Hillsong United - King of Heaven

Psalm 63:1-11

O God, you are my God; early will I seek you: my soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land…

tells us that amongst the primitive Christians it was ordained that this psalm should be sung every day. If we do not follow that Custom, it is not because it is unsuitable. The psalm may be said or sung all the year round. In all the seasons of the soul, its spring, summer, autumn and winter. By day and by night. But the psalm especially belongs to those who, through any cause, feel themselves to dwell in a desert land, The stages of Israel in all their history, in Egypt and out of it, and onwards, are gone over in our spiritual history. And even when we are in Canaan, we may, like David, be driven, out of our home, and find ourselves in the wilderness again.

I. TRUE SAINTS ARE SOMETIMES IN A DRY AND THIRSTY LAND, where no water is. For —

1. All things are changeable, and living things most of all. A man of stone changes not, but the living man must sorrow and suffer as well as laugh and rejoice.

2. And in some senses, to a Christian, this world must always be a dry and thirsty land, We are not carrion crows, or else might we float and feed upon the carcases which abound in the waters around our ark. We are doves, and when we leave the hand of our Noah we find nought to rest upon. Even when the world is at its best, it is but a dry land for saints.

3. And we carry an evil within us which would cause a drought in Paradise itself if it could come there (Romans 7.), We may have been so unwatchful as to have brought ourselves into this condition by actual faults of life and conduct.

4. Sometimes it is brought about by our being banished from the means of grace. Poor as our ministry may be, there are some Christians who would miss it more than their daily food if it were taken from them. It is a sore trial to such to be kept sway from sanctuary privileges. 6, And by denial of the sweets of Christian intercourse. David had poor company when he was in the wilderness, in the days of Saul; his friends were not much better than freebooters and runaways. And sometimes God's people are shut up to similar company.

5. Sometimes a man may be treated with gross injustice, and endure much hardship as the result. David did; so may we.

6. Domestic conditions, and health, and physical conditions, may grievously depress the soul. Thus, there are many reasons why the best of saints are sometimes in a dry and thirsty land.

II. BUT GOD IS THEIR GOD STILL. "O God, Thou art my God." Yes, he is as much our God in the dry land as if we sat by Siloa's softly flowing brook. God is the God of the wilderness. Was He not with His people there?

III. WHEN WE ARE IN A DRY AND THIRSTY LAND, OUR WISEST COURSE IS TO CRY TO HIM AT ONCE. When you feel least like praying, then pray to Him the more, for you need it the more. Do not, any of you, practise the sinner's folly: he declares that he will tarry till he is better, and then he never comes at all. Seek the Lord at once, Practise the Gospel principle of "Just as I am." Say, "I must have a sense of His love, and I must have it now." Make a dash for it, and you shall have it. Therefore, do not be afraid to cry out to God. Our heavenly Father loves to hear His children cry all the day long. Rutherford says, "The bairn in Christ's house that is most troublesome is the most welcome. He that makes the most din for his meat is the best bairn that Christ has." You may not quite agree with that as to your own children, but it is certainly so with our Lord. Desire, then, and let those desires be vehement. Jesus will joyfully hear you. Only be thou careful that thou be not content to be in a dry and thirsty land, away from God. Do not get into such a state, and certainly do not stay there.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

Find rest in You

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29

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Hillsong United - Nothing Like Your Love

Todd Agnew - There Is Coming A Day

My Hope is in You

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. As for me, I will wait continually, and will continue to praise you.






Romans 12:2, Romans 8:28, 1 Cor 1:9, Eccs 8:6, Col 3:15, John 14:27, John 14:1, Deu 31:8, Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 16:9, Psalm 37:7, Psalm 62:5.

Psalm 16:7, Habb 3:17-18, Psalm 121:2, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 13:5, Psalm 105:4, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 40:1-2, Psalm 43:5, Psalm 71:14.

1 Corinthians 7:24

Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
1 Corinthians 7:20

Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
1 Corinthians 7:24


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The rules of Christianity reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations. He should quietly and contentedly abide in the condition in which he is placed by Divine Providence.

Christian Contentment

J. Lyth, D. D. — Biblical Illustrator

---

1 Corinthians 7:24Brothers, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Observe —
I. THE DANGER. —
1. Of becoming discontented with our calling.
2. This is common.
3. It may be excited by the more enlightened views produced by conversion.
II. THE DUTY. "To abide," &c.
1. This does not mean —
(1) That a slave may not seek his liberty.
(2) That a man must not relinquish a nefarious occupation.
(3) That a Christian may not desire a position of greater advantage and usefulness.
2. It —
(1) Inculcates contentment.
(2) Teaches that every honest calling affords scope for Christian development, and that we should serve God in our calling.
III. THE MOTIVE. God —
1. Has appointed your condition.
2. Blesses you in it.
3. Can easily improve it if desirable.
(J. Lyth, D. D.)

http://ibiblestudies.com/auth/lyth/christian_contentment.htm

Chapter 20, "City of God" by Saint Augustine

Of the Kind of Knowledge Which Puffs Up the Demons 

However, the very origin of the name suggests something worthy of consideration, if we compare it with the divine books. They are called demons from a Greek word meaning knowledge. Now the apostle, speaking with the Holy Spirit, says, Knowledge puffs up, but charity builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 And this can only be understood as meaning that without charity knowledge does no good, but inflates a man or magnifies him with an empty windiness. The demons, then, have knowledge without charity, and are thereby so inflated or proud, that they crave those divine honors and religious services which they know to be due to the true God, and still, as far as they can, exact these from all over whom they have influence. Against this pride of the demons, under which the human race was held subject as its merited punishment, there was exerted the mighty influence of the humility of God, who appeared in the form of a servant; but men, resembling the demons in pride, but not in knowledge, and being puffed up with uncleanness, failed to recognize Him.

http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/120109.htm

Hypocrites

Some people glibly recite God's laws but are filled with deceit and evil. They claim God's promises but refuse to obey him. This is sin, and God will judge people for it. We too are hypocrites when we are not what we claim to be. To let this inconsistency remain shows that we are not true followers of God.


from: http://www.barbaralehrman.com/ (commentary for bible verse of day 23rd April 2013)