Psalm 28- Out of the frying pan and into the fire???

Save your people and bless your heritage. Care for them; carry them like a good shepherd.

Saved. A way out? Circumstances changed by an external force? Interference bringing relief from danger?

Why did you call on the name of Jesus? Were you in trouble? Were you sick? In need? Lonely? Desperate? Trying your luck?

And now that He answered your call? Are you free? Does your life just go on as normal until the next time? Are you disappointed? Disillusioned? Have things actually gone from bad to worse? Despite momentary relief you continue to struggle?

That’s what happens when you don’t understand salvation. When you seek first the things and think you are getting the Kingdom. When you think salvation is relief from your perceived need.

I want as much as anyone to see the power of God moving in revival fire across the land. I want to see the signs and wonders of God silencing the world. I want that every sick person to be healed and every one in need be provided for. But true revival begins with salvation. God’s salvation. Not relief but rescue. Not out of the frying pan just to fall into the fire but out of the fire and into the Kingdom of God.

Yes God wants to save you from…… He does it by safely moving you from where you are into a place where you are safe. Into a place where He is. A place where He can express Himself and highlight the purpose of your salvation. Where He can shepherd you and care for you. Where the fire cannot reach you. Into a place where His blessing can find you and abound towards you.

Not just saved from but saved into. Out of the darkness into the light.

No one will dwell in the house of the Lord forever because they got healed from a sickness. No one will glorify God forever because they became wealthy. The Bible does not teach healing (nor any other sign and wonder) first so that people can know that they are saved. It teaches Kingdom, the Lordship of Christ, the finished work on the cross, the Gospel of Jesus Christ followed by signs. It teaches the Word, the One that sets free confirmed by signs.

There will come a moment when those who are in the Kingdom will see no more sickness, no more dying. When there will be no more corruption, no suffering, no crying, no darkness.

Our message is not a rock to stand on in an ever rising flood but a rock that is solid in the sinking sand of life. Our ministry must not be a way out of the frying pan of the day but a transference into the cool of the evening where God walks amongst us.

Whatever your circumstances today I pray God’s blessings over you. I pray that you would know His presence right where you are and find peace from it.

And if you are sick, be healed! If you are in need, receive!

Psalm 27 – One thing, everything.

I’m asking God for one thing,

only one thing:

To live with him in his house

my whole life long.

I suppose it is true that all religions have an offer to supply you with a god, or at least they offer you a way to access a form of god. The problem though is that behind most religions there is not a real god to be found. Some do claim it is the same god as God but seeing as they all have their foundation after God had rested from His creation work, they would unwittingly present a very confused god who changes its mind and ways as it goes along.

Then of course religion makes its laws and rules which have to be adhered to in order to gain access to its god. Cleverly it makes the laws too hard to fully keep so the reason you never actually meet this god is always your own fault. Therefor you can never see that it does not actually exist.

But God, the only true living God, has long before already made the offer to be our God and for us to be His people. He has shown Himself over and over. His power is well documented and so is His love and grace. There are no rules to access Him, only a way that He has made for us so that we can enter freely. That way says “come unto me. and I will give you’

We are needy. We need provision of food and shelter and security. We need health. We need comfort and strength. We need wisdom and guidance. We need and we need.

Generally man tries to meet all his own needs. Often this leads to sinful activities and or failure and disaster. The truth though is that no matter how tall you stand, how powerful you are in this world, how tough or how resiliant, there are times when you need and you don’t have. Times when you need and you ask a higher being for help.

God in His great grace has told us that as our God we can ask anything. Jesus has given us permission, not appointed us to make use of His name as we ask for anything. God has put His mark on us giving us authority and power. So we never need to need.

So we do our best as much as we can and when we get stuck we ask.

Oh dear reader you can have direct access to the almighty creator of the heavens and the earth. The one who has not the fruits of our best efforts but the perfect provision of the Kingdom in His hands. Should you not be asking for everything, every small and every large thing that you could always have only the best.

David goes the whole way and says he asks for only one thing.  To be permanently in God’s presence. Hanging out at God’s place. Having his being in God.

He responds to God’s offer and says ” I want to be your people”

In Christ you have the Kingdom in you. Have this and all things will be added to you

Psalm 23 – Refuel

True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.

Life is hard. It is a race that needs all the strength a man has and then more. It is a fight that needs super power and skill to survive. It is a challenge that has man running from pillar to post, seeking answers, seeking ways through. Many succumb. Many just give up and let the world win. Many hand themselves over to be ruled in darkness and led to hell.

It not always because of a desire to do evil. Or a love of sin. Nor is it always the attraction of the world. Many just surrender because they are tired. They just can’t fight anymore. They just don’t know the way out and have no strength, no will left to find it.

God by grace has already made promises to those who are tired. He promises them rest. He has made promises to those who are weak. He promises to be their strength. He has made promises to those who have lost their way. He will lead and guide them.

Salvation!

David says God is true to His word. Another report of faithfulness. Another encouragement to take hold of promises that are true.

What David also reminds us of is that these promises are not just for the lost. Christian how many times have you felt so tired, so confused, so far of course that you have been on the brink of giving up? In fact how many have fallen away in this manner?

Not only does our shepherd restore the soul of the lost, He does it over and over for the sheep who are saved. Too often we loose our way. We take our eyes off Him for a moment. We feel self sufficient, confident in who we are and for a moment we forget our need of Him. We are exposed to the same onslaught that wore us down when we did not know Him.

Even the spirit filled chandelier swinging Chirstian should realise the extent of the opposition he faces as he runs his christian race. The promises of God will carry you through. In His Name you will share His victory but know that there are times when you will grow weary. You are still imperfect man.

When you do don’t be ashamed and hide. These promises are for you. God expected it and made provision.He has prepared a rest for you. A place of healing. He will gladly sit you down so that you can catch your breath. While you do He will stand guard over you. He will help you get your perspective back. Build your faith, enlarge your hope.

He will charge your empty battery, He will heal your blisters and wipe away your sweat. He will refuel you.

When you are good and ready He will point you in the right direction and send you on your way.

He is your shepherd. He will go out with you. Opening the way before you and always right there to again refuel you when you need it.

Psalm 21 – POWER!!!!!

Show your strength, GOD, so no one can miss it. We are out singing the good news!

I am sitting on a coral island looking out over the sea. What beauty. The sea always makes me think of God. The life in the coral, tiny coloured fish, the living coral, sharks, eels, clams, each one wonderfully made. This is not the work of a big bang or evolution. This is the work of a master artist, vision beyond comprehension, technical expertise, a knowledge and power far greater than the sum of all men through all the ages. Then add the waves and currents and tides. So powerful no man can harness them. Yet they move perfectly to the rhythm of God’s breath. The mighty terrifying power showing off in absolute perfection and framed in beauty.

The strength of God, no one can miss it. Sing His praises and let the world know that this is His handiwork.

Not always what people have in mind when they think of strength. They want a physical demonstration.

I love preaching and sharing God’s truth with people. Watching the power of truth change their lives. Then as God confirms His word with signs and wonders, healing, delivering, changing circumstances. Then that physical demonstration stands out.

No one can miss it. Sing His praises for what He has done.

Still not what you were looking for? Thinking of the God that parted the sea/ The God who wiped out whole armies?  The God who put fear into men and sent them running?

No one could miss it. Praise God!

God has demonstrated His strength in a far greater way than all this combined. It is called grace. Grace is not “never mind”or “don’t care”. Grace is not turning a blind eye. Grace is not the result of inability to change or stop something. Grace is, despite full knowledge of the truth, holding off the total onslaught of law, judgement, condemnation, human expectation, draw of evil, while doing something to improve your situation.

Strength to take Himself to the alter, sacrifice Himself on your behalf, Raise Himself from the dead. Strength to love you despite yourself. Strength to forgive. Strength to give you a new life.

Now that is power. That is God showing His strength. No one can miss it.

Go out and sing His praises.

Psalm 18 – Solid

GOD is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout.

Bedrock, castle, high crag, boulders, granite; all talk of strength but the picture they paint is of something solid.

Solid. Unmovining. Impenatrable. Dependable.

Life on the other hand is full of uncertainties, variables weak spots and very little can be depended on. One learns to expect the unexpected and you are constantly facing challenges. This is what upsets the inner peace of man, never being absolutley certain.

How many stories are there of men who have amassed fortunes and set up their families financially to be forever provided for, only to loose it all in a simple stock market crash or one bad deal. How many stories of great men doing great things only to be brought down in the prime of life by illness or accident. How many times do men loose their shirts when partners they trusted defrauded them. How many marriages seemingly strong suddenly break up after 30 years. Governments change. companies restructure. Markets shift.

And then there are people. Very changeable. Undependable. Unreliable.

And of course religion. Soft sinking sand.

In the midst of this you need something, just something that you can take hold of and hold on to knowing it will never move. Something to stand on knowing it will not shift under your feet. Something you can lean on knowing it will not break. Somewhere you can hide and know you are safe.

You need to derive peace from having something solid to build your life around. Something that tells you that no matter what the storm may look like this one thing will never change. Something solid that will withstand the onslaught without breaking down.

Jesus says the wise man builds his house upon the rock. Not pebbles that wash back and forth in the tide or gravel that shifts under pressure.. No! Solid rock. A solid, firm foundation. Not one that is cracked but one that does have a cleft into which you can run when ever you feel the need. A rock that will stand the test of time.

In these verses David clearly sees God as this something solid. History and scripture together prove his thinking. God has not changed or moved  since creation and He has already secured the future. His arms are open to you right now forming that cleft into which you can run. He has proved Himself dependable and trustworthy.

God is the solid rock. Embrace Him and hold onto Him. Let peace and joy be your portion.