God Is in Charge

Psalm 47 – We Win When He Wins

I. God Chose His People

A. God brings good times as He gathers all people to Him. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” (Psalm 47:1)

1. The Bible is optimistic about God’s triumph. “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)

2. Sometimes joy and weeping come simultaneously, but no one can ignore the revival of God’s work. “And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” (Ezra 3:11-13)

B. Reality has no neutral zone outside the law and administration of God. “For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.” (Psalm 47:2)

C. God takes the side of His people and He will certainly prevail. “He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.” (Psalm 47:3) “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:25)

D. As God gave inheritances to His ancient people; He will provide what is best for believers across eternity. “He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.” (Psalm 47:4)

1. The final victory has been part of the plan from the start. “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25:34)

2. There will be no question about the victory when the King seizes the kingdom. “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” (Psalm 24:7-10)

II. God’s Government Is Revealing Itself

A. The faithful hear the victory shout of the ascending King of Glory; the war has been won. “God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.” (Psalm 47:5)

B. The celebration of God’s victory does not have to wait for the future. “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.” (Psalm 47:6)

C. No place is independent and outside God’s control even at the present stage of history. “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.” (Psalm 47:7)

D. The world does not understand the Lamb of God and therefore it does not grasp that the Lion of God is even now triumphing. “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:5-11)

III. God Is King

A. Holiness is the standard by which God is reigning and that government extends over unbelievers as well as believers. “God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.” (Psalm 47:8)

B. All people will eventually acknowledge the Lordship of Christ. “The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.” (Psalm 47:9)

Thanksgiving

Psalm 126:1-6; Luke 15:11-31 / Psalm 125:1-5

I. Hard Times Have Limits

A. The Babylonian captivity had limits; God brought His people home. “A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.” (Psalm 126:1)

B. Distress causes actual believers to turn to God for what they cannot supply themselves. “A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.” (Psalm 120:1) “And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.” (Jonah 2:2)

C. Hard times clarify the full measure of God’s grace; God is the helper of the helpless. “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:” (Psalm 124:2-3)

D. Remember how God helped Moses when the leaders of Israel rose in rebellion against him. “And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?” (Numbers 16:2-3)

E. There is room in the church for the returning prodigal. “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:21-24)

II. Grace Is Great

A. Grace overwhelms; even nonbelievers marvel. “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:2)

B. When Ezra brought the people to Jerusalem, revival spread and the holy people flourished. “And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” (Ezra 3:11)

C. Even the ultimate collapse of the old order worked for good to the entire world as the gospel went out from Jerusalem to the nations. “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15)

D. God’s gifts spill all over. “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” (Psalm 126:3) “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23:5-6)

E. God is the source of hope and joy. “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” (Psalm 126:3)

III. Start Thanking God

A. Keep asking; do not let awareness of sin and punishment stand in the way of grace. “Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.” (Psalm 126:4)

B. Acting when the situation seems hopeless yields a joyful harvest; Christians are the ultimate contrarians. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Psalm 126:5)

C. The hard times are times to plant and the crops planted then yield well. “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:6)

D. Hard times always pass for God’s people. “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

E. God cannot be mocked and He will not forget His promises. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7-8)

The Real Problem

1 Kings 18:1-40; Mark 7:14-23 / Psalm 49:1-20

I. First Locate the Problem

A. Life’s problems come either from Providence in which case they are actually opportunities or they originate in the human heart and express sin. “And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.” (Mark 7:14-15)

1. The failure to trace sin to its source leaves a person or a culture limping between incompatible visions of realty, morally stalled. “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)

2. People who look in the wrong places cannot find their way to the godly life. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17)

B. The crisis of the times is not skin deep, economic, political, or environmental; it is the corruption of one’s own heart. “For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.” (Matthew 26:11) “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 7:16)

II. Perhaps My Case Is the Exception

A. On the surface Jesus seems to be wrong; why does Jesus dismiss the possibility that in my case someone else is at fault? “And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.” (Mark 7:17)

B. Nothing will improve until people learn to distinguish between problem and opportunity. “And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?” (Mark 7:18-19)

C. There are no exceptions; God keeps teaching the same lessons to those He loves until they learn. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” (Isaiah 28:9-10)

D. Jeremiah succinctly explained why self-justification inevitably fails. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

III. Take Responsibility

A. Jesus traced sin to the human heart. “And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.” (Mark 7:20)

1. If the mind is the problem, the path to holiness must begin with the mind. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

2. The struggles and opportunities of life will unfold to God’s glory when the heart is right with God; without that focus everything will go wrong. “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Titus 1:15)

B. All the forms of evil behavior begin in the mind as it processes life. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,” (Mark 7:21) “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26)

C. God encourages believers to entrust their hearts to Him. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

D. Jesus leaves no exceptions. “All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:23)

Why Worry?

Psalm 46 -- Luther’s A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

I. God Takes Care of His Own

A. Here is the psalm of holy confidence which Luther turned into the national anthem of German Protestantism. “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

B. God’s people have no reason to fear difficult times. “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;” (Psalm 46:2)

C. No matter how great the problem, God remains faithful to provide for His own people. “Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” (Psalm 46:3)

II. God Takes Sides in Life’s Struggles

A. The world has violent storms and floods, but the City of God has refreshing streams. “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.” (Psalm 46:4)

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” (Isaiah 55:1-2)

B. God owns and resides in the house He provides to shelter His people. “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” (Psalm 46:5) “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

C. Life’s great forces and terrors melt at God’s command; might is a matter of perspective. “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.” (Psalm 46:6)

D. God brings overwhelming assets to direct Providence. “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Psalm 46:7) “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;” (Proverbs 30:26)

III. Watch God at Work

A. God made an inescapable point about His own power when He turned Sodom into the Dead Sea; the lowest point on earth remains a constant testimony to what God can do when people behave improperly. “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.” (Psalm 46:8)

B. God sets limits for the terrible armies which bring death and disorder. “He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.” (Psalm 46:9)

1. Neglect of this doctrine kept Israel out of the Promised Land and obedience to it gave the land to Joshua. “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.” (Joshua 11:6)

2. Eventually everyone must declare for God or for some weak substitute; in whom do you put your trust? “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

C. God is in charge and eventually all reality will recognize His government over all things; God’s works of providence are, His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions. “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10) “Either by terror or love God will subdue all hearts to himself.” Spurgeon

D. The ultimate force protects the church of God. “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Psalm 46:11)

What Your Neighbor Believes Matters

I. Not Believing Anything Is Foolish

A. Whatever a person may say, down inside a person with no concept of God opens the heart to corruption; picture surfing the Internet without virus protection. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)

B. People with no conviction of God correspond to mice collecting trap loads of cheese without consideration of the danger implicit in the “cheese trays” they amass. “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:3)

C. People who do not respect God have no capacity to discern what actually is in their best interest; people who cannot learn are dangerous to everyone around them. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

D. Remember what life was like without God; does anyone deserve that? “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2:12)

E. The fool does not have the capacity to evangelize himself; someone must perform a spiritual Heimlich maneuver. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4)

II. Believing the Wrong Thing Is Dangerous

A. Man-made gods are not substantially superior to atheism. “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.” (Psalm 115:4-8)

B. Idolatry may seem like a good idea at the time but it misleads; a chauffeur faithfully following a corrupt map will trouble passengers more than one with no map. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” (Romans 1:20-23)

C. What appears to be pious faithfulness actually compounds evil for idolaters, polluting society; the abortion industry is an old and disgusting form of idolatry. “Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,” (Psalm 106:37)

D. Normal Christianity will turn people away from idolatry and its consequences; saved people do not destroy their own children. “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;” (1 Thessalonians 1:9)

E. The common Biblical word for hell derives from the place where the ancient Jews built facilities to destroy their children in the service of man-made wisdom. “And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom [Gehenna], to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.” (Jeremiah 7:31)

III. Silence Isn’t Golden

A. To love God, a Christian must believe in Him totally and care enough about other people to keep them from both atheism and idolatry; a Christian cannot be content to let other people go to hell in their own way. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

B. The proper response to foolishness and corruption is evangelism; silence is sin. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

C. A church which is correct in every doctrinal and formal feature but which does not warn the dying is a beautiful corpse, effectively dead. “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. ” (Revelation 3:1)

D. People with the gospel are called to bear witness to God and to expose idolatry. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” (Isaiah 43:10)

E. People who accept the American proposition that religion is a private matter will have a difficult time with Jesus on Judgment Day; evangelism of atheists and idolaters is both possible and obligatory. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)