Many Members, One Body

The Church is many members, One Body and as the body has many parts and yet is the one body, so too it is with the Church.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;Romans 12:4-11

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Unity seems to have long been the buzzword of the world, the notion of unity is the common desire of the world, at least it seems that way on the surface. 

We are to be united, we are all to be ONE, we are to come together at all costs, we are all the same, at one with each other, at one with nature, at one with the earth, we are equal.

But as noted in George Orwell’s classic fiction Animal Farm, when all seven moral commandments were removed, they were replaced by one which stated simply “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”.

In a world filled with moral subjectivity, the only UNITY that can be found is one that is unified in error!

Once it has been broadly agreed by the world that there is no such thing as truthand that no singular standard of right and wrong can possibly exist in which all people are held to account, once we have determined that truth and ethics are completely subjective, then the world will be equally agreed in error.

Sadly, however it does not stop there, because the UNITY of the world DOES NOT ACTUALLY ALLOW FOR DIFFERENCES, and consequently we find the world more divided than ever. 

It should not surprise us that this comes at a time when truth itself is rejected. When we cannot be united in truth, we are never going to be united in error.  Some will always see themselves “MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”.

LET ME GIVE AN SOME SHORT EXAMPLES

Feminism.

Feminism has had several phases in history, but Today you are no longer a true Feminist unless you are willing to accept that men can be women too. 

Yes, the fight for feminism has moved on from the desire to have the right to vote and equal pay for equal work, and women’s health etc. 

Germain Greer, the radical Australian Feminist of the last few decades who scored women for having children rather than pursuing a career, is now herself scorned for having the disunified notion that only woman can be women, and there should never have men who think they are women, competing in women sports etc.

This was however in 1999. By 2015 she was refused to deliver a Lecture titled ‘Women and Power’ to Cardiff university because her views on transsexuality was because she had demonstrated Quote “‘time and time again her misogynistic views towards trans women”[1].

“In a subsequent BBC interview about the controversy Greer said, ‘Apparently people have decided that because I don’t think that post-operative transgender men are women, I’m not to be allowed to talk.”

In Varsity magazine at Cambridge University, where Greer first cut her teeth in the feminist movement, Eve Hodgson wrote an article headlined ‘Germaine Greer can no longer be called a feminist.’ According to its author, ‘Greer is now just an old, white woman who has forced herself into exile. Her comments are irreparably

The Transformed Life Testifies of God

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:1-2)

It is not the mere commitment of our lives to be presented as a living sacrifice, that is sure to be true, for what else is it that can then present the body?

It is always first the state of the heart and mind that makes the commitment before the body follows, the steering of a car cannot be undertaken before the mind determines first to change direction.

So just as last week we considered this passage and determined with a great deal of confidence that we are to be committed in the presentation of our lives as a living sacrifice, we see here that more is implied in the text and that is respecting the presentation of our bodies as holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service.

There are two focal points in the passage and that is firstly our bodies and secondly the holiness of it.

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

In Luke 22:32 Jesus is speaking to Peter and he says to him;

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

We have here an understanding that there is to be in Peter an expected transformation, a change, a complete turning around of life, a conversion.

When we then read the accounts of his life and transformation in the book of Acts and his epistles, his letters in 1 & 2 Peter,  it is impossible not to notice the change in Peter.

Peter had gone from “ready, fire, aim” to a clear spirit filled presentation of logic and understanding of the Gospel, completely led by the spirit of the Lord.

There was indeed a CONVERTED NATURE THAT GOVERENED HIS HEART.

So too it becomes for all people who have turned from unbelief to belief, there is a change that happens from within, a transformation of their lives that cannot but TESTIFY OF GOD.

It is the reason people will ask you of the hope that is in you, they see a transformed life and it is a TESTIMONY OF GOD, why? Because nothing else can completely change the NATURE of an individual other GOD.

Beloved, it’s not only the fact that some serious old habits are done away, but that actual change in attitude and character are made evident, both to you and to those around you.

People had testified through history that everything from alcoholism to anxiety is gone from them, but more than that, they become changed in speech, in care and concern; their priorities change, they go from lusting after money to careing for people.

In short, there is A CONVERTED NATURE THAT GOVERNS THE HEART.

Indeed, more than this, they now have HOPE.

There is now HOPE and joy in knowing that sin is forgiven and heaven is home!

The Bible actually declares you transformed from sinner to saint.

From HEATHEN to Holy.

From peasant to King

Turn to 1 Peter 2:9-10

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

What we see here is a transformed life and it is this transformation that now testifies of God. But I want you to also notice something, though this is actually and physically true of you, you are indeed DECLARED A HOLY NATION, this is the testimony that has been done within you, there is also an exhortation to work to the outside that which has been done on the inside;

1

20201101 Present Your Bodies a Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1

Firstly, let me acknowledge to you that there is a vitally important section of Romans 11 that I have need to come back to. I would expect possibly yet another four sermons in that chapter remains. But it is not yet the time to preach it, nevertheless it certainly will be attended to in due course if the Lord wills.

We have patiently enjoyed the greater part of the Book of Romans to date. 43 Sermonshave so far been preached in the exposition of this incredible book and I would expect there to be half as much again before it is concluded.

Nevertheless, we are in the last major section of the book (Romans 11 not withstanding). It is a section that is incredibly distinct in both character and subject.

Romans chapters 1 to 4 could essentially be considered as the knowledge of the ruin of man. All men are fallen before a holy God and Paul lays out that Gospel foundation with greater and deeper clarity than a physician lays out an explanation of a terminal sickness in his patient.Chapters 5 through to 8 is the greatest cure ever known to man. It is the culmination of the gospel presented from the living to the dead. It is the section that sees the dead man now alive in Christ, washed from his sin, justified before the Lord and clothed with the righteousness of Christ and declared as inseparable from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Chapters 9 through to 11 provides some very strong and serious doctrine. There almost seems to be an expectation that now that you are saved by the blood of the Lord and have the Spirit of the living God in you, you should be immediately ready to be fed the milk and meat of the doctrines of scripture. Now, from chapters 12 to 15 answers the question that titles the Book of Francis Schaeffer, “How shall we then live”. It deals with duty not doctrine, It is practical in nature and speaks of the manner of life lived by those who have believed the Gospel: and you will notice that it minces no words from the very first verse.The very last section is the salutation and benediction of Romans 16.

Having set a broad scope of the book to this point, let’s begin the consideration of this chapter.

Chapter 12

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be

20201025 The Millennium

Psalm 100

A Psalm of praise.

1  Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he thathath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him,and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truthendureth to all generations.

A Psalm of praise.

A song that is sung to give praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for all his marvellous works. This title finds itself unique in the scriptures. It is identified generally as a Psalm of Praise, it does not belong to David and ‘David’s Psalm of Praise’ (Ps 145), nor to any other prophet, it is GENERAL.

We will see as we take our journey through this Psalm that it is a Psalm so broad in scope as to be that which summons the entire world, the sheep of his pasture, to Praise the Lord.

But I wonder if those are the sheep of his pasture Praise him now? The world will praise him for his marvellous salvation at the end of this world, but do those who love him now praise him now? Do those who are eternally saved and sit now secure in Christ, free both of eternal guilt and temporal tribulation, praise him now? Particularly as we see the day approaching?

Knowing that this, of all Psalms, finds itself in the culmination of the Apocalyptic Psalms, tells us that the end is the most glorious and restful of all ends for this world. This is where the Lord has triumphed over the wicked of the world, to begin his earthly rule and reign as his Son is set upon his throne in Jerusalem. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion, Says the Lord in Psalm 2:6

The songs that will be sung are greater than the songs sung when Israel crossed the Red sea, and the deliverance of the world will be greater than that. The millennium is the most anticipated event, other than the coming Messiah, in the Old Testament. And to this the people of the world are called through this Psalm of Praise

1  Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 

Its only when the true and proper context of this Psalm comes into view that the nature of it can be properly interpreted. 

I found as I was considering of a number of commentators through the centuries that the Psalm poses a level of confusion among them. Some claim that is speaks of the Church in this age but finds difficulty with the phrase in verse 3, “we are his people and the sheep of his pasture”; located in the Old Testament, this is particularly Jewish in nature.

Some claim that the call to the nations identified in the first verse, needs to be re-translated to “Shout aloud to the Lord, all ye inhabitants of the land”[1],  in order to reconcile itself to the rest of the Psalm. “Seeing” the commentator says, “in the rest of the Psalm Israel is specifically addressed, and the inhabitants of the earth are totally ignored, we feel compelled to follow [this alternative translation]”.

You see, he identifies that “make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands” speaks of all the nations of the earth, but cannot understand why it is placed in the same context of ‘all these lands’ being a part of the sheep of his pasture. So it must be Israel, “all the inhabitants of the land”.

But at the entry of the millennium this is EXACTLY what we should expect to see!!!

The entry of the millennium begins with believers ONLY. The second coming of Christ, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, has destroyed the wicked of the earth.

Turn to Rev 19:11

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed w

14 Left Behind pt 3 Psalm 98

As we consider these last few Psalms of what is referred to as the “Apocalyptic Psalms”, we cannot help but notice the most incredible structure to them that lays out a chronological curiosity that would astound us when we consider them as a whole.

Psalm 91 opens the account and does so making several references to the preservation of Gods favoured people form the effects of a virus, a plague, a pestilence says the Psalm.

Psalm 92 builds up a recognition of the rise of the wicked in the world and distinguishes them dramatically from the righteous.

Psalm 93 looks forward to the return of the Lord and Psalm 94 reveals the judgment of God upon an evil world, but also reveals the Gospel to those to whom God is ‘the rock of their refuge’ (v22).

Psalm 95 rejoices in that salvation and reminds the people of his faithfulness even when they turned from him historically.

Psalm 96 commands the heathen of the earth to turn from their idolatry to the living God.

And Incredibly, Psalm 97 has, from what I can see, its Chronology in the midst of the Tribulation period.  Why do I think that?

Verse 2 to 5 demonstrate a recognition of the judgment of God in its description of the Lord, 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment arethe habitation of his throne. 

But as mentioned last week, we also see 3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. 4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. 5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

These are represented in other Old Testament passages and the book of Revelation as the peak of the judgment period.

But what is the most incredible of all is that suddenly, Israel begin to be the focal point, ZION is the centre of Gods attention and her protection is his desire. We see this from Revelation 12 but we also see it in the middle of Psalm 97

Psalm 97:8-10

8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD. 9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. 10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Our text for today is Psalm 98

Psalm 98

1  O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 

4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. 

To place a few things in context, of what should be seen at this time of the tribulation period;

Revelation 6

Famine and pestilence is the dominating consideration within the world, so too wars and the removal of peace from the earth as the four horsemen of the Apocalypse go about there work.Violence, men killing one another, as in the days of Noah, are already evident and there is no doubt that fear is the overriding emotion within the world.One quarter of the population of the Earth are killed by  “sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”An innumerable company of people are killed for their faith.A great Earthquake has darkened the Sun and the Moon has

Left Behind Pt 2 Psalm 97

Setting: Wrath of God

Antichrist has come in as the saviour of the world. 

The world had turned with pestilences, famines, economic disintegration through hyper inflation. 

There is worship of the environment and idols were the only other source of mixed comfort for the people.

The lord 

PSALM 97

1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. 4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. 5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 

6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. 

8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD. 9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. 10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 

11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Liam does not know when Christianity was legal in Switzerland, but what he does know is that very few of the old established religions are even tolerated today. It’s not so much that Christianity is now illegal, but that none but one is tolerated today, only The Unified Hope is tolerated as the true religion, all else is considered idolatry and incredibly, punishable by death.

Such a notion might have sounded extreme if this were spoken of a couple of decades ago, the idea of capital Punishment for believing differently was historically seen only at the most extreme end of religious fundamentalism, but the new Global Education system begun by Pope Francis in the 2020’s spoke of creating a “New Humanism”, sadly toleration of this endeavour had eventually led it to become an absolute. 

One that all people had to be unified in believing in order for man to make that next evolutionary ascendance.

Pope Francis was the last of the Catholic Popes, that office had been transformed since the revealing of the messiah a little over three years ago. Today that office is no longer that of  Pontifex Maximus, but simply that of Prophet. 

That previous title has been assumed by the one all people are charged to refer to as The One, with a Captital “O”, or He and Him with a Capital “H”; it was all how the New Age of Aquarius had referred to the One most people now simply refer to as “Savior” with a capital “S”.

And ‘savior’ seems to be just how to have described him after all that has occurred in the last decade.

Liam Hopler was a graduate of the University of St Gallen, in St Gallen Switzerland, it was founded at the turn of the 19th century and became one of the most prestigious business and Finance Universities in Europe. 

After his graduation he transferred to the United States where he began his finance career working as a Runner in the New York Stock Exchange on Wall st. He was only 23 years old and his first day on the job would go down in history, at least for him, as the most remarkable 1st day on the job of all.

After a few jobs gathering the money for his travel, having secured his working permit, Liam took flight and landed at the JFK Airport in New York. Less than a week later he was standing in front of Paul Tudor Jones, who became a legend after that very day.

That day was the 19th of October, 1987, a day also known as Black Monday. It was a day that essentially began the previous Thursday afternoon, but it had it’s climax on the Monday when the markets went into freefall, and Li

Left Behind

In giving consideration to the nature of these ten Psalms, having looked at how they present themselves and also understanding the Bible teaching so plainly that the Bride of Christ, the Church that he died for, is not appointed unto wrath and will be caught up to ever be with the Lord, I thought that it be fitting to address these last couple of sermons to those left behind. 

This is somewhat of a challenge, but even more so as I bring much of this message together in the style of a short story, a story that might be seen through the eyes of someone who comes to discover that she is indeed left behind.

 The challenge levelled to those left behind is heightened by my commitment to teach all those in the faith, both babes as well as those desiring the meat of the word of God.

The narrative is a fictional account of what may very well be someone’s future reality, a reality that finds them left behind to endure the most horrific events of history, the seven-year period we call The Tribulation.

I pray the sermon encourages those of you who a looking for the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that it challenges you for the urgency of the Gospel and the undertaking of the work, but also that it both convicts and brings a state of urgency to those of you who are at the very real risk of being left behind.

PSALM 95

1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 5 The sea ishis, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. 

7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

Part 1: Invitation with reason (v 1-6)

Part 2: Invitation with warning (7-11)

Subject is the Jews

It was an early morning for her but not intended to be early, she craved more than anything to just sleep, her mind was still reeling over the events of the last few months. 

During the middle of the night however she was startled by a loud sound, it didn’t come from inside her home, it was not a noise of anything being disturbed, on the contrary, the sound was a beautiful harmony; the sound of a range of wind instruments, bugle, trombone, trumpet or even flute. It wasn’t anything she had heard before, but it was loud and clear and yet lovely. 

Unsure if it was just a dream, she tried to turn back to the sleep she was finally enjoying till that moment, but after several hours wrestling she got out of bed.

Being up so early, she was not surprised that she could finally flick the kettle on and boil water the old fashion way, rather heat water over a flame. During normal  times when most people are up, her low citizen score would not permit her to use the kettle which would spike energy consumption that she was not privileged to receive, peak time power was reserved for those with a score above 600.

Never did she think that the smart meter installed years ago by her power company could individually select items to turn on or off based on her behaviour and so the called “green energy’s” ability to supply.

Today this just happened to remind her of things her brother had been saying about the Bible and End Times. Friends from work mentioned it too, and these are friends that aren’t

The Road To Ruin

The Apocalypse 

So Psalms 91 to 100 reveals the terminal generation, that is that generation that Jesus spoke of when he said “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” That is the generation that is alive when all those things begin to come to pass that he spoke of in Matthew 24, Mrk 13 and Lk 21.

That which is written in those accounts are largely repeated with little additional information added, nevertheless these are those signs which he answered his disciples when they asked; 

“what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Mat 24:3)

And in each account where this is recorded Jesus began his summary of signs with this one admonition, ‘Take heed that no man deceive you” (v4), indicating with clarity that deception shall be the predominant sign of the coming end of the world they enquired after. 

We noted something of incredible interest last week and that was that this group of Ten Psalms seem very much to fit a Chronological structure. We identified Psalm 91 as the Psalm that opens the account, first as being a shelter to those who put their trust in him, it is the only one of the ten Psalms that presents the Gospel with clarity and it had the most incredible triple reference to plagues and pestilence, it is the only Psalm of the ten that refers to a pandemic virus by which many lives are taken.

That was curious to us because it is the opening Psalm of the ten apocalyptic Psalms and we are today living with a fear of such things as this that is, for the first time in history, being excused as an opportunity to completely alter the governing principal of the entire world. That has never happened before.

Psalm 92 again begins with giving praise to the Lord, but in the middle of the Psalm identifies the very quick rising up of the wicked;

 7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish;

And then it brings a distinguishing characteristic between the wicked and the righteous, one will be destroyed for ever and the other will flourish;

  7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Psalm 93 is a reminder that God is in control, that he is sovereign.  It is one of the most common comforts that I have heard today as those who love the Lord comfort one another with the current situation. 

1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself…

2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

As the days unfold before us, this is vitally important to have brought to our minds and that our spirit and heart does not fail. 

The hearts of many are failing them today, and they console themselves in the belief of better days ahead. But how will their hearts fair if better days are temporary, of if life returning to normal does not play out they way many desire? What will keep the hearts of those who do not know the Lord, secure?

Verse 3 again gives indication of disquiet among the people of the world as the employment of the people of the world is used again synonymously as the waters of the earth;

3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

Again, this is something we are witnessing around the entire world today, it does not matter if you are in Hong Kong, in India, in Europe, the USA or Australia, the Human wave is not limited to stadiums, but is beginning to rage on the streets of the world. Nevertheless;

4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

And the Psalm concludes with the assurance of his testimo

The Beginning of The End

When it comes to the End Times that the Bible speaks about, we can often take it for granted that it is speaking of a time in the very distant future for which none of us are going to be personally affected. We like the idea of a long life and a death at old age as the many generations who have gone before us, but what if our generation is the last? What if we are the beginning of the end?

Clearly there is a terminal generation spoken of in the Bible, Jesus said that “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” This being noted on three occasions in the Bible, Matt 24, Mrk 13 & Lk 21. The context is the end of the end, but for the end of the end to occur, it is the beginning of the end that will come first.

We have seen within the body of the Psalms a wonder and a structure to them. Far from being haphazardly placed together, we see that there is a structure and that this structure is there for a reason. We have seen also different aspects of the Psalms.

We noted Psalms that are commonly referred to as Messianic Psalms, that is, they are psalms that speak of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. They outline his coming, both first and second. They speak of his life and his purpose.

We have seen Psalms also of a nature that calls judgement upon the wicked and the adversaries of the Psalmist, these are known as Imprecatory Psalms.

We see also the penitential Psalms, Psalms of repentance, Psalms of sorrow for sin and petitioning of the Lord for his mercy and grace.    

We see also Psalms that speak of Creation and of the Word of God and its value. 

We see also Psalms of praise, these are Psalms we are yet to consider in our particular study, but they will come.

But we have not only seen Psalms of a type, we have also looked at some individually for the wonderful fruit that we can glean from them.

One thing we can confirm is that the Psalms touch every aspect of our life and emotion. They are experiential, they are the pouring out of the heart to the Lord, but they are also informative and reach both into the past, the present and the future of things the Lord has attended to and will attend to concerning those who love him.

We today are living in the most unique period of history. As each day roles on I am being more convinced than ever that we are on the cusp of the creation of the final kingdom prophesied by Daniel in the Book of Daniel chapter 2, that we are at the beginning of the end.

I showed in the Mayday Series this year the image of Nebuchadnezzar which he dreamed, the head of Gold (Babylon), the chest and arms of Silver (Medo/Persia), the body of brass (The Greek Empire) and the legs of Iron (Roman).

But concerning the times we are to enter it is the feet, part of Iron and part of clay, Daniel writes that this kingdom will be partly strong and partly broken. It is a kingdom which is defined by division. I don’t think I have seen a time in history where the people of our own civilisation are so divided and becoming more so all around the world. Daniel writes however that this final kingdom is unlike all that has gone before it, as it devours the whole world. Revelation refers to it in a way that none escape from its grip with life. I am more convinced than ever that we are living at the beginning of that very time, that we are at the beginning of the end.

I bring that up to introduce to you a body of Psalms that have a uniqueness of their own. Wedged between a Prayer of Moses in Psalm 90, and a Psalm of David in Psalm 101, is a set of Psalms that have been known as set apart by many teachers of the Bible

They were referred to as the “Enthronement Psalms” By Sigmund Mowinckel, a biblical scholar at the turn of the twentieth Century; they were also known as “Second Advent Psalms” George Rawlinson in the century before. They were called “The Millennial Psalms” by Johann Gottfried Herder in the 18th Century,  

“Songs of the Mi

Psalm 11

In The LORD Put I My Trust!

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1  In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 

4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

1  In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 

David is incredulous at the thought; “Flee?, Flee? Is my confidence in man or is it in the Lord? Shall such a man as I flee”. 

There are none who know with certainty at what point of his life David wrote this. Was it when David first suspected Saul the King desired to take his life?

Was it when his own son Absolom had tried to take the kingdom from him after enticing many men to his cause? Or was it before any of the multitude of battles and conspiracies against his life in between? We don’t know, but we do know that in the Psalm is a perfect understanding of where his trust is to be most employed. 1  In the LORD put I my trust:

There are times in each of our lives that we ought to know in whom it is we are to have our trust. David knew God, he knew Gods character and he knew his nature. David’s music was motivated by the Lord, and David’s joy was found in the Lord each time he looked into the stary night sky when caring for those few sheep in the wilderness. No doubt it was this that inspired Psalm 19, “The heavens declare the Glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handiwork”.

O there is no doubt in my mind at all that David knew God well and had more than enough opportunities for his trust to be tested. “36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” (1 Samuel 17:36-37)

How often had David placed in trust in the Lord against odds so much greater than he was to face before he stood before Goliath? Was it not for preparation?

Beloved, there are experiences in our lives that we look back on that PREPARED US to stand against future trials. Times when all we had were trials before us but God behind us, and we took courage and “In the LORD we put our trust” and moved ahead. We checked, we saw that we were ‘upright in heart’ before the Lord, and if it was not we broke our hearts before him and he gave us mercy and grace to help in times of need (Heb 4:16), and we went forward with our Trust in the Lord. David did just the same. 

As a shepherd lad he experienced trial after trial, times when creatures many times stronger than him came against him and took a sheep from the flock and he perused the beast to retrieve it.  Goliath? When we read the account of Goliath in 1 Samuel, we see absolutely no hesitation in David. He simply reasoned that the same God who saved him from the Lion and the Bear will deliver such an one that dare defy the armies of the living God? (1 Sam 17:26, 36), No hesitation! Is this not also with you?

Have you had the experiences of God being right there with you when you went through trials that overwhelmed you? When David stood before this giant of a man he said to him;

“Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name