"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD BEING IN CONTROL"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD BEING IN CONTROL"

Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions, and a prayer:

The Book of Proverbs is God's book of wisdom for us. God tells us about how to live wisely as we go about our walk with Him day by day. There are warnings, there are encouragements, and there are comforts that lead to rest and peace. Such is this verse we are looking at today. What a comfort to know that God is in control of all things.

1. God has a hand if you will and everything is in it.
Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

When the Bible speaks of the "hand of the LORD" it is using language to help us understand something that is true about God.
The hand is normally what is used to control or effect something.
We use our hands from the moment we get up to proceed through our day.
We do things with our hands that make other things happen.

Well, God has hands also And He uses His hands to accomplish His will. He is in control of all things. He moves throughout the world second by second bringing to pass that which He wants to do.

Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

2. God has the Kings heart in His hand.
Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Kings or those who are in authority, are also in the hand of the king. Or to put it another way, He is controlling those who are in control here on an earthly level.

We are to be subjection to those that God has placed over us, but there is someone who is over them. It's our God.
Our God is not in subjection to anyone.

Who is like our God, there is none like Him.
God is above all, and all is under His control.
Even the kings of the earth are in His hand and control.

3. God does what He wants to to through the kings heart that is in His hand.
Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Here's how this verse reads in the NLT
Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases.

This is tremendous imagery. It gives us a visual picture in our minds eye of God's control of all things.
God actually brings about His will through those who are in authority.
God is in control.

And, for the Christian we also have this wonderfully comforting and encouraging verse.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Not only is He in control, but He is working all things together for our good.

Some questions:

1. Are you facing a situation where someone is going to make a decision that will effect you?

2. Is that person or persons in a position of authority over you?

3. Are you wondering, hoping, praying for a certain outcome?

4. May I encourage you to keep praying to the Lord.

5. Will you take comfort today that those persons in authority over you are actually under authority and may not even know.

6. God has a plan, and His plan is going to come through those that He has placed in authority. Be comforted.

A prayer:

Father, how comforting it is to know that we are not just under the control of men. But all men are under Your control.
And, You are working out Your plan in our lives. There is never a moment where we are not in Your sight and under Your caring watchful eye. There is no one who can override what You want to do. May we find great peace and comfort in this Lord.
In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT TWO BLESSINGS THAT GOD GIVES TO HIS PEOPLE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT TWO BLESSINGS THAT GOD GIVES TO HIS PEOPLE"

Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

Another great Psalm inspired by God, and given to us through King David. In this Psalm he talks about giving honor and glory to God. And he speaks of God's greatness and power over all things. In particular he speaks of how God works in nature. He ends the Psalm by speaking of God sitting as the sovereign over all. And then here in verse 11, he mentions two blessings that God gives to His people.

1. This is a promise that LORD will give blessings to His people.
Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

David is expressing what the LORD will do. In that sense it's a promise.
One of the wonderfully comforting truths about the LORD is that He cannot lie.
Another comforting truth about the LORD is that He is faithful or dependable.
Thus we have in this verse a promise from our truthful and faithful LORD.

2. The LORD will give strength to His people.
Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

The first blessing the LORD promises to give is strength.
The word strength means might.
And, it comes from a word meaning to prevail, to make firm.
Thus we know that our God the LORD will give us might, and enable us to prevail.
He can make our hearts firm as it were in our walks with Him.

3. The LORD will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Here's the second blessing the LORD gives His people.
He blesses us with peace.
Peace means peaceably, welfare, prosperity, health.
It carries the idea and is used to speak of completeness, soundness, safety quiet, tranquility, contentment

Paul addresses this blessing in Philippians 4 and Col 3

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

And, our Lord also spoke of peace in John 14

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Some questions and application:

1. Isn't it a blessing to know that the LORD gives these blessings to us?

2. Do you need strength and peace today?

3. He has promised to give them to you.

4. All you need to do is take a moment and ask Him for that strength and peace and have faith He will give it to you.

5. These two blessings are just a thimble full if you will of all the many, many blessing that God gives us, but these two are very needful on a daily basis, and especially in times of weakness and trouble.

A prayer:

Father, day by day we have thanksgiving that is in our hearts as we read Your Word and continue to be fed and to learn about You, and to enjoy the comfort we have from Your Word. In particular we would like to say thank You for promising to give us these two blessings. Strength and Peace. We pray for friends today who need these graces, and ask that You would flood them to overflowing with strength and peace. And may they have the sense that it's God who is at work in their lives.
In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT FOUR THINGS GOD DOES FOR HIS PEOPLE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT FOUR THINGS GOD DOES FOR HIS PEOPLE"

Psalm 28:9 Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

This is of course another Psalm of David. It is like so many other Psalms, one in which David cries out to the Lord for help against his enemies. And in doing so, we learn much of a man who walked closely with God, and had learned to trust in God.
The Psalm starts with a cry for help, but ends in praise to God.

1. God will save His people.
Psalm 28:9 Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.

Here is the first of the four blessings we have from our God. He will and does save His people.
The word save means, to be delivered, liberated be victorious
He not only saves us, but continues to save us, and will save us all the way to heaven.
Our God is a saving God.
He is your saving God if you have put your trust in Him.

2. God will bless His inheritance ( His people )
Psalm 28:9 Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.

Secondly, we see that we God's people are called His inheritance.
Imagine that for a moment please.
God looks upon you as His inheritance.

But, as His inheritance He has, is, and will bless you.
To bless means to salute, to kneel down, congratulate.
God if you will kneels down to help us.
He has given us a Savior.
And, one day at the marriage supper of the Lamb, Jesus Himself will serve us.
God blesses His inheritance.

3. God will shepherd His people.
Psalm 28:9 Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.

God also shepherds His people.
This means to lead them as a shepherd does.
The word shepherd means, to tend, graze to feed. To rule, to associate with, to be companions, and to be a special friend.
This is how God regards you who believe in Him.

4. God will bear up His people forever.
Psalm 28:9 Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.

Finally here is one last thing that God does for His people.
He will bear them up forever.
Or He will carry them forever in His arms.
That is what Shepherds do for their sheep.
When needed, they will carry them in their arms.
His arms are capable of carrying you when needed.
And He loves to carry us when we need it.

Some questions:

1. Do you need God's help today?

2. Do you know God is more than ready and willing to help you today?

3. Do You desire God's blessing today?

4. Do you know He desires to bless you today?

5. Will You ask God to help you and to bless you today?

6. How about being led by God, do you need that today?

7. And, will you take rest in the fact that God is going to carry you forever in His arms as needed, right on into heaven?

A Prayer:

Father, our Savior, and our Shepherd. Thank You for all that You do for us. So often we are not aware of Your behind the scenes work as it were. But we know that You are actively involved in caring for us. Thank You for Your eternal and unconditional love. Your blessings to us are more than we can count. And when we get to heaven we will begin to understand them much more clearly. And, Your blessings are going to continue forever and forever. In Jesus name amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO WAIT ON THE LORD"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO WAIT ON THE LORD"

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

This is another Ps written by King David. This is a great anthem of praise, and an expression of David's confidence in the Lord, and a prayer for continued victory. It's also full of praise from David for God and His wondrous work in his life. It's also an expression of how David dealt with his fears and troubles, it was by his confidence in God.

This particular verse is an exhortation of what to do, and of what God will do. In fact, David tells us twice what to do.

1. Christians can wait on the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

The word wait means to look, to look for, to hope in, and to expect. To look eagerly for, to lie in wait for, and to linger for.
In fact, this could be read, "wait patiently" for the LORD.
This is often what God calls us to do.
Just to simply wait on Him, and to do it patiently.
LORD means the existing one.
We are to look for Him, and be patient as we do.

2. Christians can be of good courage.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

The second thing we are told here has to do with something we are to be as we wait.
It's to be of "good courage"
Or to be brave and courageous.

This is an attitude of faith that God calls us to live in.
Courage means to hold, prevail, take, be strong, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, to be secure.
This again is an attitude of simply choosing to believe in God.
And the benefits of this attitude are spoken of in the next verse.

3. God will strengthen the Christians heart.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

As we wait on the Lord, God strengthens our hearts.
This means that God will make us strong, He will confirm us, establish us, fortify us, make us alert, stout, bold and assured.
We cannot go wrong believing God and just waiting patiently for Him, He will come through and make us strong.

4. Christians are encouraged a second time to wait on the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Hebrew poetry uses repetition often. ( no pun intended ) But, it's good to be told more than once what we need to do.
To have our course of faith re-enforced.
That's what is being said here.
It's a repeat of what was said earlier.
Wait on the LORD.

Remember, this means, to look, to look for, to hope in, and to expect. To look eagerly for, to lie in wait for, and to linger for.
In fact, this could be read, "wait patiently" for the LORD.

Some questions:

1. Are you in a time right now of needing God's help?

2. Do you know He knows all about what you need help with?

3. Do you know that God loves you and is more faithful than you can imagine?

4. In fact do you know that God loves you more than you can imagine?

5. Do you know that if God is calling you to just trust Him, He is in fact, going to make you strong?

6. Do you know that if today you ask God to help you wait on Him, and ask Him to help you be of good courage He will do these things for You?

A prayer:

Father in heaven hallowed be Your name. You may be in heaven, but You are also right here with us in our very hearts.
And You know all about every single little detail of our lives. Nothing is hidden from You. Nothing escapes Your notice.
You are in love with us. You are love. You are faithful and true. You are so generous to help us.
Help us Lord to wait on You, and to be of good courage.
And, thank You in advance for what You are going to do.
You are going to give us strength.
In Jesus name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD HELPING YOU IN TIMES OF TROUBLE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD HELPING YOU IN TIMES OF TROUBLE"

Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

King David is believed to be the author of this particular Psalm. He was not stranger to trouble, nor was he any stranger to the help that God would give him when he found himself in trouble. Here he explains how God would help in times of trouble.

1. God's people do experience times of trouble.
Psalm 27:5 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

Jesus told us about the trouble we could expect.
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

And, so did Paul.
2nd Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

As did Peter.
1st Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

2. God will act on His people's behalf during times of trouble.
Psalm 27:5 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

David defines what God would do for him, and it's what God will do for you also as you put your faith in Him, and act on His Word to you. There are 4 things that David mentions here.

(1) God will help you in the time of trouble.

(2) He shall hide you in His pavilion

(3) In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide you.

(4) He shall set you high upon a rock.

3. Putting this into application for us today.

Here's how this verse reads in the NLT
Psalm 27:5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

Trouble will come to the believer.
You are either just coming out of trouble.
Or you are getting ready to experience some trouble.

In either case, one thing remains constant.
And that is the promise of God towards you.

Look again at what God says He will do for you,
Psalm 27:5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

He will conceal you when troubles come.
He will Hide you in His sanctuary.
He will place you out of reach on a high rock,

For us today as New Testament believers this means that God will do all of these things for us in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, and our helper the Holy Spirit.

He is with you to help you, and He will speak to you through His Word, or perhaps through a friends love and care.
Maybe it will be when you are at church, and the Word is being taught and it strikes you as if it was written just for you.

God will confirm His help to You, and guide you as to what to do, and when to do it.
It's important to just stay tuned in, and to listen to Him, and respond in obedience.

Some questions:

1. Are you going through a time of trouble right now?

2. If you are will you please take the time to read and meditate on this verse?

3. Also, will you ask the Lord just exactly what He wants you to do at this time?

4. It's important once He speaks to you to respond in obedience.

5. Will you in faith right now thank Him in advance of the fact that He is faithful and He is going to help you?

A prayer:

Father how wonderfully comforting are Your Psalms to our souls. Thank You for giving them to us. We can and do find such comfort and guidance in and through them. We pray for ourselves if we are in some trouble at this time, and we pray for those we know who may be in trouble that they would find You helping them.
Perhaps You would have us share this verse with them, and pray with them.
Thank You Lord.
In Jesus name. Amen

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.