2/18/2018
When Evil Abounds
Matthew 24:12
…because iniquity shall abound, the love (agapao) of many shall wax cold.
Revelation 13:10
…If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed.
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness
on the part of the saints.
Control Yourself
Psalm 37:1-2 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
Call Upon The Lord
Psalm 37:3-6 Trust in the LORD & do good; dwell in the land & enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD & He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him & He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun!
Calm Yourself In His Presence
Psalm 37:7-8 Be still before the LORD & wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger & turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil.
Recall Scriptural Promises
Psalm 37:9-10 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, & the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
Rest In The Lord’s Sovereignty
Psalm 37:11-15 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. The wicked plot against the righteous & gnash their teeth at them; but The Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword & bend the bow to bring down the poor & needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, & their bows will be broken.
Be Content With Righteousness
Psalm 37:16-20 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, & their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. But the wicked will perish: The LORD’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish–vanish like smoke.
Remember The History Of God’s People
Psalm 37:21-26 The wicked borrow & do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those He curses will be cut off. If the LORD delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand. I was young & now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous & lend freely; their children will be blessed.
Repent of Your Sins Not Others
Psalm 37:27-31 Turn from evil & do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the LORD loves the just & will not forsake His faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, & his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
Repose Yourself In The Lord
Psalm 37:37-40 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The LORD helps them & delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked & saves them, because they take refuge in Him.