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Turn to God and stand in grace, walk in faith, believe in hope and live in love!
Fred R. Coulter—February 6, 2021
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- Why are there troubles and tribulations?
- Why is there anxiety, affliction and distress?
It seems like almost every day that the current government keeps on going, and the worse it gets.
Who thought that they would keep the troops and the barbed wire and a fence up? But maybe it's because they're trying to rush in socialism so fast that they don't want anyone to come in and try and stop it. Who knows, whatever the motives?
Before we get into the message, I want also bring to you, again, The Christian Passover book. If you have the Passover book but you don't have this paper: The Passover in the Bible and the Church Today by Lester L. Grabbe and Robert Kuhn, you need this to understand how those who are supposed to be theologians looking for Truth—even within the Church at the time that this was written—do not do that!
Most every one of them have to please, when they're working in a university—these were not working in a university, they were working for the Church—have to please the other doctorates so they can pass with their theses. Whether it is true or not, if it makes logical sense on a philosophical basis then they can pass their doctorates.
I want you to think on that coming up to the Passover here in a few weeks. Time is rolling fast because tomorrow will be 25% through with February.
*****
- Why trials and tribulations?
- Why anxiety and afflictions?
- Along with the distress that comes!
Especially today, because we can see it from many places in the world coming into the television. I don't think the Apostle Paul knew anything about that when he wrote this; look at this for a fulfillment. Understand that the Word of God is true, always true: past, present and future!
When there are prophecies, they will not be fulfilled to the minimum, but the will be fulfilled to the maximum! Here's a description of what it is today, so that was written 1900 and some years ago:
2-Timothy 3:1: "Know this also… [we are to know this] …that in the last days perilous times shall come."
Here's the key for all the troubles: self-centeredness; we can add into that lust for power!
Verse 2: "For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, braggarts, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy."
Each one of those could be a sermon in itself. But isn't that true, the way that the world is? Yes, indeed!
Verse 3: "Without natural affection, implacable… [hard-minded; granite-headed] …slanderers…"
Isn't that what they do? The first chance that they get to slander someone they will!
"…without self-control, savage, despisers of those who are good" (v 3).
I've got a report showing that on the official list of potential terrorists are those who believe:
- that Christ is returning,
- in the end of the world
- that Satan is controlling the world
They're on the list! That can sit there for however long it is, and then one day they will activate it!
Look at all that they're doing now. Who thought that they would actually come to the point of issuing people tickets for not wearing a mask in Washington, D.C.? Talk about oppression!
Let's see what we go through just living in this society and looking out and seeing what's going on, seeing the people and how they live, act and dress. They're going to end up with so many genders that they're going to run out of the alphabet, so they'll have to go to a different alphabet so they can have the 100 different genders. But the one I want to see is the one who claims to be a female lizard. I want that person to produce a basket of eggs.
This has happened before, thousands of years ago:
2-Peter 2:5: "And if God did not spare the ancient world… [think about how God planned that out, and worked that out] …but saved Noah, the eighth, a preacher of righteousness, when Hebrought the Flood upon the world of the ungodly."
God pays attention to what's going on with everybody in the world. Then the next account:
Verse 6: "And having reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes…"—and two other cities with that.
They would get along and go along; don't disturb anything as long as you leave me alone, I won't bother you. How does that work with the oppression comes?
"…condemned them with a catastrophic destruction… [How did that come? In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye!] …making them an example for those who would be ungodly in the future. And if He personally rescued righteous Lot…" (vs 6-7).
This is where I want to get to: Regardless of the circumstances around us, that doesn't mean that God has left us! Even if we have a trial and affliction, that doesn't mean that He's punishing us. But we'll see that there are a lot of lessons that we can learn.
Verse 8: "For that righteous man, dwelling among them, through seeing and hearing their lawless activities…"
Look at what it is today! I don't know if you watch NatGeo, but I was watching one night about the dealers who would sell cocaine in Los Angeles. There was this one woman who put on her mask, put on her long fingernails, all decked out in the sexiest that she could be. She had the big high heel shoes and could hardly wait for Friday night to come to get her $40 hit on cocaine so she could go out and have fun. That's on the Hollywood Strip, and that's one place you don't want to be on Friday night. Think of what it is in other cities!
"…seeing and hearing their lawless activities was tormented…" (v 8).
Why? Because when you see the Truth and people doing such contradictory lawless things, it affects you! You have distress! It oppresses you!
"…tormented day-by-day in his righteous soul" (v 8).
When you see that, you say, 'How can people come to this place that they would do this?' It's a long story of a lot of bad choices and a lot of bad things.
Verse 9: "The Lord knows how to rescue the Godly out of temptation…"
How was Lot rescued? Think about this: You go through a problem, trial or affliction… How did God rescue Lot? Did He come 30 days early and say,
Lot, I want you to pack up, get everything and get out of here, because in 30 days I'm going to destroy it.
NO! He rescued him at the last minute!
The angels even had to force him out in the morning that the destruction came. Even his two sons-in-law said that it was a joke! So, the angels had to say:
Lot, hurry up, you, your wife and daughters, and get out of here and don't look behind.
As soon as they got out far enough, the brimstone from heaven came down, and Mrs. Lot turned around and turned into a pillar of salt!
Sidebar: Josephus wrote that there people who knew where that pillar of salt was. Think about that!
"…and to reserve the unrighteous to the day of judgment to be punished" (v 9).
Here's the whole description of how it is today; everything here in this one verse in addition to what we have already covered:
Verse 10: "But particularly those who walk after the flesh in corrupting lust, and hold in utter contempt the lordship of God…."
They are called God-haters! That's why Christians are on the anti-terror list.
"…They are audacious and self-willed. They are not afraid to blaspheme the Divine powers" (10).
So, this is really quite a good description of what it is for us today. Let's see where this is going to lead, because this is going to be very interesting, indeed! Everybody hopes for everything to be better.
I remember when the election was going on, and this was before Dolores passed, and I said that it sure looks like Trump is going to win. She said, 'Don't be too sure, because do not underestimate the dedicated people evil and who leads them to do what they do!'
There's only one bigger deception that is going on than what the election was and what they did to steal it! Do you know what that deception is? You think about it a minute! Watch your television, go from channel to channel—I call this the cartoon generation—watch the good, bad and ugly, and what do you see? Everything is programmed to turn people from God!
Even if you watch TBN… I watched a really good program by Charles Stanley. He preached a good message on repentance, but he didn't actually define sin from the Bible: sin is the transgression of the Law!
Sin to him is that you're not doing what Christ said! That doesn't tell you anything, because Christ said a lot of things. In relationship to the Sabbath, what was the one most important thing that Christ said about the Sabbath:
The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath, therefore, the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath!
Why? Because He was the Lord God of the Old Testament, and He created it! The Sabbath is a good thing
- so we come and learn God's say
- so that we can have our mind focused in the right direction
- so when we go through all the difficulties that come, we're able to stand
Mark 13:7: "But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for it is necessary for these things to come to pass, but the end is not yet…. [here we are] …For nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…" (vs 7-8).
That doesn't necessarily mean a war. What is China trying to do right now? Control the whole world!
"…and there shall be earthquakes in different places, and there shall be famines and disasters. These things are the beginning of sorrows. But keep yourselves on guard…" (vs 8-9).
Here is where it's going to come; one day this will happen, it's happened in the past:
"…for they shall deliver you up to councils and synagogues…. [churches as well] …You shall be beaten, and you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a witness against them" (v 9).
All of those things are there. Then there is going to be trouble such as never been.
Let me just say that we're going to spend quite a bit of time in the Psalms because the Psalms are prayers. That's why you see so much personal prayer from David—or other writers of the Psalms—calling out to God in their afflictions. All of these Psalms show that God is not going to eliminate trouble in your life; He's going to help you find a way out! The biggest trouble we're all going to come to—one way or another; one time or another—is that everyone will go through; not one who will not go through it. You will find yourself walking in the valley of death and the only thing you can do is turn to God! Those days are coming.
Here's how you keep your bearings; Psalm 116:1: "I love the LORD…"
That's where it has to be; you've got to love God! He loves you, but you must return that love back. That's the big problem with Protestants. They want the love of God, want it unconditionally, but God shows that love is conditional!
Remember the great commandment, because we'll cover it here right now: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second one is love your neighbor as yourself!
Verse 1: "I love the LORD because He hears my voice and my prayers." That's what you do when you're in trouble! You don't say:
God, why did this come? Why don't You help me out here?
With that attitude, do you think you're going to get any help? NO!
Verse 2: "Because He has bowed down His ear to me… [God wants to hear from you] …therefore, I will call upon Him as long as I live."
- not part of the time
- not only when you're in trouble
But all the time!
Verse 3: "The sorrows of death hemmed me in, and the pains of the grave took hold upon me; I found trouble and sorrow." It's not that you're always going to be joyful!
- Why do we have trouble and sorrow?
- Should we look upon what advantage is going to take place when we get through the trouble and sorrow, after trusting in God?
- Will that not help us a lot? Yes, indeed!
Verse 4: "Then I called upon the name of the LORD: 'O LORD, I beseech You, deliver my soul.' Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple… [uneducated] …I was brought low, and He saved me" (vs 4-6)
- IF you're beset with a lot of problems
- IF you have a lot difficulties going on in your life
THEN
- take some time
- take your Bible
- go to a quite, private place, as Jesus said
- get on your knees
- have a chair right in front of you and open your Bible and start reading the Psalms
And pray as you go along! God is going to help you, but He wants to know that there is nothing betweenany one of us and HIM! NOTHING!
Why? Because His plan is so great, and what He's going to give us is so incomprehensible… We can comprehend a great deal of it through the Word of God. For example, it says that in the resurrection we will see Him like He is! That's a nice statement, but that's pretty hard to really imagine in your mind how you're gong to see Him, because His face shines like th sun!
When we're resurrected and in the Kingdom, we will shine like the sun! How is that going to be? That's something only God can do!
When you have troubles come along, sometimes there's just like this Psa., and this is the only thing you can say:
Psalm 54:1: "Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth, for strangers have risen up against me, and violent men seek after my soul; they have not set God before them. Selah" (vs 1-3).
Whenever you see that word 'Selah' that means to stop and meditate on what you just read! Who is our Savior? Jesus Christ!
Verse 4: "Behold, God is my helper; the LORD is with those who uphold my soul. He shall reward evil to my enemies. Destroy them in Your faithfulness" (vs 4-5).
Look over the long haul, how long you've been in the Church. Look at some of the things that you had to go through. Look back and ask: Where are some of those who opposed you viciously? I've experienced that, but most of them are already in the grave. God takes care of them. We don't have to worry; put them in God's hands!
You can also pray that perhaps they may repent and be converted. That's good, too. Who did that happen to in the New Testament? Saul who became the Apostle Paul! That works that way sometimes, as well.
- God is here help
- God is there to save
- God is there to hear
- God is there to rescue
Now that's quite a lot! If you don't pray to God:
- Who is going to save you?
- Who is going to hear you?
- Who is going to intervene for you?
Nobody! Then you'll find yourself all alone! Some people can't handle it and they commit suicide. If the true God were preached from the Word of God, on the Day of God—Sabbath—a lot of people would be better off.
Notice how personal this is. Many of these Psalms are between David and God, so use this as between you and God!
Psalm 142:1: "I cried to the LORD with my voice; with my voice did I make my supplication unto the LORD. I poured out my complaint before Him… [let God know everything] …I declared my trouble before Him. When my spirit fainted within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walked they have secretly laid a snare for me" (vs 1-3).
When you read all of these things, you will understand something about David that sometimes you overlook. David was a man after God's heart! But unless you read the Psalms you don't have an idea of how difficult his life was.
Lots of times when we read some of these things we think we would like to be back in that time. Really? Read some of the Psalms and maybe you wouldn't!
Verse 3: "In the way in which I walked they have secretly laid a snare for me. Look to the right and see, no one is concerned for me…" (vs 3-4).
- Isn't that the way a lot of people are?
- Who cares for me?
Think about all these poor people who are out there that are homeless. Think about how cold it was just last night and ask yourself how warm your were in your bed all night. They were on the street hoping to live through the night, hoping to get something to eat.
Sidebar: We do have a little program for some of the homeless. This year we provided about 30 sleeping bags for them. We help them out with other things from time-to-time, too.
I don't know what it's like driving down from San Jose, but you have your tent city with the homeless wherever they are. Think about San Francisco, Los Angeles. It's something!
"…I have no way to flee; no man cares for my life. I cried to You, O LORD; I said, 'You are my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Hear my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I'" (vs 4-6).
That's going to be something! It's going to happen!
Verse 7: "Bring my soul out of prison… [you feel trapped] …that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall gather around me, for You shall deal bountifully with me." Notice how David prays!
Psalm 143:1: "Hear my prayer O LORD; give ear unto my supplications; in Your faithfulness and in Your righteousness answer me. And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous" (vs 1-2). But He will give to you His righteousness through:
- His Laws
- His Spirit
- Jesus Christ
Always keep that in mind! As you go through the Psalms, you will see how many of them are there asking for God's help.
Here's David chosen as king when he was young, probably about 15-16-years-old. When Samuel went down to Jesse's house, he came under the pretense to offer, because he didn't want Saul to come after him; so they setup the sacrifice.
How do you setup a sacrifice when there's no temple? You have an altar of whole stones and you do it there! Samuel had the seven sons of Jesse pass by: this one, no; this one, no; etc. through all seven and went round again. No!
Finally, Samuel said to Jesse, 'Do you have another son?' Oh yeah, the youngest, he's out taking care of the sheep! 'Bring him in.' Imagine how the other seven brothers felt. Little jealousy in the family? Samuel anointed David as king at that point, but David had to prove himself by:
- being hated by Saul
- chased by Saul
- hiding in caves
- running from the troops of Saul
Finally then he took over as king! Think of all the war, the difficulties! Notice how he felt:
Psalm 13:1: "How long will You forget me, O LORD?…."
Have you ever felt that way sometimes? That will bring a lot of:
- stress
- tribulation
- anxiety
"…Forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my heart, having sorrow in my heart daily?…." (vs 1-2).
What is that? You're talking to yourself! We all talk to ourselves:
O Lord, where is God? What did do? How did this happen?
You try an figure out all of these things; is there anything I can do to help solve this problem. "…having sorrow in my heart daily?…."
Here is the man whom God said that was after His heart! Why? Because in great distress, David always turned to God!
Verse 3: "Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, 'I have overcome him,' and my foes rejoice when I am moved. But as for me…" (vs 3-5).
Even at the lowest point of the circumstances in his life, look at what he says:
Verse 5: "But as for me I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD because He has dealt bountifully with me" (vs 5-6).
By the very fact that God heard, "…He has dealt bountifully with me"—David!
Psa. 138—here's how you start out. One of the best way s to help straighten out our attitudes when we're in a difficult way is to praise God. Rehearse all of the things that He has done:
- for you
- for your family
- for the brethren that you know
How much does God care for you? I just want to show something. I'm going to show you a colored picture of a single cell; it will show that there are so many things going on in that one cell. I want you to look at this and think about this, because every human being has 30-trillion cells! All come from God! All of the things that are in that cell and in your blood are working to:
- keep you alive
- keep you healthy
- get rid of toxins
- feed the cells
- get rid of those that die
- help nourish those that are being created within your system to keep your body going
{can be viewed on the video of this message at truthofGod.org}
Psalm 138:1: "I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praise to You. I will worship toward Your Holy Temple, and praise Your name for Your loving kindness, and for Your Truth; for You have magnified above all, Your name and Your Word" (vs 1-2).
Think about that, we have the whole Bible! In spite of everything that people have wanted to do to get rid of the Bible. There are more Bibles than ever before counting the books that are there, and all the digital things that take place.
Verse 7[transcriber's correction]: "Though I walk in the midst of trouble…"
See how David was fortified to have a right attitude regardless of what was going on by praising God and thanking God.
"…You will revive me; You shall stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand shall save me."
Here is why we have trials and difficulties; v 8: "The LORD will perfect His work in me…"
Ephesians 2:10: "For we are His workmanship, being created in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them."
Think about how great that is! How is a trial, difficulty, anxiety, tribulation or distress going to perfect you? Because you:
- you trust in God
- you love God!
- you are praying to Him
Psalm 138:8"…Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the work of Your own hands."
(break)
Let's hope that this will anchor really good so that we won't get all distressed out of the things taking place.
Psa. 37—here's one of the lessons that we learn, and David tells us right here:
Psalm 37:1: "Do not fret yourself because of evildoers…" Isn't that true! How many times do we say:
- He couldn't do that!
- She couldn't do that!
- How can they do that?
Well, they did it!
"…and do not be envious against the workers of iniquity" (v 1).
'How can they have all the good stuff and I don't?' Well, it doesn't make any difference if you know God and have His Spirit, you have more than everything that they own.
Verse 2: "For they shall soon be cut down like the grass; and wither as the green herb."
Here is the key and the lesson for all troubles and difficulties we go through:
Verse 3: "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cherish faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (vs 3-4).
How great is that? Let's see what Paul writes how God will intervene and do things for us, and how sometimes God does a lot of things that we're just not aware of.
Ephesians 3:20: "Now, to Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…"
Have you ever thought something one time and you go along and all of a sudden one day you remember, 'God did that!' That's quite amazing! There it is! That's a good verse to backup what we're covering here in Psa. 37.
"…according to the power that is working in us" (v 20).
Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the LORD…" What does that mean?
- love Him
- praise Him
- honor Him
- don't complain
- don't accuse Him
"…and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way unto the LORD; trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass" (vs 4-5).
I want you to read all Psa. 37 and there you will find a lot of New Testament doctrine and purpose as to why we're here, and so forth.
Verse 34: "Wait on the LORD and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the earth…"
Notice another key thing that's important: David always kept his mind on the goal: the Kingdom of God, what we're going to be! "…inherit the earth…"
"…when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it" (v 34).
When are the wicked going to be cutoff? The ultimate fulfillment of God's plan is when Christ returns!
Verse 35—this sound a little like Washington, D.C. right now: "I have seen the ruthless wicked in great power and spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil."
How does this happen? You see it all going on! But give it some time and what happens?
Verse 36: "Yet, he passed away, and lo, he was no more… [God can take care of it] …and I searched for him, but he could not be found. Mark the blameless man and behold the upright one, for the end of that man is peace. But the sinners shall be destroyed together; the prosperity of the wicked shall be cut off" (vs 36-38).
We had a little taste of that with the stock market this week. They—GameStop—pulled a shenanigan on the 'experts.' They made one of the stock brokerage houses to lose $20-billion in hedge funds. That's a lot! What happened to them? They were all upset!
Verse 39: "But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble." Think about this:
- you know God
- you have His Spirit
- you know His Word
- you know Christ
- you know the purpose of life
- you know where we're going
Think of that compared to some of the people in the world, not to say that we're greater—we're not—because God is the One Who does the calling. But all of that you have that no one can see. That's quite a thing to think about!
- they may have a lot of luxury
- they may have a lot of things
- they may have wealth and all that sort of thing
But all of the other things you have of God and you have:
- Him to help you
- Him to pray to
- Him to bless
They'll never understand it!
Verse 40: "And the LORD shall help them and deliver them…
Every trial, difficulty, anxiety, tribulation, distress and oppression God can deliver you from! Just like in the past, there are a lot who stood their ground and were martyred. If they're faithful to the end, the one who did the martyring is the loser. The resurrection will come! What we have at that time, what we will look like at that time is going to be completely different.
"…He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them because they take refuge in Him" (v 40).
I'm not going to read Psa. 91, I'll let you read that. I know several people who, everyday in their prayers, start out reading Psa. 91 because of the blessings of:
- being protected
- God hearing you
- God keeping you from things
- God watching over you
Here is something else that all the people of God have, that the world cannot see:
Psalm 41:1: "Blessed is he who considers the poor; the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble."
Let's look at another deliverance in the Bible: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar made this big idol and said, 'Bow down and worship.' They said they wouldn't do it. 'Well, you're going in the furnace.' That's okay, if we die, we die! If we don't, we don't!
So, Nebuchadnezzar said to make the furnace seven times hotter. Of course, that was in Babylon, where Iraq is today, so they probably had natural gas that the fire was coming up. So, they threw them into the fire, and they didn't get scorched, their clothes didn't even smell of fire. When Nebuchadnezzar look in there, 'Lo! I see one like the son of the gods.' It didn't hurt them!
If they were burned up and consumed, they'll still be in the resurrection. So, either way… "…the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble."
Verse 2: "The LORD will watch over him and keep him alive… [the resurrection] …and he shall be blessed upon the earth; and You will not deliver him over to the will of his enemies…. [another promise]: …The LORD will strengthen him upon his sickbed; You will sustain him in all his sickness. I said, 'LORD, be gracious unto me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You'" (vs 3-4).
Even when you sin and repent, God is there to help you. He won't turn you down or turn away. All of these Psalms help us to really gain the perspective.
- God is there
- His protection is real
- His existence is close sand personal
- His promises are true and sure
- He will do what He has said He will do
If the trial becomes so severe that you don't know how you're going to survive it, trust in God and He will provide a way out.
We have the Word of God, and this was 3,000 years ago that David wrote these things. Yet, we can identify with it in a way that is very meaningful to the mind, heart, emotions and everything. What other book could do that? Not any other book!
Psalm 27:1: "The LORD is my Light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?….
If there is trouble and anxiety, you don't have to fear, you don't have to get cocky. Just be thankful and ask God to help you with it and prove it.
"…The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not be afraid… [Why? Because God is there!] …though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident" (vs 1-3).
Here's why, and notice how many times this happens in the Psalms. You go through a description of what you're experiencing and then you come to a certain place where this thought always interjects the goal of where we're going.
Verse 4: "One thing I have desired from the LORD, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His Temple."
Right in the middle of talking about the troubles that he's going t be delivered from. What do we have to day that we can read a description of where that's going to be? Rev. 21 & 22, New Jerusalem! That's tremendous, how the Word of God covers so much and fills so many things.
Verse 5: "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion, in the secret place of His tabernacle…" It talks about:
- the shadow of God
- the arm of God
- the pavilion of God
Unseen protection!
I remember coming back from Los Angeles, and the sun—as I was driving up Hwy 5—was beaming on the driver's side and I was trying stick something up there to block out the sun. I was going 75mph. There are two lanes going north with about 40-50 feet in between and two lanes going south. The left front tire went off the edge of the pavement and I did a complete overall somersault—no seatbelt on—and the car landed on their four wheels.
I wasn't hurt except my forehead hit the mirror! That was it! That's protection unseen that only God can provide. I might say that I was in Chapter 8 of writing the Passover book and all the pages went everywhere!
So, I had two flat tires, the highway patrol had the two truck guy fill them up with air and I drove home. I came home and there was white dust all over me, and I had used a cell phone someone had and told Dolores that 'I had a little wreck and I'll be home after a while.' She was up on the deck and looked down at me and all she could do is laugh, because I was covered with all this white stuff. She said that I 'looked like a ghost.'
You never know when these things are going to be, but isn't that something? If you had an insurance policy, could you have a clause in there that 'we guarantee that if you wreck this car you won't be hurt'?
If it had a clause like that, it would be very expensive. God does this freely! Don't we need to keep in mind that God is always with us? Interested in us? Watching over us? Thinking on us? I wonder if He's thinking about 'How are they going to be in the Kingdom?'
Verse 6: "And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me; therefore, I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy in His tabernacle. I will sing; yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice; and be gracious unto me and answer me…. [that's quite a way to pray] …When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, O LORD, will I seek'" (vs 6-8).
Just think of that when we're in the Kingdom of God as spirit beings. We're going to see Jesus Christ, God the Father, all the angels, New Jerusalem. This is going to be quite thing! You won't have to dream about walking on streets paved with gold. That's what the streets will have.
Notice what we are to do when these difficult times come. Instead of being depressed and not praying and not looking to God—which sometimes you can get down so bad that you can feel that way—don't do it! Do like this:
Psalm 31:1: "In You, O LORD, have I taken refuge, let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me…" (vs 1-2).
How many times just in this one message:
- hear Me?
- bow down?
- listen to Me?
"…deliver me quickly; be my strong Rock, a fortress of defense to save me; for You are my Rock and my fortress…" (vs 2-3).
Remember what Jesus said about the Rock? We're to build on the Rock and that Rock is Christ! Here it is here!
"…therefore, for Your name's sake lead me and guide me" (v 3). That's what we need!
Sometimes it's like, v 4: "Pull me up out of the net that they have hidden for me, for You are my strength."
I tell you, all the things that David went through. It's amazing! Here's what he did, and this is also a prophecy of the words of Christ when He was on the cross.
Verse 5: 'Into Your hand I commit My spirit; You have redeemed Me, O LORD God of Truth.'"
Verse 14: "But I trusted in You, O LORD; I said, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me in Your loving kindness" (vs 14-16).
Verse 19: "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who take refuge in You before the sons of men!"
That's quite an amazing thing, and think about all of this in relationship to God's Spirit, His angels, everything He's created; here we have that.
Verse 23: "O love the LORD, all you His saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud doer. Be strong…" (vs 23-24).
- with God's Spirit
- with God's Word
- in attitude
- in heart
"…and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the LORD" (v 24).
When you consider all that God will do for us, when we're confronted with troubling times, stress, anxiety and all of those things, do this:
- help God to help you
- rejoice in Him
- have strength and confidence in Him
Psalm 33:1: "Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming for the upright. Praise the LORD with a lyre; sing unto Him with a harp of ten strings" (vs 1-2).
Another way to help you in your attitude is songs, singing!
Verse 3: "Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully with shouts of joy." You don't even have to be on key! God wants to hear it!
Verse 4: "For the Word of the LORD is upright; and all His works are done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving kindness of the LORD. By the Word of the LORD were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth" (vs 4-6). Then it goes on with quite a Psalm of praise!
Psalm 107:6: "Then they cried to the LORD in their distress…"
- run
- feel sorry for yourself
- have a pity-party for yourself
- not look to God
- not pray to God
- accuse God
- think He's putting you through difficulties that you can't handle
NO! Cry out to Him!
"…and He delivered them out of their troubles" (v 6).
I want you to notice that this is how you get deliverance. This Psalm is very important:
Verse 12: "Therefore, He humbled their heart with labor; they stumbled, and there was none to help."
These are the circumstances, there is nobody to help! No one to talk to! What do you do then?
Verse 13: "Then they cried to the LORD in their distress, and He saved them out of their troubles."
That's the theme of this. You go so many verses and then he say that God saves them out of their distress.
Verse 19: "Then they cried unto the LORD in their distress, and He delivered them out of their troubles." Repeated again!
Verse 28: "And they cried to the LORD in their distress, and He delivered them out of their troubles.
In between there are listings of different troubles and trials that they were going through, but God delivered them.
Verse 42: "The righteous shall see it and rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop its mouth. Whoever is wise… [we need to pay attention] …let him give heed to these things, and let them consider the mercies of the LORD" (vs 42-43).
That helps us to really cope with these things. That way it will help you have focus when there's trouble. That will help to yield to God so He can help you get a way out of it, open a door to get from it. Whatever it's going to take. Let's look at some other trials that we have.
Rom. 5:1—this is another of way of looking at it in the New Testament:
Romans 5:1: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
What can we receive when we turn to God and His way? Peace of mind!
Verse 2: "Through Whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand…"
That grace is a personal connection between you and God and Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.
"…and we ourselves boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also boast in tribulations…" (vs 1-2).
Now the first time I read that, I had a hard time understanding that. You mean, Lord, that I should boast, 'Hey, I got a trial, everybody!' I couldn't figure it out. Why? Because of loving God and trusting Him, you will develop the character that God wants!
"…realizing that tribulation brings forth endurance" (v 2).
That's what you need, endurance and never getting discouraged to quit! Never getting discourage to stop loving God! Use whatever trial that comes along as an operation to help you develop more Godly character.
Verse 4: "And endurance brings forth character…" That's all of the fruits of the Holy Spirit put together!
"…and character brings forth hope. And the hope of God never makes us ashamed because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which has been given to us" (vs 4-5).
That's what God wants, to give us the Holy Spirit of God! So that we are able to go ahead and understand that when we have these trials and difficulties that it's going to work out for good. Some of them are going to be instigated by Satan the devil. The trials and difficulties that we may go through are for a purpose: so that we develop the character of God!
1-Peter 5:5: "In the same manner, you younger men be subject to the older men; and all of you be subject to one another…"
That doesn't sound much like a hierarchy, does it? No!
"…being clothed with humility because God sets Himself against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble" (v 5).
What we have learned from the Psalms is how to be humble, change, grow and overcome while we're trusting in God.
Verse 6: "Be humbled, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you in due time."
Of course, the due time may be different things in your life between now and the resurrection. But the resurrection will be the greatest exaltation of all.
Verse 7: "Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you."
- He loves you
- He's called you
- He's given you the Holy Spirit
- He's given you the Word of God
All of these things that He has provided for you!
Verse 8: "Be sober! Be vigilant! For your adversary the devil is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour."
That's why it's important when you have a trial and difficulty, to be seeking God and maintain the right attitude. Otherwise, who is there to stir up and cause you trouble and puts things in your mind that are not right? Satan the devil!
Verse 9: "Whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are being fulfilled among your brethren who are in the world."
Here is the purpose of everything; v 10: "Now, may the God of all grace, Who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while…" We do suffer:
- mentally
- physically
- spiritually
"…after you have suffered a little while…" You think what good does it do to come along that way!
"…Himself perfect you… [God is using that as an instrument of perfection for you] …establish, strengthen, and settle you" (v 10). That's what it is!
- Grace—we stand in grace
- Faith—we walk in faith
- Hope—we believe in hope
- Love—we live in love
We stand in grace, walk in faith, believe in hope and live in love! That's how we can apply all of this when troubles and difficulties come, and God will deliver us from the them all!
Scriptural References:
- 2 Timothy 3:1-3
- 2 Peter 2:5-10
- Mark 13:7-9
- Psalm 116:1-6
- Psalm 54:1-5
- Psalm 142:1-7
- Psalm 143:1-2
- Psalm 13:1-6
- Psalm 138:1-2, 7-8
- Ephesians 2:10
- Psalm 138:8
- Psalm 37:1-2
- Ephesians 3:20
- Psalm 37:4-5
- Psalm 37:4-5, 34-40
- Psalm 41:1-4
- Psalm 27:1-8
- Psalm 31:1-5, 14-16, 19, 23-24
- Psalm 33:1-6
- Psalm 107:6, 12-13, 19, 28, 42-43
- Romans 5:1-5
- 1 Peter 5:5-10
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Psalm 91
- Revelation 21 & 22
Also referenced:
- Book: The Christian Passover by Fred R. Coulter
- Paper: The Passover in the Bible and the Church Today by Lester Grabbe & Robert Kuhn
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 2/10/21
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