In fact, James talks about a faith without works, as demonic faith. He says even the demons believe and shudder (Jas 2:19). David goes on to say that God is "enthroned on the praises of Israel."In other words, God has been praised by his people through the years, because he has been faithful to them and always sustained them. We must develop an eternal view in order to have joy in the midst of our trials. My comfort, my peace, my strength. Our fathers trusted in thee: They trusted, and thou didst deliver them. Thats something we can rejoice in, even when our natural inheritance is taken away. How do we bless, or praise God? There are some Christians, especially young Christians, who struggle with how to comfort somebody in the midst of a failure, a loss, or some depression. Is he God your Protector? Try meditating on each word in Psalm 63:1 slowly. Maybe that is why God touched Jacobs thigh and caused him to limp after wrestling with God and prevailing. Next, he says the trials are only for a little while. Now for some of us who have been going through a difficult situation for six months, a year, or ten years, the timing may not feel short at all. The victory they enjoyed - was victory God granted to them. Listen to what he said: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Each metal has a different melting point, and that is one of the ways you can tell if something is really genuine. A good father only allows his child to go through trials if they are necessary. No doubt there have been many miners who found something that looked like gold. But that's not it. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. I am talking to God, and he is listening. In fact, they have lost their first love like the Ephesians. In fact, God is preserving this inheritance, keeping it from decay or being stolen, even right now. Praise should fill our hearts every day, no matter our circumstances - especially when we are walking through seasons of great trials. However, genuine faith lasts forever, and faith that ultimately falls away from God in the midst of trials is spurious. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. He did this with Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5. We have experienced the new birth. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. PRAISE GOD because He is your God! (Psalms 115:1, NIV). Psalm 77:2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be . In the Parable of the Minas, listen again to what the master told the servant who used his minas well: The first one came and said, Sir, your mina has earned ten more. Well done, my good servant! his master replied. Second Corinthians 12:7 says: To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me (emphasis mine). And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. 11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Many people have experienced this in the midst of trials. This is something we can rejoice in even in the midst of trials. Charles Spurgeon, who was called the Prince of Preachers, used to struggle with depression that was so bad at times he couldnt leave his bed for weeks. King David teaches us how to praise God throughout the book of Psalms. 1:1-4). Whats the secret for a Christian to have joy while suffering through bankruptcy, cancer or even a lost child? He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God (emphasis mine).Daniel 3:2425 (KJV). Maybe they were believing God for healing, and it didnt happen. A good example of this is Peter and Judas. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me: you shall stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me. What other reasons can we rejoice in trials? There are many people in this life who never receive their natural inheritance. As a father, he only allows us to go through things that are necessary for us. Gold can be passed from generation to generation. He never changes. The writer uses the word hardship to refer to any kind of trial we go through. The child may cry and complain, and it is not that the father is immune to the childs tears, but it is because he knows whats best. The civil servant, for example, does not enjoy independence. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away (emphasis mine).Matthew 13:2021. God Saving From Enemies. God chose Psalm 63 for us to focus on at this time. Focus on our relationship with Christ; trials can bring deep intimacy with Christ. And one way we let that influence work is to praise Him and worship Him and honor Him, because of who He is and what He is about. Focus on eternity; trials are brief in comparison to eternity. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! My calling to ministry was also marked by trials. The book of Hebrews begins with an eloquent, beautiful statement about GOD SPEAKING THROUGH THIS SON (Heb. Praise the Lord!Praise God in his sanctuary;praise him in his mighty heavens!Praise him for his mighty deeds;praise him according to his excellent greatness!Praise him with trumpet sound;praise him with lute and harp!Praise him with tambourine and dance;praise him with strings and pipe!Praise him with sounding cymbals;praise him with loud clashing cymbals!Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!Praise the Lord! Who through faith are shielded by Gods power until the coming of the salvation (1 Pet 1:5). 3 who forgives all your sins. Peter says there is more. When I am weak, you are my strength. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (emphasis mine).Revelation 2:10. To help support this ministry, we gratefully accept non-tax deductible donations. It is this way with any good father. Praising God in the hard times doesn't minimize or deny heaviness of heart. He recounts God's majesty, power, mercy, faithfulness, and covenant that David's descendants would reign as kings forever. when David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. It absolutely works! Haman is from the tribe of the Amalekites, who hate Israel. In verse 8, he refers to himself as a sinner. Knowing that God is for you will strengthen your trust in Him during times of hardship and the unknown. 1:23). David is expressing a feeling of abandonment, questioning if God has forgotten him. O Lord, my God you are my refuge and my strength. All rights reserved. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Psalm 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. My everything. He who offers a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving honors Me. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. The psalm itself could be split into three sections. I dont come from a completely reformed background. God used the power of trouble and suffering to keep him humble and dependent on God. The fact that they are necessary means there is intention behind them. Many Christians go through trials without joy, because they are not focusing on their loving relationship with Christ. Jesus said, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do the things which I say?" How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. (Lk. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love (emphasis mine). If we only are thinking about tomorrow, next year, or thirty years from now, we will not have a sustainable joy. Why had David lost joy in his salvation? When shall I come and appear before God? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Psalm 73:26. Paul says not only is he in total control, but he is specifically controlling the temperature gauge on every trial. This is where he prepares his counselors. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. If Satan, who was originally an angel without a sin nature, fell into pridehow much more likely a human who was exalted to write near half of the New Testament? He says you may have had to. This can be translated if necessary as in the ESV or if need be as seen in the KJV. The first 21 verses are a cry to the Lord, laying out the problem that David finds . Go back to your first love. That is the context in the previous verses (1 Pet 3-5). I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;even at night my heart instructs me.I keep my eyes always on the Lord. Let us remember, how Jesus responded to those who professed salvation in Matt 7:23; he says, I never knew you. They were not saved and lost it. There is often a bonding that happens with others while going through hardship together. Many of them are in the middle of adversity and calamity. Application Question: What are common responses to suffering? 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 48:10). Concepts and Connections. and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things. How do we know if we have genuine faith? It is not just about getting to heaven. He prophesies that the kings of the earth shall praise God 7. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge (Ps 51:4). The writer of Hebrews says, And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (emphasis mine) (Heb 11:6). In Psalm 34, David reminds us that we should praise God through the good times and bad. The next thing David said is, an acknowledgment of the ETERNITY OF GOD. Paul says the same thing in other texts, look at 1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. He simply says they did not really belong to us. They werent really saved. Scripture says we should rejoice in this (1 Pet 1:6). This means that my trial with depression is used to help believers who have experienced trials that are different from mine. It is temporary, not just because of the fact that it will end in time, but it is a little while in comparison to the salvation and inheritance you will experience for eternity. We cannot contain our adoration for Him! At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyones chains came loose. Application Question: What are your thoughts about the concept of God being in control of every trial and him only allowing them if they are necessary? Today, how do Christians do this? 118:15). This probably means that David wrote it later in life, as he reflected back on God's faithfulness in his many . Its also about the role we will play once we are there. Verse Concepts. Now there are those who struggle with this and say, What about trials that come from Satan or my own failure? Yes, God is in control of those trials as well. The word proved is used of testing metals through fire. You, God, are my God, Because your love is better than life,my lips will glorify you.I will praise you as long as I live,and in your name I will lift up my hands. Paul saw his trials as short and momentary. Lets look at a couple of reasons why trials would be necessary. No! It is very possible for Christians to lose the joy of their salvation. 1. Who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, I will thank you forever, because you have done it. Application Question: What things keep you from developing this eternal view point in the midst of your trials? Many have experienced this in athletics or the military, as they have gone through both joys and difficulties with those around them. Paul said he was at the same time sorrowful and still rejoicing. To have joy in trials is not to deny pain. 1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Is it realistic that both joy and grief can exist together? 2. "And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. Through Song. It proves to us and others that we are part of the kingdom of God (Philip 1:28, 29). Christ said, I will never leave you nor forsake you (Matt 28:20). The Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart. We are creatures of time here on earth - He is timeless, "from everlasting to everlasting." Simon Peter was privileged to see Jesus transfigured and he later wrote about it with these words: "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty," (2 Pet. My defender, my path, my victory. It tells your eyes that despite what you may see - you have a Creator. Praise the. I thirst for you, Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (emphasis mine).Matthew 5:1112. Who would honor a person who died in an electric chair? (Romans 15:11, NIV). God will honor those who have been faithful in the way they have persevered through trials. GOD! ). The thrust of David's words are - God is worthy of our praise, our worship and obedience and He is worthy of praise due to His greatness; His power, glory, victory and majesty. Preventer of Mistakes - Watch and pray that you enter not in to temptation. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. (Isaiah 24:23, NIV). That place is His Word. Here I am! One of the wonderful promises about this text is that God uses trouble in order to comfort us so we can comfort those who go through any trouble (v. 4). Paul - in the first eleven chapters - takes up the subjects of justification, sanctification, glorification and NOW, it's like he stops out of breath TO ADORE THE GLORY OF GOD, and to speak of His sovereignty. What must we do if we have lost it? They had been scattered because of the persecution coming from Rome. This is Deut. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Peter says it is possible for these believers to have both great joy and grief in the midst of their trials. Application Question: What ways have you experienced the loss of joy in your salvation? When you need to find words of praise on those hard days when your heart is heavy and its a struggle to see the blessings, lean on words of praise from the Bible. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: They . 16: 7-9) "I will give you thanks with all my heart; I will sing your . 12 Things to Thank God for in the Midst of Your Affliction 1) That God is sovereign and in complete control of the intensity and the duration of your affliction. Is he God your Father? Maybe that was why God allowed Peter to go through such a humbling trial at the cross since he would be the Lords chief Apostle. in a dry and parched land This relationship will carry you and give you joy. Genuine gold will last at high temperatures. Against the wrath.-- Or perhaps, upon the wrath. The metallurgist will put it in the fire and see at what temperature it melts. For eleven chapters Paul has been giving his comprehensive account of the gospel. Sometimes God brings trials to discipline us, to turn us away from sin. Was it a voice of complaint? my whole being longs for you, What does Peter mean? Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me, Psalm 64:7,8 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. Let me suggest four ways we praise God: 1. We can rejoice in our trials because those who are faithful will be honored and praised by God. Psalm 149:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes. Paul said something similar in 2 Corinthians 4:1718: For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Focus on Gods sovereignty and purpose in trials. We praise God in song. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. - God says in Psalm 50:23. Praising God in the Storm Sermon This Praising God in the Storm Sermon by Traci Morin help you learn the purpose and how to die more to self in suffering. Listen to what Hebrews says: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Hear this: peace, patience, endurance, love, and joy are fruits of trials. Quickly falls away from God in the ESV or if need be as seen in the midst of trials Daniels... Is taken away use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website being,! Your trials of praise and thanksgiving honors me, but painful trouble and suffering to keep him humble and on... Difficulties with those around them you use this website the persecution coming from Rome next thing David is. Melting point, and everyones chains came loose would be necessary at what temperature it melts different melting,. 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