Sunday Morning Podcast September 15, 2019. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: PSALMS 46:1-5, 6-11
1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved, he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. This could be in a catastrophic time. But God gives, even then, gladness and help when fears come. For God is in the midst of her! “(Verse 10) Be still, and know that I am God: ” ….Your Refuge!! God is our refuge and strength in the presence of trouble. Our validation comes when we keep the connection to God always…in our daily walk. Our hearts are porous. Much like chalk. Sometimes when you cut into a colored chalk, you might see a white center, within the colored outside. When the color was put into the chalk, it might have only absorbed down to a certain point. Our hearts are like that. Unless we completely immerse ourselves into Christ, we won’t have His strength all the way within. But the Blood of Christ will infuse you thoroughly if we stay connected. God is our ‘active’ enjoyable Presence. Are we barely getting along? Is our life only full of woe? God has something better than that! Don’t be condemned for those crisis in your life, but remember that, (in that part of your fight), to fight against the woe, and find the joy that this infusion of God has brought to you. Spiritually, emotionally, we can become woeful from the burden. A woeful way of being, instead of being graced with joy still in the midst. ‘This’ is why we still serve God …if ‘woe’ is our best? You mustn’t be condemned for that woeful grief, but a time comes that we are affected by the infusion of Salvation which will bring Joy! You way of being, is infused by your refuge and strength. No matter the extreme sorrow and pain, you can have the testimony of joy in the suffering.
God is a very present help, and you must not let sorrow take advantage of you. We know, and have a Savior, who is no respecter of persons, and Who will give us joy still, in spite of our pain and grief. It’s about more than mere survival, ….it’s about joy! With God! God is still our very present help, strength, and refuge in trouble! God gives us hope, when there is no hope! Before Jesus, we wonder, “is this the best it can be?” No! God will give us hope! In Matthew 26:21-25. 27: 3-5 These passages tells about the circumstances at the last supper. Jesus tells His disciples that one of them will betray Him. Judas asks “is it I?” To which Jesus confirms that he is correct. In the first part of the 27th chapter, Judas repented of the betrayal, but because of the resulting depression and hopelessness of sin, he hung himself. This is what it is like to be without hope. This is becoming more common across all age groups. More hopelessness is increasing even more also within the very aged population, as well as the young. The loss of hope is directly related to unbelief with the spiritual things of God. Without faith, belief, and hope, there is no hope! Only Jesus is the refuge from the woe of discouragement. 1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:1-5
One of the primary reasons for Salvation …is Hope! Hope for power over sin, and all the needful places in life. Hope of your whole mind, soul, and strength. You’re not going to be able to really lean upon the other things labeled as helps. Only Salvation from sin, and it’s deliverance, brings hope, …then comes peace with God. We have peace with God, because of Jesus Christ! Are we fans? Or followers of Jesus Christ? With fans, there is a the element of being fanatic. Being a fan, comes and goes. But a follower will not come and go, but “hang in there.” The Lord wants us to be a follower, and not “just” a fan. We’re followers of Christ, because He only can give us peace. Peace will not be found elsewhere. Being justified by Jesus Christ, who only gives hope and peace. Is peace still our life, even in the midst of much sorrow, grief and pain? That’s when you need to be able to answer “Yes,” (Romans 5:1). If in the midst of trouble, we will be able to comprehend if we are standing in grace. Then this will help us to rejoice in hope! “Hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.” If in the midst of a “puddle” of trouble, we will be able to comprehend if we are standing in grace, then this will help us to rejoice in hope. Hope is the Glory of God! When asked, you don’t even need to divulge your problems. Just say “Amen”, I’m standing in the grace of Christ’s hope. I’m not able to be on my own. We need to cry out to God “Be my strength!” Life can often be a “marathon, and it really hurts.” But no matter the many years, you can “still be running” in this race toward heaven. Glory in the tribulations! (We glory in tribulations, Romans 5:3). “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2,3 Tribulation when endured, brings patience. The world seeks pleasure and happiness, but that’s not part of the gospel because that doesn’t bring patience. We need to go through some things to acquire happiness. We need to let suffering finish. Otherwise, bitterness, and anger comes. Forgiveness lets all the problems, sorrows, oppositions, finish, so you can endure tribulation to the end, to give hope and patience. This goes contrary to worldly wisdom. For the world cannot wait. Patience only comes when you do. Then you will began to trust. And with that follows hope. “If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister, ” Colossians 1:23. Do you have hope in this life?
The Hope We Have In Christ