The Day of Trouble
“The
LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob
defend thee” -PSALM
20:1 [KJV]
Sound
doctrine is absolutely essential to knowing the true God in Christ.
We know Him only if we know Him as He is revealed in the scriptures
and we have hope of eternal life only through His life and death as
declared in the Gospel.
Yet, correct doctrine and a clear head understanding of these things, as vital as they are, often become very hollow and empty in the time of trial. When tragedy comes, when life-threatening afflictions come, when grievous family circumstances come, the Lord’s people would trade all for a moment of God’s felt presence. Their desire is to know the blessed Holy Spirit as the “Comforter.”
Yet, correct doctrine and a clear head understanding of these things, as vital as they are, often become very hollow and empty in the time of trial. When tragedy comes, when life-threatening afflictions come, when grievous family circumstances come, the Lord’s people would trade all for a moment of God’s felt presence. Their desire is to know the blessed Holy Spirit as the “Comforter.”
To
feel the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by Him would bring a
ray of sunlight on an otherwise dark day. Oh to hear Him say to our
broken spirits from His word, “I will never leave you or
forsake you” is the greatest delight. The facts of many
precious things mean nothing in that hour unless God makes us to
experience the comforting joy of them. In those moments, they are not
found disputing from the book of Romans but running to the book of
Psalms for words of comfort. When the enemies of God and of our souls
besiege us, then, we are like the Psalmist, “Draw out also
the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto
my soul, I am thy salvation” [PSALM
35:3].
What
emptiness is found in the words of God unless they are spoken by Him
to our souls! How cold glorious truths are in those hours unless we
feel the hand of Him who is the Truth. Someone always says that
feelings do not matter, only what God says. But God is not an
impersonal God but God in our nature, sin excluded. “For we have
not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”
[HEBREWS
4:15,16]. If our
relationship to the living God in His Son is viewed and considered
only in it’s legal aspects without the experimental aspects of that
relationship, what a cold and hollow thing it is, especially in the
“day of trouble.”
Christ
died on the cross and obtained eternal redemption for His people, but
where is He now? What is He to me now? I married my wife 40 years ago
and have the legal proof of it but my delight is in her embrace, in
her fellowship, in HER NOW! What Christ did 2000 years ago assures
the experience of His promises and words to us now, especially in
what He calls, “the day of trouble.” If you are one of the
Lord’s chosen and do not yet know what I’m talking about, you
will. May you have more that correct words then, may He speak to you.
It is easy to say anything or defend anything or debate anything
until that hour.
-Gospel
report by preacher Gary Shepard
Sovereign
Grace Baptist church of Jacksonville, North Carolina USA
Please
find enclosed link to Audio Gospel Sermons & Contact Info:
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