Psalms

707 results found

Gold: A Gift Fit For a King

December 7, 2014 | Psalm 2 | christmas

Pastor Gary Combs began a three week Christmas sermon series entitled “The Three Gifts” with this message from Psalm 2 about the gift of gold. The three gifts the Magi brought to Jesus were very unusual gift to give to a baby. Yet, they are perfectly suited for One who is King, Mediator and Savior. The gift of gold is a gift fit for a king. This message shows how we can make Christ our King this Christmas.

“I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer” (Psalm 120:1 NLT)

December 1, 2014

Psalm 120 is the first of the fifteen “Psalms of Ascent,” that were read or sung by the Jewish worshipers as they climbed up to the Temple mount in Jerusalem. Today, worshipers still read these 15 psalms as they climb the 15 Southern Steps to the Temple mount. Psalm 120 begins with the appropriate place to take our troubles. Not to ourselves, to worry about them. Not to our friends, to complain. But to our God in prayer, who is able to help us. Perhaps this should always be our first step in worship. “Lord, I give You my troubles, now let me stand before You unburdened, so I may truly worship You.”

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105)

November 27, 2014

Why head out into the darkness without a light to shine the way? Every morning we face a new day. Perhaps we think that the experiences of the days behind us will inform our direction forward, but who knows what a new day holds? Only the Lord. Stop stumbling and groping through life, blindly facing another day. Let God’s Word light your path.

“Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions” (Psalm 119:18 NLT)

November 22, 2014

Psalm 119 is the longest in the Psalms. For those who remember “Bible drills,” it lies near the middle of the Bible. It is an acrostic poem based on the 22-letter Hebrew alphabet and a meditation on the Scriptures themselves. In this verse, the Psalmist prays that God would open his eyes to understand the “wonderful truths” of God’s Word. This should be the prayer that every believer prays before opening the Word, because it is not just any book, it is God’s book. And therefore, God’s illumination is needed. Do you pray for God’s help before reading God’s Word?

“Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless. With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes” (Psalm 108:12-13 NLT)

November 10, 2014

This psalm of David reveals his secret strategy for success in battle, namely, “God’s help.” We often attempt “mighty things” with human strategies and plans, only to be defeated. We ask God’s help, but don’t submit to God’s way. When we face our Goliaths, we often fail because we face him wearing Saul’s armor, rather than the Shepherd’s garb.

“Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough?” (Psalm 106:2 NLT)

November 6, 2014

The Psalmist’s questions beg the answer, “No one.” How can we number the glorious actions of our God? He is omnipotent and eternal. Who knows what He has done, is doing, or will do? A list of these miracles would needs be infinite too. And how can we ever praise Him adequately? Our lives are too brief and our lungs too small to worship Him long and loudly enough. Yet, in Jesus’ name, we will have eternity to try.

“I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs” (Psalm 101:1 NLT)

October 29, 2014

David understood something about God’s “love and justice.” He had learned both the loving mercy and the holy righteousness of God. Some today would view God with an “either/or” perspective. They “either” focus too much on God’s love, making Him a saccharine sweet, permissive push-over grandparent with a white beard (like Santa). “Or” they see an angry judge who is to blame for every war, disease, terrorist attack and natural disaster that befalls us. However, the Lord’s character is not simply “either/or,” but “both/and.” He is “both” full of love “and” holiness. The two traits are fully and equally His. Certainly the greatest revelation of God’s love and justice is seen in the cross of Christ. It was God’s great love that sent His Son and God’s great holiness that was satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice. At the cross we see God’s love and justice intersect.

The Habit of Personal Prayer

September 28, 2014 | Psalm 103 | discipleship, prayer

As we continue our sermon series – The 7 Habits of Growing Christians – Pastor Jonathan teaches 3 movements of prayer from the book of Psalms.

“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy” (Psalm 68:5 NLT)

September 24, 2014

I often heard my mother quote this psalm in prayer after my father died. She was only 31 years old when she found herself a widow raising four children alone. She called on God to keep His promise to be a Father to her fatherless children and a Defender, a Husband, to her. I think He heard her prayers. My life and calling are a testament to them.

“May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere” (Psalm 67:2 NLT)

September 23, 2014

This psalm was to be sung in the Temple accompanied by instruments. It is a prayer, asking God to make Himself known to people everywhere. This prayer is consistent with God’s will and it is being answered today, perhaps even in this generation. Jesus has commanded us to go to the nations and make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20) and He also said that when every nation has heard the gospel, the end would come (Matt 24:14). So, we pray this psalm to God, knowing that only He can save and make Himself known, yet also knowing that we are called to be His heralds, announcing the gospel to the nations, so that they may hear and be saved.