CS Lewis would write, “A man can’t always be defending the truth; there must be a time to feed on it.”
TRANSITION:
1. REMEMBER GOD IS WITH US
God delights to be on the side of His people.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul would write to the new Christians in Rome,
Romans 8:31 (ESV)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Take a moment and finish this sentence, “IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE LORD ON MY SIDE…”
2. REALIZE THE ENEMY AGAINST US
Psalm 124:3–7 (ESV)
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
One of the ways that we are really encouraged in our present moment is by realizing that our BIGGEST PROBLEM has already been solved by the death and resurrection of the spotless lamb of God – the Lord Jesus Christ!
He’s like that BEAST mentioned here that would tear up the human race if he could.
THE WORLD is like that flood of influence that would wash over us and flood our minds with utter nonsense.
THE FLESH is like that TRAP set by the hunter…sometimes…lots of times…we are our own worst enemy.
3. REJOICE IN THE HELP FOR US
BLESSED BE THE LORD!
HE SAVED US!
WE ESCAPED…ONLY BECAUSE HE SAVED US!
Remember, they were REMEMBERING HIS PRESENCE! BEFORE Christ came to this earth.
Remember, they RECOGNIZED THE REAL ENEMIES AND THE THREATS THEY POSED!
Remember, they REJOICED IN THE HELP FOR THEM!
God’s DEEPEST IMPULSE for YOU IS TO HELP YOU…NOT TO SCOLD YOU.
His heart reaches out to us.
His love never fails us.
He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
“He is a wise counselor that never kicks us out of his office or runs out of time.”