Sermon for 11/21/2004
Psalm 18:1-3
Introduction:
If we could shrink the earth’s population to a village of one hundred people; here’s the way the world would look:
There would be 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the Western Hemisphere, and 8 Africans.
50 would suffer from malnutrition and one would be near death. Only one would have a college education, and only one would own a computer.
80 would live in substandard housing.
70 would be unable to read.
6 would possess 59% of the world’s wealth and all 6 would be from North America.
We attend church without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death. We are better off than 3 billion people in this regard.
We have money in the bank and spare change in a dish, food in the refrigerator, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads. We are richer than 75% of this world.
WBTU:
A. I am still not thankful. My life is the pits.
B. We can be thankful even during the most difficult circumstances in life. We see an especially inspiring example of a brave and thankful heart in the story behind one of the church’s thanksgiving songs #788 in our hymnal, Now Thank WE All Our God. This hymn was written during the 30 years war in Germany, in the early 1600’s. Its author was Martin Rinkart, a Lutheran preacher in the town of Eilenburg in Saxony. Now, Eilenburg was a walled city, so it became a haven for refugees seeking safety from the fighting. But soon, the city became too crowded and food was in short supply. Then, a famine hit and a terrible plague and Eilenburg became a giant morgue. In one year alone, Preacher Rinkart conducted funerals for 4,500 people, including his own wife. The ward dragged on; the suffering continued. Yet through it all, he never lost courage or faith and even during the darkest days of Eilenburg’s agony, he was able to write this hymn. Even when he was waist deep in destruction, Preacher Rinkart was able to lift his sights to a higher plane. He kept his mind on God and heaven when the earth was a living hell. Can we not do the same- we whose lives are almost trouble-free, compared with the man who wrote this hymn?
C. This still doesn’t do it for me. Well, maybe the words of David will. Psalm 18 was written after David had rest from all his enemies.
Thesis: David told the Lord that he loved him because of 6 characteristics that we find in Psalm 18:1-3.
For instances:
1. Strength vs. 1
A. I am thankful that the Lord gives us his strength.
1. Physically- bathing and man handling 4 boys.
2. Socially- teaching manners, conversation
3. Mentally- endless questions
4. Spiritually. (Rom 7:18 NIV) I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.(Rom 7:19 NIV) For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.
B. (1 Tim 1:12 NIV) I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
C. (2 Tim 4:17 NIV) But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.
D. (Phil 4:13 NIV) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
D. On thanksgiving we need to give thanks to God for the strength he has supplied for us to do. Anything that has been accomplished has been done through Him.
E. Babies and the delivery. Jason the new youth minister. God will give strength to do what needs to be done to bring in souls.
F. Many people believe that we are running out of strength as a nation, running out of resolve. Strength comes from above. New King James- My strength in whom I will trust- vs 2.
G. The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins.
As a result, Secretary Chase instructed James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, to prepare a motto, in a letter dated November 20, 1861:
Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.
You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.
H. Much apathy about spiritual things leads to apathy in most areas of life.
G. Strength does not come from youth, it comes from the Lord. (Isa 40:29 NIV) God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.(Isa 40:30 NIV) Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;(Isa 40:31 NIV) but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
H. Horn of my salvation- Horns many times were worn as people went into battle. Symbol of might and power. We can run into the battle through Christ. Without Christ we will retreat and run away.
I. I am weak and have no strength. So did other people like Paul? God told Paul, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
J. Don’t pray for an easy life; pray to be a stronger person. Prayer gives strength to the weak, faith to the fainthearted, and courage to the fearful.
2. Rock vs. 2
A. NIV- my rock in whom I take refuge.
B. I took my boys to Pilot Mountain. I go up there every once in a while. Hike to the Knob. It is so beautiful. The Mountain has been like that for many years. People for a long time have used it as a landmark. The Rock reminds me of God and how stable he is.
D. According to the New Testament, the rock is Christ and the one who trusts in this rock will never be put to shame. The Parable of Jesus about the house on the rock and the house on the sand.
D. This is probably referring to a crag or open place in the rock where one could hide from enemies and be safe. A lot of those on Pilot Mountain.
C. I remember when I was in college this was one of my favorite descriptions of God. He never changes and he is solid. Better than money in the bank.
F. Psalm 118:8- It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
3. Fortress vs. 2
A. Includes stronghold, high tower and refuge.
B. WE are safe and secure from the battle. We are protected and out of harms way.
C. (Prov 14:26 NIV) He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.
D. Horn’s of the altar were a place of sanctuary.
D. (Psa 59:16 NIV) But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
G. The church is a safe place but we are not talking about the building. Right now church buildings are being burned down and in times past they were burned down with the Christians in them. No, our safe place is not where we live; it is in whom we live, regardless of the consequences. If we base our safety on anything other than Christ, we will someday realize that we have been bitterly cheated. The safety is in holding his hand and following, regardless of where that leads or what happens.
E. The warrior is a child by Twyla Paris.
Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I’m amazing, strong beyond my years
But they don’t see inside of me, I’m hiding all the tears
They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
Deep inside this armor - the warrior is a child.
Unafraid because His armor is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest.
People say that I’m amazing - never face retreat
But they don’t see the enemies that lay me at His feet.
They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down
They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and look up for a smile
’Cause deep inside this armor...
The warrior is a child.
4. Counselor vs. 3
A. I will call upon the Lord.
B. (Psa 34:17 NIV) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.(Psa 34:18 NIV) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
C. My wife, as a child, used to talk to their dog Penny and this is helpful but to speak to the Lord is even more helpful. He will hear and do what is best.
D. A friend who is closer than any brother. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
5. Deliverer. Vs. 2
A. Judges were deliverers. The Lord heard the cries of his people and delivered them.
B. Simon Bolivar was one of South America’s greatest generals. His victories over the Spaniards won independence for Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. He is called El Liberator (The Liberator) and the "George Washington of South America."
C. Our God is a God of deliverance, one of the greatest events in the Old Testament is when God delivered his people from cruel bonds of Egyptian Slavery
C. God has provided a deliverer.
7. Savior. Vs. 3
A. David was saved from King Saul and all his other worldly enemies.
B. All of us have three enemies:
1. Sin. (Rom 6:6 NIV) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--(Rom 6:7 NIV) because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
2. Satan. (1 John 3:8 NIV) He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
3. Death. (Heb 2:14 NIV) Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--(Heb 2:15 NIV) and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Conclusion:
The pronoun “MY”
(1 John 4:10 NIV) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
(Rom 5:8 NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
