QUOTES FOR SEPT 6, 2026

 

NO FEAR

     We have been looking at Psalms 111 which is an acrostic psalm talking about the characteristics of God and then Psalm 112, which is our response to the truth we learn from Psalm 111.  Ezra who is the author of these two psalms had an objective.  He was using the Hebrew alphabet in two forms.  One, to teach the people how to learn the Hebrew language, and secondly, to also learn about their God who they really did not know.  They had just returned from being in captivity for 70 years in Babylon.  They did not know their own language, religion and culture.  Ezra chose this method to accomplish is aim and goals.

 

1.      They will have no fear of bad news.  We are not given a spirit of fear but love, power and a sound mind.  From Paul we learn that fear is a spirit and must be overcome with God’s love which as John puts in 1 John 4:18, casts it out.  Then fear is rendered powerless through God’s power and lastly it is neutered by a sound mind. 

 

a.      The righteous do not fear bad news because they know God is with them.  They trust him with all their heart, acknowledge Him, and let Him direct their path.  They know God will never leave or forsake them and all things work together for good even if the thing is not good.  Bad news does not shake them because they have the presence, power, peace and promises of God.

b.      The righteous always anchors themselves in the love, faith and hope of God.  Love never fails and so bad news causes no fear.  Angels are camping around the righteous.   God is directing our path.  No accusation, temptation or deception will work because we have the Bible, prayer, armor of God, anointing, power, authority, enablement and divine help so we do not have to fear bad news. 

 

2.      Their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  The righteous have a heart that is secure in God.  It has the rock, fortress, and refuge of the Lord.  Remember from the heart is where the issues of life comes.  The heart is where the treasure is.  When a heart belong to God the past has been forgiven, the present is a gift and the future is eternal.  The righteous heart is steadfast, loyal, faithful, committed, devoted, dedicated, and dependable.  The righteous have maturity, stability, resolve, a firmness, and are unwavering.

 

3.      They trust in the Lord.  Ezra wants his audience to trust the Lord.  Trust means a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone in our case the Lord.  Trust has so many benefits.  Delight, freedom, peace, joy, faith, love, grace and blessing.  Faith and trust are interchangeable.  God is working on your behalf and like a child you simply trust Him

 

a.      You have a firm conviction that even when things are bad it will turn out good.  The psalmist said sorrow is for a night but joy comes in the morning.  He also said, the mercies of God are new every morning great is the faithfulness of God.  A new day is a new start. 

b.      Moses trusted the Lord for 40 years.  Trust says I trust you God and the process.  You know what you are doing and in the end  you win

 

4.      Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear.   Mankind has three areas of basic needs.  Food shelter, clothing and transportation are the first.  The second need is safety and security and the last is self-esteem and actualization.  When these three needs are met we feel fulfilled.  When a heart belongs to God these needs are not only met but exceeded

 

a.      When we feel secure we have no fear.  Fear is caused by insecurity, feeling of being unloved, loss of power and control.  When you feel secure, empowered and in control you have no fear. 

b.      David when he found Goliath he could beat him.  He had already beaten a lion and bear and this

Experience, he also knew he was fighting Goliath in the power of God.  With God for us who can be against us.

 

5.       In the end they will look in triumph on their foes.  Ezra remind his audience and us that in the

               End we win.  At the end of the book the people of God are victorious.  Ezra says don’t lose hope           

               In, the middle of the battle.  You have to run the whole race, fight the whole battle, do the

               Whole, competition to win the tournament. 

 

a.      Did you know there are crowns given for those who finish the race as believers and Christians

 

1.      Crown of righteousness – Those love His coming.

2.      Incorruptible crown – Being saved.

3.      Crown of life – Endured testing, persecution and trials.

4.      Crown of glory – Those who carried the gospel.

5.      Crown of rejoicing – Given at the end for faithful service.

 

b.      There are of course the rewards given to the overcomer.  Some people asked what is in it for me.  You get eternal and abundant life, a declaration of being a good servant and a reward of resting in the Lord.  In the Lord you get peace, beauty, love, friendship and security.

 

WORD FOR YOU

 

Praised the Lord  

 

  The people of God are called to praise the Lord.  Remember when Jesus was coming into Jerusalem that day so long ago.  Two things were happening.  The people were praising the Lord and so were the children.  Jesus' opposition tried to get Jesus to silence the people and  His response was classic.  "If my people do not praise me, the rocks and stones will cry out."  Jesus also revealed that in children comes perfect praise.

     Praise is a natural response to what the Lord has done.  It is through His grace that we have been saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost.  God's grace enables us to be like Jesus and to fulfill our destiny.  The grace of God also enables us to work in difficult circumstances and actually have joy in those situations.  Today walk in the grace and joy of the Lord.  Let His joy be your strength. 

     The Psalmist declared in Psalm 117, that all nations will praise the Lord.  Every tribe, culture and nation has people who love and serve the Lord.  Today God is calling people from all over the world to serve Him.  In this Psalm two things are revealed about the Lord.  First, of all his truth endures forever.  What a great thought.  Truth will always be truth.  The world changes with the winds of change.  It swings as a pendulum on a clock but God's word is true.  The second truth, is that Lord loves us dearly.  God loves all people and He is no respector of person but He has a special view of His people.  When a person gives their life to Christ they are brand new.  The old has passed away and all things are becoming new.  This is all based in the Love of God.  So today walk in truth and love which are the Lord's.  Praise Him and thank Him for  He has done.   

You are not alone -

           The Lord reminds you today that you are not alone.  The Lord promises that He will never leave you alone.  Even when you do not see of evidence of His presence, the Lord is still there.  His promise is that He will never leave or forsake you.  The Lord is the Lord Almighty.  When the Lord spoke this reality it was to Abraham the Father of the faithful.  He reminded Abraham and us that there is nothing He cannot do.  When we walked by faith we will glory, majesty and power of the Lord. 

     The Lord has given us power, love and a sound mind so we can overcome the Spirit of fear.  The Lord has given 365 declaration that we never have to be fearful.  One for each day of the year.   When you put your trust in the Lord you will not fear the pestilence that may come night or day.  No weapon formed against you is going to prosper.  You will walk in victory when you walk with the Lord.

     The Lord is also the Lord Most High.  This was again revealed to Abraham.  You see when He called Abram who later became Abraham he lived in a city full of idols but God was faithful to pull Him away from that influence.  The Lord will be faithful to keep you in this day of evil and you put your trust in Him.  Do not be like Lot who pitched his tents near Sodom.  Later Lot had to be rescued from destruction in a supernatural way.  God does not want to have to rescue because of your sin or being influenced by the Sodom's of the world.  Come and be ye separate as the Lord.   Remember you are pilgrim passing through not a settler.  Walk with the Lord today. 

 

Be not Anxious

 

     It has been said that if we knew what we were anxious about that we would no longer be anxious.  Here is one truth for the child of God.  There is nothing to be afraid of.  The God of the universe knows you and loves you.  What is mindboggling is the fact that there are some 7 billion people who live on this planet.  They live as far north as Grise Fiord and as far south as Antarctica yet God know each one by name.  He knows the number of hairs on our heads and even knows how many cells our body has.

     The smallsst detail of your life the Lord is aware of.  When you are in those times of fear and anxiety to turn to the Lord.  In fact He command us to do that.  We are cast all our cares on the Lord for He cares for us.  Paul stated that we are not to be anxious about anything but through prayer and supplication we are to make our requests known to God.  The promise is that the peace of God will come to our hearts in that moment.  Do not keep things to yourself.  Do as the old song says, bring everything to Jesus.  He is the answer.  Andre Crouch said back in 1969 that Jesus was the answer for the world today, above Him there is no other Jesus is the way. 

     So today bring every anxious way to the Lord.  He will meet the need and minister HIs wonderful life into you.  You will see answers to things you never thought could be answred.  Every impasse, blockage, hindrance, blockage and road block shall be destroyed.  God is waiting to hear from you.  He wants to hear your request.  Yes he has 7 billion to lot after but remember He is God and so you can trust Him to supply every need.  Calm every fear and wipe away every tear.  Fear and anxiety may come to you in the midnight hour but the Lord's joy and strength will come in the morning.

One generation away

The Church of Jesus Christ is always just generation away from extinction.  For centuries the enemies of Christ have tried to destroy the church but we know that nothing can prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ.  The church will always have times of trials and tribulation but the promise is that they who know their God shall be strong and do exploits.  The Lord is looking for the next Gideon, Jeremiah, Judah or Deborah.  There is a next Esther waiting in the wings.  A child is being born and set aside for a time such as this.  The question are you desiring to be that person?

     Harold Varley wrote, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a fully consecrated person."  Do you want to be that person?  Is it your desire to be the next Billy Graham?  Have you thought about the impact you could make on your world?  You are actaully a champion for Jesus Crist if you want to be.  In every believer and Christian there is waiting a David to come out.  The Lord wants to make a slayer of every giant in the land.  Jesus said that we could ask anything in His name and we could have it.  What do you want from God?  What is your dream?     Ask it now in the name of Jesus.  The Apostle Paul took his world because he saw the risen Lord and took his message to the world.

     What is so amazing is that so many people are living below their pontential.  In Eph 3:20 is says that God can do exceedingly abundantly beyond what we are able to ask or imagine.  The problem is that we are not asking.  Prayer is the most powerful thing in the universe because God is standing behind it.  Remember nothing is impossible for God.  It is now time for you to ask God for this generation.  There are children, young people, young adults, young famileis, familes with teenagers, empty nesters and seniors waiting to be called out of darkness into the light.  Call them now.  Claim your promise, your heritage and legacy in the Lord.  Arise people of God and take you family, community and world for Jesus Christ.  Remember we are only one gernation away from extinction.

 

Do not waste today

 

     Today as in time in history there is a need for solid Bible teaching and study.  Paul said in his writings to Timothy that we are to study to show ourselves approved of God.  That means the Bible must be the standard for our faith and practice. Anyone who comes to you and tells you that the Bible is not God’s word or tries to get to read another book to learn about God except the Bible is of the devil.  Jesus said in the last days there will be many deceivers.  They will claim to know the path of truth or they themselves are the path, they are of the devil

 

     Jesus made it clear that He was the way, the truth and the life and that no man can come to the Father except through Him. Pater told his audience in Acts 4 that there is no other name given under heaven by which men can be saved.  Not Budda, Khrishna, Mohammad or any man or philosophy will save you.  So today believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.  Men will say that Jesus is not the way.  They will take his name in vain.  They will speak all manner of evil against Him but none of that matters because one day all mankind will stand before Him and give an account of their lives.  It is in that moment they will hang their heads in shame and hear those words, “Depart from me you worker of iniquity I never knew you.”  So well there is time come to the Lord or come back if you have wandered away.  This is your time to turn to the Lord.  Today is the day of salvation.  Remember the day you hear the gospel that is your day and opportunity to come to the Lord.  Don’t waste it or your day

 

How is God’s work progressed

 

     The work of the Lord is advanced by faith and love.  The Lord backs His work because of His great love.  In fact the believer is called to love.  This is not a wish, desire, it is a command.  Jesus said people would know that we are His disciples by the way that we love each other.  Love is the central motive to all we do as Christians.  If we do not love then the Father is not in us.  God is love.  It is His nature and character.  If we do not love, we produce and receive nothing of real value.  Love always comes from apure heart.  A heart that has been touched and possessed by God. 

    There are three characteristics of a pure life.  A pure heart, good conscience and a sincere faith.  These are foundational and are outgrowths of a spirit led and spirit filled life.  Never let any thing come between you and the Lord.  He is the one will keep you in these evil days.  Now some these days have departed from the faith and have become to follow vain talk and vain things.  They have allowed the beautiful message of the Christ to be crowded out by other things.  Things such as pride, possessions and pleasure.  These things seem good at the start but they are a trap of the devil to ensare the unsuspecting.  Solomon talked about young man who was met by an immoral women.  She promised him all kinds of things.  Solomon said that women was death and that young man was like a bull lead to the slaughter.  Do not be that person.  Be like Joseph and flee temptation as fast as you can. 

     Remember true faith is always accompanied by love, a pure heart, good conscience and a sincere faith.  You are called to this wonderful life.  Jesus said, He came to give us life and with abundance.  Lisa Bevere called this a lavish lifestyle and how true it is.  Every good and perfect gift come the Father of lights with Him there is no shadow of turning.  Receive God’s gift and walk in His abudance and grace today.

 

God’s Grace

 

     It seems lately the Word of the Lord is talking about grace.  That wonderful unmerited favor of the Lord.  A life f grace is an life of empowerment.  It is a life patterned after Jesus Christ.  Jesus was full of grace and truth.  This grace and truth enabled Him to have favor with God and man.  Grace is such a wonderful virtue.  It enables you to go where the God wishes you to go and have the power and determined to stay no matter what comes your way.  Grace allows you to be a child of God and have all the benefits of heaven.

     By God’s grace you can be called a child of God and belong to His universal family.  No matter where you for the grace of God will be with you there.  David said that even if we found ourselves at the gates of hell the grace of God will carry us through.  The grace of God is the power to be like Jesus in your world.  Grace and the will of God go hand in hand. His will and grace will complete your life.  You will never lack because of the grace of God.  All of heaven came because Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s will by His grace. 

    When John Newton penned the words Amazing grace how sweet the sound knew the grace of God.  A slaver who had been responsible for thousand to be sold in slavery found amazing grace.  He lived iit and was grateful everyday for it.  Are you grateful for God’s amazing grace. Remember while you were

yet a sinner Christ died for you.  Through the grace of God you were united with Christ and now you live free. God deliver Babu Thangapuvalour from Gillian Barr syndrome by the grace of God.  Every day this man is grateful for God’s grace.  So today walk in the grace and do the will of God.    

 

One truth

 

     The Lord wants you to know that there is only one and only one saving message.  That message is the message of goodnews about Jesus Christ.  He is the only way, truth and life.  No one can come to the Father except through Him.  Jesus said that when you see the Father you saw Him and when you saw Him you saw the Father.  Jesus did only the will of the Father.  Three places in the Gospels you have the Father stating that Jesus was His beloved Son in whom He was pleased.

     Today when you do what the Holy Spirit tells you to do, youa re also doing the will of the Father.  The Holy Spirit is your guide to all truth today.  You are His temple and everyday if you let Him He will regenerate your life.  He will take that which the Lord gives Him and He will pass it onto you.  He is your guide, help and comforter.  You will always know the perfect will of God if you ask the Holy Spirit to show you.

     So there are five things you need to know about Jesus Christ.  He is alone the saving message as it states in John 3:16.  Next, rejection of Him means death.  John 8:23, reminds us that if we do not believe in Him we will remain in our sins which lead to death.  Thirdly, He is the only saving name.  Peter told his audience in Acts 4:12 this truth.  Fourthly, HIs sacrifice is the central point of all preaching.  His death, burial, and resurrection are central.  His shed blood and broken body are central to our redemption.  Lastly, all hope of eternal life are built upon Him,  Paul states in 1 Cor 3:11, that there is no other foundation to build upon but Jesus Christ.  So today walk in this truth and victory and believe and put your trust in Christ. 

 

Outcasts Received

 

     The Lord is calling all people to Himself today but especially all those who feel outcast and abandoned.  Jesus Christ is the perfect example reaching out to the outcast.  In Matt 8:3, Jesus reached out and touched a leper when no one else would.  He is reaching out to you this day.  Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you.  Another time Jesus in Mat 21:31 and Luke 7:29 reached out to tax collectors and prostitutes.  In fact the charge brought against by the religious establishment is that He ate with publicans and sinners.  Jesus wants you to come to Him today.  No matter what you have done and vocation you have been involved in.  Jesus will come into your life and change you from the inside out.

     The Lord Loves those that no one in society loves.  He has a special place in his heart for the homeless, widows and orphans.  Jesus again ministered to a sinful woman in Luke 7:47, Jesus said of a sinful woman that her many sins have been forgiven.  Those who have been forgiven much love much and those who have been forgiven little love little.  The Lord ministered to the woman caught in adultery.  He told her He did not condemn her.  He then told her to go and sin no more.  What a statement for all people.  The Lord receives all today.  Come to Him.

     Jesus once again reached out to a despised blind man in John 9:35.  He healed him and the man was thrown out by both his family and friends but Jesus welcomed Him.  The Lord loves to restore and rescue.  Jesus when hanging on the cross took a thief and man about to die into paradise with Him.  The Lord is waiting for you today.  No matter who you are or what you have done the Lord wants, saved, healed and restore you today.  The Spirit says come, so come to the Lord today.

 

The Great I am –

 

NEXT GENERATION

 

Psalm 112, is a companion acrostic piece of literature.  Ezra who wrote this continues using the Hebrew Alphabet as a stepping stone for truths about God.  In Ps 111, he gave us 23 truths about God and now he wants his audience and readers to take it to the next step of actually applying these truths in their lives.  Another word we use for application is appropriation.  Bottom line truth is not real truth until it is applied in our everyday lives.  There are five truths we are going to look at this morning in the two verses of this psalm.

 

1.      Praise the Lord.   God has shown His faithfulness in the consistency of His creation.  We have all the resources we need right now deposited in our earth.  Even now with almost 8 billion people on the planet there are still enough resources to meet all our needs. 

 

a.      God is to be praised for who He is and what He has done.  He is to be praised for His love, mercy, grace, forgiveness and salvation.  He is to be praised for His holiness, justice, kindness and continuous care in our lives.  He cares about the smallest details of our lives.  Even the hairs on our heads is counted.  Blonde 150,000, Brown 110,000, Black 100,000, Red 90,000.  Every second, your body produces 25 million new cells. That means in 1.5 seconds, you will have produced more cells than there are people in the Canada.  There is anywhere between 60,000-100,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body. If they were taken out and laid end-to-end, they would be long enough to travel around the world more than three times.  About 60% of your body is made up of water.  Pound for pound, your bones are stronger than steel.  A block of bone the size of a matchbox can support up to 18,000 pounds of weight .  Your brain though only 2% of the weight of your body uses 20% of the oxygen you breathe.  You are wonderfully and marvelously made.

b.      God is to be praised because He will supply all your needs of food, shelter, clothing and transportation.  Everyday there is something to praise God.  If you look for the blessings you will find them.  The problem is most of the time we are too busy or pre-occupied to not see them.

 

2.      Blessed are those who fear the Lord.  Simply put you are blessed because you respect God and hold him in high esteem.  Here are seven benefits when you fear the Lord.

 

a.      Deep Spiritual Knowledge. A God-fearing attitude is crucial for those who desire meaningful scriptural knowledge.

b.      Divine Wisdom.

c.      A Unique Weapon against Sin.

d.      The Mercy of God.

e.      Abundant Life.

f.       Protection for You and Your Children.

g.      Friendship with God.

 

3.      Who find great delight in his commands.  We all have a desire for God but it takes discipline that means taking our desire and consistently day by day reading the word and praying.  Going to church every week.  Discipline always leads to delight.  When you see things happen it motivates you.  We just came through the Olympics and we saw Canadian athletes 24 times mount the podium for medals.  This was a delight for them and us for all the discipline in their training which finally paid off.  You never become the best you can be without hard work, discipline, patience and consistency.  This is how you get great delight.  Abraham Lincoln said, “Discipline is choosing between that you want now and what you want most.”

 

a.      The center of this great delight is the word of God.  That is why Paul told Timothy to study the bible to show yourself, approved of God and be someone who presents the word with truth. 

b.      God has promises over 10000 of them for you.  They are yes and amen.  Just one promise a day applied will take 29.5 years.  It will take almost 30 years to apply one promise a day.  It is easy to start again for the next 29.5 years.  Two commands we must keep is telling others and loving people. 

 

4.      Their children will be mighty in the land.  I cannot emphasis household salvation enough.  Acts 16:31 says, that you and your household will be saved.  Prov 22:6, states, “Train a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it.”  Wonderful promises.

 

Here are ten healthy ways to train your children.

 

a.      Show and tell. Teach children right from wrong with calm words and actions. ...

b.      Set limits.

c.      Give consequences and follow through.

d.      Hear them out.

e.      Give them your attention.

f.       Catch them being good.

g.      Know when not to respond.

h.      Be prepared for trouble.

i.       Re-direct behavior

j.       Call for time out or discipline.  Do this and God will bless you. Also have family devotions, be an example in consistent love and behavior.  You lead them to Christ by your actions more than your words.

 

5.      The generation of the upright will be blessed.  Let me give you a little legacy of from the Bible.  Enoch had Methuselah, Lamech and Noah.  Abraham had, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.  David had Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah and Jesus.  Zechariah and Elizabeth has John the Baptist, Mary had Jesus, James and Jude.  God wants to use of our children to bless the world.

 

a.      That has been Lois and my goal ever since we had children and now grandchildren.  We will be holy, consecrated, have good things be fruitful and have abundance.  Our children will be as well.  I love how Isaac learned from his father and he saw a 100 fold blessing in a time of famine. 

b.      Now to be blessed also means we have a responsibility to make sure those around us receive from our abundance.  Paul says that which I receive I pass unto you.  James tells us to give when we have the opportunity.  The widow who gave two coins is a great example.  She gave sacrificially.  The reason many people face physical and spiritual poverty is because they have not learn to be a cheerful giver and also help others.  I close with the lesson of Matt 25, where the King rewards each person according to what they have done.  ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  They will ask when did we see you like this and he will reply when you did it to the least of these.  Mother Theresa calls that Jesus in his distressing disguise.

 

NO FEAR

 

No fear

 

    We have just two messages left in our summer in the Psalms series.  We have been looking at Psalms 111 which is an acrostic psalm talking about the characteristics of God and then Psalm 112, which is our response to the truth we learn from Psalm 111.  Ezra who is the author of these two psalms had an objective.  He was using the Hebrew alphabet in two forms.  One, to teach the people how to learn the Hebrew language, and secondly, to also learn about their God who they really did not know.  They had just returned from being in captivity for 70 years in Babylon.  They did not know their own language, religion, and culture.  Ezra chose this method to accomplish is aim and goals.  Today we will learn five truths from these two verses.

 

1.      They will have no fear of bad news.  When someone knows the Lord fear is no longer part of our vocabulary.  We are given a spirit of fear but love, power, and a sound mind.  From Paul, we learn that fear is a spirit and must be overcome with God’s love which as John puts in 1 John 4:18, casts it out.  Then fear is rendered powerless through God’s power and lastly, it is neutered by a sound mind.

 

a.      The reason the righteous do not fear bad news is because they know God is with them.  They trust him with all their heart, acknowledge Him and let Him direct their path.  They know will never leave or forsake them.  That all things work together for good even if the thing is not good.  Bad news does not shake them because they have the presence, power, peace, and promises of God.

b.      The righteous always anchor themselves in the love, faith, and hope of God.  Love never fails and so bad news causes no fear.  Their hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.  Angels are camping around the righteous.  We are the apple of God’s eyes and in the psalm of his hand.  God is directing our path.  No accusation, temptation or deception will work because we have the Bible, prayer, armor of God, anointing, power, authority, enablement, and divine help so we do not have to fear bad news.

 

2.       Their hearts are steadfast.  The righteous have a heart that is secure in God.  It has the rock, fortress, and refuge of the Lord.  Remember from the heart is where the issues of life come.  The heart is where the treasure is.  When you have a heart you have the will, intellect, and emotions.  You have the time, talents, and resources of a person.  When a heart belongs to God the past has been forgiven, the present is a gift and the future is eternal.

 

a.      The righteous heart is steadfast, loyal, faithful, committed, devoted, dedicated, and dependable.

               The righteous have maturity, stability, resolve, firmness, and are unwavering.  They can sing in

               prison-like Paul and Silas, They trust like Abraham.  They fight like Gideon.  They worship like  

               David and are wise like Solomon.

 

3.       They trust in the Lord.  Ezra wants his audience to trust the Lord.  Trust means a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone in our case the Lord.  The most familiar verse is Prov 3:5-6.  Trust has so many benefits.  Delight, freedom, peace, joy, faith, love, grace, and blessing.  Faith and trust are interchangeable.  You know the world, the flesh, and the devil want to destroy you but you know God is working on your behalf and like a child you simply trust Him.  Like Noah, you take God at His word even though you don’t see the rain.

 

a.       You have a firm conviction that even when things are bad it will turn out good.  The psalmist said sorrow is for a night but joy comes in the morning.  He also said the mercies of God are new every morning great is the faithfulness of God.  A new day is a new start.  Moses trusted the Lord for 40 years.  There were times his faith was tested and stretched but in the end, God and he built a nation ready to take the land. 

b.      Trust says I trust you God and the process.  You know what you are doing and in the end, I win.  I came across this FB post this week, At this point, Jesus doesn’t need to take the wheel, He needs to pull over and spank some of you all with his Flip flops.

 

4.      Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear.   Mankind has three areas of basic needs.  Food shelter, clothing, and transportation are the first.  The second need is safety and security and the last is self-esteem and actualization.  When these three needs are met we feel fulfilled.  When a heart belongs to God these needs are not only met but exceeded.  Paul said in Eph 3:20, that God can do exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we can ask or imagine.  

 

a.      When we feel secure we have no fear.  Fear is caused by insecurity, the feeling of being unloved, loss of power and control.  The natural state of man when faced with uncertainly, danger or fear is to fight or flee.  When you feel secure, empowered and in control, you have no fear.

b.      David when he found Goliath he could beat him.  He had already beaten a lion and bear and this experience is a big factor.  Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.  He also knew he was fighting Goliath in the power of God.  With God for us who can be against us.

 

        3.   In the end they will look in triumph on their foes.  Ezra remind his audience and us that in the

              End we win.  At the end of the book, the people of God are victorious.  Ezra says don’t lose hope

              in the middle of the battle.  You have to run the whole race, fight the whole battle, do the whole        

              competition to win the tournament.  This last week a young phenom named Leylah Fernandez

              got the finals of the US Open.  Two years again Bianca Andresscu won it.   They had to play

              through a week of grueling tennis matches to get to the finals.  You cannot quit in the middle. 

              Life does give you a ribbon for trying.  There are two rules in life.  “Never give up and Remember

             rule number one.”

 

a.      Did you know there are crowns given for those who finish the race as believers and Christians.

 

1.      Crown of righteousness – Those love His coming.

2.      Incorruptible crown – Being saved

3.      Crown of life – Endured testing, persecution, and trials.

4.      Crown of glory – Those who carried the gospel.

5.       Crown of rejoicing – Given at the end for faithful service.

 

b.      There are of course the rewards given to the overcomer.  Some people asked what is in it for me.  Everything church.  You get eternal and abundant life, a declaration of being a good servant, and a reward of resting in the Lord.  On the other side of the veil, peace, beauty, love, friendship, and security.  That is what I got from my vision and dream of heaven.