IN THE MIST OF TRIALS, GOD FAVORS THE FAITHFUL

 

Job 24:1, 9-12, 19-25, Psalms 55:16

 

 

THE SOVERNITY OF GOD

V:1. "Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? Why must those who know

   him look in vain for such days? "

  A. Evil is all around us and there seems to be no end to it.

      1.There are people who seem to never learn that evil does not pay.

      2. Sometimes it does appear that there is no justice for the innocent.

 B.  Sometimes we may wonder why our God who has all power does not put

      an end to evil?

      1. Sometimes the righteous never see justice for the evil done to them.

      2. Nothing is hidden from God.

         a. He knows the evil in a man's heart before he puts it into practice.

         b. Why does God not stop a person before he harms another?

  C. God is longsuffering and He does allow evil to enter into our lives.

      1. God wants our hearts to be convicted so that we will not practice evil.

      2. The evil of men forces the believer to trust God for deliverance.

 

WHAT THE WICKED DO

AN ATTITUDE OF CORUPTION

Job 24:9-13

V:9. "The fatherless child is snatched from the breast; the infant of the poor is seized for

   a debt. "

 A. In Biblical times, it was not uncommon for a man to be forced into slavery to pay

      his debts.

     1. If a father died leaving debts, his children could be forced into slavery to

         pay the debt.    2 Kings 4:1

        a. The rich had no compassion for the poor.

        b. They lacked respect for their fellowmen.

     2. The poor sometimes suffer injustice at the hands of the rich.

 B. Widows and orphans are often  defenseless in an evil system because there is no one

      to take up their cause.

     1. Why does an all knowing God stand by and allow this to happen?

     2. Perhaps it is to teach the faithful compassion for each other.

     3. Perhaps it is to draw us closer to Him.

  

V:10. " Lacking clothes, they go about naked; they carry the sheaves, but still go

    hungry."

    A. The poor were often forced to work in fields of the rich harvesting their crops.

        1. The poor was not given enough for their labor to feed or cloth themselves.

        2. Even today the minimum wage is not enough for a mother or father to provide

            for his/her family.

     B. A system of share cropping was established after the abolishment of slavery in the

         US that was designed to keep the poor in an impoverished state.

        1. There is nothing new under the sun.

        2. The poor still lack proper representation in the court system.

        3. The ones with the most money gets the most out of our systems.

        4. There is a difference in the quality of life between the rich and the poor.

            a. Guess who has the best quality of life?

 

V:11. " They crush olives among the terraces;  they tread the winepresses, yet suffer  

   thirst."

 A. The poor were forced to work for the rich without  adequate compensation.

     1. Oil from the crushed olives was used for fuel in lamps.

     2. The rich had the light and the poor were left in the dark.

 B. The poor was forced to work in the vineyards of the land owner producing

      wine but was not allowed enough drink to satisfy their thirst.

     1. Today major corporations make billions of dollars off the labor of the poor.

     2. The rich live in luxury while the poor struggle to pay rent.  

   

V:12. " The groans of the dying rise from the city, and the souls of the wounded cry out   

  for   help. But God charges no one with wrongdoing. "

  A. Even in the cities where there was easy access to the courts and judges, the wicked

       found the favor of men to support their evil practices.

     1. Cruel and unjust practices prevailed over justice.

     2. Evil doers fear no punishment.

     3. The rich oppressed the poor.

     4. Robbery and murder cases go unsolved .

     5. The rich buy their justice and the poor are at the mercy of the court.

 B. The wicked make it their work to rob and steal.

      1. They take what is not theirs because it is easier than honest labor.

      2. They work to do evil and stay evil.

 C. We must be careful not to blame God for the injustice that we see.

     1. God established the law and the law givers.

     2. In His time, the wicked will receive their punishment.

 

HOW GOD DEALS WITH THE WICKED

Job 24:19-25:1

V:19. " As heat and drought snatch away the melted snow, so the grave snatches away

   those who have sinned. "

  A.  The enemy of snow is heat.

        1. God controls the formation of snow and the heat of the day.

        2. He allows them both for His purposes.

  B. The enemy of the wicked is themselves.

       1. God is not mocked, a man will reap what he sows.  Gal 6:7

       2. The destination of the wicked is the grave.

       3. The wicked cannot escape the grave for they have no salvation.

       4. Their time on earth is short, and the grave has been prepared for them.

 

V:20. " The womb forgets them, the worm feasts on them; evil men are no longer

   remembered but are broken like a tree. "

  A. An evil man is forgotten as soon as he dies and the dirt covers his body.

     1. There is no lasting memories of him.

     2. His body rots in his grave.

  B. The community is glad when the wicked perish.

     1. God purposed our lives to be role models of righteousness.

     2. We were made in the likeness and the image of  the God head.

     3. Righteousness should be stored in the hearts of men so that evil is rejected.

     4. Those who make a practice of evil, reject the righteous of God and will soon be

         forgotten.

  

V:21. " They prey on the barren and childless woman, and to the widow show no

  kindness. "

  A.  During Biblical times, the weak and defenseless class were women who could not 

        bare children and widowers.

       1. They had no spouse or children to protect them.

       2. Oppressing these woman was considered extreme cruelty.

       3. The wicked showed no compassion  for anyone.

  B. The wicked have no conscience of what is right.

       1. They pursue evil and live in darkness.

       2. They are destined for the darkness of hell.

       3. They are destitute of righteousness and no good will come from them.

       4. They are cowards because they prey on the weak and the defenseless.

 

V:22. " But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established,

  they have no assurance of life."

  A. The wicked establish themselves in positions that can only be sustained by more

        wickedness.

      1. Their success in wicked behavior drives them to be more wicked.

      2. They can't rest in peace because they are always looking over their shoulder

          trying to avoid justice.

  B. The wicked have no assurance of life because there is always someone more

       wicked than them who want what they have stolen.

      1. Ill gotten gain will soon be tracked and taken.

  C. No matter how strong the are wicked, they are no match for God.

      1. God allows the wicked to thrive for a season, but He will bring them down.

      2. God is always in control.

      3. God's way is always the right way.

 

V:23. " He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways."

 A. The wicked gain their confidence when there is no lasting consequences for

       their evil activities.

       1. All day and all night, their activities never cease.

       2. They are the devil's workers. They steal, kill and destroy.

       3. There is no lack of workers for the devil.

 B. The Lord numbers their transgressions.

     1. At some point, in the Lord's appointed time, they will suffer His wrath.

     2. Those who fear the Lord, may never know or see the wicked punished.

     3. We can rest assured that God will be the avenger.      2 Cor 10:6

 

V:24. " For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone; they are brought low

  and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain."

  A.  According to Ecclesiastes chapter 3, there is a season for everything.

      1. The wicked exalt themselves, but they will be brought down.

          a. God hates the proud.       Luke 1:51-52

          b. God exalts the humble.

      2. God allows the weeds to grow among His wheat.

          1. At the harvest time, the wheat will be gathered for His use.

          2. The weeds will be gathered and burned.     Mat.  13:25- 40

  B. The Lord Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead.

       1. Those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.     John 5:29

       2. Those who have done good will rise to live.      John 5:29

                                                                                                   

V:25.  "If this is not so, who can prove me false and reduce my words to nothing?"

   A. The Word of God is the truth about every thing in this life.

        1. The one thing God cannot do is lie.     Heb 6:18

        2. Our hope is in God's promises.

  B. God has reserved judgment for the unrighteous.      2 Peter 2:9

       1. God has reserved heaven for the righteous.

 

THE FAITH OF THE BELIEVER

Psalms 55:16

V:16. " But I call to God, and the Lord saves me."

  A. The help of the righteous is the Lord.     Act 4:12

       1. All believers were appointed to receive the salvation

           of the Lord.     1 Thes. 5:9

       2. We were chosen before the foundation of the world to be in

            Christ Jesus. Eph 1:4

 B. The wicked are not given the ability to know the Word of God.  1 Cor 2:14

      1. We should not be dismayed at the sins of the world for

           we were chosen to suffer for Christ sake.    2 Cor 12:10,   Rom 8:17

 

 

As I view the Bible from cover to cover there is a struggle between the rich and the poor.

There is the rich in the Spirit and the poor without the Spirit.

There is the rich in the wisdom God and the poor in the wisdom of the world.

There is the rich in the righteousness of God and the poor who reject God.

There is the rich in the kingdom of heaven and the poor destined for hell.

 

It is almost impossible for the rich of this world to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

But the poor of this world have an easier access into heaven because they trust in the Lord. The rich of this world trust in their stuff and find it difficult to rely on God

(Mat 19:24).

 

Perhaps, God designed the life of the faithful to suffer trials and tribulations so that

we can rely on Him and accept eternal life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell, Asst Pastor of GMBC

THE FAITHFUL WILL SUFFER FOR GOD'S PURPOSES

 

Job 19:1-7, 23-29

 

 

By God's own account, Job was a righteous man. God found no sin in

Job. According to God, Job did all he could to avoid any evil. God proclaimed

Job to be righteous. (Job 1:1)

 

By God's account, He allowed Job to live a prosperous life. He had seven son and three

daughters.  He was rich in assets. God put His arm of protection around His servant.

Yet, God brought Job to the attention of Satan. In a short period of time God allow Satan to destroy all Job's assets and kill all his children. Not only that, God allowed Satan to afflict Job with sores all over his body.

 

In all of Job's troubles, he never sinned against God or cursed His name. Job fell down and worshipped God. Job recognized the Sovereignty of God and His right to do what He wanted to do with him.  (Job 1:21-22)  

 

According to Biblically historians, Job lived before the giving of the Law, therefore he was never under the penalty of the Law.  Yet, Job had a personal relationship with the Lord. Job's wife lost faith in God and his three friends concluded that he was guilty of sins worthy of God's wrath.

 

V:19. 1-2.  Then Job replied: 2 "How long will you torment me and crush me with words?"

A. Faith in God and living a righteous life does not shield us from the trials and

     tribulations of life.

    1. In fact, it is my opinion, that faith in Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ guarantees

        that we will suffer for His sake.

       a. The Lord, Himself said, Take up your Cross and follow Me. (Mark 8:34)

       b. Jesus, on His way to the cross said, If they did these things to the green tree, what

           shall they do to the dry.   Luke  23:31

    2. I believe that God designs trials and tribulations  for our lives so that we can find

        Joy in Him and Him only.

       a. It was the apostle James who said "Count it all Joy when you fall into divers

           temptations".  James 1:2

       b. The purpose of our trials is to prove our faith in God and to grow us up

            spiritually in the Lord.   James 1: 3-5

 B. It is a good thing when God chastises those He loves.  Proverbs 3:11-12

     1. It is not our fault that we were born in sin.

     2. Because God loves us, He draws us to Himself and redeems us out of our sins.

        a. Sometimes the drawing card is the trials and tribulations of our lives.

 C. Sometimes the world will laugh at our faith in God when they see us going through

      trials and tribulation.

     1. Job's so called friends were quick to condemn Job for sins he did not commit.

  1. The friends of Job tormented him with their constant investigation based on

       their worldly thoughts.

  2. They had no evidence of Job's guilt. Their proof was Job's troubles.

  3. They expressed no confidence in Job and failed to comfort him in his time

      need.

 D. Job found no comfort in his wife or his friends.

     1. Job's wife said that he should curse God and die.   Job 2:9.

     2. When you are going through something, it is the trick of Satan to make

         you feel like you are all alone. 

 

V:3. " Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me. "

  A. Sometimes when it rains, it floods.

      1. Job was suffering greatly and his friends added to his suffering with

          their constant attack.

      2. They attacked his truthfulness

      3. They attacked his life style.

      4. They attacked his relationship with God.

  B. You cannot judge a book by it's cover.

      1. Job was covered in trouble, but he was innocent and righteous before God.

      2. According to Job's friends, he was guilty by his association with trouble.

  C. When someone is down, it is our job to lift them up with comforting Words

       from the Lord.   Rom 15:1

      1. Satan came to steal, kill and destroy.

      2. Satan will use your friends and family against you.

      3. The one thing we don't need when we are hurting, is the Church talking

          against us.

 

V:4.  " If it is true that I have gone astray, my error remains my concern alone. "

 A. In order to rise above the condemnations of the world, the believer must put

      himself on a spiritual level to see God working in his life.

     1. If you have sinned against God, it is your problem and not the world's.

         a. The world will condemn you by what they see with no evidence to

             support their conclusions.

         b. We should support our brothers and sister in their troubles, but never

             condemn them.

         c. We never know how God is working in someone life.

     1. Just because you are having trouble in your life is no reason to believe that

         God has stopped loving you.

     2. Your troubles may be a sign of God's love.

         a. God may use your troubles to block you from having faith in yourself or

            the world.

         b. God may use your troubles to keep you humble.  1 Cor 1:27

 

V:5-6 " If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me, 6 then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me. "

 A. The only way you can condemn someone is to see yourself better than that person.

     1. Anytime you put someone else down, you are lifting yourself up.

     2. When you judge others, God will judge you.  Mat 7:1-2

 B. No one is ever without sin.

      1. The Word says that there is none righteous.   Romans 3:10

      2. We all deserve whatever God decides to do to us.

      3. God's says that He will bless who He wants to bless and curse who he wants to

          curse.    Rom 9:13-15

 C. What ever God does to us is for our good.

     1. All things work together for those who love the Lord and are called according to

         His purposes.   Rom 8:28

     2. God may do what we call bad, to do us some good.

 

V:7 "Though I cry, 'I've been wronged!' I get no response; though I call for help, there is

   no justice. "

 A. God does not always answer us when we call on Him.

     1. Every once in a while we will get no response from the Lord when we call.

     2. Trouble don't last always, but it may seem like it.

          a. Don't get weary in well doing, in due season you will reap, if we do not faint. 

              Gal 6:9

 B. God is longsuffering when it come to punishing us for our sins.

     1. He may let us suffer long before answering our prayers.

     2. As far as Job knew, he had done nothing to deserve his suffering at the hand

         of God.

     3. Job claimed his innocence before God.

 C. We know nothing of Job's life before He turn to God.

    1. Born in the flesh, we have a natural desire to please the flesh.

    2. Because he did not have the law, Job had no way of knowing what, if anything

        he had done to displease God.

    3. What we do know is at some point in Job's life he began to seek to please God.

 D. In times of trouble, the first thing you need is prayer.

     1. You should pray for your deliverance. 1 Thes 5:17-18

     2. You should seek to know the reason for your suffering.

     3. God answers prayers but in His time.

     4. Job knew that the only one who gives him an answer was God.

 

 

Job 19:23-20:1

 V:23-24 "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll,

   24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! "

 A. Job wanted a permanent record of his claim of innocence before God.

      1. Job wanted to world to know that he had done nothing to cause the destruction

          of his property, the death of his children or the severe sickness he endured.

    

      2. God does not always give us advance warnings of what is going to happen

          in our lives.

      3. He has made us aware that the life of a man is but a few days full of troubles.

           Job 14:1

        a. God also informs us that He chastises us after His own pleasure.  Heb. 12:10 

        b. In the same verse, He  informs us that His chastisement is for our good to

            form us into His holiness.   Heb 12:10

        c. Don't get angry with God when trouble comes your way; He is just working

            for your good.

 

V:25. " I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth."

   A. In mist of his trials, Job never lost his trust in God.

       1. The one thing the believer must know without doubt, is that he has a living

           redeemer.

       2. We must know that God loves us in our troubles, through our troubles

            and out of our troubles.

            a. Don't worry about your troubles. Jesus has overcome them.    John 16:33

            b. The Lord gives us the strength to have peace in the mist of trouble.

      3. God has the power and the authority over our lives.

      4. God can and does what He want to us.

 B. Even though Job was troubled, he was not destroyed.

     1. The fact that we are still here, means God is still working in our lives.

     2. God is still good when He allows bad in our lives.

     3. The bad in our lives is God's opportunity to be glorified.

 

V:26-27 " And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;

 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes — I, and not another. How my heart yearns  

 within me! "

  A. Job put his trust in God.

     1. Job was confident that even if his sickness led to death, he would see God.

     2. Job had perfect incite into the resurrection of the dead.

 B. The body will return to the dust from which it came and the spirit will return

      to the Lord.  Ecc 12:7

     1. One thing we must be sure of is our salvation.

     2. Salvation is a gift from God.

         a. Our salvation is the result of our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus

             Christ.

         b. We need a relationship with Jesus Christ.

         c. Notice, Job's faith was not based on his own goodness, but his trust in the Lord.

 

V:28-29. "If you say, 'How we will hound him, since the root of the trouble lies in him,'

29 you should fear the sword yourselves; for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment."

A. What goes around comes around.

     1. If you judge another, by the same measure you will be judged.  Mat 7:1-2

     2. We need to be careful to have compassion on those who are suffering.

     3. We will never know the mind of God or why He allows some to

         suffer more than others.

 B. Sometimes our suffering is not about us, but about the testimony we can

     provide to others when they are suffering.

     1. If all things work together, then our suffering will benefit others.

     2. We should fear God and not man.

     3. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

     4. Perhaps our suffering is designed to keeps us humble before the Lord.

     5. We must keep in mind that one day we will have to stand before God and give

        account of all our actions.   Rom 14:12

 

We may never know the reason Job suffered at the hand of God.

 I can only suggest what this text teaches me.

  1.  Life and death is in the hands of the Lord.

  2.  Faith in Jesus comforts us during our time of suffering.

  3.  Satan's temptations are no match for man faith in the Word of

      God. 

  4. The Lord uses our suffering to strengthen our faith in Him.

      a. When we are weak, God is our strength.  2 Cor 12:9

  5. What God takes us into, He can bring us out of.

 

Job did not get angry with God because of his suffering. He praise God in the mist

of his suffering.

 

COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU SUFFER FOR CHRIST

 

Rev. Melvin Mitchell,  Ass Pastor of GMBC

 

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "A Concern For Righteousness", 10/5/2014

A CONCERN FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

Habakkuk  2:1-6,  3:17-19

 

 

Habakkuk 2:1-6

 

Habakkuk was God's chosen prophet. He knew God would not tolerate sin for long.

He was frustrated that God had not done anything to put a stop to Israel's sins

Habakkuk was concerned that Israel's sins would result in their destruction.  

 

AN ANSWER FROM THE LORD

V:1. " I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what

  he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. "

 A. It was common for the prophets of God to seek answers from God for situations they

      did not understand.

      1. Like a watchman on a tower looking for the first sign of an approaching enemy,

          Habakkuk stood watch for an answer form God regarding the sins of Israel.

      2. Once an enemy was detected, it was the responsibility of the watchman to inform

          the brothers of the danger.

         a. The enemy of Israel was sin and the danger was God's wrath.

         b. God gave His prophets advance notice of His judgments.

  B.  Israel's disobedience was continuous and getting worst.

       1. Habakkuk was concerned  for his people and wanted to know what God was going

           to do to the nation.

 

A CALL TO SERVE

V:2. " Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so

  that a herald may run with it. "

 A. The Lord responded to Habakkuk's prayer.

     1. When we pray to God, we must be patience to wait for an answer from Him.

     2. We must expect that an answer from God comes with more responsibility for

          us.

     3. Change happens when we act on the Word of God.

 B. Habakkuk was given two commands from God.

     1. Write down the God's word's on a stone, clay or wooden tablets.

         a. You carve words in stone or wood. This is no small job.

         b. The Word could have been written on a clay tablet and baked in an oven

             to preserve it.

         b. God's commands requires obedient efforts on our part.

         c. Make it plain could mean write in large letters or simple language.

      2. The second command was to spread the Word.

         a. Habakkuk was commanded to get a runner to take God's Word through the

             cities.

         b. The Church is a community of God's people committed to serve.

         c. There are some jobs we can do ourselves and some we need the help of other

 

             believers.

         d. Habakkuk was told to write the words of God and get some help to spread the

             words through the cities.   

         e. The duty of all believers is to be a witness for Jesus.

 

V:3. " For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove

 false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

 A.  A prophecy is an event planned by God that will take place in a future time.

      1. The prophecy God gave Habakkuk pointed to a future time of the redemption

           of Israel.

      2. Because of their sins, Israel would go into Babylonian captivity for 70 years.

      3. Israel would be restored to the promise land.

      4. The Babylonians would be destroyed in future times.

      3. After the birth and death of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and a

          time of great tribulation, Israel would be restored to her former glory.

 B. There is an appointed time when God will carry out His plans for us.

     1. Our job is be patient and trust God to fulfill His promises.

     2. God does not work on our times.

 C. God's Word is true, but will be fulfilled in His time.

     2. Biblical history proves that God fulfills His promises.

         a. In the Garden of Eden, He promise a victory seed.

         b. He promised Abraham at the time when his wife was the beyond child

             bearing age that his descendants would be uncountable.

         c. He promise Israel a messiah.

     3. Some of God's prophecies have been fulfilled and some are waiting to be

         fulfilled.  

  D. Our problem is that we don't know God's timing.

     1. We should not try to put God on our time frame.

     2. God works in His own time. We have to trust the Word of God.   

 

HOW TO LIVE

V:4 "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright —  but the righteous will live by his faith— "

A. Those who don't know God , live by the ways and traditions of the world.

    1. Those who don't know God  seek every new wind or wave.

    2. They are proud and uplifted.

    3. Their desires are selfish and ungodly.

    4. The ungodly are continuously led astray by the evil in their hearts.

         a. The greed of the unrighteous leads to their downfall.

         b. The pride of the unrighteous  causes them to give credit to themselves

              for God's work.

 B. The righteous live by faith.

     1. Christ unselfish sacrificial love is the model for living for the Christian.

     2.  The righteous fear God and seek His guidance and the directions .

     3. The righteous trust in the Word of God.

        a. The Word is the manual  for living for the righteous.

        b. From generations to generations, the Word never changes.

    4. In trouble times, the Word comforts the righteous.

        a. In times of trouble, the righteous stand on the Word of God.

        b. In times of trouble, the strength of the righteous is his faith.

 

THE DEGRADED STATE OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS

V:5.  Indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave  and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples."

 A. The unrighteous are unaware of their ignorance and thinks they knows all.

   1. The unrighteous can never find contentment because their trust is in what they have.

   2. The unrighteous man never has enough because the tempter (Satan) shows him more.

   3  The unrighteous invest in things of the world which fade away in time.

B. The unrighteous can't find peace, because they make enemies in their quest for more.

   1. The Babylonians were proud in their success over Israel, not knowing that God

       used them to chastise Israel.

   2. As a result they praise their idol gods which angered the true and living God.

       a. Their continuous arrogance was God's plan for their downfall.

   3.  Evil minds are never satisfied with what they have and seeks to devour others

       which also leads to their downfall. 

 

JOY IN THE MIST OF TROUBLE

Habakkuk 3:17 - 19

V:17-18. " Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

 A. The righteous rejoice in the Lord in good times and bad times.

     1. It is easy to praise God when everything is good.

         a. We can claim the goodness of the Lord without asking why.

         b. It is easy to say God is good when you are enjoying the good.

     2. When things are going good, we must careful that are praise is not empty.

 B. A true test of a man's faith, is when He praises God when everything is going wrong.

     1. A true test of a man's faith is when he is joyful in the mist of trouble.

     2. The Praise of God when there is no evidence of an answered prayer is genuine.

     3. When unbeliever is asking wh, the faithful say  Why Not.

 

V:19. " The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments."

 A. When the Lord God is your strength, you fear no evil, downfall or misery.

     1. The just know that all things work for the good of those who love the Lord.

     2. It is the trials and tribulations of life that strengthen our faith.

     3. The Lord will test our faith to strengthen our weaknesses.

 B. When we keep our focus on the Lord, he takes us higher spiritual insights.

    1.   When our focus is on the Lord is on the eternal.

    2. When our focus is on this world it is on the things that are temporal and have no

        lasting value.

 C. Notice how God describes the success of a faithful Christian

     1. He uses a deer, a graceful animal.

         a. Believers are covered by the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

     2. A dear can move in and out of an area undetected.

      a. The faithful do not have to impress anyone with loud and persuasive language.

      b. When the Word is spoken, it is the Holy Spirit working quietly that does the

           conviction of the truth. 

    4. A dear is aware of his surrounding.

      a. He can easily detect eminent danger.

      b. He moves swiftly when danger is near ( up to 35 mph).

   5. The Holy Spirit gives the believers insight about his surrounding.

      a. God protects the faithful believer from the dangers that surrounds him.  

 

PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD

 

Rev. Mitchell,  Ass Pastor of GMBC