Walking Tall
July 1, 2007
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Text: Psalm 121
Fencing in college - Actually the best! Confident! You? Ever had tremendous confidence? Hit the ball to me - in the zone - making all the right decisions? Problem? God - If I’m a Christian I can walk tall! Live with great confidence! I can walk tall because my God is on guard! He is on guard for me! How?
1) God is my help! God is on guard over your way!
V1-2 -
A) We are pilgrims on a journey home through the lands of life! Don’t we wonder where help is going to come from? Example - Jonah 2:1-9 - Pray in the belly of the whale!! The Maker is my help! Confidence! Encouraged to go on!!
V3-4 - God’s omnipresence - And loving care - When decided
B) He will not let your foot slip - My help in my path! Psalm 119:103-105 - Like a parent holding the child’s hand - guiding and correcting! God never lets go!! He is my rescuer!! My Savior! My Help!!
2) God is my shade! God is on guard over your life!
A) V5-8 - the LORD is your shade at your right hand - My protector! Guards me from the harmful effects of life -night and day
I am shadowed by God! He keeps me able for battle - my right hand - sword hand not having to cover myself with shield because God is my shield! He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Ever felt shadowed? You are in God’s shadow! You can’t escape His care! Psalm 95 - For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
B) You are currently and eternally shaded by God! V 7-8 - Keep you from all harm - What?!! Columbine - Virginia Tech? How can I believe this? I’ve been hurt. God has been absent - asleep!
No! Harm means the breaking up of all that is good! Even though we will face sufferings, good will not be broken! Ship grounded - But not shattered - We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
God will work it for good!! Rom 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
When fear and worry test your faith and anxious thoughts assail, remember God is in control and he will never fail!