(Psalm 76:1-3)…..In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. ² In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion. ³ There He broke the arrows of the bow, the shield and sword of battle. Selah

Asaph begins this Psalm be declaring that “In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel.” Now that is quite a declaration to begin a Psalm with. How many in that day would have said, “I know God.” Did they personally? Do we? Do you know God? …

(Matthew 9:23-26)…..When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, ²⁴ He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. ²⁵ But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. ²⁶ And the report of this went out into all that land. 

Jesus used the expression “the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” Why? When in fact her body had died? Even the people were aware of this …

(Galatians 4:8-14)…..⁸ But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. ¹² Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at …

(Psalm 56:1-4)….Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. ² My enemies would hound me all day, for there are many who fight against me, O Most High. ³ Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. ⁴ In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

David, who once faced and killed the giant from Gath single handedly, after several years found himself running for his dear life because …

There are two things that will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.

1. God will repay those who trouble His people 
2. The believer will finally be at rest

It will be a day of honor for Jesus, He will be revealed to His creation. The Greek word for “revealed” is (apokalupso) – uncovering – unvieling. However, right now, Jesus is in heaven, hidden from the world’s view, but one day He will be revealed by His appearing (Colossians 3:1-4). When this occurs, He …

We enter His gates with thanksgiving, making joyful shouts to our Lord. We enter God’s gates with thanksgiving because thanksgiving is the only appropriate response for what God has done for us. For God is…….

1. Our creator – (Isaiah 45:12)…..“I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.”
2. Our sustainer – (Isaiah 2:3)…..“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
3. Our redeemer – (Isaiah 44:6)…..“Thus saith

…

(Matthew 25:1-4)……“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”  It was the lack of oil which caused these foolish virgins to be met with the words, “I do not know you” (24:12). Oil in the Old Testament is frequently used …

In our efforts to portrait to others we have our lives altogether, we tend to sometimes not reveal how much we hurt or how difficult the trial or life really is. Maybe it is because we just don’t want people to know that we struggle, or that we can’t make it, so we put up a wall of defense that looks good to others. If that is you let me remind you that we do have a wonderful God who takes care of us, but sometimes life is plain hard …