The LORD sitteth upon the Flood

Ps 29:10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever. 11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Introduction:Floods generally creates great disaster than other natural calamities. There are so many casualties in the flood. It is longer and painful than storms, lightning, thunder and other natural calamities.

Spiritually speaking, floods talks about long testing or trials.
Sometimes God does not test us with storms in life or fire or any other testing but through the flood.

David himself, the writer of this Psalm experience flood in his life before he reign as king in the nation of Israel – he was 17 years old when Samuel anointed him to be the next king of Israel and he was 30 yrs when he reigned as king of Israel – therefore it was 13 years of hardship and difficulties – it can be called a flood in his life.

But because of that David became God’s standard and was the yardstick of every succeeding king that reigns in Israel. He was called the man after God’s own heart, the sweet psalmist of Israel and God give him a covenant of the restoration of David’s kingdom in the millennium reign of Christ.
Flood will also came into our life – Matt. 7:24-27 talks about the wise built his house upon the rock then floods came… What we can see in the midst of the flood – The LORD (Triune – GOD) sitteth upon the flood…

1. God is in control -
The LORD sitteth King forever… v. 10
David knew that in a kingdom, there’s a king who sits and reigns and controls the kingdom realm.
It was God that commanded those waters to be upon the earth. It is God who governs and controls…
In the time of the great flood in Noah’s time, God used the flood to separate Noah from the rest of the wicked generation.
God gives us a flood in order to test us – to separate us, to know what is inside.
But God does not test a worthless soul. If you experience the flood in your life God wants to test you to use you more
Somebody quote : “For developing a character an imperfect man needs the stimulus and discipline of a developing environment,…- a world of struggle and resistance: obstacles to be overcome, battles to be won, baffling problems to be solved…”
Everything that strengthens, hurts – God never wastes His children’s pain.

And if God is in the midst of the flood, if God is in control therefore we need to give to God all the glory. In time of trials and in time of rest.
We should not blame others or satan but listen to God – God has always a message for us in the midst of the flood.


2. God allows the flood to bless us –
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

First, He will qualify them for his service: He will give strength to his people, God uses the floods to fortify them against every evil work and to furnish them for every good work; out of weakness they shall be made strong; he will perfect strength in weakness.

Illustrate : strong trees are trees survived in the floods
Illustrate: Before an OT priest will be ordained to perform his duty he is made to cry and mourn for one-month – in order to have a heart for God and compassion for others.

Secondly, He will encourage them in his service: He will bless his people with peace. Peace is not the absent of trouble but joy and comfort in the midst of trouble. Peace is the promise of God in time of the flood and not to be exempted in the flood. Because peace is a blessing of inestimable value, which God designs for all his people.

The work of righteousness is peace (great peace have those that love thy law); the end of righteousness is peace; it is endless peace.

Illus. The Nile river of ancient Egypt...

In Noah’s time, after the flood, God repented and give a rainbow as a token of His covenant towards us which represent HOPE.

2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Ro 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Conclusion:

The LORD sitteth upon the flood – it means:
God is in control – He loves you so much and all things work together for good for you God allows the flood to bless you more and use you more. God will give you strength and will bless you with peace in the midst of the flood.

Building Our Altar

2Sam. 24:18-25

Introduction:

Jebus - (threshing-floor), one of the names of Jerusalem, the city of the Jebusites.
a. David is a type of every believer b. David’s greatest sin: He committed adultery – with Bathseba He murdered one of his valiant captains Uriah - Both offences means death by stoning He mishandled or misjudged the case of his sons, Amnon and Absalom. He married to several heathen women, and others sinful.

But the good thing about David is his repentant heart.
That is why God called David the man after God’s own heart.
He always yearns to have a close relationship of God.
Though he always fall he riseth up again – For the just man falleth seven times and riseth up again.

This time again he committed one of the greatest sin of his life – a sin of pride by numbering or counting Israel – The problem is not on counting but his motive on numbering Israel.

Maybe David thought in his heart that he is formidable, that he made a great kingdom by his own strength or that he thought no other kingdom can exceed or defeat his kingdom.

What we sometimes though as a small offence, may be a great sin in the eye of God, who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Pride is the greatest sin against God. It cost the life of about 70,000 Israelites in just one day. These number of death does not happen in the entire life of David as a soldier and king.

Why? Because of pride – the good thing is that God did not allow to end David’s life of destruction – God said build an altar for God rather than building your name. God said to David – Don’t build your name but rather build an altar for God.


I. The Place

In threshing floor of Jebus or present day Jerusalem
Treshing machine - farm machine for threshing plants: a static power-driven agricultural machine formerly used to beat or rub harvested plants in order to separate the seeds from the rest of the plant - a place or instrument to separate seed from the plant

a. Our altar represents our threshing floor – we need to be separated in order to be useful. Just like a wheat is not valuable not unless its seeds is separated from the sheaves.

We cannot also usable with God who is a just and holy if we don’t have this place of separation – our altar.

Our altar is the place wherein we are cleanse – wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed of the word of God. It is our place of our devotion to God by reading and meditating his word.

b. This altar is our present day church – Jebus is the present day Jerusalem – the place of the Solomon’s temple and the center of worship of the Jews.
It is our place to separation from the world and the system of this world.
The church of the living God – the pillar and ground of truth.
This world offered counterfeit truth through tv, church inside mall, other recreation area.
But Jebus or Jerusalem is very significant and important place. A place of Abel’s offering, Jacob dream , Abraham offered Isaac, David altar, Solomon’s temple.

c. It is our personal devotion with God
Our ultimate place of separation 2 types of separation of the child of God 1. Separation from the world to church 2. Separation from the brethren unto God Threshing floor is the place of sepation
Our quiet time with God alone – It is our time wherein we have an intimate relationship with God


II. The Cost

It cost David 50 shekels.
It will cost us our time, efforts and money to go to church and minister.
It will cost you to wake up early to spend an hour with God.
David said – neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

That include our time, treasure and talent.


III. The Sacrifice

Threshing floor is a place of labor and sacrifice.
You cannot separate the seeds from the sheaves without sacrifice.
This altar is an altar of sacrifice. In O.T. times the offered sacrifice in the altar.
Today we need to built an altar of sacrifice
Prayer is the greatest sacrifice we can offer to God.
Spurgeon’s success was done by his 70 or 700 praying men while he preached.
Allan Brainard reached American Indians not by eloquence or talent but by his prayer.
E.M. bounds spent his last days by praying 4-5 hours a day – What a shame for today’s Christian workers who cannot stay just one hour with God.
Jacob wrestled with God and blessed him from being a supplanter to Israel - who prevails with God, Jacob after the great prayer-struggle at Peniel got a blessing from God change his name from Jacob to Israel because "as a prince he had power with God and prevailed.
Jabez – bless by God change his name from sorrowful and become honorable because of his sacrifice of prayers.
God is worthy of our praise and worship.


Conclusion:

God said to David – Don’t build your name but rather build an altar for God.
We can’t build our Christian life without building our altar first – I’m talking about your faithfulness in our Chritian services and our personal devotion with God.

We can’t build a Christian home without building our altar first.
We cannot be usable if we are not cleansed - 2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
You cannot win any battle without a wrestling time with God.
The saddest thing about modern day Christianity is to see Christians working for God without power from God.

Our altar is our source of power.

Making Decision That Honor God

Matt. 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Introduction:

There are many verses that we memorize and we claim and apply from time to time.

But there are also many verses in the Bible that we memorize but doesn’t give any llttle attention or worse we really don’t obey. One of this verse is our text verse…

We memorize and claim John 3:16, John 1:12; Phil. 4:19, etc.

We want to be bless, everyone want to be bless – what’s the secret of blessing?

It is found in Matt. 6:33 and in Deut. 28:1-2 - blessings will be added and overtake us if we are willing to obey God.

Add in Matt. 6:33. prostiyhmi (pros-tith'-ay-mee) - to place additionally, i.e. lay beside, annex, repeat:--add, again, give more, increase, lay unto, proceed further, speak to any more.

Overtake in Deut. 28:2 means nasag - a primitive root; to reach (literally or figuratively):--ability, be able, attain (unto), (be able to, can) get, lay at, put, reach, remove, wax rich, X surely, (over-)take (hold of, on, upon).


We are always making a decision –
Some are small some are life changing decision…


1st Step is Principles:
Psalm 119:105 – The Word of God is a lamp and a light by which we make good and godly decisions. We cannot disregard or disobey the principles of the Word of God and expect to “live happily ever after.”

Our decision must not base on our emotions or feelings, not based on our tradition or culture, not base on superstitious belief or not even base on zodiac sign.

But our decision must be based upon the principle found in the Word of God.

But be careful also to apply the Word of God in your life –
Illus. the how the foolish man apply the word of God


2nd Step is Prayer:
Read James 1:5-8 .

God promises wisdom to those who will ask for it. Wisdom is “spiritual common sense.” A needed quality for decision-making.

Our failure is always because of our failure to pray…

Matt. 7:7 Ask… seek… knock…

One of the ingredients of a successful Christian is in his secret closet…

Pray and ask God to help you and guide you in every decision you make.


3rd Step is Patience:
Wait – Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Most of the time God wants to prepare us in order to be useful

Illustrate: The life of David and the life of Joseph how to suffer but waited until God fulfill His promises to their life


4th Step is Priorities
Making God the first priority of your life - Matt. 6:33
In decision making one’s priorities come into place. Whatever is important to you will determine the decision you make.

God first - Personally I used it as my guiding principles with regards to my priorities - God first, family second, self is third, work is fourth


5th Step is People
There is safety in multitude of people – multitude of councilors

Prov. 11:14; 12:15; 15:22

God has placed around us wise and godly people who can help us arrive at sound decisions.

Pastor, Sun. School Teacher, Area leader,

So we need a church to find people. People who can help us making right and godly decision, decision that will honor God. Not emotional, selfish, vain glory type of decision that we always made which is based only on temporal and not base on eternal things


6th Step is Peace
Colossians 3:15

Do not make decisions that will disturb the peace of God in your heart.


7th Step is – It is Perfect?
Let us go unto perfection. Don’t settle for good or better decision but always look for the best.

Is this decision the perfect one? it the best?
A Christian should not settle for good or better but the best.

Be ye perfect for I’m the Lord is perfect

Being perfect means being matured…

1 Kings 20:40

When making a decision you need to consider: How will this affect my future, family and my spiritual life

What will Christ will tell me if He is now at my side? Will this decision bring glory to God? Can God will tell me welcome thou good and faithful servant at the Judgment Seat of Christ?


Conclusion:
Making decision that will honor God
1. Principle
2. Prayer
3. Patience
4. Priorities
5. People
6. Peace
7. Perfect