Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 43:1 – 5 (KJV)
Psa 43:1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
Psa 43:2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psa 43:3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
Psa 43:4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
Psa 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1Peter 1:3 – 7 (KJV)
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Transforming Power Statements:
1) From the very fall of Adam there has been an internal proclivity to violate the commandment of God for the sake of having things our own way, which has produced in us a selfish disposition against sanctification, which we must learn to master and build up through prayer to God and fellowship with like-minded people, while avoiding others who fail to see things God’s way, except for the purposes of evangelism.
2) The Psalmist is concerned that the country is descending more deeply into sinful and godless behaviors which are an affront in the sight of God, making life difficult to the righteous who are seeking to live holy, so he cries out to God to refresh his soul in the truthfulness of His Holy Word in order to comfort himself in his times of temptation.
3) The Apostle Peter, admonishes the believers to realize that salvation and sanctification are expressions of God’s grace, love, and kindness which was manifested in the flesh through Jesus Christ His Son, Who has done a “Perfect work” that shall be fully revealed at the consummation of the ages as a powerful means of Bolstering Sanctification Through Prayer And The Holy Spirit!