Book One (Psa 1 - 41)
FOUNDATIONS: REBUILDING
Psalms 11:3
Reading: Heb. 13:5
Theme:
INTRODUCTION
A. A few years ago, hijacked passenger jets were purposefully crashed into the World Trade Center towers. A while later the towers collapsed and fell to the ground with thousands of people still in them. Not long after the planes were crashed into the towers, another hijacked passenger jet was purposefully crashed into the Pentagon. Many more also lost their lives. No doubt the terrorists who did it, thought that if they could destroy some of the foundations of the country (its market economy and military might), they could begin to bring the country to it’s knees so to speak, by demoralizing the people of the United States.
B. Similarly, if the foundations of our faith are pulled out from under us, so to speak, what could the righteous do, not to be destroyed. Christianity is built upon foundations laid down by God. Those foundations though indestructible can be destroyed in the minds of people, and thus people may be kept from the faith or moved away it. What can be done?
Discussion
I. THE QUESTION (11:1-3).
A. In the LORD put I my trust ... (11:1).
KJV
1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician <05329> (8764), A Psalm of David <01732>.>> In the LORD <03068> put I my trust <02620> (8804): how say <0559> (8799) ye to my soul <05315>, Flee <05110> (8798) as a bird <06833> to your mountain <02022>?
1. This was a time when David was being hunted down by a determined enemy.
a. Even still, David’s trust was in his own strength to change things but in the Lord.
b. Though David trusted in God others were telling David to flee to the mountains for safety.
c. We see this similarly in the church today with people declaring we need to update the gospel to fit the world or we’re going to run into road block trying to evangelize them.
2 For, lo, the wicked <07563> bend <01869> (8799) their bow <07198>, they make ready <03559> (8790) their arrow <02671> upon the string <03499>, that they may privily <0652> (8676) <01119> shoot <03384> (8800) at the upright <03477> in heart <03820>. {privily: Heb. in darkness}
d. The reason was the wicked were going to attack the upright.
e. Obviously the wicked thought they could get away with it.
f. This psalm may have been written while David was fleeing from jealous Saul who sought to prevent David from receiving the throne to which God appointed him.
(1) on the other hand the psalm may have been written while David was fleeing from his son Absalom who sought to overthrow David’s throne.
(2) In either case what was right was being over run by what was wrong.
(3) It seem to some at least that the righteous were helpless to do anything about it.
B. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do (11:3)?
3 If the foundations <08356> be destroyed <02040> (8735), what can the righteous <06662> do <06466> (8804)?
1. When the foundations break down, people are thrown into confusion.
2. When society had decayed to the point that such things can happen, the righteous are indeed in trouble.
3. There are always those who will out of ignorance, will or out of rebellion seek to erode the foundations of the faith.
C. Such place they seek to change are:
1. The Existence of God
a. This attack comes from science generally, through a false theory of creation called evolution, that is from those who refuse to accept the Bible, even from some in the Lord's church who have been influenced of modernism.
b. The Bible claims that God exists.
(1) It begins by telling us, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen 1:1).
(2) "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Psa 19:1).
(3) Based on the claims of the scripture, corroborated by the evidence of the universe, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Heb 11:3).
(4) Though the Bible is not a treatise on science wherever it refers to things scientific, it does so with scientific accuracy.
(5) Other books do so but the Bible did it before others realized such facts about science.
(6) The reason for attacking the existence of God is to suggest mankind is really who is in charge.
2. The Deity of Jesus Christ
a. The Old Testament prophesied that the one that was to come, (the messiah in Hebrew, the Christ in Greek) would was to be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah of the tribe of Judah.
b. “yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).
c. Part of his nature was that he was eternal ("from everlasting"), which identified him as God because only God is eternal, without beginning.
d. The New Testament teaches us that the prophecy was fulfilled with Jesus (Joh 1:1, 14).
e. Peter confessed to Jesus, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mat 16:16).
f. Many have denied Jesus diety, but none has ever successfully refuted it, especially not with scripture.
g. Jesus’ deity is attacked to lesson the importance of his message.
3. The Inspiration and Authority of the Scripture
a. The Bible explains the origin of the scriptures as from God (2Pe 1:20-21).
b. It did not originate from the minds of the men who wrote it (2Ti 3:16-17).
4. The Divine Origin of the Church
a. The church is not a human-founded denomination, but the spiritual body of Christ made up of those who are added to it by him consequent to their obedience to his gospel.
b. Jesus promised to build his church (Mat 16:18).
c. Jesus purchased the church with his own blood (Act 20:28).
d. He alone is the head of it (Eph 1:19-23).
5. The Faith
a. Delegates who attended the Vatican [Roman Catholic] and United Nations (UN) annual interfaith congress, "The Future of God," held during October in Fatima, heard how the Shrine is to be developed into a center where all the religions of the world will gather to pay homage to their various gods. Traditional Catholics opposed to the Congress were described by the as "old-fashioned, narrow-minded, fanatic extremists and provocateurs." One of the principle speakers, Jacques Dupuis, was insistent that the religions of the world must unite. "The religion of the future will be a general converging of religions in a universal Christ that will satisfy all," he said.
b. The Belgium-born theologian argued: " The other religious traditions in the world are part of God's plan for humanity, and the Holy Spirit is operating and present in Buddhist, Hindu, and other sacred writings of Christian and non-Christian faiths as well." In an impassioned plea he said: "The universality of God's kingdom permits this, and this is nothing more than a diversified form of sharing in the same mystery of salvation. In the end, it is hoped that the Christian will become a better Christian and each Hindu a better Hindu." An official statement put out by the Congress called for a non-proselytising approach by all religions. "What is needed is that each religion be true to its faith integrally and treat each religion on the same footing of equality with no inferior or superiority complexes." It is emphasized that the secret to peace amongst all religions is admitting that contradictions exist between creeds but to concentrate on what unites them, as opposed to what separates them. (The Portugal News, 11/1/03 via The Berean Call, December, 2003)
c. The Bible declared there is but one faith (Eph 4).
6. Preaching Sound Doctrine
a. There is a pattern of sound words in the gospel of Christ (2Ti 1:13-14).
7. Living Godly Lives
a. Single (Ti 2:11).
b. Dating
(1) The first principle is that in important matters, we should get all the good advice available (Pro 11: 14, 12:15,15:22).
(2) The second principle is that God has given children parents to guide them until they are married (Gen 2:24, MAT 19:5, Eph 5:3 1).
(3) The third principle is that we must 'flee youthful lust" (2TI 2:22) and "avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Pro 4:14). Many good men have fallen because they unintentionally made "provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof (Rom 13:14).
c. Marriage (Heb 13:4)
Transition: When the faith is attacked, some will give in to the attack. Some will flee to hide and avoid the conflict. You and I must remain steadfast in the faith if we don’t want to be destroyed.
II. THE ANSWER (11:4-7).
Faithfulness
A. ... behold, his eyelids try, the children of men ... (11:4).
4 ¶ The LORD <03068> is in his holy <06944> temple <01964>, the LORD’S <03068> throne <03678> is in heaven <08064>: his eyes <05869> behold <02372> (8799), his eyelids <06079> try <0974> (8799), the children <01121> of men <0120>.
1. The writer took assurance from the fact that God is sovereign and nothing escapes his sight (cp. Heb 4:13)
B. The LORD trieth the righteous ... but the wicked ... his soul hateth ... (11:5-7).
5 The LORD <03068> trieth <0974> (8799) the righteous <06662>: but the wicked <07563> and him that loveth <0157> (8802) violence <02555> his soul <05315> hateth <08130> (8804).
6 Upon the wicked <07563> he shall rain <04305> (8686) snares <06341>, fire <0784> and brimstone <01614>, and an horrible <02152> tempest <07307>: this shall be the portion <04521> of their cup <03563>. {an horrible…: or, a burning tempest}
1. The Lord tries or examines the righteous to test their allegiance, perhaps by allowing the wicked to seem to have an upper hand.
2. On the other hand the Lord hates the wicked and they will be exposed.
3. Therefore, the safety net of the righteous is with the Lord; with his will, by remaining faithful to his word.
7 For the righteous <06662> LORD <03068> loveth <0157> (8804) righteousness <06666>; his countenance <06440> doth behold <02372> (8799) the upright <03477>.
4. We can see that the place of refuge is with the Lord even in spite of those who may oppose us in the flesh (cf. Psa 118:6; Heb 13:6; Rev 2:10).
5. Therefore, while others may turn from the truth, we must remain faithful to it “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness.”
Conclusion:
Kareem Abdul Jabar Several years ago Roy Firestone interviewed the legendary basketball player Kareem Abdul Jabar. During the interview, Firestone Asked Jabar if there was one coach that he had during his career that influenced him the most. Immediately, Jabar answered, “Yes, John Wooten of UCLA.” Firestone then asked him what it was that made him so special. Kareem’s answer is worth noting. He said, “He was an ardent student and teacher of the fundamentals of basketball.” He then went on to tell the story of how on the very first day of practice, Coach Wooten taught the whole team how to put on their socks so as to never get a blister, and how to tie their shoes so that they will never come untied. Now that is basic!
There are many things we would hold up as the foundations of the faith which indeed are attacked. However, perhaps the most important foundation of our faith is the conviction that the Bible is the word of God. With out a solid belief that the Bible is the word of God, we will have a hard time accepting much else about God. If we move from the basic premise of Christianity, that the Bible is the inspired word of God, then kicking out the rest of the foundations from under our feet will be easy. It is from the Bible where we receive all that we believe about God.
Sources:
Wayne S. Walker, Indestructible Foundations, October 1, 2003, Vol.3, No.19; Faith and Facts, September 15, 2003, Vol.3, No 18, Series: Evidence for Faith, Spreading the Light In the North Country
Preached:
in charity through Christ, Ra ymo nd Wise ma n
Check here for
god and
related to
lord
Fastest
FTPS
anywhere,
Go FTP FREE