God Is Greater

Eastford Baptist Church

October 12, 2006

God is Greater

The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:4-5)

When you think about it, life is filled with unanswerable questions. In fact, I’ve been trying to find the answers to some very deep questions. For instance:
1. When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?
2. How can you tell when sour cream goes bad?
3. What hair color do they put on the driver’s licenses of bald men?
4. Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
5. If buttered bread always lands on the butter-side down and a cat always lands on its feet, what happens if you tape buttered bread to a cat’s back?
6. If a man is standing in the middle of the forest speaking and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?

There are some questions which we may never answer.

But not the question David asks. If the Lord is my light and if the LORD is my salvation, whom shall I fear? If the LORD is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? Answer? Nobody! David was a person much like the rest of us – there were many times in his life when the circumstances he was facing were more than he thought he could handle. But David learned the secret of being able to face those moments with great faith and confidence. He simply looks to the LORD. In looking to the LORD, he is reminded of one very simple truth; God is greater! He is greater than the evil men in this world. He is greater than the attacking foe. He says, “Even if an army comes against me – Even if the world declares war against me; God is greater!”

Whatever circumstance you are facing today, this simple truth is powerful enough to deliver victory over your worry and fear. God is greater!

How did David develop his ability to find victory over the fear and anxiety in his life? He had a single-minded approach when trouble came his way. David’s focus on God is easy to see in the verse above. He had made God the single thing that he sought over all others. As he said “one thing that I ask - this is what I seek...” Now that it is single-minded focus on God. He says I will not fear because:

* I Live with God. David desired to “dwell in the house of the Lord”
which is a metaphor for living in God’s presence continually and staying close
to God. Most people in David’s day visited the temple but David wanted to
live there as he says “all the days of his life.” His life was continually focused on God and therefore he knew God intimately and that gave him confidence in every situation. He did not just want to think about God on Sundays, Wednesdays, holidays or when trouble came. No! He focused on God and drew close to Him continually. David is saying – I like what I’ve found in the Lord and I want more of Him!
*I Look to God. Not only did he live in God’s presence but he also
looked at God’s perfection. -“to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.” As he
focused on God’s attributes his fears were relieved because he saw God’s
faithfulness, goodness, love, etc. He was refreshed by his mercy and his grace
and perfect peace. He was reminded that God’s power is more than
sufficient to face every difficult situation.

* I Listen to God. He also focused on God by listening to his voice
and his counsel rather than the voice of his fears or that of naysayers. He says
that he would “seek Him in his temple.” The word “seek” means to inquire
or petition. In other words David is listening to God. He is taking his
troubles to Him and seeking his counsel and therefore as he focuses on God his
fears disappear. The voice of trouble can be loud and frightening.
But the voice of our Lord is calming and will provide the peace your heart is
seeking.

When we, like David, live with God, look to God, and listen to God we will come to know Him intimately and during times of fear we will be able to express the same faith that David did “... In the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”

No matter what you face this day, this week, this month, or this year. Simply remember, God is Greater!Focus on God and your fears will disappear.

Compelled by His Greatness,PT

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