2019.07.07 INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE – The Declaration of our Dependence.
William Akehurst, HSWC
We live in a country that has declared our independence as a nation to stand on its own. Yet from the beginnings of this nation, the founding fathers realized as a nation that we needed to honor and glorify GOD. We were established as One Nation Under GOD, and even declared IN GOD WE TRUST. But in recent years, that foundation is eroding as some people in this nation are declaring independence away from GOD! We need to pray for our Nation and stand on the Declaration of our Dependence on the LORD GOD, One Nation UNDER GOD in whom we trust!
Yesterday, Sunday, for my “Independence Day” message, I shared Psalm 71:1-24 with my "older" congregation. In my Scoffield KJV, it’s titled, “A prayer in old age”.
As a child, we depend on our parents, guardians, etc. for all of our needs. We couldn’t make it on our own. And as we grew older, we wanted to trek out on our own, and be independent, no longer under the umbrella of parents. But as we grow older, we realize that we can’t do everything on our own, and when parents pass on, this becomes more of a reality. At some point in our lives, we realize that we must depend on others who may fail us. Yet there is one who will never fail, never forsakes, and always be available…Our HEAVENLY FATHER. And as HIS CHILD, no matter what age, we can depend on HIM for everything, and must learn to do so more and more daily.
As we look at David, the child, the teenager, the young adult and king; his heart was always dependent on the LORD as demonstrated in the many Psalms.
Read through Psalm 71 and see how David defines his dependence, and his praise. And look at how many times he says we must praise GOD in every circumstance, especially when we are under attack. This is David’s prayer, testimony, declaration of dependence, and praise to the LORD.
Make this a part of your declaration of dependence as well.
Psalms 71:1-24 (KJV) "A prayer in old age"
DEPENDENCE
1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
SALVATION thru Christ’s righteousness
2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
MY SHELTER made firm by CHRIST’s Obedience to the WILL of the FATHER
3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
DELIVERANCE
4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
HOPE
5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.
FROM BIRTH HE HELD ME and carried me through life, and I will, I must continually Praise HIM.
6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.
A CHANGED LIFE dwelling in HIM
7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.
PRAISE ALL THE DAY LONG
8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
HE IS MY STRENGTH in Weakness and I AM NEVER FORSAKEN, now matter what anyone else says.
9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. 10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, 11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
MY HELP, MY DELIVERANCE
12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.
13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
UNDER ATTACK, YET PRAISE MORE AND MORE
14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.
15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
STRENGTHENED BY THE LORD
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
OLD AND GRAY HEADED, MY TESTIMONY WILL LAST BEYOND MY LIFE. I MUST DECLARE MY DEPENDANCE UPON THE LORD SO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL KNOW.
18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
THE LORD SHOWED ME, GUIDED ME THROUGH THE TROUBLED TIMES AND KEPT ME ALIVE, INCREASING MY FAITH AND MAKING ME CONTENT.
20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
PRAISE THE HOLY ONE
22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
I AM REDEEMED AND REJOICE IN THE LORD
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
CONTINUAL REJOICING AND PRAISE CONFOUNDS THE ENEMY
24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
In verses 20-24 David declares that GOD showed him the trials of his life, but kept him alive and increased his faith. We learn from JOB that the enemy must have GOD’s permission to place trials upon us. But David says the LORD literally guided him through these times, he knows it and shares that with us. And, this example increased David’s faith and love for the LORD as he declares it as a testimony of the LORD in his life.
That’s why he sings praise, and that’s why we must too must depend on the LORD and praise HIM. And vs. 24 declares that when we praise the LORD, the enemy is confounded and cast off. So from my perspective…Constant, continual praise is the key to living a life for Christ. In Praising HIM, the enemy’s intentions are destroyed and has no power over us. Why, the LORD is with us and HE loves our praise. So…PRAISE HIM with me today and choose to declare your dependence on CHRIST JESUS as LORD AND SAVIOR. Amen!
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!
Bill
