Living through Life’s Disappointments by Trusting in God By Pastor Dan Kennedy © May 24, 2020 www.pastorkennedy.com It matters not if we are living through a pandemic, bearing the pain of trial, accident or sickness, having to find work or work from home, meeting at church or on our own…our eventual and certain Eternal meeting with God will not be by a written letter, over the internet, on the phone, by some text or social media message; it will be in person, Face to face. Understanding and confronting this reality is one reason why we choose to become a Christian and why we meet together for fellowship and instruction in the Scripture with just two or three, or in a full congregation of believers. What kind of person do we want to be while we live on this Earth? Where do we hope to be in Eternity? Who are we in God’s Eyes? Throughout the Old Testament two paths in life were specifically pointed out: · The Way of the Righteous · The way of the wicked What does a Righteous Person Look Like in God’s Eyes – from an Old Testament perspective? (This is also what an honorable Christian should live like!) Psalm 15 “1 Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? One who has an honorable reputation: 2 He whose walk is blameless and One who does the right thing (in God’s Eyes): who does what is righteous, One who doesn’t lie: who speaks the truth from his heart 3 and One who doesn’t slander: has no slander on his tongue, One who treats neighbors honorably: who does his neighbor no wrong and One who doesn’t demean others: casts no slur on his fellowman, One who doesn’t develop friendships with or take life’s advice from the vile: 4 who despises a vile man but One who respects the God-fearing: honors those who fear the Lord, One who is Trustworthy: who keeps his oath even when it hurts, One who is s Honorable in Business: 5 who lends his money without usury and One who isn’t persuaded to deviate from truth and justice: does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.” The first Psalm also gives us clarity regarding the Righteous and Wicked Psalm 1 1 Blessed is the man who does not · walk in the counsel of the wicked or · stand in the way of sinners or · sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. · 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, · which yields its fruit in season · and whose leaf does not wither. · Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. · 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, · nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. What does a wicked person Look Like in God’s Eyes? Psalm 50:16–21 “16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite My statutes or take My covenant on your lips? · 17 For you hate discipline, and · you cast My words behind you. · 18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and · you keep company with adulterers. · 19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil, and · your tongue frames deceit. · 20 You sit and speak against your brother; · you slander your own mother’s son. 21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.” Millennia before Jesus the Messiah came, people on earth were measured on how they lived – the Righteous and the wicked. Even today people tend to measure each other according to their own perception of “right and wrong.” Abraham’s faith (in God) was accounted to him as righteousness, and through him, those who were born into his household were chosen by God to be God’s People. God’s Nation. They were chosen to worship God [YHWH) alone as the one True God and to be a holy people, to live differently from all the other peoples in the world (Deut. 7:6). They were not to worship other gods as did the other nations and follow their vile practices; they were to obey God’s Laws. The good intentions of Abraham ancestor’s to obey God’s Laws often led to a willing heart, but their flesh was still weak. Those who loved God strove to obey God’s Commandments. Others just gave up and did not follow God’s Laws but lived according to their own deceitful and carnal hearts. [This eventually led to the destruction of Israel in 70 A.D.] Those who did not follow God’s Laws were condemned because of disobedience. Faith in God was a defining element for those who sought to sustain obedience to God’s Laws, but there was a faith of greater importance to come. (Rom. 3:21-26) The worship of the one True God and following God’s Laws kept the Jewish people together as “family” through the millennia before Christ came (known to us as the Old Testament – the “Old Covenant” of the Law). Prior to Christ’s coming God used the Law as a guardian, until, in the fullness of time God’s mystery of faith, Salvation and Redemption was revealed through God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:23–25 23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. The “New Covenant” [New Testament] was sealed by Jesus Blood (Heb. 9:6-28). His Sacrifice at the cross conquered of sin and death and brought those who believe in Him Redemption from the penalty of their sin. The crowning point was Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20; 1 Cor. 15) which confirms the reality of Eternal Life, the resurrection and judgment of all who die; and, the redemption for those who believe and have been transformed through His Salvation. What does a “Righteous Person” Look Like in God’s Eyes – from a New Testament perspective? It is revealed as those who experience Spiritual “New Birth.” (John 3:3,7; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:4; 8:11; 1 Peter 1:3,23; Gal. 2:20) Those who are transformed and Spiritually “Born Again” by the Holy Spirit become Children of God, through belief and Salvation in Jesus Christ – a mystery hidden for millennia until the fullness of time, for a reason. 1 Corinthians 2:7–8 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Without the crucifixion of God’s Sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ, there would not have been the payment for sin and Redemption of the believer’s souls before God. Personal faith in Christ offers the Gift of Eternal Life. Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 1:12–13 12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in (Christ).” Since the Old and New Testaments are One – the Old fulfilled by the New, the understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures is seamlessly blended together by God’s Holy Spirit, centered in “the Gospel of Jesus Christ” – a fulfillment of the O.T. prophecies for the Messiah. Those who are transformed through Spiritual New Birth can be deeply blessed, encouraged and instructed through meditation in the Old Testament (O.T.), while being freed from the O.T. legalism of the Law (e.g. the Levitical sacrificial systems…“the blood of bulls and calves”), which could never take away sin or bring Redemption from the guilt of sin, before God. Now we see clearly that the redemptive blood of Jesus brought forgiveness and cleansing once and for all through Jesus’s death – for those who have accepted, by faith, Christ’s cleansing for their personal sin. Hebrews 10:11–14 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Now let’s go back to the Old Testament Psalms again, to look into and learn from God’s deliverances for those who are struggling with Life’s Disappointments. Psalm 107 gives four universal needs and the hope found in God. · The Need for a contented, purposeful heart in this life and to find a secure Home wrapped together with an Eternal Hope while living in a non-permanent world. · The Need for the rebellious to find Hope beyond their own distress, bondage and rejection of God. · The Need for those overcome by sin to find freedom and the hope of Salvation and deliverance. · The Need for those who strive to be successful through hard work in this world, to realize that the goal of hard work and the accumulation of worldly assets can never provide security. Instead, security and Hope are only found in our relationship with God – a relationship well beyond the world’s flawed meaning of success and security; and, that relationship with God is secured through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 107 – A Psalm of Confidence in God, in Crying out to Him for His Deliverance Psalm 107 Psalm 107 closes with these words – with these we will begin: “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord.” Pray that we will be those who are wise and take heed to His Word today. May His Good Spirit open His Truth to our hearts, considering how great is the love of our Lord! An Introduction of Giving Thanks: An Encouragement for God’s Children to Recount God’s Deliverances (Ps. 107:1-3) 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say this— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. After this admonition to “Give Thanks”, Psalm 107 then describes four distressful life situations: LOST, BOUND, FOOLS and SUCCESSFUL FAILURES. Let’s peer into these one by one to see what God’s Spirit might teach us today. 1st Distressful Situation: LOST Lost: The Futileness of Purposeless Wandering (Ps. 107:4-9) 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. We all desire to have a purposeful “Place” in life, where we “belong”, bring meaning to the world, and in which we can feel accomplished. We also look for a physical dwelling in which we can feel at peace with some sense of security; a space in which we can live and call our home. We might think that if we move into the right town, neighborhood and find the right place to live, with the right job, that we will be happy. Unfortunately, anywhere that anyone lives, and wherever one works – even in their ultimate “dream job,” or “dream home,” everything always has its own natural limitations and downsides! Down deep we all know that true happiness does not naturally come to those who simply have what they want! The Apostle Paul lets us know of something far greater than personal accomplishment or physical location! The problem lies with the “contentment factor.” Personal fulfillment and satisfaction can only be realized when one learns that elusive but achievable quality embodied in spiritual contentment. Philippians 4 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. What was the Character Quality that Paul learned? - Contentment “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” What was the Secret Resource of Paul’s ability to learn this? – Christ “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Perhaps current, variable circumstances can be a pertinent reminder to our seeking daily Christ’s strength in moving forward. This call of faith dependence on Christ actually helps deepen our growth in spiritual contentment. Being freshly aware of His Presence alongside us in our situations and our need of His empowerment to be sustained, gives us a resting place for our naturally distressed, anxious minds. The pressure of outcomes become daily yielded to God’s Hand and His timing, freeing us to experience contentment in the midst of our unsolved situations…a God given miracle that encourages fellow believers and baffles non-believing onlookers! Let’s be purposeful in following Paul’s secret of belonging - finding “heart contentment” trusting Christ’s strength to help us “learn to be content in whatever state I am.” This will free us from purposeless, lost wanderings. 2nd Distressful Situation: BOUND BOUND – Reaping from Intentional Rebellion against God (Ps. 107:10-16) 10 Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. 12 So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. 15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. They Rebelled against God and Spurned the Counsel of the Most High · They Received the Outcome that is brought from their Self-Inflicted Rebellion · They Fell Down with None to Help o There is no lasting help when one rejects God and finds hope only in themselves. · They Cried out to the Lord in their Trouble o God hears the cry of the troubled heart who turns to Him · They were Delivered from their Distress and Bondage · The bondage thought unbreakable was Broken by the Power of God! Unfortunately, many of the distresses in life have been originated by our own rebellious nature – when we decide to ignore or go against what we know to be right (before God). Suddenly, we wake up in a nightmare. We are locked in circumstances that spiral out of our control even though we thought that we had a tight grasp on life! We become so desperate that we think nothing can help – the doors of our “prison” are solid, unbreakable bronze, and the iron bars are unbendable – we cannot get out. When we realize the desperation of our situation and that we are doomed, we should turn again to the One, from whose way we rebelled. The God of all creation delights in the impossible! He responds when we repent and call on His Salvation in faith. Christ Redeems those who cry out to Him, by giving the heart of repentance and faith cleansing and forgiveness from rebellion and deliverance from the darkness that has so engulfed them. 3rd Distressful Situation: FOOLS Fools: The Destructiveness of Abusive Iniquities (Ps. 107:17-22) 17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. 18 They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. All of us know personally the destructive path that sin brings, because we are all sinners! Those who continue to reject an accountability and relationship with God are propelled into gross depravity with the callousness that comes because of degenerative spiritual blindness. Sin leads into the dark hole of perversion and destruction, bringing God’s discipline and wrath, unless there is repentance and deliverance. Romans 1 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith,5as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things…. May the Lord give us a heart, and power by His Holy Spirit, to repent from sin and return to God, so we can be delivered from the strangling deception and destruction of sin. Christ Redeems those who cry to Him! 4th Distressful Situation: SUCCESSFUL FAILURES Successful Failures: Self-Initiative’s Eventual Tragedies (Ps. 107:23-32) 23 Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. Everybody likes being successful but being successful in the eyes of the world can never give us security. "Success" in itself is temporary under every circumstance, because we all die! If we give ourselves only to "success" we will, one day, be ultimately extremely disappointed. God is the One to whom we can call in the midst of trouble and our trust in Him is our ultimate Security. The mariners identified in verses 23-32 had obviously been successful. They had probably sailed from one port to another with bounty and substantial benefit. With each voyage they must have gained new trade routes, more valuable cargo and the hope of having greater wealth and becoming more impressive to those who knew them best. But then a horrific storm changed the course of their lives. “He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end.” Only those who have sailed on viciously stormy seas can truly relate, feel and understand. These tough sailors were scared to death. They knew they could lose everything including their lives. So, they did what each person does when shaken to the core of their being and facing the reality of death: they cried out to God. And God heard them. God gives us the very gifts which make us successful, should we not then yield our gifts, in return, to Him and successfully obtain benefits that are eternal? Colossians 3 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 1 Peter 1 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Christ Redeems those who cry to Him when they see the futility of their own achievements and are faced with the absolute destruction of all they had hoped would succeed. Let’s Review the Four Types of Distress that Need Redemption · Lost: Distress for those needing a “place” in life, including their struggle for security and safety in finding a space in which to live – their need for Redemption! (Ps. 107:4-9) Should our greatest goal in life be to have an amazing job, admiring friends and abundant assets? What example did the apostle Paul give us to counter purposeless wanderings? How can “contentment in whatever state I am” become our pursuit? “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Who is the Resource for accomplishing this coveted quality? “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” · Bound: Distress for those who rebelled and spurned instruction given to them by God’s Holy Spirit and the warnings given in the Scripture – their need for Redemption! (Ps. 107:10-16) Should we stubbornly live life “my” way, in rebellion against God? What will this look like when we stand before The Eternal Judge who calls us to account for our life? · Fools: Distress for those who found themselves being destroyed by yielding to the pleasures of sin (with its addictions and corruptions) – their need for Redemption! (Ps. 107:17-22; Romans 1) Being someone enjoying all the temporary pleasures – only to then find oneself in the ravages of debased sin with no way out? Sin leads into the dark hole of perversion and destruction, bringing God’s discipline and wrath, unless there is repentance and deliverance. · Successful Failures: Distress for those whose goal and purpose in life is to merely become successful, without the acknowledgement of God in their life – their need for Redemption! (Ps. 107:23-32) What happens when someone is hugely successful in the eyes of the world, but a failure in God’s eyes? Luke 12:16–21 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” "Success" in itself is temporary under every circumstance, because we all die! If we give ourselves only to "success" we will, one day, be ultimately, extremely disappointed. If we are going to live in heaven with God for eternity, after this short life is past, would it not be wise to consider what He deems to be worthwhile and to do all we can to establish a healthy relationship with God, live a life pleasing to Him and build His Eternal Kingdom? If we are bound in destructive situations, we should call on Christ in repentance for forgiveness and for His Redemption for our daily life! May what we do, where we go, and who we are daily, be for His glory! “Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord.” Psalm 107:8, 9, 43

Living through Life’s Disappointments

by Trusting in God

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

www.pastorkennedy.com

It matters not if we are living through a pandemic, bearing the pain of trial, accident or sickness, having to find work or work from home, meeting at church or on our own…our eventual and certain Eternal meeting with God will not be by a written letter, over the internet, on the phone, by some text or social media message; it will be in person, Face to face.

Understanding and confronting this reality is one reason why we choose to become a Christian and why we meet together for fellowship and instruction in the Scripture with just two or three, or in a full congregation of believers.

What kind of person do we want to be while we live on this Earth?

Where do we hope to be in Eternity?

Who are we in God’s Eyes?

Throughout the Old Testament two paths in life were specifically pointed out:

· The Way of the Righteous

· The way of the wicked

What does a Righteous Person Look Like in God’s Eyes – from an Old Testament perspective? (This is also what an honorable Christian should live like!)

Psalm 15

“1 Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?

Who may live on your holy hill?

• One who has an honorable reputation: 2 He whose walk is blameless and
• One who does the right thing (in God’s Eyes): who does what is righteous,
• One who doesn’t lie: who speaks the truth from his heart 3 and
• One who doesn’t slander: has no slander on his tongue,
• One who treats neighbors honorably: who does his neighbor no wrong and
• One who doesn’t demean others: casts no slur on his fellowman,
• One who doesn’t develop friendships with or take life’s advice from the vile: 4 who despises a vile man but
• One who respects the God-fearing: honors those who fear the Lord,
• One who is Trustworthy: who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
• One who is s Honorable in Business: 5 who lends his money without usury and
• One who isn’t persuaded to deviate from truth and justice: does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things will never be shaken.”

The first Psalm also gives us clarity regarding the Righteous and Wicked

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man who does not

· walk in the counsel of the wicked or

· stand in the way of sinners or

· sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

· 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

· which yields its fruit in season

· and whose leaf does not wither.

· Whatever he does prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

· 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

· nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

What does a wicked person Look Like in God’s Eyes?

Psalm 50:16–21

“16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite My statutes or take My covenant on your lips?

· 17 For you hate discipline, and

· you cast My words behind you.

· 18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and

· you keep company with adulterers.

· 19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil, and

· your tongue frames deceit.

· 20 You sit and speak against your brother;

· you slander your own mother’s son.

21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself.

But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.”

Millennia before Jesus the Messiah came, people on earth were measured on how they lived – the Righteous and the wicked. Even today people tend to measure each other according to their own perception of “right and wrong.”

Abraham’s faith (in God) was accounted to him as righteousness, and through him, those who were born into his household were chosen by God to be God’s People. God’s Nation. They were chosen to worship God [YHWH) alone as the one True God and to be a holy people, to live differently from all the other peoples in the world (Deut. 7:6). They were not to worship other gods as did the other nations and follow their vile practices; they were to obey God’s Laws.

The good intentions of Abraham ancestor’s to obey God’s Laws often led to a willing heart, but their flesh was still weak. Those who loved God strove to obey God’s Commandments. Others just gave up and did not follow God’s Laws but lived according to their own deceitful and carnal hearts. [This eventually led to the destruction of Israel in 70 A.D.] Those who did not follow God’s Laws were condemned because of disobedience. Faith in God was a defining element for those who sought to sustain obedience to God’s Laws, but there was a faith of greater importance to come. (Rom. 3:21-26)

The worship of the one True God and following God’s Laws kept the Jewish people together as “family” through the millennia before Christ came (known to us as the Old Testament – the “Old Covenant” of the Law). Prior to Christ’s coming God used the Law as a guardian, until, in the fullness of time God’s mystery of faith, Salvation and Redemption was revealed through God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:23–25

23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

The “New Covenant” [New Testament] was sealed by Jesus Blood (Heb. 9:6-28). His Sacrifice at the cross conquered of sin and death and brought those who believe in Him Redemption from the penalty of their sin. The crowning point was Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20; 1 Cor. 15) which confirms the reality of Eternal Life, the resurrection and judgment of all who die; and, the redemption for those who believe and have been transformed through His Salvation.

What does a “Righteous Person” Look Like in God’s Eyes – from a New Testament perspective? It is revealed as those who experience Spiritual “New Birth.” (John 3:3,7; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:4; 8:11; 1 Peter 1:3,23; Gal. 2:20)

Those who are transformed and Spiritually “Born Again” by the Holy Spirit become Children of God, through belief and Salvation in Jesus Christ – a mystery hidden for millennia until the fullness of time, for a reason.

1 Corinthians 2:7–8

7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Without the crucifixion of God’s Sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ, there would not have been the payment for sin and Redemption of the believer’s souls before God. Personal faith in Christ offers the Gift of Eternal Life.

Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 1:12–13

12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Acts 26:18

“To open their eyes and

turn them from darkness to light, and

from the power of Satan to God,

so that they may receive forgiveness of sins

and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in (Christ).”

Since the Old and New Testaments are One – the Old fulfilled by the New, the understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures is seamlessly blended together by God’s Holy Spirit, centered in “the Gospel of Jesus Christ” – a fulfillment of the O.T. prophecies for the Messiah. Those who are transformed through Spiritual New Birth can be deeply blessed, encouraged and instructed through meditation in the Old Testament (O.T.), while being freed from the O.T. legalism of the Law (e.g. the Levitical sacrificial systems…“the blood of bulls and calves”), which could never take away sin or bring Redemption from the guilt of sin, before God. Now we see clearly that the redemptive blood of Jesus brought forgiveness and cleansing once and for all through Jesus’s death – for those who have accepted, by faith, Christ’s cleansing for their personal sin.

Hebrews 10:11–14

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Now let’s go back to the Old Testament Psalms again, to look into and learn from God’s deliverances for those who are struggling with Life’s Disappointments.

Psalm 107 gives four universal needs and the hope found in God.

· The Need for a contented, purposeful heart in this life and to find a secure Home wrapped together with an Eternal Hope while living in a non-permanent world.

· The Need for the rebellious to find Hope beyond their own distress, bondage and rejection of God.

· The Need for those overcome by sin to find freedom and the hope of Salvation and deliverance.

· The Need for those who strive to be successful through hard work in this world, to realize that the goal of hard work and the accumulation of worldly assets can never provide security. Instead, security and Hope are only found in our relationship with God – a relationship well beyond the world’s flawed meaning of success and security; and, that relationship with God is secured through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 107 – A Psalm of Confidence in God, in Crying out to Him for His Deliverance

Psalm 107

Psalm 107 closes with these words – with these we will begin:

“Whoever is wise, let him heed these things

and consider the great love of the Lord.”

Pray that we will be those who are wise and take heed to His Word today. May His Good Spirit open His Truth to our hearts, considering how great is the love of our Lord!

An Introduction of Giving Thanks:

An Encouragement for God’s Children to Recount God’s Deliverances (Ps. 107:1-3)

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say this—

those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

3 those he gathered from the lands,

from east and west, from north and south.

After this admonition to “Give Thanks”, Psalm 107 then describes four distressful life situations: LOST, BOUND, FOOLS and SUCCESSFUL FAILURES. Let’s peer into these one by one to see what God’s Spirit might teach us today.

1st Distressful Situation: LOST

Lost: The Futileness of Purposeless Wandering (Ps. 107:4-9)

4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,

finding no way to a city where they could settle.

5 They were hungry and thirsty,

and their lives ebbed away.

6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He led them by a straight way

to a city where they could settle.

8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for mankind,

9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

We all desire to have a purposeful “Place” in life, where we “belong”, bring meaning to the world, and in which we can feel accomplished. We also look for a physical dwelling in which we can feel at peace with some sense of security; a space in which we can live and call our home.

We might think that if we move into the right town, neighborhood and find the right place to live, with the right job, that we will be happy. Unfortunately, anywhere that anyone lives, and wherever one works – even in their ultimate “dream job,” or “dream home,” everything always has its own natural limitations and downsides! Down deep we all know that true happiness does not naturally come to those who simply have what they want!

The Apostle Paul lets us know of something far greater than personal accomplishment or physical location! The problem lies with the “contentment factor.” Personal fulfillment and satisfaction can only be realized when one learns that elusive but achievable quality embodied in spiritual contentment.

Philippians 4

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

What was the Character Quality that Paul learned? - Contentment

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

What was the Secret Resource of Paul’s ability to learn this? – Christ

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Perhaps current, variable circumstances can be a pertinent reminder to our seeking daily Christ’s strength in moving forward. This call of faith dependence on Christ actually helps deepen our growth in spiritual contentment. Being freshly aware of His Presence alongside us in our situations and our need of His empowerment to be sustained, gives us a resting place for our naturally distressed, anxious minds. The pressure of outcomes become daily yielded to God’s Hand and His timing, freeing us to experience contentment in the midst of our unsolved situations…a God given miracle that encourages fellow believers and baffles non-believing onlookers!

Let’s be purposeful in following Paul’s secret of belonging - finding “heart contentment” trusting Christ’s strength to help us “learn to be content in whatever state I am.” This will free us from purposeless, lost wanderings.

2nd Distressful Situation: BOUND

BOUND – Reaping from Intentional Rebellion against God (Ps. 107:10-16)

10 Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,

prisoners suffering in iron chains,

11 for they had rebelled against the words of God

and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;

they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom

and broke away their chains.

15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,

16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

They Rebelled against God and Spurned the Counsel of the Most High

· They Received the Outcome that is brought from their Self-Inflicted Rebellion

· They Fell Down with None to Help

o There is no lasting help when one rejects God and finds hope only in themselves.

· They Cried out to the Lord in their Trouble

o God hears the cry of the troubled heart who turns to Him

· They were Delivered from their Distress and Bondage

· The bondage thought unbreakable was Broken by the Power of God!

Unfortunately, many of the distresses in life have been originated by our own rebellious nature – when we decide to ignore or go against what we know to be right (before God). Suddenly, we wake up in a nightmare. We are locked in circumstances that spiral out of our control even though we thought that we had a tight grasp on life!

We become so desperate that we think nothing can help – the doors of our “prison” are solid, unbreakable bronze, and the iron bars are unbendable – we cannot get out. When we realize the desperation of our situation and that we are doomed, we should turn again to the One, from whose way we rebelled. The God of all creation delights in the impossible! He responds when we repent and call on His Salvation in faith. Christ Redeems those who cry out to Him, by giving the heart of repentance and faith cleansing and forgiveness from rebellion and deliverance from the darkness that has so engulfed them.

3rd Distressful Situation: FOOLS

Fools: The Destructiveness of Abusive Iniquities (Ps. 107:17-22)

17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways

and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

18 They loathed all food

and drew near the gates of death.

19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

20 He sent forth his word and healed them;

he rescued them from the grave.

21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men.

22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings

and tell of his works with songs of joy.

All of us know personally the destructive path that sin brings, because we are all sinners! Those who continue to reject an accountability and relationship with God are propelled into gross depravity with the callousness that comes because of degenerative spiritual blindness. Sin leads into the dark hole of perversion and destruction, bringing God’s discipline and wrath, unless there is repentance and deliverance.

Romans 1

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith,5as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things….

May the Lord give us a heart, and power by His Holy Spirit, to repent from sin and return to God, so we can be delivered from the strangling deception and destruction of sin. Christ Redeems those who cry to Him!

4th Distressful Situation: SUCCESSFUL FAILURES

Successful Failures: Self-Initiative’s Eventual Tragedies (Ps. 107:23-32)

23 Others went out on the sea in ships;

they were merchants on the mighty waters.

24 They saw the works of the Lord,

his wonderful deeds in the deep.

25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest

that lifted high the waves.

26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;

in their peril their courage melted away.

27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men;

they were at their wits’ end.

28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.

29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.

30 They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.

31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men.

32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people

and praise him in the council of the elders.

Everybody likes being successful but being successful in the eyes of the world can never give us security. "Success" in itself is temporary under every circumstance, because we all die! If we give ourselves only to "success" we will, one day, be ultimately extremely disappointed. God is the One to whom we can call in the midst of trouble and our trust in Him is our ultimate Security.

The mariners identified in verses 23-32 had obviously been successful. They had probably sailed from one port to another with bounty and substantial benefit. With each voyage they must have gained new trade routes, more valuable cargo and the hope of having greater wealth and becoming more impressive to those who knew them best. But then a horrific storm changed the course of their lives.

“He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end.”

Only those who have sailed on viciously stormy seas can truly relate, feel and understand. These tough sailors were scared to death. They knew they could lose everything including their lives. So, they did what each person does when shaken to the core of their being and facing the reality of death: they cried out to God.

And God heard them.

God gives us the very gifts which make us successful, should we not then yield our gifts, in return, to Him and successfully obtain benefits that are eternal?

Colossians 3

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

1 Peter 1

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Christ Redeems those who cry to Him when they see the futility of their own achievements and are faced with the absolute destruction of all they had hoped would succeed.

Let’s Review the Four Types of Distress that Need Redemption

· Lost: Distress for those needing a “place” in life, including their struggle for security and safety in finding a space in which to live – their need for Redemption! (Ps. 107:4-9)

• Should our greatest goal in life be to have an amazing job, admiring friends and abundant assets? What example did the apostle Paul give us to counter purposeless wanderings? How can “contentment in whatever state I am” become our pursuit?

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

• Who is the Resource for accomplishing this coveted quality?

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

· Bound: Distress for those who rebelled and spurned instruction given to them by God’s Holy Spirit and the warnings given in the Scripture – their need for Redemption! (Ps. 107:10-16)

• Should we stubbornly live life “my” way, in rebellion against God? What will this look like when we stand before The Eternal Judge who calls us to account for our life?

· Fools: Distress for those who found themselves being destroyed by yielding to the pleasures of sin (with its addictions and corruptions) – their need for Redemption! (Ps. 107:17-22; Romans 1)

• Being someone enjoying all the temporary pleasures – only to then find oneself in the ravages of debased sin with no way out?

• Sin leads into the dark hole of perversion and destruction, bringing God’s discipline and wrath, unless there is repentance and deliverance.

· Successful Failures: Distress for those whose goal and purpose in life is to merely become successful, without the acknowledgement of God in their life – their need for Redemption! (Ps. 107:23-32)

• What happens when someone is hugely successful in the eyes of the world, but a failure in God’s eyes?

Luke 12:16–21

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

• "Success" in itself is temporary under every circumstance, because we all die! If we give ourselves only to "success" we will, one day, be ultimately, extremely disappointed.

If we are going to live in heaven with God for eternity, after this short life is past, would it not be wise to consider what He deems to be worthwhile and to do all we can to establish a healthy relationship with God, live a life pleasing to Him and build His Eternal Kingdom?

If we are bound in destructive situations, we should call on Christ in repentance for forgiveness and for His Redemption for our daily life!

May what we do, where we go, and who we are daily, be for His glory!

“Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love,

for His wondrous works to the children of man!

For He satisfies the longing soul,

and the hungry soul He fills with good things.”

“Whoever is wise, let him heed these things

and consider the great love of the Lord.”

Psalm 107:8, 9, 43