When the Lord Enlarges Us Part 2
Psalm 4:5-8 (NKJV)
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:5 (NKJV)
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.
Offer the right sacrifices.
Consider this, When you are angry, don’t you want to sacrifice the offender?
Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV)
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.
In Ephesians 4:26, the Apostle Paul quoted Psalms 4:4 and in Greek, it said, * “Be angry (orgidzo-angered or infuriated) and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
Get glad in the same britches you got mad in!!!
The Holy Spirit through the great Apostle interpreted the Hebrew word for our generation.
There is no sin in being angry or hurt. However, we are not to use it as an excuse to sin.
As someone said, “It is not a sin to give anger a ride, but a big mistake to let it drive.”
Anger can bring out angry responses, hurtful words, poor attitudes, and other sins.
Again, God is telling us that we can carry the hurt and not change our words, attitudes, and responses.
Here is a key. When you get alone, off to yourself, lying in your bed, thinking, when you are hurt or have hurt feelings, you will either get better or madder.
Many times, people have said to me, “It didn’t bother me when you said it, but I got to thinking about it, and the more I thought, the madder I got.”
The Psalmist saw the secret. When you ponder, don’t ponder on the offense. Don’t think about the offender.
Ponder your own heart. Ponder what God is doing. Search for God’s hand in your life.
I told someone once after observing a conflict, “If looks could kill, you would at least be limping throughout the rest of your life.”
When we are mad and/or hurt, we want someone to pay.
None of us have a natural desire to bear the pain ourselves.
However, look at how our Supreme Example modeled it.
There are two kinds of forgiveness; two levels of forgiveness.
The first is to release the offender from the consequences of causing suffering.
The second, more complete forgiveness is the total restoration of the relationship.
It can come when the offender seeks forgiveness and it is granted by the offended.
The first one is modeled by Jesus Christ on the Cross when He said, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
That first level not only releases the other person from retribution for the pain they caused, but it also releases us from the damage and the bond to the offender that the offense creates.
However, it does not restore the relationship because it is unilateral.
Yet it is extremely important for, not only our emotional and psychological well-being but our spiritual development also.
It means “bearing the pain, bearing the shame, carrying the hurt, releasing the other person from hatred and anger, by accepting the pain.”
Read Colossians 3,
Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
That is the right sacrifice from verse 5, the sacrifice of self, instead of demanding payment or pain on the offender.
Psalm 15:4 (NKJV) In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
Excepting the suffering
1 Peter 4:12-19 (NKJV)
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
That is focusing on our tasks and our spiritual growth instead of majoring in others’ offenses.
The Lord works in and through the lives of people.
3). The Pathway to Being Enlarged
Psalm 4:6 (NKJV)
6 There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
There are many watching us in this life.
They are asking, “Has Christ really made a difference in your life?”
“Show us how Christ would respond in this situation. Show us a real Christian.”
“Lift up your face in us, Oh Lord, in how we respond to offenses.”
God uses distress to enlarge us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
4). The Peace from the Enlarged Life
We will have peace when we give it to all to Jesus
Psalm 4:7 (NKJV)
7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
There is always a pay-off in letting Christ shine through us.
It is joy in our hearts; more joy in our hearts than in the farmers at harvest and the winemakers in a good year.
More than partygoers when the food is flowing and the wine is abundant.
More than the harvest celebrations in farming communities in a bountiful year.
Our joy does not come from circumstances and situations, but from God’s smile upon us.
There is always a pay-off in letting Christ shine through us.
We will have peace when we give it to all to Jesus
Psalm 4:8 (NKJV)
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Healing! Peace and restoration.
Too many times when I am hurt and I began to regain my right mind, I have to deal with my self-serving, self-defending responses before I can have peace.
I have done more damage than the original offense.
I have to deal with more damage that I have created than caused by my offender.
But when I respond through God’s way, I have peace that goes beyond reason, understanding, and circumstances.
Philippians 4:7-9 (NKJV)
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
David acknowledged that his relationship and security were not based on who he was or what he did. His eternal safekeeping was completely from God. He declared,
If we follow the Bible’s simple instructions on how to be saved, we will make a safe landing yonder in heaven to be with the Lord and all that He has made for us to enjoy.
Two skydivers jump from a plane at 15,000 feet. Both are wearing parachutes. One of them folds his arms, ignores the ripcord, and says to himself: “I’m perfectly safe because of my parachute.” He is still saying these words as he hits the ground. The other skydiver knows he will be safe only if he follows the instructions he was given. He pulls the ripcord and lands safely.
That is where all mankind is today. Either we pull the cord and head for safety or we ignore the sacred Manufacturer’s instructions.
Many people are swiftly falling with a closed mind.
They gaining speed as they are looking for peace and safety in the things that promise life here with gusto while ignoring the “Manufacturer’s” instructions.
Conclusion: We will have peace when we give it to all to Jesus
Through trusting God in our distress, he brings us peace
