Untitled Sermon

Psalm 46:1–3 KJV 1900

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Introduction

Today we recognize and celebrate the 72nd Church Anniversary of New Life Baptist Church. Historically, we have never celebrated an anniversary without physically assembling ourselves together in the house of worship where God has provided. Nevertheless, we dare not take time to acknowledge and give God thanks for having kept us down through the years, up to this present moment. Amen somebody.

Without question, the year 2020 was unlike any other in recent history. It started and ended with the Covid-19 global pandemic, which caused panic, a shutdown of businesses, schools, universities, and in-person gathering for church service. Face masks became part of everyone’s daily wardrobe and basic commodities such as toilet-paper and bleach became scarce and often unavailable. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic there was rioting and civil unrest stemming from law enforcement killings of several Black citizens. Simultaneously, 2020 was a presidential election year that ended with a new president elected under a cloud of suspicion and legal battles leaving our nation more divided than it has ever been. To begin the year 2021, we have witnessed a riot on the steps of the US Capitol Building resulting in charges against and a 2nd failed impeachment attempt of former President Trump.

As I prayed to the Lord about what so share with the church concerning the occasion and the challenges that we face, I was led to Psalm 46. This great psalm has calmed the troubled breast of many saints since it was penned. Although the author of this psalm is unknown and the occasion uncertain it remains the standard bearer for the people of God and is raised high—especially in times of trouble. Surely, these are troubling and perilous times. In fact, it is obvious to the most casual observer that we these are perilous times. All anyone needs to do is look upon faces of people—everyone is wearing a mask, a shield, or some other sort of face covering. Covid-19 is a deadly virus that threatens people all over the world. Nevertheless, for the past 72 years God has kept New Life Baptist Church and continues to keep us today. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, civil unrest, economic uncertainties, and social distancing, we as God’s people have Confidence in Troubled Times. For we walk by faith and not by sight. In Romans 8:35-39, the Apostle Paul asked the question, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” For this reason, we are “…confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6) Amen somebody.

V.1 – “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

This psalm, attributed to the sons Korah, is a psalm of praise and joy declaring the power and faithfulness of God towards His people no matter what life’s circumstances may bring. The Korhites, descendants of Korah, were appointed as the song leaders within the tribe of Levi. The history of Korah is an interesting one. In Numbers 16 covers a period known as the Israel’s Wilderness Wanderings. During this time, three men named Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, were the ringleaders of those who led a coup against Moses and Aaron. Scripture informs us that after Moses told the congregation “Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.” After Moses said this, “the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and their houses, and all the men that belonged unto Korah, and all their goods. And the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.” Notwithstanding, according to Numbers 26:11, “…the children of Korah died not.” Thus, being aware of what became of their father, and thankful that they were not consumed with him, these sons of Korah sang with a fervency and dedication unparalleled among the other children of Israel. This is what gives the title of this psalm such significance, “For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices (NLT).

The first word “God,” is declared with a high note followed by a word of assurance “is.” It is of utmost importance to know Who and What God is:

Deuteronomy 4:24 – “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire…”

2 Chronicles 30:9 – “the LORD your God is gracious and merciful…”

Job 36:5, 26 – “Behold, God is mighty… (26) Behold, God is great…”

Psalm 47:7 – “For God is the King of all the earth…”

Psalm 54:4 – “Behold, God is mine helper…”

Psalm 59:17 – “…God is my defence…”

Psalm 62:7 – “…God is my salvation and my glory…”

Psalm 75:7 – “…God is the judge…”

Ps 99:9 – “…the LORD our God is holy.”

1 Corinthians 1:9 – “God is faithful…”

1 John 4:8 – “…God is love,” and

Hebrews 11:6 – “…for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

The next word is “our.” This personal pronoun is plural, which means that it includes the one speaking and at least one other person. I cannot claim Him as our until and unless I claim Him as mine. So, whatever the psalmist is about to tell us concerning God pertains to all that personally claim Him as theirs. Jesus instructed His disciples how to pray. He told them, “When you pray, say, Our Father, which art in heaven hallowed be thy name.” I am thankful to be part of a church that for the last 72 years to this present time continues to claim God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit as ours. Amen somebody.

The psalmist says that “God is our refuge…” A refuge is a place of safety and security. A place of rest and peace, comfort, and joy. A place of Confidence in Troubled Times. Amen somebody. A refuge is a shelter in the time of a storm, and life is a series of storms. We are either in a storm, or we just came out of a storm, or we are headed into another storm. Nevertheless, in the midst of the storm, no matter what kind of storm it may be, whether it’s on your job, in government, in your body, in your family, in your home, or in a pandemic like Covid-19, we can flee as a bird from the snare of the fowler to God who is our refuge. Amen somebody.

Side Note: To reap the benefits of a refuge you must be within in it. Standing on the outside looking in, will not help you. My mind takes me back to the Great Flood of Noah’s day. Only the eight souls who were inside the Ark survived the Flood. Anyone who may have been trying to stand on deck or hold on some other way perished. The same is true when it comes to salvation. Jesus Christ is the spiritual ark of safety from the coming judgment of God. For this reason, a person must be in Christ. Paul writes in…

Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 15:22 – “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

In case someone may not understand, let me be clear. Being in a worship service will not save you. Having your name on the church roll will not save you. Even being baptized and partaking of the Lord’s Communion table will not save you. You must be in Christ. And the only way into to Christ is through faith. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Amen somebody.

Let me move on. The psalmist said, not only is God our refuge, He also is our strength. God is our strength that helps us flee to our place of refuge. David talks about his strength in a few of the following psalms:

Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Psalm 27:1 – “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:14 – “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

I am reminded of Paul’s predicament when he prayed to God three times to remove what he called “a thorn in the flesh.” God answered him in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Paul writes, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Amen somebody.

I just wonder is there anybody out there that can testify that God is your strength. Like Paul, your burden was so heavy that you did not think you could bear it. Nevertheless, like saints are instructed to do, you called on the Lord for help, and He answered. And He gave you the strength you needed to escape or endure. Again, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” And now I know I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). Amen somebody.

“…a very present help in trouble.”

Here the psalmist focuses our attention on those defining moments in life where the attributes of God are not only highlighted but brought to bear upon our circumstances. At no time is God’s help needed more than when we find ourselves in trouble. The psalmist declares that God is not just a help in our trouble, but a help that is present. In other words, God is not on His way when we are in trouble, but rather, He is already there. This is God’s attribute of omnipresence, which means He is all places at the same time. When trouble rises in my life, I don’t need ‘on the way help,’ I need present help. Amen somebody. And to extol God’s present help to the superlative level, which is where it belongs, the psalmist declares that God is a very present help. This means that He is ever-present, exceedingly present. I other words, God is not bound by time or space. For this reason, we can have Confidence in Troubled Times.

If I needed a witness, I could call upon the Prophet Daniel and ask him if God was a very present help when he was thrown into the lion’s den. I believe he would say, “Yes, He was. In fact, He not only closed the mouths of the lions, He caused them to allow me use them as a pillow.” If I asked the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, if God a very present help when they were thrown into Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace. I believe they would say, “Yes, He was. In fact, He was so very present that somewhere between when we were thrown into the fiery furnace and landed, God took the heat out of the fire, loosed our hands and feet and cushioned our landing.” I could go on, but I just don’t have the time. The question is, have you ever been in trouble? If so, can you testify that God has been a very present help in your time of trouble? Now even though I cannot hear you, I believe there are some witnesses out there that are willing to testify that “Yes, God has been a very present help for me when I was in trouble.” And I am glad that He is the same God today that He was yesterday, and tomorrow He changeth not. Amen somebody.

Vv. 2-3, “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; (3) Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”

“Therefore,” is a function word signifying the consequences of what preceded it. Thus, as a consequence or because God is our refuge and strength, and a very present help in trouble, we will not fear. Even though the most cataclysmic events imaginable should occur—earthquake, tsunami, even the upheaval of mountains into the sea, we will not fear. Why not? Because God is our refuge and strength. Because God is a very present help in trouble. He specializes in times of trouble.

David was someone who was well acquainted with trouble and wrote many psalms extolling the attributes of God. Here are excerpts from just a few of them:

Psalm 23 – “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…”

Psalm 27 – “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (2) When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. (3) Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. (4) One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. (5) For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”

Psalm 34 – “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (2) My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. (3) O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (4) I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (5) They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. (6) This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. (7) The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (8) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (9) O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.”

Side note: One of the takeaways from this text is this: trouble goes along with the human experience in this fallen world. In fact, in John 16:33, Jesus promised that in this world, we would have tribulation. In other words, we are going to experience the storms of life—some pain, disappointment, betrayal, persecution, racism, grief, sorrow, and likely shed some tears. Therefore, given this reality, Jesus told us how to respond to our troubles. Well, how are we supposed to respond? You asked a good question. First, let me say how not to respond. Do not give up on anybody nor give-in to any sin. Do not have a pity-party or sorrow as those who have no hope. But rather, Jesus said, “…be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Amen somebody.

Conclusion

Let me try and rap this up. My brothers and sisters, for 72-years God has faithfully stood by this church, and I believe He is not through using us for His glory. We were the children, and now we are the elders.

Together, we have experienced the joys of weddings, the birth of children, christenings, baptisms, and the sorrow of funerals. Times of laughter and times of tears. Growth in attendance and decline in attendance. Nevertheless, through it all, God has remained faithful. And, despite the turbulent winds of ungodliness and unrighteousness that characterizes our world today, we have Confidence in Troubled Times. Jesus’ words should encourage us because they are true. We know they are true because one day He declared that no man could take His life, but that He would lay it down on His own initiative. He said that He had the power to lay it down and the power to take it up again. Moreover, He said he would rise from the dead after three days. And one Friday, on a hill called Calvary, Jesus was crucified on a rugged cross between two thieves. As He hung there on the cross, He declared with a loud voice, “It is finished.” Signifying that He had just paid our sin-debt. He then hung His head and died. Being dead, they buried Him in a borrowed tomb. And three days later, early on Sunday morning, He rose from the dead, just like He said. He looked at death and said, where is your sting; He looked at the grave and said where is your victory? For the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) For this reason, we have Confidence in Troubled Times and are fully persuaded that in these troubled times the Lord will continue to stand by us. Amen.

I like the way Charles Albert Tindley put it in his 1905 hymn, Stand by Me.

“Stand by Me”

When the storms of life are raging, stand by me. When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea, thou who rulest wind and water, stand by me. In the midst of tribulation, stand by me. When the hosts of hell assail, and my strength begins to fail, thou who never lost a battle, stand by me. In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me. When I do the best I can, and my friends misunderstand, thou who knowest all about me, stand by me. In the midst of persecution, stand by me. When my foes in battle array, undertake to stop my way, thou who saved Paul and Silas, stand by me. When I'm growing old and feeble, stand by me. When my life becomes a burden, and I'm nearing chilly Jordan, O thou Lily of the Valley, stand by me.

May the Lord bless and keep you is my earnest prayer. Amen