Stonybank Community Church with Pastor James Carroll

Prayer gains the battle but praise the secures the victory.  The enemy is camped just outside the door but we must not let them in the door. 

Parallels Psalm 148.  Eloise on piano and Joanne on flute.

The rage of v.1 is not just anger but is a noisy display of opposition. In this increasing noisy world it is harder and harder to find any quiet.  And with all the rage how do we know to whom we should listen.  There is a conspiracy and the devil is its leader.

Hymn story and offertory with Eloise

What a shame that youth is wasted on the young.  "I hope the river of my will go on flowing fully... I don't want to end in a swamp."  The importance of laying a good foundation in your youth for the circumstances of life that are sure to come in our later years.  Live each day as it comes and you are sure to finish well.

Of all other things, we should be known for our love.  However, this virtue runs contrary to the world and our own human nature. 

Even before Covid, depression and suicide have been on the rise among young adults. The psalmist asks, Where is God?  When God seems silent remember this one principle, stop looking for reasons and start looking for promises.  As W. Wiersbe famously said, "as God’s children we live on promises not explanations."

A psalm of penitence for teaching lessons of forgiveness.  David suffered in silence for a year before coming clean with God.  Forgiveness is important but this psalm provides an important next step and guidance for cleansing from the iniquity of our sin.

Hymn story by Eloise accompanied by Joanne on flute

A Psalm of ascent or the going up to worship.  Happiness is most often a byproduct of something else and comes in ways we never expected.  This Psalm describes three experiences that embraces happiness.  It begins with worship and ends with weeping, which are inseparable elements of happiness.  It may sound counter intuitive but there is an element of happiness you will never know until you experience the sacrifice required to prepare a harvest in the work of the Lord.