Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. This is the Lamp and Light broadcast coming to you from Central Baptist Church in beautiful Ocala, Florida. Lamp and Light is a ministry that takes a book of the Bible, verse by verse, teaching it as it is, to men as they are, without compromise or apology, while at the same time speaking the truth in love, giving the lamp and light to all. Yesterday, in our study of 1 Samuel chapter 30, we were taught that with all trials God allows Satan to put before us, God always provides us with a way to glorify him. Let's continue with that thought today. And now, here is our teacher and radio pastor, Dr. Andy Bloom. Those things that Satan's allowed to do proves in the long run, if we believe Romans 828, that all things work together for good. It proves whether or not we believe 1 Corinthians 10, 13, where we read, there hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted, but of that you are able. But will with the temptation also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it? Isn't that great? If God allows Satan to do these things, he's also made a way for you to bear it. But it's also saying that God allowed it. He has trusted you with it. And He's given you an avenue in which to glorify God. In the 121st Psalm, it says there, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Oh, so often we get in trouble and we look to a counselor of some kind, maybe another Christian brother or sister, Pastor something like that The most important thing is just to get in the word and in prayer confess sin get your heart set on eternity and Then look at the word for what it's trying to say not you trying to get out of it How it applies to your situation read it for what it's trying to say and you'll find That you'll have God's help Psalms also said in Psalm 56 3 what time I am afraid I will trust in thee You see He'll raise us up See he has all power He will never leave us nor forsake us And so You might be afraid, you just trust in Him, and you'll never have to worry about losing hope or losing help. He is our hope. He is our help. And so you lean on Him in the midst of those trials. There may be emotional thoughts that we express to other people who are in the midst of trial. And we look at these people that are in our text now, all these people under David, who are talking about stoning him. Their ungoverned passions call for David's stoning instead of problem-solving by coming to Jesus Christ. And so, this is what happens when we are more interested in religion that is feelings motivated than we are in the truth of Christ. Now, too often, the trial of our faith simply proves that it's wood, hay, and stubble, instead of the more precious than gold that is tried by fire faith. Too often, it is a missed opportunity to allow the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against which there is no law. And now, here you are, you see how these men of David have reacted to the vengeance, the revenge of the Amalekites. And you see the regret of the army. And so now we begin to see the revival of a memorial in David again we read verses 6 through 8 where it says and David was greatly distressed for the people spake of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved every man for his sons and for his daughters but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God and David said to Abiathar the priest a hymn like son I pray thee bring me hither the epod and Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David, and David inquired at the Lord." And that was what was so important for David to do, to inquire of the Lord. That shows us how to handle problems that are too great for us. And this problem, they're talking about stoning him, killing him. They've lost everything. Their families are gone. It's a tight situation, but here's David. He inquires of the Lord. He doesn't blame God, doesn't get mad at God. He inquires of God. And we're told there in verse 6 that David encouraged himself in the Lord. In Psalm 135, verses 13 and 14, it says, thy name, O Lord, endureth forever in thy memorial. O Lord, throughout all generations, for the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants." Now think about that. The name of the Lord endureth forever. That same God that David was calling on that day is the exact same God and person that I call upon today, and that you call upon. For from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God. And so we see that what David fought for is coming to the surface. He's seeking the glory of God. See, when David was at his wit's end, he was not at his faith's end. Now, folks, that's an important lesson to learn. You can end up at your wits end, but that doesn't mean that's where your faith stops. That's the difference between a nominal Christian and a champion for Jesus Christ. Your wits will see no way of salvation from this problem. Often it's the children of Israel that were in the wilderness. They had that same attitude. It says, yay, they spake against God in Psalm 78, 19. They spake against God. They said, can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Well, if God had led them in there for a purpose, He was going to take care of them. And yes, God can furnish a table in the wilderness. Is anything too hard for God? No, nothing is too hard for God. He can. But many times, it tests whether we will patiently endure. You must never forget God can. And in the center of His will, you can also say God will. See, your wilderness may be in the home, your marriage, your health. Your job the trials of life that seem to have no solution In 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 verse 9 and 10 we see the Apostle Paul was there And he said my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect and weakness See the Apostle had problems too great for him He had to have the Lord's strength or he was going to fall badly And so he says, most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. You see, There are times when circumstances do not bring joy or happiness. We're in the dark places and the situation seems hopeless. You can give up, get discouraged, and quit. Or you can encourage yourself in the Lord. You see, It is your choice. Many times we don't think about that, but the truth of the matter is you choose to encourage yourself in the Lord or to give up. And if you give up, just quit on it, then don't expect the help of the Lord in that situation. You want to do great things for Christ? You want to be his champion? Then realize this, Hebrews 13, 5, we're told that God says, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. In Philippians 4, 13, the Holy Spirit instructs us through the pen of the Apostle Paul, for I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. You know, it's good sometimes when no one else will stand with you, or really, they just don't seem to understand. And they even have the idea of, you're crazy, and you've had to stand alone. Then you have to do like David does here. You've got to encourage yourself in the Lord. Aren't we reminded of that in 2 Timothy chapter 4? Because this is just not something in David's life. It happened in the Apostle Paul's life. It says in 2 Timothy 4, 16 through 18, At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Now you think about that. That was pretty serious. Yet he did not attack those people for not standing. He instead just prayed that it would not be laid to their charge. We don't see David saying, God, look at these stupid people. I took them in when they were in great need. Now look how they treat me. No, that's not how David did it. That's not how Paul handled it. You know, he's praying that this sin of not standing when you can stand not be laid to your charge. You realize that that's going to be one of the possibilities of the judgment seat of Christ. You had the opportunity to stand, and fear was one of the devils that kept you from standing. This is your radio pastor, Pastor Andy Bloom, saying, may the Word of God be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your pathway today. We want to thank you for listening to the Lamp and Light broadcast. If you would like a CD or cassette tape of today's message by Dr. Bloom, send us your name, mailing address, the radio station by which you are listening, the date of the broadcast, and a gift of $5 to Lamp and Light Broadcast, 1714 Southeast 36th Avenue, Ocala, Florida, 34471. We also welcome your comments on the broadcast and Bible questions. Again, you may write us at the same address which is 1714 SE 36th Ave Ocala, FL 34471 You may also visit us on the web at www.centralbaptistocalla.org. No breaks. Click to the lamp and light. Again, that web address is www.CentralBaptistOcala.org with no breaks. This is your announcer, Jerry Banks, saying, May God's peace be with all that are in Christ Jesus.