Instruction... Illumination... Implementation

I would encourage you to click on the link to this song. It is a beautiful heartfelt song of worship and petition.

April 13, 2016

Worship: Listen to Our Hearts by Geoff Moore

How do you explain?
How do you describe a love
That goes from east to west
And runs as deep as it is wide?

You know all our hopes,
Lord, you know all our fears,
And words cannot express
The love we feel
But we long for you to hear.

So listen to our hearts
(Oh, Lord, please listen)
Hear our spirit sing...
(and hear us sing)

A song of praise that flows...
(A simple song of praise)
From those you have redeemed
(From those you have redeemed)

We will use the words
We know to tell you
What an awesome God you are
But words are not enough
To tell you of our love
So listen to our hearts.

If words could fall like rain
From these lips of mine
And if I had a thousand years
I would still run out of time,

So if you'll listen to my heart
Every beat will say
Thank-you for the life
Thank-you for the truth
Thank-you for the way.

So listen to our hearts
(Oh, Lord, please listen)
Hear our spirit sing...
(And hear us sing)

A song of praise that flows...
(A simple song of praise)
From those you have redeemed
(Those you have redeemed)

We will use the words
We know to tell you
What an awesome God you are
But words are not enough to tell you
Of our love, so listen to our hearts

You know all our hopes
(All our hopes)
Lord, you know all our fears
(And all our fears)
And words cannot
Express the love we feel
But we long for you to hear.

Listen to our hearts
(Oh, Lord, please listen)
Hear our spirit sing...
(And hear us sing)

A song of praise that flows...
(A song of praise)
From those you have redeemed
(From those you have redeemed)

We will use the words
We know to tell you
What an awesome God you are
But words are not enough to tell you
Of our love, so listen to our hearts.

Words are not enough to tell you
Of our love, so listen to our hearts.

http://www.newreleasetoday.com/lyricsdetail.php?lyrics_id=15023

Video: https://youtu.be/f7dRb1fIl2M

Witness:

As you can see, it’s been a few days again before I could sit down and journal my thoughts. Monday I babysat 3 of my grandkids. Tuesday was Men’s night out at the church, so here I am finally sitting down to write. My body is so weary and cries out to lay down to sleep before I go to work. I am suffering from lethargy and lack of desire. All my passion for studying and for ministering has seemed to disappear. I fell to my knees and cried out to the Lord to restore my desire and Love for Him. Life and loss have taken their toll on me and demand their due each day it seems, and I continually have to fight to regain joy and maintain focus on the things of God and not of man. As I arose from prayer, the song above began to play in my mind, and I decided to make it the song of worship for today. I make it my heart song to my God who loves me in spite of my frailties and doubts. Will you make it yours as well?

WORD:

Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. NIV	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. ESV
Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. NASU

My thoughts on this passage are simple today. Let me preface them by including some ideas by other commentators.

Spurgeon:

           

Ver. 4. Shew me thy ways, O Lord. Unsanctified natures clamour for their own way, but gracious spirits cry, "Not my will, but thine be done." We cannot at all times discern the path of duty, and at such times it is our wisdom to apply to the Lord himself. Frequently the dealings of God with us are mysterious, and then also we may appeal to him as his own interpreter, and in due time he will make all things plain. Moral, providential and mental forms of guidance are all precious gifts of a gracious God to a teachable people. The second petition, teach me thy paths, appears to mean more than the first, and may be illustrated by the case of a little child who should say to his father, "Father, first tell me which is the way, and then teach my little trembling feet to walk in it." What weak dependent creatures we are! How constantly should we cry to the Strong for strength!

Ver. 5. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me. The same request as in the last verse. The little child having begun to walk, asks to be still led onward by its parent's helping hand, and to be further instructed in the alphabet of truth. Experimental teaching is the burden of this prayer. Lead me according to thy truth, and prove thyself faithful; lead me into truth that I may know its preciousness, lead me by the way of truth that I may manifest its spirit. David knew much, but he felt his ignorance and desired to be still in the Lord's school; four times over in these two verses he applies for a scholarship in the college of grace. It were well for many professors if instead of following their own devices, and cutting out new paths of thought for themselves, they would enquire for the good old ways of God's own truth, and beseech the Holy Ghost to give them sanctified understandings and teachable spirits.For thou art the God of my salvation. The Three-in-One Jehovah is the Author and Perfector of salvation to his people. Reader, is he the God of your salvation? Do you find in the Father's election, in the Son's atonement, and in the Spirit's quickening all the grounds of your eternal hopes? If so, you may use this as an argument for obtaining further blessings; if the Lord has ordained to save you, surely he will not refuse to instruct you in his ways. It is a happy thing when we can address the Lord with the confidence which David here manifests, it gives us great power in prayer, and comfort in trial.On thee do I wait all the day. Patience is the fair handmaid and daughter of faith; we cheerfully wait when we are certain that we shall not wait in vain. It is our duty and our privilege to wait upon the Lord in service, in worship, in expectancy, in trust all the days of our life. Our faith will be tried faith, and if it be of the true kind, it will bear continued trial without yielding. We shall not grow weary of waiting upon God if we remember how long and how graciously he once waited for us. (from The Treasury of David, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Wiersbe:

David not only prayed for God's guidance, he asked for insight to understand the Word; for only there could he learn God's ways and understand his own path. "Lead me in your truth" reminds us that the Word and prayer always go together (1 Sam 12:23; John 15:7).
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

Nelson Study Bible

25:4–7 Show me is an appeal to God to enter into David’s life more directly, to help him become conformed to the character of God (Rom. 12:1, 2).Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version (Ps 25:4–7). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

KJV Study Bible

4–7. Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. This echo of the prayer of Moses when his people were rebellious at Sinai (Ex 33:13) is reiterated by David here and elsewhere (cf. 27:11; 86:11). There appears to be a difference between Show and teach. Teach carries the thought of a father helping a little child learn, of giving specific ethical instruction. But greater is Lead me in thy truth, and teach me. To show the ways of the Lord and make them visible, is very basic. The next higher step is to teach them. But the higher step yet is to lead in the ways of truth, to provide example as well as instruction. This is David’s prayer: that the Lord would lead him in His truth.Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 1013). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Keil and Delitzsch

Recognizing the infamy of such black ingratitude, he prays for instruction as to the ways which he must take according to the precepts of God (Ps 18:22). The will of God, it is true, lies before us in God's written word, but the expounder required for the right understanding of that word is God Himself. He prays Him for knowledge; but in order to make what he knows a perfect and living reality, he still further needs the grace of God, viz., both His enlightening and also His guiding grace.(from Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)

To these, I will add my own feeble thoughts. David’s desire is to be not only a hearer of the word but a doer also.

James 1:22-23

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
NIV

Therefore, his prayer is twofold. First, that he may know and understand God’s will and ways as found in His word. Second, that he may live them out in his life. David is praying for instruction & illumination, as well as implementation.

1. Instruction - in the ways of God 

2. Illumination - An understanding of what they mean in specific situations

2. Implementation - the wisdom and ability to apply them to those situations

A Small Victory

April 10, 2016

Worship: The Word Is Alive by Casting Crowns

Looking out from his throne

the Father of light and of men

Chose to make himself known

And show us the way back to Him

Speaking wisdom and truth

Into the hearts of peasants and kings

He began to unveil

The Word that would change the course of all things

With eyes wide open all would see

[Refrain]

The word is alive

And it cuts like the sword through the darkness

With a message of life to the hopeless and afraid

Breathing life into all who believe

The word is alive

And the world and its glories will fade

But its truth, it will not pass away

It remains yesterday and forever the same

The word is alive

Simple strokes on a page

Eternity's, secrets revealed

Carried on from age to age

It speaks truth to us even still

And as the rain falls from heaven

Feeds the earth before it returns

Lord, let Your word fall on us

And bring forth the fruit You deserve

With eyes wide open, let us see

[Refrain]

The Bible was inscribed over a period of 2000 years

In times of war and in days of peace

By kings, physicians, tax collectors, farmers

Fishermen, singers, and shepherds

The marvel is that a library so perfectly cohesive

Could have been produced by such a diverse crowd

Over a period of time which staggers the imagination

Jesus is its grand subject, our good its design

And the glory of God is its end

[Refrain]

The Word is alive

(The World and its glories will fade)

The Word is alive

(It's truth, it will not pass away)

His Word is alive

(His Word is alive, His word is alive)

Songwriters
HALL, JOHN MARK / CHAPMAN, STEVEN CURTIS

Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Read more: Casting Crowns - The Word Is Alive Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Video:  https://youtu.be/M1ldINcCp00

Witness & Word:

It has been days now since I have sat down and got into the Word. I have been busy with Band of Brothers, family, and a helping startup a new Lifegroup at a Sober Living facility. I have listened to messages during this time, but have not had a chance to sit down and think and meditate on the Word. I can tell as I struggle to focus my thoughts and heart on the study of Your Word, Father. Help me as I seek truth from Your Word to guide my life.

This morning I faced temptation and conquered. I work at a place that serves food. One type of food we offer is breakfast sandwiches. I especially love the Chicken, Bacon, and Cheese Biscuit. However, I had a mild stroke years ago, so I try to cut down on the salts and fats in my diet. These sandwiches can only be on the warmer for 3 hours. When their time is expired, they are written off, but we are also allowed to consume the expired sandwich if we want to.  I confess I often succumb to the temptation to eat one. They are very delicious, but high in salt and fat content.

Let me share how I faced temptation today. I was upset this morning because I came up short in my Shift Audit. I started to worry that my job would be on the line. However, the Holy Spirit reminded me, that God is sovereign and even this was from His hand. Even if I lost my job and home; I would not lose what was important – my relationship with Him nor would I lose my family and true friends. I was reminded of the Shane and Shane song I have been listening to lately titled, “Though You Slay Me”.

I come, God, I come
Return to the Lord
The one who's broken
The one who's torn me apart
You strike down to bind me up
You say You do it all in love
That I might know You in Your suffering

Though You slay me
Yet I will praise You
Though You take from me
I will bless Your name
Though You ruin me
Still, I will worship
Sing a song to the One who's all I need

Video: https://youtu.be/qyUPz6_TciY

I could not find where the shortage was so I closed out the Audit hoping it would bounce back in the next Audit. I was especially upset because my coworker before me had problems with his Audit. I struggled to help him find it. He was very long in his audit. I finally whittled it down and he ended up short, but not as drastic as the overage. While figuring things out, I came to the point where he would have ended up very short. I re-added some things and came up with a greater figure than I had previously come up with. Since he was expending extra payroll while I tried to find the problem, I just went with the greater figure and didn’t check it twice. Big mistake. Now I was short about the same amount I found in his favor, but now that could not be proven. This added to my stress. Since I still had time on the clock I decided to help with the breakfast sandwiches. As I was going to do this I told myself that I should get a sandwich to eat if one had gone out of time. That was the first temptation. I told myself no and cried out for a way out according to God’s promise in 1 Cor. 10:13. He reminded me that His joy was my strength in spite of the circumstance I was in with a bad Audit. So, I determined to resist the temptation to eat one. When I checked the time on the sandwiches they were all out, including my favorite. The temptation flashed before me and the tempter said, “you are upset, eat one and you will find comfort.”  I responded by reminded myself that God is my comfort and I did not need food to bring my comfort.  As I cooked new ones to replace the old ones the tempter said, “you already ate a pretzel last night when you came in and you shouldn’t have done that. You already have sinned against your body so what’s the difference? You already failed. Go ahead and eat one.” I responded by reminding myself of a message I heard at the Band of Brothers this week. One of the things the speaker said was that some make the excuse that they can live with their girlfriend and have sex since they already had failed in this area. This is a lie the tempter tells us. Finally, as I took the old sandwiches off and put the new ones on the warmer, the tempter came and said, “Look don’t they look good? Smell them, don’t they smell delicious? Don’t they still feel soft? Come on take one. It’s the end of the week. You have worked hard. Take one and enjoy.” I thought of the scripture in 1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

NIV

Thank you, Lord, for this lesson in my life. It may seem like a small thing to some, but the promise and the precepts apply to any temptation “great” or “small”. 

What are they?

The Promise:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

The Precepts:

·        The Lie: Sin will bring you pleasure

Ø The Truth:

Heb 11:24-26

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

NIV

Eph 2:1-10 NIV

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ps 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

NIV

·        The Lie: You failed already, what does it matter?

Ø The Truth:

Ps 19:13

Keep your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless,

innocent of great transgression.

NIV

Matt 16:23

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

NIV

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44-45

NIV

1 Peter 5:8-11

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

NASU

There are many more lies of the devil which we face, but this “small” victory illustrates the victory we can have over temptation when we are in step with the Spirit and the Word.

Our Human Prerogative

April 3, 2016

Worship: Still, My Soul Be Still by Keith & Krystyn

Still, my soul be still
And do not fear
Though winds of change may rage tomorrow
God is at your side
No longer dread
The fires of unexpected sorrow

[:: CHORUS::]
God, You are my God
And I will trust in You and not be shaken
Lord of peace renew
A steadfast spirit within me
To rest in You alone

Still, my soul be still
Do not be moved
By lesser lights and fleeting shadows
Hold onto His ways
With shield of faith
Against temptations flaming arrows

Still, my soul be still
Do not forsake
The Truth you learned in the beginning
Wait upon the Lord
And hope will rise
As stars appear when day is dimming

Read more at http://www.onlylyrics.com/keith-and-kristyn-getty-lyrics-1038884.php#jv3Eh7QLQ8TWIgCW.99

Video: https://youtu.be/iG9t5_ZNmaw

Witness:

Have you ever started on something with the goal of getting it done in a timely fashion and go on to something else? That was my goal when I sat down to journal. I was going to journal then head immediately to bed, but I got sidetracked on the way by mundane issues of style, grammar, and punctuation as I posted a journal entry on BlogSpot. How much time do we waste in a day chasing useless things? Do we chase monetary pots of gold at the end of imaginary rainbows? Do we seek security in temporary fixes such as drugs or alcohol? Do we embroil ourselves in the latest issue of the day? Do we swing from one romantic adventure to the next? These are all distraction by the “world, the flesh, and the devil”. We chase after these things to our own harm and destruction.

When it comes to spiritual things, we can be distracted by the latest theological fad, worship practices, or “Christian catch phrases”. Theology is very important and worship is as well. However, when they become a distraction or a point of contention, they cease to function as God intended them to – to glorify Him, deepen our affection for Him, and our satisfaction in Him alone. All these distractions can affect our personal quiet time of devotions and prayer. Worry over the stresses in our lives, sensual desires, the tyranny of the urgent, and the mundane things in life that need to be done can affect our focus when praying, worshiping in song, or studying His WORD. Sometimes it is just the inability to stay focused. I sometimes refer to this dilemma in my life as spiritual ADD/ADHD. I start off well in prayer or worship or Word and then my mind begins to wander off. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit will break in and bring me back on course. If you have this problem, ask the Lord to keep you on track and rescue you when you stray. As your Shepherd and guide, He will honor that prayer. Yes, you may stray (after all it’s what sheep do), but you will find Him drawing you back onto the path. The Lord is doing that with me. Sometimes quickly and sometimes He lets me wander for a while till I realize how foolish and unproductive I have been like tonight.

Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. NIV	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. ESV
Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. NASU

I have only scratched the surface of depths of these verses. When I leave this portion, I  still will not have reached very deep into the meaning they convey to me. Never-the-less, what I have been given at this time to draw from, let me drink deeply from it and be satisfied.

In verses 1-3 we have discussed praise in the form of profession, prayer, and promise. I began verses 4-5 with the impactive thought that this is a precious privilege we have, that the God of the universe would deign to be our teacher and guide. That is the divine prerogative in these verses. And petitioning Him to teach us is our human prerogative. A right not because of anything intrinsic in us, but by virtue of God’s grace. Furthermore, we can read these verses and miss the passion with which David prayed them. This prayer is not just filler found in many of our prayers. David is crying out for direction and deliverance from the One he depends on all day to come to his aid when lost or lonely or losing the battle. 

May I pursue You my God with such passion as David. Grant me patience as I wait upon you in hope. May Your joy be my strength and feed my passion for knowing and doing Your will!

Psalms 119:32

“The joy of our Lord should be wheels to our obedience.”

(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights reserved.)

There IS purpose in this pain

April 1, 2016

Worship: How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin

The splendor of the King
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice
All the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
It trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Age to age, He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end

The Godhead Three in One
Father, Spirit, Son
Lion and the Lamb
Lion and the Lamb

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God and all will see
How great, how great is our God

(How great is our God, sing with me)
Name above all names
(How great is our God and all will see)
Worthy of our praise
(How great, how great is our God)
My heart will sing
How great is our God

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Songwriters
CHRIS TOMLIN, CHRISTOPHER DWAYNE TOMLIN, ED CASH, JESSE REEVES

Published by
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.

Read more: Chris Tomlin - How Great Is Our God Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Video: https://youtu.be/cKLQ1td3MbE

Witness: Life has been a bit of a struggle lately. Life changes in my daughter’s life have once again flowed over to my side of life. Her husband, who has been a perennial problem in her and my life, has found gainful employment again (this is at least his 12^th or 13^th job in their 10 years of marriage). This means watching 3 of my grandchildren for her while they both work. Hopefully, the schedule will become more normalized, however, whether it puts them ahead financially remains to be seen. He tends to hold on to his money for his sinful habits and especially when he wants to punish my daughter for some perceived transgression. He is one of the reasons my wife left me, he has a very negative effect on all who know him. Yet God is sovereign, and there is a purpose in this pain my daughter and I carry. We have grown stronger through it. There is a saying that has been around for a while. It is a verse from a song called “How Can We See That Far,” by Amy Grant:

"The same sun that melts the wax can harden clay

And the same rain that drowns the rat will grow the hay."

Link: http://www.vagalume.com.br/amy-grant/how-can-we-see-that-far.html#ixzz44ipz8rH7

When trials beset us and pain seeks to undo us, we can trust in His loving hand, His promises in His WORD, and His unseen plan.

Lam 3:22-24

22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him."

NIV

Ps 18:30

God's way is perfect.

All the Lord's promises prove true.

He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

 Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Deut 29:29

 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

NIV

When life doesn’t make sense and trials seem unending; when the winds of adversity are blowing against us, the words that follow the verses in the song quoted above by Amy Grant contain some sage advice:

"And the mighty wind that knocks us down

If we lean into it

Will drive our fears away"

We can let life blow us down, or we can lean into the hurricane and hear God's "still small voice" and grasp hold of His Hand and find shelter in Him from the storm.

Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. NIV	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. ESV
Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. NASU

Time is fleeting, and my eyes grow tired. I have to get ready for work. I turn to a trusted saint, who ministers to me whenever I read from his works, and leave this short, but impactful word:

Psalms 25:4
Ver. 4. Shew me thy ways, O Lord. Unsanctified natures clamour for their own way, but gracious spirits cry, "Not my will, but thine be done." We cannot at all times discern the path of duty, and at such times it is our wisdom to apply to the Lord himself. Frequently the dealings of God with us are mysterious, and then also we may appeal to him as his own interpreter, and in due time he will make all things plain. Moral, providential and mental forms of guidance are all precious gifts of a gracious God to a teachable people. The second petition, teach me thy paths, appears to mean more than the first, and may be illustrated by the case of a little child who should say to his father, "Father, first tell me which is the way, and then teach my little trembling feet to walk in it." What weak dependent creatures we are! How constantly should we cry to the Strong for strength!(from The Treasury of David, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Of Pride and Privilage

March 28, 2016

Worship: Oceans (Where my feet may fail) by Hillsong United

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail, and fear surrounds me
You've never failed, and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours, and You are mine

Songwriters
JOEL HOUSTON, MATT CROCKER, SALOMON LIGHTHELM

Published by
Lyrics © CAPITOL CMG GENESIS

Read more: Hillsong United - Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Video: https://youtu.be/N2PNTq_-mZs

Witness:

How easy it is to walk in our own strength. When things are going well. When things aren’t going so well. When we are ministering to someone, who needs comfort. When we are preaching, or teaching the Word of God. Pride pervades even the humblest of us (excluding, of course, our Savior) and rears its ugly head in any of the situations mentioned above.

“I’ve got this Lord, just watch.”

“I don’t need words of encouragement and advice I am strong ‘in the Lord.’”

“I’ve just got to do better, and things will get better.”

“I feel so good going to help this brother/sister I really think I can help them.”

“I must be good, look how many -  said amen today/came forward/told me what a blessing the message/class was”

When I think these ways, pride is preceding me on my way to destruction (Proverbs 16:18)

I almost fell to this kind of thinking when I was about to go visit a brother who was going through a rough patch in his life. I had listened to the Lord earlier and had called him the day before. During that call, the Lord lead me in what to say. I felt His presence during the time on the phone with my brother in the Lord. The next day I asked if we could get together for a meal and a chance to talk. I fought the selfish feelings of not wanting to go so I could have more time in the Word and get things done around the house on the only day I really have the freedom of time to do it. 

Just about a half hour before I was going over to meet with him at his apartment the Lord asked me if I had prayed about what I was going to say. To my chagrin, I had not so I immediately got on my knees to ask for wisdom and strength to speak words of truth and comfort to my brother. The Lord also taught me that I needed to be a good listener as well as to ask questions rather than just speak in ignorance and with presupposition.

WORD:

Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. NIV	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. ESV
Ps 25:4-5 4 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.	Ps 25:4-5 4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. NASU

Before I delve into the meaning of words or translational issues; I want to pause to point out something that the Lord pointed out to me, during of all places, when I was ministering to my friend I was talking about just a minute ago. It is the immensity of the prayer David was praying. Here he was in the presence of the One with infinite and holy knowledge and wisdom. He began with praise in the form of profession, followed by a prayer grounded in a promise, and now he petitions for instruction from the greatest pedagogist in and beyond the Universe. 

Consider learning to play the violin or the guitar from the greatest master of these instruments. Think about training to swim or run with the fastest in those athletic fields. Ponder practicing open heart surgery or neurosurgery from the most skilled in those fields in the medical profession. Not many will ever get the opportunity to experience such a privilege in their lifetime. 

Yet, the greatest of all teachers and guides is willing to honor such a request when we ask Him to show us, teach us, and guide us. Such a thought is beyond my ability to comprehend and express in words on a computer screen or praise from my lips. It is astounding and glorious and, and, and …I am lost for words. Yet I know when I yearn to seek guidance from the Lord. When I sit at His feet to learn of Him and His ways. I am in good company with those who desire to do the same and can hear the words of my Lord speaking to me as He did to Martha long ago.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-40 NIV

When my life is burdened with the busy, and my heart is weighed down by the weight of my circumstances. When my mind is clouded, and the tyranny of the urgent is clamoring for my attention, may the Lord remind me with a twofold repetition of my name, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.” Come, sit at My feet and listen; choose “what is better, and it will not be taken away.”