Double Down

intro

the battle continues for our church

sickness - my wife (not Covid), mother alston, sis Williams foot, sis cooks, and others

and you are facing battles too - home, job, family . . .

and whatever battles you are in

Strategy is important

plans are important

information is vital

but one of the most important things is a made up mind to fight, stay the course

and our word today is Double Down

means to reaffirm what you have already committed to

like a married couple renewing their vows

already married, but just in case there was any doubt that we plan to stick together, we will renew our vows

and as Christians, in a battle, we need to double down

Psalm 31:14 HCSB

14 But I trust in You, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”

David is, as described by the Bible, a man after God’s own heart . . . he has been following the Lord for a while

but David is going through a tough time

he is in danger, begging God for protection

praying for a rescue

because his enemies are plotting against him

even neighbors and acquaintances have turned away

rumors are being spread about him

he is in great distress . . .and in his distress he declares, “But I trust in You, Lord; I say, “You are my God”

David doubles down

you might have been baptized, you might have been a christian a long time, you might participated in various ministries, you might have been to church almost every sunday, you can even be the pastor of the church . . . .

but when the going gets tough it’s good to double down onwho God is in your life

I said in troubling times, it’s good to reaffirm your choice to follow the Lord’

this is not a new concept, we live in troubling times, and we see a lot of reaffirmation and doubling down

democrats and republicans are doubling down - many people don’t care WHAT is actually being said or done or planned any more, it’s just a matter of who said it

my side said it. . . it’s right, it’s true!

your side said it . . . it’s wrong, fake news!

Fox is becoming foxier, CNN is becoming more CNN - e - er

people are doubling down

if people can reaffirm political positions, double down on a political party, certainly we can double down on our choice to serve the Lord

first you need to . . .

Trust in your choice.

David says, “but as for me, I trust in you, O Lord”

If God is your choice, if Jesus is your choice, then trust in your choice

When difficulties come, when trouble occur . . . trust . . . in . . . your . . . choice

And trust in him for the long haul

In my experience with God, everything doesn’t clear up by the end of the day

with God, Some things won’t clear up in a day, week, month, year, or decade

even still, trust in your choice,

life is getting tough, but I trust in you

i’ve been waiting so long, but I trust in you

i’ve lost friends/family, but I trust in you

my enemies are making it hard for me, but I trust in you

the situation has worsened, but I trust in You, o Lord

why choose God, If you are not going to trust God

why serve God, if you are not going to believe God

why call on God, if you are not going to wait on God

Trust in your choice . . . because your choice is God!!!

you have chosen a faithful God

all wise God

all powerful God

a merciful God

an on time God

so trust in your choice

you ought to say, but as for me, I trust in You, O Lord

I can’t speak for you, but as for me

not only trust your choice, but . . . .

Establish your choice

David makes it official

David formalizes it

David puts a ring on it

“You are my God”

he updated his relationship status on social media

he changed it from “it’s complicated” to “in a relationship with God”

some of us need to do the same

we are so hesitant when it comes to God, Jesus Christ

someone asks, “Who is Jesus to you?”

there’s usually a big breath, “well . . . I believe . . . I said that I believe . . . what’s the best way to put it . . . Jesus is God’s son . . . . “

so very careful and unsure sounding, sound like we’re saying, . “it’s complicated”

imagine if I did that to my wife, “who is Sherry to you?”

well . . . I feel . . . I believe . . what’s the best way to put it . . . she’s my spouse

no, I need to say, that’s my wife, that’s my baby, we’ve been through thick and thin for over 26 years!

Who is Jesus to me?

He’s my savior, my boss, my best friend, He’s my God, He’s everything to me, life itself!

water when I am thirsty

bread when I’m hungry

comfort when I am sad

strength when I’m weak

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life

he is my all and all!

establish your choice, plant the flag, display the colors!

praise him like He is your God

sing for him, like he is your God

Affirmation means the most in hard times

it’s the true test of who you are really with

this football season, you will be able to identify real Cowboy fans, because the season is looking like it will be real bad

many Cowboy fans have already doubled down . . . “but they’re still my team”

I know my wife is with me, if I win the lotto, “it’ me and you baby” . . . I know it is!

but it means a lot more, when she says, it’s me and you baby” . . . . and my account is overdrawn

God deserves the same measure of unwavering support

you are my God!

others are giving up, but You are my God

others have fallen by the wayside, but You are my God

the battle is getting heavy, but You are my God

tough times call for doubling down

i’m going to keep on praising

believing

trusting

serving

giving

ride or die, you are my God

didn’t he ride AND die for us?