Tag: God is in control

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27
May '20

Faith Worth Fighting For

Posted on May 27, 2020 in Devotions | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

27
May '20
Psalm 11:1-7
“In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord‘s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”
 
Introduction: While others saw a shepherd boy, God saw a King! A warrior! A Leader! A Servant! David fought and killed a bear, a lion, and a giant… every Christian is in a FIGHT! Can you feel it? How can we win over the enemy? Consider (3) strategies for FIGHTING the Good FIGHT of FAITH:
 
1. Who’s FIGHTING Who? Prepare for Battle! (Psa 11:1-2)
“In the Lord put I my trust:….For lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.”
  •    Facing an Internal enemy – fighting your testimony
  •    Facing an External enemy – fighting your family
  •    Facing an Infernal enemy – fighting your legacy 
 
2. How much will it COST? Count the COST! (Psa 11:3)
“If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
  •   The COST of compromise 
  •   The PRICE that’s RIGHT for the fight
 
3. Where is our help? Do the math! (Psa 11:4-7)
“The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men….For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”
  •  God’s in control
  •  We shall behold Him
 
Conclusion: Is there a cost to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What’s the cost to follow Jesus? Death to SELF! There’s a PRICE to follow CHRIST!! But there’s a higher COST for lower living…. Ultimately it COSTS  more not to follow Jesus, regardless of the fierce fight of faith.
 
Keep fighting soldier.
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese

06
May '20

Reasons to Rejoice

Posted on May 6, 2020 in Devotions | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

06
May '20
Text: Psalm 33:1-21

“Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness 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. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”

Introduction: Are you a creature of habit? Do you like interruptions? We’ve had some lately…. What should our response be? During a national crisis, like ours today, the author David (or Asa, Jehoshaphat, or Josiah), inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:19-21), gives us (4) REASONS to REJOICE in the LORD:
 
1. Because of WHO HE is! (Psa 33:1-5)
” Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright…Sing unto him a new song; ….For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth….the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”
• REJOICE in the word of the Lord (v 4)
• REJOICE in the work of the Lord (v 4)
 
2. Because of WHAT HE has done! (Psa 33:6-9)
” By the word of the Lord the heavens were made… let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.”
• Creator God (v 6, 7)
• Sustainer God (v 8, 9)
 
3. Because of HOW HE is in CONTROL! (Psa 33:10-19)
” The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought… The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
• “Counsel”- Heb, etsah-means advice (v 10)
• “Counsel of heathen nought”- God frustrates
• His “Counsel stands forever”- Heb-olam (v 11)
• His Heart to all “generations” (v 11)
• God BLESS AMERICA! – make her BLESSABLE! (v 12)
 
4. Because of WHY HE is our HELP! (Psa 33:20-22)
“Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and shield…our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”
• Help us to wait (v 20)
• Help comes from the Lord (v 20)
 
Conclusion: Have you made a CHOICE to REJOICE? Or will you CHOOSE to LOSE? During this interruption, we are reminded that our GOD is still IN CONTROL even though it appears things are spinning OUT of CONTROL.
Yet, for the TRUE believer like David, in a time of trouble, we can find REASONS to REJOICE!
 
Will you?
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese