The Four How Longs- Thoughts from Psalm 13

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The four HOW LONGS- Psalm 13:1-6

In times of delay, contradiction, adversity, trial, and temptation our sense is that the condition may not pass. Our trouble seems large and difficult and all encompassing; looming like a mountain refusing moved. Our hope is all we have in these situations. Faith and hope in God. Psalm 13 records David was in great distress and brings a 4 fold plea to God asking Him “How Long”. His pleas reveal how we are tested in our trials…How long will you forget me? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

  •  The “Forsaken ” test– How long wilt thou FORGET ME
    • The greatest test of all- My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?- Mat 27:46
    • You feel alone in your troubles and begin to believe the lie that God has forgotten about you and you are left to wallow in your pain and disappointment
    • Forget = 7911- shakach(shaw-kakh) = to ignore, cease to care, to be forgotten, to mislay, to be oblivious of from want of memory or attention
      • To ignore= to refuse to show that you hear or see, to do nothing about or in response to something or someone
    • In times when you feel alone know that God is causing things to work together for your good- Romans 8:28
    • When men disappoint you and you feel alone in your troubles, take your strength from fellowship with the Lord-
      • Men forsook Jesus- Mat 26:56, Mark 14:50
      • All men forsook Paul- 2Tim 4:16…notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me-V17
    • This test can be short or long. It can be over a circumstance, a number of various trials, or a season (2Cor 6:4-10). Meditate the goodness of God. Rehearse Hebrews 13:5- I will NEVER leave thee, nor FORSAKE thee…so that we may BOLDLY SAY. THE LORD IS MY HELPER, and I will NOT FEAR what man shall do unto me
  • Test 2- the FAITH test– How long will you hide you face from me?
    • This is satans strategy…to shift us from the faith realm to the sense realm. (We walk by faith, NOT BY SIGHT- 2Cor 5:7) We are needing God’s love and comfort at this time of need yet the lie is presented that God is in some way displeased with you and that is why you are suffering
      • Job 2:9- Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.
        • Job’s wife was also on the receiving end of Job’s trials…Job’s trial was her trial as well…her children were taken by the Sabeans, her servants were taken captive, their herds were destroyed, other sons and daughters were killed, her husband was ill…the pressure against her was immense. She lost her hope and fell into the temptation to give up on God thinking He gave up on her
      • Mark 4:38- the disciples are in a life threatening situation and Jesus is asleep. They wake Him up with the accusation, “Master, carest not that we perish?”…Jesus answered….Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?
      • James warned that we must not doubt God when we are undergoing trials as He is GOOD and gives us GOOD…our dark shadows are not cast on Him…He is the Father of lights and bestows His blessing in due time- James 1:13-22
    • Test 3- The THOUGHT test– “How long shall I take counsel in my soul”?
      • Our mind is the battle ground which produces our victory or defeat
        • Jesus won the battle which raged in His mind through prayer – Mat 26:38- My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death…and He went a little further and fell on His face and PRAYED
      • Thoughts must be managed- God has given us this power…satan hijacks this ability and uses it for his own purpose, counting on us to take counsel in our own soul rather than in God’s Word. When we worry, fret, imagine the worst, rehearse our fears..we are actually producing what we do not want in our circumstance and reality! Our steadfast focus on our VISION, our ANSWER , our FAVORED OUTCOME is taking on the mind of the Spirit…our spirit is ruling over our soul rather than satan domineering our thoughts
      • This is a most amazing truth and is proven in the conflicts of life. Hold your thoughts on the desired outcome, practice POSITIVE PRAYER and PRAISE and STAND in FAITH. We no longer take counsel in our soul rather we use the powers of our soul to create a NEW REALITY
      • 2Cor 10:3-5- stewardship of thoughts, manage your imagination
      • Mat 12:35- thoughts are treasure…they are valuable and of great worth…we think GOOD or EVIL and according to our treasure (what we value in our soul) we bring forth into our lives.
      • The good or evil that men do comes from their thoughts. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts which turn to ACTIONS and behaviours…murders, adultery, fornication, stealing, lying, blaspheming (Mat 15:18-19)
      • To produce GOOD we MUST think GOOD- Phil 4:8- Think on that which is TRUE, HONEST, JUST, PURE, LOVELY, of GOOD REPORT, VIRTUOUS, PRAISE WORTHY
    • Test 4- Humility Test– How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
      • Trials and temptations have a way of humbling you. You are not invincible, untouchable, and immune to the troubles of life. Life happens. The rain falls on the JUST and the unjust. We do not live in a bubble…we live life exposed to all sorts of conditions.
      • The humility test reminds us of our humanity and limitations. The humility test teaches us that WE NEED GOD and nothing is to be taken for granted.

V3- Consider and HEAR ME = turning your focus and attention to God in a hopeless situation

  • Lighten mine eyes- 215-or= to be illuminated
    • A good prayer when you do not see the purpose of God in your trials. When the light get turned on you can see what you have been tripping over. If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God…James 1:5
  • V4: In trials we hear the voices of the naysayers, those who have shown a lack of support for you or your cause…this can spin into self- pity , doubt, and despair. The voice of the enemy pulls us down into depression, hopelessness, and impatience. We deal with this voice by rehearsing our Victory in Christ

V5-6: The turn-around-

  • But I HAVE TRUSTED IN THY MERCY
  • MY HEART SHALL REJOICE IN THY SALVATION
  • I will SING UNTO THE LORD
  • HE HATH DEALT BOUNTIFULLY WITH ME

In times of trial and temptation feed upon the Word of God. Let your soul delights itself in fatness, the good and satisfying influence of the bible. Understand the four HOW LONGS and that God is greater than any problem or challenge you may be facing. God will bring you to the desires of your heart. Trust in His mercy, rejoice, sing, He will surely deal bountifully with you.

Blessings

Pastor Bob

Faith and Supernatural Prayer

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Luke 18:1-8- When I come shall I find FAITH on the earth?

Luke 21:26- the time prior the  Lord’s return  will be so perplex that men’s hearts will fail them for fear as they behold what is happening upon the earth…V36…”watch ye therefore and pray always…”

This week in our peaceful and tolerant nation of Canada we have experienced the unthinkable…2 terrorist attacks on Canadian soil directed against those in uniform. 2 soldiers are dead due to these attacks and the nation is wondering how it could happen here. Continue reading Faith and Supernatural Prayer

Faith and Consecration

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The Consecrated Life

 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him- Hebrews 11:6

The Dirty thirties was a time of great sorrow and heartbreak in the United States as well as the plains in Canada. Severe drought and improper farming practices created terrible phenomena called the “Dustbowl”. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced from Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and the effects of the dust were felt all across the United States. The solution to the dust bowl lied in two factors…improved Farming practices to prevent soil erosion and the discovery of an underground lake called the “Ogallala Aquifer”. This lake is the world’s largest underground body of pristine water and brought life to the parched plains. The waters they were so desperately waiting for didn’t come from the cloudless skies rather the answer was UNDERFOOT the whole time. Once discovered they just had to tap into it.
In John 7:37, Jesus teaches that we have a spiritual aquifer which can be drawn upon which will bless our lives. “Out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water”. If you are thirsty and dry your faith will enable you to draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isa 12:3), the well is in your belly, in the hidden man of the heart (1Peter 3:4), your spirit. Continue reading Faith and Consecration

What on Earth is Going On?

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The recent events unfolding on the planet have truly got the attention of the nations. The threat of Ebola is disrupting economies and officials are being thwarted in their efforts to arrest the dreaded disease. The rise of militant Islam has shaken the nations and people all over the world are asking, “What on earth is going on?”.

Jesus said to watch for certain signs- Luke 21:7-36

This chapter was written to answer the questions of his disciples. “When shall these things be?”, and, “what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?” Jesus spoke of the destruction of the temple as being a sign.

In 70ad, Titus entered Jerusalem with Roman legions and destroyed the city and the temple. 1.1 million Jews were slaughtered and 97,000 were captured and enslaved. This was of course a direct fulfilment of prophecy. Continue reading What on Earth is Going On?

Developing the Thankful Life

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Colossians 2:6-7- As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith , as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving

Developing an attitude of gratitude is a key to being steadfast in our walk of FAITH. The apostle Paul teaches that as we abound with thanksgiving we will be “rooted and built up and established in the faith”. It is easy to fall into the trap of complaining and being negative, especially in unfavourable situations at home or at work. Keeping our hearts full of praise and thanksgiving is worth the effort and brings rich reward into our lives

How to develop the THANKFUL LIFE Continue reading Developing the Thankful Life

Impacting your World Through Prayer

The Ministry of Prayer

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“Much time spent with God is the secret of all successful praying”- EM Bounds

There is a ministry and an activity which needs to be developed and maintained in the life of every believer and is very dear to God…that is the ministry of Prayer.

Anna the prophetess understood this ministry and dedicated her life to it… “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, and she was a widow of about four score and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:36-37). The apostles understood the importance of prayer when they appointed others over the practical affairs of the church and gave themselves continually to its practice (Acts 6:4). The Psalmist was committed to a life of prayer. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (Psalm 5:3). “Evening, and morning, and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17). “I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried; I hoped in thy word (Psalm 119:147). Cornelius was a devout man who feared God and prayed always (Acts 10:2). The Apostle Paul prayed night and day (1Thess 3:10). Daniel prayed three times a day (Dan 6:10). Paul and Silas prayed at midnight in the most difficult situation and were set free (Acts 16:25). At times Jesus would forego sleep in order to pray all night (Luke 6:12). It was the practice of Jesus to minister to the Father in prayer before ministering to others. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before the day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Continue reading Impacting your World Through Prayer

Thank God for Jesus

“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name”- Hebrews 13:15

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There’s a great song in the body of Christ which goes, “When I think of His goodness and what He’s done for me I want to dance, dance, dance all night, all night!” There’s just something about being grateful which releases us into His joy and blessing. King David must have been experiencing this sense of gratitude and blessing when he wrote Psalm 5. “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou LORD will BLESS the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield”.

Have you taken time lately to thank the Lord for what he has done for you…I mean really thanked Him…from the depths of your being? I believe that when we bring the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name that we entering into a revelation of faith which establishes us in the blessing of God.

Continue reading Thank God for Jesus

Strategies for Success in Stress

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These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world- John 16:33

We live in challenging times. War in the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine, Ebola epidemic, Syria, Iraq, persecution of Christians, airplanes disappearing or getting shot out of the sky, the rise of militant Islam, terrorism…the headlines are continual reminders that we are living in a world  spinning out of control. Add to this the dynamics of life; raising children, paying bills, pressures at work, keeping harmony in your marriage, rising prices, and spiritual ups and downs, and we have a toxic brew for stress and anxiety.
Continue reading Strategies for Success in Stress

God’s Word is Amazing!

Many gather around their televisions each evening in hopes of discovering something truly AMAZING. There’s the AMAZING RACE, AMAZING  stories, The AMAZING spider man, AMAZING Births, AMAZING Grace, The AMAZING Journey, The AMAZING Salsa Dance, The AMAZING Magic  Show, The AMAZING World of Gumball, The AMAZING Captain Nemo, and my personal favorite…Mr Ed, The AMAZING Talking Horse (you may remember that one back in 1961) … this generation was raised on Beevis and Buthead but I want you to know that I come from a generation of truly wholesome television  entertainment  of “talking horses”  With all the distractions of the amazing TV programming it is a wonder that some can find time for reading the Word at all…  It’s like the mother who received a home visit from her pastor. Desiring to impress upon the pastor the great depths of her spirituality and devotion, she turned to her young daughter and said, “ sweetie, do me a favour and go and get that book YOU know your mother loves to read”. The little girl returned with the TV guide.

In the book of Timothy we see a young man who was raised on the Word of God and because of the strong Christian influence in his life he was wise in the matters of salvation

Continue reading God’s Word is Amazing!