First Baptist Church
2021 08 01

      • Psalm 31ESV

  • How Firm a Foundation

      • Acts 13:13–25ESV

  • O Be Careful Little Eyes

  • I’m just stressed! Okay?

    James on vacation, made several outbursts
    There is a lot of stress in our world right now.
    I want to look at a psalm that will help us exchange our stress for stability.
    This will not be a normal sermon per se. I am going to work my way down through it bit by bit and make comments. I will not get through all of it nor cover every concept.
    You should read this on your own time and reflect upon it.
    Pray

    Where do you take refuge?

    Psalm 31:1 (ESV)
    1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!
    Some take refuge in
    entertainment
    addictions (sex, drugs, alcohol)
    performance / justifying yourself
    family / friends
    Do you go to God for refuge?
    I don’t know how… or I’ve forgotten…or I’ve messed up too much.

    Hear Me!

    Cry out to God asking him to hear you.
    Psalm 31:2 ESV
    2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!
    Hear Me! Help Me! Secure Me!
    Incline-Rescue speedily —> A powerful combination
    the urgency of the moment / situation
    Psalm 31:3 ESV
    3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
    Lay claim that God is your safe place

    Hand Your Life Over

    Because God is your safe place, hand your life over to God. Trust him with it all.
    Psalm 31:5 ESV
    5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
    Does this sound familiar to you?
    Luke 23:46 ESV
    46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
    Acts 7:59 ESV
    59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
    I have a lot of stress in my life because I’m not handing over my life to God.
    It can prevent me from sleeping / rejuvenating
    Do you need to spend some time in prayer and hand the reigns of control over to God?

    Rejoice in Steadfast Love

    What do you rejoice in?
    Psalm 31:7 ESV
    7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul,
    I’ve mentioned the word Steadfast Love a lot here, but it has been a while.
    Committed, Loyal, Merciful, Tender Heard of Love God has for you.
    Would you be interested in a study on this? Let me know, and I will make one for you.
    It is stabilizing for you to rejoice in God’s love for you. Start wring things down.

    Tenderness in Heaviness

    This is huge folks…we can be very fragile…and sometimes when we are fragile, we expect harshness from God and others.
    Psalm 31:9–10 ESV
    9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. 10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.
    Be gracious to me, be kind.

    Trust God Anyway

    We will be faced with people and situations that seem that they will ruin us.
    Psalm 31:11–16 ESV
    11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. 12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. 13 For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!
    This psalm speaks of King David’s experience in leadership.
    There were times when he was very unpopular for one reason or another - even to the point of his life was on the line.
    You can find stability in God even in the loneliest of times…even when your life is on the line.
    When things seem to be going against you, say with the Psalmist, “My times are in your hand” (31:15).
    Perhaps you should put that on your fridge.

    Remember God’s Goodness

    We live like we are poor, and yet we have abundant riches.
    Psalm 31:19 ESV
    19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
    When is the last time you were vividly aware of God’s abundant Goodness?

    Love the Lord!

    The psalm finishes with a call to action
    Do you want to exchange your stress for stability?
    Psalm 31:23–24 ESV
    23 Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
    ​
    Where do you take refuge?
    Hear Me! (Cry out to God)
    Hand Your Life Over
    Rejoice in Steadfast Love
    Tenderness in Heaviness (From God to us)
    Trust God anyway (even when all seems lost)
    Remember God’s Goodness
    Love the Lord!

      • Psalm 31:2ESV

      • Psalm 31:3ESV

      • Psalm 31:5ESV

      • Luke 23:46ESV

      • Acts 7:59ESV

      • Psalm 31:7ESV

      • Psalm 31:9–10ESV

      • Psalm 31:11–16ESV

      • Psalm 31:19ESV

      • Psalm 31:23–24ESV

  • Take My Life, and Let it Be
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https://www.bremen.church
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