Three Steps to Demonstrating Faith

Psalm 27:1-14

Psalm 27:1–14 (NLT)

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

2 When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6 Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.

7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me!

8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

9 Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation!

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.

12 Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence.

13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

ETS: The psalmist gives an exuberant declaration of his faith.

ESS: The believer is to strive to demonstrate faith through three practical steps.

OSS: Christians will commit to demonstrating their faith in God in practical ways.

PQ: How can I demonstrate my faith to a lost world?

UW: steps

INTRODUCTION:

I- EMBRACE THE PRINCIPLE OF COURAGE. (Psalm 27:1-3)

Psalm 27:1–3 (NLT)

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

2 When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.

A- We can be courageous because of who we are focused upon. (Psalm 27:1)

Psalm 27:1 (NLT)

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

1- We are focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

a- He is my light in darkness.

(1) Hebrew word “אֹור (ori)”= Light (of day)

b- He is my salvation.

(1) Hebrew word “יֶֶשַׁע (Yesha)” = deliverance, salvation

c- He is my strength.

(1) Hebrew word “מָעֹוז (Ma’ouz)”= place or means of safety, refuge, stronghold.

B- We can be courageous regardless of what we face. (Psalm 27:2-3)

Psalm 27:2–3 (NLT)

2 When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.

1- The enemies we face make no difference to God.

a- Evil people

b- War

c- Circumstances

*There is nothing that we face that can overcome him!

2- We can be courageous because our confidence is in the Lord.

a- God will cause the plans of the wicked to boomerang upon them.

b- Our confidence is grounded in our God!

II- EXERCISE THE PRACTICE OF GODLINESS. (Psalm 27:4-11)

A- Live in the conscious awareness of God’s presence. (Psalm 27:4)

Psalm 27:4 (NLT)

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

1- We should strive to live in the conscious awareness of God’s presence at all times.

(Psalm 23:4)

Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

B- Life on firm footing even in times of trouble. (Psalm 27:5)

Psalm 27:5 (NLT)

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

1- We can live with confidence because God takes care of us.

a- He conceals and hides us in his presence.

b- He places our feet upon solid ground, out of the enemy’s reach.

(Psalm 56:11)

Psalm 56:11 (NLT)

11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

(Hebrews 13:6)

Hebrews 13:6 (NLT)

6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

C- Offer the sacrifices of joy and praise in worship. (Psalm 27:6)

Psalm 27:6 (NLT)

6 Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.

1- God wants us to offer our sacrifices of joy and praise.

a- It is the praise from the heart he treasures.

(Psalm 98:4)

Psalm 98:4 (NLT)

4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!

D- Seek the Lord continually. (Psalm 27:7-8)

Psalm 27:7–8 (NLT)

7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me!

8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

1- We are to seek the Lord actively.

(Isaiah 55:6)

Isaiah 55:6 (NLT)

6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.

(Acts 17:27-28)

Acts 17:27–28 (NLT)

27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.

28 For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

E- Confess His faithfulness. (Psalm 27:9-10)

Psalm 27:9–10 (NLT)

9 Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation!

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

1-

F- Ask Him to teach you His ways. (Psalm 27:11)

Psalm 27:11 (NLT)

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.

1- We are to ask for God’s direction and for Him to teach us His ways.

(Psalm 119:33-34)

Psalm 119:33–34 (NLT)

33 Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end.

34 Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart.

(James 1:5)

James 1:5 (NLT)

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

III- ENGAGE A PRACTICAL OUTLOOK ON LIFE. (Psalm 27:12-14)

A- Seek the intervention of God. (Psalm 27:12)

Psalm 27:12 (NLT)

12 Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence.

1- We are directed by God to call out to God and seek His intervention.

(Jeremiah 33:3)

Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT)

3 Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

(Matthew 7:7)

Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

B- Believe that God will move and bring good to pass. (Psalm 27:13)

Psalm 27:13 (NLT)

13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

1- God works to bring Good things to pass even through our trials and difficulties.

(Romans 8:28-29)

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

C- Wait on God to fulfill His promises. (Psalm 27:14)

Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

1- We are to wait patiently and expectantly for the Lord to fulfill his promises and accomplish His will in our lives.

a- קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְה֫וָ֥ה = to wait patiently and expectantly for (upon) YHWH (god, the LORD)

(Deuteronomy 7:9 ) “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.”

(Hebrews 10:23) “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”

CONCLUSION: