Psalm 35 - Another Prayer for Victory

Psalm 20 was a prayer for victory prayed over the king before he went into battle. Psalm 35 is actually a prayer for victory, too--or rather three, for there are three distinct prayers within this psalm. So that's what I called it: A Prayer for Victory II, or Another Prayer for Victory.

Psalm 35 is more than just a prayer for victory, though. Psalm 35 is an imprecatory psalm where David calls on God to defeat his enemies. Rather than covering Psalm 35 verse by verse as I have most of the other psalms, I instead treated it more in a topical manner and talked a little about the nature of an imprecatory psalm, the difference between the Old Testament and the New, and what the nature of the Christian's warfare is.

Here is the outline I used:

I. An Imprecatory Psalm and What That Means.

 II. The Christian and His Enemies.

III. The Nature of Christian Warfare.

 IV. What Victory Means in Our Lives.

  V.  What the Psalm Teaches Us About Faith.

 VI. When Ultimate Victory Comes.

VII. Where Jesus is in the Psalm.

I think you will find the sermon informative and challenging to your daily Christian walk. I want to encourage you to click and listen. The link below will take you to SoundCloud where the audio file for this and all my sermons and bible studies are to be found. May God richly bless.

Click here: Psalm 35

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Psalm 34 - A Psalm of Praise and Thanksgiving

Psalm 34 is another of the acrostic psalms. Each of the 22 verses pertains to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is likely that it was used as not only a psalm of worship within the liturgy of he Old Testament church but also as a teaching aid or aid to memorization for young Hebrew children growing up in the faith. The Rev. Charles Spurgeon divided the psalm into two parts. Verses 1-10 he saw as a hymn and verses 11-22 as a sermon. I liked that division and used it in my sermon from this chapter, a sermon that is linked below.

Here is an excerpt from the sermon:

(19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

"This is a most realistic picture of the Christian life. The righteous in this world suffer, but they have hope in the midst of suffering, because they have a redeemer who came and suffered for them and in suffering made an end of all suffering and guaranteed us a place in a world where suffering would be no more. Do you know sorrow? He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Do you know pain? He knew it well. Do you know loss? He cried out to God, "why have you forsaken me?" He was afflicted that he might deliver us from all affliction.

(20) He keeps all his bones;

not one of them is broken.

No permanent hurt will ever afflict God's people. Here in these verses we see Christ, for John's gospel teaches us to do so. Verse twenty looks not only forward to Christ, but backwards to the Passover lamb which prefigured Christ--the lamb that was slain and consumed and according to the commands of God this was to be carefully done in a way so as not to break even one of the bones. That lamb and this verse point us forward to the lamb of God, whom John the Baptist said was to 'take away the sin of the world.'"

I hope you will take the time to listen to the sermon and that it will be a blessing to you. Just click he link below and it will take you to SoundCloud where you can stream the audio file. God bless you.

Psalm 34 - A Psalm of Praise and Thanksgiving

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Psalm 33 - In Praise of God's Word and Power::

In the Bible the word of God is often used synonymously with God's decrees. In other words, what God says will happen will happen and, conversely, what happens is what God says will happen. We see this in the creation story of Genesis chapter 1. God speaks and the worlds come into existence. Psalm 33 echoes that creation account:

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,

and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

Psalm 33:6

God's decree not only brought the worlds into existence, but the decree of God sustains their existence. God's sovereignty extends over all of creation, including the creatures made in his image.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;

he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

The counsel of the LORD stands forever,

the plans of his heart to all generations.

Psalm 33:10-11

In Psalm 33 David is praising God for his word and his power. In support of this praise he points out God's creating the worlds out of nothing, working his sovereign will over the nations, and choosing a people for himself.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,

the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Psalm 33:12

Who these people are and what that heritage is I delve into in more detail in the sermon. I hope you will take the time to listen and think about what God was saying through David in this psalm. Some of my conclusions are quite challenging to the modern American church. I don't back away from controversy here. But what I speak I speak in love. The audio is linked below.

Click here: Psalm 33 - In Praise of God's Word and Power

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Philippians 4:4-7 - Good Citizens of Heaven

At the end of Philippians chapter 3 Paul reminds the Philippian believers of where their true citizenship lies. Yes, they are Roman citizens and, yes, that citizenship grants them certain rights and privileges. But that Roman citizenship has a darker side as well. Roman opposition to the faith is growing. The Philippians are experiencing opposition both from the culture at large and more and more from the government itself. The kingdoms of this world are never what they're cut out to be.

Paul has been working throughout this entire letter to prepare the church at Philippi for the persecution that is coming. There was a lack of focus. He has reminded them that life is Christ. There was a temptation to adapt Jewish ceremonial and cultural laws as Christian mandates. He has reminded them of what the gospel is and encouraged them to pursue Christ. There was division in the church. He has corrected that disunity by recommending to them the mind of Christ--that of humility. And now that Caesar has turned against them he has reminded them of where their true citizenship lies and that Caesar is not Lord. Christ is Lord.

So we come to verses 4-7 of chapter 4 and we read some of the most beautiful words in the letter.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In perilous times Christ offers peace. In the midst of opposition and persecution Christ offers freedom from anxiety. In a world of tragedy and sorrow Christ offers joy. Our hope in this world is not anchored in politics or free markets or a social safety net. Our hope is in Christ. He is our joy. He gives us the peace that surpasses all understanding. He is attentive to our prayers and grants us all our needs. He even tells us how best to communicate the glorious gospel message that those who oppose us so desperately need to hear.

This is the second lesson taken from chapter 4 of Philippians. I hope that you will listen to it and that it will be a blessing to you. The style is that of an informal, small group setting and sometimes there is discussion involved. So don't think of this as a sermon, but a lesson. Just click below and be blessed.


Click here: Philippians 4:4-7

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Psalm 32 - The State of Grace

I call this psalm "The State of Grace" because of the wonderful condition David describes in the first two verses.

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

How is it that my sins are not counted against me? How can a just God not count our sins against us? And if he does not count them against, how does he remain just? He remains just by counting them against a substitute, himself, who stood in our place, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Charles Spurgeon said when commenting on this passage:

“Pardoning mercy is of all things in the world most to be prized, for it is the only and sure way to happiness. To hear from God’s own Spirit the words, “absolvo te” (I absolve you) is joy unspeakable. Blessedness is not in this case ascribed to the man who has been a diligent law keeper, for then it would never come to us, but rather to a lawbreaker, who by grace most rich and free has been forgiven. Self righteous Pharisees have no portion in this blessedness. Over the returning prodigal, the word of welcome is here pronounced, and the music and dancing begin'

This forgiveness comes at a price. That price was paid by Christ at the cross. This is what we mean by free grace.

But there is more to the story than that, and more to this psalm. Below is a link to the audio file recorded when I preached this sermon on October 2. Just click the link to listen to the sermon. May you know the blessedness of being forgiven.

Click here: Psalm 32 - The State of Grace


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Philippians 4:1-3 - Stand Firm

Paul is reaching the conclusion of his letter and some of the things he's been hinting about prior to this he gets explicit about in these verses. There has been disunity in the church and it needs to stop because there is something more valuable going on than the petty differences which often divide us. The gospel is at stake.

We could take lessons from that. In tumultuous times, indeed at all times, but especially in tumultuous times we need to focus on the gospel. It starts like this:

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, 

my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

--Philippians 4:1

Being faithful to the gospel is of paramount importance in the face of opposition, whether it's the scorn cast against the gospel in our day, or the opposition faced by the Philippians coming from the Roman culture and government. When opposition comes we are tempted to abandon the gospel for safety. The gospel is more important than safety. The gospel is more important than our avoiding the shame and contempt associated with believing something so scandalous to the world around us. We are not called to conform to this world. We are called to stand firm.

Now Paul tackles the disunity. He calls people by name. He entreats them in a loving way, without taking sides, to "agree in the Lord." Then he asks for others in the church to step in and work for reconciliation.

This is the Bible study I taught on Wednesday, October 12, 2016. I hope you will take the time to listen and be blessed by it. Just click the link below and it will take you to SoundCloud where you can stream it or download it for later listening. God bless.


Click here: Philippians 4:1-3

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Philippians 3:17-21 - Citizens of Heaven

As modern American evangelical Christians we are far too wrapped up in the political affairs of this life.

Part of the reason for Paul's writing this letter to the Philippian church is to encourage a people who are facing opposition from the Roman government. They are facing this opposition, not as strangers or foreigners, but as citizens of Rome, and in spite of that citizenship.

So Paul is reminding them of who they are and where their treasure lies. He is reminding them of which kingdom they serve and are loyal to. And he is also reminding them of who their king really is.

But our citizenship is in heaven, 

and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 

who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, 

by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

--Philippians 3:20-21

As the people of God, redeemed by Christ, we are awaiting the consummation of all things. We are looking forward to the eschaton, the return of Christ and the kingdom in its fullness. Our hope is not in perfecting this world. We look to the world to come. Here we are strangers and sojourners. There we will reign as kings and priests.

This is the audio from the Bible study we did on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. I hope you will take the time to listen to it and be reminded of where, as Christians, our hope lies. Just click below and be blessed.

Click here: Philippians 3:17-21

Philippians 3:12-19 - Spiritual Maturity

The Philippian church is soon to be facing persecution and they're not ready. There is disunity. There is a temptation to give in to legalism in the form of the Judaizers. Paul is focusing them. The focus is on Christ and the glory of God through Christ. It is a gospel focus. He has been giving them theology, and this theology is the most practical thing in the world. So now he gets practical. Now he applies what he has been teaching.

Let those of us who are mature think this way, 

What is Christian maturity and how does it manifest itself in us? There is a play on words Paul is using in this passage and an irony. Maturity may not be what we might imagine. What he says about Christian maturity also points us back again to chapter 2 and the hymn to Christ. 

Again, Paul focuses on Christ and points us back, not to rules, but to relationship. How is your relationship with Christ? Are you pursuing it? How? How is your walk? All of this and more is discussed in this study from Philippians 3. I hope you will take the time to listen and be blessed. Just click the link below to stream the audio.

Click here:  Philippians 3:12-19

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Philippians 3:7-14 - Pressing Forward

For what do people live? For what does the Christian live? What if living for Christ costs us greatly? Is it worth it? Paul thinks so.

Much of what Paul is saying in chapter 3 of Philippians is amplifying what he asked the Philippians to do in chapter 2--which is to have the mind of Christ. What Jesus does in the hymn to Christ (Philippians 2:6-11) is mirrored by Paul's description of himself here in this chapter. Just as Jesus had everything, but gave it up to come to earth for the glory of God (and our benefit), so Paul who once had much gain, counted it loss that he might gain Christ. Was it worth it?

Indeed, I count everything as loss 

because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things 

and count them as rubbish, 

in order that I may gain Christ--Philippians 3:8

Here's what Paul knows. He was chosen by God. Christ Jesus claimed Paul, apprehended Paul, made Paul his own for the purpose of making Paul into the image of Christ--the glorified man. The same is true for all of us who are in Christ. And Paul won't be satisfied until he is what Christ has chosen him to be. Are you? How eager are you to grow in grace, to become more like Christ?

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, 

but I press on to make it my own, 

because Christ Jesus has made me his own.--Philippians 3:12

As Christians, a glorious future awaits us. One day we will be shed of this sinful nature. One day all the frailties, infirmities, weaknesses brought about by sin will be done away with. We will live in a world free of sin, free of pain, free of sorrow, and free of death. Christ is preparing us for that place now. Shouldn't we, like Paul, eagerly embrace that?

This is the fourth of our Bible studies covering chapter 3 of Philippians. I hope you will take the time to listen and grow in your understanding of God's word, and in so doing grow in grace and become more like Christ. The link below will take you to a page on SoundCloud where you can stream the MP3 recording of this bible study. God bless.

Click here: Philippians 3:7-14

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Philippians 3:7-11 - That I May Know Him

Philippians 3 is one of those transcendent passages in the New Testament. Grasp it and you will understand who Paul was and what made him tick. Grasp it and you will understand what the Christian life is all about. Understand this passage and you will begin to understand why you are here, what your purpose is, what God is doing in you and what God is doing through you. It is also some of the more beautiful writing in the New Testament.

We get caught up in this idea in our culture that Christianity is about a set of moral values. Large portions of the Church have bought into this notion, too, and while the values may differ slightly in detail and emphasis it is hard to escape the notion that American Christianity is a set of rules to keep. Paul knows nothing of this sort of Christianity and rejects it.

Oh, yes, of course, our faith includes rules. It includes God's moral standards and precepts. But these are not the center of our faith. The center of our faith is Christ. And Christianity is not about rules, it is about relationship.

that I may know him 

and the power of his resurrection, 

and may share his sufferings, 

becoming like him in his death, 

that by any means possible I may attain 

the resurrection from the dead.

These are the words of Paul in verse ten and they summarize what the Christian life is all about. It is about knowing Christ and pursuing that relationship with Christ through the gospel all our days. It is about taking up our cross daily and following him. It is about embracing his gracious will for our lives, including suffering. It is about having our eyes set, not on this world, but on the next.

This is the third lesson from chapter 3 and is part of a larger study that covers every verse of Philippians from beginning to end. I hope you will take the time to listen and be blessed in doing so. Just click the link below.

Click here:  Philippians 3:7-11


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Philippians 3:4-7 Gains and Loss

God's favor is something each of us should covet. As Christians we desire God's blessings both in this life and the next. How is God's favor obtained? Is pedigree important? Are we God's people due to physical lineage? Do we earn his blessings by meticulously keeping his law? Or, more to the point, must we become Jews in order to become Christians?

While that last question may not be something that occurs to us Gentile Christians in the 21st century, it was foremost on the minds of 1st century believers as they wrestled with the teachings of Christ and the gospel and how that fit into what they already knew from the Old Testament. What Paul teaches the church at Philippi here in Philippians chapter three is that anything that we might think of as valuable, whether it be pedigree, or religious accomplishments, or anything else we might bring to the table, is of no value in earning God's favor. That favor is simply bestowed upon God's people in Christ.

Once Paul discovered this, he saw the value of Christ and that's when he understood the comparative worthlessness of all those things which he had previously considered gain. In comparison to Christ all else was street rubbish and he was happy to count it loss in order that he might gain Christ.

This is the Bible study I taught on these verses on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. Just click the link below to listen:


Philippians 3:4-7

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