Inherit a Blessing

This summer we've been talking about what the Bible teaches about how to be happy.

If you'd like a sermon outline and didn't get one, just raise your hand, or I'll just be happy to hand you one.

I don't know if you heard the news recently, but another truck flipped over on the highway.

This one was loaded with thousands of copies of Roger's Thesaurus.

According to the news reports, witnesses were stunned, startled, aghast, taken aback, stupefied and a lot of other similar words.

You don't know what a thesaurus is, do you?

The Bible describes heaven as being immersed, surrounded by God's loving presence forever, something so wonderful we don't even have the words to describe it.

The Bible also describes ways, though, we can experience a little taste of heaven now, experiences where we find ourselves somehow filled up inside with good feelings of joy, knowing that God is for us, with us and is pleased with us.

The word of God does give us clues leading to this heavenly happiness, as I've been talking about this summer.

It's signaled by the phrase blessed is the man or blessed is the one who does such and such Many times God's formulas for these blessings.

Quite often they are the exact opposite of what our natural tendencies and inclinations would be like.

We looked at last week, where Jesus said you know what it's more blessed to give than to keep receiving.

Today we're going to look at another one of those counterintuitive actions that results in a little taste of heaven.

It is the blessing of taking refuge in the Lord.

It is found in a number of places in the Bible, but we're going to focus in Psalm 34.

If you have a Bible and want to turn there and look at it, you can do that and, as we'll see, this blessing, this heavenly blessing, is one of the more difficult blessings for us to experience because it's riding against our natural inclinations.

We're going to look at three things.

First, we'll look at an explanation of this blessing, what it means taking refuge in the Lord.

Then we'll look at how explanation of this blessing, what it means taking refuge in the Lord.

Then we'll look at how to experience this blessing and then, finally, we'll look over some lessons we learn about this blessing from Psalm 34.

First, let's explain what Psalm 34 means by taking refuge in the Lord.

We can better understand what it means to take refuge in the Lord by first considering the context of Psalm 34, which we should do anytime we're studying a passage of scripture.

Don't take verses out of context.

What we have in Psalm 34 is David is telling us he's on the run, fleeing from King Saul who's trying to kill him.

Fleeing from King Saul who's trying to kill him In desperation.

He ends up fleeing to King Asish, or also called Abimelech, in Gath, 1 Samuel 21.

Gath was a Philistine city and home of Goliath, where David killed when he was a young boy, in a standoff with Israel's battle against the Philistines.

Well, david's hiding in Gath.

And when the king of Gath and the Philistines realized David was hiding there, david feared for his life there and fled into the wilderness, ending up in the cave of Adullam.

Now the context of Psalm 34 is David's.

He can't help it.

He's just breaking into praise, praise of God, blessing God.

He can't help it, and we'll see why.

And he says I intend to bless the Lord all the time, and we'll see why.

And he says I intend to bless the Lord all the time.

Then he invites us, all of us, to join him in magnifying the Lord.

Because you know what, when David sought the Lord in his time of life-threatening trouble, god answered his prayer, delivered him not just from his enemies but from his fears.

Deep inside he had this calm, joyful reassurance the Lord was with him.

It was a little taste of heaven.

So he invites us to join him.

I want you to listen to the first part here, the introduction that he gives us.

Psalm 34, 1-7, a Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech who drove him away and he departed.

I will bless the Lord at all times.

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul will make its boast in the Lord, and you know what?

The humble will hear it and rejoice.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me.

Let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord.

He answered me and he delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to him and were radiant.

Their faces will never be ashamed.

This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, saved him and rescued him.

He could not help but praise God.

He was so full of joy and gratitude to the Lord, in the Lord's presence, making it very known he was with him.

The experience of the Lord's rescue filled him with this grateful joy.

But you know why?

Because he knew it was not him who did this.

It was the Lord himself who was delivering him.

And when you get that sense, he's giving us a little taste of heaven.

When you know that no other way to explain this you too will end up praising God from the heart.

He was given a little taste of heaven.

He was overflowing with praise.

And then David sums it up for us in verse 8.

And here's his invitation oh, taste and see.

The Lord is good.

How blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

That's what David did.

Oh, wow, taste this A little taste of heaven.

David's inviting us to do so.

How do we do that?

By taking refuge in the Lord.

Listen, you can't take refuge unless you're in trouble, unless something's threatening you.

Might be good to learn how to do that.

What does it mean to take refuge in the Lord?

Well, first of all, think of it this way when you take refuge, you're looking for someplace safe to go, someplace strong that will cover you and protect you.

For example, a few times while I was playing golf, a thunderstorm would come up, lightning was in the sky and you know what?

I'd stop golfing and run to the nearest shelter Safe, protected.

Wait there, you know, a pastor friend of mine in Michigan was once he was a really good golfer.

He was once golfing with a stranger he was paired with on the golf course in a golf outing and they introduced themselves.

He was a businessman and my course in a golf outing, and they introduced themselves.

He was a businessman and my friend explained he was a pastor.

And they went along a while and my friend my pastor friend became pretty annoyed at this man because he was swearing, using the Lord's name in vain.

Every time he made a bad shot.

About halfway through the round it got cloudy and rain and he heard thunder in the distance and the man went to his golf bag and pulled out an umbrella.

I'd have pulled out my umbrella today but I forgot.

And my pastor here's this guy, picture this.

This is a true story.

This golfing buddy is holding his umbrella as the rain starts to come down, thunder in the distance, and my pastor friend turned to him and said you know, if I were you, I would not put up that umbrella.

And he said why?

He said well, the way you've been swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain, I don't think it's a very good idea.

A little while later, my pastor friend noticed that he put the umbrella down, put it back in his box and got soaked the rest of the way.

Yeah, yeah, another example of taking refuge we've all probably experienced is if you've ever been around a tornado coming a warning.

We take refuge in the basement.

We take refuge for a lot of things.

It's interesting.

We know how to take refuge in a lightning, storm or a tornado.

How do we take refuge in the Lord?

We're going to need to.

That's what we'll talk about next the blessing of the experience of taking refuge in the Lord.

And you know where it begins.

It begins by believing four things about the Lord.

First, you believe that you can go to the Lord for help.

You have a relationship with him.

You know he's there, he hears you.

You know you can go to him.

Second, you know that the Lord is able to help you.

He can keep you safe if you let him.

Third, you believe that the Lord is stronger and greater than any trouble you're in, anything.

Finally, you believe that the Lord is also sovereign in whatever he allows in your life.

He does so to promote and produce good, ultimately because he's a good God.

Why believe those things?

Because it is what God has revealed in his scripture about himself.

And if you don't believe that, you're not going to learn how to take refuge in the Lord.

I could say a lot more on where it starts with our faith in the Lord, but those are the basics.

You can go to him.

If you have a relationship with him which I'll explain how to do that in a minute you have to believe he can actually help you.

He has no limits.

He's not under our time frame.

He's got access to everything.

You believe that he is absolutely stronger and greater than any other obstacle you'll ever face.

Look at what happened to Jesus.

He died and rose again.

God raised him from the dead and he is sovereign, and he is sovereign.

God allowed Jesus to be put to death for a very, very good purpose us, so we could live.

He's always working that way.

He's always got a good in mind for whatever happens, even if evil has its day.

That's why we must learn how to take refuge in him.

It's what David did to take refuge in the Lord.

Listen to what he says here in a couple of places Psalm 54.4,.

Behold, god is my helper, the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.

Or Psalm 57.

1-3, be gracious to me, o God.

Be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in you.

Pray that, and in the shadow of your wings figure an analogy of a mother bird hovering over her chicks in a storm.

Under the shadow of your wings I'll take refuge until destruction passes by.

I'll cry out to God most high, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

This is what he's doing.

He has a purpose for me.

This is what he's doing.

Maybe I've got to take shelter under his wings, but only because this is part of his purpose for me.

He's going to show me more of himself.

He will send from heaven and save me.

He reproaches him who tramples upon me.

Selah, god will send forth his loving kindness and his truth.

The blessing of this taking refuge is received when our life is placed in God's hands, Just like David did.

Is the Lord your hiding place?

Is he your strong tower?

Is he your helper?

Is he your rock of refuge when you're in trouble?

If he is, then David is saying when you do experience his rescue, his deliverance and you know that's the only possible way this could be happening was because God did it for me You're going to get a little taste of heaven.

You're going to be filled with joy, even though maybe nothing's changed, you just know God's there.

He saw me and he helped me and when he blesses you, you cannot help, as we see with David, to bless the Lord.

He said.

I want to do this all the time.

He's so good, he's so sovereign, powerful.

As I mentioned earlier, the blessing of taking refuge in the Lord is not just seen once in the Bible.

This is one of those blessings that is repeated over and over again several times throughout the entire Scripture.

So important it is.

Psalm 212.

Do homage to the Son that he not become angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath may soon be kindled.

Psalm 59, 16.

The psalmist knew it.

Psalm 146, 5 and 6.

How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord, his God, who made the heaven and earth by the way, the sea and all that's in them, who keeps faith forever.

Or Psalm 1810.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

These verses are all invitations from God to receive and experience his heavenly blessing from the Lord.

A little taste of heaven now, knowing that God is with you, for you and working on your behalf.

That is the experience of the joy of a little taste of heaven, tasting and see that the Lord is good.

Now, taking refuge in the Lord means that, no matter what else is happening, you know the Lord is always there for you and you can go to him as your hiding place.

Psalm 32.7,.

You are my hiding place.

You preserve me from trouble.

You surround me with shouts of deliverance, selah.

Now let me explain why.

This is one of the most difficult blessings for us to experience.

Sometimes, you see well, maybe many times, and I put myself in this category too instead of taking refuge in the Lord, we take matters into our own hands.

Thank you very much.

Don't do that.

We take matters into our own hands.

Thank you very much.

Don't do that.

Put your life in his hands.

Period Complete, got nothing else.

When you take matters into your own hands, that's not taking refuge in the Lord.

Listen to you're trusting your own strength.

Listen to Psalm 52, verse 7.

Psalms 52:7

Behold, behold, look at this.

Behold the man who would not make the Lord his refuge, but instead trusted in the abundance of his riches.

The Lord his refuge, but instead trusted in the abundance of his riches and his strong and his evil desire.

His own self was his strength.

He is going to save himself.

Don't do that.

That's a sure way not to experience this blessing.

And why this counterintuitive blessing?

I've got to turn every yeah, complete, trust your life in his hands.

We don't like to do that.

We're fearful, you know.

That's why David said in Psalm 34, oh, I'm excited he delivered me from my fears even, because when I saw him work, man whoa, what was I afraid of?

In fact, the Bible warns us Sometimes, when we take matters into our own hands, what that means is we're.

One example would be we're going to take revenge on what somebody did to us.

Well, that's taking matters into your own hands.

You holding any bitterness, grudges, you're angry at somebody.

Well, you're not going to experience this blessing Not going to happen.

You're taking matters into your own hands.

We are warned over and over again in Scripture not to take our own revenge, but to trust in the Lord who will do what is right by you, romans 12, 17.

I'm going to right by you, romans 12, 17.

I'm going to pick one place Romans 12, 17 and 19.

The Apostle Paul says Repay no one evil for evil, but get thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all, if possible, so far as it depends on you.

Live peaceably with all Beloved.

Never offend yourselves, leave it to the wrath of God, because that means you believe he actually exists, that he's actually righteous, and just that you actually can go to him, that he can actually help.

You See what?

I where we started.

You must believe these things or you will take your own.

You will take matters into your own hands.

It starts with what do you believe about God, about Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for you?

Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.

This principle, biblical principle, is true on any level, and I know we all feel this I have.

Let me give you an example.

It even is applicable when you're parking your car.

How many of you here have parked a car?

Oh, come on, stop lying, okay.

An elderly lady was driving a very expensive new car in to go to the store.

She saw prepared to back into a parallel parking space that was open and a young man in a small sports car zoomed in ahead of her.

Well, she was pretty annoyed and she's coming up to the guy and said why did you do that?

His terse response was because I'm young and quick.

Why'd you do that?

His terse response was because I'm young and quick.

When he came back a few minutes later, he saw the elderly lady using her expensive new car as a battering ram on his car.

She was taking her own revenge and he angrily asked her why are you wrecking my car?

She responded because I'm old and rich.

Don't do that, first lesson.

Don't do that, ah.

But revenge is sweet, our flesh loves it, ah I.

Revenge is sweet, our flesh loves it, ah, I feel so good and you know when you'll feel better when you see God do something.

I don't know if you've ever experienced this, but I have People doing things to undermine.

I'll give you an example.

When I had a business in Dallas, texas, I was making a lot of good money and the Lord was blessing.

And this other guy came to the companies I was working for and undercut my prices and took my business away.

Well, I met with our community group a few days later.

I said can we pray about this?

Out of nowhere, this guy basically took my business.

He said we sure will.

And the prayer is Lord, would you put a stop to this?

Lord?

Would you make something happen that this company would do away with having him do their business?

Do away with having him do their business.

Week later I get a call from the company.

They say, jim, will you come back and work for us?

I said why?

Well, the guy we hired, well, he literally really messed up.

He broke some expensive vases in the house, this house, and blah, blah, blah and this, and that you were going to have to redo what he did.

I said well, listen, I'm going to have to raise my prices way up.

Okay, do you know the joy I felt just from knowing the Lord was taking care of me?

He was doing it.

I didn't do it.

I didn't try to take my own revenge.

You know what we did?

We just prayed.

That's what God does.

There's something sweeter than revenge.

That's knowing that you've taken refuge in the Lord.

You've put your life in his hands.

He's taken up your cause.

You will be blessed.

Look, I'm serious.

We all struggle.

This is one of the hardest blessings to do.

It's easy, natural.

First and foremost, take matters into your own hands, make this right, fix it.

It's not always easy to trust the Lord to do what is right and just.

We might have to wait, but he will.

In our last point, I want to just expand on some of the lessons we learned from taking refuge in the Lord.

Here are four lessons I've learned about taking refuge in the Lord.

First, I've learned the lesson I must resign from being God.

I can't do it.

I have no control over some situations Absolutely none.

He does.

Resign from taking matters into your own hands.

Being your own Savior never works.

The anger of man never will produce the righteousness or blessing of God.

James 1.20.

So resign from being God.

Second thing I do is I recommit all my ways to God and trust in Him to act.

I follow Psalm 37, 5, and 6.

I recommit all my ways to God and trust in him to act.

I follow Psalm 37, 5 and 6.

Commit your way to the Lord.

Trust also in him and he'll do it.

Not when you're trying to do it, when you let him do it.

He'll bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.

Third, remain obedient to God and his word, if he says, points out some sin in your life that this trouble has caused.

Repent of it, confess it.

Remain obedient to his word.

Psalm 119, 114.

You are my hiding place and my shield.

Notice this.

He links it to his word.

I hope in your word.

Resign from being God.

Recommit all your ways to God, put your life in his hands, trust in him to act, remain obedient to his word and remember three things no one, no one, can touch your soul.

And, by the way, that's the most important thing.

You need to guard your heart, your soul.

Proverbs 3.24,.

Above all else, guard your heart.

Psalm 58, verses 4 and 11,.

Psalms 58:4

Psalmist says in God I put my trust.

I shall not be afraid.

I shall not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

Nothing, I'm safe.

In God I put my trust, I shall not be afraid.

What can man do to me?

No one can touch your soul.

Second, god will repay everyone for what they've done and the trouble they've caused.

Psalm 62, 11 and 12.

Once God has spoken twice I've heard this that power belongs to God and loving kindness is yours, o Lord, for you recompense a man according to his work.

Go to the New Testament.

You'll bring every single word and deed into account before the judgment seat of Christ when Jesus comes back.

One of the reasons he's coming back is to make things right again.

Third, jesus is our example of how to take refuge in the Lord, and this is an extremely important critical verse for followers of Jesus.

1 Peter 2, 21-23.

Peter says To this you've been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps.

He committed no sin.

Neither was deceit found in his mouth, and when he was reviled, he did not revile in return, giving them what they deserved rightfully by Jesus.

Even when he suffered, he didn't threaten.

Here's what he did.

He continued to entrust himself, life in his father's hands, to him.

Who judges justly?

I can't judge justly.

I'm going to get it wrong because I'm a sinner.

But God can get it right.

We need to burn this into our system and again it comes down to do.

We believe this.

We can trust God to make it right, even though we might have to wait.

You know, in the same letter Peter is writing.

He is writing to suffering Christians.

They're asking why?

What's going on?

What's God doing?

Well, he has a lot to say about that.

But in the middle of that letter, peter writes that when we take refuge in the Lord, what's actually happening is we are actually inheriting a blessing from God.

Listen to 1 Peter 3, 9-12.

He says don't repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but, on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called.

When you do that, you will inherit a blessing For whoever desires to love life and see good days.

Let him keep his tongue from evil, his lips from speaking deceit.

Let him turn away from evil and do good.

Let him seek peace.

And Do you know why Peter is saying this?

Do you know why Peter is saying this?

All he's doing is quoting what David said in Psalm 34.

We didn't read it.

It's a little later.

He's quoting Psalm 34, taking refuge in the Lord.

The blessing of taking refuge in the Lord is not just something God gave only to David.

Peter is saying he's given it to every single believer, anyone who is willing to put their life in his hands and take refuge in him.

When we don't return insults, take matters into our own hands, but take refuge in the Lord.

Peter said you will inherit a blessing, a little taste of heaven.

Of course, I have to say.

The ultimate blessing to receive is the gift of eternal life where we'll live with Jesus, with God, in heaven forever.

And that is also a blessing we can receive right now, when we stop trying to save ourselves and get into heaven by our good works or something else we're doing, and get into heaven by our good works or something else we're doing.

We take refuge in the Lord for our salvation by calling on the Lord to receive Jesus as our Savior.

Apostle Paul makes this clear in Romans 10, 9 and 10.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For with the heart a person believes and is justified.

With the mouth he confesses and is saved.

The scripture says everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.

Let's pray will not be put to shame.

Let's pray.

Father, thank you that you are a rock of refuge, a strong tower that we can run to when we're in trouble or when we're afraid.

But we're going to need your help.

Help us to run to you.

Help us to think of these verses when we're in trouble.

Help us to run to Jesus if we never have to receive salvation in his name and Lord, we're in trouble.

Help us to run to Jesus if we never have to receive salvation in his name and Lord, we ask your blessing.

Help us to experience a little taste of heaven.

I pray that we could go around this auditorium sometime in the near future and share about when we took refuge in the Lord.

Here's what the Lord did, and I'm so joyful and gracious.

Join me in blessing the Lord.

Oh, to hear that in our midst, together on a Sunday morning.

I pray that you would do that and surprise us with the things you'll do In your name.

I pray Amen.