Psalm 42

Psalm 42
When you find yourself in tough circumstances, preach the gospel to yourself. Peter said that our hope is not in this world, but in Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3-9.
Who talks like this? No matter what they went through, they praised God. Psalm 42:1-2, Hab 3:17-19, Job 1:20-21, Phil 1:21-22
- Do I seek after God the way that a dehydrated deer seeks after water? Why not??? Idols are the reason I don't seek after God the way I should. We love other stuff more than we love God. Ex 32:1-6, Ps 106:19-20, Mt 6:19-21. What do I put before God? No matter what it is, it will someday be gone. God will always be there. 2Cor 4:16 This should be a reminder that my body and my idols will waste away. Ezekiel 14:1-5 God will answer us, but will focus on our idols and our hearts, because he wants our whole heart. Jas 4:4-5. God longs jealously for us.

Abigail by Rick Tucker

Abigail - 1 Sam 25
We can help ourselves and those around us avoid great pain if we use wisdom and do the right thing in the right way at the right time.
- Abigail did the wise thing. She showed great wisdom. A wise person knows the right thing, and does it. Prov 4:5-13, 3:13-18 Our wisdom will impact those around us. God, what is the wisest thing I can do in this situation?
Read Proverbs over and over again, and read all of scripture, seek wisdom from godly people.
- Abigail did the right thing in the right way. She came with grace and humility, chose her words carefully, and heaped praise upon David. She reminded David who he was and who God was. Prov 15:1 Do not answer with harsh words.
- Abigail did the right thing at the right time. She acted immediately. Wisdom requires action. She didn't let fear stop her. She didn't think or talk about doing the right thing - she DID it. Prov 6:6-11 Do not be lazy. Seek wisdom. Breathe, pray, ask for wisdom, then ACT.

Psalm 42

Life can be a struggle and a mess.
Ps 42 Longing for God, feeling of being rejected, forgotten.
Just because you are Christian, life is not always going to go the way you want.
v.9 God, why have you forgotten me?
-Humbly coming before God to admit our struggles.
- he acknowledges God's control v.7
- he sings and at night his song is with me v.8
- he talked to himself v.5, and answers himself - put your hope in God! No matter what, God loves me.
- he reminded himself of great times of worship. v.4
- he thirsts for God. v.1

Rescued: Baptism

Rom 6:1-6 Baptism
-What is baptism? It is our public declaration of our faith in Jesus.
-Why do we baptize? Jesus commanded it. Mt 28:19-20. Jesus modeled it for us. Mk 1:9-10.
-How do we baptize? By immersion, which is how Jesus did it. Acts 8:38. The Greek word for baptize means sinking down under. Immersion best symbolizes death and raising to new life.
-Who do we baptize? Believers - those have been saved, and who are old enough to give testimony of their faith in Jesus. Acts 2:41, 8:12, 18:8. No instances of infant baptism in scripture.
-Does baptism save? No. It is not a condition of your salvation, it is a sign of your salvation. Heb 9:22 The blood of Jesus is what saves us. Lk 23:39-43 The thief on the cross was saved, but not baptised.
-What should I do? The most important thing is salvation! Then be baptised as evidence of your faith.

Rescued: Man overboard

- Are you with me? Do you struggle with sin?  Rom 7:14-25 - I am a slave to sin. I don't do what I should do, and do what I should not be doing. Who will rescue me? Jesus! (This is written by Paul AFTER salvation and transformation.)
Rom 8:1-2 - There is no condemnation in Jesus!
- There is an expectation of change for Christians. We should be changing and becoming more like Jesus.  Rom 6:1-2, 1 Thess 4:1-3a.
- God is in the business of rescuing and changing people!  Ex 2:11-12 - Moses killed an Egyptian, but God still used him mightily. 2 Sam - David, Bathsheba, and Uriah. John 4 - the woman at the well. Lk 19 - Zaccheus. Acts 26 - Paul's story. Rom 5:8

The Movement: The best week ever

The best week ever for all of us happened about 2,000 years ago - Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday - Jesus' death and resurrection.
After all that happened to him, he said "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." What kind of man says this? Only Jesus, the Son of God.
Mt 21:1-11
Malchus - John 18:1-11 Jesus used the same words as God, "I am." You've got to wonder what Malchus was thinking. Who is this man?
Peter - had no doubt about who Jesus was, claimed he would never betray Jesus, Mt 26:69-75. Peter wept bitterly after he betrayed Jesus. How often are we betraying Jesus, maybe not with our words, but with the actions of our lives?
Pilate - Mt 27:15-26 Stuck in the middle of knowing Jesus was innocent, and the riotous crowd wanting to crucify Jesus.
Barrabus - best day ever, was released even though he was guilty and Jesus was innocent.
Me - I was there. Crucifying Jesus because of my sin. Just as though Barrabus was set free and Jesus took his place, Jesus takes my place and the punishment for my sin and guilt.
BUT, there is hope! Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, and LIVES.

The Movement: The midnight hour

Acts 16:16-34 Paul and Silas in prison
- God can take the worst of circumstances and make something beautiful. We allow our circumstances to shape our view of God, instead of allowing our view of God to shape our circumstances. Make a decision to worship God no matter your circumstances. v. 25, 2 Cor 1:8-9 We must CHOOSE to worship God.
- We must be willing to be inconvenienced to be a part of the movement. Acts 16:6-10, Rom 9:2-3
- The most important question someone can ask is "What must I do to be saved?"