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Lessons From Psalms

Psalms 1:1-3 (1/12/17)

January 12, 2017 • Benham Brothers

* The blessed man is someone who doesn’t walk, stand, or sit…… * These are “conscious” things - lying down was not in there (unconscious). * 1) Walk in counsel of wicked - counsel is what you allow to influence you. * This comes through your eyes and ears - what you see and hear. * 2) Stand in the path of sinners - all paths lead somewhere. * We have to ponder the path of our feet and stay on the right track. * We get “hooked” by other’s hooks when we’re on their path. * 3) Sit in the seat of the scoffers - buddying up with those who hate God. * We have to pay close attention to who our close confidants are. * Bad company corrupts good morals. * The blessed man is someone who delights in God. * Just like a grandpa seeing his grandkids for the first time in a year. * Delight is all about focus - it’s never about you. * The blessed man will be like a tree - an evergreen. * It’s firmly planted by the source of life (water). * Bears the proper fruit at the proper time - nourishment for others. * Always has leaves - protection for others. * Never will die.

Psalms 2:8 (12/2/18)

December 2, 2018 • Benham Brothers

ASK! • God has all the answers, but He often doesn’t reveal them unless we ask. • God loves to give us little hints into what He’s doing. • EX: hide and seek w/my young kids - they always wanted to be found. • If I looked in the wrong place I’d hear them make a noise to point me in the right direction. • Dan 7:15-16 - Daniel had a dream but didn’t understand it. • He had to ASK what was going on. • DAN 8:15-16 - He saw another vision and he sought to understand it. • God sent Gabriel to give him the meaning (Mary & Zechariah). • DAN 9:1-3 - Daniel read Jeremiah and “sought” the Lord by prayer and fasting. • DAN 9:20-23 - God gave Daniel what he asked for. • • Asking God does three things: • 1) Asking aligns you with your purpose (“Ask me for anything” - Solomon) • Daniel’s purpose was to write down what he was told. • PSALMS 2:8 (NIV) - Christ’s purpose was for the nations but He had to ask. • EX: I woke up the other morning with an intense feeling God wanted me to ask Him for anything. • Jesus often said before a miracle - "What do you want?" • When we have an "Ask God" mindset we discover certain things break our hearts and we begin to ask God concerning those things. • This is His way of guiding us. • 2) Asking aligns you under God’s authority. • Asking recognizes the person you’re asking as having authority. • This aligns you in the proper authority structure and results in POWER. • Authority is the right to use power. • 1 JOHN 4:9 (ESV) - God Grid - live “through” Him (spaghetti strainer). • This is a mindset of “Ask God.” Two things to ask for: • ** Permission - you need God’s stamp of approval before you do anything. • ** Provision - God gives TO you so He can give THROUGH you. • 3) Asking aligns you with God’s will. • JOHN 14:13 - "I will do whatever you ask for IN MY NAME." • How do we know God’s will? • Renewal - Romans 12:1-2. Renewal transforms our minds as we ask, “God, what do you think about this?” “What thoughts do you have toward my husband who’s always late, or my kids who back talk?”

Psalms 3:1-4 (1/11/18)

January 11, 2018 • Benham Brothers

* Our number one need as a human is security - “who can I trust?” * If we find our “ultimate” security in anything but God then when they fail us our world will fall apart. * This Psalm is David’s journal when Absalom rose up against him. * During this time he found security in God. * This is how David was a man after God’s own heart and how he never lost his faith.

Psalms 4:4-5 (1/7/18)

January 7, 2018 • Benham Brothers

* Anger is an emotion with a purpose. * We can be angry and not sin. * Three steps to control your anger: * 1) Meditate on God's truth and be still - don't say or do anything.  * 2) Give it your best shot - don't give in just because it's become a habit to lose your temper.  * 3) Trust God with the situation - don't try to take control of it.  * When you do you'll discover how to be angry and NOT sin.

Psalms 4:6-8 (1/9/20)

January 9, 2020 • Benham Brothers

* Vs 6a - Who will bring us prosperity? * This is a big biz guy asking God if his venture will be successful. * Vs 6b - let Your face shine on us. * He recognizes they can’t do it apart from God’s blessing. * Vs 7 - Please make us successful - I will be so happy! * When my biz kills it I will love it! * Vs 8 - But my true happiness doesn’t come from money - it comes from PEACE with GOD! * Even when his biz would be successful he would find his security in God alone, and therefore he would be blessed with PEACE. * David wanted profit - he even asked for it. * But he elevated peace over profit. * The sweetest sleep is done on the pillow of a clean conscience. * Imagine making a 1million dollar sale, but you cheated to make it happen. * How good do you feel? * You elevated profit over peace.

Psalms 5:3 (1/29/13)

January 29, 2013 • Benham Brothers

* Jesus modeled spending time with God when you're winding up, which is early in the morning. If you wait until you wind down it rarely works Ps 8:3-4 - Humility * Humility is preceded by "considering" * When you consider who God is and who you are in relation to Him that will keep you humble Matt 5:17 - Law * Jesus came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it * Like a relay race - the first three laps are done, but the race isn't complete without the 4th lap. That's what Jesus came to do - run that last lap * The Law on stone was fulfilled when God placed it into our hearts * Now we go a step further - we don't just "not kill" - we now don't even "think" about killing - that's what it means to have the law written on your heart Matt 7:1-5 - Judging * We are supposed to make judgements * We are supposed to make "right and proper" judgements * We first need to remove our log * After we remove our log we then need to be willing to place our finger in someone else's eye * this involves a willingness on their part and a gentleness on our part

Psalms 6:2-10 (1/28/23)

January 28, 2023 • Benham Brothers • Psalm 6:2–10

Twice Abraham lied about his wife being his sister.  Once in Egypt w/Pharoah and the other in Gerar with Abimelech.  Both times he operated out of:  Self-preservation over faithfulness.  Fear of man over fear of God.  In this second instance, we get to see into the mind of why Abraham did it.  Abe was in a new land and didn’t want to get killed.  Vs 11 - “Abraham replied, ‘I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’” Fear is about a past or present threat.  Anxiety is about a future threat - specifically, the loss of control.  He projected powerlessness into the future.  This caused him to make a stupid decision (give his wife to another man).  And it also led him to believe his own lie:  Vs 12 - “Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.”  He justified how she “really was” his sister.  What should he have done?  Philippians 4:6 - “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests to God…”  King David did this when he felt anxious:  Psalms 6:2-3a - “Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish…” Because of his thoughts, his body literally hurt.  So he took his petition to God and prayed about it… Vs 9-10 - “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.” He got through it by projecting power into the future. 

Psalms 7:3-5 (1/17/19)

January 17, 2019 • Benham Brothers

* David had been falsely accused and was taking his request to God. * In his request you see a truly repentant, humble heart. * He appealed to God on the basis of His justice, both for the people who were persecuting him and for himself. * He asked God to punish him if he had done anything that he was being accused of doing. * True repentance is always willing to face the punishment that is coming your wa

Psalms 8 (2/11/21)

February 11, 2021 • Benham Brothers

* God gives each of us authority over our realm. * Authority is the “right to use power.” * God’s authority is not possible apart from humility. * Humility is seeing God for who He is and who you are in relation to Him. * God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. * David was a man who walked in authority. * He shows us a key to walking in authority. * Vs 1a & 9 - He was in “awe” of God (took Him in). * He was more concerned with God’s name than his own. * (It’s the name on the front, not the back). * Vs 1b - God’s work makes Him look good. * Vs 2 - When weak people walk in authority they confound the strong. * (Tori defeating Lebron James). * Vs 3-4 - the key to humility is stopping to consider God! * * Embrace His majesty - be in “awe” of Him (outside). * * King David had no electricity - his nights were glorious! * Vs 5-8 - God gave us authority! * David was a good king because he was a humble king. * How to * 1) Consider how incredible God is. * 2) Captivate yourself with His majesty (take Him in with your senses). * 3) Consecrate yourself to Him - “make or declare sacred; dedicate formally for a divine purpose.”

Psalms 8:5-8 (1/19/22)

January 19, 2022 • Benham Brothers • Psalm 8:5–8

* When people are sick they need a doctor. When they are captive they need a warrior. * Right now our culture needs courageous warriors who are willing to fight. * But you won’t fight a battle if you don’t know you’re in one. * ** David is considering the role of mankind in the earth. * He gives us a glimpse into why we’re in this fight in the first place. * Vs 3-4 - God the Father cares about us, His image bearers. * Vs 5a - we are not as strong or strategic as angels! * Vs 5b-8 - God gave us authority over creation. * He’s put everything “under our feet.” * What do you think Satan wanted in heaven? Power and authority. * God threw Satan to earth, then made a being less powerful than Satan. * This would be like a man wanting to fight me, then I offer up my 11 year old daughter. * But I supernaturally give her my Spirit. * He wouldn’t just be defeated - he’d be humiliated. * Psalms 110:1 - “The Lord says to my lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” * This is a picture of ultimate humiliation. * We are in the footstool making business. * God put creation under our feet so we can be a part of putting Satan under Christ’s feet.

Psalms 12:8 (1/19/17)

January 19, 2017 • Benham Brothers

​ Vileness has always existed - this is the result of living in a fallen world. The issue comes when what is vile is honored. When what God calls evil is honored then evil people can strut about - like a strutting rooster, chief of the chicken coop. When what God calls evil is not honored then nobody can strut about because God is in command. The entertainment industry rewards producers for putting out evil (immorality, murder, nudity, drunkenness, love of money, abuse of authority, etc). We can’t get rid of evil, but we can affect the nation to a point where vileness is not honored. Take the example of smoking - it was once honored and cool, and now it’s not. Why? Because it’s evil was exposed. We are called to be salt (prevent decay) and light (extinguish darkness).

Psalms 13 (1/30/20)

January 30, 2020 • Benham Brothers

* This is a great view on how David prayed. * He poured out his heart to God, and allowed God to carry his burdens. * By the end, you can see how David’s heart changed. * The situation may not have changed, but David’s perspective did. * Here in this Psalm he’s talking about sorrow in his heart. * Vs 1-4 show David praying an emotional prayer. * Vs 5-6 show David stepping outside his emotions and getting into a transactional state. * “But I Will” - this is a matter of the will, disregarding his emotions. * He would make a deliberate CHOICE to not allow his emotions to dictate his attitude or his perspective. * He would CHOOSE to trust God, which is all about finding his security in Him. * He may not have “felt” any differently in the moment, but in time his emotions (and ours) would catch up with his commitment. * *** Note - Security is our #1 core human need. So when David needed to guide his emotions he went right to the source - he found his security in GOD!

Psalm 18 (2/5/13)

February 5, 2013 • Benham Brothers

* Act 1 - verses 1-36 * Act 2 - verses 37-50 * A1 - God had to rescue David and clean him up, set him on solid ground, before He could arm him for battle * A1 - God arms David for Battle * A2 - Once David was clean on the inside he then was prepared to fight God's battles * A2 - Most of us just take part in Act 1 but never Act 2 * Why Act 2? Why fight? So that the gates can be lifted up and our King can come in! This was so important that it was repeated twice!

Psalms 18:2 (2/4/16)

February 4, 2016 • Benham Brothers

• David uses a rock as the image of what God is for him. • Think of how David used a rock in his life: • 1) As a weapon for deliverance - he defeated Goliath with a rock. • When he found himself in a fight, his familiarity with a rock delivered him. • Hebrews 5:14 - constant use! • How did he get so good with the rock? Faithfulness! • A soldier and his weapon have a special bond - they recognize their survival depends on it. • 2) As a shelter for protection - he hid from Saul in a rock (cave). • A soldier needs a bunker, otherwise they'll die. • David used the rock not only to protect him from his enemy but to also defeat him. • Is God your rock?

Psalm 18:25 (2/5/15)

February 5, 2015 • Benham Brothers

God showed Himself to David as David was in his heart The same boiling water that hardens the egg softens the carrot. If you have "egg sustance" in you then you will get hard. If you have "carrot substance" in you then you will get soft. Same water, different result. Projection - whatever substance is in your gets projected onto others. This will always happen when the heat gets turned up! Boiling water (disagreements, suffering, trials, temptation, etc) is what reveals the substance of what's inside you. Only Christ can change the substance of a person!

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