Introduction: Where can I go, when my heart is overwhelmed? What can we do, when we get bad news? How about when you get down? David gives us hope, which comes from our Lord in times of trouble.

1. When you need RELIEF! (Psa 61:1, 2)

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed.”

2. When we need a ROCK! (Psalm 61:2)

“…..I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

3. When we need a REFUGE! (Psalm 61:3)

“3For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.”

4. When we need a REST! (Psalm 61:4)

“I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.”

5. When we need to REMEMBER! (Psalm 61:5, 6)

“5For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. 6Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.”

6. When we need to REJOICE! (Psalm 61:7, 8)

“He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. 8So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.”

7. When we need RESOURCES! (Psalm 61:8)

“So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.”

Conclusion: 

Do you need a ROCK?
RELIEF? REFUGE? REST?
REMEMBRANCE? REJOICE? RESOURCES?

Look to Jesus! Trust in Jesus!! Call upon Jesus!!!

He is our “ROCK.”

1. First, check out the five (5) REASONS we can have CONFIDENCE in our God! (Psalm 31:1-5)

” In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. 2Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. 4Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. 5Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.”

• Reason #1. The Lord is My DELIVERER! (v. 1)
• Reason #2. The Lord is My ROCK! (v. 2)
• Reason #3. The Lord is My FORTRESS! (v. 3)
• Reason #4. The Lord is My STRENGTH! (v. 4)
• Reason #5. The Lord is My REDEEMER! (v. 5)

2. Second, check out the five (5) VALLEYS in life we face! (Psalm 31:9-13)

“9Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 11I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. 12I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. 13For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.”

• VALLEYS of TROUBLE (v. 9)
• VALLEYS of GRIEF (v. 10)
• VALLEYS of REPROACH (v. 11)
• VALLEYS of BROKENESS (v. 12)
• VALLEYS of FEAR (v. 13)

3. Third, check out the three (3) WAYS we can TRUST our LORD! (Psalm 31:15-18)

“15My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake. 17Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. 18Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”

• We need to Acknowledge our life is in HIS HANDS! (v. 15)
• We need to ask our LORD for His FAVOR! (v. 16)
• We need to appeal to our LORD for BOLDNESS! (vv. 17, 18)

4. Fourth, check out the seven (7) BLESSINGS for THANKING God! (Psalm 31:19-24)

“9Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 21Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. 22For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. 23O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”

• THANK JESUS for His GOODNESS! (v. 19)
• THANK JESUS for His PRESENCE! (v. 20)
• THANK JESUS for His KINDNESS! (v. 21)
• THANK JESUS for His CARE! (v. 22)
• THANK JESUS for His PRESERVATION! (v. 23)
• THANK JESUS for His STRENGTH! (v. 24)

Introduction: Have you ever thought this……”Why do the wicked seem to prosper?” One of the wisest men on the earth, Solomon writes about this subject. He discusses an “Age old PROBLEM,” and then “A Brand New PROMISE.”

I know what you are thinking. Why is it that I take one step forward and two steps backward? Maybe you are thinking… “You know, I am  serving the God of the Bible but can never get Ahead”! There is a song that was written a number of years ago with the title “Farther Along.”

William Buel Stevens wrote that song. He was born in 1862 in the Lawnridge community of Scotland County Missouri, and became a CHRISTian and a minister of the gospel. Through some adverse circumstances that his dad and family experienced, including all of his children dying before him, he penned the words to this song.

Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder,

Why it should be thus all the day long;

While there are others living about us,

[Refrain]

Farther along we’ll know all about it,

Farther along we’ll understand why;

Cheer up, don’t worry, live in the sunshine,

We’ll understand it all by and by.

1. There is an “AGE – OLD PROBLEM”! (Eccl 8:10-12)

“And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity. 11Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

When death has come and taken our loved ones,

It leaves our home so lonely and drear;

Then do we wonder why others prosper,

Farther along we’ll know all about it,

Farther along we’ll understand why;

Cheer up, don’t worry, live in the sunshine,

We’ll understand it all by and by.”

2. There is “A BRAND New PROMISE”! (Eccl 8:12-14)

“12Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.”

Faithful till death said our loving Master,

A few more days to labor and wait;

Toils of the road will then seem as nothing,

Farther along we’ll know all about it,

Farther along we’ll understand why;

Cheer up, don’t worry, live in the sunshine,

We’ll understand it all by and by.

When we see Jesus coming in glory,

When He comes from His home in the sky;

Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion,

We’ll understand it all by and by.

Farther along we’ll know all about it,

Farther along we’ll understand why;

Cheer up, don’t worry, live in the sunshine,

We’ll understand it all by and by.

Introduction: Little “COMPROMISES” bring about Big “CONSEQUENCES”! Pharaoh is a picture of the devil! Moses is a picture of a CHRISTian who desires to be in the “Will of God”? Do you love His will for your life? Are you willing to do anything to stay in God’s will? Are you willing to forsake anyone or anything in order to be pleasing to our Lord Jesus? The Israelites had been in bondage in the land of Egypt for 430 long years. However, God raised up a man named Moses to deliver them out of slavery. Yet, as usual, there were obstacles along the way. The enemy is subtle. His plans and schemes are traps to keep us from serving the Lord! “LET MY PEOPLE GO that they may SERVE ME!”

1. INDULGENCES! (Exo 8:25)

“5And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.”

Through a series of plagues sent by the hand of God, Pharaoh was willing to COMPROMISE and tried to get Moses to do the same. Go. But stay in the land.

PARTIAL OBEDIENCE is DISOBEDIENCE!!!

2. INDIFFERENCES! (Exo 8:28)

“Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.”

Just do not go very far! Go, but do not fully obey.

3. INFLUENCES! (Exo 10:11-26)

“Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence.”

“24And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.”

The devil says…..
You go. But do not take your family! It is alright for you to get religious, but let your children (grandchildren) stay.

Conclusion: What was Moses’ response to this subtle temptation from Satan? Did he give in? Did he say, “Oh well, there is no use fighting this Pharaoh? I’m getting tired. I better save my life.” No. Rather, he said,

“And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. 26Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.”

***Lesson***
We must come to Jesus on His terms!
If we want to really follow Jesus Christ, we must do so on His terms!!

Introduction: Is there a difference in the “Chastisement of God and His Wrath”? Let’s see.

1. What about God’s CHASTISEMENT? (Heb 12:5-11)

“And have ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

The word “chastisement” is παιδεία,(pahee-di’-ah), which means discipline; training and education of children, hence: instruction; chastisement, correction.

The word “rebuked” is ἐλέγχω, (el-eng’-kho), which means reprove, rebuke, discipline, I expose, show to be guilty.

Notice whom the Lord “loves” agape, He disciplines. This indicates these are they who have a relationship with God. 

The word “scourge” is μαστιγόω, (mas-tig-o’-o), which means to flog, scourge, the victim being strapped to a pole or frame; met: I chastise.

According to the writer, this means every child of God is disciplined in love.

The word “endureth” is ὑπομένω, (hoop-om-en’-o), which means to remain behind, I stand my ground, show endurance, I endure, bear up against, persevere.

Next, the writer identifies how earthly fathers discipline their children for their good, so likewise our Heavenly Father does the same.

The word “partakers” is μέτοχος, which means sharing in, a sharer, partner, associate. In other words, our Lord wants us to be partners in His plan for holiness, thus causing others to see Jesus in us.

The word “bastards” is νόθος, which means illegitimate, base-born. In other words, if we are without discipline or chastisement, then it means we are not children of God. A proof that you are His child is His correction.

2. What is the WRATH of God? (1Thess 1:9-10, 5:9)

“9For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The “wrath” in these passages is ὀργή, (or-gay’), which means anger, wrath, passion; punishment, vengeance.

Obviously, this wrath is going to be poured out on those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior. God does not have “vengeance” on His children; that is what Paul is saying. However, according to the other passage in Hebrews 12, it becomes clear, the Lord corrects His children in love.

Conclusion:  In closing, there is a big difference between the words “RETRIBUTIVE” and “REMEDIAL.” The former is punishment for evil. The latter is divine chastisement for well-being. Now that we have seen both the WRATH of God and the CHASTISEMENT of God, which would you say is applicable to you?

Hopefully, this explains our relationship with our Loving Heavenly Father as His children.

1. Do you know the REAL ENEMY? (2Cor 10:3)

“3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.”

Did you notice “Spiritual wars” are not flesh and blood battles?

Simply put, these attacks are unleashed in an invisible world with demonically controlled angels.

2. Do you know your WEAPONS against the REAL ENEMY? (2Cor 10:4)

“4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.)”

Just as one would not dare attempt to fight a fierce military force like China with a water pistol, our artillery against a disembodied- evil army is not conventional weaponry. But why is it that we try to fight these battles with carnal guns?

Do you need help right now from heaven because of the onslaughts of Satan?

3. Do you know the MIGHTY POWER of JESUS CHRIST? (2Cor 10:4, 5)

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

The word “strongholds” is ὀχύρωμα, (okh-oo’-ro-mah), which means a fortress, strong defense, stronghold.

The words “pulling down” is καθαίρεσις. (kath ah’-ee-res-is,) which means taking down, razing, destroying.

The word “taking captivity” is αἰχμαλωτίζω (aheekh-mal-o-tid’-zo), which means -I take captive (in war); I subdue, ensnare.

The word “imagination” is λογισμός, which means reasoning, thinking; a conception, device.

Introduction: Did you know there are only two (2) kinds of people in this world?

1.  Sinners who “know” they are sinners and need forgiveness.
2. Sinners who “don’t know” they are sinners and need forgiveness.

1. First, let’s see a SINNER who KNEW he was a sinner and needed forgiveness! (Luke 5:27)

“And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.”

Matthew, the tax collector, otherwise know as Levi, recognized Jesus was the real deal. Deep down inside, he knew he should TURN from his present lifestyle of pursuing money and greed, and TURN to following Jesus Christ who had a better way of life.

Have you discovered that?

Have you made that life long decision?

2. Secondly, let’s see SINNERS who did not recognize they were sinners and needed forgiveness! (Luke 5:30)

“29And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. 30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?”

Only self-righteous people like the Pharisees and scribes cannot see their own sin, but can see everybody else’s sin.

Jesus saw through their hypocrisy.

“13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

16Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 

24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”dgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.  (Matt 23:13-33)

3. Thirdly, let’s see A SINLESS Savior, Jesus Christ who came to call sinners to repentance and to experience forgiveness! (Luke 5:31,32)

“1And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Conclusion: Jesus made it clear. Only people who are physically sick need to go to the doctor for a cure. Likewise, people (everyone) who are spiritually sin-sick need a cure from the disease called sin. The remedy given by our Lord Jesus Christ was repentance from sin and faith in the sacrificial death and resurrection of the Lamb of God. This would be demonstrated by a godly sorrow for sin, which results in a change of direction. In other words, this involves a U TURN ….from sin and to Jesus. Consequently, when this occurs, good fruit will be evident. Where’s the fruit?

1. Jesus is in CONTROL of our STORMS! (Matt 14:22)

“22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.”

Did you notice Jesus sent the disciples in a direction where a storm would hit?
He knew about it before it hit.

2. Jesus will PRAY for us while we go THRU the STORMS! (Matt 14:23)

“23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”

3. Jesus will be WITH us while we are IN the STORMS! (Matt 14:25-27)

“24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

Conclusion: We can conclude these irreversible truths from this passage:
1. Jesus knows about your storm.
2. Storms have useful purposes.
3. Our Trust turns to Jesus in a storm.

1. By “DOING” what the Lord says to do! (Prov 3:1,2)

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.”

At first, this looks LEGALISTIC…Trying to keep God’s law? Are you crazy?

2. By “BELIEVING” what the Lord says! (Prov 3:5,6)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

It all boils down to a matter of TRUST! Can we put our FAITH and dependency upon our Lord or not? Of course this spells…I AM NOT IN CONTROL!

That’s the difficult part. Right? We want to be in control. That is where our SECURITY lies. However, just as a little baby trusts the loving arms of a mother, so must we trust in our Lord Jesus. Why not stop striving in the flesh and learn to rest in His loving arms?

3. By “RESPECTING” who the Lord is! (Prov 3:7)

“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”

The word “fear” is יָרֵא (yaw-ray’), which literally means to fear. Reverential awe is another way to say we “fear” the Lord.

4. By “HONORING” what the Lord has given to you! (Prov 3:9,10)

“9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

The word “honor” is כָּבַד (kaw-bad’), which means to be heavy, weighty, or burdensome.

The word “substance” is הוֹן, which means wealth, sufficiency.

5. By “LOVING” the Lord as His child! (Prov 3:11,12)

“11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

The word “chastening” is מוּסָר, which means discipline, chastening, correction. The equivalent New Testament passage is Heb 12:5-11.

This is proof that we are God’s children. Learn to kiss the rod of God’s correction. Does our Heavenly Father correct you when you need it? Do you resent being corrected? Are you hard-headed?

Conclusion: Contrary to our FEELINGS and FLESH, which wants it’s own way, the Lord instructs His children how to be HAPPY in a unhappy world.

Why not follow up on this devotion and start practicing these principles by the power of the Holy Spirit and see that this works.

Because when you look at it, you discover that Romans chapter eight begins with NO CONDEMNATION…. it ends with NO SEPARATION…. and in between is PLENTY of LIBERATION! See for yourself:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

1. If we live after the FLESH! (Rom 8:13)

“3For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Most people misquote Romans 8:1. Or should I say, do not read ALL of it. They say,

“1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

**This is true. However, read the last part of the verse.

“1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,…..who walk not after the FLESH, but after the SPIRIT.”

**The bottom line of Rom 8:1-8. Trying to please God by keeping the law – the “Flesh” – is enmity against God.

**The word “enmity” is ἔχθρα, : (ekh’-thrah), which means hostility, alienation.

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Rom 8:8)

2. If we live after the SPIRIT! (Rom 8:13)

“3For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

** The word “mortify” is θανατόω, than-at-o’-o, which means to put to death, subdue; pass: I am in danger of death, am dead to, am rid of, am parted from.

Conclusion: “LIBERATED LIVING” does not come by trying to live the CHRISTian life by the energy of the FLESH. Rather, SPIRIT-FILLED living is experienced by one continuous life from ABOVE made possible by the dethronement of the FLESH life (carnal thinking, acting, living) and enthronement of JESUS CHRIST by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.