Weekly Protein (09/03/22)

 1 O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
2 Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever. (Psa. 131:1-3 NASB 1977).

They say that confessions are good for the soul. Well, I'm going to make four. I'm hoping that, at the end, you will make them too.

• Confession #1 > I can be low. I don't have to be independent and pretend that I have it all together all the time. “O Lord, my heart is not proud . . . .”

• Confession #2 > I can be second. It doesn't always have to be about me. When my eyes are haughty, I don't see people and circumstances correctly. As I was climbing higher, I was positioned to look down on others. “ . . . nor are my eyes haughty . . . .”

• Confession #3 > I can be obscure. I'll let someone else have the title and take the credit. I don't have to be noticed, mentioned or congratulated as I walk in faithfulness. “ . . . nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me.”

• Confession #4 > I can be content. I will prioritize presence over presents. “ . . . like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me.”

Humility, others-mindedness, obscurity and contentment – good for your soul? Yes. Easy to maintain? No.

Here is your weekly protein.

1.  Answer these questions.

• To what degree does culture (secular and religious) promote or discourage these values?

• Of the four, which is your greatest challenge? Why?

2.  Read Matthew 5:1-12, another passage about not-so-easy-to-maintain Christian values.

3.  Talk with you pastor. Ask him or her, “Why does the development of Christian  

     character seem so difficult and slow?

My Prayer (07/26/17)

This prayer is based upon Psalm 124:1.

O God, Who has been both at my side and on my side since my earliest memories, thank You for Your steadfast presence!  Thank You for my Pentecostal heritage, that from my earliest days I recall being in Your House.  Had You not chosen this for me, I would undoubtedly be among those whose side You are not on. Thank You for calling me out of darkness and into Your marvelous light. Thank You for my salvation and for the assurance that God is for me, not against me.  In Your strength and under Your tutelage, may I live for You all my days, stay on Your side and remain grateful.

Oh, Look! (Psa. 121)

Read Psalm 121.

1.  You must look to the Lord.  How easily you can look to someone else or something else!  It might be a person, experience or obstacle you're distracted by.  Others might inspire, but only the Lord can deliver.  To whom or what are you looking?

2.  The Lord looks at you.  He can't fulfill the promises in this psalm without surveying everything.  He not only sees your circumstance, but He sees you.  When He sees you, will He see you looking to Him?

cf. Psa. 123:1.

Outline of Psalm 124:1

1. THE DARK CONSIDERATION
1. What if the Lord had not been on your side?
• Where would you be?
• What would you still be overcome by?
• Would you even be alive?
• What privilege, blessing or relationship do you have now that you probably wouldn't have had?
• Would you have heard about Jesus and surrendered your life to Him?
2. THE DELIGHTFUL CONFIDENCE
1. The Lord has been on my side and will continue to be, so long as I stay on His side.
• Consider how better life is in this posture.
• The Lord's being on your side and your being on His doesn't exempt you from trial, trouble, pressure or adversity.

The Lord On Your Side (Psa. 124:1)

Read Psalm 124:1.

1.  The possibilities.  Two are better than one.

2.  The privilege.  The Lord, Creator and Omnipotent, at your side!

3.  The partnership.  Side by side with God, you face things together and are never alone.

4.  The premise.  The Lord is on your side because you are on His side (2 Chron. 15:2).

Psalm 121:1-2

Read Psalm 121:1-2.

1.  The discipline (v. 1) > "I will . . ."

2.  The direction (v. 1) > "I will lift up . . ." (not down, not around)

3.  The distraction (v. 1) > " . . . to the mountains . . ."

4.  The decision (v. 1) > "From where shall my help come?"

• You need help.  
• You will seek help from somewhere or someone.
• Who or what will be your help?

5.  The declaration (v. 2) > "My help comes from the Lord . . . ."  Why?

• I ask for it.
• I expect it.
• I rejected all inferior or deceptive forms of help.

6.  The defense (v. 2) > " . . . Who made heaven and earth."

• What is your reason for choosing the Lord as your helper?
• He is the Creator (and Sustainer) of all things. That's some capability!

Looking Always To The Lord (Psa. 121:1-2) (Part 4)

Conclusion:

1. When the travelers lifted up their eyes to the mountains and considered their Maker, those people were inspired by His presence, permanence and power.

• The anxious saw the mountains and were reminded that the Lord is near (Psa. 46:1).
• The exhausted saw the mountains and were reminded that the Lord is strong (Isa. 40:28).
• The overwhelmed saw the mountains and were reminded that the Lord is high (Psa. 61:2).
• The lowly saw the mountains and were reminded that the Lord is great (Psa. 48:1).
• The finite saw the mountains and were reminded that the Lord is eternal (Psa. 90:2).

2. Since any time is the right time to lift up your eyes to the Maker of the mountains, you should look to Him right now. You will be inspired, as were those travelers, that the Lord is near, strong, great, high, and eternal. When you look up to the Lord, you are asking His help to come down. When you look up to the Lord, you show dependence, humility, reverence, trust and expectation.

To Heaven I lift mine eye,
To Heaven, Jehovah's throne,
For there my Savior sits on high,
And there shall strength and aid supply
To all He calls His own.*

3. Whatever your situation is this morning, look to the Lord and be reminded that He is your answer. Psa. 16:8 > “I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psa. 123:1 > “To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!” 

*John Bowdler, 1814

Looking Always To The Lord (Psa. 121:1-2) (Part 3)

1. YOU SHOULD LOOK TO THE LORD WHEN YOU WORK. You should look to the Lord in your sacred work and in your secular work.  Do you look to Him when you need that 'something extra' or don't know what to do?

2. YOU SHOULD LOOK TO THE LORD WHEN YOU WORRY. You should look to the Lord when you worry due to fear, lack or pressure.  You know you should look to Him, but do you?

3. YOU SHOULD LOOK TO THE LORD WHEN YOU WORSHIP. Don't get caught up with the form (majesty of the mountains) but with the power (Maker of the mountains).  This seems elementary, I know, but you would be amazed at how easily and quickly people get sidetracked during worship.

4. YOU SHOULD LOOK TO THE LORD WHEN YOU WANDER. You may wander from the mountains, but the mountains will still be there. You may wander from your Maker, but your Maker will still be there.  Lost?  Look up!

Looking Always To The Lord (Psa.121:1-2) (Part 2)

Introduction:

1. The experience of those travelers is similar to the experience of some Christians today. You're walking the path God charted for you and started the journey with great joy but, at some point, became weary. Mentally, you continued to believe that obedience is worth it. Step by step you plodded forward, inching closer to God's design. Emotionally, however, you became weary and depleted. Admittedly you were fatigued by disappointment, frustration, hurt, confusion and betrayal. (Yes, those are indeed obstacles you encounter as you walk in God's will.)  Then it happened – the moment came when you were reinvigorated by a surge of inspiration's pulsing through your being. God Himself made you aware of the strength that is gained by considering His presence, permanence and power.

2. What if you need renewed strength and inspiration today? In the next post(s), I want to answer this question: When should you look to the Lord? The answer is any time and all the time (You understand why I must limit my comments to four occasions.).

My Prayer (05/04/16)

This prayer is based on Psa. 121:1-2.

O Lord my God, today I will keep my eyes on You.  That is my goal.

You Yourself are my Source of inspiration, strength and courage. I don't look to the mountains (impressive as they are) for my strength, but I look to their Maker and mine. My Creator is higher, greater, and stronger than any part of His creation.

Oh, the joy found in Your presence!  The strength bestowed by Your permanence! The wonder stirred by Your majesty!

Looking at You, I can overcome anything that saps me or threatens me.  My heart is set, my mind is determined, my eyes are fixed.  Where You lead I'll follow.  Thank You that, no matter today's terrain or trouble, You are with me and will help me.

Looking Always To The Lord (Psa.121:1-2) (Part 1)

Background:

1. Travelers to Jerusalem, for the prescribed feasts, knew they were close when they saw the mountains that surrounded the city. The mountains cheered, “Don't quit now! You're almost there!”

2. Pilgrims who left home with joy and anticipation became weary at some point. Mentally, they understood that each step brought them closer to Jerusalem. Emotionally, they felt weary and drained as they continued doing the right things and following the prescribed course.

3. One day, when hearts were heavy and hope was all but erased, a random fellow in the caravan shouted, “There are the mountains!” The inner warfare between fact and feeling began to subside. Physical and spiritual weariness began to fade. Their destination was within sight.

4. Joy returned, as travelers were inspired by the presence and permanence of the mountains.

Four Actions of The Sower (Psa. 126:5-6)

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psa. 126:5-6, NASB).

1.  The sower "goes to and fro."

• He takes initiative.  He "goes", understanding that the soil will not come to the seed.
• He constantly moves.  He goes "to and fro."  He understands that there will be a place where the seed is received.

2.  The sower weeps ("weeping") as he goes. 

• He is weeping because of the hardness of the soil.  He understands that there are places he can't soften.  He can pray, he can love, but he can't make people interested in the gospel.  
• He is weeping because of the scarcity of results.  He recognizes what's at stake when someone rejects the gospel.
• He is weeping because of the frustration from the sowing.  He recognizes that rejection, excuses, even hostility are part of the opportunity, yet he battles to stay faithful.
• He is weeping because of the lateness of the hour.  He understands that the time for sowing isn't open-ended.  He is running out of time.  So are the people who continue to reject the gospel!

3.  The sower carries ("carrying") "his bag of seed."

• He understands that the more seed you carry, the heavier the bag becomes.
• He understands that he must "carry" the witness he intends to give and gladly takes that burden upon himself.
• The "weight" comes from contemplating what's at stake should he fail to sow.  He will not be one of those who leaves the sowing to someone else.
• Are you carrying your "weight" when it comes to witnessing?

4.  The sower reaps ("shall reap") a harvest.

• It is an expected reaping.  It says he shall reap.  It doesn't say he might.  Don't stop expecting a harvest!  The problem isn't the seed.  The problem usually isn't the sower.  The problem is the soil.  Only God can soften a hard heart.  Only God can make a heart receptive and attentive. The good news for you is that these things are His specialty!
• It is an emotional reaping.  He comes "with joyful shouting."  Whereas before all that was heard were tears of sorrow, now all that can be heard are shouts of joy.  Don't be concerned about the ones who show emotion.  Be concerned about the ones who don't or won't!  Other than your own salvation, nothing should stir you more than God's harvest.

Observations:

1.  Sowing will cost you something.

2.  Not sowing will cost you something.

3.  Not sowing will cost others something.

4.  The reward is worth the effort.