Psalm 4
July 23, 2017
preached by Doug Cooper

Time of Reflection Quotations

“I pray because I can’t help myself.  I pray because I’m helpless.  I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping.  It doesn’t change God.  It changes me.”

~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British novelist, theologian and Christian apologist

“How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none.  Eternal years lie in His heart.  For Him time does not pass, it remains; and those who are in Christ share with Him all the riches of limitless time and endless years.  God never hurries.  There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this, is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.”

~ A.W. Tozer (1897-1963), American pastor and author

“The Christian story, centered as it is on the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the only story for making sense of desire and loss.”

~ Jen Pollock Michel, contemporary author and speaker

“God’s sovereignty is always to His people in wisdom and in love. This is the difference between sovereignty in God and sovereignty in man. We dread the sovereignty of man, because we have no security of its being exercised in mercy, or even justice: we rejoice in the sovereignty of God, because we are sure it is always exercised for the good of his people.”

~ Alexander Carson (1776-1844), Irish author, pastor and theologian

“When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head.”

~ C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), British author and minister

“It is one thing to understand the gospel, but is quite another to experience the gospel in such a way that it fundamentally changes us and becomes the source of our identity and security.”

~ J.D. Greear (1973-present), contemporary pastor and author

“Behind Calvary’s cross, is the throne of heaven.”

~ James Stewart (1896-1990), Scottish minister and professor

Sermon Passage

Psalm 4 (ESV)

¹   You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
²    O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?     Selah
³    But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
⁴    Be angry,and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.     Selah
⁵    Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
⁶    There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
⁷    You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
⁸    In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.