Psalm 84:11-12

Blessed Are Those Who Trust in the Lord

Introduction:

This Psalm is a pilgrimage song!

A song that the Israelites would sing upon their journey towards the Temple of God in Jerusalem every year to attend annual festivals.

Imagine thousand and thousands of people walking on the road towards Jerusalem, and joyfully singing and declaring praises to God!

Their face all smiling, and their hearts full of excitement and longing to be in the temple of God and to feel His holy presence again as they worship Him day and night! They are desperate to be in the temple of God!

This song would remind them the “blessedness of those who trust in the Lord”. They have experienced the hand of God at work in their lives and they have put their confidence in God!

This song would remind them of why they go to the temple year after year - to Pray and to Worship the Living God of Israel! Who has been their faithful provider and protector, and the reason why the can continue living and enjoying the provisions and blessings from God!

This Pilgrimage song is a fitting reminder for us church…we are pilgrims of this world!

We are in a pilgrimage from this world towards the heavenly kingdom of our King Jesus!

We are like the OT Pilgrims, and just like them we need to be continually reminded of the CHARACTER OF GOD and the WORKS of God in and through the Church as we celebrate our 7th anniversary…Let me share to you 3 important things that will encourage our hearts and fill our hearts with joy:

Recall the CHARACTER of God and the WORKS of God in and through GCCC:

I. God is the giver and sustainer of this church

II. God is the mighty protector and comforter of this church

III. God is the transformer and molder of this church

Psalm 84:11–12 NASB95

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!

I. God is the giver and sustainer of this church

The pilgrims sings and declares that the LORD GOD is the sun and shield.

The author used a metaphor to describe God...God is the sun. The sun gives light to guide our path. The sun gives energy to sustain the life of plants, animals, and humans. - The Psalmist is saying that God is the giver and sustainer of his life (v.11a).

God sustained their journey (vv. 5-7)

- We need to be reminded of the goodness of God and his faithfulness In providing the needs of the church from year 0 to year 7!

In sustaining each one and each families through the many times that we move from one place to another!

- In sustaining each one and each families through the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Truly, he did not withhold from us his Favor.

II. God is the mighty protector and comforter of this church

- God is our shield (v.11a). For the Psalmist, God has been their protector and source of comfort.

- We need to be reminded of the mighty power of God, In protecting us from the works of the evil one trying to create divisions and quarrels within the church.

we experienced discouragements in the past...and some thought of quitting altogether, but God intervened and comforted us to just TRUST In Him!

We need to be reminded of the mighty power of God, In protecting us from our own wickedness and sins, setting our hearts right and humbling us, especially for the leaders to walk in a humble and loving way....

III. God is the transformer and molder of this church

God is gracious and He gives honor (v.11b)

God’s grace transforms

- God’s grace leads us to walk in integrity!

- God’s grace leads us to trust in Him!

God blesses those whose lifestyle is pleasing to Him!

God blesses those who trust in Him!

This two goes together, when you trust God, your lifestyle will be aligned to your belief!

You say, I trust God to provide for my daily needs. Your lifestyle will be to walk in integrity and avoid compromises (etc. mo take advantage for promotion, mamakak para modaghan ang customer or modaghan ang halin).

You say, I trust God to protect me from the attacks of the enemy. Your lifestyle will be to put on the full armor of God everyday (the sword of the spirit, the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteouness, and the belt of truth.) and avoid the traps of the enemy (dili kay magpadoul hinoun sa tentasyon).

Illustration: I’ve seen many miracles of God in this church - the miracle of Transformation!

Kaniadto dili makit-an sa prayer meeting, karon sige na ug attend ug mo lead na ug prayer...

Kaniadto dili kahibalo mo pray, karon mag sige na ug pray ug mo pray na para sa uban...

Kaniadto init ug ulo ug dali ra masuko bisan sa gagmay ra nga butang, karon kalma na ug kahibalo na kanus-a dapat masuko…

Kaniadto maglikay masugoan ug mahatagan ug bulohaton sa simbahan, karon willing na mo serve sa Ginoo!

Kaniadto dili mohatag ug offering kay masayangan kay hinagoan kuno niya…ug magsakit pa ang dughan ug mohatag sa simbahan, karon nausab na ang kasing-kasing ug cheerful giver na…kay nasabtan niya ang tanan gikan sa Ginoo ug angayan nga ulian ang Ginoo sa unsa man nga anaa kaniya.

God molded his heart to be like the heart of Christ - a willing giver!

God does not withhold anything that would beneficial to us! (v.11c)

God did not withhold the greatest favor and blessing a man could ever receive - By the grace of God, He sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross on our behalf. His death is the payment for our sins...

Romans 8:28–30 NASB95

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Romans 8:31–32 NASB95

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

The Gospel gives us eternal life and protection from the punishment of sin.

- God has to develop our trust/faith in Him through the trials and adversities that we’ve encountered and we will encounter.

Because we have seen God’s mighty hand at work in this church in the past, we shall continue to LOOK to Him, to LONG for Him, and to TRUST Him to continually mold us and transform us into the likeness of Christ!

Let our confidence be in the our Mighty God! Proper Response:

Continue cultivating your intimacy with God

do you long for God’s presence?

do you enjoy worshiping God?

do you have excitement to go to Church?

Christians who does not have intimacy with God are those who don’t long for God’s presence

What should we do?- make it a habit to be in God’s presence by praying and reading God’s word, make it a habit to be in the presence and fellowship of believers (join discipleship, join A-groups)

let us model worship and prayer to our young people and children.

Continue cultivating a heart of surrender and trust in God.

In the things that you don’t understand…you only need to understand that God sees and God works for your good! So...

- Let us continue to trust the Lord for our finances to pay for the bills and to support the workers.

- Let us continue to trust the Lord for our finances to pay for the lot and building for our sanctuary.

Let us continue to trust the Lord to provide leaders and workers who will faithfully do the work of Ministry.

- Let us continue to trust the Lord to empower us in bringing more souls into the feet of Christ.

Trust in the Lord stems from our intimacy with God. Intimacy comes when we know the character of God.

We are here, celebrating our 7th Church anniversary because of God’s unfailing love and never ending mercy in

and we will continue to celebrate more anniversaries in the future because of God’s unfailing love and never ending mercy!