Wed PM @ nursing home with youth 11.9.11
jmichaelwalls
Psalm 118:24
Introduction: Basically everyone wakes up in one of two attitudes. They
wake and say, "Good morning, Lord". Or they say, "Good Lord, it�s
morning". You determine how will do so by your attitude of life.
This psalm is one of victory. Jesus and His disciples probably sang this
as they left the Last Supper. If God gives you another day on this earth,
here is how you should face it.
I. YOU CAN FACE IT WITH CONFIDENCE
Vs. 6
"The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?"
Although the world, the devil and some of his own people were against
him, the Psalmist knew the Lord was with him. That gave him the
much-needed confidence as he faced the grind of daily life. The daily
grind of life is different for every one of us. For young people, it may
be their schoolwork. For some adults, it is their jobs. For some, it is
disease. For some it may be a combination of all of these. The fear of
man left him as his confidence grew in the presence of God.
This confidence is seen in many of David�s Psalms over and over again.
Let me give you a few of these passages. Psalm 27:1-3
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is
the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even
mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled
and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not
fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident."
Psalm 46:1
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Psalm 56:4
"In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not
fear what flesh can do unto me."
Psalm 56:9
"When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know;
for God is for me."
Confidence has to do with trust in the integrity, stability, and
truthfulness of another person. There is no need to doubt God! God is
with those He saves and calls. Jesus faced what He faced because He knew
the Father was on His side.
II. YOU CAN FACE IT WITH COURAGE
Vs. 6b
"I will not fear what man can do unto me"
The psalmist did not say he would not suffer, but he did say, "I will not
fear." He knew God�s love for him was greater than the hatred that men
had for him. Since God�s love was so intense for him, the intensity of
man�s hatred did not bother him that badly. Man can hurt the body or kill
the body, but he cannot do damage to the soul. Remember that no one can
harm us unless God allows it. Courage is not the absence of fear but the
going on in spite of the fear. Matthew 10:28
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell."
The body is a small matter, in comparison with the soul. If someone wants
to kill you, he or she is really threatening you with heaven. Now how bad
is that? It would mean trading this old body for a new model that would
never die, have any sicknesses or sorrow. It is the place of eternal joy.
It is where Jesus is.
John 14:1-3
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father�s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where
I am, there ye may be also."
YOU CAN FACE IT WITH CONTENTMENT.
Vs. 24
"This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it"
God�s people are to manifest a spirit of contentment. "Contentment" is a
resting or satisfaction of mind. One who is content is satisfied. People
are about content as they make up their mind to be.
So how can you show your contentment?
A. Give thanks. Ephesians 5:20
"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ."
One who is truly contented will be one who is thankful.
B. Remember nothing catches the Lord off guard. Everything that happens
to us in life works together for our good and God�s glory.
Romans 8:28-29
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
We are nothing but a diamond in the rough so to speak. Jesus knows what
and who it takes to make us more like Him. It requires destroying our
pride.
One of the things that stood out with the first believers that they were
like Christ. That is how we got the name Christian.
Acts 11:26
"And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to
pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and
taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in
Antioch."
If you and I were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be
enough evidence to convict us? Peter and John were on trial for being a
Christian and spreading the Word of God. Here is what is the crowd that
was prosecuting and persecuting them said about them. Acts 4:13
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that
they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took
knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."
Now that is a great compliment given by men who hate you. They were
content to obey God rather than man.
IV. YOU CAN FACE IT WITH COMMITMENT.
Psalm 118:27
"God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with
cords, even unto the horns of the altar."
We need a commitment like Jesus had when He went to Calvary�s Hill. The
Father had sent Him on a mission and He was determined he was going to
fulfill the desires of the Heavenly Father. Nathan Hale was so devoted to
our country that he said before he was executed, "I regret that I have
but one life to lose for my country." We should feel that way about the
Christian life.
YOU CAN FACE IT WITH CONQUEST.
Psalm 118:17
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."
The psalmist saw death, but death was slain. He saw the grave, but the
grave had been robbed. He saw judgment silenced, and hell defeated. Death
is simply the gateway to life forever for God�s people. 1st Corinthians
15:51-58
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all
be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall
have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is
thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the
law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your
labour is not in vain in the Lord."
We do not have to fear death because Jesus went through for us and He won
over the pain of death, the penalty of death and the person of death.
Conclusion: You can face tomorrow. Jesus is going to help you and has
always helped you. Let me give one last passage of scripture before I
close.
Hebrews 13:5-6
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, 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."
Pastor Mike Walls
Freedom Baptist Church Smithfield, NC
http://freedombaptistchurchnc.wordpress.com/
http://iglesiabautistalibertad.wordpress.com/
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