Key Text: Psalm 27:1-14
‘Lord’ – Jehovah, ‘I am who I am’, the existing one, the aseity of God. God does not depend on any cause other than Himself for His existence or realisation and has within Himself His own reason of existence. God is absolutely independent and self-existent by nature.
Why is this important to know? Because understanding this makes it all the more mind blowing that God would want relationship with us and that everything He does is with a view to drawing us into a deeper more intimate relationship with Himself through Jesus. Knowing this should give us confidence to know that our lives have been marked for purpose because of Him.
‘Light’ – When we are in the light we do not think there is no darkness we just rest and live in the moment. It brings a sense of assurance and confidence because we are able to see to a greater extent the path that lies ahead.
1 John1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.
God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all. Light is the nature and character of God. He is not a light or a kind of light; He is light itself. All light comes from Him.
At the beginning of time, Genesis 1:1-5 He created the light to dispel the darkness and chaos that was over all the earth. He is still the same He has the power to dispel the darkness of oppression, sickness, hopelessness, depression, hurt, rejection. Darkness represents everything that is anti – God.
The light of God is His holiness, righteousness, and goodness, mercy, love, grace which is in contrast to the darkness of evil and sin. Light is part of the essence of God. He is completely, unreservedly, absolutely holy, with no sin, no taint of iniquity and no hint of injustice. Because of the light of God in our lives and the world we can be confident in His word and in Him.
When we live in the light of who God is and His son Jesus, we begin to see what we have in and through Him. What He has purchased for us by His life , death and ultimately His resurrection. It is only in the light and revelation of Holy Spirit can we even begin to appreciate our salvation.
Holy Spirit applies to the church, what Christ has accomplished for the church
Salvation is purposed by Father God, accomplished by the Son Christ Jesus and applied by Holy Spirit. Without Holy Spirit’s work and help in salvation, all that Christ has accomplished brings no value to us. Anything of eternal value in this life and in eternity comes through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we want to follow Jesus understanding that we need Him, God gives us Holy Spirit to enable us to live the Jesus life. And so we can be confident because it is not in our strength and ability but in His.
When we are confident of these things then we are able to join with the psalmist and declare ‘Whom shall I fear?’
1b The Lord is the stronghold of my life…you know a stronghold keeps in and keeps out. It protects that which is most precious from the things that would rob, steal and destroy
Matthew 6:19 reminds us Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
v.2 With all the pressures that we face daily, we may sometimes feel like God is a foe and not a friend. This feeling is without doubt baseless since God is not the source of our stress and headache. Many people including Christians today believe that God makes us suffer.
While it’s true that God allows us to suffer, challenges do not come because of God. They come because of the poor choices we make us and the sin that we commit.
And of course, people might say, ‘But isn’t God forgiving? He wouldn’t want us to suffer because He only wants what’s best for us.’
But Hebrews 12:8 is there to remind and exhort us: If you are not disciplined and everyone undergoes discipline, then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
This is the assurance we have, that if you face trial today and our heart is in the right place, we will have courage and confidence, knowing that God supports us and loves us so much that He calls us His legitimate son or daughter.
Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Whilst we know that it can sometimes feel overwhelming to bear the consequences of our mistakes, know that God is there to step in when we need Him to, not when we ask Him to.
Deuteronomy 31:6, Moses encouraging Joshua and the people Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
God is and will forever be for us and not against us. Through the deepest trials, know that Jesus is with us and that He has already won the toughest battles for us. He asks that we simply trust in Him and know that He has always been there for us.
‘My adversaries and foes it is they who stumble and fall’ and so we can be confident knowing God is working for our good.