Thank you, Sean.
I am unbelievably grateful to be able to stand here before you today.
As a man of God, I'm grateful to be here.
I'm grateful because I remember walking these streets years ago with Sean,
praying and seeking God as to whether this was the place for him to plant.
And now to see all your faces out here is just a real blessing to my soul
that God would be so gracious and so kind as to build his church here in this community.
Amen?
And as Sean said, I would agree completely that Sean is one of my best friends,
a man I truly look up to and am grateful for his friendship,
grateful for him speaking into my life without hesitation.
And I am blessed by the words that he speaks.
I believe they are truly from God when he speaks.
So you are blessed to have him as your pastor.
Just to give you a quick update before we get into,
to give you a little bit about Salem and the church plan.
And since he asked me to, never asked a church planting pastor to tell you about his church plant
because he won't shut up.
So Salem, if you're not familiar with it, is a city of about 43,000 people.
It is a city that has probably 500 or so active practicing believers.
So do the math on that.
That is missions territory.
That's really less than 2%.
So it's a great place to plant a church.
There's tons of opportunity in Salem.
It is a very spiritual city.
People are actually very spiritually engaged in Salem.
So if there's 500 believers, there's three times that amount that are actively practicing witchcraft.
There are lots of people.
Yeah, there's a lot of covens there.
There's 20 plus covens in the city.
That's witches who practice witchcraft are in covens, like we're in churches.
There are probably another...
I don't even want to try and give a percentage.
People practicing paganism, neopaganism, and some other strange New Age type stuff, crystals.
Everything you can possibly think of is kind of in that city.
It's a great place to be.
Think of Paul in Ephesus.
It's a great place to be.
People are openly engaged in some sort of worship.
Not ours, and we're not preferable, and they don't like us there.
But God's opening doors for us.
So we're excited.
We've added two new families.
I'm hoping to have a third.
They keep telling me they're going to visit.
He's a non-believer.
He's fallen on some hard times, and I've been helping him walk through.
And I'm excited to see where that may go.
You could be praying for us.
So if I could give you a vision of something that God gave me in 2017 before I planted.
I was standing on a hill at the west end of Salem.
It's called Gallows Hill.
It's right near where they hung the witches.
It's the high ground.
You can look over the city.
And I was just really praying,
God, this is hard ground, and I don't know if we can do this.
And everything stands against us.
How are we going to do this?
And as I had my eyes closed, and I opened them,
and I was looking at a tree that was growing out of a rock.
Like the tree had split the rock and was growing out of it.
And God said, this is what I will do in Salem.
Just plant the seed.
Amen?
So, it's going to be hard ground.
It takes time.
But God is doing something in that city because God cares about people.
And there are people in that city that are called by his name.
They just don't know it yet.
And so, our job is to spread the gospel, to proclaim it,
and to be Christ's representatives in that city,
just like you are here.
And so, please pray for us that we're able to do that,
that we're able to proclaim the glorious gospel of Christ,
and that we do it faithfully and consistently.
Amen?
Amen.
Thank you.
So, our passage today is from Psalm 63.
Now, scholars believe that Psalm 63
springs out of the events from 2 Samuel 15-17.
And in those chapters,
the son of David, Absalom,
is conducting a coup against his father.
It's a coup that is five years or more in the making.
Years of deception
and well-thought-out lies,
years of cunning
were what is behind this coup.
As chapter 17 picks up,
David has abandoned Jerusalem.
Now, he's abandoned it to save it from the conflict.
He doesn't want warfare in the city.
And he's taken those who are loyal to him
into the wilderness
where both food and water are scarce.
Many of those who are following him
are now women and children.
Verse 29 of chapter 17
in 2 Samuel tells us that
the people were hungry
and weary
and thirsty
in the wilderness.
It is here that David
prepares to do battle against his son,
Absalom,
a son whom he loves.
And it is from this place
that Psalm 63
is written.
So let's
turn to Psalm 63
and I'll read that for us.
Psalm 63.
The Psalm of David
when he was in the wilderness
of Judah.
O God,
you are my God.
Earnestly I seek you.
My soul thirsts
for you.
My flesh
faints
for you.
As in a dry
and weary land
where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you
in the sanctuary
beholding your power
and your glory.
Behold,
your steadfast love
is better than life.
My lips
will praise you.
So I will bless you
as long as I live.
In your name,
I will lift up my hands.
My soul
will be satisfied
as with fat
and rich food.
And my mouth
will praise you
with joyful lips
when I remember you
upon my bed
and meditate upon you
in the watches
of the night.
For you
have been my help
and in the shadow
of your wings
I will sing for joy.
My soul
clings to you.
Your right
hand
upholds me.
But those
who seek
to destroy
my life
shall go down
into the depths
of the earth.
They shall be given
over to the power
of the sword.
They shall be
a portion
for jackals.
But the king
shall rejoice
in God.
All who swear
by him
shall exalt
for the mouth
of liars
will be stopped.
May God bless
the reading
and the hearing
of his word.
from today's passage.
I hope
to help us
understand
the psalm
from David's
perspective
and also
to understand
that this psalm
is included
in Scripture
in God's word
to be
instructive
for us
as well.
From the passage,
I hope to convince
you of three things.
I hope
to convince you
that you can
come before
God
with a desperate
spirit
or a desperate
heart.
That is
what David
did
and it is
what we
should be doing
as well.
From there,
I want to
encourage you
to remember
God
with an expectant
heart
because as
we see in
verses 2
through 7,
when we
remember
God,
our faith
is built.
We are able
to worship
God
and in the
worship of God,
even in difficult
circumstances,
our hungry
flesh
and our
thirsty
souls
will be
satisfied
and find
joy
in God's
presence.
And finally,
my desire
is to lead
you
and to
challenge
you
to rejoice
in God
with the
overcoming
King.
But before
we go
any farther,
please let me
take a moment
to submit
this message
to God,
to ask
Him
to guide
and give
power to
my words,
to ask
Him to
prepare
your hearts
and mine
to receive
the word
that He
would speak
to us
today
and that
He would
cause it
to transform
our thoughts
and actions
in the coming
week.
So Father,
You are
so good
to give
us Your
Word
to
faithfully
speak to
us
even
today
through
Your
Scripture.
Lord,
I just
want to
humbly
submit
this
message
to You
today
that You've
given me.
Lord,
I ask You
to change
it in
any way
You see
fit.
Lord,
Your
promise is
that Your
Word does
not go
out and
come back
void.
So Lord,
we ask
accomplish
all that
You
would.
Lord,
I pray
that today
You would
give us
eyes that
are seeing
and perceiving,
hearts
that are
understanding.
Lord,
and as
required,
Father,
through the
power of
Your
Holy Spirit,
that You
would give
us the
ability to
repent where
that's
necessary and
faith to
believe where
that's
necessary.
Lord God,
come and
do all that
You intend
today,
we pray.
In
Jesus'
name,
Amen.
In 2 Samuel
17,
David and
those who
are with
him are
in a
desperate
place.
As we
mentioned
earlier,
this passage
that we've
read in
Psalm 63
is rooted
in the
events of
Absalom's
conspiracy
and coup
to overthrow
his father.
things are
desperate
for David.
David has
left the
city with
a small
contingent of
faithful followers.
They have
left behind
almost everything
in the way
of supplies
because they
were completely
caught off
guard by
this turn
of events.
Absalom is
literally entering
the city with
an army behind
him as David
is going out
the other
gates on the
other side of
the city.
David hurries
his people
to the
only place
that he is
absolutely
familiar with,
the only
place that
David is
likely to
go when
he's being
pursued.
It's the
wilderness of
Judea.
He knows it
because he's
hidden there
before.
He's hidden
there before
from King
Saul,
Israel's
first king.
But now
the circumstances
are different.
When he went
the first time
it was as a
warrior fleeing
on his own.
And now
he's going
as a king
into a dry
and weary
land with
women and
children and
his entourage
with limited
supplies and
no clear
knowledge of
who he can
trust.
The world
has been
unturned
upside down
for him.
It is from
this place
that David
cries out
to God
in the
beginning
of his
psalm.
I cannot
imagine
David
having spent
a more
restless
night.
I can
imagine him
wrestling
with his
past.
How should
he have
dealt
differently
with
Absalom?
Wrestling
with his
doubts
has God
abandoned
me?
Is this
payment
from God
for the
blood on
my hands
for my
many years
as a
warrior?
I can
imagine
David
wrestling
with fears
on behalf
of his
other sons.
Will
Absalom
murder
them to
solidify
his place
on the
throne?
What
will happen
to those
who are
loyal to
me?
I can
imagine
David
wrestling
with his
fears for
the city
of Jerusalem,
his beloved
city.
What
will happen
to Jerusalem
if a
king who
does not
fear God
sits upon
the throne?
What
will happen
to Israel?
Israel?
I can
imagine
David
also
wrestling
with the
weight of
the
responsibility
for a
kingdom
and then
specifically
for those
who are
now with
him.
How
would he
feed
them?
How
would he
get them
water?
How
would he
shelter
them?
How
would he
protect
them?
who
were his
friends
and who
could he
trust?
All of
these
questions
and David
has no
answers.
He is
in the
wilderness
where there
is no
food,
where there
is no
water,
and there
is a
weariness
that finds
no rest.
I can
also
imagine
that Satan
is trying
to supply
lots of
answers because
that's what
he does.
I can
imagine that
Satan is
speaking words
of condemnation,
words of
abandonment,
words of
rejection by
God.
I can
imagine
that Satan
is speaking
words of
fear
and
despair
and
death.
Satan
is a
liar
and the
father
of
lies.
And I
can
imagine
that he
is actively
painting a
picture of
hopelessness for
David,
God's chosen
king.
Finally,
I can
imagine David
in the
gray light
of the
early dawn,
rising and
heading up to
the high
ground in the
wilderness to
seek God.
as a
day that
promises to
be hot
and dry
dawns.
I can
picture David
looking over
the wastelands
before him
and crying
out to
God,
Oh God,
you are my
God.
Earnestly I
seek you.
My soul
thirsts
for you.
My flesh
faints
for you.
as in a
dry and
weary land
where there
is no
water.
It is
from this
place of
deep
desperation
that David
turns to
God.
It is
from this
place of
hopelessness
that David
cries out.
It is
out of the
realization
that if
God
doesn't
work a
miracle,
he and
those with
him will
be
destroyed.
It is
out of
this
place of
soul
twisting,
gut
wrenching,
spiritual,
mental,
and emotional
agony
that David
cries out
like a
sponge that
has had all
the water
wrung out
of it and
is left
out to
dry in
the
noonday
sun.
David
is now
feeling
spiritually
and emotionally
dry
and brittle
and it
is from
the
barren
wilderness
of his
soul
that he
cries out,
Oh God,
you are
my God
earnestly
with great
desire,
with
desperation
I seek
you.
Friends,
you can bet
that with all
the events
that have led
to this
point,
the hopelessness
that appeared
to lay
before
David.
David's
cry
to God
was a
wholehearted
seeking
of God.
A
wholehearted
desperation
for God
to meet
him
and act
on his
behalf.
So,
my question
do is
this.
Can you
relate?
Have you
been in
the place
of desperation
and hopelessness
where you
had to
earnestly
seek
God?
Are you
in that
place
now?
Life
brings
circumstances
like this
as they
did with
David.
They
catapult
us from
our
kingdom
where we
are on
top of
everything
to the
wilderness
of
desperation
and they
do it
in the
blink of
an eye.
Things
like a
sudden
change
in your
visa
status.
A
dramatic
governmental
change
back
home
that
may
leave
you
very
unwelcome.
Maybe
it's
something
closer to
home
like
betrayal
from a
spouse
or a
close
friend.
A
child
incarcerated.
An
unexpected
diagnosis
of cancer.
The
loss of
your
job.
You get
the idea.
You can
fill in
your own
story
here.
And you
know how
quickly it
can unseat
you
from a
throne room
of abundance
and put
you in
the
unhospitable
wilderness
of desperate
weariness
where you
hunger
and you
thirst.
Let me
encourage you.
There is
hope
for us
here.
God
does not
reject
the
pleas
of a
desperate
heart.
God
doesn't
turn
his
back
on the
person
who
seeks
him
earnestly.
God
doesn't
ignore
the
soul
that
thirsts
for
him.
No.
The
history
of
Scripture
is
clear.
As
are the
Psalms.
Consider
Psalm 139.
We heard a
little bit
of that
earlier.
Psalm 139
reminds us
that God
is not
surprised
by our
circumstances.
He
is
acquainted
with
all of
our
ways.
He
hems
us
in
from
behind
and
before.
There
is
nowhere
that I
can
go
that I
can
get
away
from
the
Spirit
of
God.
There
is
nowhere
I
can
go
that
His
presence
will
not
be
there
with
me.
He
leads
me.
His
right
hand
holds
me.
And
even
though
I
may
be
in
a
place
of
physical,
spiritual,
and
emotional
darkness.
The
darkness
is like
light
to
God.
Your
desperate
plight
is not
hidden
from
God.
When
you cry
out in
desperation
to God,
He hears
you and
He knows
you
completely.
Consider
Psalm 23
where He
reminds us
that even
though we
walk through
the valley
of deep
darkness,
God is
leading
us.
His
rod is
a symbol
of His
authority
and
leadership
even
in
deep
darkness.
His
staff
is a
symbol
of His
protection
over
us
even
in
deep
darkness.
He
leads us
through
deep
darkness
and
tells us
not to
fear
but to
trust
that He
is leading
us
through
that
valley
to
green
pastures
where our
hunger
will be
fulfilled
and
satisfied
where
our
thirst
will be
met
with
still
waters
where
our
souls
will
be
restored
friends
God
recognizes
and hears
our cries
of
desperation
so if
you're
in
this
place
let
me
encourage
you
not
to
hesitate
but
to
cry
out
to
God
in
desperation
make
your
plea
known
make
your
request
known
before
the
throne
of
mercy
and
grace
that
you
might
receive
mercy
and
grace
in
your
time
of
need
just
like
Hebrews
4.16
tells us
to do
when
he is
threatened
on
every
side
desperate
when
he is
physically
emotionally
and
spiritually
torn
David
turns
to
God
David
remembers
God
and as
he does
he remembers
God
with an
expectant
heart
so let's
look at
our
second
point
to see
how
remembering
God
affects
David's
actions
during
desperate
circumstances
let's
look again
at verses
2
through
7
David
says here
so I
have
looked
upon
you
in the
sanctuary
beholding
your
power
and
glory
because
your
steadfast
love
is
better
than
life
my
lips
will
praise
you
so I
will
bless
you
as
long
as
I
live
and
in
your
name
I
will
lift
up
my
hands
my
soul
will
be
satisfied
as
with
fat
and
rich
food
and
my
mouth
will
praise
you
with
joyful
lips
when
I
remember
you
upon
my
bed
and
meditate
on
you
in
the
watches
of
the
night
for
you
have
been
my
help
and
in
the
shadow
of
your
wings
I
will
sing
for
joy
in
this
section
we see
that as
David cries
out to
God
in raw
desperation
it is a
desperation
that is now
shaped by
the memory
of
God
David
knows
God
do you
know
God
are you
intimate
with
God
David
knows
God
this
psalm
comes
from the
later
half of
David's
life
a life
that has
been
marked
with
intimacy
towards
God
and so
in
desperation
David
remembers
God
and when
David
remembers
God
it is not
with doubt
but it
is with
expectation
born out
of years
of
desperation
and
dependency
and
deliverance
by God
David
first
remembers
God's
sanctuary
the place
where the
holy of
holies
is located
the place
where the
ark
of the
covenant
resides
it is
where the
mercy
seat
of
God
rests
it is
where the
presence
of the
living
creator
God
of
Israel
Yahweh
dwells
Israel's
God
in the
past
David
has danced
before the
ark
rejoicing
in God's
power and
presence
he has
sought
God's
power in
the
sanctuary
he has
prostrated
himself
in the
sanctuary
he has
experienced
God's
presence
there
David
thinks back
now to
the sanctuary
of God
where he
has experienced
God's power
power and
glory and
God's glory and
his actions
and his
expectations
let me say
that again
David thinks
back to his
time in the
sanctuary
he thinks
back of
God
about God
how he's
experienced
God's
power and
glory and
he lets
that shape
his
prayers
and his
actions
and his
expectations
guys when
you and I
come before
God in
desperation
having made
our desperate
plea
having made
your complaint
known before
God
then remember
God's
power and
glory
let your
heart
your mind
your soul
rest there
soak it
in
let it
build
your
faith
consider
God
remember
his
steadfast
love
and
faithfulness
remember
his mercy
and grace
remember
how it's
extended
to you
first
through Jesus
Christ
who called
you
who pursued
you
who gave
his life
for you
who redeemed
you
gave you
new life
promised
to never
leave you
and has
made
a way
for you
to be
with
him
and his
heavenly
father
for all
of
eternity
then
as your
hope
and faith
are built
let it
turn to
praise
yes
in the
middle
of your
desperation
when your
soul thirsts
and your
flesh is
ready
to faint
remember
the steadfast
love
of God
expressed
to you
in Jesus
Christ
and let
it lift
your heart
let it
lift
your mind
let it
lift
your soul
let it
lift
your voice
in praise
to the
living God
who knows you
who loves you
who gave his life
for you
remember
what Christ
has done
and let
remembering
dispel
your deep
darkness
let remembering
that God
knew you
before the
foundations
of the
earth
let
remembering
that he
sent Jesus
for you
that he
adopted
you in
love
let those
truths
dispel
the lies
of the
enemy
remember
that he
has given
you his
Holy Spirit
as a seal
and a guarantee
of your faith
and let that
memory
fill you
with fresh
hope
as light
shines
into your
darkness
remember
the nail
scarred
hands
those hands
which are
engraved
with your
name
for all
eternity
and remember
the name
that he
calls you
by
beloved
because
you
are
his
blood
bought
bride
you
are
his
beloved
let that
memory
of who
God is
and what
he has
done
leads you
to look
up
not only
with grateful
praise
but also
with
expectation
that God
is for
you
that he
hears
you
that he
knows
you
come
before
a throne
of mercy
and grace
not as
unknown
not as
forgotten
but as
beloved
when David
remembers
and meditates
on what
God has
done
in the
past
it
gives
him
faith
for
the
future
when
you
cry
out
to
God
in
desperation
when
you
earnestly
are
seeking
God
when
your
soul
is
parched
from
walking
in the
barren
wasteland
where
there
is
no
water
when
you
are
ready
to
faint
from
hunger
in
a dry
and
weary
land
the
dry
and weary
land
of your
own
personal
desperate
circumstances
remember
God
remember
what God
has done
in the
past
and let
it
fuel
your
prayers
let
it
fuel
your
faith
let
it
fuel
your
expectation
for
the
future
God
has
rescued
you
in
the
past
he
has
redeemed
you
in
the
past
he
has
delivered
you
in
the
past
surely
he
will
not
leave
you
now
surely
he
will
not
leave
you
desperate
now
surely
he
will
come
and
rescue
and
deliver
you
are
his
beloved
God
see
what
David
does
in
verse
5
the
desperate
plea
that
he
began
in
verse
1
from
his
soul
that
thirst
and
was
barren
thirst
and
in
a
barren
land
where
there
is
no
water
has
been
changed
to
praise
as
he
remembers
God's
steadfast
love
praise
is
then
turned
to
expectation
in
verse
5
where
David
says
my
soul
which
thirsted
my
soul
which
thirsted
my
flesh
that
was
fainting
will
be
satisfied
my
lips
which
cried
out
to
you
my
God
you
are
my
God
earnestly
I
seek
you
my
flesh
faints
for
you
in a
dry
and weary
land
where
there
is
no
water
will
now
praise
you
with
joyful
lips
as
I
remember
you
friends
let me
be
clear
David's
circumstances
have
not
changed
do you
get
that
Absalom
is still
sending
an army
out
they are
still
hunting
David
down
to
kill
him
and
all
who
follow
him
that
hasn't
changed
David
is
writing
this
he's
saying
these
words
purely
in
faith
because
God
has
delivered
him
in
the
past
he
trusts
that
God
will
deliver
him
into
the
future
David's
desperate
circumstance
had not
changed
but how
he saw
it
had
though
David
did
not
know
the
outcome
prayer
fueled
by
desperation
led
David
to
remember
God
remembering
God's
steadfast
love
led
David
to
praise
led
to
faith
filled
expectation
and that's
what frames
the remainder
of this
psalm
so let's
look at
our
third
point
to see
how
David
will now
rejoice
in
God
as we
look at
the last
segment
of the
passage
we see
how
David's
prayer
that has
fueled
that was
fueled
by desperate
thirsting
of his
soul
became
faith
filled
to
expectation
as he
remembered
God's
steadfast
love
and power
and glory
and as
we look
at this
last
section
let's
start
by seeing
how
David
anchors
his
expectation
in
verse
8
here
David
says
my
soul
clings
to
you
your
right
hand
upholds
me
now
I
live
in
Salem
it's
a
harbor
town
I
live
like
five
houses
off
the
water
by
God's
grace
it's
a
miracle
and
I'm
stoked
about
it
I
live
there
and
there's
lots
of
boats
and
ships
out
in
the
harbor
now
we
get
a
lot
of
nor'easters
strong
winds
big
waves
it
can
get
pretty
rough
out
there
so
the
ships
are
double
anchored
the
first
anchor
is
kind
of
like
tight
it's
a
mooring
line
it's
drilled
down
into
the
bedrock
and
they
clip
onto
that
from
the
back
of
the
boat
the
other
is
an
anchor
they
drop
off
the
front
of
their
own
boat
verse
8
is
like
David's
double
anchor
in
the
storm
at
the
back
he's
anchored
into
God
it's
the
mooring
line
his
mooring
line
that's
drilled
into
bedrock
below
the
water
line
the
second
or
I
should
say
that
David
clings
to
God
that's
his
anchor
that's
his
mooring
line
into
the
bedrock
God
is
his
bedrock
it's
the
rock
on
which
he
stands
yet
his
second
anchor
is
just
as
important
it
is
the
strong
right
arm
of
the
Lord
that
upholds
him
it
is
the
strong
right
arm
of
the
Lord
that
upholds
protects
and
leads
it
is
these
two
things
working
together
both
clinging
to
God
and
trusting
the
strong
right
arm
of
God
to
lead
you
into
the
future
these
two
things
work
together
both
clinging
and
trusting
the
strong
right
arm
of
the
Lord
that
allows
David
now
in
the
middle
of
his
desperate
circumstance
to
speak
with
bold
expectation
bold
expectation
that's
far
beyond
anything
he
can
visually
see
at
this
point
David
now
grounded
and
rooted
and
anchored
in
God
declares
destruction
over
his
enemies
now
let me
say
that
this
comes
from
David's
understanding
of
justice
it is
an
Old
Testament
justice
he
understands
that
he
is
the
rightful
anointed
king
of
Israel
and
therefore
to
go
against
God's
anointed
king
is to
go
against
God
since
those
going
against
him
are
from
the
tribes
of
Israel
they
are
not
only
breaking
covenant
with
their
king
but
they
are
also
breaking
covenant
with
God
and
so
David
is
calling
on
God
literally
to
enforce
the
Mosaic
covenant
for
those
who
have
rebelled
not only
against
him
but
also
against
God
hence
he says
that
those
who are
against
him
will
go
down
into
the
depths
of
the
earth
they
will
be
given
over
to
the
power
of
the
sword
they
will
be
a
portion
for
jackals
that
means
they're
going
to
be
not
only
struck
down
by
the
sword
but
left
unburied
David's
literally
invoking
the
curse
language
of
the
Mosaic
covenant
yet
and
let me
just say
that
in his
time
frame
that's
the right
thing
to do
I
don't
want to
encourage
you to
do
that
don't
pray
for
them
don't
curse
them
don't
wish
their
unburied
bodies
are
eaten
by
jackals
we'll
just
leave
that
part
out
for
us
today
we
want
to
pray
for
them
but
that's
what
David
does
and
he's
right
in
his
context
to
have
done
that
yet
for
those
who
are
faithful
both
to
David
and
by
extension
to
God
they
shall
join
with
David
in
praising
God
in
rejoicing
at the
victory
that
God
will
work
for
them
it is
a
victory
that
David
does
not
see
as
he's
in
the
desperate
place
in the
wilderness
where there
is no
food
and no
water
and no
army
and lots
of
women
and
children
not
physically
he doesn't
see
it
but
in
his
spirit
knowing
that
God
has
delivered
him
in
the
past
fueled
with
faith
filled
expectation
for the
future
David
sees
it
and
prays
it
here's
my
point
though
David's
circumstances
remain
desperate
desperation
fueled
prayer
remembering
God
faith
filled
praise
have
led
him
to
see
his
circumstance
from a
very
different
perspective
they have
led
him
from
a
place
where
his
soul
thirsted
to
a
place
where
his
soul
is
satisfied
it
has
led
him
from
a
place
of
hopelessness
to
a
place
of
faith
filled
hope
guys
this
can be
true
for us
as
well
though
our
circumstances
are
desperate
our
prayers
can be
filled
with
faith
when
we
remember
what
God
has
done
in
the
past
when
we
remember
God's
faithfulness
in
the
past
it
will
fuel
our
praise
for
him
faith
filled
prayer
and
praise
changes
our
perspective
when
you
and I
are
desperate
in
desperate
circumstances
and our
thirsty
souls
are
weary
from
life's
dry
and
barren
wasteland
we
can
turn
to
God
in
prayer
we
can
remember
what
he
has
done
for
us
through
Jesus
Christ
we
can
remember
Jesus
has
authority
and
power
that
he's
given
to
us
we
can
remember
that
the
Holy
Spirit
has
been
given
to
us
we
can
remember
Jesus
promises
to
be
with
us
and
to
help
us
we
can
remember
that
our
weary
souls
can
be
lifted
up
in
Christ
as
we
remember
what
God
has
done
our
voices
can
be
filled
with
praise
as
we
remember
what
Christ
has
done
our
prayers
can
be
filled
with
faith
our
souls
can
find
satisfaction
in
Jesus
our
Redeemer
and
our
coming
King
we
can
rejoice
over
the
defeat
of
our
enemy
Satan
whose
lies
tell us
of our
shame
and our
guilt
and our
condemnation
whose
lies
tell us
we will
find
no
place
to
rest
but only
a dry
and weary
land
but let
me tell
you
in
Jesus
Christ
those
lies
find
no
place
to
rest
because
in
Christ
there
is
no
condemnation
guilt
and shame
were nailed
to the
cross
you
don't
live
under
those
lies
remember
what
Christ
has
done
let
it
fuel
your
prayer
let
it
fuel
your
expectation
let
it
fuel
your
praise
we
can
rejoice
because
one
day
the
lies
of
the
enemy
of
our
soul
will
be
silenced
for
good
in
Christ
we
can
rejoice
in
God
whose
steadfast
love
gives us
victory
over the
enemy
of our
soul
amen
now
I'm
coming up
I'm
closing
here
now
maybe
you're
here
today
and
you're
thinking
decent
message
I don't
feel
very
desperate
so
I'll
just
put it
in
my
back
pocket
in
case
I
get
desperate
later
well
if
that's
you
and
you
are
a
believer
let me
give you
something
that I
use
every
day
to
develop
a
desperate
prayer
life
something
I
use
every
day
to
fuel
my
desperation
the
lost
let me
say that
again
the
lost
let me
offer
up to
you
your
unbelieving
parents
your
spouse
your
siblings
your
children
your
best
friend
your
co-workers
let me
ask you
if you
just
bear with
me a
moment
what
will
happen
to them
if they
don't
place
their
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
you're
not
sure
I'll
tell
you
they're
going
to
hell
for
all
of
eternity
I'll
let
you
read
the
Bible
and
see
how
it
describes
hell
it's
pretty
unpleasant
now
let me
ask you
this
can
you
save
them
no
you
cannot
my
best
sermon
your
slickest
presentation
of the
gospel
can't
do a
darn
thing
unless
God
unless
God
has
mercy
upon
their
souls
unless
God
sends
his
spirit
to
open
their
eyes
to
open
their
ears
to
soften
their
hearts
unless
God
does
that
your
best
attempt
falls
right
there
who
can
save
them
only
Jesus
so
guys
every
day
even
if my
life
circumstances
are not
present
presently
desperate
my
soul
cries
out
to
God
from
a
dry
and
weary
land
to
do
the
impossible
to
raise
dead
souls
with
the
same
power
that
he
raised
Jesus
every
day
I
cry
out
to
God
to
give
new
life
to
those
who
are
perishing
even
as
he
did
to
me
to
rescue
those
who
are
stumbling
into
the
pit
even
as
he
did
with
me
and
knowing
that
he
did
it
for
me
gives
me
hope
that
he
will
do
it
for
others
it
changes
my
tears
of
desperation
to
hope
filled
praise
that
the
God
of
my
salvation
will
be
the
God
of
their
salvation
as
well
it
gives
me
hope
that
the
God
who
cries
mine
over
all
of
creation
will
declare
mine
over
my
son
over
my
grandson
over
so
many
people
that I
pray
for
here
this
is
my
list
this
week
there's
about
12
names
on
there
not
including
my
sons
grandsons
family
members
if
nothing
else
sends
you
to
God
in
desperation
then my
friends
let
it
be
the
salvation
and
eternal
life
of
your
loved
ones
of
your
friends
of
the
lost
let
that
fuel
your
desperation
if
nothing
else
will
so
as we
close
let me
encourage
you
to
develop
a
desperate
prayer
life
let me
encourage
you
to
recognize
your
own
desperation
your
own
desperate
need
for
God
to
intervene
in
circumstances
let
praise
lead
you
to
expectation
that
God
will
be
faithful
again
even
as
he
has
been
in
the
past
and
then
let
expectation
lead
you
to
fresh
prayer
fresh
praise
as
God
reframes
your
understanding
of
the
circumstances
amen