“The High Cost” Part III of V

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 09 March 15, 2009

We have considered the high cost committing sin and the high cost of covering sin. Today we’ll deal with the high cost of confessing sin.

There is no question about it - David had sinned. He had lusted, he had coveted, he had taken his neighbour’s wife, then he had her husband killed. He then covered it up for almost a year.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

But what does it really mean to confess sin?
To confess does NOT mean to “admit”.

“Ok, I admit I did it!” (LOL) You or I can't hide anything in our heart from God - He already knows!

The word confess means “to say the same thing”.

Saying the same thing about our sins that God says about them... this leads to repentance rather than penance.

Speaking of penance - No amount of good work can atone for our sins. The only thing that takes care of sin is the blood of Jesus!

There is a definite difference between regret, remorse and repentance.
· Regret matter of the mind. sorry we got caught
· Remorse matter of the emotions. feeling terrible about it
· True repentance involves the whole person. The word repentance means to change direction.

Repentance begins in the mind and then moves into the heart! Psalms 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight:

David sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. But in the long run when we sin against man we sin against God.

II Samuel 12 And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He said, There were two men in a city; one rich, the other poor. The rich man had incredibly big flocks and herds: The poor man had nothing, except one little lamb, which he had bought and nourished, it grew up with him and his children; it ate and drank in the house - like one of the family. A traveller came to visit the rich man, the rich man spared his own flock, but took the poor man's lamb and butchered it for the traveller. And David's anger was great against the man and he said to Nathan, As the LORD lives, the man that has done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
David knew the rich man had sinnned and he was angry!
And Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul; I gave you the king’s house and his wives, and I gave you rulership over the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have given you more... Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD? Why have you done this evil in his sight? You’ve killed Uriah with the sword and you took his wife to be thy wife… “You’re the man!” Not a good thing!
David replied, “I have sinned!” I’m glad David didn’t ruin his repentance with an excuse!

Many people can say, “I have sinned!” but God knows what is in the heart.

Pharaoh had said, “I have sinned”, but he simply regretted suffering judgement.

Saul had said that he had sinned, but he too only regretted that he got caught.

Judas said, “I have sinned” but it was only remorse, so much so it led him to suicide.

Confessing sin is not cheap. It cost more than mere words. David never argued about his sin, nor did he excuse it. He admitted his heart was sinful. Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

David spoke clearly in Psalms 51:16 For You desires not sacrifice; or else I’d give it: You don’t delight in burnt offering.

David was a wealthy man and could’ve brought expensive sacrifices. But he knew that those sacrifices would not do any good if his heart was not broken before God.

That’s why David said, Psalms 51:17 a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You wilt not despise.

The high cost of confessing sin is a broken heart! Not just good intentions! When we come to the place where we realise that from head to toe we are nothing but dust - and defiled dust at that - and we have a broken heart, then we can sincerely confess our sin.

Psalms 34:18 The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart and saves such as are of a contrite spirit (crushed with sorrow for sin / humbly thoroughly penitent.)
Luke 22:54-62 They took Jesus and brought Him to the high priest's house. And Peter followed at a distance afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, rooster crowed. And the Lord turned, and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the rooster crows, you shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

All Jesus had to do was look at Peter, and Peter began to weep. Our Lord didn’t hit him, whip him, scold him or preach at him. - just looked! Peter’s heart broke.

What it takes to bring you to the point of real brokenness shows you where you are in the Christian Life!

Here’s the facts: God loves us. God is gracious, merciful and long suffering. God is true to His promise. If we come to God with a broken heart and confess our sin, He will forgive us and restore us.

Beware of cheap confession! Remember there is NOTHING CHEAP ABOUT GRACE! Consider the high cost of confessing sin!

A look at Confessions:

In the washroom of his London club, British newspaper publisher and politician William Beverbrook happened to meet Edward Heath, then a young member of Parliament, about whom Beverbrook had printed an insulting editorial a few days earlier. "My dear chap," said the publisher, embarrassed by the encounter. "I've been thinking it over, and I was wrong. Here and now, I wish to apologize." "Very well," grunted Heath. "But the next time, I wish you'd insult me in the washroom and apologize in your newspaper."

Four preachers met for a friendly gathering. During the conversation one preacher said, "Our people come to us and pour out their hears, confess certain sins and needs. Let's do the same. Confession is good for the soul." In due time all agreed. One confessed he liked to go to movies and would sneak off when away from his church. The second confessed to liking to smoke cigars and the third one confessed to liking to play cards. When it came to the fourth one, he wouldn't confess. The others pressed him saying, "Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret or vice?" Finally he answered, "It is gossiping and I can hardly wait to get out of here."

“The High Cost” Part III of V

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 09 March 15, 2009

We have considered the high cost committing sin and the high cost of covering sin. Today we’ll deal with the high cost of confessing sin.

There is no question about it - David had sinned. He had lusted, he had coveted, he had taken his neighbour’s wife, then he had her husband killed. He then covered it up for almost a year.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

But what does it really mean to confess sin?
To confess does NOT mean to “admit”.

“Ok, I admit I did it!” (LOL) You or I can't hide anything in our heart from God - He already knows!

The word confess means “to say the same thing”.

Saying the same thing about our sins that God says about them... this leads to repentance rather than penance.

Speaking of penance - No amount of good work can atone for our sins. The only thing that takes care of sin is the blood of Jesus!

There is a definite difference between regret, remorse and repentance.
· Regret matter of the mind. sorry we got caught
· Remorse matter of the emotions. feeling terrible about it
· True repentance involves the whole person. The word repentance means to change direction.

Repentance begins in the mind and then moves into the heart! Psalms 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight:

David sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. But in the long run when we sin against man we sin against God.

II Samuel 12 And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He said, There were two men in a city; one rich, the other poor. The rich man had incredibly big flocks and herds: The poor man had nothing, except one little lamb, which he had bought and nourished, it grew up with him and his children; it ate and drank in the house - like one of the family. A traveller came to visit the rich man, the rich man spared his own flock, but took the poor man's lamb and butchered it for the traveller. And David's anger was great against the man and he said to Nathan, As the LORD lives, the man that has done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
David knew the rich man had sinnned and he was angry!
And Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul; I gave you the king’s house and his wives, and I gave you rulership over the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have given you more... Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD? Why have you done this evil in his sight? You’ve killed Uriah with the sword and you took his wife to be thy wife… “You’re the man!” Not a good thing!
David replied, “I have sinned!” I’m glad David didn’t ruin his repentance with an excuse!

Many people can say, “I have sinned!” but God knows what is in the heart.

Pharaoh had said, “I have sinned”, but he simply regretted suffering judgement.

Saul had said that he had sinned, but he too only regretted that he got caught.

Judas said, “I have sinned” but it was only remorse, so much so it led him to suicide.

Confessing sin is not cheap. It cost more than mere words. David never argued about his sin, nor did he excuse it. He admitted his heart was sinful. Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

David spoke clearly in Psalms 51:16 For You desires not sacrifice; or else I’d give it: You don’t delight in burnt offering.

David was a wealthy man and could’ve brought expensive sacrifices. But he knew that those sacrifices would not do any good if his heart was not broken before God.

That’s why David said, Psalms 51:17 a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You wilt not despise.

The high cost of confessing sin is a broken heart! Not just good intentions! When we come to the place where we realise that from head to toe we are nothing but dust - and defiled dust at that - and we have a broken heart, then we can sincerely confess our sin.

Psalms 34:18 The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart and saves such as are of a contrite spirit (crushed with sorrow for sin / humbly thoroughly penitent.)
Luke 22:54-62 They took Jesus and brought Him to the high priest's house. And Peter followed at a distance afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, rooster crowed. And the Lord turned, and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the rooster crows, you shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

All Jesus had to do was look at Peter, and Peter began to weep. Our Lord didn’t hit him, whip him, scold him or preach at him. - just looked! Peter’s heart broke.

What it takes to bring you to the point of real brokenness shows you where you are in the Christian Life!

Here’s the facts: God loves us. God is gracious, merciful and long suffering. God is true to His promise. If we come to God with a broken heart and confess our sin, He will forgive us and restore us.

Beware of cheap confession! Remember there is NOTHING CHEAP ABOUT GRACE! Consider the high cost of confessing sin!

A look at Confessions:

In the washroom of his London club, British newspaper publisher and politician William Beverbrook happened to meet Edward Heath, then a young member of Parliament, about whom Beverbrook had printed an insulting editorial a few days earlier. "My dear chap," said the publisher, embarrassed by the encounter. "I've been thinking it over, and I was wrong. Here and now, I wish to apologize." "Very well," grunted Heath. "But the next time, I wish you'd insult me in the washroom and apologize in your newspaper."

Four preachers met for a friendly gathering. During the conversation one preacher said, "Our people come to us and pour out their hears, confess certain sins and needs. Let's do the same. Confession is good for the soul." In due time all agreed. One confessed he liked to go to movies and would sneak off when away from his church. The second confessed to liking to smoke cigars and the third one confessed to liking to play cards. When it came to the fourth one, he wouldn't confess. The others pressed him saying, "Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret or vice?" Finally he answered, "It is gossiping and I can hardly wait to get out of here."

“The High Cost” Part II of V

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 08 March 1, 2009

Two weeks ago in Part 1 of our mini series on the “High Cost” we looked at the high cost of committing sin. We read how David coveted his neighbor’s wife, committed adultry and then committed murder. Today we’ll look at “The High Cost of Covering Sin.”

David according to II Samuel 11 and 12 tried to “cover his sin”.

Solomon (David’s son) years later wrote, “He that covers his sins shall not prosper” Proverbs 28:13

Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 are a record of David’s confession, repentance and restoration. I think you’ll agree David paid a dear price in trying to cover his sin. Psalms 32:3-4 When I kept silent my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.

David was saying, because he covered his sin, he became physically old;. The word “moisture” in verse 4 is the Hebrew word for “freshness”. He says my freshness is turned into the drought of summer. He became dried up spiritually. Sin does that... especially if we are busy trying to cover it up.

Psychiatrists will tell you that guilt affects people physically. It has been discovered that deep buried guilt can be the cause of nervousness, backaches, headaches, heart trouble and ulcers.

Lets see how it affected David:
His Eyes: Psalms 51:3 .... my sin is ever before me.

Have you ever watched a child who has done something he shouldn’t do? You may not know what he has done, but you know he’s guilty of something. You can see it in his eyes.

David who saw God’s glory in everything around him... Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork... now only saw his sin.

People with unconfessed sin cannot see the beauty or blessings of God. Something happens to their sight.

His Mind: Psalms 51:6 desire truth in the inward parts... make me to know wisdom.

The dumbest person in the world is a Christian trying to cover his sin! Look at the things David did: He tried to pass off his adultry to Uriah - that didn’t work! He made Uriah drunk - that didn’t work! He gave Uriah a letter to give to Joab—wierd isn’t it carrying your own death letter..I wonder what Joab thought? I guess David wants to get rid of Uriah for some reason.

Proverbs 28:13 “he who covers his sin will not prosper”
Numbers 32:23- “Be sure your sin will find you out”

His ears: Psalms 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness…

Unconfessed sin causes everything to sound bad. You attend Bible Study and critise it, you attend church and critize - the choir was off key, the message to long or too strong. Everything you hear is wrong! Do you know why? You are wrong!

Ear Infections cause imbalances.

His bones: Psalms 51:8 ...that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.


When we walk with God our bones so to speak are strong, sturdy and straight. But as we try to carry the burden of unrepented sin - our bones become dry and brittle.

His heart: Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Maybe you think - I’m not like David, I’ve never committed adultery. Matthew 5:28 whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Again David’s son wrote: Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

David no longer had a clean heart - it had been defiled by sin, that is why he prayed create in me a new heart! When your heart is dirty, everything becomes dirty

Matthew 12:34 out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

David’s spirit: Psalms 51:10 ... renew a right (steadfast) spirit within me.

Something happened to David’s spirit - he lost his enthusiasm, his desire to walk upright. His attitude was wrong!

David’s fellowship with God: Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

As David continued covering his sin something happened to his fellowship with God.
Folks when we sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit. When we cover our sin we quench the Holy Spirit. Something happens to our fellowship with the Father.

When we cover our sin we are actually trying to fool God. We use up incredible energy trying to keep sin covered.

David’s joy: Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation;

This “missing” joy is experienced whenever you attempt to hide your sin. Husband / wife; Parent / child; Employer / employee

David’s Testimony: Psalms 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners will be converted to You.

David’s testimony was tainted and he knew he couldn’t lead others.

A good man doing a bad thing causes far more damage than a bad man doing a bad thing.

David’s hands: Psalms 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness There was blood on his hands. David was guilty of murder!

Uriah’s blood stained David’s hands, and nothing but (a stronger blood) the blood of Jesus could wash that stain away!

David’s tongue: Psalms 51:14-15 my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteous-ness….

When David walked with God he wrote songs of praise and joy. But now? How could he sing about righteousness?
Every word was a knife!

At times we go through the same thing.... there are times we can’t sing at all. Some thing happens to our mouth and we can’t praise God in the freedom and joy of truth.

David’s ministry: Psalms 51:18 .. build the walls of Jerusalem.

David had been a builder, he had built a strong city and a strong nation. But when he sinned and covered up his sin something happened to his ministry. Instead of being a builder he became a destroyer.

Instead of being part of the solution he became the problem.

I Kings 8:19 Nevertheless you shalt not build the house..

The neat part of this was that David wasn’t upset - he knew God was right! Folks their are consequences to sin!

David still stored up supplys and money to build even though he wouldn’t be building it.

I often wonder what would happen in our churches if all of the people of God would get right with God... how ministry would be blessed! Think of the spiritual building!

See the high cost of covering sin!

Something happened to his eyes, his mind, his ears, his bones, his heart and his spirit.

Somethingh happened to his fellowship, his joy and his testimony.
Something happened to his hands, and to his mouth. As a final result something happened to his ministry.

We started with Proverbs 28:13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper: BUT hang on friends for there is more to this verse…
whoever confesses and forsakes his sins shall have mercy!

“The High Cost” Part I of V

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 07 February 15, 2009

The high cost of committing Sin: Psalm 51 is a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he’d gone in to Bathsheba.

The most precious thing in all the universe is the human soul. Jesus said, Mark 8:36 what will it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?

The value of the human soul was demonstrated at calvary, for the Lord Jesus shed His precious blood that we might be saved.

Sin’s High Cost: If the human soul is the most priceless thing in the world, anything that ruins or destroys that soul is expensive. What’s the most expensive thing in the world? I think the most expensive thing in all the world is sin.

This fact is illustrated in the experience of King David as recorded in II Samuel 11, 12, Psalm 32, 51. II Samuel 11 sets the stage - “it was at the time when kings went to battle, that David sent Joab, his servants and all Israel.. But David stay at the palace. One night David got up from his bed and walked on the roof, and from there he saw a woman washing herself; she was very beautiful, and David asked about her. He was told that she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David sent for her and she came to him, and he lay with her and she returned to her house. A little while later he got word that she was with child.

King David took off his armor and relaxed! He really should have been fighting out on the battlefield. One restless night he walks out onto the deck and his eyes wandered, he saw his neighbour’s wife, he lusted after her and he took her. He committed adultery. And later she sent word to him that she was pregnant.

David faced a serious problem, a self created problem.
He tried to get out of it, by calling her husband Uriah, a soldier in from the battlefield. He suggested Uriah go home and spend time with his wife, but he would not go home. David’s first plan didn’t work.

David then got Uriah drunk... that still didn’t work. Uriah was a true soldier. David arranged to have Uriah murdered on the battlefront. Shortly after this took place David married Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife. A baby was born, but the baby died.

God recorded David’s actions in the Word to teach us. II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

Psalm 32, 51 David’s prayers of repentance, recording the spiritual change that took place in David’s life when he honestly dealt with his sin.

I ask you to consider the high cost of sin. Some professing Christians have the idea that because they’ve been saved by grace they can live any way they please. The Apostle Paul faced these people when he wrote Romans 6:1 Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Of course in verse 2 he says, God forbid

Two powerful motives can lead us into holy living. One is the fear of God - a holy loving reverent fear of God.

The second is a holy hatred for sin. The more we learn about God the more we want to be with Him and obey him... the more we learn about sin the more we ought to hate it.
Avoid sin at any cost!

Turn to Psalm 51 and lets discover the high cost of committing sin. You may have heard it said - the act of sin - David committed adultry. David made a man drunk. David murdered a man. These are acts. But sin is much more than an act; sin is a process.

Sin can begin with an act, but that act plants seeds and those seeds grow and produce fruit. The Word is clear, “what a man sows, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

Psalm 51:1, 2 “blot out my transgressions” / “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity” “cleanse me from my sin.”

David used the words transgression, iniquity and sin. These words are not synonyms. The Hebrew language like the Greek language is very full and very rich when it comes to describing things.

The word transgression means rebellion. In defying the law of God which he knew, David was a rebel. When you and I sin we oppose God’s will… that’s rebellion!
· Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.... but he coveted.
· Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. but he committed adultry
· Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. but he murdered.

He used the word iniquity. The word transgression emphasizes the rebellious-ness of sin, but iniquity refers to the crookedness of sin. There is something devious and crooked about sin.
David rebelled against God’s law and committed adultry, then he became devious.

A tragic thing took place to in David’s relationship with God - something wicked happened to his character - he became devious. Walter Scott put it well: “O what a tangled web we weave, When we first practice to deceive”

The third word David used for his action was sin. This word here simply means to miss the mark. This emphasizes the fact that David did not meet God’s standard.

All of us have standards of one kind or another. Some lower their standards to cover up their sin. David missed the mark. God had a goal, a standard... But David missed that mark.

Consider the high cost of committing sin: something happens to your will - you become a rebel; something happens to your character - you become devious; something happens to your goals - you miss the mark.

David used 3 verbs that are rather interesting: blot out, wash and cleanse. Not mere repitition, each of these words tells us something sin does.

The term blot out refers to the blotting out of a debt. When David sinned he became a debtor. He broke the Law and now had a debt before God that he had to pay.

The beautiful thing about living an obedient life is that you are debt free. Free from guilt and shame!
But when we sin we move out of that credit column in God’s account book and become debtors. We don’t lose our salvation - I want to make that very clear, rather we lose that close fellowship with God. We stop enjoying the riches of God’s grace.

Isaiah 59:2 your iniquities have separated you and your God, your sins have hid his face from you...

David also used the phrase wash me. Sin always defiles. We’re not only made debtors but we’re made dirty by sin.

I have yet to meet a person who says, sin makes me a better person NO! sin always defiles the mind and the heart. David felt dirty. His conscience was dirty, so he cried out, God Wash me! This is the high cost of sin. It makes you a rebel, it makes you devious, it makes you miss the mark, it makes you a debtor and it defiles you.

David prayed - cried if you will - Cleanse me. This word is used in reference to the lepers. Sin not only results in debt and defilment but sin is also a disease. In several references disease is used as a picture of sin. Think of it - David who had been spiritually healthy had become spiritually diseased!

I want to ask you all a simple question regarding sin - Is it really worth it? When you realize the high cost of committing sin, the answer must be no!

Before David sinned he was a friend of God; then he became a rebel.

Before David sinned;
He was straight in his living then he became crooked and devious.
He was meeting the goals that God set for him, then he missed the mark. He was enriched in spiritual blessing, then he became a debtor.
He was clean, but he became defiled.
He was spiritually healthy, but then he became diseased.

The next time you are tempted to sin remember the high cost and ask yourself is it really worth it?

“Good Trouble?”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 06 February 8, 2009

The Christian life is not always smooth sailing. No Kidding!

It certainly hasn’t been a picnic - it hasn’t all been through green pastures and beside still waters. There were dark canyons and rough mountains. But as I look back on those stressful days I realize that they didn’t end as disastrously as I thought they would’ve. In fact I’m amazed that those bad days brought no lasting harm at all. My losses became gains.
Although I still carry the scars. I can say as the Psalmist It is good for me to have been in trouble. Psalm 119:71
The Apostle Paul spoke of this when he said, We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us II Corinthians 4:7

The Greek word Paul uses for "earthen" is "frail clay" meaning, "weak, easily broken". The fact is, we all suffer what the Bible calls "infirmities." "often infirmities" I Timothy 5:23

The Greek word "infirmity" here means "sickly, without strength, feeble of body or mind."

Infirmities of the mind are more widespread then you think.
I'm not talking about mental illness, rather those times when your feelings play tricks on your mind.

It's possible to go to bed feeling at peace and yet wake up the next day with a heavy cloud of gloom hanging over your head. All day long you are bound by your downcast state of mind.

Guilt, fear and anxiety are all infirmities of the mind.
And these infirmities cannot but help affect your feelings.

For instance, you might not be able to shake off some harsh words spoken to you a few days before. You may constantly battle feelings of rejection or unworthiness.

Ironically, my bad days usually come after a spiritual high or after preaching my heart out in a service. I can be easily overwhelmed with feelings of worthlessness and discouragement.

Feelings of doubt may try to enter your mind. You may voice things like: "I can't feel God's presence” “I wonder if He exists”

Let me encourage you...your heavenly Father knows exactly what you're going through and He'll see you through it all.

There may be awful trying days when you feel like giving into your emotions, wanting to give up or quit. But, I can tell you from experience that God always gives you strength to go on.
The Apostle Paul said, God...comforts those that are cast down II Corinthians 7:6

The Greek word for "comforts" here means "to call close." How amazing is that! When we experience bad days, our heavenly Father takes advantage of them to draw us close!
Paul said, My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Philippians 4:19 God is faithful to take care of all your concerns business, financial and otherwise.

Notice, God shall supply all your need that’s singular. In short, You need only one thing Jesus! Lay hold by faith.

Searching the Word I discovered that suffering is not “new”!

II Corinthians 1:8 we want you to know of our trouble we were pressed out of measure above strength, inasmuch that we despaired even of life:

Paul was saying “I’m going through something I don’t understand at all. I’m being pressed beyond my endurance, beyond my ability to handle it and I don’t know why. I’m not so sure we’ll make it.”

Consider:
II Corinthians 4:8-10 troubled on every side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE BEHIND ALL SUFFERING OF SAINTS IS TO QUALIFY US TO BECOME CONSOLERS.

I Corinthians 1:3-5 God comes alongside us when we go through hard times and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of His healing comfort - we get a full measure of that, too.

When I’m really hurting (pastors hurt too), I don’t want to read some book that gives me ten steps on how to find victory!

And I certainly don’t need to go to some “big” name minister to “zap” me.
NO - I want to talk to some ordinary, unknown saint who has suffered heavily and yet come through it all praising God, comforted and full of faith!
I want someone who has been tested in the fires of affliction - one who has known loneliness, sadness, sorrow, rejection, heartache. I want someone who has been to the point of giving up - and yet has trusted God and come through it rejoicing, believing, stronger than ever.

Paul was able to rejoice in all his sufferings because he knew his tribulations were for other’s benefit.

The best teachers in any church are not the ones in the pulpit. Rather they are sitting in the pews, they’ve suffered, yet still worship the Lord.

God wants to build your faith on all His past deliverences. So that you will trust Him in every new and coming crisis.

II Chronicles 20:15-17 God says, Be not afraid nor dismayed by this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.... You will not need to fight in this battle: stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, fear not, nor be dismayed; go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

II Corinthians 1:18-19 I think you ought to know, dear brothers about the hard time we went through in Asia. We were really crushed and over-whelmed and feared we would never live through it. We felt we were doomed to die and saw how power-less we were to help our ourselves, but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God who alone could save us, for He can even raise the dead, and He did help us and saved us from a terrible death; yes and we expect Him to do it again and again.
A final note; don’t allow your troubles to make you hard hearted, bitter and cruel. instead, make profit out of calamities and change losses into gain. Learn the art of changing your cross into a crown.
We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. Romans 8:28
I know there are times when we can’t possibly understand how this can be true. But if in spite of our difficulties we hold fast in faith, then one day we too, shall be able to sing, It is good for me to have been in trouble.

See, I’ve refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction Isaiah 48:10
We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us.
As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives!

We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe.

And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive.

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever

“Goshen”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 05 February 1, 2009

Goshen? A simple word, yet it paints an incredible picture.
I know Goshen to be a safe place. I hope the phrase, “But not in Goshen” will be of great encouragement to you.

I believe God has something in this message for you, and I don’t want you to miss even the smallest bit. Let those with ears...

Last week we spoke of savouring God’s presence, hanging on to His every word. Rushing through God’s visitation is rude but being indifferent to His message brings shame.

First and foremost, the word Goshen refers to a place. A place of God’s choosing. Not any old place, but the best of places.

For the children of Israel, Goshen was a safe place in the midst of their captivity. I am convinced that Goshen speaks of a safe place for us and I am not talking about here at the Gathering Place. We sure hope to be a safe place and we will try very hard to be a safe place. Folks, before this can be a safe place, we ourselves need to be in a safe place?

There are several referrances to the place called Goshen, the first in: Genesis 45:10 “You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children's children, your flocks, your herds and all that you have.”

While in Egypt, Joseph was given a place of rulership and in this verse he is inviting his wayward brothers to come and live with him. Joseph is a type of Christ. So when Joseph speaks of wanting his family near him, Jesus is saying the same thing.

What a comfort to hear Jesus say, you shall be near me, you, your children and your children's children

As we see in Genesis 46:34, Egypt was cattle country, shepherds and sheep were not welcomed. They were considered an abomination.

Egypt is a type of the world and the true shepherd of Israel is rejected by her as well.
Remember, God’s children are sheep.

Pharoh considered Goshen to be the best land of Egypt. Looking at Goshen as being the WORD - it too is the best. There are hundreds of thousands of good books, great books in fact, but nothing compares to this Holy Book!

Let me add to my case by reading Genesis 47:27 “And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.”

We too live in this world, but as long as we abide (dwell) in the WORD and hold our possessions based on the WORD, we will grow and multiply exceedingly!

In Exodus 8:22-23 God establishes Goshen as a safe place, bringing to light the statement, “but, not in Goshen!”

God said, “I’ll sever in that day the land of Goshen in which my people dwell, no swarms of flies shall be there; so they will know, I am the LORD..I’ll put a division between my people and the people of Egypt.”

Exodus 9:4&6 “The LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt. All the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of Israel died not one.

Genesis 9:26 “Only in the land of Goshen was there no hail.”

Plagues, pestilence, judgement came... but not in Goshen!
Are you in the Word? Is the Word in you? If so, then you are safe.

In this late hour, God Himself sends a strong delusion in response to the hardness of people’s hearts. God has provided a Goshen for us today - His Holy Word! The Truth of His Word will not only set us free, it will keep us!

II Thessalonians 2:8-14, 19 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth (His Word) and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

This is confirmed in Mark 13:22 “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”

Who are the elect? II Thessalonians 2 “God has chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. He called you by the gospel to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ...the foundation of God stands sure having this seal, The Lord knows them that are His.”

Jesus spoke clear warnings in Matthew 24:4-5,11&24
¨ Jesus answered saying, take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
¨ Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.
¨ There shall arise false Christs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they’ll deceive the very elect.

This will increase! II Timothy 3:13 “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

TRUTH is the best safe guard against deception.
God’s WORD is TRUTH!

Ephesians 4:10-21 “He gave some apostles and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

Could this be spoken of in Amos 8:11
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”

God sends this famine because of the contempt people show for His Word! A dreaded release comes because people in their rebellion refuse to obey the WORD. Psalms 81:11-12 “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel didn’t want any of me. So I gave them up to their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”

If you’re starting to see that the Word is a safe place, listen to this John 1:1&14. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory full of grace and truth.”

This will get you excited!
Revelation 19:13 “He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and His name is called The Word of God.”

Jesus Himself is our safe place in John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me: I give them eternal life; they shall never perish, nor shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Now friends, we are just scratching the surface. But this is enough food for thought for this week. Just remember, in order for you to survive, you must be in spiritual Goshen.

You must be in the WORD and have the WORD in you!
Eat it!
Devour it!
Absorb it!
Take it in!
Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.”

We are kept from deception
by our obedience to the WORD!

James 1:22 “Be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

“Is That To Go Or Stay?”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 4 January 25, 2009

FYI: Corn is sown. It grows and is harvested and then the whole plant, roots and all is plowed under. Consider, God's work is spiritual to the point of having no earthly roots, no smell of earth on it at all. Men pass on, but the Lord remains.

Everything to do with the Church must be up-to-date and living, meeting the present needs of the hour.

King David is dead. Moses is dead. Gideon, Samson, the three Hebrews - all are gone, silent and still. But we are alive. It is our hour to minister! It is our turn to Carry On!

Carry On: to keep up; to continue; to behave in a “wild, excited” manner.

John 8:31 “Jesus said, If you continue (carry on) in my word, then you really are my disciples.”

John 15:9 “Jesus said, Continue (carry on) in my love.”

Acts 14:22 “Confirming the disciples and exhorting them to continue (carry on) in the faith.”

Colossians 4:2 Continue (carry on) in prayer

Acts 4:18-19 “They ordered them not to carry on in this manner any longer. But Peter and John said, Whether it be right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. But we can do nothing but carry on speaking the things which we have seen and heard.”

Were they thrown off because of this? no way

Listen to their prayer! Acts 4:29-34 “Lord, you heard their threats: grant us more boldness so we may speak your word.” (God help us to carry on carrying on!)

Hebrews 12:1 “Seeing we are surrounded by such great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run (carry on) with patience the race that is set before us.”

The problem is we are slow at laying aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us.

We struggle in our running because we are out of shape. Too busy, too preoccupied with our lives to spend quality time with the coach!

Our coach is none other than Jesus, but alas our vision of Christ is too small, too limited.

If we had a revelation of how vast Christ is - how boundless, measureless, limitless, immense - it would become impossible for us to ever be set back by life's problems.

We need to rush back to the Lord's presence, to the secret closet of prayer, to His table, getting lost in His fullness.

We’ve vacated our seat at His Table and settled for a sort of “take out” service. Choosing to go through the Drive Thru rather than the intimate sit down feast!

We are hungry, but out of time. So we grab a “Happy Meal”. We shove fries and a burger in our mouth while we drive in rush hour traffic. But hang on it’s not in vain, look…..there’s a “toy” inside.

We settle for gracelets - bits and pieces of God as we rush through this life hoping to die well, but dear friends you should be more concerned about living well.

You may say, hang on preacher - there are times I get so excited about God that I actually cry out to Him for more.

But super-sizing your take-out order doesn’t change the fact that it is still a take out order. You still really have no time for Him.

Our heavenly Father is looking for believers who understand that Christ is our everything.

Paul said, “In Him we live and move and have our being” Acts 17:28. True people of God live this verse.

Their life, their every move, their very
existence is wrapped up only in Christ.

Every true servant of God should willingly wait on Him, quietly, in faith believing, trusting the Holy Spirit to manifest the mind of God.

There is so little fresh truth, so little clear and ever-expanding precious word from the Lord.

The church is overrun with would-be prophets who go about saying, “God told me” or “I have a word from God for you”. Sadly, most of it is gibberish.

What is needed most today, is a return to God’s infallible word, a true and living revelation. Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days come, says the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”

It is in our world today, most sermons you can only find a few kernels of wheat surrounded with mountains of chaff.

God's people worldwide need to once again hunger and thirst for a Word from God! Saints of God, EAT THE BOOK!

Get your own touch of God! Cherish His invite! Run to His table! Don’t be called twice!

Please give me your attention - this is vital! Paul says “that Christ was revealed in him, not simply to Him.” Galatians 1:16

If you want nothing but Christ, you’ll hide yourself away with Him! You’ll sit in His presence, in no hurry, loving Him, worshipping with upraised hands, yearning after Him.

Far too many of us are guilty of using Christ.

We use Him to further our own dreams, God forgive us!

God prepares an incredible spread for us. God invites us to a continual feast.

He waits ready to bless us as we dine with Him but we settle for a fillet of fish…..on the run!
The problem is we get just enough of Jesus to keep us going. We become self deceived in thinking that this is all there is.

But listen to this….

God declares that this feast is a time for laughter, joy and singing. He tells you, “Eat, drink - rejoice and be glad. A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry.” Ecclesiastes 10:19

Then, then as you dine, Oh saints hear me now. As you dine, God anoints your head with the oil of gladness.

“You anoint my head with oil.”
Psalm 23:5, 45:7

Hebrews 1:9 “God your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness.”

Meanwhile, as God is preparing and serving your feast, He makes your enemies sit on the outer fringe of the scene and watch
everything unfold.

They see the Lord Himself, spreading your table with food, escorting you to your seat and waiting on you. They watch as you fill your soul with heaven's manna.

No demon power, including the devil himself, could ever comprehend this kind of love, mercy and grace.

Your enemies will be in shock.

Jesus tells us that the Father does this for all His children.

“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he comes shall find watching: verily I say to you, that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meat and will come and serve them.” Luke 12:37

“Facing The Future”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 03 January 18, 2009

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 How would you like to learn the secret to facing your untried tomorrows with calm confidence and hope?

My text this morning is probably the most familiar song in the literature of the world. More of you can quote it from memory than any other single passage in God's Word.

If this Psalm could write its own biography, what a thrilling story it would have to tell! There is not an ocean it hasn’t crossed, no country it hasn’t visited, no road it hasn’t travelled. We can’t say with authority who wrote these words. For long centuries they have been credited to David, the shepherd king.

If David wrote them, as I assume he did, they were not written, I feel sure, in the springtime of his life, nor yet in the vigor of midsummer. These are the words of a man who has lived much and thought much. Who has greatly sinned and has been greatly forgiven.
There is One who has loved me and has sought me in all my wanderings. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”
What an amazing discovery! Look at the incredible wealth of it.
· He dares to claim God as his very own.
He does not say that the Lord is a Shepherd.
Having dared to claim God as his own, the psalmist's next word is the most logical ever uttered. If the Lord is my Shepherd, what follows as naturally as night follows day? Just this, “I shall not want.”
· He is able to supply all our needs.
We are accustomed to say that money talks, and that is true to some degree. But in the presence of the deep wants of the heart, it is as useful as a screen door on a submarine.
What are some of the wants that the Good Shepherd will supply?
If the Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not want for rest and refreshment.
· “He makes me to lie down in green pastures.”
We shall surely find in him satisfaction for the hungers and thirsts of our souls.
The sheep lie down because their hunger has been satisfied. They feel secure.
“He that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29
· “He leads me beside still waters.”
With the Lord as our Shepherd, we shall not want for leadership and guidance. That means that He goes before us into our unknown tomorrow.
After the old geographers had mapped the known world, they wrote on the seas that lay beyond the confines of the known such words as these: “Here be dragons. Here be demons that devour men.” But the author of the 23rd Psalm had a sure confidence.
He believed that it was not dragons and demons that were waiting for us, but that God was there.
“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall your hand lead me and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:9
What faith the Psalmist had. Whatever lies beyond to-day, we may be sure of this, that God is there. He goes before.
· “He leads [or guides] me in the paths of righteousness.”
Not only does the Good Shepherd go before us, but He gives us guidance.
How we need such guidance!
How limited is our vision!
How often we stand bewildered at the forks of the road not knowing which way to turn! “When he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you.” John 16:13
· “He restores my soul.”
This word restore has two possible meanings. Firstly, it means to bring back to health and strength, one who is sick. And secondly, to restore means to seek that which is lost and to bring it back to the fold. Surely David is here speaking out of his own experience.
This year that is ahead need not be simply another year. It can be a new year. New because we ourselves have become new. I know that to some this sounds like a lot of double talk, but some of you have given up hope of ever being anything different from what you are.
Not satisfied with the lean, drab lives that we are living, yet we see little chance of ever changing them for the better.
We hear of people making resolution after resolution, but never changing. Resolves and re-resolves and then die the same. But here is one who stands in a world grown old and gray and shouts, “Old things are passed away; behold they are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17
With the Lord as our Shepherd. we will not want for companionship and comfort in sorrow. The Good Shepherd leads us in green pastures and beside the still waters. But sometimes the road changes suddenly from green pastures to wild rugged mountains. But our Shepherd does not forsake us in those dark and desperate hours. In fact, He draws closer to us.
· “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
He not only walks with us in the darkness, He brings us through it.
The Good Shepherd will not leave us in the dark valley. He will bring us through it into the sunshine.
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
Now for something few people know…

· “Thy rod and staff comfort me.”

Leviticus 27:32 “And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.”

Ezekiel 20:37 “And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.”

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Finally, with the Lord as our Shepherd, we shall not want for a home at the end of the journey.
Will Jesus love us and lead us all through our pilgrimage only to forsake us in the end?
Will He hold our hands in His till we reach that greedy and muddy ditch that we call the grave, and then fling us into it and turn His back upon us forever?

I for one, refuse to believe that. On the contrary, I am confident that when the shadows gather, Jesus, being the Good Shepherd that He is, is going to lead us home; that where He is, we may be also. He loves us too much to willingly throw us away.