The Avenger

INTRO:This last week has been tough to stomach...

English Standard Version (Psalm 94)

The LORD Will Not Forsake His People

94 O LORD, God of vengeance,

O God of vengeance, shine forth!

2  Rise up, O judge of the earth;

repay to the proud what they deserve!

3  O LORD, how long shall the wicked,

how long shall the wicked exult?

4  They pour out their arrogant words;

all the evildoers boast.

5  They crush your people, O LORD,

and afflict your heritage.

6  They kill the widow and the sojourner,

and murder the fatherless;

7  and they say, “The LORD does not see;

the God of Jacob does not perceive.”

8  Understand, O dullest of the people!

Fools, when will you be wise?

9  He who planted the ear, does he not hear?

He who formed the eye, does he not see?

10  He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?

He who teaches man knowledge—

11  the LORD—knows the thoughts of man,

that they are but a breath.

12  Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD,

and whom you teach out of your law,

13  to give him rest from days of trouble,

until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14  For the LORD will not forsake his people;

he will not abandon his heritage;

15  for justice will return to the righteous,

and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16  Who rises up for me against the wicked?

Who stands up for me against evildoers?

17  If the LORD had not been my help,

my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.

18  When I thought, “My foot slips,”

your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.

19  When the cares of my heart are many,

your consolations cheer my soul.

20  Can wicked rulers be allied with you,

those who frame injustice by statute?

21  They band together against the life of the righteous

and condemn the innocent to death.

22  But the LORD has become my stronghold,

and my God the rock of my refuge.

23  He will bring back on them their iniquity

and wipe them out for their wickedness;

the LORD our God will wipe them out.

PRAY!!!

God Is Still On The Throne

God Knows Everything That’s Going On

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

The word to key on is “a very present help

The One And Only Reason His Judgement Is Delayed = LOVE! He is giving every opportunity to repent!

John The baptist and Jesus had the same message.. REPENT!

Anger in response to sin and its ill effects is a form of righteous anger, but when it crosses over the boundary into bitterness or a spirit of vengeance, it is not honoring to God.

Charles Stanley

2. God Is The Righteous Judge

Hebrews 10:30 “For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

If “vengeance is mine says the Lord”, that surely means that vengeance isn't ours!

Paul takes it 1 step more and says never avenge yourselves

Romans 12:19 “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

It plainly says right there that we are to leave vengeance to God

God will handle all this

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

Echoing v.11

1 Corinthians 3:20 “and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

2 Thessalonians 1:8 “in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

But…what do we do?

We love like Jesus..

3. We Are Called To Love

This is sooooo hard to do...

Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”

1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

So stop with all posts on fb where you act no different than the godless mobs

4. Never Forget Who The Real Enemy is

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

5. He Alone Is Our Refuge And Rest

Psalm 94:18–19 “When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”

Psalm 23:1–6 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

6. Victory Is Guaranteed

Deuteronomy 20:4 “for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’”

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Proverbs 21:30–31 “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.”

In Closing…We’re danger close to God saying “that's enough

Call to prayer for our country, for godly leaders and our children

CLOSING PRAYER!!