And everyone else can open to Psalm chapter 27, please.
Psalm chapter 27.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life.
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear.
Though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
One thing I ask from the Lord.
This only do I seek.
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
To gaze on the beauty of the Lord.
And to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble, he will keep me safe in his dwelling.
He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent.
And set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me.
At his sacred tent, I will sacrifice with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call, Lord.
Be merciful to me.
And answer me.
My heart says of you, seek his face.
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger.
You have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me, God, my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, Lord.
Lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
Do not hand me over to the desire of my foes.
For false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this.
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord.
Be strong and take heart.
And wait for the Lord.
Amen.
Well, good morning, everyone.
It is a pleasure to be, for my wife and I to be here with you this morning.
I want to send greetings and love from Douglas Baptist Church.
We are praying for you and it is a pleasure to share God's word with you this morning.
I pray that it is encouraging and the Lord will speak to us this morning through his word.
Let's just pray before, before we get into it.
Heavenly Father, you are the king of glory.
Lord, we stand in awe of you and what you have done for us.
Lord, I pray that you would show us your glory this morning through your word.
And through your son, Jesus Christ.
Lord, help us to be engaged with your word.
To listen to your voice.
And Lord, may we be changed by your word this morning.
Amen.
So, who here has experienced fear or times of trouble?
I see a couple of heads nodding, hands going up.
If you haven't, well, then fair play.
But if you haven't experienced times of trouble, then I'm here to say then I know you will.
Now, there are different types of fear, like Sam was saying at the start.
There's irrational fears.
Like I knew, I knew once, I once knew a person who was terrified of ketchup.
Okay, she couldn't stand it, she couldn't be near it, she was terrified.
Then you have the rational fears.
Things that God has created us to respond in dangerous situations.
Like a bear, you see a bear coming down, you run.
Well, maybe some of you won't, but I know I would.
See, some of these fears are a good thing.
And then there are times of trouble.
These sometimes can be out of our control.
Sometimes these situations go on for some time.
And maybe they feel like they will never end.
About three years ago, it was two days before Christmas,
and I was set to go down to my family, down to Tralee for Christmas.
But my oldest sister, Leah, tested positive for COVID.
So Christmas was a little bit delayed.
And during that time, my mom got sick with the flu.
And of course, I had the man flu.
So of course, I couldn't travel down anyways.
And so I was stuck in bed.
I couldn't see anyone.
And then it got to Christmas Eve.
And I get a phone call about 7 o'clock at night.
There was my mother.
And I was like, why is she ringing me?
And I picked up the phone.
And there wasn't a phone call I was expecting to get.
She was in tears, worried.
She's after telling me my father was after having a heart attack.
And he was in the ambulance on his way to Limerick.
But that's all we knew so far.
My heart sunk.
The fear that took me in that moment, I had no control.
I could not see God.
I could not see his goodness.
I didn't know where he was.
I was afraid to lose my dad in that moment.
Now, praise God that he is alive today.
And is still serving in Passage Baptist Church now today.
But what are you sitting here?
What are you afraid of?
Maybe it's something in work.
Maybe it's someone in work.
Maybe if you're in school, it's someone bullying you.
Maybe you're facing adversity for being a Christian.
You're being put down.
You're being mocked.
Or maybe, like Sam said,
maybe you're sitting here and you fear death.
How have you dealt with that fear?
Maybe it's turning to family or friends or brother and sister in Christ.
And don't get me wrong.
Those are things you absolutely need to do.
And God encourages you and God uses people in your lives in those situations.
But if that is your one and only focus,
you will never find peace or victory in the fear.
It's like eating an empty calorie for the body.
Some of them taste really good.
Crisps, chocolate.
But they add no nutritional value for you.
See, Psalm 27 deals with some of these questions.
If anyone knows fear, it's David.
What you will see is when David goes through fear, times of trouble.
The question is, how will he react?
I want to show you four things in this passage.
One, the truth that calms his fears, verses 1 to 3.
The second one, the desire that drives his heart, verses 4 and 6.
Three, the prayer that expresses his struggle, verses 7 and 12.
And four, the confidence that settles his life, verses 13 and 14.
So starting at verse 1 to 3, the truth that calms his fears.
In verse 1, David describes the Lord as his light and his salvation.
Now, obvious question, what does light do?
Well, it helps you see when you cannot see.
But this means that there is a darkness.
Present even then and even today.
And not the type of darkness that you can kind of see.
That you think of a light, you think of a flashlight.
And you know where you can kind of see down,
but you're just shining the flashlight just to make sure it is what you see.
But this is pitch black darkness.
Evil.
Sin.
But this brings out how much of a light that Yahweh is to David.
And how much of a light he is to us.
When walking in darkness, you cannot see in front of you.
And that can cause you to fear.
It can be very unnerving.
David is saying that Yahweh is his light through that darkness.
And his salvation.
His deliverer.
And because of this truth, what is the question that he poses?
Whom shall I fear?
There is no reason to fear anyone or anything.
It seems like a very straight question, doesn't it?
An answer.
Whom shall I fear?
Well, there's no one to fear.
But we still fear, don't we?
Amen.
So are you sitting here this morning saying that the Lord is my light and my salvation?
Whom shall I fear?
As believers, this is a wonderful truth that should calm our fears in times of trouble.
And it doesn't just stop there.
The rest of verse 1.
The Lord is the stronghold of my life.
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When you think of a stronghold, you think of a fortress, don't you?
Big, thick walls.
No attack is getting through those walls.
For David, the Lord is his fortress and his protection.
And because of this, what's the question he poses?
Of whom shall I be afraid?
The answer is no one.
Just in that one verse alone, what a truth that is for us today.
The Lord, if you are a believer here this morning, the Lord is our fortress.
No matter what we face from the enemy today, the things that might happen in our lives physically, what happens in our lives spiritually, even our battle with sin.
This is the truth that shall calm our hearts in times of fear and in times of trouble.
And this is what calms David's heart in times of trouble.
The one thing you should notice in this psalm is that the Lord never changes.
In verses 2 to 3, David describes the darkness he is facing.
Verse 2, when evildoers assail to eat my flesh.
Now that's a very dark image, isn't it?
And he's saying when people come to devour and kill me.
Knowing David, many people looked to kill him and hunt him down.
David has the full right to be afraid.
Now I don't think maybe not many of us have been threatened to be killed.
Or maybe some of you have.
Maybe you have faced threats for being a Christian.
Or mocked or put down.
And it feels like they are relentless.
It feels like there is no escape.
Well look at the second half of this verse.
My adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
But this doesn't mean we get the last word.
Or that we are the judge.
Because only the Lord is judge.
But there is victory through the protection of the Lord.
Not because of anything that I do.
But because the Lord is my light and my salvation.
And the stronghold of my life.
Whom shall I fear?
In verse 3.
Though an army encamp against me.
My heart shall not fear.
Though war arise against me.
Yet I will be confident.
In Psalm 1.
It talks about the contrast between the blessed man and the wicked.
The many against the few.
And you can see that through this verse.
An army encamp against me.
Sometimes it can feel this way when we are fearful of something in days of trouble.
However David, even when it is many against him.
An army besiege him.
His heart shall not even fear.
Though war arise against me.
Now wars can last for quite some time.
They are not over quickly.
And we see that even today.
Battles may be short.
But wars last for a while.
And even in that.
He will be confident.
When we face adversaries and foes.
The confidence that he talks about that he finds in the Lord.
Isn't arrogant.
It shouldn't cause us to be relaxed.
Or flippant.
It should drive us to trust the Lord.
And not to underestimate or ignore the reality of the enemy.
There was one time we went to the States for our basketball team.
And I was one of the youngest on the team.
And we go into this gym.
Something similar to this actually.
And we had someone who was seven foot tall.
And in basketball that's a really good thing.
But so we were confident going in.
And we looked at the other end.
And of course they were in a circle.
Hyping each other up.
You know like jumping around and yelling and stuff.
And we kind of looked at that.
And we went.
Sure like we have a seven footer.
We have like at least like 15 people on the team.
Sure we have many many people on our team.
So we'll be fine.
A minute and a half into the game.
20 nil.
Coach calls a timeout.
We got into the huddle.
And nobody had any words.
We were gobsmacked.
And I remember turning to the fellow next to me.
And I was like.
I don't want to go into this game.
I'm very happy here on the bench.
But we didn't.
We ignored the reality.
Of the other team.
Didn't we?
And sometimes we can do that to the enemy.
Against us.
And against God.
In verses four to six.
It's the desire that drives his heart.
What is it that drives your heart into action?
What are you passionate about?
Are you struggling to identify that?
Then look at where your time is spent.
What you will see in these verses.
Is David's desire through these days of trouble.
See his desire is to be in the presence of the Lord.
He desires to dwell in the house of the Lord.
All the days of my life.
To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.
And to inquire or to meditate.
In his temple.
Now the temple he's talking about.
Is the tent where Yahweh reveals himself.
It's not the temple that Solomon builds.
Because he builds that later.
But his desire is to spend all of his time.
In the presence of the Lord.
Because that is where he finds.
Peace.
Joy.
And worship.
In verse 5 he finds protection.
He says he will hide me in his shelter.
In the day of trouble.
See the day of trouble is inevitable for us.
It will always be there.
He will conceal me under the cover of his tent.
There is full protection in the presence of God.
And he will lift me high upon a rock.
Now when in war.
What's the best position to fight for?
It's the high ground isn't it?
In the presence of the Lord.
That is the best position to be in.
And there is victory with the Lord.
And again not because of us.
Or anything we do.
Or anything even about us.
But it's only because of who he is.
Where do you seek shelter in times of trouble?
The world would tell us to seek shelter in things that will fade away.
Like food.
TV.
Phones.
Even people.
And even ourselves.
You will seek what your heart desires.
So what do you desire here this morning?
This is something that has challenged me when I was studying this this week.
Our desires can steer us away.
And our eyes are completely off of who the Lord is in times of trouble.
And because he has lifted me high upon a rock.
In verse 6.
My head shall be lifted above my enemies.
Now his heart response isn't arrogant.
It's not looking down on my enemies.
And giving them the last word.
And putting them down.
But it is humbly looking to God.
I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
This is the response of his heart in times of trouble.
That in the presence of the Lord he will praise who he is.
This even shows us that when we face troubles.
That we should run.
And we should seek to desire.
Sorry.
Desire to seek the presence of the Lord.
He is our protection.
Our refuge.
And our stronghold.
How do we seek his presence?
Well we do it through prayer.
Through reading his word.
Listening to his voice.
Seeing the beauty of the Lord through his word.
Maybe in his creation.
Going for a walk.
Looking at the skies.
Water.
Trees.
Looking at his creation.
But also by looking at his glory.
Through Jesus revealed to us.
In his word.
And what he has done for us.
On the cross.
In verses 7 to 12.
The prayer that expresses.
His struggle.
These verses.
You see the reality of his fear.
He is voicing his fear.
Anxiety and struggle.
Because his circumstances haven't changed.
His circumstances tell him.
That he is on his own.
Or at least.
Appears that way.
You can hear the emotion in his voice.
As he cries out to the Lord.
You see David is human.
And this is the reality of the fear that he faces.
Jesus.
Remember back in verse 4.
He says.
One thing.
I have asked.
Well it appears that he asks more than just one thing.
Doesn't it?
Because his desire that drives his heart.
Is to be in the presence of the Lord.
He is only asking one thing.
He is fearful of God.
Abandoning him in his time of need.
Have you ever been in a situation of fear.
And it seems that the situation doesn't change.
That you feel that God has abandoned you.
Well he hasn't.
David is praying honestly with the Lord.
He isn't doubting.
But he is voicing his struggle.
Because he cannot go to where God's presence is.
Verse 7.
Hear oh Lord when I cry aloud.
Be gracious and answer me.
Verse 8.
You have said seek my face.
My heart says your face Lord do I seek.
He is referencing Deuteronomy chapter 4 verses 29.
Which says.
But from there you will seek the Lord your God.
And you will find him.
If you search after him with all your heart.
And with all your soul.
And David knows this.
And he is saying Lord my heart is seeking and desiring after you.
In verse 9 he says.
He asks God not to hide his face or turn away in anger.
It is not that he believes that he will.
Because he goes on to say.
Oh you have been my help.
And he still circles back to the truth.
Even from verse 1.
Oh God of my salvation.
His deliverer.
We should be honest and sincere in our prayer to the Lord.
Voice our struggles.
In times of fear.
Remember I said in this psalm.
The Lord never changes.
Voice our struggles to him.
Because he wants to hear you.
But remember who he is.
In those times.
You'll see in the next couple of verses.
That the Lord never changes.
In verse 10.
David says that.
Even if my mother and father forsake me.
The Lord will take me in.
Now in the NIV as you're reading there.
It says to receive.
Now I'm never going to claim to know much about Hebrew.
Kevin had texted me.
A message in this verse.
And when it says to receive.
It normally relates to gathering things.
Even if my mother and father forsake me.
The Lord gathers me in.
That's amazing.
The Lord gathers me.
It's amazing that the Lord gathers me.
Even when the situation seems like he is not present.
But he is.
And David circles back to Yahweh's character.
That he knows that he will never forsake him.
The same goes for us today in our fear.
When we feel like we are on our own.
The Lord gathers us in.
We come to him and he is arms open wide.
To gather us in.
It reminds us of the prodigal son.
The parable that Jesus teaches.
That anyone who comes to him and asks for forgiveness.
He will not turn away.
Or forsake you.
In verses 11 and 12 he says.
Teach me your way oh Lord.
And lead me on a level path.
Because of my enemies.
See there is enemies that want to pull him away from the path of the Lord.
How does the Lord teach him?
And we read Psalm 19.
Verses 7 to 10.
The law of the Lord is perfect.
Reviving the soul.
The testimony of the Lord is sure.
Making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right.
Rejoicing the heart.
The commandment of the Lord is pure.
Enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean.
Enduring forever.
The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired than gold.
Even much fine gold.
Sweeter also than honey.
And the drippings of the honeycomb.
He teaches him through his word.
Through the instruction of his word.
The same way we have enemies that want to push us away from the level path.
Or the narrow way.
And lead us astray.
But we have the word of God that instructs us.
And teaches us.
And is more precious than gold.
And sweeter than honey.
In verse 12.
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries.
For false witnesses have risen against me.
And they breathe out violence.
See whatever situation he finds himself.
It hasn't changed.
And it may never change.
Even for us there is no guarantee.
That our situations will change.
He finishes the verse by saying.
For false witnesses have risen against me.
And they breathe out violence.
They slander me.
They make up rumors about me.
You may be in a situation where people put you down because of your faith.
And they might mock you and spread rumors about you.
This sounds dark.
But isn't it to be expected?
Jesus says that if the world hates me.
They will hate you.
So where does that leave David?
And where does that leave us?
Well verses 13 and 14.
The confidence that settles his life.
David comes full circle to the truth.
Verse 13.
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord.
In the land of the living.
Some other translations say that if he had not believed he would despair.
But because he has believed he will look upon God's goodness.
He knows and believes that he will see deliverance in his life.
He knows that it might not be for a while though.
But he is confident because the Lord is his light and his salvation.
And the stronghold of his life.
Whom shall I fear?
He finishes in verse 14.
It's kind of like a pep talk for your heart.
He says, wait for the Lord.
Be strong and let your heart take courage.
Wait for the Lord.
It can be hard to wait sometimes, can't it?
But wait for the Lord.
Trust that you will see the goodness of the Lord today.
And rest in him.
That you will see his glory during those times.
May your desire be to seek his presence.
To pray with him.
To worship him.
During those times.
So brothers and sisters, what do we do with this?
Let's remember the truth that settles our fear.
The Lord is our light and our salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
The stronghold of my life.
Whom shall I be afraid?
That we should desire, the desire that drives our heart.
Should be to be in the presence of the Lord.
That we should pray and express our struggles to the Lord.
And that we should rest in the confidence that settles our life.
For believers, the struggle and the fear may never end.
But we should take courage and wait for the Lord.
We wait for God to put all things right.
We wait for the King to return.
We wait to see him face to face.
What a day that will be.
There will be no more sin.
No more pain.
No more fear.
No more times of trouble.
It's hard to imagine that.
I don't know what you've experienced here today.
But whatever it is, if you are a believer here this morning, it will be finished.
And all because of what Jesus has done for you.
If you are sitting here and you are not a believer, there is one thing we all face, which is death.
Maybe you are sitting here and you are afraid of death.
If you aren't a believer, then you are called an enemy of God.
And you stand under eternal judgment of God.
But in John 3.16,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whosoever believes in me shall not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus came to the earth fully man and fully God,
to die on the cross, to take the punishment for you and me.
And he rose again to give victory over the one thing we all face, which is death.
If you repent of your sin and trust in him as your Savior,
as your light and your salvation and the stronghold of your life,
you can say, I no longer fear death.
Because you can say that the Lord is my light.
The Lord is my salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life.
Whom shall I be afraid?
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are a God who cares.
Lord, we thank you that you are a God who listens to our prayers.
And Lord, I thank you for your Son, Jesus,
who took the punishment for us that we might have a relationship with you
that we can no longer fear because of what he has done.
And even in those times of fear,
and when bad things happen to us,
Lord, may we remain confident in who you are.
may we trust and desire to seek your presence today.
In Jesus' name, amen.
If you want to stand and sing,
we're going to sing one last song,
The Lord is my salvation.
Thank you.