Our Lord is our Fortress, King and City. Our trust in Him is not based on myths or fairy tales but on providence and confirmed history. As such, rejoice!
Psalms 45: Your Throne, O God, Is Forever To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song.
1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendour and majesty!
4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The sceptre of your kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honour; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father's house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12 The people of Tyre will seek your favour with gifts, the richest of the people.
13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
Psalms 46: God Is Our Fortress To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalms 47: God Is King over All the Earth To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!
Psalms 48: Zion, the City of Our God A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,
2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
3 Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.
4 For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together.
5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight.
6 Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labour.
7 By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.
8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah
9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.
10 As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!
12 Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation
14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.
Things to think about…
Psalm 45 is like a mini Song of Solomon speaking about the king and the princess who desires him. The king is referred to as One who is God and whose throne is forever and ever, vs 6. The daughter/princess will be desired by the king and is called to bow to Him, vs 11. This is symbolic of Christ and His bride the church. The princess is called ‘glorious’, vs 13. The same with the church that reflects the glory of her Saviour husband – Jesus Christ. It is interesting the he is described as the “most handsome among men”, vs 2. We know in Isaiah 53 that there was “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”, Isa 53:2. What makes someone desirable. Here in the Psalm the Queen finds him handsome. The world will never look at Christ and see beauty in Him. He certainly was not desirable on the cross. Yet all who come to Him must desire the grace that comes from the cross.
Jesus is the most joyful of all in the household of faith, Ps 45:7. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and the first character trait of the Holy Spirit the Apostle Paul lists is joy, Gal 5:22. He also loves hearing you praise him on the guitar, piano, violin and bass, or any stringed instrument, Ps 47:8.
In the next 3 Psalms 46, 47 and 48 we see our God being described as our fortress – Ps 46, our King – Ps 47 and our city, Ps 48. These should evoke in us joy and praise. We shall never be left alone, unloved or unprotected. He is ever present, ruling and reigning over His bride.
What turmoil is going on around you? Psalm 46 is a timely reminder the God is our refuge and strength. The nations rage, vs 6, but we should ‘be still and know He is God’, vs 10.
God has chosen us – Psalm 47. This is an echo of Rom 8:31-39. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Let’s sing praises, rejoice and be glad as the sons of Korah advise.
What do you think of the Christian church? Many have pulled it down and say it is irrelevant or hypocritical. I prefer to view it from the Lord’s perspective. Ps 48 speaks of it being beautiful in elevation, vs 2, a place where God makes Himself known ,vs 3, a place of gladness, vs 11. The church is worthy to be spoken about to the next generation, vs 13, and a place to speak about God who will guide forever. While these verses speak of Jerusalem and its future glory, the future glory of the heavenly Jerusalem – the bride of Christ will remain forever. Our Lord and His bride are one. As we study and consider God’s Word we are building up the church and seeing the future glorious state of our eternal existence. As we do he guides us into eternity! Ps 48:12-14.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “Facing your past – a testimony”
Reading – Acts 22:1-22
1. Paul shared his testimony on at least 3 separate occasions in the book of Acts (Acts 9, Acts 22, Acts 27). What events do you remember about Paul’s testimony and who he was sharing to here in Acts 22?
2. There are a number of significant things that are part of Paul’s testimony here and that should be a part of our testimony. The ones mentioned on Sunday were 1. Must use and focus on the name of Jesus. 2. Must testify to the Lord’s guidance in your life with examples. 3. Must see supernatural evidence of God in your life 4. Make it personal – share the tough stuff that shows God has delivered you from sin. 5. Expect a reaction. For Paul they called for his death, but for Peter, 3000 got saved. The Holy Spirit determines the outcome. Discuss each one of these points and their relevance in your testimony.
3. When was the last time you shared your testimony with someone? What was the reaction?
Prayer Points
1. Church finances – currently not meeting budget.
2. Moving chairs and the laying of carpet this week.
3. Working bee Saturday 8-12pm at church.
4. Our church meeting outside and lunch Potjie outside afterwards on the 6th June.
5. Recharge youth and Kids@Church ministries. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they Coordinate Kids and Youth ministries.
6. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
7. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
8. Sunday’s message from Acts 22 - “A passion for God” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. Saturday’s working bee was phenomenal. Everything back and neat. Thankyou all!
2. Sunday’s Potjie was something to behold. The food was incredible. Massive effort by the Safas – mammoth effort guys and super delicious!
3. Praise and worship – thanks Beatty boys.
4. More new folk on Sunday.
5. Finances are picking up.
Announcements
1. Back in church next week. Bring a friend.
2. Recharge on this week all high schoolers – 6:30pm-8:30pm Friday at church. $2 coin donation. Melinda Fourie heading up this ministry.
3. Men’s brekky TBA. But will be down at Colleges Crossing within the next month or so on a Saturday morning.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
