The Lord Delivers

intro

as a church, we have declared war on the devil

satan or his minions have escalated attacks on our church and our families . . . on many fronts - health, relationships, finances, to name a few

so by declaring war, we are actually only acknowledging what is already happening

so, now we are getting spiritually mobilized and prepared

so now we are fighting back

full explanation in video link that was sent out this week

first step was to declare it

2nd step is increased prayer

three times a day as a congregation (text messages)

fasting from something, or fasting a particular part of the day

today we have a word of encouragement because war can be discouraging, and then we will have a special prayer time after the sermon

this encouragement comes from a word I have preached before, but it is so timely to what we are going through

Psalm 34:19 KJV 1900

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

This verse was written by David after he had a close call with death.

They say that a close brush with death causes things to become clear, crystalize

well, a very important principle becomes crystal clear for David . . . “many are the afflictions but the Lord delivereth him out of them all”

Let’s look at some key words: many, afflictions, and righteous

“Many” means many

many means much . . . way more than one . . . bunches

not some, not a few . . . but many

the righteous will have many afflictions

some of us think that if we face affliction, it should be just one at a time

one at home is enough

or one at the job is all I can handle

or one health issue is all I will see

and we are then frustrated by two at home, three at the job, and four health issues . . . all at the same time . . . . but many means many

Then some of us think “I will have a lot of problems, but once I get my breakthrough! Hey, it’s all good!

once I worked through this, once I get that promotion, once I graduate, once I get married . . .

then we work through it, we get the promotion, graduate, get married and find out that afflictions are still hanging around

often some new ones because of the promotion, graduation, the marriage

and we are tempted to fall apart because we do not understand that many means . . . many

watch this, in Hebrew . . . many means many

the KJV, says many

the NLT, the HCSB, The NIV, the ESV all say many!

the Christian should learn to expect and prepare for many afflictions

well what are afflictions?

Afflictions

is it as bad as it sounds? . . . maybe afflictions means irritating stuff, things that are bothersome, but not that serious

sorry, afflictions are the bad stuff, the rough stuff – pain, struggles, problems, troubles, emergencies, tough situations, predicaments, sufferings, dangers, trials, tribulations . . .

remember David wrote this after a near DEATH experience

Afflictions are the real deal problems

if God doesn’t help me . . . I don’t know what I’ll do

if God doesn’t step in . . . I won’t make it

if God doesn’t move . . . I’m in real trouble

that’s what is meant by afflictions

afflictions are nothing to be trifled with

then there is

Righteous

maybe this scripture is just indicating the super holy person, the person without many flaws, the person without much baggage, the person who has it all together

no, righteous in this context just means God’s people,

`it simply denotes those who fear God, serve God, trust in God

in fact Christians are made righteous by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ when he shed his blood on the cross

so righteous applies to anyone who has truly accepted Jesus Christ and Lord and savior

despite all your flaws, and baggage, and shortcomings

if you have given your life to Christ, you are righteous

Put these three terms together (many, afflictions, righteous)’

David said I’ve had this spiritual epiphany, clear understanding, this spiritual principle . . . there there will be many afflictions for the righteous

in other words, a lot of bad things will happen to God’s people

or let me say it this way for us today, Christians will face a lot of trials and tribulations: pain, struggles, emergencies, predicaments, tough situations, and serious problems

if you study David’s life, you will find that he dealt with constant trouble . . . it go so bad that David thought living with his enemies might be better than staying with his friends

and the trouble started, the calamities began, when he accepted God’s call on his life

in fact the more he served God, the more trouble he got in

This tells me that, if we say “Yes, Lord” we should not be surprised when many afflictions come our way

if God is first in your life, if you care about pleasing God, if you try to live right, if you’re trying to do your best

you Should not be shocked when it looks like you are not going to make it

you should not be caught off guard, when it seems that everything is going wrong

you should not be surprised when you have many afflictions

because “many are the afflictions of the righteous”

Contrary to popular thought, Christianity does not exempt us from troubles

Christianity does not make life trouble free . . . Christianity makes life “trouble full”

you don’t have to like it, just don’t be surprised . . . let’s be crystal clear on that

Why preacher, why?

simply being alive presents problems, the Bible says that life is short and full of troubles

then We have troubles we caused for ourselves . . . . self inflicted troubles, bonehead decisions

and then Christians have two reasons that others don’t have

We have an active enemy, satan, who seeks to destroy us, or at least distract us, in order to stop the work that God has called us to

Then, we have a Heavenly Father who often train us, prepare us, and matures us through troubles

that’s why many, afflictions, and righteous go together

but I’m so glad that is not the end of David’s epiphany. . . . . because there are two more terms: delivereth and all

Psalm 34:19 (KJV 1900)

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

the next part of the revelation David received from the Lord: With each affliction comes a deliverance

From every pain, struggle, problem, trouble, emergency, tough situation, predicaments, dilemma, misfortune, woe, danger, trial, and tribulation . . .there is a deliverance

So for the Christian, afflictions and deliverance come as a set, where you have one, you have the other

salt and pepper

chips and salsa

fall season and football

I said, For the Christian, afflictions and deliverance come as a package deal, a combo, they are in the same box

just like burger, fries, and drink

suffering, trials, and deliverance

I said for the Christian, afflictions and deliverance are like that toy that says, “batteries included”

you need batteries, and the batteries are included as part of the package

we need deliverance and deliverance is included as part of the package

for a Christian, God will not allow one without the other

he will not allow the former without the latter

David could testify such in his own life, for every one of his afflictions . . . God also delivered him

For Goliath . . . God delivered me with a slingshot

When the king tried to kill me with a spear . . .God delivered me with the agility the jump out of the way

When the king tried to kill me by giving me dangerous military assignments . . .God delivered me by giving me victory every time

when the the king tried to turn my wife against me . . . God delivered me by causing her to turn against him, her own father

When assassins were sent to kill me . . .God delivered me with rope through a window

When the king secretly planned to kill me . . .God delivered with a secret code that allowed me to escape

When the Philistines were about to kill me in Gath . . .God delivered me with the idea to act like I was out of my mind! . . . and they let me go

David learned that for every problem, God sends an answer

with every trouble comes triumph

with every problem comes answered prayer

with every situation comes a solution

For every breakdown there is a breakthrough

because just like many means many, and afflictions mean afflictions . . . deliverance means deliverance , and all means all!!!

we love confirmation numbers: for my package, for my plane ride, for my hotel, for my order, my paid bill

so take ps 34-19 as your confirmation that there is a deliverance on the way for each of your afflictions

you have a confirmation number from heaven that help is on the way! 3,4,1,9

so when you are facing things you cannot handle, just read your confirmation number

when you feel like giving up, and you can’t go on, just read your confirmation number

when money is low and friends are few, and your health is shaky, just read

say I don’t know how, when, or where, but my confirmation number says help is on the way and will be delivered

and when it really gets bad, look to Jesus as an example of afflictions and deliverance

First of all, Jesus was righteous! The righteous one!!! with a capital R

he was perfect, he had not faults, did nothing but good

no sin was found in Him

he was God’s child, the only begotten son of God

but this verse teaches that the righteous will suffer many afflictions

Talk about many afflictions!

Isaiah 53 says he was despised, rejected, man of sorrows, smitten of God, afflicted, wounded, bruised, chastised, oppressed, slaughtered, cut off . . . . . . .many afflictions

And he hung, bled, and died on a cross at Calvary, and was put in a tomb

it seemed that the afflictions had put Jesus away for good

but on the third day, on Sunday . . . . .something happened

an angel rolled the stone away to show that he was delivered, . . . .to show that He had risen from the dead

it should have been no surprise because for the righteous, afflictions are followed by deliverance!

and Jesus, The righteous one was delivered from death itself

The cross reminds us of the many afflictions, but The empty tomb is a reminder of every deliverance that God has for us

Every Sunday is a reminder that the Lord delivers us from every affliction

we are going through, but Sunday is coming!

facing troubles but . . .

it’s looking real bad right now . . .

I’m in a fierce battle . . .

let me close with this

David wrote Psalms 34:19 when he was young, but when he was older, and been through even more afflictions, David wrote

Psalm 37:25 KJV 1900

25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.

In other words, David is saying, Psalms 34:19 held true

“God gave me a revelation, and it became crystal clear to me earlier in life that God will deliver the righteous from every affliction . . . and now I have lived it

Earlier I said this by revelation, now I say it by experience

many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all

for God never forsakes the righteous . . .(even some leftover help for their children)

you have a confirmation number, Be encouraged

Sunday is coming, be encouraged

Invitation

This awesome promise is only for the righteous . . .

for God’s children . . . for those who have been declared righteous because they believed Jesus died for their sins and rose again

Why not accept Jesus as your Lord and savior, and have this awesome promise apply to you!