.google.com/search?q=Lyrics+to+Worn&oq=l&aqs=chrome.0.69i59l2j0j69i60j69i57j69i60.2321j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Video: https://youtu.be/UUEy8nZvpdM

Witness:

I certainly can relate to the title of this song. Sleep deprivation is my middle name. All my plans and good intentions for getting a good “night’s” sleep (I work the grave yard shift) seem to meet with the relentless realities of life. Take for instance this morning. I was tired, but I chose to attend a LifeGroup I had not attended for a while, though I wanted to get home and get to bed as soon as possible. When I came home my daughter next door needed my help on something. I finally laid down after 10 am. I set the alarm for 8 pm. I did this because I had come to the conclusion that I needed to let my body dictate when I needed to wake up for the day and not an alarm. That would give me at least 9 -10 hours of sleep potentially if I did wake up to the alarm. Noon comes and so does an urgent knocking at my bedroom door. It’s my daughter saying what we worked on earlier did not work. I ended staying up for another hour and a half trying to help her. Finally, I lay back down and go to sleep. Enter the nightmare. I wake up and spend the next few hours listening to sermons and talking to my other daughter on the phone. After laying there for a little while longer, I finally decided to get up. I showered, shaved, and made dinner. That brings me to the present. Bleary eyed and groggy I am writing this portion before I lay down for a brief nap before work.

But I do not want to diminish the message of this song I have begun with. This song is not about being worn out by the lack of sleep. Rather, it is the cry of every honest believer who lives and breathes here on this planet. My life is just a parable that witnesses to this cry.

WORD:

Ps 26:8-27:1 8 I love the house where you live, O LORD                the place where your glory dwells.                        9 Do not take away my soul along with sinners,                             my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are wicked schemes,                 whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 But I lead a blameless life;                 redeem me and be merciful to me. 12 My feet stand on level ground; in the great       assembly I will praise the LORD.                                                    NIV (’84) Ps 26:8-27:1 8 I love your sanctuary, LORD,                 the place where your glorious presence dwells. 9 Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners.                 Don't condemn me along with murderers. 10 Their hands are dirty with evil schemes,                 and they constantly take bribes. 11 But I am not like that; I live with integrity.                So redeem me and show me mercy. 12 Now I stand on solid ground,                and I will publicly praise the LORD.                                                                                                      Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved. Ps 26:8-27:1 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. 9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD. KJV Ps 26:8-12 8 O LORD, I love the habitation of your house                 and the place where your glory dwells. 9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,                 nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are evil devices,                 and whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;                 redeem me, and be gracious to me. 12 My foot stands on level ground;      in the great assembly I will bless the LORD. ESV

As I come to the conclusion of Psalm 26 a question arises over one remarkable phrase at the very end of the psalm: “I will bless the LORD” We may fail to see and feel the extraordinary privilege found in this phrase. This is especially if we follow the translation found in the NIV and the NLT, which use the word “praise” instead of “bless.” 

Both translations are possible, but I believe one is better than the other. There are several words in Hebrew which can be translated praise. One is the word “halal,” which means:

PRAISE"to praise, celebrate, glory, sing (praise), boast."
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

However, this is not the word used here. The word used here in this passage is “barak,” which means:

BLESS"to kneel, bless, be blessed, curse.(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

As you can see Vines does not even use the word praise in its definition of the word “barak.”

So what is so remarkable about this word “bless” used here? If you looked up this word in a concordance, you would see that this word is usually used concerning a greater one bestowing a blessing on a lesser one or at least an equal blessing an equal. Here, however, we see the lesser one blessing the greater one. How can that possibly be? How are we able to bless the Blesser? That is - in what way can we as mere finite, imperfect mortals conceivably bless the infinite, perfect, and immortal One? 

Perhaps that’s why some translations use the word “praise” here (i.e., CEV, HCSB, NET, NIV, NLT, TEV). It certainly alleviates any tension resulting from translating it as “bless.” However, I believe when we use the word “praise” it diminishes the meaning and message found in this little phase.

If what I am saying is true, then how do I answer the question “How are we able to bless the Blesser?” To answer that, let me say that praise is certainly a part of it, as well as thanksgiving. However, they are not the end but the means to the end. Through them, God receives and experiences a blessing. Another way of saying this is: We glorify God when we return our praise and thanksgiving to Him for all His blessings upon us, and He finds great delight in them as well. 

Furthermore, if we receive the blessings of God and do not return our grateful praise back to Him, then we are the poorer for it. God will be glorified even if we fail to give Him the praise and thanksgiving He deserves. For He is glorified whether He exercises His divine pleasure or His divine displeasure. But we deprive ourselves because we miss out on one of the blessings that come from glorifying God - His joy. The joy we experience in blessing Him.

As I am writing this, a verse came to mind and an application that I don’t think we ever consider. Our Lord said:

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35 NIV                               

  

I believe the highest fulfillment of this passage is found in our giving praise and thanksgiving for all the blessings we receive from God. When we do, it becomes “the gift that keeps on giving.” For out of our joy in God’s blessings come praise and thanksgiving and out of that God is glorified and we are fully happy and satisfied.

John Piper puts it this way:

“God Is Most Glorified in Us When We Are Most Satisfied in Him”

God is eternally the blessed one, or as the word blessing implies, He is eternally the happy God (an idea not original with me – listen to the message linked to the quote below). Thus, when we bless God, we become partakers in the purposes of God to be happy which results from our happiness in Him. Piper puts it this way:

All the works of God culminate in the praises of his redeemed people. The climax of his happiness is the delight he takes in the echoes of his excellence in the praises of the saints. This praise is the consummation of our own joy in God.                                                               http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/an-unshakably-happy-god

Our joy is not complete until we return praise! Therefore, I contend that the end of this Psalm carries a wallop we miss when we fail to meditate on what it means to “bless the LORD.”

They Declare His Glory 

All creation sings Your praise

The starry night

The sun’s glorious rays

The soaring eagle in the sky

The weeping willow

The wind’s gentle sigh

The roaring of the restless seas

The babbling brook

The mid-winter freeze

The rugged cross long past

The martyr’s death

The kingdom come at last