WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:34.100 So it's great to have you here with us, Frederick, this morning. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:37.899 Just tell us, you're not from Ireland originally. Where do you come from? 00:00:39.120 --> 00:00:42.340 My name is wrong. It should be Sven because I'm Swedish. 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:47.299 But I am from Sweden and my wife is Irish. 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:49.260 Very good. And you have children? 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:51.359 Yeah, we have two boys and one daughter. 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:56.159 And you come from Douglas Church, one of our partner churches today. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:00:59.280 And how do you serve in Douglas Church? 00:00:59.280 --> 00:01:01.219 Just whichever way we can help. 00:01:01.620 --> 00:01:06.780 So do some teaching and do some hosting and just helping wherever we can. 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:13.460 That's great. And tell us just briefly how you came to faith in Jesus Christ. 00:01:13.459 --> 00:01:19.359 It was in the June of 2015. We were very blessed. 00:01:19.500 --> 00:01:24.759 My wife came to know the Lord and one month afterwards I came to know the Lord. 00:01:25.939 --> 00:01:30.459 Hearing a man sharing his story about spiraling out of control and I realized that was me. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:34.519 Wonderful. Well, it's great to have you with us today. 00:01:34.679 --> 00:01:37.239 So we look forward to you sharing with us. Thank you, Frederick. 00:01:37.239 --> 00:01:38.019 Thank you, Johnny. 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:51.060 I'm not used to this thing, so if you can hear me, then I'll just nod. Perfect. 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:51.719 All right. 00:01:52.819 --> 00:01:55.259 Because I will also try not to be too loud. 00:01:55.260 --> 00:01:59.260 But I'm just very thankful to be here with you this morning. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:02.800 It's a joy and a privilege to open up the Word of God. 00:02:03.960 --> 00:02:07.719 And we're going to talk about something quite heavy today. 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:14.620 It's Psalm 55, which is a lament about how we handle burdens. 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:20.979 And it sure seems, as we look around today, that there are many people who have burdens. 00:02:22.139 --> 00:02:28.219 Whether that's relationships, finances, mental health, spiritual or physical challenges. 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:33.819 And the title of today is The Burden of Betrayal. 00:02:33.819 --> 00:02:45.919 We're going to go into a quite deep journey of looking at our emotions and how the burden of betrayal can lead to depression, despondency and despair. 00:02:47.419 --> 00:02:50.979 But how do we cope with such pain through the glory of God? 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:58.340 So when I say betrayal, I refer to someone turning against you or turning others against you. 00:02:58.340 --> 00:03:06.180 And when I talk about the burden, let me give you a short example from I work in agriculture. 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:10.840 So I always think about things to do with agriculture because it helps show us pictures. 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:19.439 So as we go to harvest a lot of hay bales in the land of Ireland, that's a profitable business because you always have grass. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:20.599 It never seems to stop growing. 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:29.280 And when we consider who might be able to help us with that harvest, we look at our adults here in the room, for sure. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:32.199 We look at the teenagers here. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:35.840 I'm sure they will help for a little bit and then they won't have a break. 00:03:37.180 --> 00:03:38.500 We look at our toddlers. 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:47.620 They will try and they will keep trying and they will keep failing until some nice mother or father steps in to prevent them from hurting themselves. 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:53.340 Our infants, those guys, they don't even try. 00:03:54.259 --> 00:03:59.659 They just sit down, lean up against that hay bale and because they know it's too heavy for them. 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:08.480 When it comes to carrying your own burdens, your deepest inner emotions, who do you act like? 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:11.900 Do you act like a toddler? 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:13.659 Do you act like the infant? 00:04:13.659 --> 00:04:14.859 Do you act like a toddler? 00:04:14.859 --> 00:04:15.259 Do you act like a toddler? 00:04:15.259 --> 00:04:21.600 I'm confident that I probably speak for many here, including myself, that quite often we behave like the toddler. 00:04:22.180 --> 00:04:25.779 We try and carry burdens that are far too big for us. 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:30.779 And when we do, we can often hurt ourselves in the process. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:38.839 Overwhelming emotions place us in a place of crisis. 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:42.220 Crisis can mean many different things to many people. 00:04:42.220 --> 00:04:46.660 To a young child, crisis can be the death of a family pet. 00:04:47.320 --> 00:04:52.500 To a teenager, it can be the rejection of their friends or even betrayal of their friends. 00:04:53.280 --> 00:05:01.540 To an adult, crisis can be not having enough money to go around, illness or a marriage going wrong. 00:05:02.740 --> 00:05:05.340 Crisis means many different things to different people. 00:05:05.339 --> 00:05:11.899 And I know that crisis and turmoil will mean different things to the people that are here today. 00:05:12.779 --> 00:05:15.679 And that some of you may be going through crisis right now. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:20.219 And it can be a burden that feels like it's impossible to carry on your own. 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:27.020 My prayer for today is that you steady your minds and hearts, put distractions away from you, 00:05:27.540 --> 00:05:30.060 and embrace this psalm, this lament of David. 00:05:31.140 --> 00:05:37.540 Consider how crisis impacts you and how you respond when crisis cause your emotions to rage like a storm. 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:42.319 In crisis, do you run to God or do you run from God? 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:47.560 Let us pray and ask God for his help before we look at his word. 00:05:49.340 --> 00:05:51.480 Father God, we thank you for your word. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:53.360 It is truth, Lord. 00:05:53.960 --> 00:05:55.600 It's a truth that we can trust. 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:58.520 Help me speak clearly and accurately. 00:05:59.280 --> 00:06:04.400 And Lord, in the power of your spirit, help us be comforted. 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:09.400 Help us be steadied that we can see a path to safety. 00:06:10.260 --> 00:06:12.960 In your precious name, Jesus, we pray these things. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:13.580 Amen. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:18.439 So let's take a quick look at the life of David. 00:06:20.020 --> 00:06:23.900 The Psalter is an individual collection of psalms. 00:06:23.899 --> 00:06:28.199 And there are five books, and they are all basically prophetic literature 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:31.419 pointing to the future Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:06:32.539 --> 00:06:35.899 The psalms are written a thousand years before Christ, 00:06:36.039 --> 00:06:40.279 so they're some of the earliest foretelling literature for the Lord and Savior Jesus. 00:06:40.719 --> 00:06:45.399 And today we're going to look at Psalm 55, which is in the second book of the Psalter. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:52.839 And it's interesting that that second book celebrates the greatness of the King David's dynasty. 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:55.079 Yet this is a lament. 00:06:55.619 --> 00:06:59.239 This is King David on his knees, pleading with God. 00:07:00.539 --> 00:07:03.459 And King David was a mighty man. 00:07:04.479 --> 00:07:09.620 Most people, whether Christian or not, would know that he slayed Goliath as a child, 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:13.599 and he went on to be one of the greatest warrior kings of all time. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:19.939 However, King David was also a person like you and me. 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:21.500 Fallible. 00:07:22.220 --> 00:07:22.740 A sinner. 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:25.760 Living in the same fallen world where we do. 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:28.740 And he committed adultery. 00:07:29.320 --> 00:07:30.480 He committed murder. 00:07:32.080 --> 00:07:33.580 Yet God forgave him. 00:07:33.579 --> 00:07:39.319 And God forgave him because God had made a covenant with David. 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:43.979 First and second Samuel, we can see the progression of David's life. 00:07:44.180 --> 00:07:47.620 And I just read briefly second Samuel seven. 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:51.039 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, 00:07:51.159 --> 00:07:54.759 I will raise up your offspring after you who shall come from your body. 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:57.159 And I will establish his kingdom. 00:07:58.899 --> 00:08:03.219 King David was to give the line of the future Lord, Lord Jesus. 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:04.220 King David was to give the line of the Lord, Lord Jesus. 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:11.800 And he also lived through a revolt where we can read about Absalom, his son, 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:16.120 and one of his personal counselors, scheming, plotting, 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:20.880 even standing at the gates of Jerusalem, turning people against him. 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:31.540 And through this, David had felt what it feels like when those very closest to you betray you, 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:34.840 turn against you, and persecute you. 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:44.019 David's own son and his closest personal counsel turned to enemy and prosecutor. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:53.120 So if we look at Psalm 55, we can see it in three parts. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:59.159 First, we see David's struggle and his intense pleading, verses 1 through 5. 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:04.079 Second, we'll see David's crisis, 6 through 15. 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:07.699 And finally, we see David's response to crisis. 00:09:09.419 --> 00:09:13.879 So first, let us consider David's struggle and his intense pleading. 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:16.699 Look with me at verses 1 through 3. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:41.160 David is pleading to God in prayer. 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:47.620 He is crying out his request to God, pleading that God will hear him and not ignore him, 00:09:48.079 --> 00:09:49.439 that God will answer. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:56.559 We see that David is deeply upset and that his inner thoughts and emotions are in upheaval, 00:09:57.219 --> 00:10:00.399 to the point of not knowing whether he is coming or going. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:05.779 It is like when emotion overwhelms us, and I'm not sure if you've ever been here, 00:10:06.199 --> 00:10:09.720 trying to do a simple task that you have done many times before, 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:12.740 and it suddenly becomes the most impossible task ever. 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:17.439 David is in intense pain. 00:10:20.019 --> 00:10:22.179 Look with me at verse 4 and 5. 00:10:22.179 --> 00:10:37.779 The Hebrew word for within is our entrails. 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:43.699 At times when emotions overwhelm us, you can describe it as having a knot in your stomach. 00:10:45.699 --> 00:10:49.039 The terrors of death can also be read as the dread of death. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:56.439 The threats of merely words is making the great warrior king absolutely terrified. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:01.439 David was fearful, trembling, in horror, and overwhelmed. 00:11:03.059 --> 00:11:06.079 And one of the great dangers about emotional suffering 00:11:06.079 --> 00:11:10.399 is that emotions on the inside are not visible on the outside. 00:11:11.319 --> 00:11:13.839 It makes me think about eggs, and I eat a lot of them. 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:16.919 From the outside, the egg looks perfect. 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:20.659 And then you crack them open, and you find one of those annoying blood spots. 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:26.299 Or worse, we crack an egg open that looked absolutely perfect on the inside, 00:11:26.819 --> 00:11:29.299 and is absolutely black and rotten. 00:11:30.979 --> 00:11:33.319 This is the great danger of our emotions. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:38.079 People around us cannot see what goes on on the inside. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:44.840 Let us now look more closely at the second part of this psalm. 00:11:45.420 --> 00:11:46.200 David's crisis. 00:11:48.660 --> 00:11:54.580 David was in such emotional distress that he wanted to do nothing but to escape, to run away. 00:11:56.020 --> 00:11:57.620 Far away from his crisis. 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:00.300 Look with me at verse 6 through 8. 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:25.439 David was at the end of his rope. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.980 He was just wanting to get away. 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:35.440 Most of us would admit that we have tried to run away at some point in our lives. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.960 But especially our inner emotions, they stay with us. 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:41.960 We cannot run away from them. 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:49.480 And if we see here the language used by David for emotion and crisis. 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:52.840 Far from the tempest and storm. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:56.420 A tempest is like an extreme storm. 00:12:56.980 --> 00:13:00.840 So he's saying, I'm running far away from the storm of storms. 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:05.340 But David resists the temptation to run. 00:13:05.800 --> 00:13:10.360 And instead of running away, he prays to God for help. 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:13.080 Look with me at verse 9 to 11. 00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:16.600 Lord, confuse the wicked. 00:13:16.940 --> 00:13:18.259 Confound their words. 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.780 For I see violence and strife in the city. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:24.100 Day and night they prowl about on its walls. 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:26.139 Malice and abuse are within it. 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:29.420 Destructive forces are at work in the city. 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:34.099 Threats and lies never leave its streets. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:38.559 This was not an ordinary military attack. 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:42.479 David was not facing an army of swords and arrows. 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:44.959 David knew how to win those. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.079 It was an attack from within. 00:13:48.339 --> 00:13:50.000 It was an attack of words. 00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:54.519 And lies and threats. 00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:58.039 It was a coordinated attack. 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:03.319 David knew there was no benefit in calling his best soldiers. 00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:06.299 No, instead he appeals to God. 00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:09.419 Confound their words. 00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:11.659 God, intervene for me. 00:14:13.099 --> 00:14:17.199 Instead of running, David calls out to the Lord for help. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:26.120 Look with me now at verses 12 and 15, 12 to 15, where we can see why David is in such crisis. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:28.120 If an enemy were insulting me. 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:31.779 If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it. 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:36.940 If a foe were rising against me, I could hide. 00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:48.380 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:51.700 as we walked about among the worshippers. 00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:56.480 Let death take my enemies by surprise. 00:14:56.480 --> 00:15:02.500 Let them go down alive to the realm of the dead, for evil finds lodging among them. 00:15:04.900 --> 00:15:09.060 David was being deceived by those very closest to him. 00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:14.879 And these words of betrayal may run deep in many of us. 00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:25.299 At one point in our lives, or even maybe right now, we have had someone close to us turn against us. 00:15:26.239 --> 00:15:27.399 Betray us. 00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:29.439 Persecute us. 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.799 Put us down. 00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:34.139 Had something to say about us that was not true. 00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:43.699 Psalm 55 paints such a powerful picture of how hard it is to hide from the words of those close to us. 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:48.139 That can cause such great pain. 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:56.159 Finally, let's look at David's response to this crisis. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:16:07.799 King David, in his crisis, in his turmoil, shows us the path of escape. 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:15.199 As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:21.600 Evening, morning, and noon, I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:26.700 He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me. 00:16:27.560 --> 00:16:35.639 Even though many oppose me, God, who is enthroned from overhold, who does not change, 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:41.360 he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:55.460 David shows us that there is only one path to safety when we are in a crisis, and that is the Lord. 00:16:56.740 --> 00:17:00.399 I call to God, and the Lord saves me. 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:05.880 Praying, praying, and praying to our Lord God. 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:10.460 He is coping with this crisis by trusting in God. 00:17:10.580 --> 00:17:16.000 He is coping with turmoil because of his complete faith in God. 00:17:17.080 --> 00:17:24.060 David is resisting the pain by fixing his prayers and appeal and lament directly on God. 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:32.600 Often, when we find ourselves in a crisis, being lost, feeling confused, 00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:36.639 we find ourselves praying to God less, not more. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:40.500 Trusting in God less, not more. 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:45.439 David is saying, pray to God without ceasing. 00:17:47.879 --> 00:17:51.059 And David has a very, very big view of God. 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.859 He has a massive view of God. 00:17:53.679 --> 00:17:56.819 And in our troubles, in our emotional turmoil, 00:17:57.579 --> 00:18:01.339 God must become big, and we must become small. 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:08.759 In crisis, it can be very difficult to keep a balanced view of our own strengths. 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:12.279 The strength of God, and the strength of God. 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:15.359 But please, Christian, know this. 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:17.779 Our God is eternal. 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:22.639 And he has been enthroned forever, and will be forever. 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:27.399 Our own pride in the world around us, 00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:30.539 and I'm speaking especially to the many teenagers that are in the room, 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:34.720 the world around us tries to say, 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.099 you'll be okay. 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:42.599 It's easily one of the least helpful things anyone can say to someone who is in a crisis. 00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:44.519 You're strong enough. 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.399 You can do it. 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:47.079 You can fight this. 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:49.920 It's all around us. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:53.860 Yet, when those types of phrases are said, 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.880 without God in the center, 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:58.660 they have greatly hurt many people. 00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:03.620 Please look with me at verse 20 and 21, 00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:07.220 when we see a description of the deceitful companion 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:10.540 that has such a close resemblance of Satan. 00:19:10.540 --> 00:19:14.240 My companion attacks his friends. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.620 He violates his covenant. 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:18.300 His talk is smooth as butter, 00:19:18.840 --> 00:19:20.320 yet war is in his heart. 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:23.000 His words are more soothing than oil, 00:19:23.320 --> 00:19:25.340 yet they are drawn swords. 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:28.699 This is exactly what Satan, 00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:30.299 the greatest deceiver of them all, 00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:31.759 wants you to do when in crisis, 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.779 to run further away from God, 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:35.659 instead of running to God. 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:39.439 To be listening to words that sound nice, 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.579 and sound helpful, 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.679 yet they are complete poison. 00:19:46.179 --> 00:19:47.939 Or, as King David puts it, 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:49.339 they are drawn swords. 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:53.720 And we cannot miss violating his covenant. 00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:56.419 This is someone who walked with God, 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:58.980 yet now have broken the contract 00:19:58.980 --> 00:20:00.439 that they entered with God. 00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:04.839 Violating a covenant is the highest form of treachery. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:11.339 And as we think about 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:14.419 how Satan is stirring up the world around us, 00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:18.600 media, news, false teachings, 00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:19.860 and so much more. 00:20:20.580 --> 00:20:22.759 We are walking in a world of confusion. 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:25.259 And a world of confusion 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:28.180 that pushes down and suppresses people of faith 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:30.500 through the things that they are saying. 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.700 So when we fight 00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:35.220 these dark forces in the world, 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:38.500 even the deception of those closest to us, 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.980 how can we fight? 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:44.740 Please look with me at the words in verse 22. 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:48.220 Cast your cares on the Lord, 00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:50.220 and he will sustain you. 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:53.880 He will never let the righteous be shaken. 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:57.539 Casting our cares is literally 00:20:57.539 --> 00:21:00.360 throwing our concerns to the Lord. 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:03.019 When we throw something away from us, 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:05.480 it is a picture of completely letting go. 00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:09.180 Handing it all over to God. 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:10.560 God wants it all. 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:12.580 Not just a part, but all. 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:16.340 And this can be an intense area 00:21:16.340 --> 00:21:17.640 of struggle in our hearts 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:19.320 because we don't want to let go, 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.380 especially hard things. 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:24.600 But we want and we need 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:26.160 to hand it all over to God. 00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:31.600 When we fully hand over the burden 00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:32.840 to the Lord, 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.600 there is a promise 00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:36.019 he will sustain us, 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:38.580 and he will never let the righteous be shaken. 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:41.700 If we give the burdens to the Lord, 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:44.060 fully he will sustain us. 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:47.620 It is like we're skating on ice 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:49.060 in our own regular shoes, 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:52.060 trying to cross a big wide lake, 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:55.399 and there are weak spots in the ice. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.039 And if we fall, 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:58.519 we're going to go underneath the ice. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:01.319 But when we fully trust in God, 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:03.960 it's like God comes and holds us around the waist, 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:06.859 and he gets us to the other side. 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.779 When we trust in God, 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:12.319 he will get us to the other side. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:20.619 But there is a severe warning 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:23.379 to those who reject God. 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.779 Look with me at verse 23. 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:28.759 But you, God, 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:30.079 will bring down the wicked 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:32.119 into the pit of decay. 00:22:32.879 --> 00:22:34.559 The bloodthirsty and deceitful 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:37.079 will not live out half their days. 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:40.480 There is a price for rejecting God. 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:42.399 That price is death. 00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:45.960 If you are rejecting God in your life, 00:22:46.179 --> 00:22:47.379 don't ignore this warning. 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.980 It is a severe warning. 00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:54.279 David finishes Psalm 55 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.179 with a statement 00:22:55.179 --> 00:22:57.059 that I wish we could all say 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.699 with such confidence. 00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:09.779 Can you say with such confidence 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:13.160 that God, Lord Jesus, 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:15.319 I trust in you? 00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:19.740 I trust my relationship with you. 00:23:20.580 --> 00:23:23.860 I entrust my life to you. 00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:26.980 And even when someone close to me 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.759 betrays me, 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:29.759 I will hold on to you 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:31.039 and I will trust you. 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.680 So to finish today, 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:39.299 let's look at some practical ways 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.859 that we can use this psalm 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:43.680 to walk in our everyday life. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:48.200 To fight against raging emotions, 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:50.940 fear, depression, despair, 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.339 and despondency. 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:55.339 Whether it's caused by someone close to us 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:57.660 or whether it's caused by those things 00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.660 away from us. 00:23:58.660 --> 00:24:02.600 How to truly cast our cares on the Lord. 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:06.660 First, we need to recognize 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:08.460 what our burdens are 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:10.940 so that we can cast them to the Lord. 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:13.019 David understood 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:14.900 where his attacks were coming from. 00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:18.720 He didn't go to arrows or swords. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:22.819 He prayed to God because he knew what he needed to fight. 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:26.680 Sometimes we need to pause and understand 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:29.839 or even pray to God to help us understand 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:32.200 what the burdens in our life truly is. 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:38.000 especially as we consider words and words spoken to us. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:42.279 And a great caution from this text is 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:44.900 whether we ourselves are a burden to others. 00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.460 This one is hard. 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:50.319 There's many times when I've seen something leave my lips 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.799 and I see it leaving 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:54.279 and I know that that should not have left my own lips. 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:59.220 is our tongues setting other people on fire? 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:03.480 The book of James chapter 3 is a focus on this issue. 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.940 It's hard to think about 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:07.500 because we don't want to think about 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.819 that something we said 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:10.660 could have set someone else on fire. 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.859 But managing the tongue 00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:15.319 and managing what we say 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.779 is so important. 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:22.799 And in this 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:25.579 we should not walk alone. 00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:29.299 And this is an important part 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:31.960 of how we carry burdens. 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.599 Galatians 6.2 says 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:36.899 bear one another's burdens 00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:40.059 and so fulfill the law of Christ. 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:44.759 Talk to your brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:46.259 Talk to your elders. 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:50.000 Share these burdens together 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:52.920 in Christ-centered speech. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.379 Christ-centered love. 00:25:56.379 --> 00:25:58.139 We are meant for fellowship. 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:01.500 I realized I got carried away 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.639 and forgotten about my slides. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.940 It's okay as long as I have the last one. 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:11.339 Secondly, we need to have a big view of God. 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.700 You cast your burdens on the Lord 00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:15.339 by believing that he knows you. 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:19.220 In a way that goes beyond our comprehension. 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:23.179 That he's all-knowing and all-powerful. 00:26:24.399 --> 00:26:25.559 As David said, 00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:27.679 but as for me, 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:29.000 I trust in you. 00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:32.000 When we are in a battle, 00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:33.559 we must become smaller 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:35.399 and God must become bigger. 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:39.700 For only then will we have the right perspective. 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:44.759 Our Lord Jesus was betrayed and persecuted. 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:47.860 He was betrayed of one of his own disciples. 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:51.259 He was persecuted by the Jewish leaders 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:53.759 through their words and their accusations. 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:58.680 Betrayal and persecution placed Jesus on the cross. 00:26:58.680 --> 00:27:02.180 Even though he lived a perfect life 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:03.259 and he never sinned. 00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:06.140 And when he died on that cross, 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:07.640 he felt every betrayal, 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.640 every sin 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:10.519 of all of us. 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:14.079 But we have good news 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:15.200 that we can hold on to. 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:17.440 Death did not keep him down, did it? 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:20.759 He conquered death by rising again 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:23.920 as we sang about in that beautiful song. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:27.180 If you are someone 00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:29.120 who has never put your faith in Jesus, 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:32.060 if you have never submitted to him 00:27:32.060 --> 00:27:33.360 as a master in your life, 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:36.200 then please consider doing so today. 00:27:37.560 --> 00:27:38.940 Or if you are not ready, 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:40.300 ask yourself why. 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:43.759 Romans 10.9 says, 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:45.500 If you declare with your mouth, 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.759 Jesus is Lord, 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:48.620 which is Kyrios in Greek, 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:49.300 Masters, 00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:51.360 and believe in your heart 00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:52.940 that God raised him from the dead, 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:54.160 you will be saved. 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:59.860 Let us look at verse 21 00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:01.240 from our psalm again. 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.860 Cast your cares on the Lord 00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:05.320 and he will sustain you. 00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:08.660 He will never let the righteous be shaken. 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:11.700 It is only through the blood of Jesus 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:13.700 that we can be called righteous. 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:17.759 1 Corinthians 5.21, 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:21.240 which is hard not to become tearful 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.840 when I read it 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:23.199 because this is one of the verses 00:28:23.199 --> 00:28:24.159 that saved my wife. 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:27.000 1 Corinthians 5.21, 00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:30.459 God made him who had no sin 00:28:30.459 --> 00:28:32.579 to be sin for us 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:34.480 so that in him 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:37.159 we might become the righteousness of God. 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:41.799 Keeping the gospel in clear sight 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:44.980 gives us a big view of God. 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:51.980 Finally, 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:54.759 we need to pray like David. 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:58.700 Hear how David describes prayer. 00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.519 My prayer, 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.559 my plea, 00:29:01.860 --> 00:29:02.460 hear me, 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.339 answer me, 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.120 ask for me, 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:05.160 I call to God. 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.019 Evening, 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:06.380 morning, 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:06.960 and noon, 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:09.579 I cry out to God. 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:12.200 Is this a picture 00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:13.799 of your prayer life? 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:17.299 Do you pray morning, 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:17.619 noon, 00:29:17.659 --> 00:29:18.119 and night? 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:23.240 Do you call out to God for help? 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:26.279 Do you appeal with your whole being? 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:29.980 Do you have a personal conversation 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:31.200 with your Lord and Savior? 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:33.200 Do you have a personal conversation 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:34.720 if you don't? 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:36.779 My prayer for you 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:38.120 and my appeal to you 00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:40.980 is pray like David. 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:45.180 And dear brother and sister, 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:48.600 Jesus hears us 00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:51.100 in our very darkest moments. 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.279 As someone who, 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.559 before becoming a Christian, 00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:56.580 I was crippled by depression 00:29:56.580 --> 00:29:58.299 at many times in my life. 00:29:58.299 --> 00:30:02.119 And I have seen darkness, 00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:03.039 true darkness, 00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.799 darkness that I didn't think 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.799 that I could make it through. 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.759 But since becoming a Christian, 00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:11.200 I know that that will no longer 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:13.419 hold its power over me 00:30:13.419 --> 00:30:14.919 because I know 00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:16.460 that God is in control. 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.639 I know that Jesus 00:30:18.639 --> 00:30:20.159 is the master of my life 00:30:20.159 --> 00:30:22.119 and that he can hold 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:22.799 my burden 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:24.099 that I cannot hold. 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:33.299 And I want to say very carefully, 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.319 it does not mean 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:34.980 that hardship 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:36.519 won't impact us. 00:30:38.179 --> 00:30:39.439 Even challenge us 00:30:39.439 --> 00:30:40.059 to our knees. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.740 But follower of Jesus, 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.039 the Lord Jesus 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:45.319 is there with you. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.000 Call out to him. 00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:48.679 Cast your burdens 00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:49.539 on the Lord 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:51.639 and he will sustain you. 00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:51.699 Amen. 00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:56.539 And I want to do something 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.339 slightly different 00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:58.459 and hopefully you guys 00:30:58.459 --> 00:30:59.500 will be okay with that. 00:30:59.639 --> 00:31:01.319 But this is another verse 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:03.099 that my beautiful wife 00:31:03.099 --> 00:31:05.339 came to know the Lord through 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:07.079 and she had some hard things 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:07.679 in her upbringing. 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:12.359 If you would join me 00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:13.740 in reading out loud 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.539 this scripture, 00:31:15.419 --> 00:31:17.219 because this is 00:31:17.219 --> 00:31:18.379 our hope, friends. 00:31:18.959 --> 00:31:20.919 This is what we can hold on to, 00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:22.779 that the Lord Jesus 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:24.600 can carry our burdens 00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:26.720 that we cannot. 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:30.500 Come to me, 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:32.640 all you who are weary 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:33.820 and burdened, 00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:35.759 and I will give you rest. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:38.740 Take my yoke upon you 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:40.500 and learn from me. 00:31:41.060 --> 00:31:42.480 For I am gentle 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:44.039 and humble in heart, 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:46.660 and you will find rest 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.620 for your souls. 00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:50.239 For my yoke is easy 00:31:50.239 --> 00:31:53.059 and my burden is light. 00:31:53.619 --> 00:31:54.459 Let us pray. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:57.000 Father God, 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:58.439 thank you for your word. 00:31:58.899 --> 00:31:59.979 Thank you for this psalm. 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:03.919 Help us walk away from here 00:32:03.919 --> 00:32:06.319 having a big view of you, 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:09.199 laying all of our burdens 00:32:09.199 --> 00:32:10.079 at your feet, 00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:12.359 and trusting fully 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:16.000 that we can trust in you. 00:32:16.699 --> 00:32:17.839 In your name, Jesus, 00:32:17.939 --> 00:32:18.359 we pray. 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.079 Amen. 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.199 Amen. 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:33.059 Thank you, Frederick. 00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:35.479 We're going to sing in response.