WEBVTT 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:11.599 We're in the summer of Psalms and we're going through the Psalms. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:14.320 If you have your Bible, you can turn to Psalm 84. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:15.039 Good morning. 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:15.839 We're glad you're here. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:17.120 If you're new, welcome to the church. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:17.920 My name is Clayton. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:19.920 I'm the pastor here at the Ark. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:21.760 We believe God is doing some great things. 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:29.199 And this morning it's our prayer that you would receive a word from Him that you'd be encouraged and strengthened in your faith. 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:29.760 Amen? 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:32.159 Alright, hold your hands up. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:35.759 Turn to your neighbor, make sure they still got all their fingers. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:39.359 I know my neighbors don't. 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:41.600 I just want to make sure that you do. 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:47.039 I uh as we uh come into worship this morning, I want to tell you this story. 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:49.840 Uh, you know, I I asked that for good reason. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:54.240 Um I have a great uncle who does not have all of his parts. 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:58.000 Um he uh uh loved to go fishing. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:02.640 Uh the only problem was he didn't like to use a fishing pole, he liked to use dynamite. 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:06.079 That didn't go so well for him one time. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:10.640 And uh he lost his arm, his he lost his hand, and so he had a fake arm. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:14.079 And and back before technology and a lot of the advancements, right? 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:20.879 Do you guys remember the arms that were controlled by the straps across the back, and it didn't have a hand on it, it had a claw on it. 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:23.120 Does anybody know what I'm talking about, the metal claw? 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:30.239 I'm just telling you, there's nothing scarier as a seven-year-old than watching your great uncle with a claw smoke a cigarette in the corner of the room. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:37.760 Sorry, I know we're at church, but um and uh I mean, those are the things that seven-year-olds' nightmares are made of, you know. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:47.680 And uh, but uh every once in a while, my family, we had a family tradition, uh, all the men in the family, great uncles, grandfathers, fathers, sons, we'd go fishing in Canada. 00:01:47.840 --> 00:02:00.799 And uh and so we would always go as a big group, maybe 10, 15 people, and and and we go to Canada, we go fishing, and and great Uncle Les was about 300 pounds, and he always had to sit in the front of the boat. 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:08.479 Now these boats are no yachts, these are you know beautiful 14-foot uh John boats with about a 30 horsepower motor on the back. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:14.479 Great Uncle John, or Uncle Les, as we were going down the lake, here's what happened: he fell asleep. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:23.280 No big deal, except for when he fell asleep, all 300 pounds of him fell over into the boat and turned the boat till we were going like this. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:30.639 I just want to say that as a young preteen boy, I was more scared than I care to admit today. 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:32.879 But I'll never forget that moment. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:36.960 Have you ever been in a troubling situation that is etched on your mind? 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:38.240 You can't shake it. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:43.439 It's like just the mention of it or the thought of it takes you right back to that moment. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:47.520 And I'll never forget because in that moment, everything was out of control. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:49.599 The boat was spinning, doing circles. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:54.639 I remember we were all thrown to the side, but I'll never forget what my dad did in that moment. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:59.280 Because I don't know what it is about dads, they just had this superhero hat they put on from time to time. 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:05.360 He grabbed me by the back of my shirt and he threw me to the other side of the boat and he dove over with me. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:12.879 We're laying on the other side to counterbalance the weight so that we would not catch water on the edge of the boat. 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:21.439 In that moment, he reached over and he pulled the kill switch on the boat, and we just stopped and sat right there in the middle of the lake. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:24.000 Have you ever been in a troubling situation? 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:28.080 And you are so thankful for the people who were in the boat with you. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:33.680 See, his presence in the boat made all the difference in the outcome that day. 00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:41.680 His presence in the boat made the difference between being left stranded in the water or being safe in the boat. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:49.039 I want to talk to you this morning about the troubles of life because Psalm 84, I think, is the answer and the solution that we've all been looking for. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:52.080 Now, it doesn't have the name of your trouble on it. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:04:09.680 I don't have any examples today, but here's what I believe: that when you embrace Psalm 84, when it's not just something you hear at church, but it's something that you live by throughout your week, I believe Psalm 84 has the power to help you navigate whatever troubled waters you experience. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:14.000 But what I've learned, and as we study this, here's the root of it all. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:15.680 You have to understand this. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:19.120 A great life is not the absence of troubles. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:26.000 Oftentimes we can go and think, if my life didn't have XYZ, then I'd be living a great life. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:31.519 If I didn't have to go through hard stuff, then how many of you know I'd be having a great life? 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:33.360 Jesus didn't promise a great life like that. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:34.800 In fact, he gave quite the opposite. 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:39.279 In this world you'll have trouble, but take heart, he says, because I've already overcome the world. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:40.240 What's he saying? 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:45.839 It's not about the absence of trouble that makes your life great, it's about who's in the boat with you when trouble comes. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:51.759 A great life is not the absence of trouble, it's about the presence of someone. 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:54.639 The presence of someone is Jesus himself. 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:57.040 The presence of someone is God the Father. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:00.959 The presence is the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:04.399 And as we go through Psalm 84 this morning, here's what I love. 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:13.920 Psalm 84 is all about people who found themselves in trouble, but were overwhelmed by the power in the presence of God. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:15.920 Y'all remember back to COVID. 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:18.160 COVID was about six years ago now. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:24.639 It's been a few years, and how many of y'all remember thinking, the world can't even shut down for Christmas Day? 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:29.680 There is no way this place is gonna shut down for 30 days, 60 days, nine days. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:31.439 Y'all remember that feeling? 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:36.399 And you know how everybody got online and now all of a sudden they were experts about everything? 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:44.560 And uh we would just all be sitting at home watching videos of people pontificating about life and what the world was gonna be like and how it was gonna be forever changed, right? 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:48.240 And like one of those things was this they said there would be no more movie theaters. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:48.879 Do you remember that? 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:49.759 They were like, no more. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:52.000 Has anybody been to a movie theater since COVID, right? 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:53.279 Some of y'all are like, no. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:54.879 You know, got out of my house. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:56.480 I still love going to the movies. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:58.639 So I remember in COVID, them saying, No more movie theaters. 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:00.079 I'm like, no, that's that's my happy place. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.439 Like, I don't want to watch it at home. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:02.720 I got things to do at home. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:04.079 I'll I'll be mowing the yard. 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:06.959 Uh I want to go to the movie theater and watch the movies. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:10.319 They all these things they said would never make a comeback. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:16.959 One of those in church circles we began to watch as people would begin to pontificate on the life of the church. 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:19.040 What would happen after COVID? 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:24.399 In fact, they were so adamant, some of these people, that they would say, Listen, now the church is online. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:26.959 There's no need to go back. 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:31.040 We can watch it from home eating Fruit Loops in our underwear. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.439 Like, how good is that? 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:38.720 And I remember thinking in this season, it has to come back. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:43.839 Because I don't know about you, but to me, there's something different about being in the room. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:45.600 There's something different. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:52.160 Listen, if you go on vacation, please watch online, listen to other pastors throughout the week, listen to podcasts, do these things. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:54.000 They're strengthening you. 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:57.680 But don't ever neglect being in the room. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:06:59.360 I know I'm preaching to the choir today. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:01.439 Y'all are here after 4th of July, somebody. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:02.000 Come on. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:03.839 I already talked to Jesus this morning. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.920 He said, You get a bigger mansion in heaven, okay? 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:10.480 It's not in the Bible, but just tell them when you get there. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:14.079 It's like there's something different about being in the room. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:24.480 I made a decision at the end of COVID as church began to kick off because how many of you know the Bible says that the gates of hell will not prevail against his church. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:37.920 What happens is what we quickly realized is there are some things you can get at home that look different, but there are some things that when you experience it for yourself, it's all the more different. 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:39.439 It makes all the more change. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:47.439 Three things that became a conviction for me when before we started the church as a result of COVID, and that is this three things. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:52.319 The people of God, the power of God, and the presence of God. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:54.399 Yes, I dream in alliteration. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:56.240 This is what happens to pastors. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:57.920 Three things. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.199 People of God, the power of God, and presence of God. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:08.480 The three things you don't experience on the other side of a screen the way you do when you just worshiped the way you just worshiped. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:17.680 What I love about Psalm 84 that we're getting ready to read is it was the people of God trying to figure out life's troubles. 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:23.920 And what it's what they're searching for is the power of God in the presence of God. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:27.920 And I think sometimes in my life I make things so complicated. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:44.639 I don't know about you, but uh, Lord, I need an answer about this specific thing and this thing over here and this thing over here, and what I find is sometimes when I just walk into the room with the people of God, I meet the power of God and the presence of God, and all of a sudden my question that used to be so big is pretty small. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:50.399 It's why what can happen in this room is sometimes I'll hear people tell a testimony and say, I just came to worship him, I just started crying. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:51.519 I don't even know what was going on. 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:52.399 I just started crying. 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:57.360 And I walked out, and when I walked out, it's like everything felt different for me. 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:03.759 And almost the way they're telling me is they're saying, Pastor, like, am I making this stuff up, or does this really happen? 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:05.440 Like, no, you're not the only one. 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:06.000 Why? 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:11.759 Because the presence of God and the power of God can be answers for you that your mind doesn't need, your spirit does. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:22.639 The presence of God and the power of God going with you on a Monday, you may not be the smartest person in the room that you walk into, but if you walk into a room with the presence of God, you have what you need. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:24.240 The power of God. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:38.320 You may have a diagnosis or a situation that you're going through in life that's pretty hard and pretty troubling waters, but when you know the power of God is behind you, how many of you know it changes the way you walk into the doctor's office? 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:43.360 It changes the way you walk into your home when things are falling apart. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:49.759 It changes the way you pray for your kids when they're navigating some turbulent waters. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:51.679 It it changes things. 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:54.639 And so the heart of Psalm 84 is this today. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:56.799 I don't have a practical message for you. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:01.200 I just want you to taste what the psalmist is writing about. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:05.759 And when you taste what it is that he's writing about, you'll be hungry for it yourself. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:08.000 How many of y'all know I love bluebell ice cream? 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:12.879 You don't have to wave it in front of my face for very long. 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:13.600 Why? 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.759 Because I already know what it tastes like. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:23.919 And because I already know what it tastes like, I already have a built-up double portioned hunger for it. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.679 And so I will eat it. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:26.000 Why? 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:28.480 Because I already have an appetite for it. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:30.879 Psalm 84 is all about your appetite. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:33.120 I can't teach you about today. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:36.240 I can only help you experience today's message. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:40.559 Don't walk out of here and say, you know, the pastor didn't give me anything to do this week. 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:42.879 Come up with something on your own, okay? 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:51.600 I want you to walk out today, and if you experience it, you'll want it for yourself. 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:56.000 If you taste it, I don't have to give you 10 steps to do. 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:56.480 Why? 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:08.879 Because when you wake up in the morning with the Spirit of God, the presence and power of God residing heavily on you like a cloud, then you'll wake up in the morning and do whatever He tells you to do. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:11.360 And quite honestly, it's far better than anything I could ever tell you. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:13.039 I want to read to you Psalm 84 if you're ready. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:13.919 Say, I'm ready. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:19.039 Verse 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts. 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:23.039 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:26.559 My heart and my flesh they sing for joy to the living God. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:35.679 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.919 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:45.600 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, and whose heart are the highways to Zion. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:50.320 As they go through the valley of Backah, they make it a place of springs. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:52.879 The early rain also covers it with pools. 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:54.879 They go from strength to strength. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.679 Each one appears before God in Zion. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:00.080 Verse 8 O Lord of hosts, hear my prayer. 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.480 Give ear, O God of Jacob. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:08.399 Behold, our shield, our God, look on the face of your anointed. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:13.759 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:20.559 I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.759 For the Lord God is a son and he is a shield. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:26.960 The Lord bestows favor and he bestows honor. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:30.960 No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:32.720 O Lord of hosts, here it is. 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:36.720 Blessed is the one who trusts in you. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:40.480 What I love about the Psalms is they're so relatable to me. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:42.320 It's man's word to God. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:45.759 God packaged it up in the Bible and made it his word to you. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:49.279 And as you read it, you can understand it and relate to it. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:49.679 Why? 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:52.559 Because we've all been through the valley of trouble. 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:56.320 We all know what it's like to be in a place we wish we weren't. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:13:03.120 We all know what it's like to wish things to be a little bit different than their current situation. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:07.600 But there's something about the man who is writing the scripture. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:11.360 It's like this idea that he's on a pilgrimage or a journey. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:12.720 Here's the idea. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:15.279 He knows what Zion is like. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:18.000 Zion was Jerusalem where the temple was. 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:20.720 This is where the presence of the Lord dwelt. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:25.679 Have you ever been somewhere before and you can remember it today as if you were still there? 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:31.519 The smell, something, you smell something, and all of a sudden it triggers you back to a house you've been in before. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.519 This is what it's like for the psalmist. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:37.200 He's saying, I've been there and I know what it's like. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:43.600 And he's saying, But I'm not there now, and my heart is longing and yearning to be there. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.039 He knows what it's like. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:50.879 He knows what the choirs of Jerusalem sounded like as they were worshiping in their temple, in their church. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:54.000 He knows what it was like to be in the city of God. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:14:00.240 And he's not there at the present moment, but here's what he's saying: But my heart longs to be there. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:01.600 What is he saying? 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:06.799 The cry of his heart is, I want to be in the presence of God. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:09.360 I want to be where God is. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:11.279 I want to go where God is going. 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:13.919 I want to do the things that God is doing. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:21.279 And so there is this sense that the psalmist, as he is writing, although he is not physically there, he is still there. 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:28.000 There's this sense that in his mind and in his heart, he's visualizing what it's like to be in that place. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:32.000 Somebody right now is visualizing the Arctic cold. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:38.480 You're wondering, oh, if I could get out of this heat and go somewhere refreshing. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:51.679 Some of y'all are visualizing vacation, if I could get out of work and only, if my circumcision, then I would be sitting on a beach somewhere, sitting on the beach enjoying the water in the waves. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:54.720 We all know what it's like to visualize a place that we're not. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:15:01.039 In the psalmist, what he's doing is he's visualizing in his heart, he's making a highway in his heart to Zion. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.879 What's the highway of his heart? 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:05.679 The highway of his heart is, Lord, I want to be in your presence. 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:07.360 I want to dwell with you. 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:09.679 I want to go where you are going. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.639 I listen, how many of y'all remember going to church growing up? 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:16.080 I remember, I remember when I would go spend time with my grandparents. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:22.399 They uh went to a cute little old church steeple, not in a barn like today, not the fancy innovations we have today, right? 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:26.559 And it was in a downtown Presbyterian church on a on a city block. 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:29.440 You know, uh you'd have to parallel park and walk it. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.879 Some of y'all wouldn't even be able to go to church. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:37.120 You got a parallel park, and and um, but there are two things I remember when I'd stay with my grandparents, I always remember going to the church, right? 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:38.639 You got the red carpet or the green carpet. 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:40.240 Take your choice, right? 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:45.519 And uh, but the other thing they had is uh uh I'll never forget they had uh a church bell. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.840 You remember the bell in the in the steeple? 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:54.240 And and I remember if you got there early enough, you got to be the one that would ring the bell that church was starting. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:55.360 And what was it? 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:57.840 It was it was to be a sign or a call. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:59.120 Hey, all come. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:04.320 Like church is beginning, have an expectation, come in, come receive. 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:08.240 And I I remember ringing that what is it for me? 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.279 It's a memory. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.159 It's a memory. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:16.639 I I went back uh to visit and I was there with my grandfather, and and a 50-year-old lady got asked to ring the bell. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:18.879 You would have thought she was seven years old. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.960 She was jumping up, swinging all that. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:24.960 And here's what I realized: the excitement is the same. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:32.000 And what I wonder is, listen, uh what I wonder, we remember what it's like to be excited for something like that. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:37.679 But what the Lord is asking us is, do you have that same excitement today? 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:42.080 And listen to what Charles Spurgeon said of Psalm 84 about ringing the church bells. 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:50.639 He said this the Psalms declared that they could not remain silent in their desires, and they began to cry out for God and his house. 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:57.600 Listen, they wept, they sighed, and they pleaded for the privilege, just like your kid did this morning. 00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.120 Right? 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.200 They wept to go to church. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.799 Please let me go. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:10.000 I know everybody after a late last night, they're like, oh, I can't wait to get up and go to church. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:12.880 No, it's like, I'm gonna do this. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:21.599 And what he's saying in Psalm 84 is their heart was crying to be in the place where God and his people were. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.039 There is a hunger there. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:26.640 And he says, some people needed to be whipped to church, drugged to church. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:31.680 Well, here are the sons of Korah, the writers of the psalm, and they are crying for it. 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:36.400 They needed no clatter of bells from the belfry to ring them in. 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:39.119 They carried their bell in their own bosom. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:44.400 Their holy appetite is a better call to worship than a full chime. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:47.119 I mean, talk about some powerful words. 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:55.599 He's saying the appetite of their heart was a cry for work, a cry to be in the presence of God. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:00.160 I talked to a gentleman recently in our church and I was asking him about his vacation. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.319 He said, Oh no, I made sure to be back in time for church. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:03.440 I said, What? 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:08.799 And I he said, Yeah, when I plan my vacation, I make sure we can still make it to church. 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.559 And I said, Why? 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.319 Embarrassed? 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.920 I'm just being truthful. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:19.440 I'm like, why didn't you stay in Hawaii for an extra day? 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:24.960 And he said, Because what happens in the room is too powerful to miss. 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.799 It was a conviction. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.240 He was preaching to me. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:30.880 Because sometimes I can get in a routine. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.480 Sometimes I can get in a rhythm. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.799 Sometimes I can, God, I've already sang that song. 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:36.400 God, I've already read that verse. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:46.000 God, I've already it is a reminder that the chime or the bell, listen, I know this illustration doesn't work too well for us because we don't have beautiful church bells anymore. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:49.519 We just have Syrian iPhone telling us, get out of bed. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:53.680 What he's saying is there is a reminder on their heart. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:58.240 It's like a bell of a church that invites them to come into the presence of God. 00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:03.279 The question is, are you hungry to be in the presence of God? 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:09.599 What I love in Matthew 18, 20, where two or three are gathered, he says, There I am with them in the midst of them. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:13.440 And what I love is we're celebrating the 4th of July this week. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:16.160 And how many of y'all are thankful for your freedom to worship God? 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:25.359 Listen, the best way you can celebrate the 4th of July had nothing to do with the fireworks you popped last night and nothing to do with the barbecue yet. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:30.720 You know, the greatest way to celebrate your freedom was exactly what you just did the last 30 minutes. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:35.599 There's this sense inside, you're celebrating the freedom to worship. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:43.039 We're the greatest country in the world, and what makes us great is not our prosperity, it's not our policies, it's not our parties. 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:47.279 What makes us great is the fact that we have the freedom to worship God. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:54.480 You know, in Nigeria, last year in 2025, 3,500 people were killed doing just what you're doing just right now. 00:19:55.599 --> 00:20:05.519 Just doing what you did in coming into the presence of God to worship with God's people in his presence, in his power, in Nigeria alone, 3,500 people were killed for doing that. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:10.720 You read of these countries all over the world, Iran and Sudan and North Korea, all these places. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.799 They don't have the same freedom. 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:19.279 But we get to celebrate the fact that I just wonder is our hunger and desire. 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:26.240 Have we grown dull to the fact that this is a privilege to be in his presence? 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.839 And as we read this, I want to give you some things. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:30.880 I've titled today's message The Power of His Presence. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:32.400 The power of His Presence. 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:41.759 I want to give you three things out of Psalm 84 that I think can help cultivate an appetite and a longing to be in God's presence. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.599 I want to make something clear this morning. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.880 I didn't do this last service. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.920 I just want to say this. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:48.000 I'm not just referring to heaven. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:21:00.640 There is an idea that one day when we die, that we know for a fact, because we are believers in Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, that he paid for our sins, we will spend eternity in heaven. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.119 Where? 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.079 In his presence. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.200 Praise God, right? 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:12.880 There is that sense that I'm talking about today, but I don't want you to neglect the ever-present reality of today, just thinking I'm only talking about one day. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:17.759 In other words, it says that when Jesus entered the world, it said, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:18.960 That's what it says in the gospels. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.160 The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:20.880 What does that mean? 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:29.599 That means the second that Jesus took a step, took a breath on earth, that heaven was begun to be pulled down by Jesus into our earth. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:35.039 In other words, you don't have to wait for the one day to experience the presence of God. 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:38.640 You experience the presence of God in your day today. 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:44.799 That's why Jesus says, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he says, He'll be in you, and I will be in you and I will dwell with you. 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.680 What did he do? 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:50.640 He pulled the presence of God and he placed it right here inside of us. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.000 So I got three things for you. 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:56.720 Number one, this morning is this His presence is your strength. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:58.799 How do you handle the troubles? 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:00.400 How do you handle the Water. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.200 You have to know this. 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:06.240 God's presence and being in God's presence is the greatest weapon you have. 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:09.759 It is the greatest tool on your tool belt. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.519 It is your strength. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.039 Verse 5 through 7. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:17.440 Blessed are those whose strength is in you and whose heart are highways to Zion. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:20.720 As they go through the valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:28.079 The early rain also covers it with pools, and they go from strength, underline this, from strength to strength. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.720 Each one appears before God in Zion. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:38.799 The valley of Bacca, the idea of the Baca, it was a type of tree, and it only resided in this certain area, and it was a very arid and dry place. 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:43.119 How many of y'all ever been to West Texas and thanked God for your promised land right here in Magnolia? 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:48.240 You've been to West Texas and the hot air hits you, the wind hits you, and it's hotter than the air. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:51.680 And you're thinking, yep, this is not the promised land. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:55.200 This is the idea behind this passage. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.480 It's a dry place. 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.599 It's an arid place. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:01.519 If you've ever been in the valley of trouble, you know that it can feel dry. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:03.039 You know that you can feel parts. 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:08.720 You know that there are places of our lives that can be in a in a in a valley of trouble. 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:17.279 And what the psalmist is saying here is he's saying, I'm out here in a dry place, and I'm longing to be in the presence of God. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:25.759 And what I love about the ill- the way that he writes this is he says, he's gonna make it a place of springs and rain and pools. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:30.480 How many of you know God can take the dry places and make them fresh and new again? 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:34.079 God can take the dried up, hard places of our life. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:38.480 He can file them down, he can soften them up, he can make them new again. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:41.279 And that's what Psalm 84 is referring to. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:45.200 He's saying, in the places where it was dry for you, I'm going to fill it. 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:48.319 Listen, you might live in my neighborhood and you're about to find out where I live here. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:53.759 We had a billboard in our neighborhood, said, um, it said, pool coming summer of 2025. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.720 You miss it? 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:59.039 Coming summer of 2025. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.279 The billboard's still up. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:09.680 In other words, they gave us an expectation that in our neighborhood, listen, if you live in Houston, you just need some water to get into. 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.119 I don't even know what, right? 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:13.599 It's like I I went out the other morning at 6.30 a.m. 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:15.200 I thought I'm gonna go walk and read and pray. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.400 I went at 6.30 a.m. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:17.839 thinking I'll be cooler. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:19.839 I was sweating at 6.30 a.m. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:25.759 How many of you know when you get hot and you're tired, and you just need a place to cool off? 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:26.799 You need the waters. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.160 The waters are refreshing. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:31.200 The billboard said pool coming summer of 2025. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:33.759 How many of y'all know that has been my worst nightmare? 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:38.400 Because my kids every day ask me when that pool is gonna be done. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:40.240 Coming summer of 2025. 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:48.640 It created an expectation that relief was coming, that that water was coming, that it would be fresh and it has not been met. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:51.759 Sometimes in life we get in those dry places and we feel the same way. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.759 So what the billboard said. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:25:01.519 But the roadmap said, but I always dreamed that it would be and what what what are we what are we grieving? 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:04.079 The lack of met expectation. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:08.000 The feeling that we're not in the place we wish that we were. 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:11.119 But how many of y'all know just miraculously the other day drove by? 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:15.519 There was a hole in the ground and they filled it with water in my neighborhood. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:20.079 It may not have come when we thought it would come, but it's here. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:24.640 A place in the ground that was empty before has now been filled with water. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.559 This is what the psalmist is getting at. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:32.240 He's saying the dry place, one day you'll wake up and you'll realize there is water raining in this place. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:36.799 The dry place is be he he calls it a pool, uh, springs. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:40.640 The early rain is bringing springs and pools of water. 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:41.839 What is he saying? 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:49.200 The dry places are being filled, the hard places of our life can be eased with the presence of the Lord. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:58.160 This is what he's saying: that the thing that you need is the strength of the Lord, and the strength of the Lord comes from being in the presence of the Lord. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:59.599 We don't get this. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:01.519 We don't get this in our American culture. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:02.160 I don't get this. 00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:04.079 Listen, I'll be the first to admit why? 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:15.599 Because we live in a culture and we live in a world that says you work harder, you work smarter, you put in your effort, if you want to make more money, you work harder, you get a promotion, you'll make more money. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:18.880 We live in a culture, in a world that says if you don't have it, you better work hard for. 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:21.200 We're all about effort around here. 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:23.519 And listen, I uh y'all should go to work and work hard. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:23.839 Why? 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.200 You do everything as unto the Lord. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:29.039 But let me tell you something: the kingdom of God works upside down. 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:32.400 It doesn't work the way that our kingdom works right here. 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:36.720 The strength of the Lord does not come by you working harder. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:42.960 The strength of the Lord is not, oh, you were a good Christian, you read your Bible seven days in a row, and now strength can come. 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:49.119 Now listen, reading the Word of God will bring you strength, but listen, it's not by your effort that the strength of the Lord comes. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:51.920 The strength of the Lord comes in the presence of the Lord. 00:26:52.079 --> 00:27:04.160 So if you need strength, if you are weak in an area of your life, if there's something in you that feels frail or fragile, the strength comes to you not in what you do, but in how you be. 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.720 Not in what you do. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.720