We live in a confusing world in so many ways.
The ISIS terrorist beheading the infidel, the prosperity gospel celebrity preacher getting out of his Hummer after late-night drinks with Kanye West, the Westborough Baptist picketer outside a military funeral screaming "God hates gays!", the Hindu sacrificing a goat to Shiva, the African witch doctor sacrificing a little boy. the U.S. Army sniper praying to God before he takes the shot, the gay singer who stands up at the Grammys and thanks God for his song about a one-night stand, the Catholic nun giving up a "normal life" to live in poverty and work for social change- all of these men and women do what they do because of what they believe about God.
Psalms 119:1-11 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ESV
The place of calm doesn’t mean you don’t have something problematic growing in your heart.
1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. NIV
New Living Translation, “My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right.”
To have harmony of all opinions at the expense of God’s Word is today’s most common challenge to God’s Word.
The original temptation was the devil questioning God’s Word to Eve. When Jesus was tempted, he responded by declaring God’s Word, “It is written.” We must always return to God’s Word as our first source of truth defining our reality.
We must be unbending when it comes to the truth. But we can be unbending without being unloving or unkind.
A female swim team in Virginia at Roanoke College stood united against swimming with a transgender male identifying as a female. Serena Williams, arguably the greatest women’s tennis player of all time said, “I won’t play a man. They are a lot faster, they serve harder, they hit harder. It’s a completely different game.”
Nobody’s DNA changes as a result of gender surgery. This is nothing more than cosmetic surgery as your God-given gender is encoded into your existence.
Psalms 119:29-36 Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. 31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! 32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! 33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. 35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! ESV
False ways are to be far from us as we incline our hearts toward God’s word rather than self-serving pursuits.
These are very uncomfortable conversations in the day in which we live and they can cause a great deal of tension. We do have to realize, however, Jesus didn’t come to promote world peace and harmony. They crucified Jesus! They didn’t kill him because he loved the poor. They killed him because he was politically incorrect and unbending when it comes to Truth! We must live as convinced and compelled by the truth in all of our ways.
In all of this truth must never be weaponized against humanity. Our battle is not against flesh and blood and loving others even when we don’t agree is vitally essential to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
GP2RL: Take time to read Psalms 120-135 this week in a sincere posture of surrender.
PENTECOST SUNDAY:
Today we celebrate Pentecost! "Pentecost" is derived from the Greek word for "fiftieth." It falls seven weeks and one day—fifty days—after the sabbath that occurs during the weeklong Feast of Unleavened Bread. Pentecost is also called the "Feast of Weeks" because that same period is seven weeks or "a week of weeks." After Passover, Pentecost is the next major feast for which Jews from all over the Roman Empire would come to Jerusalem.
The Feast of Weeks is the second of three feasts that include a firstfruits offering. When people came to Jerusalem for Pentecost, they were to bring the first of their grain as a free-will offering. On this Pentecost, Jerusalem offers a kind of free-will offering to God as three thousand people believe in Jesus (Acts 2:41).
Acts 2:1-6 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. NAS
The gifts of the spirit are for today. We want you to be filled with the Spirit, walking in God’s power as a way of life. If you have any interest in studying this deeper you can find several messages and blogs here where we’ve posted “The Not So Spooky Ghost Stories” messages: https://destinyokc.com/holyspirit
The Spirit Of Truth
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Psalms unveils the authenticity of humanity in the, sometimes painful, but always beautiful pursuit of God. The beauty is that God never wastes a single hurt if we are willing to give it to Him.
We can judge God according to our circumstances or we can judge our circumstances according to our God. God is good even in our times of pain and desperation. We live in a fallen world, but we look to a Risen King.
Two thirds of the Psalms are what scholars call lament. So often, our greatest purpose is born from our deepest pain. May we press in and go deeper in our authentic pursuit of the heart of God as we explore the treasures of Psalms.
It is a good thing to hear what God is revealing in the hearts of those around us. Feel free to use this question however you feel it fits in your time together as a group.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
2. We are called to be loving as we embrace truth. What are some common challenges Chris tians face in remaining faithful to God’s Word in a culture that promotes different values?
As you read the following verses watch for the emphasis on God’s word, our hearts, obedience of our lives and the blessing that results:
Psalms 119:1-11 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ESV
3. Can you think of any biblical examples where individuals remained faithful to God’s Word despite opposition from the world? What lessons can we learn from their experiences?
4. How can we communicate the message of God’s Word effectively in a world that may be resistant or hostile to it?
Everywhere we go, we bring...
GP2RL: Take time to read Psalms 120-135 this week in a sincere posture of surrender.