I am posting my past Pastor's Perspective for Sunday, September 20, 2009.
Wait on God!? This is the microwave generation, I’ve heard. We have information at our fingertips. Music can be carried around in things smaller than a match box. Remember those old 8-track tapes, records, and cassettes? Now we have CDs and MP3s. You can rip the songs off (I almost sound like a con artist) and put them in an electronic device that delivers sound as good as or better than the original recording. Why wait? We can have it now. Pull out the plastic. Pop it in the microwave. Stick those ear buds in your ear and listen now. Do we have to wait?
Another aspect about Psalm 27 that I would like to focus in this week is how David could wait on God. We laugh at our attitudes and lifestyles when it’s pointed out to us how much we rely on modern conveniences. And I really wouldn’t want to go back to the days of horses and buggies, would you? But look how much we have come to lean heavily on them. Let the electricity go out and we can’t function. David, even though he didn’t have the modern conveniences, still had to beware of relying on self. You might be saying, “How is that, Pastor?”
David was a might man surrounded by mighty men. There was no foe that could defeat David and his men. He was victorious in every way. It would have been easy for David to rely upon his physical abilities rather than God (and David did at times). However, in this Psalm he shows us the Source of his strength. David tells us that God is His real Deal. Listen to verse 1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”
First, David says the Lord is his Light. Physical might and military strategy is wonderful, but if David couldn’t find his way, he would be defeated before he put his armor on. That’s why David could say in verse 14, “Wait on the Lord.” The light of God illuminates those areas that are darkened by fear, doubt and confusion. These three are the tools of the enemy to defeat us. But God is light (I John 1:5) and there is no darkness in Him. His Word spoken directly through the Spirit and the written Word of God is the lamp to our feet and light to our path (Psalm 119:11). The reason that David could wait on God is because He didn’t want to get ahead of the light nor did he want to lag behind.
How can you wait on God? By letting Him be your light. We live in a dark society and culture. “But the sun is out, Pastor! It’s beautiful outside.” What I mean is that the direction our society and culture is taking is diametrically opposed to the things of God. It is a spiritual darkness that I’m referring to. The people who live and operate in that realm (Ephesians 2:2-3) are in darkness. So how are we different? How can we be free from this path to nowhere? By letting God be your Light. You let God be your light when you wait on Him to give you the guidance and direction you and your family need to make it through this darkness.
How can we let Him be our Light? First, by daily reading His Word. His Word is the guide book to life. I know it is counter-culture; but in it is everything we need to know Him. Reading and studying God’s Word is our spiritual food. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Our faith is grows and is strengthened when we read and study God’s Word.”
Secondly, we must attend God’s house. Argentine Assembly of God is a community of believers who love to study God’s Word. There is Sunday School, Sunday morning and night, Tuesday morning and Thursday night Bible study. Wednesday night prayer and Bible study.
Thirdly, Not only is God Light and His Word Light, but you’ve got to walk in the light. Light for the pathway of your life and illumination of right choices for you personal life and family’s life come as you walk in the light. Walking in the light in the light is fellowship with God (I John 1). Fellowshipping with God is being where God is by making an atmosphere for Him. The house of God is just the place for that.
How do I wait on God, Pastor? By letting God be your light. By turning to His Word for your guidance. By being in God’s house where there is an atmosphere for His presence. By asking Him to be your light. Let me say again just as David said, “Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
Wait on God!? This is the microwave generation, I’ve heard. We have information at our fingertips. Music can be carried around in things smaller than a match box. Remember those old 8-track tapes, records, and cassettes? Now we have CDs and MP3s. You can rip the songs off (I almost sound like a con artist) and put them in an electronic device that delivers sound as good as or better than the original recording. Why wait? We can have it now. Pull out the plastic. Pop it in the microwave. Stick those ear buds in your ear and listen now. Do we have to wait?
Another aspect about Psalm 27 that I would like to focus in this week is how David could wait on God. We laugh at our attitudes and lifestyles when it’s pointed out to us how much we rely on modern conveniences. And I really wouldn’t want to go back to the days of horses and buggies, would you? But look how much we have come to lean heavily on them. Let the electricity go out and we can’t function. David, even though he didn’t have the modern conveniences, still had to beware of relying on self. You might be saying, “How is that, Pastor?”
David was a might man surrounded by mighty men. There was no foe that could defeat David and his men. He was victorious in every way. It would have been easy for David to rely upon his physical abilities rather than God (and David did at times). However, in this Psalm he shows us the Source of his strength. David tells us that God is His real Deal. Listen to verse 1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”
First, David says the Lord is his Light. Physical might and military strategy is wonderful, but if David couldn’t find his way, he would be defeated before he put his armor on. That’s why David could say in verse 14, “Wait on the Lord.” The light of God illuminates those areas that are darkened by fear, doubt and confusion. These three are the tools of the enemy to defeat us. But God is light (I John 1:5) and there is no darkness in Him. His Word spoken directly through the Spirit and the written Word of God is the lamp to our feet and light to our path (Psalm 119:11). The reason that David could wait on God is because He didn’t want to get ahead of the light nor did he want to lag behind.
How can you wait on God? By letting Him be your light. We live in a dark society and culture. “But the sun is out, Pastor! It’s beautiful outside.” What I mean is that the direction our society and culture is taking is diametrically opposed to the things of God. It is a spiritual darkness that I’m referring to. The people who live and operate in that realm (Ephesians 2:2-3) are in darkness. So how are we different? How can we be free from this path to nowhere? By letting God be your Light. You let God be your light when you wait on Him to give you the guidance and direction you and your family need to make it through this darkness.
How can we let Him be our Light? First, by daily reading His Word. His Word is the guide book to life. I know it is counter-culture; but in it is everything we need to know Him. Reading and studying God’s Word is our spiritual food. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Our faith is grows and is strengthened when we read and study God’s Word.”
Secondly, we must attend God’s house. Argentine Assembly of God is a community of believers who love to study God’s Word. There is Sunday School, Sunday morning and night, Tuesday morning and Thursday night Bible study. Wednesday night prayer and Bible study.
Thirdly, Not only is God Light and His Word Light, but you’ve got to walk in the light. Light for the pathway of your life and illumination of right choices for you personal life and family’s life come as you walk in the light. Walking in the light in the light is fellowship with God (I John 1). Fellowshipping with God is being where God is by making an atmosphere for Him. The house of God is just the place for that.
How do I wait on God, Pastor? By letting God be your light. By turning to His Word for your guidance. By being in God’s house where there is an atmosphere for His presence. By asking Him to be your light. Let me say again just as David said, “Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
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