The Watford Church of Christ Podcast
We are on a journey to that future life exploring the incredible plans God has for us on earth to love Him and to love others. Join us on this journey!
Listen on:
Episodes
Sunday May 17, 2020
Sunday May 17, 2020
Introduction
Many things God helps us escape from
Metaphors here: Earthquake
Flood - Peterson, p74
Beast of prey
Fowler
He speaks from having experienced the worst - chased by Saul, Philistines (2 Sam 5).
This is no theoretical piece of poetry, but a recalling of experience.
1. Bible Examples
QUESTION: Examples of people in the Bible who escaped
Why do those stories resonate?
2. Personal Experience
QUESTION: What has God helped you escape from so far?
i.e. What might well have happened if you had not decided to follow the Jesus way?
How does that make you feel about situations at the moment you need to ‘escape’ from?
What things do you need help to escape from at the moment?
3. Future Hope
QUESTION: What helps us stay escaped?
Powerful God - this Psalm, “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” (1 Corinthians 6:14), “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)
Sober about weaknesses -
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8–10)
“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.” (2 Peter 2:20)
Supportive and honest friends - “Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”” (Matthew 26:38)
Conclusion
Celebration is the tone of this Psalm
Gratitude for what God has already done Communion helps
Words of “And can it be”
1. And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2. ’Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love Divine!
’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
3. He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
’Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
5. No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness Divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)
God bless, Malcolm
PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John
mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox,
Monday May 11, 2020
Monday May 11, 2020
"Questions about Psalm 124", Malcolm Cox
I'm preaching on Psalm 124 this coming Sunday, 17 May 2020.
I'm looking for a bit of help with the preparation.
What kind of attack do you think the writer is thinking of? It seems pretty severe!
Also, how can we be confident the Lord is on our side without becoming proud?
What do you think is the core point of the Psalm?
I would be really interested in your thoughts. Thanks for helping me out. If you would like to join as on Sunday, drop me a line and I'll send you the link.
“A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel say— if the LORD had not been on our side
when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us; the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters
would have swept us away.
Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:0–8 NIV11)
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)
God bless, Malcolm
PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John
mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox,
Sunday May 10, 2020
Sunday May 10, 2020
Introduction, v3-4
Question: “Can you think of people in the Bible who were treated with contempt/ridicule (who did not deserve it)?”
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10–12 NIV11)
‘mercy’, Hebrew: hanan = compassion for the miserable; take pity; be kind; implies acts of kindness, not simply feelings of pity.
Look with confidence, v1Question: “Who do you think of as the ultimate victorious person?”
A. Seated“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1–2)
B. Jesus, Ephesians 1.20“That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:19–23 NIV11)
Look with patience, v2Question: Who do you know you can count on?A. Decision to look“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4 NIV11)B. AttentiveQuestion: “What do you think the psalmist means by using this slave metaphor?”“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. ”” (Luke 18:1–8 NIV11)“Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:1–3 NIV11)
Conclusion, vv3-4Move from conceptual to the personal - “the LORD” to “LORD have mercy”
Question: “When have you felt the need for God’s mercy most acutely?”
A. Show mercy as an imitation of the heart of God“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)
B. Anticipate your relief“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2Cor 4:7–18
Fix eyes on Jesus“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb 12:1–3
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 NIV11)
"Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:34–39 NIV11)
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Sunday May 03, 2020
Sunday May 03, 2020
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Sunday Apr 26, 2020
Sunday Apr 26, 2020
“Do you know where you are going?”, Psalm 122(“We’re on a road to somewhere”)
Introduction, v0Question: “In what way has this crisis strengthened the UK community?”
1. Where are we going? vv1-2
A. To the ‘house’ of the LORDPs 120 - repentance, Ps 121 - trust, Ps 122 - worship.
B. To ‘Jerusalem’(Ephesians 2:19–21), (1 Peter 2:4–5)Literally, ‘Our feet have actually been standing within your gates!’ (John 14:1–4)(Revelation 3:12) (Revelation 21:1–4)
2. What is it like where we are going? vv3-5
A. Safe/secure, v3
B. UnifiedGen 49, (Deut 33).(Psalm 133:1–3)
C. Wrongs righted(Matthew 18:15)(John 17:20–23)
3. What shall we do on the way? vv6-9
A. Pray for peace - of the kingdom‘Shalom’ - wholenessWhat is it about our community that helps us be ‘secure’?(Matthew 5:9)
B. Seek prosperity - of others‘Shalwah’ - prosperity, tranquillity, ease(Philippians 4:6–7)
Conclusion(Hebrews 12:22–26, 28–29), (Hebrews 13:1–5)What kind of community will be left behind in our congregation after the virus?
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
This coming Sunday I am preaching on Psalm 122.
I would like your input on some questions about the text. Let me know what you think.
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Sunday Apr 19, 2020
Sunday Apr 19, 2020
The Watford church had the great privilege of hearing from our old friend Dr Andrew Boakye.
Here is the text on which he spoke:
And they said to him, John’s disciples are always fasting and praying, and the Pharisees do the same, but yours just seem to eat and drink all the time! So Jesus said to them, “it’s hardly possible for the groom’s entourage to fast while the groom is there with them, is it? That day will come; and then, when the groom is removed from their presence they will spend days fasting”. Then he spoke a parable to them, saying: “No one tears a piece of cloth from some new clothes to fix a hole in some old ones! If they do, not only will the new clothes tear, but the old won’t even match the cloth from the new. And no one pours new wine into old leather wine skins. If they do, the new wine will burst the leather wine skins and will itself be poured out, simultaneously destroying the skins. On the contrary, only new leather wine skins are fit for new wine. And no one drinking the old stuff wants the new, for he says the old makes sense” (Luke 5:33-39, Boakye translation).
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Apr 06, 2020
Monday Apr 06, 2020
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Sunday Mar 29, 2020
Sunday Mar 29, 2020
“Who is looking after you?” - Psalm 121
1. Who is looking after us? vv1-2
Fear
Bandits in the hills
False
Pagan temples, altars and shrines were on the hills - false hope
Fix
God is available to help, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)
He is our ‘helper’ or ‘guardian’, ‘the one who guards’ 8 times in this Psalm.
The Psalmist’s thinking quickly jumps from the hills to what lies beyond them - the Maker of the universe.
Setting our hearts & minds will help us keep the right perspective during the day,Col. 3:1
2Cor. 4:18
Heb. 3:1
Heb. 12:2
2. What is he like? vv3-4
Note move from “my” to “your” - when we are assured of God’s help we can point others to that helper.
‘watches over’ = Heb ‘Shamar’, The basic idea of the root is “to exercise great care over.” ... “take care of,” “guard.”
Awake
Mother watching over a vulnerable child - staying awake to protect
Pagan gods needed waking (1 King 18:27), but not Israel’s God.
Attentive
Guarding against intruders, etc., such as the cherubim guarding the way to the tree of life in Gen 3:24.
Better than a burglar alarm. Satan steps back when he knows God is home!
Personal
God is YHWH five times in this little Psalm.
And his protection is personal - all the ’you’s’ are singular.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NIV11)
We are to help ‘guard’ one another in Christ. Be in touch! Be like God!
3. What will he do for me? vv5-6
Shade you (protection) comprehensively
God is our constant companion and helper in real or imaginary dangers.
Times when it gets hot
Stressed? Does not need to become crippling anxiety.
Stepping into the shade helps you think more clearly. That’s what a QT is for.
Times when it gets scary
It was thought that too much exposure to the moon could cause illness i.e. ‘lunacy’.
We are all scared by things. How do we process that fear, and overcome it?
That’s what a QT is for.
Shade = Heb. ‘tzel’, ‘shadow’, "Yahweh is the shade or the source of protection for his people The Psalmist prays that God may hide him under “the shadow of his wings” (Ps 17:8; cf. Ps 36:7; Ps 91:1).
Remember to step into the shade when it gets too hot or too scary.
Conclusion vv7-8
Our situation is bearable because it is not the final destination.
God is doing good even at this time.
What’s been better since this Covid 19 crisis began?
Romans 8:35–39
Faith is taking hold of this and moving into confusion without being controlled by fearBecause we know, by faith, God will make something good from it
That is why Jesus went to the cross
He, by faith, looked forward to it with joyNot so much the cross, but it’s outcome
““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 NIV11)
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,
Monday Mar 23, 2020
Monday Mar 23, 2020
“How to begin a tough new journey with God”, Psalm 120
Psa. 120:0 A song of ascents.
Psa. 120:1 I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.
2 Save me, LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.
3 What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue?
4 He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.
5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
1. Call on God, vv1-2
A. With honesty
“my distress”
tsarah - first child; terror of approaching rapacious army
Specific about the need - slander
B. With faith
“He answers me” implies past answers
Reflect on past answered prayer and God coming through for you
answer may also be one another -
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17 NIV11)
C. With relationship
From “the LORD”, to, “save me” - personal address
From propositional to personal
2. Trust God, vv3-4
For wisdom
Satan is the liar
“If we are to know the abundant provision of God’s unlimited resources, we must also understand how Satan works to rob us of that experience. He does so by deceit. You may have heard the saying that the way to know if certain people are lying is if their lips are moving. This is absolutely true of Satan. Jesus referred to him as “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NRSV). Indeed, his whole kingdom is based on lies; he works by deceiving. Why? Because he does not have direct power over our will. Therefore, if he is to get us to do his bidding, he has to fool us. He cannot make us do anything we do not want to do. If it is true that a person can be the devil’s puppet, the strings are Satan’s lies.” Willard, Dallas. Life Without Lack (p. 75). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
Be careful what you believe from the media
Be careful what you believe form your own mind!
B. For strength
tongue - sharp arrows
lies - burning coals
Sin & death - empty grave; risen living Jesus
3. Turn to God, vv5-6
Meshek/Kedar - far north, far east - far from God
Wants to move closer to God
Homesick
Fed up of being around the pagans!
Times like this help us reassess our loyalty (Matt 5) to king Jesus
Opportunity to grow closer
But must move
Repentance!
B. Peace available
Shalom
Peace, prosperity, well, health, completeness, safety.
In Christ
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV11)
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 NIV11)
Conclusion, Eph 2.12
“….remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:12–18 NIV11)
Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.watfordchurchofchrist.org.
Join us in our adventure: 10.30 AM on most Sundays at Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0DD.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: thewatfordchurch@gmail.com.
Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.
God bless,
Malcolm
Watford, Watford church of Christ, Malcolm Cox, mccx, Croxley Green, Bushey, Leavesden, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ICOC, ICCM, Chesham, Chorleywood, Aylesbury, Croxley, Laurance Haines School, Vicarage Road, Bible teaching, Sunday School, Youth Ministry, Watford Church, Churches in Watford, Churches in London, Churches in Hertfordshire, Watford UK, Holywell, Watford England, Watford in Hertfordshire, West Watford, Churches of Christ,