This content challenges conventional interpretations of tithing and poverty within a religious context, emphasizing that true spiritual devotion is about the heart's allegiance and a life lived in accordance with God's principles of justice, mercy, and faith, rather than mere financial contributions or a state of lack.
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There are some truths, my friends, that
shake the very foundation of what we've
been taught. And I believe with all my
heart that one of the most misused and
misunderstood truths in the church today
is the truth about tithing.
For too long, the body of Christ has
been spoonfed a version of giving that
sounds biblical but is hollow at the core.
core.
Jesus spoke about tithing. Yes, he did.
but not in the way many pulpits would
have you believe. And when the Son of
God speaks, we must listen, not to tradition,
tradition,
not to popular doctrine, but to Christ himself.
himself.
What if I told you that behind those red
letter words are three warnings,
three revelations
that expose the hidden motives of
religious systems. And what if I told
you that some churches are afraid to
preach them because it might shake their
grip on the offering plate.
We are not here to tickle ears. We are
here to open eyes. This is not a message
about withholding from God. It's about
returning to God what he really asked for.
for.
You know what Jesus said about tithing
will not only challenge your wallet, it
will confront your heart. Are you ready
to hear what's been hidden? The Bible
tells us in Luke 12:34, "For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also."
also."
Tithing, my dear friends, has never been
merely about money.
It is not a heavenly tax or a divine
fundraising campaign.
Tithing is a heart issue. It is a
spiritual mirror reflecting where your
allegiance truly lies. Jesus was not
after 10% of your income.
He was after 100% of your heart. And yet
in your generation, we've watched as the
church has reduced something sacred into
something systematic.
Offerings have become a routine, a
ritual, even a religious obligation.
Pastors plead from pulpits about giving,
but they rarely preach what Jesus
himself said about it. Why? Because the
words of Jesus concerning tithing cut
deeper than the surface. They do not
just affirm giving. They test motives.
They expose hypocrisy. They unveil the
deeper righteousness that God requires.
Jesus wasn't silent on tithing. He was
surgical. He laid bare the pride behind
some who give, the self-righteousness of
those who tithe, yet neglect mercy and
justice, and the hidden danger of
elevating tradition over truth. These
are not comfortable teachings. They're
not easy to package into a church
bulletin or a donation appeal. But they
are real and they are relevant. So
today, we're going back not to what man
says, but to what the master says. We're
going to open the red letter words of
the Savior and uncover three things
Jesus said about tithing that many
churches are too afraid or too
compromised to preach. And the first is
this. Jesus warned that tithing without
justice and love is worthless in the
eyes of God. In Matthew 23:23,
Jesus looked straight into the eyes of
the religious leaders of his day, men
who prided themselves on their outward
obedience, men who gave with precision,
and he said, "Woe unto you scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites. For ye pay tithe
of mint, and annis, and coming, and have
omitted the weightier matters of the
law, judgment, mercy, and faith. These
ought ye to have done and not to leave
the other undone. All the word that is.
He didn't say stop tithing. He didn't
rebuke the act itself.
But he exposed the hollowess of giving
that is disconnected from the heart of God.
God.
Tithing, my friend, is not a substitute
for compassion.
It is not a shortcut around justice.
It is not a spiritual trophy to wave
before heaven.
When Jesus spoke these words, he wasn't
condemning the tithe. He was calling it
back to its rightful place. These
Pharisees were meticulous. They tithed
down to the smallest herb in the garden,
mint, anis, and cumin. They weighed
their spice racks more carefully than
they weighed their own hearts.
They counted their coins, but they
neglected the cries of the poor. They
measured their generosity by what left
their hands, but Jesus measured it by
what moved their hearts.
He said, "You have left undone the
weightier matters." My soul trembles at
that thought. What if we are giving and
yet missing the very things that matter
most to God? We see it today. Churches
tally tithes. Ministries raise funds.
People bring offerings with envelopes
and smiles, thinking they've checked the box.
box.
But Jesus is looking deeper.
He is not impressed by the decimal point
on your check. He is looking for justice
in how you treat your neighbor. He is
searching for mercy and how you forgive
those who've wronged you. He is longing
for faith not in your bank account but
in your redeemer. These are the
weightier matters. These are the true
signs of spiritual life. And without
them your tithe is just noise. Let me
tell you a story.
Years ago, a man came to a revival
meeting. He was a wealthy man, well
known in his community, always sitting
in the front row of church, always
giving large donations. But his workers
whispered about how he treated them.
underpaying, overworking, and
humiliating those beneath him. One
night, under the conviction of the Holy
Spirit, that man stood up trembling. He
said, "I've given thousands to the
church, but I've robbed the poor. I've
clothed the pulpit, but I've stripped
the weak. Lord, have mercy on me." That
night, he didn't just write a check. He
wrote letters of apology. He raised
wages. He paid back what he owed. He
wept before the altar not because he had
failed to give money but because he had
failed to show mercy. That my friends is
the kind of transformation Jesus was
calling for. You see when Jesus preached
he always pointed to the heart. And when
he spoke of tithing he wasn't just
interested in your giving. He was
interested in your living. He wants your
tithe to be soaked in justice.
He wants your offering to be wrapped in
compassion. He wants your faith to
breathe through every dollar you release.
release.
Don't tithe and mistreat your spouse.
Don't give and ignore the cry of the
orphan. Don't serve on committees and
step over the wounded.
It's what Jesus was shouting to the
Pharisees. You're doing the small things
and ignoring the big things. And I
believe he's still shouting that today.
There's a danger in ritual without
relationship. There's a danger in giving
to be seen, giving to be safe, giving to
silence conviction. But Jesus came to
cut through the surface. He came to turn
over the tables of empty religion.
He came to say these you ought to have
done and not leave the other undone. He
didn't throw out the tithe.
He sanctified it. He said, "It must be
born out of a heart that is aligned with
the kingdom of God." Yes. When you walk
in justice, you will see the widow. When
you walk in mercy, you will lift up the
broken. When you walk in faith, you will
trust God more than your paycheck.
That's the tithe Jesus blesses. Don't be
deceived, there friends. Tithing can be
a holy act, but it can also be a hollow
one. The question is not just what
you're giving, but what's driving it. Is
it duty or devotion? Is it pride or
passion? Is it routine or righteousness?
God doesn't need our money. He owns the
cattle on a thousand hills. But he wants
our hearts. He wants every offering to
be an echo of his justice. A melody of
his mercy and a declaration of our faith
in him alone. And this brings us to the
second truth that Jesus revealed. A
truth that exposes the hidden motives of
the heart and shows us why giving must
never become a performance for men.
In Matthew 23:23, Jesus looked straight
into the eyes of the religious leaders
of his day. Men who prided themselves on
their outward obedience, men who gave
with precision, and he said, "Woe unto
you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.
For ye pay tithe of mint and a niece and
come and have omitted the weightier
matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and
faith. These ought ye to have done, and
not to leave the other undone. Oh, what
a word that it is. He didn't say, "Stop tithing."
tithing."
He didn't rebuke the act itself, but he
exposed the hollowess of giving that is
disconnected from the heart of God.
Tithing, my friends, is not a substitute
for compassion.
It is not a shortcut around justice. It
is not a spiritual trophy to wave before heaven.
heaven.
When Jesus spoke these words, he wasn't
condemning the tithe. He was calling it
back to its rightful place. These
Pharisees were meticulous.
They tithed down to the smallest herb in
the garden, mints.
Anise and common. They weighed their
spice racks more carefully than they
weighed their own hearts. They counted
their coins, but they neglected the
cries of the poor. They measured their
generosity by what left their hands, but
Jesus measured it by what moved their
hearts. He said, "You have left undone
the weightier matter." My soul trembles
at that thought. What if we are giving
and yet missing the very things that
matter most to God? We see it today.
Churches tally tithes.
Ministries raise funds. People bring
offerings with envelopes and smiles
thinking they've checked the box. But
Jesus is looking deeper. He is not
impressed by the decibel point on your
check. He is looking for justice in how
you treat your neighbor. He is searching
for mercy and how you forgive those
who've wronged you. He is longing for
faith not in your bank account but in
your redeemer. So these are the
weightier matters. These are the true
signs of spiritual life. And without
them your tithe is just noise. Let me
tell you a story. Years ago, a man came
to a revival meeting. He was a wealthy
man, well known in his community, always
sitting in the front row of church,
always giving large donations.
But his workers whispered about how he
treated them, underpaying, overworking,
and humiliating those beneath him. One
night, under the conviction of the Holy
Spirit, that man stood up trembling. He
said, "I've given thousands to the
church, but I've robbed the poor. I've
clothed the pulpit, but I've stripped
the weak. Lord, have mercy on me. That
night, he didn't just write a check. He
wrote letters of apology. He raised
wages. He paid back what he owed. He
wept before the altar, not because he
had failed to give money, but because he
had failed to show mercy.
That my friends
is the kind of transformation
Jesus was calling for. You see, when
Jesus preached, he always pointed to the heart.
heart.
And when he spoke of tithing, he wasn't
just interested in your giving. He was
interested in your living. He wants your
tithe to be soaked in justice.
He wants your offering to be wrapped in
compassion. He wants your faith to
breathe through every dollar you
release. Don't tithe and mistreat your spouse.
spouse.
Don't give and ignore the cry of the
orphan. Don't serve on committees and
step over the wounded. That's what Jesus
was shouting to the Pharisees. You're
doing the small things and ignoring the
big things. And I believe he's still
shouting that today. There's a danger in
ritual without relationship. There's a
danger in giving to be seen, giving to
be safe, giving to silence conviction.
But Jesus came to cut through the
surface. He came to turn over the tables
of empty religion. He came to say,
"These you ought to have done and not
leave the other undone.
He didn't throw out the tithes.
He sanctified it." He said, "It must be
born out of a heart that is aligned with
the kingdom of God." Because when you
walk in justice, you will see the widow.
When you walk in mercy, you will lift up
the broken. When you walk in faith, you
will trust God more than your paycheck.
That's the tithe Jesus blesses. Don't be
deceived, dear friends. Tithing can be a
holy act, but it can also be a hollow one.
one.
The question is not just what you're
giving, but what's driving it. Is it
duty or devotion? Is it pride or
passion? Is it routine or righteousness?
God doesn't need our money. He owns the
cattle on a thousand hills. But he wants
our hearts. He wants every offering to
be an echo of his justice, a melody of
his mercy and a declaration of our faith
in him alone. And this brings us to the
second truth that Jesus revealed. A
truth that exposes the hidden motives of
the heart and shows us why giving must
never become a performance for men. In
Matthew 6:24,
Jesus declared with burning clarity, "No
man can serve two masters, for either he
will hate the one and love the other. Ye
cannot serve God and mammon." Mammon,
dear friends, is not just money. It is
the spirit behind money. It is greed
dressed up in gold. It is the subtle
idol that hides in bank accounts and
balances. And Jesus did not say it would
be difficult
to serve both God and mammon.
He said it would be impossible.
You see, this is where many in the
church fall into a quiet trap. They
tithe, they give, they support
ministries, but in the secret places of
the heart, they still bow to mammoth.
They live in fear of financial loss.
They chase status. They trust in wealth
more than in the word.
They tithe on Sunday and worry about
money all week long. My friend, that is
not freedom. It is divided loyalty.
And Jesus won't share the throne of your
heart with anything or anyone,
especially not with Mammon.
Jesus was not fooled by outward
religion. He saw right through it. And
he knew that it was possible to bring
your tithe and still belong to another
master. He knew that you could give to
God and still be owned by greed.
That's why he said in Luke 16:13 again
repeating this truth. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon. It was not just a
teaching. It was a warning
because wherever your treasure is, your
heart will be also. The question is not
just what you're giving, but what you're
trusting. In today's church culture,
we've made giving into a system. Give
and be blessed. Seow and reap, prosper
and succeed. But Jesus never once told
us to give so we could get rich. He told
us to give so we could be free. Free
from the grip of greed. Free from the
fear of not having enough. Free to love
God with an undivided heart.
When you tithe while clinging to mammon,
your gift is tainted. It is not an
offering. It is a transaction. And God
will not be bought. There was a rich
young ruler who came to Jesus eager and
respectful. He had kept the
commandments. He had lived a clean life.
But Jesus looked into his soul and said,
"One thing thou lackest. Go and sell all
that thou hast and give to the poor and
come follow me. [Music]
[Music]
The Bible says the young man went away
sorrowful for he had great possessions.
He tithed perhaps. He obeyed surely but
he could not let go of mammon. His
treasure held his heart and he walked
away from eternal life. Church, we must
wake up. God is not interested in money.
that's offered with clenched fists.
He's not after gifts that come with
strings attached. He wants surrender. He
wants hearts that say, "Lord, all I have
is yours."
When Jesus said, "You cannot serve God
and mammon." He was drawing a line in
the sand,
not to condemn us, but to call us to choose.
choose.
Will we serve the God who gave
everything? Or will we keep serving the
God of gain? And with this final truth,
the full picture of Jesus message on
tithing comes into view. A message not
of compulsion but of consecration where
giving flows from a life fully yielded
to him. My dear friends, we have opened
the word of God and heard the voice of
Jesus himself. Not the voice of
tradition, not the noise of man-made
religion, but the piercing holy truth of
the son of the living God. Jesus did not
dismiss tithing, but he revealed its
depth. He pulled back the curtain and
showed us that tithing without justice,
mercy, and faith is an empty shell. He
sat near the treasury, not to applaud
the wealthy, but to honor the widow
whose two small coins held the weight of
eternal worship. And he warned us. Oh,
how he warned us that we cannot serve
both God and mammoth. We must choose our
m. It is not enough to give and think
that settles it. God is not looking for
your tenth. He is searching for your
heart. He is calling us away from
double-minded giving, from selfserving
sacrifice, from prideful generosity. He
is calling us to repent, to lay down the
idols we've polished, to release our
grip on the things that do not save, to
say, "Lord, not just my tithe, but my
life is yours." So I ask you today, are
you tithing from tradition or from
truth? Is your giving driven by
obligation or overflowing from love?
Have you given much yet withheld your heart?
heart?
Let Jesus search you. Let him sit beside
the treasury of your soul and examine
what lies beneath your offering.
He does not want a gift that shines
before men but rots with hidden motives.
He wants purity. He wants surrender. He
wants worship in spirit and in truth.
The world says give to get. But Jesus
says give and follow me. The world says
store it up, but Jesus says lay up
treasures in heaven.
The world bows to mammon, but Jesus
calls us to bow to the cross. So today,
wherever you are, don't just give, yield.
yield.
Don't just tithe, trust. Don't just
offer what's in your hand.
Offer your whole life.
Come before him with clean hands and a
pure heart and say, "Lord, all that I am
and all that I have is yours." There's
the time. There's the moment. Choose
whom you will serve. Choose to give, not
because you're forced to, but because
There's a curse that creeps through the
walls of many homes today. a silent
thief, a spiritual bondage, a force
darker than mere financial struggle.
I'm not talking about lack of money
alone. I'm talking about the spirit of
poverty, a spiritual stronghold that
chains families in cycles of fear,
defeat, and hopelessness. It tears at
the dignity of the father, crushes the
joy of the mother, and dims the dreams
of the children. And many of you have
been living under it, not knowing that
it's not just a situation. It's a
spiritual battle. You see, this poverty
isn't always visible in the bank
account. It's a dryness in the soul, a
heaviness in the atmosphere, a constant
sense of not enough. And the enemy is
behind it working to convince you that
God has forgotten you. But I want to
tell you something tonight. There is a
psalm straight from the word of God that
carries the fire of heaven to break that
curse. It is not just poetry. It is
divine weaponry. When declared in faith,
it destroys the works of darkness and
opens the floodgates of provision,
peace, and purpose. If you're tired of
watching poverty devour your joy, your
future, your home, then lean in because
God is about to show you the power of
his promise. My dear friends,
poverty is not just a condition of the
wallet. It is often a condition of the
soul. It can stretch across generations
like a shadow, binding families in
invisible chains. It wraps itself around
homes with despair, fear, and confusion,
making people believe that this is all
they'll ever know.
But the Bible says in John 10:10, "The
thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy. I came that they may have life
and have it abundantly." This tells me
something powerful. Poverty is not just
an economic issue. It is a spiritual
attack. And behind it is a spirit, a
force of darkness that wants to keep you
in bondage. Many of you have prayed,
worked, struggled, and still you feel
like something unseen is holding you
back. You've watched your parents live
under it.
You see it trying to claim your
children. It creates an atmosphere where
fear rules instead of faith, where
survival replaces vision, and where
heaviness takes the place of joy. But I
declare to you today that spirit is a
liar and it must bow to the power of the
living God. There is a son, yes, a
divine declaration from the heart of God
that doesn't just encourage the soul. It
breaks spiritual chains. It doesn't just
comfort the afflicted. It confronts the darkness.
darkness.
The word of God is not just ink on a
page. It is alive. It is fire. It is a
sword, and when it is spoken in faith,
it strikes at the root of generational
curses and drives out every demonic
force that has set itself against your
household. Psalm 112 isn't just a song
of the righteous.
It is a spiritual battering ram against
the gates of poverty and lack.
And when it gets in your spirit,
something begins to shift.
The atmosphere changes, the battle
turns. Let us now open our hearts to
this first divine truth from Psalm 112.
And watch how God begins to tear down
what the enemy has tried to build for generations.
generations.
Psalm 112 opens with a trumpet blast, a
promise. Blessed is the man who fears
the Lord, who delights greatly in his
commandments. And then it declares this
unshakable truth in verse six. Surely he
shall not be moved forever. The
righteous shall be in everlasting
remembrance. My friends, this is not
just poetic language. It is a divine
guarantee. The righteous, those who
stand in awe of God, who anchor their
lives in his word, shall never be
shaken. You hear that? Not shaken by
famine, not shaken by inflation, not
shaken by economic systems or family
history or what this world says you
lack. You see, the spirit of poverty
doesn't begin in the bank. It begins in
the heart. It whispers lies that tell
you you're abandoned by God. That you're
cursed to struggle forever. That your
prayers are powerless.
But Psalm 112 confronts that lie head on
and declares that the righteous man is
planted, established, immovable. Poverty
tries to bring instability to your home.
But the man who fears the Lord cannot be
shaken. Why?
Because his foundation is not in what
the world gives.
It is in who God is. And God does not
change. His covenant does not break. His
promises are not economic. They are eternal.
eternal.
The enemy trembles when a child of God
begins to believe Psalm 112. Not just
read it, but declare it. Live it.
War with it. Because that's when faith
begins to rise and poverty begins to fall.
fall.
That's when spiritual ground is taken
back. I remember a woman who came to one
of our meetings trembling under years of
financial bondage. She had grown up in a
home where scarcity was normal, where
bills piled higher than food and fear
was their daily bread. But when she got
hold of the word, when Psalm 112 ignited
in her spirit, she began to pray
differently, think differently, speak
differently. She stopped agreeing with
lack and started agreeing with heaven.
And that's the turning point, dear
friends, when a believer realizes that
God's word is not just to comfort the
poor, but to empower the righteous to
rise up and overcome the spirit of
poverty. God is calling you to become
that unshakable one, not in your own
strength, but through his promises.
Poverty is unstable. It makes people
react in fear, make desperate choices,
chase survival instead of trusting the
provider. But those who fear the Lord
are rooted. And when the winds of
adversity blow, they remain standing
because the word of God is not moved,
and neither is the man who clings to it.
John 102 is not a quiet song. It is a
warrior's anthem. And it begins by
establishing a truth the devil cannot
erase. The righteous shall not be moved.
And now, as we continue deeper into this
psalm, we find the next mighty promise
that shakes the spirit of poverty at its
core. Wealth and riches are in his
house. When the word of God declares
that the righteous shall not be moved,
it doesn't stop there. Psalm 1012
marches forward with a thunderous
declaration in verse three. Wealth and
riches shall be in his house and his
righteousness endureth forever. Oh, what
a mighty statement. And I want you to
hear me now. This is not man's idea of
prosperity. This is God's promise to the
one who walks in reverent fear of the
Lord. This is not greed. This is not the
love of money. This is not about chasing
riches. This is about receiving what
heaven has already declared belongs to
the obedient. Too many of God's people
have been convinced that poverty somehow
makes them holy. That struggle is their
portion. That lack is their inheritance.
But that's not what the Bible says. The
Bible says wealth and riches are not
just a possibility. They are in the
house of the righteous. Not just in
theory. Not just in someone else's
testimony in his house.
That means God doesn't just want to
bless your spirit. He wants to touch
your home, your table, your children,
your land. Why? Because when God blesses
a man, it is not just for him. It's for
generations. It's for testimony. It's
for the glory of God to shine through
that household as a beacon
of what obedience produces. Let me be
clear. This is not about name it and
claim it religion. This is not about
manipulating God to get stuff. This is
about positioning your heart so fully
under God's authority that heaven begins
to move in your earthly life. And when
your heart is aligned with his
righteousness, he says, "I will supply
all your need according to my riches in
glory by Christ Jesus."
And he is not limited by the economy. He
is not restricted by your job title. He
is not handcuffed by your past. The God
who fed Elijah by ravens, the God who
multiplied the widow's oil, the God who
brought water from a rock, he has not
changed. Brother once told me he
couldn't believe this verse was meant
for him. He had grown up in poverty so
deep he didn't even dream anymore.
But when he began to speak this word,
when Psalm 112 became his daily bread,
something began to shift.
He stopped begging in prayer and started
declaring in faith.
He began to give out of what little he
had. He began to walk through his home
and speak life over every room. And
before long, the spirit of poverty began
to break. Not just financially but
emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Joy
returned, provision came and the
presence of God filled his house. The
wealth and riches mentioned here are not
just gold and silver. They are peace,
stability, wholeness, abundance in every
part of life. It is the shalom of God, a
completeness that no spirit of poverty
can counterfeit. And now from this
foundation of blessing, Psalm 1:12 lifts
our eyes even higher to the legacy that
flows from the righteous man as it
declares the next breakthrough truth.
His seed shall be mighty upon the earth.
When God declares that wealth and riches
are in the house of the righteous, he
does not stop with that man or that
woman. He looks ahead. He sees the
children, the grandchildren, the
generations yet unborn. And that's why
Psalm 112:2 says with unshakable
authority, his seed shall be mighty upon
the earth. The generation of the upright
shall be blessed. Oh my friends, what a
mighty truth. When the spirit of poverty
tries to enter your home, it doesn't
only come after your finances.
It comes after your future. It seeks to
rob not just your present, but your
children's destiny.
But God says that the blessing resting
on the righteous man flows down the line
like a river of fire, igniting every
generation with power and purpose. The
devil fears godly inheritance. He fears
a praying father. He fears a mother who
teaches her children the word of God. He
fears a home where Psalm 112 is not just
read but lived.
Because when a family begins to walk in
righteousness, poverty loses its grip
and legacy takes its place. Do you hear
me? This is about legacy. This is about
tearing down spiritual strongholds that
have wrapped themselves around families
for decades and replacing them with
generational blessing. You may say, "But
brother Graham, I didn't come from a
mighty seed. I came from brokenness,
addiction, scarcity, and shame. But the
glory of this promise is that your
starting point does not determine your
ending point. When you fear the Lord and
walk in his ways, you become the
righteous. And this verse becomes your inheritance.
inheritance.
You may be the first in your family to
break free from the spirit of poverty,
but you will not be the last. Your seed,
your children [Music]
[Music]
shall be mighty. That means they will
walk in spiritual authority,
mental clarity, financial freedom, and
divine purpose.
They will not carry the chains you
carried. They will carry the anointing
that you receive. I remember a young man
who grew up in a home where poverty was
the only language they knew. But one
night, he heard this very psalm preached
and it lit a fire in his soul.
He said, 'If God says, "My seed shall be
mighty, then I refuse to pass down fear
and lack to my children." He began to
pray Psalm 102 over his home every
night. He anointed the doorposts,
declared blessings over his children's
beds, and filled his house with worship.
Today, his sons are walking in favor.
His daughters are rising in faith. And
that home once filled with despair now
resounds with a sound of praise.
You see, the spirit of poverty wants to
make you think your children will repeat
your pain. But God says otherwise. God
says your seed shall rise.
And as that generational blessing takes
root, the psalm reveals something even deeper.
deeper.
The righteous man doesn't hoard what he
has. He gives.
He releases.
He breaks poverty in others by
scattering and giving to the poor. When
God declares that your seed shall be
mighty upon the earth, he's not merely
talking about success. He is talking
about impact, about lives so rooted in
righteousness that they begin to
overflow, to give, to lift others from
darkness into light. And so we come to
this powerful declaration in Psalm 112:9.
112:9.
He hath dispersed. He hath given to the
poor. His righteousness endureth
forever. His horn shall be exalted with
honor. This is not a man afraid of lack.
This is not a man living under the
shadow of poverty. This is a man who
scatters, who gives boldly, freely,
joyfully. Why? Because he knows the source.
source.
because he lives under the river of
God's provision.
Because he understands that giving
breaks the back of poverty
every single time. You see, the spirit
of poverty is not just about not having.
It is about being afraid to let go. It
tells you to hold tightly, to guard what
little you have, to distrust the
promises of God. But Psalm 112 paints a
different picture. This man is not
afraid to give. He doesn't scatter
sparingly. He scatters.
That's an aggressive word. That's a word
of warfare. That's a man standing in
defiance of fear and lack and saying, "I
will not serve mammon. I will serve the
Lord and I will give as he gave to me."
This scattering isn't random. It's
righteous. It's strategic. It's spirit-led.
spirit-led.
He gives to the poor, not just out of
sympathy, but out of covenant. He knows
that God watches the poor closely.
He who gives to the poor lends to the
Lord. Proverbs tells us, "And God is no
man's debtor. When a righteous man
gives, he opens a floodgate of heaven's
attention. His righteousness does not
fade with time. It it endures forever."
Why? because it is rooted in the eternal
nature of God who is a giver above all.
I once met a couple who had very little.
They lived modestly, but they gave more
than some millionaires I've known. They
gave because they trusted the Lord.
Month after month, they sowed into
missions, into single mothers, into
struggling neighbors. And somehow the
more they gave, the more they had. It
was like oil that never ran dry. They
lived Psalm 112:9. They scattered and
poverty could not bind them because
their trust wasn't in their bank
account. It was in the unshakable hand
of God. Oh, dear friends, this kind of
giving is warfare. This kind of generosity
generosity
doesn't just feed a hungry stomach. It
silences the voice of the devourer.
When you give in obedience, when you
scatter in faith, when you bless the
poor from a place of righteousness,
you declare with your life that you are
not bound by the curse. You are walking
in covenant. You are releasing heaven
into earth. And it is no coincidence
that right after this verse, the psalm
turns once again to remind us of the
reward, the provision, the spiritual
light that surrounds the righteous.
Because this psalm isn't about one
blessing. It is about sustained
breakthrough. And so now the word lifts
us into one more mighty promise for the
house that fears the Lord. Light arises
in the darkness for the upright. As we
stand on the promises of Psalm 112, we
have seen how the righteous are
established, how wealth and riches are
in their house, how their seed is mighty
upon the earth, and how they scatter
generously to those in need. And now the
psalm takes us to one of the most
beautiful powerful truths of all.
Light ariseth in the darkness
for the upright. This is a promise of
divine illumination.
A promise that when darkness surrounds,
the light of God will break through.
Bright, undeniable, and unstoppable.
Poverty, my friends, is a form of darkness.
darkness.
It seeks to obscure your vision, to
cloud your understanding, and to hold
you in a state of hopelessness. It
whispers that you are lost, that your
circumstances will never change, and
that you are destined to live in shadows.
shadows.
But Psalm 112 makes it abundantly clear
that for the righteous light, the light
of God's presence, provision, and power
will rise when all seems dark. No matter
how deep the pit of despair, no matter
how overwhelming the financial struggle,
when you walk uprightly before God, his
light will shine brighter than any
darkness. I think of the story of a man
who had nothing but faith. He had been
through the hardest trials of life,
losing his job, facing foreclosure,
battling illness, but he refused to be
consumed by the darkness of fear and
worry. Every day he declared Psalm 112
over his life. And as he did, something
began to happen.
It wasn't immediate, but slowly light
began to emerge. Doors open that had
been closed. Opportunities that seemed
impossible began to appear. He found
favor in places he never expected. And
the poverty that had once gripped his
life began to break because light had
arisen in the darkness. And he walked in
it. This is the promise of Psalm 112 for
you today. Light arises in the darkness.
When the world says it's over, God says,
"Watch me shine." When the enemy tells
you that your family will always
struggle, God says, "My light will break
through the darkest moments and lead you
into blessing." This light is not a
flicker. It is the glory of God himself
shining into your home, your finances,
and your relationship. It is a light
that scatters the darkness of poverty
and fear. But notice this. This light is
reserved for the upright. The upright
are those who walk in integrity, who
honor God with their lives, who live
according to his word. And when you live
in that place of uprightness, you
position yourself to experience this
divine breakthrough. It's not by your
own might or power, but by the spirit of
the living God that this light shine.
I've seen families torn apart by the
weight of financial strain, who in their
darkest hour chose to stand firm in
their faith.
They kept declaring God's promises, kept
walking in integrity, kept trusting that
his word would never fail. And what
happened? The light of his provision
broke through. Jobs came. debts were
paid and their testimony became a beacon
to others, showing that God is true to
his word. For the righteous, there is no
darkness that can overcome the light of
God's truth. Poverty may have a season,
but it cannot last forever. God's light
will shine through, and when it does, it
will transform every part of your life.
Now, standing on that light,
the psalm leads us into the final
breakthrough truth. He is gracious,
full of compassion, and righteous. Now,
my dear friends, we have heard the
powerful promises of Psalm 112.
And I believe God is speaking directly
to your hearts. The spirit of poverty
that has gripped so many lives, that has
bound families, that has stolen joy and
peace, is being exposed and defeated by
the word of God.
This is not a time to be passive. This
is not a time to sit back and accept the
enemy's lies. No, this is a time for
bold action. The spirit of poverty must
be crushed beneath the feet of the
righteous. You must stand firm in your
faith, declaring that God's word will
never return void. His promises are
true. His power is real. And he is
moving in your life
and in your home. The battle for your
home is a spiritual one. And the stakes
are high. The enemy comes to steal,
kill, and destroy. He wants to keep you
in fear, in lack, and in darkness. But I
tell you today with the authority of
God's word that you do not have to be
defeated. The spirit of poverty cannot
survive in the presence of Almighty God.
When you walk in righteousness, when you
fear the Lord,
when you scatter in faith, his light
will arise and break the chains that
have held you down. You see, this psalm
is not just a collection of comforting
words. This is a battle plan. This is a
declaration of victory. When you fear
the Lord and delight in his commands,
when you trust him with your finances,
with your family, with every part of
your life, you are positioning yourself
for divine breakthrough. The spirit of
poverty has no authority in your home
because God's word says, "Wealth and
riches shall be in his house, and his
seed shall be mighty upon the earth."
and you are not cursed. You are blessed
and your house will shine with the light
of God's favor. But there is a battle to
be fought. You must rise up. You must
refuse to live under the shadow of lack.
You must refuse to let the devil whisper
lies of defeat. The word of God says
that the righteous are bold as a lion.
You must boldly declare over your life,
I will not live in poverty. I will not
live in fear. I will walk in the
promises of God and his light will arise
in my darkness. You must make a decision
today to obey God, to honor him with
your life, and to trust him completely.
And when you do,
you will see breakthrough.
You will see the chains of poverty fall
and your children, your grandchildren,
and the generations after you will walk
in the blessing of the Lord. This is not
just about money. This is about the
blessing of God invading every area of
your life. This is about the freedom to
walk in the fullness of God's provision,
to scatter generously, and to see his
kingdom advance through your obedience.
You have the authority to declare
deliverance over your home. You have the
power of God's word backing you up. So I
call you today in the mighty name of
Jesus to stand up and claim what belongs
to you. Stand up and say, "The spirit of
poverty is broken in my home, in my
family, in my finances, in my future."
The victory is already yours through
Christ Jesus. And with that victory, I
promise you this, there will be no
poverty in your house, but the light of
There are moments in life when the
darkness seems to close in. When the
winds of sorrow howl at our door and the
weight of the world bears down on our
shoulders like a storm we cannot escape.
Trouble doesn't knock politely. It
breaks in uninvited.
Maybe you felt it. Maybe you're feeling
it right now. A phone call in the night.
A pink slip at work. A betrayal you
didn't see coming. And in that moment,
the enemy whispers, "You're finished.
God has forgotten." But I came to tell
you today that it's a lie from the pit
of hell. Because when the floods of
trouble rise, the hand of God does not
let go. When the world pushes your face
into the dust, the Lord says, "Lift up
your head, child. Your redemption draws
near." This message is not for those who
are sitting on the mountaintop. It's for
the broken, the weary, the forgotten.
It's for the one who says, "I can't take
one more step." My friend, this is not
the end. This is the very place where
God begin. My dear brothers and sisters,
we are living in a time when the storms
of life seem fiercer than ever before.
All around us are trials that test our
faith. Heartaches that pierce our souls
and enemies, both seen and unseen, that
rise up to shake the very ground beneath
our feet. Some of you have walked into
this message carrying burdens no one
else can see. You smile on the outside,
but inside you're weary. You're
wondering how much longer you can hold on.
on.
You've prayed and the heavens seem silent.
silent.
You've cried out and yet the trouble
only deepened. But I want you to know
you are not forgotten.
You are not forsaken.
There is a word from God for those who
feel surrounded.
In Psalm 3, David cried out, "Lord, how
are they increased that trouble me? Many
are they that rise up against me." He
was not in a palace when he said that.
He was fleeing from his own son,
betrayed and hunted like a criminal.
Trouble had risen against him in every
direction. Yet he looked to heaven and
declared, "But thou, oh Lord, art a
shield for me, my glory and the lifter
up of mine head." David knew something
we often forget in the middle of the fire.
fire.
that when all else fails, when friends
walk away, when even our own strength is
gone, God is still there
and he lifts our head. This is not a
fairy tale. It's not a sermon meant to
soothe the surface. This is the raw cry
of a man who had nothing left but God
and found that God was more than enough.
In Psalm 4, David calls out in distress
and says, "Hear me when I call, oh God
of my righteousness." In Psalm five, he
pleads for direction, crying, "Lead me,
oh Lord, in thy righteousness, because
of mine enemies." In Psalm 6, we hear
the voice of a man who says, "I am weary
with my groaning all the night. Make I
my bed to swim."
But in every single psalm,
whether it begins in anguish or ends in
sorrow, there is always a turning toward
God, a lifting of the eyes, a stirring
of hope,
a declaration of faith. Psalm 7 says,
"Oh Lord, my God, in thee do I put my trust."
trust."
That's the cry of every believer who has
ever walked through the valley and come
out with their head lifted. Not by
pride, not by self, not by success, but
by the mighty hand of the Lord.
So today, as we open our hearts to the
word, I want us to walk with David, not
through the palace, but through the
valley. I want us to feel what he felt,
to cry as he cried, and most of all to
trust the way he trust. Because when
trouble rises, God doesn't leave you
there. He lifts your head. When David
wrote Psalm 3, he was in the midst of
one of the darkest hours of his life.
His own son, Abselum, had risen against
him. A man who once stood as the heir to
the throne, was now plotting to take
everything from his father. David, a
king, found himself on the run, forced
to flee for his life, surrounded by
enemies who sought his destruction.
There was no sanctuary, no place to
hide, no ally to turn to. His enemies
had surrounded him, and his own heart,
once filled with courage, was now heavy
with fear. But David, even in the midst
of all this turmoil, declared with
unwavering faith, "But thou, oh Lord,
art a shield for me, my glory and the
lifter up of mine head." In the face of
opposition, when everything seemed lost,
David found his peace, not in his
circumstances, but in the protection and
power of God. He knew that his strength
did not lie in his army, his wisdom, or
his royal position, but in the Lord, who
was his shield. Think about that for a
moment, my friend. When the storms of
life rise up against us, when we are
attacked on every side, when we face
betrayals, accusations, or overwhelming
trials, where do we turn?
Do we run to our own strength, to our
own plans, to the advice of others? Or
do we like David find our refuge in the
almighty God who is our shield?
David did not look to his circumstances
to determine his peace. He looked to
God. And in that moment, he found the
assurance that the Lord would protect
him, deliver him, and restore him. Well,
there are times in our own lives when
the enemy seems to surround us. When the
world seems to be against us, it may be
a sudden financial crisis, a personal
loss, or an attack on your character. It
may be a spiritual battle that feels
like it's tearing you apart. But hear
the word of God today. Just as he was
David's shield, he will be your shield,
too. When the arrows of fear, doubt, and
discouragement fly your way, you have a
refuge. The God who protected David is
the same God who will protect you. When
you feel surrounded, you are not alone.
God is your shield. He will fight for
you. In real life, we all face battles.
Some are seen. Some are hidden in the
depths of our hearts. But in the midst
of it all, God promises to be our
shield, just as he was for David. I have
seen this in the lives of many believers
who have gone through unspeakable
hardships and yet have emerged stronger
in their faith. Not because of their own
strength, but because they trusted in
God's protection. They found peace in
the knowledge that their lives were in
his hands. And no enemy, no circumstance
could touch them without his permission.
David continued, "I cried unto the Lord
with my voice and he heard me out of his
holy hill."
David understood that God was not
distant, that he was not unaware of the
battle. God heard his cry and he will
hear yours, too. When you cry out in the
storm, God answers. When you feel
helpless and vulnerable, he is right
there with you, standing as your shield.
As believers,
we are not promised a life free from
trouble. In fact, Jesus himself said,
"In the world, ye shall have
tribulation, but be of good cheer. I
have overcome the world. But even in our
trials, we are never without hope."
God is our shield in the storm, and he
will carry us through. Now, as we
reflect on God's protection, we must
also recognize that he is not only our
shield, but he is also our source of
victory. When we face opposition, we do
not have to face it alone.
God stands with us and with him we are
more than conquerors.
We must trust in his divine protection
and walk forward in faith knowing that
he will never leave us nor forsake us.
As we continue, we'll see how David not
only trusted in God's protection, but
also relied on his guidance and
direction even in the midst of the
fiercest storms.
David in Psalm 4 cries out to the Lord
with a deep personal plea. Hear me when
I call, oh God of my righteousness. It's
not a distant God he's speaking to. It's
the God he knows intimately. David had a
relationship with God that went beyond
the rituals and routines of religion. It
was a relationship forged in the fires
of personal struggle and triumph.
When David called out, he wasn't
speaking to some distant deity. He was
speaking to his father, his refuge, his
everpresent help in times of trouble.
The beauty of this psalm is found in the
urgency and the intimacy with which
David calls on the Lord. He's in
distress, yet his cry isn't one of
hopelessness. It's a cry of confidence
that the God he serves is listening. In
verse three, David reminds us, "But know
that the Lord hath set apart him that is
godly for himself. The Lord will hear
when I call unto him." This is the
foundation of David's trust. Not just
that God exists, but that God cares,
that he listens, and that he responds to
the faithful in their time of need. In
the storms of life, we all face moments
when we feel like our prayers are
hitting the ceiling. when it seems like
God is silent in the face of our pain.
But David's life is a powerful reminder
that God hears the cries of his people,
especially those who walk in
righteousness. It's not about being
perfect. It's about seeking God with a
heart that longs for his presence. It's
about drawing near to him even when
we're surrounded by chaos. And when we
do, he listens. He answers.
David continues, "Stand in all and sin
not. Commune with your own heart upon
your bed and be still. This is where
peace comes from. Not from the absence
of trouble, but from the presence of
God. Righteousness leads to peace. When
we align our lives with God's will,
there is a calm assurance that settles
in our hearts. Even when the world
around us is in turmoil,
this peace isn't something the world can
give. It's a peace that passes all
understanding. A peace that comes from
knowing God's voice, trusting in his
will and having faith in his timing.
Think about that, my friend. When the
world is crashing down around you, when
the enemy whispers that you are alone,
that no one cares, you can turn to God
and know that he hears. He is not too
busy, too distant, or too unconcerned to
answer your call. Your prayer is not a
wasted effort. It is an invitation for
God to move in your life, to intervene,
to deliver.
He is the God who answers when you call
in times of distress. The enemy would
love for us to believe that our cries
fall on deaf ears, but David's life
speaks otherwise. He knew that when he
called upon God, he would hear. And that
truth still stands today. No matter how
deep the valley or how dark the night,
God hears you.
When you cry out in faith, you are not
speaking to a distant sky. You are
speaking to a loving father who longs to
deliver his children from their trouble.
But there's something even deeper here.
God does not just answer us to give us
comfort. He answers us to lead us to
righteousness. David says in Psalm 4,
"There be many that say, who will show
us any good, Lord, lift thou up the
light of thy countenance upon us?" In
other words, the world seeks answers.
But only in the presence of God do we
find true goodness, true peace, true
hope. It is God's light that illuminates
our path, that guides us through the
darkest moment. When we trust in him,
when we call on him, his light fills our hearts and we find rest in his
hearts and we find rest in his righteousness. David knew that peace
righteousness. David knew that peace doesn't come from external
doesn't come from external circumstances.
circumstances. It comes from God's presence. And when
It comes from God's presence. And when we call on him, he brings that peace
we call on him, he brings that peace into our lives. Even when the storm
into our lives. Even when the storm rages all around us.
rages all around us. This peace is not of this world. It's a
This peace is not of this world. It's a divine peace that only God can give. And
divine peace that only God can give. And it is that peace that sustains us, that
it is that peace that sustains us, that keeps us steady, that reassures us when
keeps us steady, that reassures us when everything else is shaking. Now, as we
everything else is shaking. Now, as we move forward, we must remember that this
move forward, we must remember that this God who answers when we call, who brings
God who answers when we call, who brings peace in the midst of turmoil is also a
peace in the midst of turmoil is also a God who works in ways that we may not
God who works in ways that we may not always understand.
always understand. His answers are often not immediate and
His answers are often not immediate and his ways are higher than ours. But we
his ways are higher than ours. But we must trust that in his timing, he will
must trust that in his timing, he will act. And as we trust him, he will lead
act. And as we trust him, he will lead us to a place where his will is clear
us to a place where his will is clear and his peace is unwavering. In Psalm 5,
and his peace is unwavering. In Psalm 5, David begins his prayer with an urgent
David begins his prayer with an urgent cry. Give ear to my words, O Lord.
cry. Give ear to my words, O Lord. Consider my meditation.
Consider my meditation. There's an intensity in his voice, a
There's an intensity in his voice, a sense of desperate pleading before the
sense of desperate pleading before the throne of God. David is surrounded by
throne of God. David is surrounded by enemies, unjust people who rise up
enemies, unjust people who rise up against him, who speak lies and deceit.
against him, who speak lies and deceit. His heart is heavy, his soul burdened,
His heart is heavy, his soul burdened, and yet he approaches the Almighty with
and yet he approaches the Almighty with the reverence of one who knows God is
the reverence of one who knows God is holy. For thou art not a God that hath
holy. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness, neither shall
pleasure in wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with thee, David declares in
evil dwell with thee, David declares in verse four,
verse four, David is not just seeking relief from
David is not just seeking relief from his enemies. He is acknowledging the
his enemies. He is acknowledging the absolute holiness of God and the sharp
absolute holiness of God and the sharp contrast between God's righteousness
contrast between God's righteousness and the wickedness of man. The holiness
and the wickedness of man. The holiness of God is a truth we often overlook in
of God is a truth we often overlook in our day-to-day lives. But it is at the
our day-to-day lives. But it is at the very heart of David's cry. God is not
very heart of David's cry. God is not like man. He is not indifferent to sin.
like man. He is not indifferent to sin. He does not turn a blind eye to
He does not turn a blind eye to unrighteousness. He is a God of justice,
unrighteousness. He is a God of justice, a God of purity, and he cannot tolerate
a God of purity, and he cannot tolerate evil in his presence.
evil in his presence. And yet, David's prayer isn't simply one
And yet, David's prayer isn't simply one of judgment. He pleads for mercy.
of judgment. He pleads for mercy. But as for me, I will come into thy
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy.
house in the multitude of thy mercy. David says in verse we see a deep and
David says in verse we see a deep and beautiful truth. While God is just, he
beautiful truth. While God is just, he is also merciful. The same God who will
is also merciful. The same God who will not allow sin to go unpunished is the
not allow sin to go unpunished is the God who extends his grace and mercy to
God who extends his grace and mercy to those who seek him with a humble heart.
those who seek him with a humble heart. It's easy to think of God as a distant
It's easy to think of God as a distant judge, someone far removed from our
judge, someone far removed from our suffering. But David in his anguish
suffering. But David in his anguish approaches God not as an enemy but as a
approaches God not as an enemy but as a child of mercy. He knows that God's
child of mercy. He knows that God's holiness does not mean he is out of
holiness does not mean he is out of reach. In fact, it is God's holiness
reach. In fact, it is God's holiness that makes his mercy so amazing. God's
that makes his mercy so amazing. God's judgment is a certainty. His holiness
judgment is a certainty. His holiness demands it.
demands it. But the mercy he offers is not a
But the mercy he offers is not a contradiction of his righteousness. It
contradiction of his righteousness. It is the fulfillment of his love for those
is the fulfillment of his love for those who choose to walk in his ways. David
who choose to walk in his ways. David contrasts the righteous and the wicked
contrasts the righteous and the wicked throughout this psalm. He paints a clear
throughout this psalm. He paints a clear picture of those who walk in
picture of those who walk in unrighteousness, saying, "The foolish
unrighteousness, saying, "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight. Thou
shall not stand in thy sight. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. The
hatest all workers of iniquity. The wicked, those who reject God's ways and
wicked, those who reject God's ways and live for themselves, will face his
live for themselves, will face his judgment.
judgment. There is no room for compromise when it
There is no room for compromise when it comes to holiness."
comes to holiness." But oh, how David rejoices in the mercy
But oh, how David rejoices in the mercy shown to the righteous. He says, "But
shown to the righteous. He says, "But let all those that put their trust in
let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice. Let them ever shout for
thee rejoice. Let them ever shout for joy because thou defendest them." There
joy because thou defendest them." There is a stark difference between the wicked
is a stark difference between the wicked and the righteous, between those who
and the righteous, between those who choose their own path and those who seek
choose their own path and those who seek God's will.
God's will. The wicked will fall under God's
The wicked will fall under God's judgment. But the righteous, those who
judgment. But the righteous, those who put their trust in him, will find
put their trust in him, will find protection, provision, and mercy. But
protection, provision, and mercy. But let us not make the mistake of thinking
let us not make the mistake of thinking that righteousness is something we can
that righteousness is something we can achieve on our own. David knew that the
achieve on our own. David knew that the only way to stand before God was by his
only way to stand before God was by his grace.
grace. The only way to be counted among the
The only way to be counted among the righteous is through faith in God's
righteous is through faith in God's provision.
provision. Through the mercy that flows from his
Through the mercy that flows from his throne. It is not our own works that
throne. It is not our own works that make us righteous but the mercy of God
make us righteous but the mercy of God that cleans us from sin. The key to
that cleans us from sin. The key to standing before God is not in our
standing before God is not in our perfection, but in our willingness to
perfection, but in our willingness to humble ourselves and seek his
humble ourselves and seek his forgiveness. To repent of our sins and
forgiveness. To repent of our sins and receive his mercy. Mercy in the midst of
receive his mercy. Mercy in the midst of judgment. That is the incredible paradox
judgment. That is the incredible paradox of God's holiness. He is a God of
of God's holiness. He is a God of justice who will judge sin. But he is
justice who will judge sin. But he is also a God of mercy who provides a way
also a God of mercy who provides a way of salvation for those who trust in him.
of salvation for those who trust in him. As David pleads for mercy, he
As David pleads for mercy, he acknowledges God's holiness and his own
acknowledges God's holiness and his own need for forgiveness. And that's the
need for forgiveness. And that's the truth for us today. None of us can stand
truth for us today. None of us can stand before God on our own merit. But by his
before God on our own merit. But by his mercy, we can approach his throne of
mercy, we can approach his throne of grace with boldness, knowing that he is
grace with boldness, knowing that he is faithful to forgive and restore.
faithful to forgive and restore. God's mercy is not a license to sin, but
God's mercy is not a license to sin, but a call to repentance and righteousness.
a call to repentance and righteousness. We must choose to turn away from sin and
We must choose to turn away from sin and follow his ways, trusting that his mercy
follow his ways, trusting that his mercy will cover our shortcomings and his
will cover our shortcomings and his righteousness will empower us to live
righteousness will empower us to live according to his will. As we continue,
according to his will. As we continue, let us reflect on the incredible mercy
let us reflect on the incredible mercy of God who shows kindness to the humble
of God who shows kindness to the humble and the repentant and whose judgment,
and the repentant and whose judgment, though just, is always tempered with
though just, is always tempered with grace. This is a message we need to hear
grace. This is a message we need to hear in our own time as we live in a world
in our own time as we live in a world that seems so full of wickedness and
that seems so full of wickedness and confusion. But even in the midst of
confusion. But even in the midst of judgment, God offers mercy to all who
judgment, God offers mercy to all who will turn to him in faith. David's cry
will turn to him in faith. David's cry in Psalm 6 is one that echoes in the
in Psalm 6 is one that echoes in the hearts of many who have walked through
hearts of many who have walked through the valleys of deep sorrow. He writes,
the valleys of deep sorrow. He writes, "Oh Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger,
"Oh Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot
neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord,
displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak. Oh Lord, heal me, for my
for I am weak. Oh Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. These words reveal the
bones are vexed. These words reveal the depth of David's anguish, and they
depth of David's anguish, and they reflect the hearts of many who, like
reflect the hearts of many who, like him, have reached the point of weariness
him, have reached the point of weariness from weeping. When life becomes too
from weeping. When life becomes too heavy to bear, when the burdens of sin,
heavy to bear, when the burdens of sin, sorrow, and struggle seem to press down
sorrow, and struggle seem to press down on us from every side, it is easy to
on us from every side, it is easy to feel as if we cannot go on. David was
feel as if we cannot go on. David was weary. He had cried out before the Lord
weary. He had cried out before the Lord and had felt no relief. And now his
and had felt no relief. And now his heart was overwhelmed with despair. His
heart was overwhelmed with despair. His bones were vexed. His soul was troubled
bones were vexed. His soul was troubled and his tears had flooded his eyes. But
and his tears had flooded his eyes. But in the midst of his sorrow, he knew
in the midst of his sorrow, he knew where to turn. He didn't run from God.
where to turn. He didn't run from God. He ran to God.
He ran to God. He didn't hide his pain. He brought it
He didn't hide his pain. He brought it before the Lord, crying out for mercy
before the Lord, crying out for mercy and healing. There are times in all of
and healing. There are times in all of our lives when the weight of sorrow
our lives when the weight of sorrow becomes too much to carry. We weep for
becomes too much to carry. We weep for our own failures, for the hurt we've
our own failures, for the hurt we've caused others, for the pain we see in
caused others, for the pain we see in the world around us. We feel as if we
the world around us. We feel as if we are drowning in our own tears. The
are drowning in our own tears. The wounds of the heart seem to never heal.
wounds of the heart seem to never heal. And the burden of sin and regret feels
And the burden of sin and regret feels too heavy to bear.
too heavy to bear. It is in those moments of deep sorrow
It is in those moments of deep sorrow that we need to hear David's voice
that we need to hear David's voice calling out to us. Lord, heal me, David
calling out to us. Lord, heal me, David cries. For I am weak. His cry is not a
cries. For I am weak. His cry is not a demand, but a desperate plea for God's
demand, but a desperate plea for God's mercy. He knows that only God can heal
mercy. He knows that only God can heal the brokenness within him. David's
the brokenness within him. David's sorrow was not just physical. It was
sorrow was not just physical. It was spiritual. He recognized his sin and the
spiritual. He recognized his sin and the consequences of his choices. He
consequences of his choices. He understood that his suffering was not
understood that his suffering was not just a result of his enemy's attacks or
just a result of his enemy's attacks or the circumstances of life, but also the
the circumstances of life, but also the result of his own waywardness. Sin
result of his own waywardness. Sin brings pain. It separates us from God
brings pain. It separates us from God and robs us of the peace we so
and robs us of the peace we so desperately need. But even in the midst
desperately need. But even in the midst of his brokenness,
of his brokenness, David knew that God was still his hope.
David knew that God was still his hope. He knew that God in his mercy could
He knew that God in his mercy could restore him. Many of us can relate to
restore him. Many of us can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed by the
the feeling of being overwhelmed by the weight of our sin, the burden of guilt,
weight of our sin, the burden of guilt, and the sorrow of regret. But hear the
and the sorrow of regret. But hear the words of David today. God is not a
words of David today. God is not a distant, uncaring judge who waits to
distant, uncaring judge who waits to condemn. He is a loving father who
condemn. He is a loving father who reaches out to heal the brokenhearted.
reaches out to heal the brokenhearted. "The Lord hath heard my supplication.
"The Lord hath heard my supplication. The Lord will receive my prayer." David
The Lord will receive my prayer." David declares in verse 9. Even in his
declares in verse 9. Even in his brokenness,
brokenness, David knew that God heard his cry. And
David knew that God heard his cry. And God hears yours, too. When you're weary
God hears yours, too. When you're weary from weeping, when the sorrow is so
from weeping, when the sorrow is so deep, you cannot find the strength to go
deep, you cannot find the strength to go on. Know that God is near and he hears
on. Know that God is near and he hears your prayers.
your prayers. There is comfort in knowing that the
There is comfort in knowing that the Lord is not indifferent to our pain. He
Lord is not indifferent to our pain. He is not blind to our tears.
is not blind to our tears. David knew this truth and so must we.
David knew this truth and so must we. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and he will bind up their wounds.
and he will bind up their wounds. God's healing is not just physical. It
God's healing is not just physical. It is spiritual and emotional as well. His
is spiritual and emotional as well. His mercy flows to those who repent, who
mercy flows to those who repent, who come before him in humility and seek his
come before him in humility and seek his forgiveness.
forgiveness. David's sorrow was a sorrow of
David's sorrow was a sorrow of repentance, a cry for God's healing
repentance, a cry for God's healing touch upon his soul. And when we come to
touch upon his soul. And when we come to God in our brokenness, he will not turn
God in our brokenness, he will not turn us away. He will heal us, restore us,
us away. He will heal us, restore us, and give us peace. David's words are not
and give us peace. David's words are not just a reflection of his own pain, but a
just a reflection of his own pain, but a reminder to us all that no matter how
reminder to us all that no matter how deep our sorrow or how heavy our hearts,
deep our sorrow or how heavy our hearts, God is the answer. When we are weary
God is the answer. When we are weary from weeping, we must turn to the one
from weeping, we must turn to the one who is able to heal, to restore, and to
who is able to heal, to restore, and to bring us peace. Our tears may not
bring us peace. Our tears may not immediately stop, but we can find
immediately stop, but we can find comfort knowing that our father is with
comfort knowing that our father is with us, that he hears us, and that he will
us, that he hears us, and that he will never leave us in our sorrow. His grace
never leave us in our sorrow. His grace is sufficient for every pain, and his
is sufficient for every pain, and his love is deeper than any sorrow we face.
love is deeper than any sorrow we face. David's cry for mercy is a cry that God
David's cry for mercy is a cry that God still hears today, and it is a cry that
still hears today, and it is a cry that will bring comfort to the soul in need.
will bring comfort to the soul in need. In Psalm 7, David stands before God,
In Psalm 7, David stands before God, deeply aware of the injustice that
deeply aware of the injustice that surrounds him. His heart is torn and his
surrounds him. His heart is torn and his soul is troubled. He has been wronged by
soul is troubled. He has been wronged by his enemies, falsely accused and
his enemies, falsely accused and attacked. Yet in the midst of his
attacked. Yet in the midst of his distress, he looks to the only one who
distress, he looks to the only one who can provide true justice, God himself.
can provide true justice, God himself. Oh Lord, my God, in thee do I put my
Oh Lord, my God, in thee do I put my trust. Save me from all them that
trust. Save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me, David
persecute me, and deliver me, David cries out in verse one. His words are
cries out in verse one. His words are filled with urgency, but they are also
filled with urgency, but they are also filled with a deep unshakable faith in
filled with a deep unshakable faith in God's righteous judgment. Hey, David
God's righteous judgment. Hey, David understands that while the world may be
understands that while the world may be filled with injustice, there is a God
filled with injustice, there is a God who sees and who will make all things
who sees and who will make all things right. The Lord shall judge the people.
right. The Lord shall judge the people. Judge me, oh Lord, according to my
Judge me, oh Lord, according to my righteousness and according to mine
righteousness and according to mine integrity that is in me, David declares
integrity that is in me, David declares in verse 8, in the face of false
in verse 8, in the face of false accusations and wrongful suffering,
accusations and wrongful suffering, David appeals to God as the righteous
David appeals to God as the righteous judge. His confidence is not in his own
judge. His confidence is not in his own strength or ability to defend himself,
strength or ability to defend himself, but in God's perfect justice. David
but in God's perfect justice. David knows that God sees the heart, and he
knows that God sees the heart, and he judges with perfect wisdom and
judges with perfect wisdom and righteousness. Autoto strongly distruth.
righteousness. Autoto strongly distruth. It's a powerful reminder for all of us.
It's a powerful reminder for all of us. We live in a world where injustice runs
We live in a world where injustice runs rampant, where the innocent are often
rampant, where the innocent are often oppressed and the wicked seem to
oppressed and the wicked seem to prosper.
prosper. We face the same struggles that David
We face the same struggles that David faced, the painful sting of betrayal,
faced, the painful sting of betrayal, the anguish of being misunderstood, the
the anguish of being misunderstood, the weight of wrongful accusations.
weight of wrongful accusations. But we must remember, as David did, that
But we must remember, as David did, that God sees. He sees the righteous heart.
God sees. He sees the righteous heart. He knows the truth even when it is
He knows the truth even when it is hidden from the eyes of men. He is the
hidden from the eyes of men. He is the one who judges with fairness and he will
one who judges with fairness and he will not let the righteous be forsaken. But
not let the righteous be forsaken. But it's not like earthly judges who are
it's not like earthly judges who are swayed by popularity, influence or
swayed by popularity, influence or wealth. His judgment is not clouded by
wealth. His judgment is not clouded by emotion or bias. His decisions are
emotion or bias. His decisions are rooted in absolute righteousness and his
rooted in absolute righteousness and his justice is always perfect. When David
justice is always perfect. When David calls on God to defend him, he is not
calls on God to defend him, he is not calling on a man who may or may not
calling on a man who may or may not understand the truth. He is calling on
understand the truth. He is calling on the one who sees everything, who knows
the one who sees everything, who knows the heart of every person, and who will
the heart of every person, and who will bring justice in his perfect timing.
bring justice in his perfect timing. David's plea is not just for
David's plea is not just for deliverance, but for vindication. He
deliverance, but for vindication. He wants God to reveal the truth, to expose
wants God to reveal the truth, to expose the lies of his enemies, and to
the lies of his enemies, and to demonstrate that he has not wronged
demonstrate that he has not wronged anyone.
anyone. In verse 9, David prays, "Oh, let the
In verse 9, David prays, "Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just, for the
but establish the just, for the righteous God trith the hearts and
righteous God trith the hearts and reigns." David trusts that God will deal
reigns." David trusts that God will deal with the wicked, but he will establish
with the wicked, but he will establish the righteous. God sees what is hidden
the righteous. God sees what is hidden from the world. He knows the motives
from the world. He knows the motives behind our actions, the desires of our
behind our actions, the desires of our hearts, and the truth of every
hearts, and the truth of every situation. The hope we find in this
situation. The hope we find in this psalm is that no matter how unjust the
psalm is that no matter how unjust the world may seem, we serve a God who will
world may seem, we serve a God who will not leave the righteous without defense.
not leave the righteous without defense. He will protect us. He will deliver us.
He will protect us. He will deliver us. And he will judge the wicked. His
And he will judge the wicked. His justice is not delayed forever.
justice is not delayed forever. As David declares in verse 11, God
As David declares in verse 11, God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry
judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. The righteous
with the wicked every day. The righteous may suffer for a time, but God will not
may suffer for a time, but God will not allow the wicked to prosper forever. His
allow the wicked to prosper forever. His justice will prevail, and his judgment
justice will prevail, and his judgment will be fair. Think about the countless
will be fair. Think about the countless times in scripture where God has stood
times in scripture where God has stood as the righteous judge. He defended Abel
as the righteous judge. He defended Abel when Cain's jealousy drove him to
when Cain's jealousy drove him to murder. He protected Daniel from the
murder. He protected Daniel from the lion's den when those around him sought
lion's den when those around him sought to destroy him. He defended Joseph when
to destroy him. He defended Joseph when his brothers sold him into slavery and
his brothers sold him into slavery and when Piper's wife falsely accused him.
when Piper's wife falsely accused him. In each of these moments, God saw the
In each of these moments, God saw the righteous heart and in his perfect
righteous heart and in his perfect timing, he brought justice and
timing, he brought justice and deliverance. We too can take comfort in
deliverance. We too can take comfort in knowing that God sees the righteous
knowing that God sees the righteous heart. When we face opposition, when we
heart. When we face opposition, when we are wronged, when we are falsely
are wronged, when we are falsely accused, we can trust that God knows the
accused, we can trust that God knows the truth. He will defend his own. He will
truth. He will defend his own. He will bring justice and he will vindicate the
bring justice and he will vindicate the righteous. As we look to God as our
righteous. As we look to God as our righteous judge, we can find peace in
righteous judge, we can find peace in knowing that he will always do what is
knowing that he will always do what is right. His justice is not like man's
right. His justice is not like man's justice. It is pure. It is perfect. And
justice. It is pure. It is perfect. And it will never fail.
it will never fail. As we close this message today, let us
As we close this message today, let us remember the powerful truth we have seen
remember the powerful truth we have seen in the Psalms. A truth that echoes
in the Psalms. A truth that echoes through the ages and speaks to the heart
through the ages and speaks to the heart of every believer. When trouble rises,
of every believer. When trouble rises, when the weight of this world bears down
when the weight of this world bears down upon us, when our hearts are broken,
upon us, when our hearts are broken, when enemies surround us, and when we
when enemies surround us, and when we are weary from the battle, God is there.
are weary from the battle, God is there. He lifts our head. He is our shield, our
He lifts our head. He is our shield, our refuge, our righteousness, and our
refuge, our righteousness, and our strength. In Psalm three, David cried
strength. In Psalm three, David cried out in the midst of his enemies, and God
out in the midst of his enemies, and God answered, "But thou, oh Lord, art a
answered, "But thou, oh Lord, art a shield for me," he declared. And so he
shield for me," he declared. And so he is for you today. No matter how fierce
is for you today. No matter how fierce the storm or how overwhelming the trial,
the storm or how overwhelming the trial, God stands as our protector. When the
God stands as our protector. When the world tells us to give up, when the
world tells us to give up, when the enemy says we are defeated, God lifts
enemy says we are defeated, God lifts our head. He calls us to rise up in his
our head. He calls us to rise up in his strength, to trust in his unfailing
strength, to trust in his unfailing love, and to stand firm in the assurance
love, and to stand firm in the assurance that he will never leave us. In Psalm 4,
that he will never leave us. In Psalm 4, David found peace in God's presence,
David found peace in God's presence, knowing that the God who hears his cry
knowing that the God who hears his cry would answer. You too can find peace in
would answer. You too can find peace in him. Your prayer is never unheard. Your
him. Your prayer is never unheard. Your weeping is never in vain. When you call
weeping is never in vain. When you call upon the Lord, he hears you and he will
upon the Lord, he hears you and he will respond with mercy. He is near to the
respond with mercy. He is near to the brokenhearted
brokenhearted and he will lift you up when you are
and he will lift you up when you are crushed in spirit.
crushed in spirit. In Psalm 5, David appeals to God's
In Psalm 5, David appeals to God's holiness and justice. We too can trust
holiness and justice. We too can trust that God sees us. He knows our hearts.
that God sees us. He knows our hearts. He knows our pain and he knows the truth
He knows our pain and he knows the truth that others may not see. He is the
that others may not see. He is the righteous judge and he will defend those
righteous judge and he will defend those who are his own. When the world is
who are his own. When the world is unjust and the wicked seem to prosper,
unjust and the wicked seem to prosper, remember that God's justice will
remember that God's justice will prevail. He is not blind to our
prevail. He is not blind to our suffering and he will make all things
suffering and he will make all things right. In Psalm 6, David's cry for
right. In Psalm 6, David's cry for healing was heard by the God who
healing was heard by the God who restores.
restores. When you're weary from weeping, when
When you're weary from weeping, when your heart is broken and your spirit
your heart is broken and your spirit crushed, know that God is the healer of
crushed, know that God is the healer of the brokenhearted.
the brokenhearted. There is no wound too deep for his
There is no wound too deep for his touch. There is no pain too great for
touch. There is no pain too great for his mercy.
his mercy. Come to him in your sorrow
Come to him in your sorrow and he will lift you up. And in Psalm 7,
and he will lift you up. And in Psalm 7, David boldly declares that God sees the
David boldly declares that God sees the righteous heart. He is a God of justice,
righteous heart. He is a God of justice, but he is also a God of mercy. No matter
but he is also a God of mercy. No matter what you face today, no matter how great
what you face today, no matter how great the trial or how fierce the opposition,
the trial or how fierce the opposition, God is on your side. He sees the truth
God is on your side. He sees the truth and he will fight for you. He will
and he will fight for you. He will defend you. His justice will not fail.
defend you. His justice will not fail. Though my dear friends, when trouble
Though my dear friends, when trouble rises, when the storms of life seem too
rises, when the storms of life seem too much to bear, look up. Lift your eyes to
much to bear, look up. Lift your eyes to the one who lifts your head. When you
the one who lifts your head. When you are weary, when you are broken, when you
are weary, when you are broken, when you are overwhelmed with grief, trust in the
are overwhelmed with grief, trust in the God who is always near. Weep if you
God who is always near. Weep if you must, but don't weep without hope. Pray
must, but don't weep without hope. Pray for God hears the cries of his people
for God hears the cries of his people and rise for God will give you the
and rise for God will give you the strength to stand again. He will lift
strength to stand again. He will lift you higher than your troubles, higher
you higher than your troubles, higher than your sorrow, higher than your
than your sorrow, higher than your enemies because he is faithful. Let us
enemies because he is faithful. Let us never forget
never forget when trouble rises, God lifts our head.
when trouble rises, God lifts our head. Trust in him. Keep your eyes on him and
Trust in him. Keep your eyes on him and know that in every moment he is with
know that in every moment he is with you. Always faithful, always true,
you. Always faithful, always true, always lifting your head to his glory.
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