July 2024
Fortress: Psalm 46, 28 July 2024
Psalm 46: Fortress
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
July 28, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: God is our refuge, strength, help, and fortress in a broken world. Hallelujah!
The most common command in the Bible is…fear not. Why? Because we are tempted to be afraid. Life is hard enough dealing with health issues, financial challenges, and basic survival, but now with traditional and social media, we’re made aware of wars, climate change, politics, violence, and a whole host of other things to fear…and that doesn’t even begin to mention snakes, death, or what some consider to be the greatest fear of all…public speaking!
Today we’re continuing our series on the Psalms and we’re looking at Psalm 46. It describes God as our fortress, and I’m grateful for the promises and instructions contained in this ancient song.
There’s some introductory information before the song begins.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
Verse one says,
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
Hallelujah! This is a great verse to memorize. It tells us three things about our awesome God. First, He is our refuge. He is our strength. In addition, He’s our help, an ever-present help in trouble. We all find ourselves in trouble of one sort or another.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:2-3)
We know what the therefore is there for! Because God is our refuge, strength, and help, we will not fear. Fear not, family!
You’ve probably never seen mountains falling into the sea, but you may have been in an earthquake. Most of you have survived floods in Findlay. If you’ve ever been to Niagara Falls, you know who powerful water can be.
White-water rafting taught me how powerful and dangerous the current can be. Several years ago, I was with some friends at Ohiopyle State Park in western Pennsylvania. We went rafting down the Youghiogheny River and were warned about Dimple Rock, a dangerous point of the Lower Yough part of the river where at least nine people have died from the powerful vacuum underneath that can trap people that fall out of the raft. I had been on this river and navigated Dimple Rock on more than one occasion, but this trip was different. I remember approaching the spot, and then suddenly without warning I was underwater. I don’t remember falling out. I was suddenly in what felt like a giant washing machine, unable to see or breathe. Obviously, I survived, but those five seconds that seemed like five minutes reminded me of the power of roaring waters.
Because God is our refuge and strength and help, we will not fear, despite the earth, the waters, the upcoming election, the results of the Olympics, the doctor’s report, the news delivered by your family member,…
While the Bible repeatedly says, “Fear not” (some have counted 366 times, one for every day of the year including leap year!), there is one thing we are to fear: God. That might sound odd. Are we to be afraid of God? No. We are to be awed and revere Him.
Whatever you fear has mastery over your life, which is why we are told to fear God and only God. When God is your master, every other fear will lose its control over you. Best-selling author and pastor Erwin McManus says,
“When all your fear is directed at God, his perfect love casts out all the fear and now you can live a life that’s truly free.” – Erwin McManus
Who doesn’t want that?
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. (Psalm 46:4) God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. (Psalm 46:5)
This is not a literal body of water, but a poetic image of God’s presence. Jerusalem was the Holy City which God set apart, yet unlike most cities, Jerusalem has no river. God’s blessings provided more value and help than any river. If they trust in the LORD, it will become almost like the Garden of Eden.
In those days, God’s presence was usually contained in the Jerusalem temple. How blessed we are that the curtain the kept that presence in the Holy of holies was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died…and since the Holy Spirit was unleashed upon believers in Acts 2, we can experience God’s presence and power wherever we go. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. (Psalm 46:6)
Here's another brilliant image. Imagine the earth melting at the sounds of God’s voice. It’s really not a stretch since the earth was created at the sound of God’s voice!
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:7)
There are two distinct messages here. The first is incarnation…Emmanuel…God with us. He’s with us, family! You can’t see Him or touch Him, but just like the invisible wind, you can see His activity.
God is also our fortress. We don’t often see a fortress in modern architecture. The closest thing some have is a safe room in their house…or a basement for tornados. A fortress or refuge is a place of safety. God is that for us.
Our God is a mighty fortress! He is a shelter in the time of storm. He is our refuge and strength. He is our protector. He is our shepherd (Yahweh-Rohi). He is the strong one who sees (El-Roi). He is God Almighty (El-Shaddai-Rohi). He is the everlasting God (El-Olam). He is the most high God (El-Elyon). He is our provider (Yahweh-Jireh). He is the Lord over all (Adonai). He is the Lord who is present (Yahweh-Shammah). That’s just a few of the names of God!
What is your favorite name for God? Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. (Psalm 46:8)
That sounds rather dark, but the scene is the fields surrounding Jerusalem, filled with the destruction of the Assyrian army the LORD defeated.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. (Psalm 46:9)
God is God. He is the definition of justice…and yet He is also merciful, hallelujah! We don’t want what we deserve from God! As the psalmists describe God’s power, the tone changes in verse ten. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
Be still! The phrase literally means, “Take your hands off! Relax!” Jacob got in trouble taking matters into his own hands rather than trusting the LORD. Have you ever done that? Be still. Keep calm. Trust God. It doesn’t mean be inactive, but don’t worry…pray…and obey! God is in control…and we’re not! I struggle with being still, letting go, and trusting God sometimes. Can you relate?
The verse also says, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
For God so loved the…United States of America?
For God so loved the…English-speaking people?
For God so loved…the world! The nations!
One of the most beautiful visions in the Bible is from the book of Revelation. John wrote,
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9a)
God will be exalted among the nations, exalted in the earth.
The final verse declares,
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:11)
This is a perfect summary of the chapter.
The LORD. There is none like Him.
The LORD Almighty. He’s greater than any trouble, enemy, fear, army, addiction, or disease.
The LORD Almighty is with us. He is present. He is here. He’s not just out there. The Holy Spirit lives inside every follower of Jesus.
And the God of Jacob is our fortress. He’s known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From generation to generation, He remains faithful. What He did then, He can do now.
So what?
God is our refuge, strength, help, and fortress in a broken world. Hallelujah! Let’s go to Him with our cares and concerns. Fear not! He is with us.
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
July 28, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: God is our refuge, strength, help, and fortress in a broken world. Hallelujah!
The most common command in the Bible is…fear not. Why? Because we are tempted to be afraid. Life is hard enough dealing with health issues, financial challenges, and basic survival, but now with traditional and social media, we’re made aware of wars, climate change, politics, violence, and a whole host of other things to fear…and that doesn’t even begin to mention snakes, death, or what some consider to be the greatest fear of all…public speaking!
Today we’re continuing our series on the Psalms and we’re looking at Psalm 46. It describes God as our fortress, and I’m grateful for the promises and instructions contained in this ancient song.
There’s some introductory information before the song begins.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
Verse one says,
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
Hallelujah! This is a great verse to memorize. It tells us three things about our awesome God. First, He is our refuge. He is our strength. In addition, He’s our help, an ever-present help in trouble. We all find ourselves in trouble of one sort or another.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:2-3)
We know what the therefore is there for! Because God is our refuge, strength, and help, we will not fear. Fear not, family!
You’ve probably never seen mountains falling into the sea, but you may have been in an earthquake. Most of you have survived floods in Findlay. If you’ve ever been to Niagara Falls, you know who powerful water can be.
White-water rafting taught me how powerful and dangerous the current can be. Several years ago, I was with some friends at Ohiopyle State Park in western Pennsylvania. We went rafting down the Youghiogheny River and were warned about Dimple Rock, a dangerous point of the Lower Yough part of the river where at least nine people have died from the powerful vacuum underneath that can trap people that fall out of the raft. I had been on this river and navigated Dimple Rock on more than one occasion, but this trip was different. I remember approaching the spot, and then suddenly without warning I was underwater. I don’t remember falling out. I was suddenly in what felt like a giant washing machine, unable to see or breathe. Obviously, I survived, but those five seconds that seemed like five minutes reminded me of the power of roaring waters.
Because God is our refuge and strength and help, we will not fear, despite the earth, the waters, the upcoming election, the results of the Olympics, the doctor’s report, the news delivered by your family member,…
While the Bible repeatedly says, “Fear not” (some have counted 366 times, one for every day of the year including leap year!), there is one thing we are to fear: God. That might sound odd. Are we to be afraid of God? No. We are to be awed and revere Him.
Whatever you fear has mastery over your life, which is why we are told to fear God and only God. When God is your master, every other fear will lose its control over you. Best-selling author and pastor Erwin McManus says,
“When all your fear is directed at God, his perfect love casts out all the fear and now you can live a life that’s truly free.” – Erwin McManus
Who doesn’t want that?
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. (Psalm 46:4) God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. (Psalm 46:5)
This is not a literal body of water, but a poetic image of God’s presence. Jerusalem was the Holy City which God set apart, yet unlike most cities, Jerusalem has no river. God’s blessings provided more value and help than any river. If they trust in the LORD, it will become almost like the Garden of Eden.
In those days, God’s presence was usually contained in the Jerusalem temple. How blessed we are that the curtain the kept that presence in the Holy of holies was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died…and since the Holy Spirit was unleashed upon believers in Acts 2, we can experience God’s presence and power wherever we go. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. (Psalm 46:6)
Here's another brilliant image. Imagine the earth melting at the sounds of God’s voice. It’s really not a stretch since the earth was created at the sound of God’s voice!
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:7)
There are two distinct messages here. The first is incarnation…Emmanuel…God with us. He’s with us, family! You can’t see Him or touch Him, but just like the invisible wind, you can see His activity.
God is also our fortress. We don’t often see a fortress in modern architecture. The closest thing some have is a safe room in their house…or a basement for tornados. A fortress or refuge is a place of safety. God is that for us.
Our God is a mighty fortress! He is a shelter in the time of storm. He is our refuge and strength. He is our protector. He is our shepherd (Yahweh-Rohi). He is the strong one who sees (El-Roi). He is God Almighty (El-Shaddai-Rohi). He is the everlasting God (El-Olam). He is the most high God (El-Elyon). He is our provider (Yahweh-Jireh). He is the Lord over all (Adonai). He is the Lord who is present (Yahweh-Shammah). That’s just a few of the names of God!
What is your favorite name for God? Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. (Psalm 46:8)
That sounds rather dark, but the scene is the fields surrounding Jerusalem, filled with the destruction of the Assyrian army the LORD defeated.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. (Psalm 46:9)
God is God. He is the definition of justice…and yet He is also merciful, hallelujah! We don’t want what we deserve from God! As the psalmists describe God’s power, the tone changes in verse ten. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
Be still! The phrase literally means, “Take your hands off! Relax!” Jacob got in trouble taking matters into his own hands rather than trusting the LORD. Have you ever done that? Be still. Keep calm. Trust God. It doesn’t mean be inactive, but don’t worry…pray…and obey! God is in control…and we’re not! I struggle with being still, letting go, and trusting God sometimes. Can you relate?
The verse also says, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
For God so loved the…United States of America?
For God so loved the…English-speaking people?
For God so loved…the world! The nations!
One of the most beautiful visions in the Bible is from the book of Revelation. John wrote,
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9a)
God will be exalted among the nations, exalted in the earth.
The final verse declares,
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:11)
This is a perfect summary of the chapter.
The LORD. There is none like Him.
The LORD Almighty. He’s greater than any trouble, enemy, fear, army, addiction, or disease.
The LORD Almighty is with us. He is present. He is here. He’s not just out there. The Holy Spirit lives inside every follower of Jesus.
And the God of Jacob is our fortress. He’s known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From generation to generation, He remains faithful. What He did then, He can do now.
So what?
God is our refuge, strength, help, and fortress in a broken world. Hallelujah! Let’s go to Him with our cares and concerns. Fear not! He is with us.
Rooted: Psalm 1, 21 July 2024
Psalm 1: Rooted
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
July 21, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: The quality of your life and destiny begin with your roots.
Before we dive into our sermon, I want to begin with a simple question: Why are you here? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself…with gratitude!
There are many good answers to this question, but I hope above the social benefits, the music team, serving others, and tradition is a desire to deepen your relationship with God in order to become a disciple—a follower, student, apprentice—of Jesus.
I was challenged many years ago by a friend who wondered whether or not discipleship occurs at all during the Sunday morning worship gathering. Since our mission is essentially to make disciples, I hope so! That’s what it means to love, equip, and send…in the name of Jesus Christ. He’s why we’re here.
As we open God’s Word, the Bible, together, I want to preach not merely for the sake of conveying information, and not even for inspiration, but ultimately for transformation. I can’t do that, but the Holy Spirit can take the scriptures and activate them in our lives.
Why are you here? Ultimately, I hope it’s about the glory of God. That’s why we’ve been placed on this planet…to know God and make Him known, to love Him and our neighbor as ourselves, to go and make disciples of all nations. As Pastor Ed said a few weeks ago, it’s all about Jesus!
We’re starting a series on the book of Psalms today. We won’t cover all 150 Psalms, but we’re going to tackle a different one each week. The Psalms are a fascinating collection of songs written by various lyricists, most notably King David. The subjects range from praise and worship to confession, despair, lament, and even outrage. As a musician, mobile DJ, and artist, I’m especially enamored with the Psalms, their artistry, and passion. Many are raw, honest, vulnerable, and real. We can be those with God.
The Psalms have five sections or books just like the Pentateuch, the first five books of Moses that begin the Old Testament, the Jewish Bible.
Today we’re beginning our series with Psalm…one! Its first letter is the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It begins…
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (Psalm 1:1, NIV)
That’s a mouthful. Let’s back up and look at the word translated blessed. The original Hebrew word is “ashrey” and it’s actually in the plural, blessedness. Some English translations say “happy” or reference joy. Jesus began the famous Sermon on the Mount with this word (in Greek).
Blessed are the poor in spirit,…Blessed are those who mourn,…Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,…(Matthew 5:3-10, NIV)
Do you want to be blessed? Of course you do! A blessing is literally “God’s favor and protection.” Who doesn’t want that? While blessings may appear to be random, we’ll see true blessings are found in being rooted in the LORD.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (Psalm 1:1, NIV)
I used to tell my kids, “You are your friends. Choose wisely.” Perhaps you’ve heard, “Birds of a feather, flock together.” Paul, who wrote several books in the Bible, said, “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33). We are all influenced by others, whether it’s family, friends, or even social media. Who do you hang with? Are they wicked? Do they sin without regret or repentance? Do they mock others? Are they filled with pride? What comes out of their mouth? Would it be appropriate around children?
The very first sentence of the very first Psalm says one is blessed not when they ask God to bless them, but rather when they avoid the influence of the wicked. There is effort involved. There is self-control involved. It may mean thinking twice about how you spend your time…with whom you spend your time!
This does not mean we should never develop relationships with non-Christians. It does mean in doing so we need to shine light into the darkness, not let our light get snuffed out by the darkness.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (Psalm 1:1, NIV)
Notice the progression: walk, stand, sit. The righteous don’t have time to stand around and mock and gossip because they’re delighting in the LORD.
But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (Psalm 1:2, NLT)
This is a good “but!” This is what a blessed person does. If you want to experience joy, this is what you do. You fill your mind with truth. You meditate not on your navel or cable news, but on the scriptures!
According to numerous studies, biblical illiteracy has been on the increase for decades. Even many so-called Christians don’t know what the Bible says…or act like they don’t! I’ve been amazed—especially in the past few years—at the ungodly attitudes of so-called Christians. I expect the world to act like the world, but the lack of love, peace, compassion, empathy, courage, sacrifice, patience, and goodness of many who claim to follow Christ is evidence many simply don’t meditate on the Word of God. They’ve been more influenced by political parties or trendy ideas than on the law of the LORD.
Family, we need to meditate on the Bible day and night. Just reading it isn’t sufficient. Twenty minutes on Sunday morning is not enough. Most people I know eat more than one meal a week…more than one meal a day! We need to not only feed our bodies, we need to feed our minds and souls. We need to feast on God’s Word, especially when we’re exposed to countless lies every day on billboards, television, and the Internet.
But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (Psalm 1:2, NLT)
The Hebrew word for meditate, hagah, means to moan, growl, ponder. The same word is found in Isaiah 3:14 for a lion’s low growling and later for the cooing of a dove. Perhaps you’ve tried to memorize something, repeating it quietly out loud. Day and night the blessed, the happy, the joyful marinate their minds on God’s Word. It is their delight. This isn’t Eastern meditation where you empty yourself so anything can wander in, but rather intentionally focusing on the truths of scripture. By the way, the Hebrew word for “law,” Torah, is more than just rules. It’s all of the stories, prophecies, and instructions in the Bible, provided for us to know and understand God and reality.
It's no wonder our world is filled with so many opinions and perspectives. People are reading different books…literally! What is your basis for faith? For truth? For understanding life?
We have several tools to help you meditate on God’s Word. The bulletin is full of them, including small groups and Sunday School. Many of you have the YouVersion app on your phone, which is incredible. Another tool Heather and I have found to be very useful is called Lectio 365. It offers guided prayer and Bible study each morning and evening. You can receive a free subscription to RightNow Media here.
Of course, there are many other ways to get God’s Word in your heart, letting it fill your mind. You can read it, listen to it on audio, and even take classes in-person or online. By the way, the best Bible translation is…the one you read! I like the New Living Translation and the New International Version, but if you prefer a different one, go for it!
Arguably the best chapter in the Bible about the Bible is Psalm 119. It’s the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses!). If you want a great place to start meditating on God’s Word, read it slowly.
Those who delight in God’s Word, those who meditate on it…
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalm 1:3, NLT)
Have you ever slowed down long enough to observe trees? God designed them to get nourishment through their roots and the results can be seen in the leaves and fruit. The roots determine the fruits. It seems like trees near water have an advantage! Even when the weather is dry, a tree near water is able to drink. They are able to bear fruit. I love fruit, especially fresh fruit! I think the only thing I might love more than fruit is ice cream…and when they’re combined…yum!
But have you ever had bad fruit? Moldy fruit? We throw it in the trash!
Those who feed on God’s Word, those who meditate on the LORD, who spend time with God will produce good fruit, the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23a, NIV)
This is the fruit of doing life with God, filling our minds with truth and righteousness.
But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. (Psalm 1:4, NLT)
I’m no gardener, but I know the wheat and chaff are separated. One has value, the other is worthless trash. The kernel falls to the threshing floor and is saved while the chaff blows away. Imagine a watermelon. You eat the fruit and throw away the rind, right? You spit out the seeds. This is how God describes the wicked, those who ignore God and His wisdom. It gets worse.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. (Psalm 1:5, NLT)
Judgment Day is coming…for all humans. Are you ready? I know our culture is filled with gray, but scripture repeatedly talks about the sheep and the goats, the wide and narrow road, heaven and hell. There are two paths. Which have you taken? It’s never too late to repent, turn, and follow Jesus.
For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1:6, NLT)
Which path are you choosing?
Jesus once said,
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28, NIV)
It’s not enough to hear it. It’s not enough to read it. We must live it!
So What?
Do you want to be blessed? There’s something you can do about it! To experience God’s favor, you need to seek and follow Him. It’s not enough to say, “Bless me, LORD!” You need to spend time with Him, meditate on His Word, surround yourselves with others who will speak the truth in love and model a Jesus lifestyle. Garbage in, garbage out. Good stuff in, good stuff out!
The message today is quite simple, yet we’re so easily enticed by the lies of this world and miss the pathway to blessings. It’s ultimately about seeking and following the LORD. It’s about building your life around Jesus. It requires intentionality. We need to pay attention. The quality of our life and destiny begins with your roots. Your roots determine your fruits. Are you rooted in God and His Word?
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
College First Church of God
July 21, 2024
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: The quality of your life and destiny begin with your roots.
Before we dive into our sermon, I want to begin with a simple question: Why are you here? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself…with gratitude!
There are many good answers to this question, but I hope above the social benefits, the music team, serving others, and tradition is a desire to deepen your relationship with God in order to become a disciple—a follower, student, apprentice—of Jesus.
I was challenged many years ago by a friend who wondered whether or not discipleship occurs at all during the Sunday morning worship gathering. Since our mission is essentially to make disciples, I hope so! That’s what it means to love, equip, and send…in the name of Jesus Christ. He’s why we’re here.
As we open God’s Word, the Bible, together, I want to preach not merely for the sake of conveying information, and not even for inspiration, but ultimately for transformation. I can’t do that, but the Holy Spirit can take the scriptures and activate them in our lives.
Why are you here? Ultimately, I hope it’s about the glory of God. That’s why we’ve been placed on this planet…to know God and make Him known, to love Him and our neighbor as ourselves, to go and make disciples of all nations. As Pastor Ed said a few weeks ago, it’s all about Jesus!
We’re starting a series on the book of Psalms today. We won’t cover all 150 Psalms, but we’re going to tackle a different one each week. The Psalms are a fascinating collection of songs written by various lyricists, most notably King David. The subjects range from praise and worship to confession, despair, lament, and even outrage. As a musician, mobile DJ, and artist, I’m especially enamored with the Psalms, their artistry, and passion. Many are raw, honest, vulnerable, and real. We can be those with God.
The Psalms have five sections or books just like the Pentateuch, the first five books of Moses that begin the Old Testament, the Jewish Bible.
Today we’re beginning our series with Psalm…one! Its first letter is the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It begins…
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (Psalm 1:1, NIV)
That’s a mouthful. Let’s back up and look at the word translated blessed. The original Hebrew word is “ashrey” and it’s actually in the plural, blessedness. Some English translations say “happy” or reference joy. Jesus began the famous Sermon on the Mount with this word (in Greek).
Blessed are the poor in spirit,…Blessed are those who mourn,…Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,…(Matthew 5:3-10, NIV)
Do you want to be blessed? Of course you do! A blessing is literally “God’s favor and protection.” Who doesn’t want that? While blessings may appear to be random, we’ll see true blessings are found in being rooted in the LORD.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (Psalm 1:1, NIV)
I used to tell my kids, “You are your friends. Choose wisely.” Perhaps you’ve heard, “Birds of a feather, flock together.” Paul, who wrote several books in the Bible, said, “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33). We are all influenced by others, whether it’s family, friends, or even social media. Who do you hang with? Are they wicked? Do they sin without regret or repentance? Do they mock others? Are they filled with pride? What comes out of their mouth? Would it be appropriate around children?
The very first sentence of the very first Psalm says one is blessed not when they ask God to bless them, but rather when they avoid the influence of the wicked. There is effort involved. There is self-control involved. It may mean thinking twice about how you spend your time…with whom you spend your time!
This does not mean we should never develop relationships with non-Christians. It does mean in doing so we need to shine light into the darkness, not let our light get snuffed out by the darkness.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, (Psalm 1:1, NIV)
Notice the progression: walk, stand, sit. The righteous don’t have time to stand around and mock and gossip because they’re delighting in the LORD.
But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (Psalm 1:2, NLT)
This is a good “but!” This is what a blessed person does. If you want to experience joy, this is what you do. You fill your mind with truth. You meditate not on your navel or cable news, but on the scriptures!
According to numerous studies, biblical illiteracy has been on the increase for decades. Even many so-called Christians don’t know what the Bible says…or act like they don’t! I’ve been amazed—especially in the past few years—at the ungodly attitudes of so-called Christians. I expect the world to act like the world, but the lack of love, peace, compassion, empathy, courage, sacrifice, patience, and goodness of many who claim to follow Christ is evidence many simply don’t meditate on the Word of God. They’ve been more influenced by political parties or trendy ideas than on the law of the LORD.
Family, we need to meditate on the Bible day and night. Just reading it isn’t sufficient. Twenty minutes on Sunday morning is not enough. Most people I know eat more than one meal a week…more than one meal a day! We need to not only feed our bodies, we need to feed our minds and souls. We need to feast on God’s Word, especially when we’re exposed to countless lies every day on billboards, television, and the Internet.
But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (Psalm 1:2, NLT)
The Hebrew word for meditate, hagah, means to moan, growl, ponder. The same word is found in Isaiah 3:14 for a lion’s low growling and later for the cooing of a dove. Perhaps you’ve tried to memorize something, repeating it quietly out loud. Day and night the blessed, the happy, the joyful marinate their minds on God’s Word. It is their delight. This isn’t Eastern meditation where you empty yourself so anything can wander in, but rather intentionally focusing on the truths of scripture. By the way, the Hebrew word for “law,” Torah, is more than just rules. It’s all of the stories, prophecies, and instructions in the Bible, provided for us to know and understand God and reality.
It's no wonder our world is filled with so many opinions and perspectives. People are reading different books…literally! What is your basis for faith? For truth? For understanding life?
We have several tools to help you meditate on God’s Word. The bulletin is full of them, including small groups and Sunday School. Many of you have the YouVersion app on your phone, which is incredible. Another tool Heather and I have found to be very useful is called Lectio 365. It offers guided prayer and Bible study each morning and evening. You can receive a free subscription to RightNow Media here.
Of course, there are many other ways to get God’s Word in your heart, letting it fill your mind. You can read it, listen to it on audio, and even take classes in-person or online. By the way, the best Bible translation is…the one you read! I like the New Living Translation and the New International Version, but if you prefer a different one, go for it!
Arguably the best chapter in the Bible about the Bible is Psalm 119. It’s the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses!). If you want a great place to start meditating on God’s Word, read it slowly.
Those who delight in God’s Word, those who meditate on it…
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalm 1:3, NLT)
Have you ever slowed down long enough to observe trees? God designed them to get nourishment through their roots and the results can be seen in the leaves and fruit. The roots determine the fruits. It seems like trees near water have an advantage! Even when the weather is dry, a tree near water is able to drink. They are able to bear fruit. I love fruit, especially fresh fruit! I think the only thing I might love more than fruit is ice cream…and when they’re combined…yum!
But have you ever had bad fruit? Moldy fruit? We throw it in the trash!
Those who feed on God’s Word, those who meditate on the LORD, who spend time with God will produce good fruit, the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23a, NIV)
This is the fruit of doing life with God, filling our minds with truth and righteousness.
But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. (Psalm 1:4, NLT)
I’m no gardener, but I know the wheat and chaff are separated. One has value, the other is worthless trash. The kernel falls to the threshing floor and is saved while the chaff blows away. Imagine a watermelon. You eat the fruit and throw away the rind, right? You spit out the seeds. This is how God describes the wicked, those who ignore God and His wisdom. It gets worse.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. (Psalm 1:5, NLT)
Judgment Day is coming…for all humans. Are you ready? I know our culture is filled with gray, but scripture repeatedly talks about the sheep and the goats, the wide and narrow road, heaven and hell. There are two paths. Which have you taken? It’s never too late to repent, turn, and follow Jesus.
For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1:6, NLT)
Which path are you choosing?
Jesus once said,
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28, NIV)
It’s not enough to hear it. It’s not enough to read it. We must live it!
So What?
Do you want to be blessed? There’s something you can do about it! To experience God’s favor, you need to seek and follow Him. It’s not enough to say, “Bless me, LORD!” You need to spend time with Him, meditate on His Word, surround yourselves with others who will speak the truth in love and model a Jesus lifestyle. Garbage in, garbage out. Good stuff in, good stuff out!
The message today is quite simple, yet we’re so easily enticed by the lies of this world and miss the pathway to blessings. It’s ultimately about seeking and following the LORD. It’s about building your life around Jesus. It requires intentionality. We need to pay attention. The quality of our life and destiny begins with your roots. Your roots determine your fruits. Are you rooted in God and His Word?
Faithful God: Psalm 136, 7 July 2024
Faithful God: Psalm 136
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: God’s faithful love endures forever!
We’re continuing concluding our series on the Psalms with a look at Psalm 136. We’re going to take it in sections, and I’d like you to stand and recite the refrain in each section. It is “His faithful love endures forever.”
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-3, NLT)
We’re several months away from Thanksgiving, but this is a psalm of Thanksgiving, a song likely led by a Levitical song leader with responses from the choir. The refrain obviously speaks God’s faithful love and how it endures forever. That means even though this text was written about 2300 years ago, it is perfectly relevant since the message is literally timeless…forever. It has not only been sung and read today, but it was also a part of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple recorded in the book of 2 Chronicles.
When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying,
“He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3, NLT)
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the LORD. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple of God. 6 The priests took their assigned positions, and so did the Levites who were singing, “His faithful love endures forever!” They accompanied the singing with music from the instruments King David had made for praising the LORD. Across from the Levites, the priests blew the trumpets, while all Israel stood. (2 Chronicles 7:4-6, NLT)
Our God is good. He is the God of gods. He is the Lord of hosts. There’s no one like our God!
The theme is echoed again in chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles.
After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:
“Give thanks to the LORD;
his faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 20:21, NLT)
Back to Psalm 136:
Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:4-9, NLT)
And you thought modern worship songs were repetitive! Our awesome God does mighty miracles. He made the heavens, the earth, the waters, the sun, the moon, and the stars. The recent eclipse caused moments of awe and wonder. That was just a glimpse of God showing off!
Now the psalmist recounts some of Israel’s history.
Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:10-16, NLT)
We don’t like to talk about violence, but God always has good reasons for punishing those whose hearts are hard toward Him. He has a plan for all of our lives which we can choose to follow or fight. The only reason Heather and I are moving south is because we are choosing to follow (though I did a bit of fighting in the process, I must confess). The point is God was and is faithful to those who follow Him. Now we read some more history.
Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.
His faithful love endures forever.
He killed powerful kings—
His faithful love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites,
His faithful love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan.
His faithful love endures forever.
God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—
His faithful love endures forever.
a special possession to his servant Israel.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:17-22, NLT)
God is a deliverer. He did it for the enslaved in Egypt. He did it on the cross to liberate us from sin and death. He continues to bring freedom from addiction, sickness, and bondage today.
He remembered us in our weakness.
His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies.
His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:23-26, NLT)
What more can I say? This is our God. He invites us into a relationship with Himself and sends us on mission to restore His masterpieces…about 8 billion of them across the street and around the world. Family, I think it’s vital to briefly review why we’re here.
- Review Mission Statement
- Review Core Values
Closing Thoughts It might be cliche but appropriate to challenge you to go restore God’s masterpieces. That’s our mission as a church. How are you doing? How are we doing? I want to close by saying thank you. I love you, First Alliance family. You have blessed Heather and me in ways you cannot begin to understand.
I will cherish these years together and delight in knowing this is not goodbye, but simply “see you later.” We’re just 45 minutes down I-75!
I will continue to pray for you, your search for a new pastor, and my big four: Direction Protection Unity Passion LORD, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done at First Alliance as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
The Blessing
Thank you, First Alliance! Shalom!
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.
You can watch this video and others at the First Alliance Church Video Library here.
Restoring Your Soul: Psalms
Series Big Idea: The Psalms are filled with passionate expressions of the soul.
Big Idea: God’s faithful love endures forever!
We’re continuing concluding our series on the Psalms with a look at Psalm 136. We’re going to take it in sections, and I’d like you to stand and recite the refrain in each section. It is “His faithful love endures forever.”
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-3, NLT)
We’re several months away from Thanksgiving, but this is a psalm of Thanksgiving, a song likely led by a Levitical song leader with responses from the choir. The refrain obviously speaks God’s faithful love and how it endures forever. That means even though this text was written about 2300 years ago, it is perfectly relevant since the message is literally timeless…forever. It has not only been sung and read today, but it was also a part of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple recorded in the book of 2 Chronicles.
When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying,
“He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3, NLT)
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices to the LORD. 5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple of God. 6 The priests took their assigned positions, and so did the Levites who were singing, “His faithful love endures forever!” They accompanied the singing with music from the instruments King David had made for praising the LORD. Across from the Levites, the priests blew the trumpets, while all Israel stood. (2 Chronicles 7:4-6, NLT)
Our God is good. He is the God of gods. He is the Lord of hosts. There’s no one like our God!
The theme is echoed again in chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles.
After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:
“Give thanks to the LORD;
his faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 20:21, NLT)
Back to Psalm 136:
Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:4-9, NLT)
And you thought modern worship songs were repetitive! Our awesome God does mighty miracles. He made the heavens, the earth, the waters, the sun, the moon, and the stars. The recent eclipse caused moments of awe and wonder. That was just a glimpse of God showing off!
Now the psalmist recounts some of Israel’s history.
Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:10-16, NLT)
We don’t like to talk about violence, but God always has good reasons for punishing those whose hearts are hard toward Him. He has a plan for all of our lives which we can choose to follow or fight. The only reason Heather and I are moving south is because we are choosing to follow (though I did a bit of fighting in the process, I must confess). The point is God was and is faithful to those who follow Him. Now we read some more history.
Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.
His faithful love endures forever.
He killed powerful kings—
His faithful love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites,
His faithful love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan.
His faithful love endures forever.
God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—
His faithful love endures forever.
a special possession to his servant Israel.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:17-22, NLT)
God is a deliverer. He did it for the enslaved in Egypt. He did it on the cross to liberate us from sin and death. He continues to bring freedom from addiction, sickness, and bondage today.
He remembered us in our weakness.
His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies.
His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:23-26, NLT)
What more can I say? This is our God. He invites us into a relationship with Himself and sends us on mission to restore His masterpieces…about 8 billion of them across the street and around the world. Family, I think it’s vital to briefly review why we’re here.
- Review Mission Statement
- Review Core Values
Closing Thoughts It might be cliche but appropriate to challenge you to go restore God’s masterpieces. That’s our mission as a church. How are you doing? How are we doing? I want to close by saying thank you. I love you, First Alliance family. You have blessed Heather and me in ways you cannot begin to understand.
I will cherish these years together and delight in knowing this is not goodbye, but simply “see you later.” We’re just 45 minutes down I-75!
I will continue to pray for you, your search for a new pastor, and my big four: Direction Protection Unity Passion LORD, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done at First Alliance as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
The Blessing
Thank you, First Alliance! Shalom!
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.
You can watch this video and others at the First Alliance Church Video Library here.