The LORD's Day July 29,2007

If The LORD Had Not Been On Our Side

Psalm 124

Psalms of Ascents or “The Goings Up” were recited and sung as the pilgrims made their way to Jerusalem as well as when they entered the gate of the city. They would pass battle scenes along the way- David and Goliath, Joshua and Jericho, and then finally arriving at Jerusalem which David captured from the Jebusites.

The whole family would join in singing and reciting these Psalms. They were full of object lessons for the children. They took a spiritual journey and made it even more meaningful.

These Psalms of Ascents speak of life. They were learning as they were traveling to Jerusalem and we must to. Our journey to heaven (and the New Jerusalem)should be one where we are maturing in the things of God.


1. If the LORD had not been our side in times of spiritual battle.

Satan would like to sift us as wheat.

The Battle is the LORD’s.
Our armor is spiritual. Our weapons are spiritual. (Ephesians 6) The soldier stands. It is the armor of God that enables him to do so. The LORD gives us victory.

He is our shield, our defense, our strong tower, our shelter and our fortress.

let Israel say- if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, when their anger flared against us,
*they would have swallowed us alive; Like the eating of fresh greens in the spring. The enemy would have eaten us up when we were young- ex/Herod’s desire to kill the baby boys in Bethlehem.
*the flood would have engulfed us,
*the torrent would have swept over us, like in a wadi or stream bed.
*the raging waters would have swept us away. churning, raging- taking our life’s breath away.

If the LORD had not been our side we would have suffered defeat. Our victory in spiritual battles is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit. We would have devoured We do not know the plans of the enemy for us. The LORD goes before us He knows what the enemy is up to and what his plans are for us. The LORD takes care os us With the shield of faith we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. As we keep our feet planted firmly on the rock, the LORD Jesus, we stand. Satan would like to snuff us out ... But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ. II Corinthians 2.14

2. If He had not been our side in times of great need.

Financial Need - not always money issue- sometimes sanity and emotional stability.

We spoke of the feeding of the 5,000 a few weeks ago. The need was great.

Without Jesus they would have just had a boys lunch but with Him multitudes were fed.

We have all had the feelings at one time or another of “I don’t know if I am going to make it.” Certainly if we have not had those feelings we have had the feelings of “I don’t know how I am going to make it.” We have all rejoiced when the truth became evident, “I know the LORD will make a way for me ”

Think back of a great need you had in the past and how the LORD made a way for you Philippians 4.19

3. If He had not been on our side in times of emotional difficulty. Psalm 46.1

Times of Sorrow and Grief can be one of the most challenging times in our lives emotionally because basically we do not have the control of our emotions like we do at other times. For instance, if we are feeling upset over the way someone treated us we can go to them and tell them.

But with the loss of someone we love we do not have that option. We may even get the feelings like we want to talk to someone who has recently died only to remember they are not here anymore.

One of the things the LORD has taught me on my journey is that everyone grieves differently and the only way we can know what a person who is in deep sorrow is going through is if they tell us. The only way we will find out is if we are quiet and let them talk.

The only true and lasting comfort in times of sorrow is the LORD. He is with us through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. He walks with us.

If the LORD has not been on our side we would have swept away in grief- some people are But thanks be to God we are here this morning

Disappointment
In Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, Pip is introduced to Miss Havisham, an eccentric old woman, and her charge, Estella, with whom Pip falls in love. Estella has been taught by Miss Havisham to break men's hearts as restitution for Miss Havisham's having been left at the altar years before by Compeyson, who later turns out to be a convict.

We can become bitter or despondent over life’s disappointments. The two on the road to Emmaus were in danger, “We had hoped...” If the LORD had not been on their side they would have wallowed in hopelessness the rest of their lives. We can become more than conquerors in our disappointments if we allow the LORD to lead us and help us.

The Stress we face in Life
God is changing us if we are walking with Jesus. There are times when we get stressed out and we need to ask forgiveness form the LORD and those we have offended for falling short. We want to be like Jesus. We are in the process of becoming like Him.

If the LORD had not been our side in these times we would get swept away in the flood of it. Even Paul the apostle spoke harshly and needed to ask forgiveness when he was before the High Priest.

Mysteries of Life

There are simply things that happen to us that we cannot fully understand until we see Jesus. He is with us in the mysteries of life and it often there we have the opportunity for deeper and richer fellowship with Him. Mysteries are just that- a bundle of unanswerable questions.

Jerry Hadley, the world-class tenor known for his agile and lyric voice, died on July 18, a week after he shot himself in an apparent suicide attempt. He was 55. Hadley, who had been battling personal problems, shot himself with an air rifle July 10 at his home in Clinton Corners, 80 miles north of New York City. Hadley built his reputation tackling demanding work, including the title role in composer John Harbison's 1999 The Great Gatsby at the Metropolitan Opera. Leonard Bernstein chose Hadley to sing the title role in a 1989 production of his musical Candide, and he sang the lead in Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio in 1991.

4. If the LORD had not been on our side in times of danger.
Lucy seeing her car, “Thank God.” meaning she was not hurt worse than she was.

I have said this before many times- I believe that there have been times in all our lives when we have been close to disaster and not realized it. The LORD has protected us. He has kept us from being swept away in the floods. He has been our Shield and Defender.

Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.


Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

If the LORD had not been on our side we would not be here this morning He has kept us safe. He has taken care of us. Through many dangers, toils and snares we have already come All the Way our Savior has led us We all have our own live’ experiences we can insert in the statement, “If the LORD had not been our side...”

So this brings us to today. Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever He does not change like the shifting shadows. One of the benefits of reading God’s Word is that it speaks to us today and we can rest in the assurance that the LORD is faithful to all His promises He will never let us down.

The spiritual battles that are ahead of us He will fight. The battle belongs to the LORD In the times ahead of great need, the LORD will be there and will meet those needs. A friend described his life this week as riding an emotional roller coaster. Many of us can relate to that, can’t we. In times of great emotional stress, that is beyond our ability to bear, the LORD is with us and underneath are His everlasting arms In times of danger (and we are living in such times right now ) The LORD will be with His people and will help them and strengthen them.

If the LORD had not been our side we would have been swept away But we are not because He is on our side. He loves us. All the promises of His Word for His followers are for us

Lead On King Eternal

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The LORD’s Day

July 29, 2007
We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
If the LORD Had Not Been On Our Side Psalm 124

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
Prayer in the Parsonage Backyard- 6pm
V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 125-129 (The Psalms of Ascents)
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study -7:30pm at the parsonage
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am in the church basement
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children) The Lord’s Supper
Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be there until October. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter undergoing treatment for leukemia. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. She is in need of healing in her leg. She is in room 214. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Pastor’s neighbor, John Mehler, beginning dialysis as well. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, seeing a surgeon. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito undergoing chemotherapy. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s (who is recovering from a heart attack) daughter, Kelly, undergoing chemotherapy. Please remember this whole family in prayer. She is going to need an additional surgery for the chemo port next month. Iola’s results of blood work were good. Let’s pray for a good report. Margie Grant home from Southside Hospital with blood problems. Jeannie Rocarro and Diane Davison recovering from surgery. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s father in South Nassau... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, is there too with respiratory problems. Lucy Mancini under doctor’s care for pain and injuries resulting from the accident.

If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.


Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
If The LORD Had Not Been On Our Side

Psalm 124

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God