Where is Christ during a Crisis?
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Psalm 27
Psalm 27
Key verse: Psalm 27:5 “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”
Crisis noun. an event resulting in great loss, misfortune or oppression. (Calamity)
He will never leave you nor forsake you. You have heard and read that passage of scripture. But what happens when a crisis comes and you feel like God has left you. I encourage you to take your eyes off your crisis, the situations that make you feel overwhelmed, that you have no control over, and look up....Christ is there. Even when you don’t see Him, Christ is right there.
We suffer during a crisis for various reasons. 1) David suffered during a crisis at the hands of his enemies. 2) Job was permitted to suffer during a crisis by God Himself. 3) And also, crisis occur because of evil individuals. In Jeremiah 18:17 “Like a wind from the east, I will scatter them before their enemies; I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their disaster.”” God says he will turn His back on the wicked and rebellious people in the time of a crisis. The believers, as well as the nonbelievers will suffer during a crisis. However, it is important that God’s people remain faithful during those times. We must always place our hope in the Lord. He delivered David, he delivered Job, and He delivers us from our crisis.
In this Psalm, David is a man who is in a spiritual crisis, and he stands tall against his troubles because he is confident that the Lord will protect and save him. David came from humble beginnings.
He was a shepherd boy.
He was anointed by Samuel to be Saul’s replacement as king while Saul was still on the throne
He defeated Goliath. On paper, David didn’t stand a chance to win this fight but he had faith in his God that he would be victorious.
He becomes best friends with Jonathan (Saul’s son), and Saul grows more envious and jealous of David
He marries Saul’s daughter
He becomes King
He sins with Bathsheba
.His eldest son, Amnon, raped his half sister. David did nothing
The point is that David had ebbs and flows in life just like you. Yet in Psalm 17:8 David says“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings”
Why would God allow you to go through a crisis? God loves you but you have not returned your love back to Him. Let’s Look at the imagery of a husband and wife, and God (husband) calls his wife (church) to stop her adultery and sinning. Your unfaithfulness to God draws you away from God. We prioritize and put others, and other things in front of God. God does not give up on you and I. His Son Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Will you let Him in?
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”
Light represents the presence of God. Light overcomes and defeats darkness. Jesus says in John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
Salvation means that God is the one who delivered him from harm.
Whom shall I fear? Despite the darkness that surrounds you during a crisis, The Lord is your light, and with the Lord on your side, you are not afraid of anything or anyone.
He is not afraid because he is patient during his positioning. (Dennis Rodman, best rebounder ever)
“He may not come when you want him, but he is right on time”
Stronghold in the Greek means, a fortress or high walls. God protects you from the crisis.
Psalm 27:2 “When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.”
The wicked came to devour you but even during a crisis, your enemies are the ones who fall. Great Point: Proverbs 24:17–18 “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.”
God has special protection over His Church and His children that keeps them during a crisis. Read Psalm 105:12–14 “When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:”
When Abraham and his family were few, God promised he would multiple them by large numbers.
Before they entered their land, they wandered from nation to nation
God allowed no one to oppress them but protected/preserved them.
Point: Even when you have faith and confidence in the Lord during the crisis, the problem is still there. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” KJV>>> faith is the ||substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.
Point: To heal from a crisis, things have to be revealed to you. God will causes your enemies to fall and stumble. In fact, God will make your enemy your footstool.
Psalm 27:3 “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
It is in a crisis situation that believers exercise their faith.
You can bring an army against me but I will not fear.
You can wage war against me, but I will still stay confident in God that he will protect me.
This confidence is based upon God’s resume of doing what He said he would do to protect his children.
Psalm 27:4 “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”
Our confidence in God like David in this verse should grow especially when you are committed to the Lord. Our faith should be a reflection of our commitment to the Lord. Just like David, we should be motivated to seek God’s face and favor.
David asked for the important thing in life - God himself. He wanted to live for the glory of God
Request to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life
Gaze on the beauty of the Lord. Means to mediate on God’s glory
Psalm 27:5 “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”
David is acknowledging that as long as he lives on earth that trouble will come his way. In Job 14:1 ““Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.”
Your own sins will cause crisis's
Sins of the wicked causes crisis's
Falling for the deception of Satan causes crises
He says that God will keep him safe in his dwelling
This point in the verse is talking about communion with God. And communion with God secures you from the enemy and troubles. The High Rock would keep you from troubles.
He will keep you safe as he hide you high in the rocks that he set
Series #2
Introduction: It is important that we as believers understand and except that crisis will come in our life. There are 3 stages of a crisis. 1. You are dealing with it right now. 2. You were just deliveried from a crisis. 3. You are about to enter a crisis. Therefore it should be important for you to study and spend time with God word. It is through these moments that you are exercising your faith and confidence in the Lord. Story: Antonio shared that he transitioned from short distance running to long distance running. He could not just begin running long distance races without the proper training for endurance. Each day he had to train differently for long distance than the short distance runners. It is important for you to remember this race is not giving to the swift nor to the strong but to the one who endures until the end. As you study and spend time in God’s word, you are training for endurance for the crisis. Here is why it is so important for you to handle a crisis properly. Look at 1 Peter 4:17–18“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”” Point: those believers who endure their crisis can be confident that God judgement will validate them. Just as Christ faced crisis - being beat, lied on, mocked, and crucified like a criminal to make salvation possible for you. You must be encouraged to follow Jesus during your crisis until your course is finished. Why, because someone is looking to your model of faithfulness during their journey. God validates His family first (church, wife). God word is a two-edge sword. It will save some people and it will condemn others. The nonbeliever will experience the full ramifications of their sins when God judges all. (I don’t want no trouble on my dying bed)
Psalm 27:6 Psalm 27:6 “Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.”
The Lord will exalt you above your enemies (the situation or people who tried to pull you down) .
Once you see Christ in your crisis, the proper response is to praise and worship Him for his sustaining power
To shout, sing, and rejoice in the Lord is easy when everything is going well.
What happens when you are praying within your POWER? Pray Only When Everything is Right
Pray to God and ask him for strength (Isaiah 40:31 “but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Mediate on his Word. (Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Praise the Lord. Psalm 103:2 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—”
Sacrifice: something of value offered up to God as an act of worship or devotion.
Psalm 27:7 “Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!”
David desire to God during his spiritual crisis is very impactful here. He is saying that if he cannot go up to the house of the Lord yet, then whereever he is, he can find a way to the Lord through the grace of prayer.
Why is it important for God to response to you?
Proverbs 1:23–28 “Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded, and because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you, when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.”
Point: when you cry out to the Lord, what are you utterring from your lips. Are you asking the Lord to deliver you from your crisis or Are you asking to be in the presence of the Lord?
Discussion: Matthew 6:24-34, he highlights eight reasons not to be anxious:
1. Life is more than food and clothing (v. 25).
2. The birds of the air work and count on God (v. 26).
3. Anxiety doesn’t get you anywhere (v. 27).
4. God delights to adorn things (vv. 28-30).
5. Unbelievers are anxious about food and clothing (v. 32).
6. Your heavenly Father knows your needs (v. 32).
7. God will carry your burdens if you seek first his honor (v. 33) Matthew 6:33 “But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” KJV: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. “The reason you are staying in the crisis longer than others is because you are asking the Lord interpretation but you are asking him for application .”
8. Tomorrow will be anxious for itself (v. 34). (“Nine Arguments”)
Psalm 27:8 ““Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
David, during his crisis, wants nothing more than to seek the face of God and to pursue God’s presence.
Notice that David is speaking with his heart and not just his mouth. Jeremiah 29:13 “When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart,”
Psalm 27:9 “Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!”
Even though David had confidence in the Lord, it did not stop him from being concerned about himself. David knew that he was a sinner. It is one thing to praise the Lord when everything is lined up in your life and it is something else when you are in your crisis.
When the Lords face shines upon us, it means that He is pleased and will help us. Look at Numbers 6:22–27 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”