"When Will You Comfort Me?" (Ps 119:81-88)

(vs81-82) "My soul faints for your salvation, but I hope in your word. My eyes fail from searching your word, saying, 'When will you comfort me?"

I am desperate and in need (vs81-82).  He says, “When will You comfort me?” This is normal Christianity. We often need and don’t possess, we desire and must wait patiently, and we call up the Lord in hope. We don’t only pray to God, as if we’re satisfied in our requesting,  but we need an answer!  I need the good that He alone can do for me, and this DESPERATION is how we get things from Christ.  He helps the desperate, the poor in spirit, and the ones who can’t help themselves or be helped any other way (Is 66:1-2).

Secondly, we say, "When?" (vs83-84).  “When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?”   I’m still here, Oh God, needing what I’m requesting, so that I can function. I can’t walk in unbelief and unforgiveness; I need to know my reconciliation and the power that you give.  Recently, while pondering my fears and doubts, I was driven to me knees, buried myself in the word of God, and received an answer from 1 Pet 3:21, how baptism saves us, “not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”!  And, there it is!  I have a clean conscience and peace with God, NOT because of how I’ve been doing, but entirely because of Jesus Christ, rising from the dead, having satisfied God’s judgment against all that He determined to save.  I am safe, not because of me, but because of God’s Son, and therefore, reconciliation is real. I have sins in my past and problems in my future, but I have God on my side, for me, rather than against.  I got this through prayer, through asking over and over, until He gave me an answer in the scripture.   

Prayer is not positive thinking!  It receives supernatural power (Rom 15:13).

Finally, this desperation is not going away until I’m helped, so I will pray again (vs85-88).  He says, “All Your commandments are faithful; they persecute me wrongfully; Help me!  They almost made an end of me on earth, but I did not forsake Your precepts.  Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth”.  We can’t obey without grace, nor can we glorify a God who’s glory we cannot see.  Paul sought the Lord three times, until he received an answer, that His grace is sufficient, and this is what I need (2 Cor 12:8-9). I don’t need the problem solved, as far as the persecutor to change, etc, but I assuredly need power to endure it, to honor God with my chin up, and this, only You can give.

God’s grace isn’t immediate always; it may take time to pray, wait, and then receive (Luke 11:9-13).  But, knowing grace is SURE, we pray, we wait, and then we pray again. We don’t throw up our hands in unbelief saying, “It is no use”. We have no other option, so we continually knock, knowing that He promises to answer, even if He ignores us initially and for a long time.

There was a woman the Lord compared to a dog, and she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table”, and she got what she needed (Matt 15:21-28).  There were two blind men who followed Jesus crying out, “Son of David, have mercy on us”, but eventually, He stopped and said, “According to your faith, let it be to you”, so that God’s ignoring of us doesn’t mean that He DOESN’T hear (Matt 9:27-30). He will respond graciously.

Don’t be discouraged.  Don’t quit or be defeated.  Ask, seek, and knock.  It will be opened to you.  

“While I Wait For My God” (Ps 69:1-18)

Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Waiting on God requires patience, because you don't get what you want immediately (vs1-3). He says, “My eyes fail while I wait for my God”. We desire to be without sin, in heaven's bliss, and experiencing no more pain, but it is not God's way, not yet. Paul said, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you” (Phil 1:23-24).

We are patient, waiting on Him to give us the promises, because they are sure. We glorify God by faith, even as our Lord Jesus, who died for us under the curse of God. He waited upon the resurrection, relied upon the Father to save Him from torments, not by avoiding death, but by being enabled to die faithfully, believing God. Scripture says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2).

It glorifies God that we wait on Him as a Faithful Creator, and we show the beauty of humanity, even as the Man Christ Jesus who relied upon God as a Father and received the promises in full. Do not fear that things aren't the way you want them! Don't lose hope because of sin and sinners. God is faithful, look to Him as Christ did, and the grace that kept Him will keep you! He died to earn it for you, and it is powerful enough to keep you, and then reward you in the end.

Secondly, faithfulness to Christ will cause you harm, and you, like our Savior, will be hated for serving God (vs4-12). He said, “Those who the me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully; thought I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it”, and, “Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother's children; because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproached You have fallen on me”. You'd think that holiness would breed peace, but the more you honor Him, the more adversity you will endure, as people are offended by your goodness and made guilty by your loving example. He says again, “When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, that became my reproach”. You also mean people well, consecrating yourself to God for their benefit, and yet, like Christ, the more you do good, the more they hate you, speak against you, and seek to overthrow your soul.

Christ was hated because He loved and honored God. He went into the temple and cleansed it with a whip, not because He is mean and cruel, but because God's house is the house of prayer, the place where God is glorified in grace and sinners are helped in our need. He said, “Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a den of thieves!” (Mark 11:17). He demanded that men make no religion of exploitation, that people do not use God to exalt themselves and thereby destroy others. It was zeal that made Him faithful, but this exposed the hypocrites, and they chose murdering Him over surrender. It says, “And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching” (Mark 11:18).

They'd rather silence the Light than yield and serve, but don't let man's hatred stop you from obeying God zealously. It is right to love holiness, to preach grace, and to stand for everything God says. We are charitable, non-argumentative, and humble with our knowledge, but we don't compromise God's word and our plain convictions to appease those people who are really angry at God. He said, “the reproaches of those who reproach You fell on me”. We'd rather be hated by man and depend on Christ, even as He bore man's hatred to God, relied on Him, and rose again victorious. Let zeal eat you up, and if people don't like it, let God be your comfort and peace!

Finally, we are in real need, because it isn't easy (vs13-18). He said, “Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink; let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters... And do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble; hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of my enemies”. Jesus had no walk in the park putting away sins, but He suffered the wrath of God by the strength that God gave Him, depending on the Father and crying out continually. This is par for the course! You and I have fears, trials, and torments to endure, and yet we have God who answers prayer and saves His people. He is to be turned to in our distresses, and we're never to think trouble is greater than God. He has said, “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more”, and we believe Him (Rom 5:20). And, where grief and trouble abounds, there is grace abundant to meet our need. Your situation isn't too desperate for God, but the situation must bring us to Him, if we are wise.

You haven't been saved to live on Easy Street, but the God of glory is your answer. You and I are not by ourselves, alone, and without help. So, when things get hotter than you expected and the way seems to be up steep hills and against the wind, remember, do what Jesus did: pray, lean on God, openly acknowledge your griefs and foes, and God will do the same thing for you that He did for Christ, which is save, keep you persevering, and then reward you eventually. The enemies will never win against anyone who believes God. They will hurt, and the floods will come up to the neck, but the God who saved Christ will assuredly save you!

“I Am Not Worthy” (Gen 32:1-28)

Overcoming Fears

(vs9-12) Then Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. "For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’" There are six important truths from Gen 32, which deal with obtaining the promises of God and overcoming our fears. We have fears, inadequacies, and weakness. The only hope is the blessing that Christ gives, so we believe on Him and receive His grace. We do so, even though He makes us wait and humbles us, even though we are unworthy. We may be better than men, true, and improved, but we are never WORTHY of what we get meritoriously, as if we EARNED the grace that chose us in the beginning. Jacob said, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant” (Gen 32:10). Election means UNWORTHY all the way through. We must be alone with God- “Then Jacob was left alone” (Gen 32:24). We can't depend on the preacher, hearsay, or put any confidence in men. We must depend on the gospel of Jesus Christ alone and for ourselves. We cannot believe other men, but by men, we must actually believe and follow Him. Until the soul LEANS on Christ, the soul can't be blessed This battle is long, arduous, and hard- “a Man wrested with him until the breaking of the day” (Gen 32:24). This isn't a quick strike; it humbles the soul to the dust, empties us of self, and then GRACES us generously through faith. We BELIEVE God in spite of the nothingness of self, and we get the miraculous & eternal. The need is desperate, and it will be met as such. Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” (Gen 32:26). If you and I want Christ, then we'll trust Him. We'll believe in spite of unworthiness, in spite of quietness from God, and amidst the most gruelings battles to overcome because we have no other choice, and He's GIVEN us hope in Christ. We'll believe that we're saved by grace, that we'll make it by faith, and that we'll be blessed in the end The one who wants the blessing is Jacob, the one who takes it by force, and now, he'll be called blessed. “He said to him, What is your name? He said, Jacob” (Gen 32:27). This name was given because of his ambition. Now, he's got the blessings. He has assurance, etc. God's given him his hearts ambition. We prevail with God and get from Him the eternal and miraculous. The Angel said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Gen 32:28). We have God given power to get the most important thing in eternity, the blessing.

Bearing Fruit with Patience (Luke 8:1-15)

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (vs15).

We must wait on the God who saved us to bring more fruit in our lives, serving Him from what we have, hearing and receiving His word.

First, we can only provide for the Lord from our substance, giving from what we have. We read, “And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance” (Luke 8:3). He blesses us, we see it, and then we bless Him back tangibly.

Giving is the proof of love, proving the sincerity of the heart, that it is real and not pretend. He says, “For if there first be a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Cor 8:12).

If you have been blessed with life eternal, then give from what you have, starting with yourself, and give tangibly to His cause.

Secondly, hear the Son. He has the words of life eternal, and all who believe on Him (for faith comes by hearing) shall be saved. He says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (vs8). This Teacher has truth, He backed it with His blood, and He is come from heaven to teach us eternal realities, delivering us from death and God's wrath. He says, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:23-24). You and I must hear this Prophet, or we must pay the price.

Thirdly, if we'll bring fruit to perfection and truly be saved, we will need patience. Our Lord says, “But the ones that fell on good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). This good and noble heart believes God and receives GRACE to cover every sin. The issue with faith (for everyone believes in something) is the object (James 2:19). The object of our faith is the sin-conquering, grace giving God, that though we have failed, though we are attacked, and though we are weak and helpless, He will be with us. Micah 7 says, “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (vs8). We believe in forgiveness, so we bring forth love. We believe His power, so we overcome sin. We believe His faithfulness, so when all appears lost, we hope in God.

Patience is REQUIRED because we can't do anything but wait on God, and He promises to bless all who wait on Him. He says, “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18). He will not forsake the helpless soul that believes on Him for salvation and waits for Him to do it.

Abraham and Sarah WAITED 25 years for Isaac. Isaac waited 20 years to have Jacob and Esau. And, we must wait to go to heaven, wait to grow, wait for God to solve our problems, and wait on Him for peace. Ephesians 5 says, “wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord”, and, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her”, but He doesn't tell the husband to make the wife submit, except by love, and He doesn't tell the wife to make her husband love her, except by submission. By this hope in God, we are fruitful, and thereby evidence salvation. We don't flee to another hope, which is no hope at all. Like Peter, we say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

Patience and Preaching (Spurgeon; D. Pruitt)

Paitence

You look at the weather beaten sailor, the man who is at home on the sea. He has a bronzed face and mahogany colored flesh. He looks as tough as heart of oak, and as hardy as if he were made of iron. How did he become so inured to hardships, so able to breast the storm? He can go out to sea in any kind of weather; he has his sea legs on. How did he come to this strength? By doing business in great waters. He could not have become a hardy seaman by tarrying on shore. Now, trial works in the saints that spiritual hardihood which cannot be learned in ease. You may go to school forever, but you will not learn endurance there. You may color your cheek with paint, but you cannot give it that ingrained brown which comes of stormy seas and howling winds. Strong faith and brave patience come of trouble.

Charles Spurgeon

Two Songs and a Sermon
Pastor Darvin Pruitt

A comment was recently made to a member of our church that “all they ever do over there is sing a couple of songs and listen to a man preach.” What is inferred is that we do not attempt to minister to our generation, participate in public rallies, boycott alcohol and drugs, teach godliness, morality, and clean living. We do not participate with the rallies of religion because all their religious zeal is born in ignorance. Like Israel of old, “They being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” (Rom 10:3-4)

I do not encourage association or participate with blind leaders of the blind because both they who lead and those who follow will both fall into the ditch. I have no power to give life – I have no power to create – I have no power to convict or convert. We preach Christ who alone can reform, renew, restore, and reconcile to God. Being established in Christ we are not tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive: But SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE that we may grow up into Him, in all things, which is the head of the body. (Ephesians 4: 14-15)

I know that outward shows and rallies of religion please men, But it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1Corinthians 1:21)

Look Again (Jonah 2:4)

“Then I said, I am cast out of your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.”

The temple of Christ-crucified is where we look when His presence is gone. When we have sinned, and the guilt is upon us, the shame too, then we believe on Jesus Christ in the absence of comfort; we believe because it is true, being not ashamed of the gospel, though sin has wrecked my hopes in self and stolen comforts and joy - (Is 57:17-18) “For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on forwardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.”

Sin is a beast that makes me regret my decisions, and yet Christ is a Rock that is sure to hold the guilty. Be I as vile as David and Bathsheba, Solomon and his idols, Lot and his fornication with his daughters, or Paul going to the Jews when he’d been sent to the Gentiles, either way, believing on Christ (coming to Him by faith) is going to produce in me what He promised. If you want Christ in His glory for who He is, He says, “Come and see”, and you shall find (John 1:38-39).

I didn’t say, “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”, but He did, and having said thus, though I may be as evil and rebellious as Jonah, just as sure as He is God and faithful to His Word, I shall be saved as His word says (Matt 11:28).

I might not enjoy comforts now, but comfort is NOT the course of the Christian – “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporary; but the things which are not seen are eternal (Acts 9:16; II Cor 4:17-18). Comfort comes as promised, but we receive the joy of believing after faith confesses Christ for all, seeing salvation in Him, for believers.

God is great in His work, so when He humbles us, then we look for Him to lift us up. He says, “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:9-10). When we cannot read, pray, and do the things that we should, rather than giving up in despair, etc, look again to the shed blood of Christ for power to do good. He has given the door.