"Trusting in God for the Battles and Victories in Life (Psalm 20-21)", Brad Young | 8/4/24

Psalm 20, 21 | 8/4/24 | Brad Young

GOOD MORNING, I’M BRAD YOUNG, ONE OF THE ELDERS HERE AT WEST HILLS. WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF BATTLE?  I HAVE NEVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY BUT MY FATHER SERVED IN THE ARMY DURING THE KOREAN WAR.  HE WAS A WEAPONS REPAIR SPECIALIST, AND THE CLOSEST HE EVER CAME TO BATTLE WAS WHEN HE FIXED A MACHINE GUN ON A TANK AND THEN WENT RABBIT HUNTING WITH THE MACHINE GUN.  HE CALLED IT THE BATTLE OF THE BUNNIES.  I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED CALLING IT OPERATION HASENPFEFFER.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR VETERANS HERE TODAY, VERY FEW OF US HAVE EVER FACED OR WILL EVER FACE THE TYPE OF BATTLE THAT DAVID WRITES ABOUT IN PSALM 20 AND 21.  HIS FORCES WERE PREPARING TO FIGHT FOR THEIR LITERAL SURVIVAL.  BUT ALL OF US DO FACE BATTLES EVEN IF THEY ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT…ETHICAL BATTLES, RELATIONAL BATTLES, BATTLES AGAINST SIN, BATTLES AT WORK, AND YES, PERHAPS EVEN LEGAL BATTLES.

THROUGHOUT BOTH THE PREPARATION FOR BATTLE AND THE CELEBRATION AFTER THE BATTLE, DAVID’S CHARGE THEN IS THE SAME FOR US TODAY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE ARE FIGHTING THE BATTLE OF YORKTOWN OR A BATTLE OVER THE DINNER TABLE – WE MUST TRUST AND BOAST ONLY IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.

PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE ABLE AS WE READ FROM GOD’S WORD THIS MORNING – PSALM 20 AND 21.  THE WORDS WILL BE HERE ON THE SCREEN, BUT IF YOU NEED A BIBLE, JUST GO TO THE INFO BAR OUTSIDE THESE DOORS AFTER THE SERVICE AND WE WOULD LOVE TO BLESS YOU WITH A FREE BIBLE TODAY. READ PSALM 20 AND 21

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  “Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God.  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.  May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!  May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

  May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!  May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

  May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners!  may the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

  Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.

  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

  They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.  O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call.

  The King Rejoices in the Lord's Strength.  To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

  O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!  You have given him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

  For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.  He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.

  His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

  For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

  Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.

  You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear.  The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man.

  Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

  Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!  We will sing and praise your power.”

  MAY THE LORD ADD TO THE READING OF HIS WORD.

  1. WE PLACE OUR _TRUST IN GOD FOR THE COMING BATTLE

  AS WE LOOK AT VERSES 1-5 IN PSALM 20, WE IMMEDIATELY NOTICE THAT THE VOICE OF THESE VERSES IS NOT DAVID SPEAKING OR EVEN GOD SPEAKING, BUT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL PRAYING OVER DAVID BEFORE HE LEFT FOR BATTLE.

  IN VS. 1-5 WE SEE GOD’S PEOPLE PRAISING GOD FOR THE COMING BATTLE. BUT NOTICE THE PEOPLE’S CONFIDENCE.  THEY ARE PRAYING CONFIDENTLY THAT GOD WILL EMPOWER DAVID, THAT GOD WOULD ANSWER DAVID IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, AND THAT GOD WOULD GIVE DAVID HELP AND SUPPORT IN THE COMING BATTLE.

  THE CONFIDENCE OF GOD’S PEOPLE HERE IS EVIDENT, BUT RAISES A QUESTION – WHY ARE THEY CONFIDENT? HEBREWS 13:5-6 TELLS US: “for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

  BUT IN THE MIDST OF THE VARIOUS REQUESTS TO GOD TO HELP AND PROTECT DAVID, WE SEE V. 4: “MAY HE GRANT YOU YOUR HEART’S DESIRE AND FULFILL ALL YOUR PLANS!”

  AND WHILE WE CAN INTELLECTUALLY AGREE THAT THIS VERSE DOES NOT MEAN THAT GOD IS LIKE SOME MYTHICAL GENIE THAT GRANTS OUR WISHES, THINK ABOUT THE TIMES IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU WERE UPSET THAT GOD DID NOT FULFILL YOUR PLANS - - PERHAPS YOUR RELATIONAL PLANS, YOUR OCCUPATIONAL PLANS, OR YOUR FINANCIAL PLANS.

  FAR FROM BEING SOME MYTHICAL GENIE, GOD DOES SOMETHING FAR GREATER - - HE SANCTIFIES THOSE WHO ARE SAVED TO THE POINT WHERE HIS DESIRES BECOME OUR DESIRES.  LOOK WHAT JESUS SAID IN JOHN 15:7-8: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

  WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID “IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU”?

  R.C. SPROUL EXPLAINED THIS, SAYING THAT Abiding in Christ means allowing His Word to fill our minds, direct our wills, and transform our affections.

  AS YOU SIT HERE THIS MORNING, WHAT ARE YOUR DESIRES?  AND ARE YOU IN PRAYER AND IN GOD’S WORD ENOUGH TO LET GOD’S DESIRES TO BECOME YOUR DESIRES?  IN LEGAL CIRCLES, I’VE SAID THAT IT’S NO WONDER THE PUBLIC DOESN’T UNDERSTAND DECISIONS FROM the SUPREME COURT WHEN AMERICANS CAN NAME MORE MEMBERS OF THE KARDASHIAN FAMILY THAN MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT.  BUT BRING THAT COMPARISON HOME THIS MORNING…DO YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS THAN WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS ABOUT HIS DESIRE FOR YOUR LIFE?

  1ST THESSALONIANS 5:16 TELLS US: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

  BACK TO PSALM 20, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WERE PRAYING OVER DAVID: “MAY HE GRANT YOU YOUR HEART’S DESIRE AND FULFILL ALL YOUR PLANS!”  AND WE KNOW THAT DAVID WAS A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART.  DOESN’T THAT SEEM LIKE AN UNATTAINABLE GOAL – BEING A PERSON AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART?  DAVID WAS FAR FROM PERFECT, AS ARE WE.

  AND YET, BY ABIDING IN CHRIST, BY BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST, OUR DESIRES WILL SLOWLY BE LESS ABOUT OUR OWN SINFUL DESIRES AND MORE ABOUT CHRIST’S DESIRES.  PAUL DESCRIBED THIS PROCESS IN ROMANS 8:5, WHEN HE SAID: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”

  ONE DECISION MAKING TOOL THAT THE MILITARY USES TO PREPARE FOR BATTLE IS CALLED OODA LOOP – OBSERVE, ORIENT, DECIDE AND ACT.  OODA.  WHILE I DOUBT THAT ARMIES IN DAVID’S DAY CALLED IT AN OODA LOOP, THEY DID PREPARE THE SAME WAY - -

  OBSERVE - - IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM OR THREAT AND GAIN AN OVERALL UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

  ORIENT - - REFLECTING ON WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND DURING THE OBSERVATIONS, ASSESS RESOURCES, AND CONSIDER WHAT SHOULD BE DONE NEXT.

  DECIDE - - MAKE SUGGESTIONS TOWARD AN ACTION OR RESPONSE PLAN, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ALL POTENTIAL OUTCOMES, AND

  ACT - - CARRYING OUT THE DECISION.

  WHILE ALL 4 STEPS OF THIS DECISION-MAKING PROCESS ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT, MANY CHRISTIANS FAIL WHEN IT COMES TO STEP 2 - - ORIENT.  WE FAIL TO ASSESS OUR RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE BY BEING A CHILD OF GOD. GOD’S PEOPLE DID NOT FAIL HERE IN PSALM 20, AS WE SEE IN VERSE 7: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

  GOD’S PEOPLE WHO WERE PRAYING OVER DAVID ASSESSED THEIR RESOURCES AS INCLUDING CHARIOTS AND HORSES…BUT THEY WERE NOT RELYING ON THOSE RESOURCES…THEY WERE TRUSTING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.

  WHAT ARE YOU RELYING ON TODAY?  IF YOU HAVE ACCEPTED JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR, YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE KING OF THE KINGS…THAT IS AN ETERNAL ORIENTATION THAT FAR TOO MANY OF US SIMPLY IGNORE.  DAVID WAS A KING WITH ENORMOUS RESOURCES AND WEALTH, BUT THE PEOPLE’S PRAYER WAS THAT HE WOULD NOT RELY ON THOSE TANGIBLE RESOURCES, BUT RELY ON TRUSTING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.

  THAT’S EASY TO SAY AND HARD TO DO.  AW TOZER ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WHEN HE SAID: “MANY OF US CHRISTIANS HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY SKILLFUL IN ARRANGING OUR LIVES SO AS TO ADMIT THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT BEING EMBARRASSED BY ITS IMPLICATIONS.  WE ARRANGE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN GET ON WELL ENOUGH WITHOUT DIVINE AID, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME OSTENSIBLY SEEKING IT.  WE BOAST IN THE LORD, BUT WATCH CAREFULLY THAT WE NEVER GET CAUGHT DEPENDING ON HIM.”

  THINK ABOUT THIS…IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW…WHAT WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY DEPEND ON GOD?  IT’S EASY TO SAY WE DEPEND ON GOD AS WE SIT HERE IN OUR CHURCH SERVICE ON SUNDAY MORNING…BUT HOW CAN YOU ACTUALLY RELY ON GOD FOR THE BATTLES IN YOUR MARRIAGE…FOR BATTLES IN YOUR JOB…FOR BATTLES IN YOUR FINANCES…FOR BATTLES AGAINST SIN?

  FOR MANY CHRISTIANS TODAY, WE HAVE MISTAKENLY ACCEPTED THAT THE WORDS TRUST AND BELIEF ARE SYNONYMOUS.  WE SAY WE BELIEVE IN GOD, SO THAT MUST MEAN THAT WE TRUST IN GOD, RIGHT?  BUT THAT…IS…FALSE.  BELIEF AND TRUST DO NOT MEAN THE SAME THING.

  IMAGINE THAT TOMORROW, A STUNTMAN STATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO PUSH A WHEEL BARREL ACROSS THE TOP OF THE ARCH.   YOU ARE BELOW THE ARCH WATCHING HIM.  YOU COULD STAND THERE ON THE ARCH GROUNDS AND BELIEVE THAT THIS MAN WILL ACTUALLY SUCCEED IN PUSHING THAT WHEEL BARREL ACROSS THE TOP OF THE ARCH WITHOUT PLUNGING 630 FEET TO HIS DEATH.  BUT TRUSTING THAT HE WILL SUCCEED MEANS THAT YOU VOLUNTEER TO ACTUALLY GET IN THAT WHEEL BARREL AS HE TRAVERSES THE ARCH.

  BELIEF WITHOUT RELIANCE IS NEITHER TRUST NOR FAITH.  DAVID HIMSELF SAID IN PSALM 28:7 ““The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him”

  DAVID IS SAYING HERE THAT HE IS DEPENDING ON GOD’S STRENGTH…DEPENDING ON GOD’S SHIELD…AND THAT THIS DEPENDENCE MANIFESTS ITSELF AS TRUST AND PRAISE AND WORSHIP.

  ALL OF PSALM 20 IS BOASTING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.  AS YOU PREPARE FOR THE BATTLES OF LIFE, ARE YOU BOASTING IN YOUR PREPARATION…BOASTING IN YOUR PIETY…BOASTING IN YOUR RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES…OR ARE YOU BOASTING IN THE LORD?  WHEN AW TOZER SAID WE BOAST IN THE LORD, BUT WATCH CAREFULLY THAT WE NEVER GET CAUGHT DEPENDING ON HIM.”   THE POINT HE WAS MAKING IS THAT WE ARE NOT BOASTING IN THE LORD IF WE ARE NOT DEPENDING ON THE LORD.

  YOU MAY BE SITTING HERE THIS MORNING THINKING “I BELIEVE IN GOD.” BUT ARE YOU LITERALLY TRUSTING IN THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS FOR YOUR ETERNAL SALVATION?  ARE YOU TRUSTING IN CHRIST FOR THE BATTLES YOU FACE? ARE YOU DEPENDING ON GOD FOR DAILY LIVING?

  ON JULY 4 THIS YEAR, PASTOR ERIK RAYMOND WROTE A “DECLARATION OF DEPENDENCE” FOR THE GOSPEL COALITION.  IT READS:

  “As a believer I realize that I am depending on Christ for:

  • his perfect obedience to the Father…for I did not obey

  • I AM DEPENDING ON CHRIST FOR his sinless perfection…for I am sinful

  • I AM DEPENDING ON CHRIST FOR his wrath satisfying death…for I am unable to satisfy eternal wrath

  • I AM DEPENDING ON CHRIST FOR his perfect righteousness before the judgment bar…for I have deficient righteousness

  • I AM DEPENDING ON CHRIST FOR his ability to keep me saved…for I cannot keep myself from wandering away

  • I AM DEPENDING ON CHRIST FOR his sovereign ability to rule this world…for I struggle with organizing my days

  • I AM DEPENDING ON CHRIST FOR his unfading love...for I trip on myself daily

  • I AM DEPENDING ON CHRIST FOR his ultimate motivation for life and ministry…for I have nothing in myself that trumps this

  • I AM DEPENDING ON CHRIST FOR his priceless blood that will never depreciate…for I have no means to pay

  It is good therefore to declare dependence upon the Savior; knowing that there is a day coming when those who are gathered together in his kingdom will unite in numbers that will dwarf the fireworks crowds, to declare dependence upon King Jesus, the Lamb who was slain.”

  IF THIS IDEA OF DEPENDENCE ON GOD IS NEW TO YOU, I CHALLENGE YOU RIGHT NOW TO ASK GOD TO CONFIRM IN YOUR HEART WHETHER YOU HAVE OR HAVE NOT TRULY CONFESSED YOUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR, REPENTED OF YOUR SIN, AND ACCEPTED CHRIST AS LORD.

  IN V.6 HERE IN PSALM 20, THE PEOPLE PRAYING OVER DAVID SAID: “NOW I KNOW THAT THE LORD SAVES HIS ANOINTED; HE WILL ANSWER HIM FROM HIS HOLY HEAVEN WITH THE SAVING MIGHT OF HIS RIGHT HAND.”

  YOU MAY BE THINKING: “BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE TIMES WHEN I FEEL LIKE GOD ISN’T HEARING ME OR ANSWERING ME?”

  IN LUKE 4, SATAN QUOTES PSALM 91 TO JESUS WHILE CHRIST WAS IN THE DESERT.  SATAN QUOTES PSALM 91, STATING: “He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you…On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”  AS TIM KELLER POINTS OUT, SATAN IS TELLING JESUS…IF GOD REALLY LOVED YOU, HE WOULDN’T LET YOU SUFFER.

  SATAN’S GOAL IS CONVINCE CHRISTIANS THAT BAD THINGS WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO US ONCE WE ARE SAVED, AND THEN WHEN BAD THINGS DO HAPPEN, SATAN’S GOAL IS THAT WE WILL BELIEVE THAT GOD DOESN’T HEAR US AND WE WILL PULL BACK FROM GOD.

  IF GOD CAN’T HEAR OUR PRAYERS, HOW COULD PAUL SAY THIS IN ROMANS 8:38: “For I am sure that neither 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.”

  I READ THIS EARLIER, BUT V.7 HERE IN PSALM 20 IS ONE THAT I QUOTE OFTEN. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”  I DON’T HAVE ANY CHARIOTS OR HORSES, BUT THINK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU TRUST IN.  YOU’VE HEARD MANY SERMONS ABOUT THE FOLLY OF TRUSTING IN YOUR WEALTH, YOUR EDUCATION, YOUR JOB, ETC.  BUT HOW MANY OF US TRUST in the APPROVAL OF OTHERS…TRUST IN the SECURITY OF OUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN, TRUST IN OUR GOVERNMENT OR POLITICIANS.  BESIDES, THOSE WHO TRUST IN HORSES MUST ALWAYS WATCH WHERE THEY STEP!

  2.  WE  PRAISE GOD FOR VICTORY OVER OUR BATTLES

  BIBLE SCHOLARS TELL US THAT PSALM 20 AND 21 WERE MOST LIKELY ONE CONTIGUOUS EXPRESSION OF THOUGHT, BUT THESE TWO CHAPTERS ARE SEPARATED BECAUSE WHILE PSALM 20 FOCUSES ON THE PREPARATION FOR BATTLE, PSALM 21 FOCUSES ON REJOICING IN THE VICTORY.

  THE FIRST 6 VERSES OF CHAPTER 21 CONTAIN DAVID’S CELEBRATION FOR MANY VICTORIES GIVEN BY GOD ON THE BATTLEFIELD, AND DAVID PRAISED THE LORD FOR THE DIVINE STRENGTH THAT LED TO THOSE VICTORIES.

  V. 5 SUMS THIS UP, SAYING: “His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him.”  IN THE NIV, IT SAYS: “THROUGH THE VICTORIES YOU GAVE, HIS GLORY IS GREAT.”

  GOD LIFTED DAVID UP, HERE, BECAUSE DAVID GAVE GOD THE GLORY FOR THE VICTORY.

  IN 1ST CHRONICLES 29, WE SEE HOW DAVID CONTINUES TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY, AS DAVID WRITES: “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

  IN THE VICTORIES YOU CELEBRATE IN YOUR LIFE, WHO GETS THE GLORY?  WHO GETS THE PRAISE?

  WE SAY HERE THIS MORNING THAT WE GIVE GOD THE GLORY, BUT THIS MORNING IS NOT THE TEST OF TO WHOM WE GIVE THE GLORY.  THE TEST IS TO WHOM WE GIVE THE GLORY AT THE TIME OF THE VICTORY.  DAVID IS CELEBRATING VICTORY RIGHT AFTER THE BATTLE, AND GIVES GLORY TO GOD.

  BUT IN THE MOMENTS OF YOUR VICTORIES…AS YOU ARE CELEBRATING THOSE VICTORIES, TO WHOM DO YOU GIVE THE GLORY?

  WE FAIL TO REALIZE THAT WHEN WE TAKE THE GLORY, WE ARE ACTUALLY STEALING GLORY THAT ACTUALLY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE.   ROMANS 11:36: “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”

  PLEASE HEAR ME…I AM NOT TELLING YOU THIS AS ONE WHO HAS CONQUERED THIS PROBLEM OF SEEKING OR TAKING GLORY FOR THE VICTORIES IN LIFE.  IN MY LAW FIRM, MY NAME IS LITERALLY IN THE NAME OF THE COMPANY AND SPRAWLED ON THE WALL IN THE RECEPTION AREA!

  THIS IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE FOR ME…BALANCING BETWEEN TELLING CLIENTS WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR THEM WHILE KNOWING THAT ALL VICTORIES COME FROM GOD AND SHOULD RESULT IN GLORY TO GOD.

  LORD, FORGIVE ME WHEN I SEEK MY GLORY AND WHEN I STEAL GLORY THAT IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS AND YOURS ALONE.

  WHILE WE CAN’T BLAME OUR SIN ON OUR CULTURE, WE CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW OUR CULTURE INFLUENCES HOW WE SEE OURSELVES.  OUR CHILDREN RECEIVE AWARDS FOR EVERYTHING, INCLUDING MERE ATTENDANCE.  IN THE WORKPLACE, THOSE WHO PROMOTE THEMSELVES BEST ARE OFTEN PROMOTED OVER THOSE WHO HAVE MORE SKILL OR TALENT, AND ADVERTISING TELLS US DAILY THAT WE DESERVE THE BEST…THE BEST OF EVERYTHING - - - - ESPECIALLY EVERYTHING THAT THE ADVERTISER IS SELLING!

  BUT THE ONLY TRUE VICTORY COMES FROM CHRIST.  1ST CORINTHIANS 15:57 SAYS:  “BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

  allowing GOD’S Word to fill our minds, direct our wills, and transform our affections, WHETHER WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE COMING BATTLE, OR REJOICING IN THE VICTORY AFTER THE BATTLE - - THAT IS OUR DESIRE THIS MORNING.

  SPEAKING OF REJOICING, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO REJOICE IN THIS MORNING?  PHYSICAL BLESSINGS ARE THE EASIEST TO SEE…PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL, VOCATIONAL, LOCATIONAL, AND EVEN RELATIONAL.  I KNOW THAT WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL, WE TEND TO REJOICE IN OUR EFFORTS RATHER THAN REJOICE IN WHAT GOD HAS DONE.

  BUT V. 6 POINTS OUT THAT ALL BLESSINGS…ALL VICTORIES COME FROM GOD. V. 6 SAYS: “FOR YOU MAKE HIM MOST BLESSED FOREVER, YOU MAKE HIM GLAD WITH THE JOY OF YOUR PRESENCE.”

  WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE GLAD WITH THE JOY OF GOD’S PRESENCE?  WHEN WERE YOU OVERJOYED KNOWING THAT CHRIST IS WITHIN YOU…THAT HE FILLS YOU WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT…THAT YOU ARE CHILD OF OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT, AND OMNIPRESENT KINGS OF KINGS?  FOR ME, THAT OCCURS THROUGH WORSHIP.  WHEN DOES THAT OCCUR FOR YOU?  IF THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED, PRAY AND ASK GOD TO EMPOWER YOU TO EXPERIENCE OF THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION.

  3.  GOD HANDLES THE PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE HE DEFEATS IN BATTLE

  BACK TO PSALM 21, AND STARTING IN V. 8 THROUGH THE END OF THE CHAPTER, DAVID AND ISRAEL NOT ONLY GAVE GOD THE GLORY FOR THE VICTORY, BUT ALSO PUT THE PUNISHMENT OF THEIR ENEMIES IN GOD’S HANDS.  “You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear.  The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.”

  THIS IS NOT MERELY AN EXPRESSION OF VENGEANCE BY DAVID AND HIS PEOPLE, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY AN EXTENSION OF THEMES WE SAW IN CHAPTER 20 - - BOASTING AND TRUSTING IN GOD AND GOD ALONE.

  LOOK AT PSALM 21:11-12: “Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.”

  HERE, WE SEE THAT IN VICTORY, DAVID RECOGNIZES TWO VERY IMPORTANT IDEAS: FIRST, PUNISHMENT AND WRATH ARE NOT OURS TO RELEASE, BUT GOD’S.  SECONDLY, AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, VICTORIES ON THIS EARTH ARE TEMPORARY.  DAVID SAYS IN VERSES 11 – 12 THAT EVEN IN VICTORY, OUR ENEMIES ARE DEVISING FUTURE PLANS AGAINST US.

  YOU KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE.  IN THE PRACTICAL VICTORIES IN YOUR LIFE, WHEN HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED ONE VICTORY THAT SOLVED ALL PROBLEMS, VANQUISHED ALL FOES, DEFEATED ALL ENEMIES?    NEVER!

  EVEN IN OUR SPIRITUAL BATTLES, WE ARE POWERLESS TO PRODUCE VICTORY.  THINK OF THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THOSE MOUNTAIN TOP SPIRITUAL HIGHS.  WHAT HAPPENS SHORTLY THEREAFTER?  YOU RELY ON  YOUR OWN STRENGTH, SATAN BRINGS YOU DOWN, YOU STUMBLE AND FALL OFF THAT SPIRITUAL MOUNTAIN, AND YOU REMEMBER THAT THAT WHILE CHRIST WON THE SPIRITUAL WAR THROUGH HIS DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION, SKIRMISHES WILL CONTINUE UNTIL CHRIST RETURNS.

  PUNISHMENT AND WRATH.  IN THE INTERESTS OF FULL DISCLOSURE, CAN WE ALL HONESTLY ADMIT THIS MORNING THAT IN OUR FLESH, WE DON’T WANT TO LEAVE PUNISHMENT FOR OUR ENEMIES IN GOD’S HANDS.  WE WANT OUR HANDS TO INFLICT PUNISHMENT ON OUR ENEMIES.  WE WANT TO TAKE REVENGE ON OUR ENEMIES.

  THE WIFE OF A FORMER PRESIDENT ONCE SAID:  “GORGEOUS HAIR IS THE BEST REVENGE”.

  (PAUSE…)  I GUESS THAT LEAVES ME OUT!

  MY COAL MINER FATHER ONCE WANTED TO ELECTRIFY HIS OUTDOOR REFRIGERATOR BECAUSE KIDS WERE STEALING BEER OUT OF HIS FRIDGE.  I SAID: “DAD, YOU CAN’T FRY THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS BECAUSE THEY’RE GETTING INTO YOU BEER STASH.”  AND HE SAID: “BUT I WANT TO!”  I HAD TO REMIND HIM THAT IT WAS ME, NOT HIM, THAT WENT TO LAW SCHOOL.

  BUT EVEN WHEN WE DON’T WANT TO, WE ARE CALLED TO BE OBEDIENT WHEN WE READ IN ROMANS 12:19:  “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

  FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE SAVED, WE CAN TAKE GREAT COMFORT THAT IN VICTORY OR EVEN IN DEFEAT, WE CAN PRAISE THE ONE WHO SAVES US.  AS DAVID SAYS HERE IN PSALM 21:13: “Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.”

  BUT WHAT IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED HERE TODAY.  WHAT IF YOU WERE THINKING EARLIER WHEN I GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF THE STUNTMAN PUSHING THE WHEEL BARRELL ACROSS THE TOP OF THE ARCH: “YES, I BELIEVE IN CHRIST, BUT I’VE NEVER REALLY TRUSTED IN HIM.  I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY CRAWLED INTO CHRIST’S WHEEL BARRELL AND TRUSTED HIM TO TAKE ME THROUGH THIS LIFE.”

  OR, YOU MAY BE LIKE THE ONE THAT AW TOZER DESCRIBED: “WE BOAST IN THE LORD, BUT WATCH CAREFULLY THAT WE NEVER GET CAUGHT DEPENDING ON HIM.”

  FOR THOSE WHO TRULY ACCEPT CHRIST, WE ARE PROMISED SALVATION.  JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 10:32: “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven”

  BUT JESUS GOES ON TO STATE IN THE VERY NEXT VERSE ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO REJECT HIM. IN MATTHEW 10:33, JESUS SAYS: “but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

  AND EVEN HERE IN PSALM 21, DAVID DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE GOD:

  “You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear.  The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.”

  SO, THE QUESTION WE FACE TODAY IS THIS:  HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE REALLY SAVED?

  The Apostle John wrote 1ST JOHN 5:13 To address this very question: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” So, when we read through John’s letter, we see that JOHN answers this question from several different angles.

  The starting point is the person and work of Jesus Christ. By confessing that we TRUST…DEPEND…RELY ON THE FACT that Jesus is the Son of God who came in the flesh to save us from our sins, we can be confident that we have eternal life.   NOT MERELY BELIEVING THAT GOD EXISTS, BECAUSE WE READ IN JAMES 2:19:  “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”

  THE DEMONS BELIEVE IN GOD…AND THEY ARE DESTINED FOR ETERNITY IN HELL.

  SO NO…NOT JUST BELIEVE…BUT TRUST - - TRUSTING IN THE RESURRECTION POWER OF JESUS CHRIST.

  THAT’S WHY JOHN WRITES IN 1ST JOHN 5:12: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

  DAVID TRUSTED IN THE LORD BEFORE THE BATTLES OF LIFE, PRAISED GOD FOR THE VICTORIES AFTER THOSE BATTLES, AND DAVID LEFT THE PUNISHMENT OF HIS ENEMIES IN GOD’S HANDS.  ARE YOU TRUSTING IN CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE THIS MORNING?