Sermon 021697

Psa. 46                                                God & His People in Trouble                               2/16/97

                                                                                                                             ABCC

I.   Introduction                                                                                                                       559

     A. Trouble is experiencing intense & unpleasant circumstances in life = “tight places” (v. 1)

·        What are your tight places today?

     B. Trouble can be very serious (v. 2b-3, 6a)

·        All natural signs & advice may give you no hope - bottom falling out of life!

·        All that you see & hear is discouraging

II.  God & His People in Trouble

     A. God is our refuge (v. 1) - He is our place of security & safety; not dead bolt locks, alarms systems,

                                                          hospital, savings account, employer

     B. God is our strength (v. 1) - not police, military, physicians, financial advisor

·        God does not simply gives us strength, He is strength - He does not waver or get weary!

     C. God is abundantly present (v. 1) - He’s present NOW & He’s ALWAYS present

·        The Lord is never a long distance from you & your trouble; He’ll never forsake you!

     D. God brings refreshment (v. 4) - abundant grace (2Co. 12:9)

·        if any army or city had fresh water in battle, they could survive the conflict

     E. GOD IS WITH US (v. 5a, 7, 11)

·        God is in your marital problem, health, financial, employment, school, etc.

·        The Lord is not just with you as a casual observer, but as One involved & capable of action

     F. God will help us (v. 5b-6) - Phi. 4:19; Eph. 3:20; Jas. 1:5

God & His People in Trouble, pg. 2

     G. God has helped His people in the past (v. 8-9)

·        He is the conquering King & has been victorious over all His enemies

III. Our Response in Trouble

     A. We are not to fear (v. 2a)

·        God is for us with all power, authority, wisdom, resources - everything is at His disposal

     B. We will remember & meditate on the Lord’s past deliverances (v. 8-9)

     C. Find rest in our souls by meditating on the Lord’s person & character (v. 10)

·        The Lord is Awesome - His might, power, glory overshadows & surpasses the worst of trouble (Is. 46:9-10; Psa. 90:2b; Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8; Heb. 6:18)

If you would know the refuge & strength that I’ve spoken of; If you would embrace this security, care, love of God, then this matter must become very personal to you.  You must be able to say with the Psalmist that God is my refuge & strength, the Lord is my Shepherd, my God shall supply all my needs, my Lord & my God, God is my Father, Jesus is my savior & king .  This must become a very, very personal matter with you.  Because the security of someone else is of no benefit to you when you are in trouble.  True hope & encouragement are only found in Christ - He has all authority, He is the beginning & the end, He has all wisdom & all the resources, He holds your future in His own power, He knows the outcome of every circumstance of your life and is the only one who with certainty can work all things together for your good!