Psalm 23

Psalm 23

This is one of the most well known parts of the Bible. Even people who know nothing of the Bible know this Psalm. It is read in time of distress and need, it’s read at funerals. Yet there things we generally miss when looking at it.

Shepherding was important to Israel and of God revealed things by talking about shepherds.  Some of the great passages about them are; Isaiah 40:11, Ezek 34:1-31 and John 10:1-18. The angels of heaven are sent to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus and not to kings. 

 

1. the Lord is my shepherd

            A. it is the writer not God who states this

            B. My shepherd,

                        a. a choice has been made to be one of Gods sheep

                        b. there are other shepherds that people follow

                        c. political parties, TV and radio personalities, the stock market

                        d. famous personalities, philosophy, science, even family

                        e. whatever you follow is your shepherd.

 

2. I shall not be in want

            A. a statement of trust and a statement of acceptance

            B. Not only will God provide all I need but what God provides is all I need

            C. Paul tells us in Phil 4:11-12

 

3. He makes me

            A. a statement of submission to God

            B. follow through green pastures, beside quite waters, in righteousness

            C. through the valley of the shadow of death

            D. prepare a table in the presence of my enemies

            E. you are with me

            F. Matthew 1:20  “Immanuel, God with us.”

 

4. the rod and staff

            a. Tools used to lead and guide.

            b. comfort in the discipline of God.

 

Because of this relationship, choosing to be God’s sheep, goodness and mercy will follow you and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  But it all starts with choosing who your shepherd will be. Whatever you follow in life, whatever you base your decisions on, that is your shepherd. We are all sheep the only question is who will your shepherd be?

Psalm 12:1-8 "Faith in the Face of "

Psalm 12:1-8

Faith in the Face of

            The desert is hot and the sun blinding but the parched and dying man sees water just ahead.  He laughs, he cries out in joy, he even turns his stumbling into a sort of dance.  He cries I’ve made it to water, it’s just ahead, I see it.  Yet it cruelly stays just ahead and he finally crashes to the ground.

            From corporate CEOs to over extended home owners, people who seem to have made it, suddenly find they have no water and their dreams are sand.

            David, who writes this Psalm is using his faith and what he knows is true to deal with the mirage of life in the world.

1. The mirage of life

            A. all the faithful are gone, “Vanished” from the human race.

            B. they all speak lying and deceitful tongues.

            C. boastful tongues, flattering lips, they are above God.

            D. the wicked strut around and things that are vile are honored by men.

2. David reminds himself of the promises of God.

            a. God will protect us.

            b. God hears us.

            c. God’s word is true and pure like silver and gold

            d. David has faith not in what he can see but in spite of it.

3. Living in faith

            a. God wants people of faith.

            b. Hebrews 11:1,  2 Cor 2:18.

            C. focus on the reality of God’s love and not the mirage of life.

            E. encourage those around you not to give up walking in faith.

Conclusion: Soon enough the world will find out that it has been drinking the sand.  Soon enough their failure to trust in Jesus will crash down upon them.  But you know that this world is a fake one, temporary one, and the real eternal world is going to last.  By faith you can start living in that world today, just as David did.

Psalm 3:7-8

Psalm 3:7-8

            We have come to Psalms, one of the most loved books of the Bible.  Psalms is a book of songs, poems, prayers and responsive readings used for worship.  It is often thought of as a book of comfort, but it is much more than that.  It is the one book in the Bible where the words are directed up to God, in contrast to Proverbs which is directed down to people.  In psalms, we see how people with real lives express the range of emotions and feelings to God.  There are psalms of joy, sorrow, strength, fear, despair, hope, faith, and questioning.  There are cries for justice, and cries for mercy.  Many people read psalms and just skip parts.  There are parts of psalms that just do not fit our Jesus ideas.  I have tried to pick psalms that would give us a range of view trusting that as you read you will pick up on the usual things

1. A PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

            A. 1-2 DAVID’S SITUATION

            B. 3-6 A STATEMENT OF TRUST, CONFIDENCE IN GOD

            C.  7-8 THE UNEXPECTED.

2.  JESUS

            A. FORGIVE, PRAY FOR AND BLESS WHO PERSECUTE YOU.

            B. OPENLY FOUGHT WITH THE TEMPLE LEADERS

            C. WHIPPED THE MONEY CHANGERS TWICE.

            D. YET FORGAVE THEM FROM THE CROSS

3. TAKING ON THE ENEMY

            A. THOSE WHO ATTACK YOUR FAITH

            B. THOSE WHO ATTACK GOD

            C. SINFULNESS IN YOUR LIFE

            D. THE SIN THAT DEFEATS THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU

            E. GOVERNMENT, HOMELESSNESS, JOBLESSNESS, PERVERSION AND ABUSE

            F. CANCER AND OTHER DISEASE

Perhaps the greatest enemy we have is that part of us that wants to live in rebellion to God.  That sinful nature that wants to defeat us on a personal level.  It is time to ask God to punch your sin in the jaw, knock out its teeth, and give you deliverance and victory.

Job 42:1-6

Job 42:1-6

INTRODUCTION: For every meeting there is an agenda of things the group wants to accomplish or deal with.  Behind that is another set of personal agendas that each person has brought to the meeting.  Take for instance a school board.  One person is there to make sure their taxes stay low, another to make sure their kids get a good education, and another is there to encourage sports or arts.  One person is asking what can we do with what we have to spend?  Another person is asking how much do we need to spend to do what needs to be done?

It is the same with church.  One person is looking for stimulation and entertainment, while another is looking for friendship.  One person is looking for answers to universe size questions, while another wants to know how to fix part of their life that seems broken.  One person is asking what do I get, while another ask what can I give?  Over all of that is the question of what the Church is trying to accomplish?  Here in Job 42 Job has an aha moment and realizes that above everything God has an agenda.

1. A QUESTION OF PURPOSE

            A. JOB TAUGHT EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT JOB

            B. JOB’S ACTIONS

            C. GOD’S REACTION TO JOB

            D. EVEN HIS SACRIFICES WERE ALL ABOUT HIMSELF OR FAMILY

2. SOMETHING BIGGER THAN JOB’S LIFE

            A. GOD HAS SOMETHING HE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH VS2

            B. WHAT GOD IS DOING IS BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND VS3

            C. THERE IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE

            D. THERE IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN ETERNITY

3. JOB MOVES FROM HEARING ABOUT GOD TO SEEING GOD

            A. ALL OF JOB’S LIFE HE HAS HEARD ABOUT GOD, KNEW ALL THE GOD WORDS

            B. BUT NOW HE HAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD, SEES GOD.

            C. HE STILL DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GOD IS DOING OR REASONS

            D. JOB FINALLY FOUND PEACE

            E. PHP 2:13, EPH 2:10,

Whose agenda have you been trying to fulfill?  Are you ready to go from hear about God, and knowing God words, to knowing God? Are you ready to experience His presence and purpose in your life? James 1:5.  It is time to get on our knees and ask “God what do you want me to do?”

Job 40:15-24

Job has gone on long enough so now God answers Job.  This section tells us about the greatness and power of God and our need to depend on it, respect it.  The answers are not the ones Job might like, for his pain and suffering are still a mystery to Job.  I like this section because God speaks of his creation of what we would call dinosaurs.  The Behemoth, a huge Herbivore created at the same time as humans vs. 15.  The leviathan is a huge creature with a double row of plating, which has the ability to breathe fire.  The only living example of fire emitting creature is the Bombardier Beetle.  I do not want to get lost in a discussion about Paleontology.  When God speaks to Job it is apparent that God expects Job to have seen and know these two creatures.  God’s question to Job is “are you the one with power?” “do you possess wisdom beyond mine?”

            I think this is a question we all face in life.  Matthew 24:12 says “because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”  We see on the news that children are shot playing near their home, or people are killed while watching a movie.  We ask God are you there?  We lose our job, our health, someone we love, and we ask God are you here?  Where is justice?  Suddenly we feel broken, vulnerable, and confused like Job.

1. Things we face are bigger than we are.

            Medical issues that seem like Behemoths

            Addictions, sinful desires, habits, relationship issues, that threaten us like a Leviathan.

            Injustice that hurts our hearts

            A vicious world which fills us with fear.

2.  Roller Coaster of life

            1884 the first coaster at Coney island traveled at 6 miles an hour.

            1912 Zippin Pippin 40 miles an hour

            1974 the cyclone traveled at 60 miles an hour

            Today they fly between 120 and 150 miles an hour

            All in an effort to dislodge your sense of security

            But Job was dislodged from his reference point

            When our life becomes dislodged from it reference point  

3. But God is here and in control

            When he speaks to job, no answer just assurance of control

            All of God’s words equal “Job trust me.”

            Matthew 24:13

             John 12:25

            John 16:33

Job 21:1-16  “Life’s Contradictions”

INTRODUCTION: “NOBODY LOVES YOU WHEN YOUR DOWN AND OUT.”

It does not take us long get to Jobs place during adversity.  Job goes through the cycle of morning.  First is denial “this really isn’t happening, then there is anger this must be a mistake, now Job lands on the idea that life is not fair.  Remember Job has gone from totally blessed to total distress, in the blink of an eye.  We all deal with adversity in different ways, some cry in their brokenness, others get angry, some seek revenge, yet they are all from the same place.

1. THE WICKED PROSPER

           A.  THE WICKED LIVE LONG
            B. THEY GAIN POWER
            C. THEIR CHILDREN ARE MANY  AND  HAPPY
            D. THEIR HOMES ARE FREE OF FEAR
            E. ALL THEIR BUSINESS PROSPERS
            F. THEY DIE IN PEACE

2. WE DO NOT KNOW THE WHOLE STORY

            A. WE DO NOT SEE THE MISERY IN THEIR HOME
            B. RELATIONSHIPS
            C. THE GREED, WORRY, SELFISHNESS AND BROKENNESS
3.  HOW CAN WE LIVE
            A.  OUR SITUATION HELPS GOD.  22:2-3
            B. EVERY BRANCH THAT BEARS FRUIT… JOHN 15:2
            C. BUILDS OUR FAITH JAMES 1:2-4
            D. GOD WANTS NONE TO PERISH NOR IS HE SLOW 2 PETER 3:9
            E. GOD CAUSES THE RAIN TO FALL ON THE JUST AND UNJUST MATTHEW 5:43-48
            F. YOUR TRUE WEALTH IS IN HEAVEN. 2 COR 4:16-18
            G. AL RIFFLE “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL”

 CONCLUSION:             We all go through times when we feel like Job, and we all respond differently, but all we search for answers let us take some time and allow God to bring us back to the knowledge that how we react to suffering is important the God and the world.  Let us remember our treasure is n heaven.  Let our heart sing, “It Is Well With My Soul”

Job 2

Job 2:1-12 the cosmic battle

Luke 22:31 “Satan has requested to sift you like wheat”

James 5:11

Ezekiel 14:14-20

“Have you considered my servant Job?”

In chapter 1 when the servants come to give Job the bad news it has a story like quality “I alone have escaped to tell you” that falsely leads some to believe that Job is a fable or fictional story. Yet we know from James and Ezekiel that Job was indeed a real person.  Ezekiel 14:14 places Job in the big three, Noah, Daniel and Job.

Job is the first Biblical Book to be written.  Job lives in the land of Uz, this puts Job 5 or 6 generations from Noah, because Uz is the great grandson of Noah. Moses makes no reference to Job so we have no help in placing exactly when Job lived.

Job gives us two views, one in heaven and the second as Job and his friends see it.

Job gives us information about a question that troubles us deeply, why do bad things happen to good people?  The theology which Job adhered to is that bad things happen to us because we have sinned; Jobs friends have the same theology as Job.  The events of Job’s life counters everything that Job believes, except the idea that God is in ultimate control.

Job also flies in the face on the American health and wealth gospel, where if you have faith, think positive, and only good things will happen to you. You will not find many tv preachers bringing up Job.

1.      God has ultimate authority 2:3

2.      God allows angels and people to act freely 2:6

3.      God is honored by the life of Job

4.      Job is held up as am example of what people should be especly Satan

5.      All creatures will give an account before God

6.      Job never knows why this all happened to him

The life we live everyday is important.

1.      It matters to God it honors or dishonors God

2.      It is a witness to all the beings that surround us human and spiritual

3.      Live a life where God will point to you and say “Have you considered my servant?”