Psalm 27. We have the theme here of faith overcoming fear. Amen. Faith overcoming fear. I think we had to apply that during the election. Amen. I was fighting it. So David begins this psalm in Psalm 27 by first of all stating his fear in God or his faith in God, not his fears, but his faith. Let's start in verse one. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, They stumbled and fell, though a hoe should encamp against me. My heart shall not fear, though war rise against me, and this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion. In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me. He shall set me upon a rock. And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy. I will sing. Yay. I will sing praises unto the Lord. Amen. So number one, we saw confident trust in time of danger. Do we have that faith? Do we look to the Lord when troubles come? I mean, we're talking about violent crimes. Murders thieves rapists child molesters gang members all things roaming our streets even terrorists unleashed in our country Think of all the natural disasters as storms and tornadoes and earthquakes Hurricanes fires diseases cancer heart attack all kinds war The imminent threat of war loss of employment, financial devastation, accidents, old age, being unable to provide care for ourselves, hurt and betrayal by someone we love and trust, losing our parents, our spouse, losing loved ones, death itself. Brethren, we face a lot of things in life that could cause fear. But we must understand that fear is more than just a feeling or an emotion. Fear is a spiritual enemy. Amen. Fear does not come from God. It's he doesn't give us a spirit of fear. Sadly, it comes from within. We got a sinful nature. But it also comes from Satan. Satan wants us to live in fear all the time and be paralyzed in fear. Is that not true? Not do anything because we have fear. But brethren, our faith, David says, of whom shall I fear? Why? Because he had his eyes on the Lord. And who is the Lord? It's what he states here. He's our light. He's our salvation and he is our strength. Amen. I think in those three words, light, salvation, strength, you find a lot. God is sufficient. His help is sufficient. His guidance, the strength that he gives us. Amen. Our sufficiency is in God, not in ourselves. How about looking at the past, David? How many wars, how many battles was David in? The Lord deliver him. How many times of persecution that he could have been killed, his family rising up against him. Brethren, he had so much. Remember, he faced the lion, a bear, Goliath, the giant. And he was able to look back and say, look what God did. And brethren, all of us, if we're saved for amount of time, a good amount of time, you can look back and say, wow, look what God did. Look what God delivered us from. And what does that mean? It gives us faith to face the future. Just look at the past. Look at the faithfulness of God. But David. Not only had confidence in the Lord, he had communion with the Lord. That's what that verse is for and six. One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after. Brethren, you have to seek after being faithful to God's house. It's not going to come easy, is it? It's not easy. Because really. The devil will make sure you have every excuse to stay home. He'll put obstacles in your way so that you are not. Or you think I can't be faithful. So, brethren, David said this one thing in my desire of the Lord that will I seek after what that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. He's talking about the house of the Lord on Earth. Remember Psalm 23. He's talking about heaven. dwelling in heaven forever and ever. Now he's talking about being faithful to the house of the Lord. Is that your desire? One thing have I desired of the Lord. It has to be a fervent desire. Now we talked about this when you come to God's house. You don't come just to see the brethren. You don't come just to eat the doughnuts and drink the coffee. or have the fellowship we are to come to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple brethren God will show himself mighty if we just are looking for him. Amen. You will experience the presence of God if you're looking for that. What's your expectation when you come to God's house. Amen. God is faithful. God will reveal himself. God will reveal his power, his strength, his presence, but you have to seek after it. That was his fervent desire. And we need that same fervent desire. Amen. Number two, earnest prayer in time of danger. That's his verses seven to 12. Let's get to the prayer now. Not only do you have to have confidence in the Lord, but yes, as I mentioned, there's like a change here. Isn't this the way we are? Like sometimes we're like, yeah, praise God. Nothing's going to shake me. Nothing's going to move me. And then tomorrow we wake up and we're like, man, what am I going to do? This looks too big for me. But David's like, look what he's saying in verse one is six. Now verse seven, he says here, Oh Lord, when I cry with my voice, have mercy upon me also upon me and answer me. When thou said is seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, thy face, Lord, will I seek? Hide not thy face from me. Put not thy servant away in anger. Thou hast been my help. Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God, of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies, for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. So we have an earnest prayer. So in an instant David's demeanor changed from confidence to concern. Has that ever happened? It may even happen to you in the same conversation, the same breath, one minute confident next minute. Oh, I don't know. Concern. Because that's our nature. And fear, just because you have victory right now over fear doesn't mean tomorrow you're not going to face it again. Isn't that the Christian life? It's a daily walk. God wants to give us the victory today. Just because you conquer it today doesn't mean you can wake up and be victorious tomorrow. You got to face it again. So fear can also seize us and fear can rise up suddenly and it can affect our spirit. Maybe he's praising God and then all of a sudden he hears The thunderous war, a roar of the enemy's horses in the distance coming. Perhaps they were even in view. So, brethren, God expects this from us. What do we do? We cry into him. Not only have confidence, there's times. Yes, we have victorious confidence. God wants that victory over fear. But then we have to cry in him. Amen. Cry to him. Hero Lord, when I cry. Let's look at this letter, a David cries to the Lord. He cries with his voice. He didn't pray silently. He prayed out with his spirit. He asked God to have mercy on him to stoop down and help him. Amen. Brethren we need God's mercy and his heart was responding to the Lord. What did the Lord say. Seek ye my face. What is what's the heart's cry. My heart said under the thy face Lord when I see rather than what's in our hearts do we seek the face of God and we should be able to say Lord I saw I'm seeking your face God you know I've I've saw your face many times so brethren we ought not to be the kind of people who just pray in times of trouble in times of need. Seeking the face of God is worshipping Him, getting to know Him, even when everything's great. Amen? And that's what's going to prepare you for the battles that come. So David was that kind of man. That's the kind of person we need to be as well. And this desire, brethren, is face seeking the face of God is like face to face fellowship. Being in the Lord's presence. You know, reading the word and being so close to God, it's like God is speaking to you from his word, it's it becomes very real and personal in your heart, like, yeah, I understand, Lord, this is what you want me want for my life. Amen. David's cry to the Lord, David's plea to the Lord. Brethren, we need to know just as David, that God is there. That God will reveal himself. Verse nine, hi, not thy face far from me. Why? He wanted to know God was there with him. When God turns his face towards us brethren it's a symbol of his favor. It's a symbol of his blessing when he hides his face from us. It means that we are out of fellowship or we've done something to forfeit his protection that we're living in sin or we're displeasing him. And that's why David said don't turn away thy face from me in anger. God, I don't want you to be angry with me. Amen. Are we concerned about that? David's plea to the Lord and then David's hope in the Lord. His hope. Brethren, he was the God of his salvation. It was God of his hope. He said in verse 10, well, my my father and my mother forsake me. Then the Lord will take me up. Some of you have to live that verse. You know what that means in real and real practical ways in life. Maybe your father left. Maybe your relationship with your parents is not right. It's distant, but you know what? The Lord, the Lord is so faithful. Whenever you have those broken relationships, he steps in and he takes you up. Amen. The Lord will take me up when my father and my mother forsake me brethren. He's the same one. He's the same Lord that we serve. And you know how he feels about. widows and orphans. You know how God feels. Those who are broken hearted are lonely. Those who've been abandoned. Amen. God is faithful and you can experience that. Maybe your parents have not been faithful. You know what? God will never let you down. He will be a father unto you. He will meet all your needs. He is faithful, David knew that, but you know, David's parents, maybe David's parents died. And he didn't have that relationship anymore. So he felt lonely, but he knew the Lord would be there for him. We all have. To struggle with that as well. Thank God. Let's move. You should have. Did you get the last page five and six? David's plea for guidance, verse 11. Brethren, God wants to guide us. Teach me thy way, O Lord. Lead me in a plain path because of my enemies, he's still praying. He's still praying. You know, maybe you're in a difficult situation. You don't think the Lord is going to show you the way. Amen. You don't think the Lord is going to give you direction. He will. He's asking God to point the right way out to show him the way in which he should go, the way he needs to walk, the way he needs. In fact, the way he needs to escape the enemies. And he was sure God would make a way. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. You know, how many people wanted to kill David? How many rose up against him unjustly? But God will show the way. God will make a way. The New Testament talks about that spiritual way out. He will make a way to escape. Amen. Even our spiritual enemies. And then in verse 12, David's plea for victory over his enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies, for false witnesses are risen up against me. And such as breathe out cruelty. Brethren, God wants to give us victory. He refused to accept the possibility that God would allow him to be destroyed by his enemies. He did not believe this is God's will. Think about the New Testament, all the applications about how we have victory over our enemies through Christ. And so we can boldly cry out just like this, deliver me not unto the will of mine enemies. We know it's not God's will. If they're lying, they're false witnesses. If they're rising up against us, if they breathe out cruelty, God will make a way. God will deliver us. And David could always say, you know, God, you know my heart. You know, I've been righteous. You know my integrity. That's why they're lying. He says they're lying because there was nothing truthful that they could do against him. They had to lie. False witnesses. Did it make stuff up? Why? Because they wanted to destroy him. They want to be cruel. They had violent intentions. And then last of all, verses 13 and 14, there's the reassurance of faith in time of danger. Yes, sometimes we have to step back and reassure ourselves. Return to that confidence. Are you thankful he starts out in confidence? Amen. And he ends in confidence. It's a good way to end the song. In faith. Verse 13 I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage. What a wonderful verse. And he shall strengthen thine heart. Wait I say on the Lord. So brethren, there's a reassurance of faith here in verses 13 and 14. Letter A, there's a need for faith in the Lord. As his enemies drew closer, he declared his unwavering faith. Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord. He said, I would have fainted unless I had seen, believed to see the goodness of the Lord. Amen. What is it that strengthens your heart? What is it that increases your confidence? The goodness of the Lord. Brethren, we always say, you know, how good God is. But let's remember God will fulfill his promises. David could always go back to all the covenant promises to what God told him about his kingship. What God told him about not only that but eternity where he would dwell forever and ever with the Lord. And he had that faith in the goodness of the Lord. Remember what he said back there in Psalm 23. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Amen. God's goodness. You know, it's easy to lose heart if you don't really believe in the goodness of God. Because if you don't believe in the goodness of God, you're just at the mercy of these cruel enemies of these liars. So brethren you know what God will never fail any one of his promises. In fact I like verse 14 be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart is a promise. Amen. So what is David believing? How could he have assurance? He knows that God will be true to his word. He knows that God has a holy character and that he will deliver him. God will be faithful to his own character, to his own goodness that he's declared towards us. He'll never let us down. Our parents may forsake us. But God never will. Amen. And then let her be the need to wait on the Lord. That's one of the hardest things we learn in the Christian life. We need to learn to wait on the Lord. Verse 14, to be of good courage. Brethren, to waiting on the Lord includes involves patience, but it also involves endurance to do what is right. And to believe that God's going to do something for you. That's waiting. It's not just, okay, I'm sitting back doing nothing. It's actually exercising faith in the Lord. Wait on the Lord. Amen. Not just wait. Anyone can sit here and wait, but wait on the Lord. That means we need to exercise faith in his word what he's telling us. That kind of waiting brethren is not just patience but also expectation or anticipation anticipating God's going to do something for us. Amen. Isn't that what hope is in the Bible. We talk about hope. You know, people in the world don't have hope, but we do. I mean, true, true hope that lasts, that endures. Do you know that waiting on the Lord shows your faith? We could. Go through the Old Testament. I have some verses there. You can look them up later. But it talks about enduring patiently and confident hope that God will decisively act for the salvation of his people. You know, sometimes you need to step back and say, hold on, I'm not going to worry about this or be fearful, because I know one thing. God's going to do something here. God's going to act. But it also waiting involves your soul. The very essence of your being. Waiting. According to God's word, when we wait on the Lord, what is Isaiah 40 31 say we renew our strength. We renew our strength. so we can continue serving Him, enduring, being patient while we're waiting on Him to act. Amen. Thank God that there's going to come a time when all that God has promised will be fulfilled and realized. That's amazing, isn't it? Just that thought. that whatever God promised one day, it will be fulfilled. He will never. Not leave a promise unfulfilled. And if you're saved, you're going to know when it when it happens. And brother, what's happening? What's happening while we have to wait? What's happening while we have to be tested? Well, we have to suffer. God is strengthening us. God is working on us. And we know that. Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen my heart. Wait I say on the Lord. Don't wait on the enemy. Wait on the Lord. I think these verses in conclusion give us a course lay out a course for us to follow when we face a fearful enemy. Number one, turn to the Lord and seek his face. Pretty simple, right? Brethren, we know that God's presence, unlike the Old Testament, we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. God doesn't just dwell in the house of the Lord. He dwells in us. Think of the presence of God that you are the temple. So you can't ever say I'm alone. I'm facing this all alone. No, God's with you. Jesus is with you. His spirit is with you. Number two, call out to God in prayer. not just in times of trouble, but at all times, in all circumstances, good as well as bad. Worship the Lord. Be a person of prayer. And you know what? God will be constantly involved in our lives in the good and the bad. Amen. He longs to fellowship with us. Isn't that amazing that God, our creator, The God of the universe wants the fellowship with us. Personally. Thirdly, declare the faithfulness of God. Amen. Go through. Worship the Lord. Declare how faithful he is, what he's done for you. Look in the word of God. The Bible says the sword of the Spirit is God's Word. And what did Satan have to do? Remember in Matthew 4, when he spoke the Word, Satan had to flee. That's the Word of God. That's God's faithfulness. That's God's truth. And then, finally ask God to guide you through the trouble. To lead you to victory over the enemy. We can't escape troubles or trials even sickness or disease. But we know this even in all those things even when men evil men do sinful things to us. We know this. What did Joseph say. He meant it for evil but God meant it for good. And then he says over there in Romans eight, all things work together for good. Isn't that amazing how God can even take what the cruelty is, the lies, the evil intents of others. And somehow in our lives, it can be used for good. Isn't that amazing? And don't forget, he will make a way. He will make a way to pass safely through every fearful valley of life. So brethren onward and upward, amen, onward and upward. Father tonight, we thank you for David's faith.