We welcome you to Stone's Hill today!

A typical Stone's Hill service has:

* music (so feel free to sing out);

* some announcements (things that are upcoming that you can be a part of);

* a message out of the Bible (God speaks to us through his Word);

* and an opportunity for you to respond to the message (either immediately in the case of a decision that needs to be made OR in the future as you live out the message in your daily life.)

So relax and enjoy your morning! We're so glad you are here!

MESSAGE TEXT
Psalm 144:1-15
*
INTRODUCTION
I agree with author John Eldrege who says “Life is war.” Pastor Greg Boyd suggests it’s the primary motif for living on this planet. Life is fun, adventurous, and entertaining, but primarily, it is war. King David understood that.
*
In Psalm 144, David wants to teach you how to fight. He wants to teach you to let God fight for you. I want to talk to you about being a warrior for God and being strong in the battle. When we are strong in the Lord, we can face challenges, overcome obstacles, and stand firm in the faith. We can love our enemies, pray for those who persecute, and overcome evil with good. We can stand up for what is right, speak the truth in love, and courageously live out the faith, adapting and modifying as needed.
*
We can do all this because we are not relying on our own strength, but on the strength of the Lord. Being strong in the Lord is about acknowledging our weaknesses, surrendering our fears and insecurities, and allowing God to work in and through us
*
In Psalm 144 David’s enemies are a present threat. “Deliver me and rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies,” he prays (v. 11), but the tone is nevertheless settled, calm, and trusting, for David knows that the Lord, who is his Rock, his fortress, his stronghold, his deliverer, and his shield, will give victory and the blessing of a safe and prospering kingdom: “no breaching of the walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets” (v. 14).
*
So the tone is settled and resolute. It is not over-confident and self-entitled, but humble and reliant upon God for the victory. So, after praising God for past victories, the royal psalmist prays for divine intervention in battle, marveling that God takes notice of us weak warriors, and anticipating that when God gives victory to his people they will experience peace and prosperity.
*
PROPOSITION
So, what is your battle plan? How will you engage? What will be your approach? If it is true, that life is war, what is your strategy to win and be victorious? I want to talk to you today about being battle ready. Combat ready. King David-style ready.
*
Flee to God (v.1-4)
Know your enemy (v.5-8)
Partner with others (v.9-11)
Picture the impact (v.12-15)
*
CONCLUSION
There’s a guy who wrote a book called Crucifixion of the Warrior God. This warrior God who parts the heavens, who touches the mountains, so that they smoke; who sends forth lightning and scatters the enemy; who shoot arrows… he became a human being in the person of his One and Only Son. He was crucified for Jew and Gentile alike, for truthers and deceivers, for lovers and haters, for conservatives and liberals.
*
Jesus said “it is finished” In the Greek the word was “Tetelestai” Which could be used in the context of an outstanding debt to mean “paid in full” It could also be used in a judicial context to signify “a sentence fully served” And finally a military context to mean “A battle won or a complete victory” And because he did that for us, we get to sing a new song. Jesus has never asked me to earn what He did for me on that cross. Jesus Christ took the nails in His hands and feet, bearing my past, present, and future sin on His shoulders, and died freely to liberate me from sin and to secure a spot for me in heaven for all eternity.
*
As the echo in Revelation 5:9 of Psalm 144:9 (“I will sing a new song to you, O God”) itself teaches us, “They sang a new song saying, ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation’” (see also Rev 14:3). It is through suffering that Christ defeated death and the devil as the sacrificial lamb of God. One pastor said “With these things in mind, as you read this song, I’m going to be doing this reading with the Lord Jesus as its main singer.” (Douglas Van Dorn)
*
Which kingdom do you belong to? The New Testament understands that the Divine Warrior came in the person of Jesus, who comes to fight a spiritual battle (not with sword and spear) and will come again to defeat all human and spiritual enemies once and for all (Rev. 19:11–21).