Psalm 10 and 11

Hello Project Ezra!  I pray you are all doing well, and are looking forward to sharing the gospel this weekend.  I’m praying for opportunities myself, and with the weather warming up and more people spending time outside, I’m sure there will be plenty of chances.  Our local evangelism team is already planning on visiting and sharing the gospel at several local community festivals and street parties this summer, and I would encourage you to look for similar opportunities in your area.  The relaxed atmosphere at most of these events makes it much easier to share the gospel, and also makes it easier for those new to public evangelism to participate.  However, when you open air preach, try to be wise in your choice of venue.  A busy street corner or sidewalk is great, provided you’re not blocking foot traffic, store entrances, etc.  There will almost always be someone who will be unhappy with your sharing the gospel or preaching, but try to avoid unnecessary conflict.

This week we will be reading Psalms 10 and 11, and again addressing the issue of those who choose to deny and ignore God’s word.  It is not intellectual issues (lack of evidence, philosophical question, etc.) that keep people from accepting God and turning to Christ, but rebellion based on moral problems.  Psalm 10 addresses pride and greed, among other things, as reasons for people being blinded, for choosing to hide their faces, from the truth of God’s existence. Some people you talk to may have sincere questions that they have not had answered regarding the truth of God or the Bible, and that’s fine.  But while it is very appropriate to answer people’s questions, it is more appropriate, and more vital, to approach their conscience.  Once unbelievers are brought to see their own sin, and shown their need for a savior, many of their questions will evaporate, since most dodn’t care about the answers to begin with.  They are just using them as a smoke screen.  So bring the law to show them their need, then bring them to the foot of the cross so they can see God’s grace.

All for His glory,

Dan

READ PSALM 10 and 11

Does God seem far away?

Could it be that your pride is blinding you to His presence?

Pride is insidious.  Steals your reason, hides the truth

Pride the source of much of mankind’s ills.  Cause of crime, wars, broken families, etc.

I fight pride every day.  Constant subject of prayer

Pride most dangerous when it blinds you to the truth of God

Chapters talk about the arrogance of the wicked.  Consider carefully if this describes you.

They boast of the desires of their soul

One greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord

In pride, and for greed, the wicked does not seek God

All his thoughts are “There is no God.”

Says in His heart “God has forgotten, He has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

If you believe God does not see, or does not care about your sin, you only lie to yourself.

Could it be that the reason you cannot find God is that your pride keeps you from acknowledging Him?

Could it be that the reason you cannot find God is the same reason a criminal cannot find a police officer?

In your heart you know there is a God.

If you are honest you will admit this, and you will admit you are not right with Him

As the creation bears witness to God’s existence, your conscience bears witness to your knowledge of right and wrong

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  (Romans 1:18-23 ESV)

For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them  (Romans 2:12-15 ESV)

You know you have sinned, and are not right with God.

LOOK AT GOD’S LAW AND BRING CONVICTION OF SIN

The wicked renounces God and says in his heart “You will not call to account.”

But God will call to account

Will break the arm of the wicked and evildoer, and call his wickedness to account till He finds none.

The Lord will call to account, and will punish wickedness completely

We are wicked and deserving of His justice

We are told His soul hates the wicked

The wicked will receive the just punishment they deserve

We are wicked and deserving of that judgment

How can we be forgiven?  How can we be made righteous?

Only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (1 Peter 3:18 ESV)

For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:3-4 ESV)

Jesus Christ, God is human flesh, came to earth, lived a perfect life, the only one ever lived, and then died a perfect death on the cross as payment for our sins.

On the cross God’s anger and hatred and wrath toward sin was poured out on Him, so it did not have to be poured out on us.

Do as David did and take refuge in the Lord

The Lord is a good and kind God, and if you will turn to Him in repentance and faith, you will be saved.

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Acts 2:21 ESV)

So repent, turn from your sins, and call on the name of the Lord today, while you have been given time.

None of us has been promised a tomorrow. 

Every day about 150,000 people die, many of them at times and in situations when they did not expect to die.

I pray that everyone who hears me has a long happy life.  But more than that, I pray that today you will turn from your sins and trust in Christ, and that someday, we will see each other in heaven.

OFFER TO TALK, OFFER FREE BIBLES, ETC.  BE SURE YOU ARE PREPARED IF SOMEONE RESPONDS.