Psalm 23

THE GIFT OF PEACE

Luke 2:14, NKJV

John 14:27, NKJV

John 14:28 NKJV

Luke 21:25-28, NKJV

Romans 14:17 NKJV

Romans 15:13 NLT

THE IMPORTANCE OF PEACE

1. Peace is how God guides us.

Colossians 3:15, NLT

2. Peace is how God protects our minds and hearts against Satan’s attacks of fear and anxiety.

Philippians 4:6, NKJV

Philippians 4:7, NKJV

3. Peace is the platform of our witness.

Ephesians 6:15, NLT

4. It is the purpose of our ministry and influence.

Matthew 5:9, NKJV

Luke 10:3, NKJV

Luke 10:4, NKJV

Luke 10:5, NKJV

Luke 10:6, NKJV

Mark 4:37, NLT

Mark 4:38, NKJV

Mark 4:39, NKJV

Mark 4:40, NKJV

Mark 4:41, NKJV

HOW DO RECEIVE THE GIFT PEACE?

1. Submission to the Lordship of Christ

Isaiah 9:6, NKJV

Isaiah 9:7, NKJV

2. Diligent, Faith-Filled Prayer

Philippians 4:6, NKJV

Philippians 4:7, NKJV

3. A Godward Mindset

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

Romans 8:5, NKJV

Romans 8:6, NKJV

Luke 21:28 NKJV

4. Daily Dependence upon the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:22, NKJV

5. Praise and Worship

Isaiah 61:1, NKJV

Isaiah 61:2, NKJV

Isaiah 61:3, NKJV

Philippians 4:4, NKJV

Psalm 34:1, NKJV

Psalm 34:4, NKJV

THANK GOD FOR MERCY

Psalm 136:1-3, NKJV

Romans 3:23-26, NLT

Titus 3:5, NLT

Nehemiah 9:17, NLT

Nehemiah 9:19-21, NLT

2 Samuel 2:24, NLT

Ephesians 2:4-5, NLT

Lamentations 3:22, NLT

Lamentations 3:23, NLT

Proverbs 28:13, NLT

Hebrews 4:15-16, NLT

Psalm 103:20- 21, NLT

Hebrews 1:13-14, NIV

John 1:51, NIV

Colossians 1:16, NIV

Hebrews 13:2, NIV

2 Kings 6:17, NIV

1. Angels Pronounce God’s Message To Us

Acts 27:23-:25, NIV

2. Angels Provide For Our Needs

1 Kings 19:5-8, NKJV

Psalm 78:24-25, NIV

Acts 5:19-20, NIV

3. Angels Protect Us From Harm

Psalm 91:9-10-12, NLT

Daniel 6:22, NIV

Exodus 23:20, NIV

Matthew 18:10, NIV

4. Angels Preside At Our Death

Luke 16:22, NIV

5. Angels Praise God With Us

Psalm 148:1, NLT

Psalm 148:2, NLT

Psalm 148:7, NLT

Psalm 148:11-12, NLT

Psalm 103:20-21, NLT

Hebrews 1:13-14, NIV

John 1:51, NIV

Fantasy #1: Angels Are Human Beings Who Have Died

Fact #1: Angels Are Spiritual Beings Created By God

Hebrews 1:14, NIV

Colossians 1:16, NIV

Fantasy #2: Angels Appear As Chubby Babies With Wings

Fact #2: Angels Most Often Appear As Ordinary Men

Hebrews 13:2, NIV

Fantasy #3: Angels Are Sweet Creatures Who Sing And Play Harps

Fact #3: Angels Are Most Often Warriors Who Hold Swords

Genesis 3:24, NLT

Isaiah 37:36, NLT

Fantasy #4: All Angels Are Good And Obey God

Fact #4: Some Angels Are Evil And Oppose God

Matthew 25:41, NIV

Daniel 10:12-14, NLT

Fantasy #5: Angels Must be Seen To Be Real

Fact #5: They Are Usually Invisible And We Must Be Divinely Enabled To See Them

2 Kings 6:15-17, NIV

Numbers 22:21-31, NIV

Psalm 103:20-21, NLT

Hebrews 1:13-14, NIV

John 1:51, NIV

Fantasy #1: Angels Are Human Beings Who Have Died

Fact #1: Angels Are Spiritual Beings Created By God

Hebrews 1:14, NIV

Colossians 1:16, NIV

Fantasy #2: Angels Appear As Chubby Babies With Wings

Fact #2: Angels Most Often Appear As Ordinary Men

Hebrews 13:2, NIV

Fantasy #3: Angels Are Sweet Creatures Who Sing And Play Harps

Fact #3: Angels Are Most Often Warriors Who Hold Swords

Genesis 3:24, NLT

Isaiah 37:36, NLT

Fantasy #4: All Angels Are Good And Obey God

Fact #4: Some Angels Are Evil And Oppose God

Matthew 25:41, NIV

Daniel 10:12-14, NLT

Fantasy #5: Angels Must be Seen To Be Real

Fact #5: They Are Usually Invisible And We Must Be Divinely Enabled To See Them

2 Kings 6:15-17, NIV

Numbers 22:21-31, NIV

“If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” - Ronald Reagan

Psalm 9:9-10, NIV

Psalm 20:7, NIV

Proverbs 18:10, NIV

Jehovah-Sabaoth

The Lord of Hosts

The God of Armies

Psalm 24:7-10, NKJV

Big things seem bigger when compared to something smaller.

Big things don’t seem big when compared to something bigger.

How we hold up under tests is determined by our reference point.

1 Samuel 17:1, NKJV

1 Samuel 17:4-10, NLT

1 Samuel 17:16, NLT

1 Samuel 17:11, NLT

1 Samuel 8:6-8, NLT

1 Samuel 17:15, NLT

1 Samuel 17:34-37, NLT

1 Samuel 17:45-47, NKJV

2 Samuel 5:10, NKJV

Joshua 5:13-15, NKJV

Joshua 6:1-2, NKJV

Zechariah 4:6, NKJV

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

“If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

Ronald Reagan

We either set the culture or reflect the culture.

John 17:15, NIV

John 17:16, NIV

LIVING A STAND-UP LIFE IN A BOW-DOWN WORLD

Daniel 3:1-7, NIV 

Daniel 3:12-14, NIV

Daniel 3:15, TLB

1. Standing Firm Takes Courage 

Daniel 3:16-17, TLB

2. Standing Firm Takes Faith 

Daniel 3:17, TLB

2 Timothy 4:18, NIV

Daniel 3:18, TLB

Daniel 3:19, NIV

Daniel 3:20, NIV

Daniel 3:21, NIV

Daniel 3:22, NIV

Daniel 3:23, NIV

Daniel 3:24, NIV

Daniel 3:25, NIV

Daniel 3:26, NIV

Daniel 3:27, NIV

3. Standing Firm Inspires Others 

Daniel 3:28, NIV

Daniel 3:28, NIV

Daniel 3:29, NIV

Daniel 3:29, NIV

1. I Will Stand In Prayer

Daniel 6:10, NIV

2. I Will Stand For My Purpose

1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV

3. I Will Stand For My God

Matthew 10:32-33, MS

Colossians 3:1, NIV

Acts 7:55, NIV

Acts 7:56, NIV

When I stand, Jesus stands with me.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

ONE NATION UNDER GOD?

We either set the culture or reflect the culture.

John 17:15, NIV

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 

John 17:16, NIV

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 

THE SPIRIT OF BABYLON

Satan’s Lie:

“I’m all about you.”

“God is all about Himself.”

Genesis 11:4, NIV

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves…”

Genesis 11:9, NIV

That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. 

Habakkuk 2:4, NLT

Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

Revelation 17:5, NIV

The name written on her forehead was a mystery: babylon the great. the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.

Isaiah 47:8, NIV

“Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’

Isaiah 47:9, NIV

Both of these will overtake you in a moment, on a single day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells.

Isaiah 47:10, NIV

You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’

Babylon’s Motto:

“I am, and there is none besides me.”

Elevate Self:

Self-adoring

Self-building

Self-indulging

Lower God:

God doesn’t love me.

God isn’t for me.

God wants too much from me.

Daniel 4:4, NIV

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous.

Daniel 4:22-37, NIV

And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

1. I Will Acknowledge God

1 Corinthians 4:7, LB

What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? 

1 Corinthians 4:7, LB

And if all you have is from God, why act as though you are so great, and as though you have accomplished something on your own?

2. I Will Exalt God

Psalm 145:1, NIV

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.

3. I Will Humble Myself

James 4:10, NIV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 

Standing strong in a pride-inflated culture begins facedown.

Psalm 80:1-8, NIV

The Mayflower Compact

In the name of God, Amen…Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith…

President of Argentina to Roger Babson

“South America was settled by Spaniards who came seeking gold while North America was settled by the Pilgrim Fathers who came seeking God.”

Declaration of Independence

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."

"George Washington is the tall red headed man who will get on his knees when the Congress stops to pray."

Abraham Lincoln

"I leave now, not knowing when or whether ever I shall return with a task before me greater than that that rested upon the shoulders of Washington…

Abraham Lincoln

without the assistance of the divine being who attended him, I cannot succeed and with that assistance, I cannot fail."

Thomas Jefferson

"The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time."

National Anthem (Frances Scott Key)

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand, Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation; Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land

National Anthem (Frances Scott Key)

Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"

National Hymn (Samuel Francis Smith)

Our father's God to, Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!

Psalm 80:9-19, NIV

Our Response:

Look Up

Confess Up

Speak Up

Stand Up

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Ruwach – a wind, breath, a violent exhalation, blast of breath.  

Genesis 1:2, NIV

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 

Pneuma – a current of air, blast of breath, a strong breeze. 

John 6:63, NIV

The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 

Acts 2:1, NIV

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 

Acts 2:2, NIV

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

Acts 2:3, NIV

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Acts 2:4, NIV

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Wind Is Unseen

John 14:16-17, NIV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. 

John 14:16-17, NIV

The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 

Wind Is Unpredictable

John 3:8, NIV

Jesus answered…“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 

Wind Is Powerful

Acts 1:8, NIV

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”

Genesis 17:4, NIV

“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

Genesis 17:5, NIV

No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be AbraHam, for I have made you a father of many nations.

Genesis 17:15, NIV

God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be SaraH. 

Wind Is Refreshing

Acts 3:19, NKJV

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…