Good morning everyone! More psalms that deal with sorrow and challenge, especially from close friends. The answer is still the same – Trust and praise the Lord!
Psalms 55: Cast Your Burden on the LORD To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan,
3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me.
4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
6 And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;
7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."
9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it;
11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.
12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me--- then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me--- then I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.
15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
16 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.
19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.
20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant.
21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
Psalms 56: In God I Trust To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.
3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life.
7 For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
12 I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk
Psalms 57: Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfils his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts--- the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
Things to think about…
1. In Psalm 55 David is praying for mercy, vs 1, he asks that the Lord hear his prayer, vs 2, because as was a common occurrence for him he was being attacked by an enemy, vs 3. We know the greatest enemy for a Christian is Satan and how he expresses himself generally through close relations. David says that he wants to run to get away from the situation, “"Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah. I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest"”, vss 5-7. Have you ever felt like running from a situation? I felt that way this week. But the reality is you cannot run away from your problems. In fact, you must face them. Paul’s advice still remains true, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Phil 4:13.
2. Ever had a close friend act as though they were an enemy? That’s what’s going on here in Ps 55. This psalm is reflective of how Judas betrayed Christ. David knew the same pain. It you have been wronged by a close friend remember the promises in vs 22, to cast your burdens upon the Lord. If the burden is too heavy, the likelihood is that you are not yoked to the Lord as you should be because He promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light!
3. Though an enemy stretches out his hand against friends, Ps 55:20 and his speech is smoother than butter, vs 21 our Lord will cast them into a pit forever, vs 23. This certainly was the case with Judas Iscariot who is also called the “son of destruction” by Jesus, Jn 17:12. This is a fearful reality, hence the need to keep our hearts from evil.
4. When an enemy rises against you, often the best medicine and remedy is simply to praise the Lord, Ps 56:10-12. As you praise Him He promises to deliver from the situation, vs 13. Think about what you can be thankful for today, knowing that our Lord knows all about it, vs 8. If this is true, you can say with David ‘This I know, that God is for me’, vs 9.
5. Saul was constantly after David and even fled into a cave at one point, Ps 58, cf 1Sam 21-24. Often when people set a trap for someone else, they themselves are caught in it, Ps 57:6. You can’t be worried about the opinions, words and actions of others. Your duty is simple. You are called to be steadfast and be faithful in your service and praise for the Lord, Ps 57:7-11. If you are feeling cast down – hear a message the will encourage you or put on worship music that exalts His praise. As we lift Him up, our spirits are lifted at the same time.
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. Continuing to get quotes for café roof.
2. Pray for other building projects – the repair of the house roof and solar.
3. Recharge youth and Kids@Church ministries. Pray for Maddison and Melinda as they Coordinate Kids and Youth ministries.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
5. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
6. Sunday’s message from Ps 42, 43 - “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
