Year 2 Day 149

Year 2 Day 149

Pray (AC-ts)

Read — Psalm 64:1-6

Message Alan Burke 

“First posted Year 1 Day 106 - 5 July 20”
There are millions across this world who live in constant fear. It’s not the fear of Covid-19 but that of a totalitarian regime, of the army or the police bursting through the doors of their homes all because they are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. For others it is the fear of rejection, abandonment, attack, torture that is constant, unceasing, that from a human perspective inescapable and insurmountable. For believers across this world, who live in countries like Iran, India, Egypt, Vietnam, China, North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, and the list goes on and on, they know what it is to fear. This psalm echoes their cry and of many believers thought the ages who likewise have lived in terror.

As it begins, it does so with the emphatic plea of David, ‘Hear me, O God’. He comes to the Lord in prayer appealing that his complaint would be heard, for he fears that those against him would take his life and he asks for protection, that the Lord himself would preserve him in what he faces (1). Praying that the Lord would ‘Hide’ him, from the secret schemes and pots of the wicked (2), as they conspire together, like they are preparing for war against him (3-6). From a human point of view, the psalmist has every reason to be consumed with anxiety and dread. I don’t know about you but if it was me facing what he was facing I’d likely be in pieces. We may not be facing the fear of a totalitarian regime, we may not have fear of the doors busting open, persecution, we may not as the psalmist fears the threat of the enemy (1), the conspiracy of the wicked the crowd of the evildoers (2), but there is something we learn that should be a comfort to us in what ever we face. 

What is that, well we wherever we are facing, what ever we have done if we know God in faith (Matt 21:22, Jam 1:6) through Jesus Christ, then we can come before him with confidence knowing that he hears our prayers. Whether it is a complaint, a lament, confession of sin, praise, supplication, adoration, we can confidently come before him. We also know that he hears us in what we ask (1 Jn 5:15). We may not receive all the things that we ask for but in the midst of it all, we can know that in all that we face we are forgiven though Christ Jesus (Heb 9:15-22) and that in all that we face, death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:38-39).

Secondly there are those who live as there are no consequences for their actions, they believe that the unseen things will go unseen, but know this, nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Heb 4:13). Do not fool yourself into thinking like those who plotted against David that no one sees, for God sees all. For those who live without fear of the consequences, fear of the Lord (4), one day all will have to stand and give account before the Lord (Rom 14:12). When that day happens they will receive the judgement that their sins deserve. The only escape from the wrath of God is through trusting in him, for the Lord is merciful to those who fear him through Jesus Christ (Lk 1:50). If you haven’t really turn to him, trust in him, trust in the Saviour and know that there is no condemnation through Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1)

Pray (ac-TS)

Sing 

WSC 
Q37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, (Heb. 12:23) and do immediately pass into glory; (2 Cor. 5:1,6,8, Phil. 1:23, Luke 23:43) and their bodies, being still united to Christ, (1 Thess. 4:14) do rest in their graves, (Isa. 57:2) till the resurrection. (Job 19:26–27)
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