Hope in Every Season Message 2
Notes
Transcript
Hope in Every Season
A Journey Through Psalm 34
The Lord Fights for You
The Lord Fights for You
Psalm 34:4-7
Every believer faces a battle
Notice verse 7
Psalm 34:7 (MEV) — 7 The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
Every believer faces a battle
This battle is not with human beings
Ephesians 6:12 tells us it’s with the forces of this dark world.
A spiritual battle may seem strange to us.
We all battle against temptation
What about fear? (What will they think about me)
The battle over discouragement
The battle of spiritual opposition (Let’s skip church today)
The battle with worry anxiety uncertainty
The war with our own flesh
Battleground
Someone said the Christian life is not a playground it’s a battleground.
The battleground is serves as the backdrop for God’s deliverance.
1. When the Battle Brings Fear, Seek the Lord
1. When the Battle Brings Fear, Seek the Lord
I prayed…
Psalm 34:4 (GW) — 4 I went to the Lord for help. He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.
I went to the Lord for help. He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.
David doesn’t start with the enemy.
He starts with prayer.
Fear is often our greatest enemy before the battle ever starts.
Fear can be crippling (We miss God’s blessings)
David prays and fear loses it’s grip.
Why pray when we can panic.
The knee jerk reaction is panic.
Most of the counseling I do is over things people fear.
Fear and worry.
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) — 10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Pray believing
Pray believing
2. When the Battle Seems Impossible, Keep Your Eyes on the Lord
2. When the Battle Seems Impossible, Keep Your Eyes on the Lord
Keeping our eyes on Jesus
Psalm 34:5 (CEV) — 5 Keep your eyes on the Lord! You will shine like the sun and never blush with shame.
Keep your eyes on the Lord! You will shine like the sun and never blush with shame.
I saw a Facebook post by the Illinois State Police
The 𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑violations are:
👮♀️Speeding
🍺DUI
🚘 Seatbelt
📵Distracted Driving
Distraction is a killer of our Christian walk.
Peter walks on the water
A step of faith a miracle
But Peter becomes distracted
Matthew 14:30 (NLT) — 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
The battle can be lost if you lose focus
3. When the Battle Leaves You Weak, Cry Out to God
3. When the Battle Leaves You Weak, Cry Out to God
Overwhelmed
It is such a horrible feeling.
Psalm 34:6 (NLT) — 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
The Hebrew word for desperation = poor – needy.
Not poor in money but desperate
In my desperation I prayed
One of the greatest victories comes when we admit we cannot win without God.
And the Lord listened
And the Lord listened
One of our struggles is that we have a in mind how God should answer our prays.
God will always answer according to his will.
Sometimes God allows suffering because is building something in us.
Don’t be discouraged.
Ask God to show you what he is doing.
When the Battle Rages, Rest in God's Protection
The Lord fights for you!
The Lord fights for you!
Psalm 34:7 (MEV) — 7 The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
The image is remarkable
We are overwhelmed
We are surrounded
2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (NLT) — 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
We are walking in the valley
Our Protector
Our Protector
Psalm 18:2 (BSB) — 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
We will never know the battles the Lord has fought for us.
You don’t have to fight alone.
