Finding Light and Courage in Dark Times
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, I felt led to share a message from Psalm 27, which is titled "An Exuberant Declaration of Faith." This Psalm, written by David, speaks to us in times of personal trial and affliction. David declares, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" This powerful statement reminds us that God is our guiding light and our salvation, even in the darkest times.
We are living in challenging days, much like the times described by the prophet Haggai, where God is shaking the nations and the church. Many are turning away from foundational truths, causing confusion. Yet, we stand firm in the unsearchable riches of Christ and the salvation that comes only through Jesus.
David wrote this Psalm during a time of great personal trial, when his son Absalom usurped his throne. In his wilderness moment, David found that God often speaks to us most clearly when we are in desperate situations. If you find yourself in a wilderness today, know that God is about to speak into your life and lead you to a place of refreshing.
David's declaration, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" is a reminder that God illuminates our path and goes before us. Fear is a potent weapon of the enemy, but God has not given us a spirit of fear. Instead, He gives us power, love, and a sound mind. David's personal testimony of overcoming fear and opposition encourages us to trust in God's strength.
In verse 4, David expresses his deepest desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. This speaks to the importance of corporate Christian fellowship and the joy of being in God's presence. Despite the challenges we face, we should never cease to appreciate the privilege of gathering together in worship and fellowship.
David also speaks of God hiding him in His pavilion during times of trouble, a place of safety, comfort, and healing. When we feel overwhelmed, we can cry out to God, who hears us and leads us to the rock that is higher than us. God knows our situations and cares deeply for us.
Finally, David encourages us to wait on the Lord and be of good courage. Even when we feel like giving up, we must believe that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. God is leading us through our desert places and will bring us to a place of refreshing.
### Key Takeaways
1. God Speaks in the Wilderness: In our moments of desperation and uncertainty, God often speaks most clearly. When we find ourselves in a wilderness, we must remember that God is leading us by the hand and will bring us to a place of refreshing. Trust in His guidance and be open to His voice. [58:18]
2. The Lord is Our Light and Salvation: God illuminates our path and goes before us, even in the darkest times. Fear is a weapon of the enemy, but God has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. We can trust in His strength and not be afraid. [59:26]
3. The Importance of Corporate Fellowship: David's desire to dwell in the house of the Lord highlights the importance of gathering together in worship and fellowship. Despite the challenges we face, we should never cease to appreciate the privilege of being in God's presence with other believers. [01:06:36]
4. God Hides Us in His Pavilion: During times of trouble, God hides us in His pavilion, a place of safety, comfort, and healing. When we feel overwhelmed, we can cry out to God, who hears us and leads us to a place of refuge. Trust in His protection and care. [01:09:27]
5. Wait on the Lord with Courage: Even when we feel like giving up, we must believe that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. God is leading us through our desert places and will bring us to a place of refreshing. Wait on the Lord and be of good courage. [01:15:05]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[53:58] - Reading from Psalm 27
[55:28] - God is Shaking the Nations
[56:55] - David's Personal Trial
[58:18] - God Speaks in the Wilderness
[59:26] - The Lord is Our Light and Salvation
[01:02:57] - David's Reflection on Opposition
[01:04:50] - God Will Make a Way
[01:06:36] - Importance of Corporate Fellowship
[01:07:43] - Dwelling in God's Presence
[01:08:35] - God's Glory in the House
[01:09:27] - God Hides Us in His Pavilion
[01:10:13] - Lead Me to the Rock
[01:11:20] - Jesus is the Rock
[01:11:55] - God Knows and Cares
[01:12:45] - God Delivers
[01:13:47] - Praise the Lord Anyway
[01:14:19] - Magnify the Lord
[01:15:05] - Wait on the Lord with Courage
[01:17:21] - Trusting God in Trials
[01:28:17] - Closing Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 27:1-14: "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 came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: 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 place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek.' Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me. Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does David declare about the Lord in Psalm 27:1? How does this declaration set the tone for the rest of the Psalm?
2. In Psalm 27:4, what is David's deepest desire, and how does it reflect his relationship with God?
3. According to Psalm 27:5, where does God hide David during times of trouble, and what does this signify?
4. How does David describe his confidence in the face of fear and opposition in Psalm 27:3? [01:00:30]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for God to be our "light and salvation" in the context of personal trials and afflictions? How does this understanding impact our daily lives? [59:26]
2. How can the concept of God hiding us in His pavilion during times of trouble provide comfort and assurance in our current situations? [01:09:27]
3. Why is corporate Christian fellowship important according to David's desire in Psalm 27:4, and how does it strengthen our faith? [01:06:36]
4. What does it mean to "wait on the Lord" and be of good courage, especially when facing prolonged challenges or uncertainties? [01:15:05]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were in a wilderness. How did you sense God speaking to you during that period? How can you remain open to His voice in future wilderness experiences? [58:18]
2. Fear is described as a potent weapon of the enemy. What specific fears are you currently facing, and how can you apply the truth that God has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind to overcome them? [01:00:30]
3. David's desire to dwell in the house of the Lord highlights the importance of corporate fellowship. How often do you participate in church gatherings, and what steps can you take to make corporate worship a more consistent part of your life? [01:06:36]
4. When feeling overwhelmed, David cried out to God and found refuge. What are some practical ways you can seek God's refuge and comfort in your daily life when you feel overwhelmed? [01:10:13]
5. Waiting on the Lord with courage is a recurring theme in Psalm 27. What are you currently waiting on God for, and how can you cultivate patience and courage during this waiting period? [01:15:05]
6. David's testimony of overcoming fear and opposition encourages us to trust in God's strength. Can you share a personal testimony of a time when you experienced God's strength in a challenging situation? How did it impact your faith?
7. How can you actively seek to dwell in God's presence throughout the week, not just during church services? What specific practices or habits can you incorporate into your daily routine to help you stay connected to God? [01:07:43]
Devotional
Day 1: God Speaks in the Wilderness
In our moments of desperation and uncertainty, God often speaks most clearly. When we find ourselves in a wilderness, we must remember that God is leading us by the hand and will bring us to a place of refreshing. Trust in His guidance and be open to His voice. David experienced this during his time of great personal trial when his son Absalom usurped his throne. In his wilderness moment, David found that God often speaks to us most clearly when we are in desperate situations. If you find yourself in a wilderness today, know that God is about to speak into your life and lead you to a place of refreshing. [58:18]
Isaiah 43:19 (ESV): "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt lost or in a wilderness. How did you sense God’s presence or hear His voice during that time? How can you be more open to His guidance in your current situation?
Day 2: The Lord is Our Light and Salvation
God illuminates our path and goes before us, even in the darkest times. Fear is a weapon of the enemy, but God has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. We can trust in His strength and not be afraid. David's declaration, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" is a reminder that God illuminates our path and goes before us. Fear is a potent weapon of the enemy, but God has not given us a spirit of fear. Instead, He gives us power, love, and a sound mind. David's personal testimony of overcoming fear and opposition encourages us to trust in God's strength. [59:26]
Psalm 18:28 (ESV): "For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness."
Reflection: Identify a specific fear that has been holding you back. How can you actively trust God to be your light and salvation in this area today?
Day 3: The Importance of Corporate Fellowship
David's desire to dwell in the house of the Lord highlights the importance of gathering together in worship and fellowship. Despite the challenges we face, we should never cease to appreciate the privilege of being in God's presence with other believers. In verse 4, David expresses his deepest desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. This speaks to the importance of corporate Christian fellowship and the joy of being in God's presence. Despite the challenges we face, we should never cease to appreciate the privilege of gathering together in worship and fellowship. [01:06:36]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: How can you make a more intentional effort to engage in corporate fellowship and encourage others in your church community this week?
Day 4: God Hides Us in His Pavilion
During times of trouble, God hides us in His pavilion, a place of safety, comfort, and healing. When we feel overwhelmed, we can cry out to God, who hears us and leads us to a place of refuge. Trust in His protection and care. David also speaks of God hiding him in His pavilion during times of trouble, a place of safety, comfort, and healing. When we feel overwhelmed, we can cry out to God, who hears us and leads us to the rock that is higher than us. God knows our situations and cares deeply for us. [01:09:27]
Psalm 31:20 (ESV): "In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues."
Reflection: When you feel overwhelmed, what practical steps can you take to seek refuge in God’s presence? How can you remind yourself of His protection and care?
Day 5: Wait on the Lord with Courage
Even when we feel like giving up, we must believe that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. God is leading us through our desert places and will bring us to a place of refreshing. Wait on the Lord and be of good courage. David encourages us to wait on the Lord and be of good courage. Even when we feel like giving up, we must believe that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. God is leading us through our desert places and will bring us to a place of refreshing. [01:15:05]
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling to wait on the Lord? How can you practice courage and patience in this area, trusting in God’s timing and goodness?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We are living in days of great challenge... But we stand here this morning to declare the unsearchable riches of Christ and that there is salvation only through Jesus and that God is creator and God made male and female. Do you believe that this morning? Amen." [56:55] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? He is my light. He is the one who illumines our path. He is the one who goes ahead of us. In those moments of darkness, in those seasons of uncertain terrain, he is the one who is our guiding light and he goes before us." [59:26] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God will make a way where there seems no other way... God will make a way where there seems no other way and that's just a word to you this morning where you may be sitting in church and somehow you're facing situations, decisions have to be made maybe to do with family, maybe to do with all kinds of things." [01:04:50] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When we begin in the middle of our situation to begin to magnify the Lord, to begin to magnify the Lord, and we begin to praise him, and we begin to remind ourselves of the glory and the greatness and the power and the might of the God that we are serving, who knows the end from the beginning, who is sovereign Lord, who has promised to lead us by the way, when we begin to exalt him in praise and thanksgiving, then God begins to lift that burden and begin to open up the way for us." [01:14:19] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart. Wait I say on the Lord... believe him for the impossible he shall strengthen your heart wait wait upon God for he knows the end from the beginning he's sovereign Lord he has taken us in his hand he is leading us through those desert places he is leading us through that parched ground and he will bring us into that place where we shall see those streams of waters." [01:17:21] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "David came through that time of personal rejection, of humiliation, of absolute defeat when he didn't know which way to turn. And it seemed that God had abandoned him and his way was not clear. But in that wilderness moment, and I want to say this to you this morning, God often speaks to us in moments when we find ourselves in wilderness situations where everything around us seemed barren, where everything around us seemed dry, when we're overcome with the power of God." [58:18] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "In the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion. In the time of trouble. Is that where you're at this morning? Is that the situation that you're facing? Is that the uncertainty and possibly the doubt and possibly even the fear? And God is saying this to you. In this time of trouble, I will hide you and protect you and garrison you and protect and bring you into that pavilion." [01:09:27] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Pastor Jason, you are going to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living that's a blessing upon you and your family for these coming days that God is going to lead you God is going to make that way for you that I would see the goodness of the Lord." [01:15:05] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "One thing I've desired of the Lord that will I seek that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life my friends we should never ever cease to appreciate the great privilege and the great joy of corporate Christian fellowship the gathering of the local church the gathering of the saints the ecclesia the children of God who come together in worship and declaration and praise and thanksgiving and the proclamation of the word of God in the power of the holy spirit and relationship and fellowship." [01:06:36] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh what's he talking about there he's reflecting upon personal testimony he's looking back on the tragic situation when David who had been the Lord's anointed to the throne of Israel he was a man after God's own heart he was a sweet psalmist of Israel he was a man full of the holy spirit and seemingly he was at the peak of his powers and suddenly his son Absalom sought to usurp the throne." [01:02:57] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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