Song of Perseverance (Psalm 129)
Steve McKenzie November 15, 2020

November 15, 2020

Psalm 129

 

INTRODUCTION

  • Orlando is the 6th Most De-Churched City in America (Article)
  • 66% of youth leave the church for at least a year between ages 18-22 (Article)

 

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL (129:1-2)

  • The affliction, pain, and resistance that pushes against spiritual endurance is real.
  • “Greatly have they afflicted me…” repeated
  • TIME (Article)

 

THE EMOTIONS RUN DEEP (129:5-8)

  • Painful emotions run deep and the heart can grow weary
  • No Embarrassment – This is a real description of painful emotions
  • No Excuses – truthfulness of emotions do not justify the resulting actions
  • Apathy toward injustice is a greater risk to perseverance than anger

 

GOD IS FAITHFUL (129:2, 4)

  • YET…
    • “They have not prevailed”
    • Because… “The Lord is righteous”

 

GOD”S FAITHFULNESS FUELS OUR PERSEVERANCE

  • “We survive in the way of faith not because we have extraordinary stamina but because God is righteous, because God is faithful to us. Christian discipleship is a process of paying more and more attention to God’s righteousness and less and less attention to our own; finding the meaning of our lives not by probing our moods and motives and morals but by believing in God’s will and purposes; making a map of the faithfulness of God, not charting the rise and fall of our enthusiasms. It is out of such a reality that we acquire perseverance.” Eugene Peterson
  •  Ephesians 2:1-10

APPLICATION

  1. Map God’s Faithfulness in Your Life (Use the questions below to to help you rest in and rely on God’s faithfulness)
  • Without God, where would your life be right now?
  • Write Out & Tell the story of God saving you.
  • What struggles, trials, and difficulties have you endured since trusting in Jesus?
  • How did God cause you and enable you to persevere in the past?
  • What struggles are you facing now? Struggles that feel overwhelming. Struggles that have your emotions in overdrive?
  • Describe God’s character and faithfulness to you and others throughout history and let the testimony of his faithfulness fuel your perseverance through your present challenges

 

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