Blog: PSALMS- The Spirit of Truth

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

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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.

Blog: PSALMS- Supernatural Strength and Eternal Prespective

Psalm 84, a Psalm of the sons of Korah to the chief musician. These sons of Korah were Levites. They came from the family of Kohath. And by David's time, they served in the temple worship (2 Chronicles 20:19). They are actually the lineage of Korah, who led a rebellion of 250 men against Moses in the wilderness. (Numbers 16). Korah’s rebellion led to his death, but the Sons of Korah survived. Legacy can be redeemed and restored!

53 of the 150 Psalms are addressed to the chief musician. This was likely a music director or choir leader in the days of David and Solomon. We have to also acknowledge that God is the most chief of all musicians so it is possible this could also be a reference to God. He is the Creator of music. It is a wonderful thought that one day we will hear God sing in heaven.

Charles Spurgeon said that Psalm 84 should be called the Pearl of the psalms. If the 23rd be the most popular, the 103 the most joyful, the 119, the most deeply experiential, the 51st, the more most plaintive (sorrowful). Psalms 84 is one of the sweetest songs of peace.

Psalm 84:1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! ESV

The courts of the Lord references the place of God’s presence! The Tabernacle was the house of God for over 400 years before they ever built The Temple in the days of Solomon. Clearly this voices a deep affection for the house of God and the gathering together in God’s presence.

Psalm 84:2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. ESV

This appreciation for God's house wasn't simply because it was beautiful, though it must have been stunning. 183,000 workers gave themselves to this project for seven years. Solomon’s father David began the process, collecting materials from around the world for the construction. Besides stone, precious gems, copper, and bronze, the Bible says that 108,000 talents of gold and 1,017,000 talents of silver were used. One talent equals 75 pounds. As of February 2021, the value of the gold and silver alone exceeded $300 billion dollars.

There are some beautiful buildings in this world but the Temple is in the running to be the most breath-taking structure ever built.

As stunning as it may have been it wasn’t what is being referenced with longing and even fainting for the courts of the Lord. The structure was secondary. This was about the outrageous privilege of meeting with God among his people. We can love a lot of things but most things we love we never truly long for. This describes a longing that is aligning to the deepest sense of purpose known to mankind! A longing that is so great within us that we faint if we don’t experience it. Life without God’s presence is an empty shell of a faint existence.

My heart and my flesh cry out singing for joy to the living God. This is where this Psalmist met with God. We are the fulfillment of the Temple. Church must be more than a place offering programs, social connections or self-helps sermons. You can’t go to church because you are the church. We gather as the church to become more aware of who God’s called us to be as the church! This is where we come together to meet with God in a remarkable way. May we never lose our wonder!

Psalm 84:3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 

We turn from the beauty of God’s presence to this reference to birds. I wonder if the thought of birds flying over the open top of the Tabernacle is involved in this reference. Imagine birds nesting above freely looking in at all of the tabernacle activities. What a wonderful thing it would be just to make God's house my home.

The sparrow is an example of a bird of seemingly little significance. The swallow is known as a restless bird. No matter how insignificant or restless we may feel God has his eye on us just as He does the sparrow.

Psalm 84:4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah ESV

We see the psalmist moving into a recognition of what a blessing it must be for the priests, who had rooms at the house of God, to live a life of constant praise.

Next he turns his attention to his own journey and the journey of others who walk with God.

Psalm 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. ESV

Highways to Zion exist within our heart. When we pray God’s Kingdom come, we must realize we are the key that unlocks this reality in the world around us. 

Jacob’s Ladder (Gen 28) he says the house of God is the gate of heaven.

Psalm 24:7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! (NAS)

You were born to be a gateway for the King! And when this King shows up things begin to change! This Valley of Baca speaks of tears, weeping and hardship. God awakens the blessing of his ancient streams within us in such a way that he reverses the curse into a blessing. The valley of weeping is converted into a place of springs, or a place of refreshing.

On a normal journey, especially when it is difficult, the natural progression is to go from strength to weakness or fatigue. We start strong but after a long hike we’ve grown fatigued or even exhausted. In this text we see a supernatural strengthening from God himself as we go from strength to strength until we reach our destination. 

Psalm 84:8-9 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! ESV

This is not only a declaration of praise. It is also a prayer. It was a prayer for provision in times of difficulty and a prayer for protection in times of challenge. This expression of praise that involves an attitude of prayer remains in touch with what matters more than anything else and that is God’s presence!

Psalm 84:10-12 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! ESV

GP2RL: Explore new ways to experience God’s presence more deeply this week as you read Psalms chapters 91-105.

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PSALMS: Supernatural Strength and Eternal Perspective

DISCUSSION GUIDE

UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: 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? 

Psalm 84:1-12 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! ESV 

2. Psalms 84 expresses a deep longing to be in the presence of God. How do you relate to this longing in your own life? What are some ways you purpose to experience God’s presence? 

3. This Psalm specifically speaks of the joy of worshiping God in community. How does worshiping together with others enhance your own spiritual experience? Share a time when you felt particularly connected to God in a group setting. 

4. What practical steps would you suggest if someone came to you asking how they could cultivate a deeper relationship with God? 

5. Read Psalms 84 again asking each person to share one thing that stands out to them from the reading. 

6. Share any thoughts you have about how you plan to implement our action point this week.

Everywhere we go, we bring...

GP2RL: Reflect on seeking refuge and trusting God in His presence this week as you read Psalms chapters 76-90.

Blog: PSALMS- Create In Me A Clean Heart

Psalms, chapters 46-60 focus on finding refuge, forgiveness and restoration in times of turmoil, which is sometimes self-induced. This is where we find David as he writes Psalms 51.

This Psalm was written by David when the Prophet Nathan came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. He then murdered her husband, Uriah, to cover it up. 2 Samuel 11

Somehow David, in his sin, did all this damage and was just moving forward taking Bathsheba as his wife. Nathan comes to him and addresses these issues. Suddenly David repents.

It wasn’t that David couldn’t see his sin. He simply couldn’t see it alone. We need each other! Once a trusted friend came to David, he was able to see the terrible sins he’d committed. 

Psalms 51:1-4 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I am conscious of my transgressions, and I acknowledge them; My sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned And done that which is evil in Your sight... (AMP)

We really need to understand that sin is wrong, sin is bad, sin is damaging and ultimately sin is destructive. First we must all understand that everyone needs to repent and be saved from the sin of Adam. You don’t have to do anything to get your daddy’s last name who got his last name from his daddy and so on. 

Adam is your great, great, great, great…grandfather. Not only do you carry his name but you also carry his nature until you die in Christ. 

This is where many Christians miss it. Only death is powerful enough to conquer your sin. Death! Not determination, not discipline, not denial. Only death. “I’m going to change my attitude”, “I’m going to speak better to my wife and kids”, “I’m going to start doing or stop doing…” How many times have we been determined to discipline ourselves or deny ourselves only to fail another time. 

Freedom isn’t found in our determination. Freedom is found in our death in Christ. Jesus gives the church only two ordinances: communion and baptism. Both remind us over and over again our life is found in His death. 

A conscience that is burdened with the guilt and shame of sin leaves you in a state of turmoil and impacts others more than you realize. We find this in Psalms 51 as well.

Psalms 51:5 I was brought forth in wickedness; In sin my mother conceived me. (AMP)

This verse makes room for theological speculation about David being an illegitimate child of Jesse. It’s interesting that the day David was anointed to be King, he was out in the field tending the sheep. He hadn’t even been invited with all of his brothers to welcome the Prophet Samuel into town. This was a huge event taking place! Perhaps only the “legitimate sons” of Jesse were there for Samuel to select from as Israel’s King. Surely not David!

Last week I heard the testimony of Brittni who, at the age of 18, became a stripper. After quickly becoming well known in this field she was invited to begin making adult movies. She became a porn star in more than 300 adult films over a ten-year period. She described making more money than she’d ever imagined. But her burdened conscience was so tormenting she spent all that money using drugs. She was searching for relief from all the guilt and shame she felt until she met Jesus truly finding freedom.

When you buy what the world is selling in any area of your life, it will always take you further than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay and keep you longer than you want to stay. 

If the Bible says something is wrong, it doesn’t matter how you feel about it. You can put sand in a gas tank for a little while before seeing the damage it has done. You may believe you’re getting away with it but problems are in the works in ways beyond your wildest imagination. Only when we turn to face God’s grace can we find restoration and relief as David did.

Psalms 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You. (AMP)

I love this because God is restoring his joy as he uses his past as a weapon against the enemy. The very thing the enemy used against David was now in the hands of God as a weapon teaching others about grace and freedom from the devil’s kingdom of accusation, guilt and shame.

The porn star who came to Christ not only became a Christian. She married another Christian and together they now lead a church in San Diego helping others find their way.

It’s sometimes difficult to compute that God can use our complicated past. When you use a calculator and add the wrong value or hit the wrong button it messes up the result. There is this button that clears all mistakes and makes the screen brand new. Even when we have deeply complicated circumstances God is there to clear all our mistakes and help us start anew.

Jesus died to clear your record and cleanse your conscience.

Acts 3:19-20 So repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day].... (AMP)

GP2RL: Make room to sit with God asking him to show you things in your heart he wants to address. Tell a trusted friend.

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PSALMS: Create In Me A Clean Heart

DISCUSSION GUIDE

UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: 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? 

David is writing Psalms 51 repenting for sinning against God by having adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband, Uriah, to cover it up.

Psalms 51:1-4 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I am conscious of my transgressions, and I acknowledge them; My sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned And done that which is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when you speak And faultless in Your judgment. (AMP) 

2. What stands out to you about these verses? 

3. What would you say are consequences of our unwillingness to repent for sin?

Psalms 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You. (AMP) 

4. What stands out to you about these verses? 

5. Part of the joy of God restoring our lives is the power of our story and how our mistakes can be used to help others on their journey. Can you think of a time someone shared their mistake and it helped you personally? Please explain if so.

May we have the courage to admit our mistakes before God to be restored and the willingness to share our mistakes as ministry to others.

Everywhere we go, we bring...

GP2RL: Make room to sit with God asking Him to show you things in your heart He wants you to see.