Songs in the Night

[0:00] Having lost in a fire initially virtually everything that they had, the Spafford family made some plans to move from Chicago to France across the ocean.

[0:25] ! And the man, Mr Spafford, Horatio, planned this trip for his wife and four daughters to be as trouble free as possible soon. He planned that they would be transported from America to France and he booked their passage on this huge ship to make sure that they had Christians there with whom to fellowship on their journey.

[0:48] And he planned to join them a few weeks later on.

[1:21] Spafford left Chicago to go and to bring his wife home. And as they crossed the Atlantic, the captain came and told him that this was the spot where his daughters had died.

[1:34] And at that place, Horatio Spafford took a pen and paper and wrote these words while passing over that spot where his daughters had perished. When peace like a river attendeth my way.

[1:48] When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my law, that has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.

[2:00] It took great faith for Horatio to pen those words. God took the worst experience of his life and turned it into a song of praise and hope.

[2:15] God can transform our pain into praise. These are really some scattered thoughts really tonight.

[2:26] Of various scriptures that point us in this direction. That God can turn our pain into praise. Because in Deuteronomy 33, 27 it says, The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.

[2:46] That's what it says. It's God's truth to us. The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.

[2:57] When should we praise God? Now there's times we don't feel like it. Let's be honest. We're going through some hard things. Some hard times. As a pastor I get to hear everybody's hard times.

[3:10] I get to hear of everybody's woes and troubles and genuine concerns and griefs and heartaches. It hurts me. I hurt for you. I hurt myself sometimes.

[3:22] I'm human too. I've got my worries too. But we can all take heart in this truth that underneath are the everlasting arms. And when should we praise God?

[3:34] David said this in Psalm 34 verse 1. I will bless the Lord. How? At all times. At what times? At all times. At all times.

[3:45] Let's say it together. I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. When things are going well. So we don't switch it on or switch it off.

[3:56] Amen. We don't bless the Lord at the easy times. We don't bless the Lord at the comfortable times. We bless the Lord at all times.

[4:07] His praise shall continually be in my mouth. That's what the word tells us. To confess. To action. To declare that. Now it's easy to sing praise when things are going okay, isn't it?

[4:21] When things look okay. When things are going well. But what are those times when we face struggles? When we face disappointments? When we face the heartaches of life? In that midnight hour.

[4:34] What then? Paul and Silas knew the midnight hour. They were suffering. In Acts 16. They had been beaten up. Thrown into a difficult prison.

[4:46] And in that prison they experienced the great grace of God. They received everything they needed. To transform that time of pain into a place of praise.

[4:57] In Acts 16 from verse 25. It says that at midnight. Paul and Silas prayed. And sang praises unto God. And the prisoners heard them.

[5:09] You know just earlier to that. They had been hauled out of the public square. They had been given a mock trial.

[5:20] And treated as scum. And beaten and thrashed. Their backs would have been bruised and torn.

[5:33] At midnight. Paul and Silas prayed. They really sang praises to God. And the prisoners heard them. And suddenly. It says that there was a great earthquake. So that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately. All the doors. Were opened. And everyone's bands.

[5:44] Their chains. Were loosed. It was a jailbreak. It was an amazing intervention of God.

[5:59] Their chains were loosed. It was a jailbreak. It was an amazing intervention of God.

[6:10] And God intervened as they prayed and praised. And friends, rejoicing is a discipline that we learn. It's a discipline that we learn. Paul and Silas probably didn't feel like praising God.

[6:23] I'd imagine. I'm just humanly reading into it. I mean, if I was in their shoes, I'd be wanting to have a bit of a moan about my aches and pains.

[6:34] But Paul and Silas, they never stopped praising the Lord. Matthew Henry, a commentator, said this. Days of trouble must be days of prayer. When God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek until we find him.

[6:48] Days of trouble must be days of prayer. He goes on, in the day of his trouble, the psalmist did not seek for the diversion of business or amusement, but he sought God and his favour and grace.

[7:03] Those that are under trouble of mind must pray it away. If you're under trouble of mind, pray it away. Now look, I'm not talking to you out of the air. I've got troubles of my own.

[7:16] I'm weighed down. I'm human. I'm flesh. Last time I looked at it. There's times I feel like giving up and having a tantrum, having a crying.

[7:29] Those that are under trouble of mind must pray it away. Friends, we're all human. And these are the answers of God to us. In the night of trouble, we can have a song.

[7:41] Allie who said to Job, Job 35.10, But not saith, where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?

[7:55] He was really pointing Job to this, this truth that God is my maker and God gives songs in the night. That's really the theme of this time here today.

[8:06] Just some scattered thoughts really. Encouraging thoughts, I pray. From the comfort of the scriptures. This is what we need. This is where we'll find our comfort. This is our comfort.

[8:16] Sister, brother. It's where we find God's comfort. As we claim his word. And I know it's hard. It's hard when you're feeling lousy. When you're feeling robbed.

[8:27] When you're feeling hurt. When you're feeling like you've failed. God, my maker, gives songs in the night.

[8:39] Job said, I know that my redeemer lives. God is my maker. God gives me a song. In Job 1.21, it says, the context earlier was that he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb.

[8:54] Naked shall I return there. The Lord gave. And the Lord had taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Here was a time where the Lord, he recognised God had given him all his goods and family and everything that was going so well for him.

[9:10] The Lord gave. And then the Lord took it away. But whatever. Praise the Lord anyway. Whatever. Praise the name of the Lord. Whatever.

[9:21] Blessed be the name of the Lord. In the night seasons, he gives us joy. He brings joy even in the time of sorrow. Even counterintuitively, we can praise the Lord.

[9:33] He's given. He's taken away. I'm going to bless his name anyway. Whatever happens to me. Whatever happens to my situation. And the night pictures a calamity. The time of night.

[9:45] The night seasons. It pictures a time of testing, of trial, of sadness, of grief, of loss. Even in times like this, the word tells us that we can find God's grace and help.

[9:59] We can find his presence. Because it's an eternal presence. He never leaves us. He never forsakes us.

[10:10] And in the time of trial, he's ever closer. He's always there. I love that there's a little song that says, standing somewhere in the shadows, you'll find Jesus.

[10:21] He's the one who always cares and understands. That's right. That's where you'll find him. And you'll know him by the nail prints in his hands.

[10:33] He's standing somewhere in your shadows. In those night seasons. And God can help us, even in such times as these. To be thankful still. To praise him still. He fills our hearts.

[10:45] He puts a song of praise on our lips. When the world would just whine and whinge and feel hopeless. For we that trust him, he's ever sweeter.

[10:59] And we can sing by faith. We can sing because we love him. We can sing while we work. Habakkuk 3.17 is a song of praise.

[11:13] And it's been popularized. Habakkuk 3.17 has been popularized, as we know, in a chorus. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines.

[11:25] The labor of the olive shall fail, and the field shall yield no meat. The flock be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.

[11:38] Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon my high places.

[11:54] Though the fig tree does not blossom, though everything goes wrong, I lose this, I lose that, there's no fruit, there's no fields, there's no vines, there's no flock, there's no herd.

[12:07] Yet will I rejoice in the Lord. He's my strength. He's the joy of my salvation. Not what's going on around me. Not my circumstance. Despite my circumstance.

[12:21] Doesn't matter what's going on. Because here's my strength. Here's the joy of my salvation. Yet will I rejoice. When we are tested, we can sing.

[12:34] I'm talking to myself today. I need to sing. When I don't feel like singing. I need to sing. When it's hurting. When it's hard. I need to sing. It's for all of us, brothers and sisters.

[12:49] David could sing. Even when he went through the valley of the shadow of death. He says, though I go through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Why? For thou art with me.

[13:00] David's sweetest songs came. In the darkest hours. In the night seasons. In those night hours. Those darkest hours.

[13:11] As he sought God's presence. And he found God's comfort. He found that his hope was beyond the happenings. Even in sorrow. And in suffering. We can sing for God's glory.

[13:22] Brothers and sisters. You can take heart today. In the comfort of the scriptures. It's counterintuitive. It's against the flesh. It's against the natural way of thinking. Because it's God's working in your heart.

[13:36] Philippians 4 verse 4. Again it's been popularized as a song. People sing. Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice.

[13:48] Amen. Rejoice and rejoice again. Now Paul was writing these words from a prison in Rome. His hands were chained.

[14:02] He was in the stocks. In privation. In prison. In suffering. And he suffered in many ways. And yet he's still praised.

[14:13] He's still found praise. He's still rejoiced. He did not lose heart. And friends today when you despair. When life is not fair. You can find peace and praise.

[14:27] You know there's some that have written on these themes. Where they've talked about the circumstances of life. And yet they've tried to apply those scriptures. That we should be thankful.

[14:39] And that we should in everything give thanks. And it goes against the grain for all of us. That we can find that truth. There was a man who was a pastor leading worship.

[14:52] He said. On the island of Tobago. He was on a short term mission trip there. Leading these folk in song.

[15:03] There was a leper colony. On the island of Tobago. And there was a woman there. Nearby. And she was turned away from him for a time. And then she turned around and looked at him.

[15:18] And he said. It was the most hideous face. I had ever seen. The woman's nose and ears. Were entirely gone.

[15:31] And she lifted a fingerless hand. Been eaten by. The leprosy. She lifted a fingerless hand in the air. And asked. Can we sing. Count your many blessings.

[15:44] Oh. And overcome with emotion. The preacher left the service. And he was followed by one of the team members too. He said to him.

[15:55] I guess you'll never be able to sing that song again. He said. Yes I will. But I'll never sing it the same way. Amen. That's right.

[16:06] Count your many blessings. Amen. Count your many blessings. Again reflect on the words of Elihu to Job. But not saith.

[16:17] Where is God my maker? Who giveth songs. In the night. Let's learn from Elihu. Job. And this leprous woman.

[16:30] Let's face life. In a different way. And count our many blessings people. Count your many blessings. Name them one by one. He gives you a song.

[16:42] Even in the night. Even in the night seasons. Yes God leads his children. On. With a song. As has been put. Some through the water.

[16:53] Some through the flood. Some through the fire. But all through the blood. Some through great sorrows. But God gives a song. Amen. In the night season.

[17:03] And all the day long. Even in the night season. Amen. Wow. Like happened to Paul and Silas. Even in the midst of tribulation.

[17:15] Even in a prison. Rejoice. Amen. And again I say. Rejoice. Rejoice. Amen. As the psalmist wrote. Many times.

[17:25] And you can take heart in the psalms. It's the song book of the church. From the earliest of times. The psalms. The writers of the psalms.

[17:37] Whether David or others. They told their soul to worship. Oh my soul. Bless the Lord. Amen. Bless the Lord you soul.

[17:49] Yeah. Bless his name. Yeah. Bless his worthy name. It's not about how you feel. It's about talking to your soul. Yeah. And these songs. The psalmists.

[18:00] The ones who wrote the psalms. They pour out their soul. In praise. They pour out their soul. In hearty worship. You don't have to feel like it.

[18:11] To praise him. That's right. Even better yet. When you don't feel like it. Amen. Rejoice. Rejoice. Just some thoughts around these things.

[18:22] Just some psalms. Just as an example of these truths. And think of these words. Now we haven't got all the words written out for all of these psalms. But just to capture the sense of these truths today.

[18:35] And you can take these psalms. You might want to write down some of these psalm references. And look them up later. And look at the whole psalm. Look at numbers of psalms.

[18:46] Read through the book of psalms. Psalm 42 is one example where the psalmist poured out his heart. As the heart or the deer pants after the water brooks.

[18:57] So panteth my soul after thee, O God. What a heart crying from this man. My soul thirsteth for God. For the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

[19:11] And he goes on how he pours out his heart, his soul. My tears have been by me day and night. While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me.

[19:23] For I had gone with a multitude. I went with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise. With a multitude that kept holy day. Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

[19:34] And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God. For I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Hope thou in God, he tells his soul.

[19:45] O my God, my soul is cast down within me. Therefore I remember thee from the land of Jordan, of the Hermonites, from the hill of Matzar. Deep calleth unto deep. At the noise of thy water spouts.

[19:57] All thy waves and thy billows have gone over me. So he's feeling overwhelmed. Verse 8. Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the daytime.

[20:09] And in the night his song shall be with me. In the night his song shall be with me. And my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock.

[20:22] Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As for the sword in my bones, my enemies reproach me. While they say daily unto me, where is thy God?

[20:33] Verse 11. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? He's talking to his soul. Why are you cast down? Why are you unsettled here?

[20:44] Hope thou in God. For I shall yet praise him. I shall yet praise him. For I shall yet praise him. There is the health of my countenance and my God.

[20:57] For I shall yet praise him. It's telling us turn to the Lord for your comfort. Turn to the Lord. Praise him. In the storm. In the night season. Psalm 57 is another example. The context here is where David fled from Saul.

[21:11] He's hiding in a cave. He's hiding away like a man. A wanted man. Hiding in a cave.

[21:22] Hiding like a frightened animal in a cave. And he says this. Be merciful unto me, O God. Be merciful unto me.

[21:34] For my soul trusteth in thee. Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge. Until these calamities be overpassed. We have that example next year. He's over us.

[21:45] He's over us. He's sheltering us. He's covering us. He's close to you. My soul trusteth in thee. Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge.

[21:59] Until these calamities be overpassed. I will cry unto God most high. Unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me from reproach.

[22:13] The reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. My soul is among lions and I lie even among those that are set on fire.

[22:25] Even the sons of men. His teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let thy glory be above all the earth.

[22:36] They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They have digged a pit for me. Before me. Into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah. Verse 7.

[22:47] My heart is fixed. O God. My heart is fixed. I will sing and give praise. Yeah. My heart is fixed.

[22:58] O God. My heart is fixed. I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory. Awake, psaltery and heart. I myself will awake early.

[23:09] I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people. I will sing unto thee, among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens.

[23:22] Let thy glory be above all the earth. Here was David, hiding like a frightened animal in a cave. Chased by Saul.

[23:34] A fugitive. Feeling overwhelmed. My heart is fixed. I will sing. Awake, my glory. I will praise thee, O Lord.

[23:47] I will. David said, my heart is fixed. His heart attitude was fixed on this. On this truth. God is greater than everything that is going on all around about me.

[24:00] And he was fixated on this truth. On rejoicing in God. No storm of adversity would stop him from praising. When we rejoice, we thank God that he is in control.

[24:11] He wants you to trust him more. He wants you to trust him more. That's right. 1 Thessalonians 5.16. It says, rejoice evermore. It means all the time, doesn't it?

[24:22] That's right. Doesn't, you don't have to define it, really. Evermore means evermore. Doesn't it? Rejoice evermore.

[24:33] All the time. You know, I like how some people say, God is good. And you say, all the time. That's the truth of it. He's good all the time.

[24:43] And we should rejoice all the time. Seek the Lord in the midst of the storm. Psalm 107.28.331. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble.

[24:55] Cry when? In their trouble. And he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

[25:06] Then are they glad, because they be quiet. So he bringeth them unto their desired haven. He takes us to the haven. And I was saying this morning, that the haven of rest.

[25:19] There's a sheltered harbor. We can take anchoring. And be sure and sheltered. Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men.

[25:35] Oh, that men would praise the Lord. Amen. You might say, but preacher, I'm in trouble. Preacher, things aren't going very good for me. It's really hard for me.

[25:49] It says here, they cry unto the Lord when? In their trouble. In their trouble. And he bringeth them out of their distresses.

[26:01] Amen. Praise and keep on praising until he takes you out of the situation. Continue to praise God. Praise him in your trials. Praise him in your times of trouble. Keep on praising.

[26:12] Just some other verses of the Psalms. These are just some, we're just scratching the surface. We could have spent many hours on this. Psalm 9 verse 9, it says, Now I like to think, as I've said this before, really, we're all refugees.

[26:32] That's right. Aren't we? That's right. We're all refugees in this church. Amen. We're all running from the city of destruction, isn't it?

[26:44] Not in Pilgrim's Progress. They are running out of the city of destruction and finding refuge. And we too, we find our refuge in times of trouble, in the Lord.

[26:58] Psalm 37, 39, it says, But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord. He is their strength in the time of trouble. Preacher, I'm troubled. It's hard.

[27:10] He is your strength, brother. He is your strength, sister. In the time of trouble. Psalm 46, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

[27:24] I love that one, don't you? Amen. When is he our refuge and strength? When is a very present help? When? Especially in trouble.

[27:35] Especially in trouble. All the time, really, but very present in trouble. And so, therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

[27:57] Now, here is a situation of total calamity. The earth being removed, mountains carried into the midst of the sea, the waters roaring and troubling, the mountains shaking. God is our refuge and strength.

[28:13] Rest in his control. I'm not meaning to discount that people are going through some tough things in this church. As I say, Pastor Adam and I, we get to hear only some of what's going on.

[28:26] We get burdened. It's a burden on us to hear of your woes and troubles. We feel for you. Our heart goes out to you. My heart gets turned upside down to think what some of you are going through at times.

[28:39] And I, it turns me upside down thinking about what some people are going through. And I don't know how to help you other than to pray.

[28:51] Pray. In the Word. Praise. Find your hope in Him. Find your hope in Him. Find your peace in Him. God is your refuge. Amen. God is your strength.

[29:02] Rest in His control. Sing. You know, when you're driving along and there's no one listening to you. Or whatever. There's a thing in the shower. Sing in your car.

[29:13] Sing. Sing those songs in the night. In the night seasons. Sing of His unfailing love for you. Sing with the top of your lungs.

[29:25] You know, there's times when I, you know, something exciting happens and you just go, Woo! You know, who's ever had those moments? You know, there's times when I, when I scored a job and I got in my car and there's no one around and you just go, Whoa!

[29:42] It's just, just, that's how we can sing, isn't it? When we know that, Wow! God is our refuge and strength. Sing unto Him. He puts a joy in our heart beyond our circumstance.

[29:55] And so when your heart just wants to cry out in shouts of despair, sing. Trust Him still. Trust Him. Trust Him that He is working. We don't understand.

[30:06] We can't fathom what's going on half the time. It's been said that in adversity, He usually wants, we usually want God to do a removing job, but He's rather, He's doing an improving job.

[30:19] We want Him to remove things, but He's trying to improve you. He's trying to shape you. And it goes on to realise the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the storm. That's right.

[30:29] It's then that we can know God is our help. It's then that we can know God is our refuge. In the day of trouble, that He is evermore where we should turn to. In Nahum 1 verse 7 it says, The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth them that trust in Him.

[30:46] When is God a stronghold? In the day of trouble. And He knows them that trust in Him. So rejoice. Again, it's counterintuitive.

[30:59] We think of James. He says, can it all joy when you go through suffering? I find that hard to reckon, but that's what it says. So that's what we should do, isn't it?

[31:11] 1 Peter 1. Peter was talking to some that were going through some trials. We know Pastor Adam's thoroughly covered 1 Peter.

[31:21] And 1 from verse 6 it says, Of these troubles, wherein ye greatly rejoice. Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. You might be going to see if the trouble thinks we're all heavy.

[31:34] It's like a real weight on your back. Though you're in heaviness through these many temptations and trials. He says, rejoice that the trial of your faith may be much more precious than of gold, that perisheth though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls.

[32:08] You know, there's a song that talks about that, isn't there? Joy unspeakable and full of glory. The context is trials. It's testing. It's in those manifold temptations.

[32:21] It's in the heaviness that you have that joy unspeakable and full of glory. That's when we can know our faith is grounded. And our rejoicing is not found in our circumstances.

[32:35] So that we can find joy even in the midst of our trials. Even in the darkest of nights. Brother, sister, hang on to these scriptures. Confess them. Claim them.

[32:46] Put them in your heart. Psalm 91. It's full of truth, isn't it? It's full of assurance. It's full of comfort and sustenance. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

[33:05] I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress. My God in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence.

[33:20] The snare of the fowler, like the catcher of birds, had these little tricks to sneak up on people. He's going to deliver you from that, it says.

[33:30] And from the noisome pestilence. So the dread pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers and under His wings shalt thou trust. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

[33:41] This is your shield. Let them throw at you what they like. This is my shield and buckler. His truth. Amen. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flyeth by day.

[33:55] Why? Because you dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Cry out to Him. Know that He is your refuge. Know that you can abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

[34:06] Psalm 61. The psalmist says, Hear my cry, O God. Attend unto my prayer. From the ends of the earth will I cry unto thee. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

[34:19] For there has been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in my tabernacle forever. I will trust in the covert of thy wings. We can trust in the covering of His wings.

[34:31] When my heart is overwhelmed. When my heart is overwhelmed. You might feel like that today. You might feel like that tomorrow.

[34:43] When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me, Lord. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For there has been a shelter unto me. David's best songs came out of his deepest griefs.

[34:57] Of his hardest times. Of his troubles. And so too for we. God will give you a song in the night. Amen.

[35:08] He will. It's what He does. Psalm 18 it says, from verse 1 through 6. He's human.

[35:43] That's right. David says, ungodly men made me afraid. We all have those moments. Those people that wear you down.

[35:55] The sorrows of hell compassed me about. The snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord. In my distress I did what? Call upon the Lord. In my distress I did what?

[36:07] I called upon the Lord. That's what I did. That's what David did. And cried unto my God. He heard my cry out of his temple. And my cry came before him.

[36:18] Even into his ears. You know sometimes we downplay prayer don't we? When you pray. Those words enter into God's ears.

[36:30] That's what it says. Cry unto God. Call upon him. It says he heard my voice. And my cry came before him. Even into his ears.

[36:42] So here's our strength. Give him the sacrifice of thanksgiving. You know it talks about the sacrifice of praise doesn't it? What does that mean? It means praise when you don't feel like it.

[36:53] You don't have to feel like it. Tell your soul. I will bless the Lord. I will bless the Lord. Psalm 107. God is faithful.

[37:03] Oh that man would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men. Oh that man would praise the Lord for he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

[37:17] Oh that man would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men. People of God. We've got so much to thank him for.

[37:27] Haven't we? Amen. His wonderful grace. His undeserved mercy. 2 Corinthians 6.10 Paul writes as sorrowful yet always rejoicing.

[37:40] Paul knew what it was like. You know I touched on it this morning. Paul went through the wringer didn't he? He just went through tremendous suffering as a preacher.

[37:53] As sorrowful yet always rejoicing. Rejoicing always. Always. Matthew 5 we read amongst many blessings of the Beatitudes our Lord says blessed.

[38:09] There's a blessing. There's a joy. There's a God's granting that joy that is beyond compare. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake.

[38:22] For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. You know the persecuted church are blessed. Amen. They are blessed. Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

[38:40] You know people have launched hate campaigns against me. Against this church. Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

[38:55] What are you supposed to do? Rejoice. Rejoice. Rejoice. And be exceeding glad. For great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

[39:06] If you're persecuted. If you are attacked as a Christian for your faith. It tells you to rejoice. I think it's got the sense of jump for joy.

[39:17] Jump for joy. That's the sense of it. Rejoice. Be exceeding glad. 2 Samuel 22 verse 7 it says. In my distress I called upon the Lord.

[39:29] In my distress I did what? I called upon the Lord. And cried to my God. And he did hear my voice out of his temple. And my cry did enter into his ears.

[39:39] God's ears are always open. Unto your prayer. Amen. Now of course the word tells us that sin can sometimes be a blockage. But his ears are always open.

[39:51] Unto our prayers. If our heart is crying out. Our heart is crying out unto him. He will hear your prayer. And people of God today.

[40:04] God is bigger than your storm. He's bigger than whatever life throws at you. And God commands us many times to do this simple thing. A four letter word.

[40:17] Sing. Pray as well. But sing. God commands us many times to sing. Just again. Just quickly. To close now. Psalm 81 verse 1.

[40:29] Sing aloud unto God our strength. Make a joyful noise. Unto the God of Jacob. Sing aloud unto God. Psalm 98 verse 1. Oh sing unto the Lord. Oh sing unto the Lord a new song.

[40:40] For he hath done marvellous things. Psalm 96 verse 1. Oh sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord all the earth. Psalm 101 verse 1.

[40:51] I will sing of mercy and judgment. unto thee oh Lord will I sing. Psalm 104 verse 1. Psalm 104 verse 1. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live.

[41:01] Satan of God. Psalm 104 verse 1. Psalm 104 verse 1. Satan of God here tonight. God can turn your pain into praise. That's what he did for David.

[41:13] That's what he did for Paul and Silas. And God can do the same for you. Right here, right now. In whatever you're going through. God can turn your pain into praise.

[41:26] And the Lord will complete the good work that he has started in you. He is our refuge and strength. And he's bigger than any storm that faces you today.

[41:38] And in my distress I called unto the Lord. I cried to my God and he did hear my voice. And my cry did enter into his ears. Don't neglect to pray and to praise.