Remember Your Word to Me — Shane Idleman

Remembering God's Word in Difficult Times

The title of the message is Remember Your Word to Me. God, remember your word to me. God speaks to you, I believe, primarily through his word and obedience to his word. You want the best direction for your life, look to his word, obey his word.

And I've noticed over the years that sometimes portions of scripture will come alive. It's like, it's highlighted, it's on the big screen. And God, the Holy Spirit is using that to speak something into your life.

And you want to remember that word that he gave you. Remember what he spoke to you, remember that confirmation, remember the promises. And that really helps us get through the difficulties of life. And we learned last week, the greater the trial, the sweeter the victory.

Amen? The greater the trial, the sweeter the victory. So let's look at Habakkuk. And he's asking a question right in the opening chapter. Oh Lord, how long shall I cry and you not hear me? I even cry out to you violence.

In other words, it's getting pretty bad. It's getting difficult, it's getting challenging. How long will I cry out and you will not save? Look at the parallels in America. Why do you show me iniquity?

And in other words, I see the sin of the people and cause me, why am I seeing all this trouble? Why am I seeing this brutality in the streets? There's plundering, there's violence, there's strife, there's contention.

Why is that? Therefore, Lord, it seems like your law is powerless. I'm paraphrasing a little bit here, adding into it as I'm speaking. It seems that the law of God is powerless, which we know it's not.

And justice never goes forth, which we know is not necessarily true. We know that Lord, the word of God is so powerful. We know that justice is real. But there are seasons where it looks like truth has fallen in the street, like Jeremiah would say.

Things are falling apart. We can't, Lord, where is your justice? And so you need to know that he struggled with the same thing. This is probably about 2 ,500 years ago. It's been a consistent issue in the lives of those who follow God.

Why are the wicked prospering? Why is the depravity in the streets? Why are the just being punished and the unjust not? And the Lord replies, look among the nations and watch. Be utterly astonished, for I will work a work in your day which you will not believe, though it were told to you.

For indeed, I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation, which marches through the breadth of the earth to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. Now, this is where it gets interesting.

Habakkuk's Vision, Judgment, and the Call to Wait

And I wish I could have spent the whole time in Habakkuk. You have chapter one, his questioning God, and you have this section here where God is actually, this is not a pleasant statement from God. He's saying, I'm bringing in the Chaldeans to judge my people.

But then he offers hope in the midst of adversity. If you continue reading Habakkuk, there's this back and forth dialogue. And in chapter two, I believe it's chapter two, the famous verse where God says about the vision, he says, write the vision down that I'm giving you.

Write it down, make it plain on tablets so that people who read it will run, run because of the conviction. And he says, though that vision tarries, wait on it, for in the end it shall speak and not lie.

And many pastors preach on that topic. Though God speaks something to you, the vision is yet for an appointed time. Don't worry, it will speak and not lie. Well, the context, though, is judgment. That God is judging the nation for their sin.

That is going to come to pass. Though it tarries, though it's not happening right away, it will speak and not lie. In other words, it will come to pass. And then the famous verse that actually Martin Luther was reading over in Romans that he was saved with was this, and the just shall live by faith.

So I offer this bad news, but also a reminder that you that are just, justified in Christ, you shall live by faith. Faith will be your anchor, faith will be your security. God's word will be your promises.

No matter when all hell is breaking loose, I still see heaven. No matter when I don't understand what's going on, I'm still going to be anchored to the truth of God's word. The just shall live by faith.

God, when I see my kids walking away, when I see things not happening the way they should happen, when the marriage is deteriorating and I'm doing all I can do, I'm going to live by faith, and that faith alone is my anchor.

You've got to have that well up inside of you. How are we going to get through these dire times if we're not anchored to faith? Jesus said the storm is coming to Christians too. Those who hear my word and do it, I will liken him to a man who built his house on the rock.

And when the storms beat upon that house, it did not fall because the foundation was anchored in the rock. And I've been on this earth long enough. I've seen a lot, so have you. You've seen people who have entered incredible storms and they're still standing.

And that's actually a testament to the faith. People often don't embrace Christianity because you drive a BMW and have a nice house. But when they watch you go through the storms of life and still stay anchored to your foundation, that's where they see the difference.

And Jesus says, he who hears my word and does not do them, he is like a man who built his house on the sand. And it just completely eroded when the storms came. But then you get to Habakkuk three, and this is where I left off last week.

Faith When Provision Appears to Fail

Though the fig tree may not blossom nor bear fruit. Think about that. Though the fig tree may not blossom nor bear fruit. And sometimes we read this and we don't understand the ramifications because we didn't live in that time.

When the trees didn't bear fruit, you didn't eat. We could easily say though Costco is closed, Walmart is shut down and Target is locked up because of the virus. Nobody's going in, nobody's going out.

There's no fruit. The meat industry, there's nothing there. Or you could say, I'm not seeing any fruit in my life. Lord, I've been doing these things and nothing's blossoming. I'm not seeing the fruit.

Then he said, though the labor of the olive may fell. In other words, there's no oil, which was to them was very important because that's how they cooked everything. And in the fields, there is no food.

It's almost like he's saying I've worked and there is no reward. I prayed and I've not seen the results. Anybody give up on praying because you're not seeing the results? Let me tell you, hold on to those promises.

It's in the waiting time is not wasted time. It's in that waiting time, you begin to develop this travail for prayer, this passion for prayer. You begin to develop the important spiritual muscle of perseverance and God says, keep praying, keep contending, keep fighting, keep pressing and the devil wants to discourage you.

The devil wants you to stop contending. I don't see the fruit. It's worthless and it's not because the just shall live by faith. And remember, faith is the substance of things not yet seen. If I can see it, of course I believe it.

But real trust and faith in God comes from not seeing it. And though the flock may be cut off from the fold. In other words, my provision is drying up. Anyone there this morning? Isn't it interesting?

We all are going through the same storm but we live and utilize different boats. We're in different boats. Some are doing well financially. Things are going well. Others are barely getting by. Some have their children following the Lord.

Others see their children walking away. And it's such a diverse group of people that you have to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you individually in these different areas. And so I know many of us can relate.

I'm not seeing the fruit. I've worked, I should tell you this. This is funny, kind of. I knew God was calling me to do this, calling me to preach, calling me to, you know, you have this idea, okay, Lord, I see you're doing this.

Humility Before a Ministry Calling

But often, I would say 99 of the time, you don't just get right there. There's a process. And the very first speaking engagement I had was at the homeless shelter over at Grace Resource. About eight to 10 people, homeless people, telling them how to take better care of their bodies.

I just came out of the fitness industry, gave my heart to Jesus, wrote a book on that topic. And they said, okay. And actually, it was a person helping me get started. And they said, well, I need to see how you do public speaking.

I'm thinking, oh, okay, well, this will be great. Where are you gonna, what? Meet you at Sierra Highway in Grace Resource, okay. But it was one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. I'll never forget it.

Eight to 10 people in the homeless shelter. And then I started going to a church in town. It's called Hope Chapel now. I said, here's what I believe God's doing in my life. Talked to the pastor. I still talk to him today, actually, texted him.

And he said, Shane, if God's in your heart, that's wonderful. We actually do have something for you to do here. And it was ushering and cleaning the restrooms. Wait, wait, wait, hold on. No, no, no. That's not what God's called me to do.

Actually, though, I was excited to do that. Walk the parking lot, security. And this whole time, you're going, well, Lord, I know what you've called me to do, but this is a little bit different. You know, and by the way, men's restrooms are much more dirtier than women's.

I don't know why that is. But it's a very humbling, humbling, and God just continues to break you and continues to humble you. And then because when he begins to maybe open doors, you remember those beginnings.

You remember if it wasn't for the grace of God, there go I. You remember where God took you. No man took you. God took you. And there's this time of, I'm not seeing the fruit. I'm working and there is no reward.

My provision is drying up. God, help me. And then I love what Habakkuk says. This big word I should have put up on the screen. This word yet, yet, yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation.

He is my strength. So no matter what, yet I will rejoice in him. Yet I will look to him. Though I might be going through hell, I look to heaven. Though I might not understand, I look to the God who knows all things.

Though things are crumbling around me, I stand on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Yet will I rejoice in his name. Though Job said, though he slay me, yet will I trust him. You gotta get a little yet in your life.

Yet my kids are doing this. I will seek you. Yet my life is falling apart. I will trust in you. Yet my marriage is going this way. I'm going to follow you. You get a little yet in your life because what's the opposite of yet?

Disgruntled, discouraged, bitter, angry. One or the other happens. And that's why I get worried sometimes when problems hit people. They either go hallelujah or I'm out of here. Where is this God? Where is this God who told me this and that?

Where is this abundant life? Where is this good life? And first I find out who they're watching on TV. That's number one. Who told you all this? Because I think God's trying to get pride out of you and he's going to humble you.

If you don't submit to the humility, you're not going to become humble. The scripture is very clear. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and due time he will exalt you. You exalt yourself and he will abase you.

That number, the word abase in the original language is underneath something as if God is just on top. I will abase you. I will embarrass you. I will humble you because I love you. There's really no such thing as a prideful Christian.

Losing Everything and Finding God to Be Everything

We can struggle with it but through that brokenness and humility, it's the yet that gets you through. And not all the time but often I've noticed you can't say that he is everything until you've lost everything.

I pray that doesn't happen. But that deeper the relationship, the people that, those saints, I just love being around those saints. Usually older people just are just, they cry when they're praying and you hear their prayer like God's hearing that prayer and they're just a sweet, not aroma, but just a sweet presence around them and just this brokenness, this gentleness.

You know that this person has spent time with God. If you hear their story, more often than not, they've lost a child or a spouse early on or they've overcome cancer when the doctor said there's no more hope or their kids are in rebellion, they're so broken over it.

That humility, that humility. Often it's until we've lost everything that we realize he is everything. And I believe that's one of the reasons why Jesus says it's hard for a rich man to enter heaven because the more things we have, the more things have us.

And I'm not against things. We have to have vehicles, we have to have cars. But if we're given things and we're prosperous and you really don't appreciate or need God as much because you have all these things.

The irony to me is in America, our blessing has become a curse. I mean, it's so nice to have blessings, but it's also, for example, we have one of the missionaries we support in Muslim countries, we can't say her name or really promote a lot.

She's gonna speak on a Wednesday night, I think at the end of the summer, we'll let you know. Or Pastor Sylvester, I talked to in Africa. And are you aware that most of them just don't have health insurance?

You can't just go put on a charge card. You have to rely on God to heal you. There's not Medi-Cal, Medicaid, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, they're still around. There's a trust in God. But see, the thing is, I'm not against those things.

I mean, God, some of these things are good, but if we don't, if you always have the scaffolding, you know, the scaffolding that you have up on a building, if it's always up, the scaffolding is used to be for a season and they're removed.

And sometimes God will remove things from our lives till we realize he is everything. What happens when you get that letter in the mail and we don't need your services anymore at work? And you're losing your job and you have a family.

Do you think God is in heaven going, uh-oh, what am I gonna do with this one? Whoo, this is toughy. You know, his sovereignty. But I've seen that break more men than anything else. Or when the wife says, I'm done, I'm leaving.

And see those wake-up calls and God beginning to strip away those things that we think are so important. And when you feel like you're drowning and yet you still praise him, that's the key, is it not?

When you feel like you're drowning and you still praise him. And I started to think this week, God has never let us down. And so I wanna talk now about this other thought here. Remember your word to me.

Psalm 119 and Remembering God's Promises

That was Habakkuk, it was from last week and I could not just take it out of my notes and start over, I felt it was for someone. In this portion, remember your word to me comes from Psalm 119, 49 to 50.

Remember, remember, he's talking to the Lord. Remember the word to your servant upon which you have caused me to hope. This is my comfort and my affliction for your word has given me life. Now the context looks like enemies are coming against him.

And so he says, remember the word to your servant. Remember this, God. And what I find ironic is God doesn't forget. God, do you remember? And God's saying, oh, that's right. Yeah, I'm sorry about that, I forgot.

That slipped my mind. So what is that there? Well, it's interesting, again, if you look at the original Hebrew of some of these words, they're very poetic and they carry nuances that we can't always describe when we translate into the English language.

But this was often the Hebrews would do it, remember. They know God didn't forget, it's a plea. It's reminding themselves. It's not saying, God, remember. It's like, oh, Lord, remember what you told me.

It's a plea. Remember, God, I prayed. I prayed if you would give me a son, give me a daughter, I would raise them in the fear and admonition. Lord, only give me a child if they're going to walk with you.

Lord, remember when I prayed that. Remember when I asked that and it becomes more of a plea. You reminding yourself of the goodness and grace and mercy of God and you're recalling what God promised you.

It's more for you than God. It's a plea. And where do we find these promises? Only in the word of God. And what happens if we're spending more time in the negative news than the positive truths of God's word, we'll be led astray.

We'll be led to forget the promises of God. It's gonna be very hard to forget the promises of God if you're always anchored in them. Oh, that's right, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Oh, God, get me back on track. That's right, blessed are those who seek me and when you seek him, you will find him. That's right, and look at that last song we sang. It's by the mercy of God, that's right.

It's not anything I've done, thank God for that. And you begin to remind yourself, strengthen yourself in the things of God. The prophets would say, set your heart on God. Set your heart on God like you would set a bone that is broken.

Folks, you've gotta learn to set your heart on God to strengthen yourself in God. And you begin to understand and appreciate the promises of God. There is only one thing that can revive the hearts of men.

One thing that can satisfy the soul. One thing that can quench the flames of discouragement. One thing that can keep you going when all else is failed. That is God's word. Thank God for his word that strengthens us and edifies us.

Without that word, what would we have? Well, I think he told me this. Somebody else, well, I think he told me this. Well, I don't know, I'm hearing voices. There's no anchor, there's nothing. That's why I don't have, when people say, why would God give us his Bible?

Why do we need that? Why wouldn't he just tell us? Well, how would he tell us? Through the written word, written communication that can be passed down. Something concrete, tangible, reliable, readable.

The Living and Powerful Word of God

There's only one thing if you're here this morning and you need your heart revived, you need your soul satisfied, you need to quench the flames of discouragement. Let his words speak to you. See, it's not just, here's what the difference is.

It's not just a book. It's the living words of God. Yes, some of it's challenging. You get it, but if you understand, that's why I'm excited to go through all the books about, you understand, for example, Leviticus.

Somebody said, oh, that's hard to read. But you have to understand, look as you read it, that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin, that the temporary covering of the sins of the people had to be covered by, in the book of Leviticus, it talks about that.

That's what the sacrifices were for. Then you have the Levitical priesthood, and then you start to read that Jesus was our high priest, and that Jesus is that final sacrifice, and everything starts to come to completion, and the word of God comes alive in your heart because you understand the nature and character of God and why Christ came.

The word of God is living and powerful. Benson, he's a commentator. He said, so powerful is the word of God to revive us when dead, either dead in sins or dead in sorrows. It's that reviving nature. And without a shadow of a doubt, when we talk to people that are not doing too well, discouragement, failure, defeat, fear, anxiety, when you ask them, well, how much time are you spending with God in his word?

Oh, not much. I gotta do better there. Well, yeah, you gotta start there without a shadow of a doubt. Now, there are people in God's word a lot seeking God, and still, still sometimes that anxiety comes upon them or fear, all these things, but without a shadow of a doubt, more often than not, they are not spending time because if it's living and vibrant and active, as you're reading it, it speaks to your heart.

It conforms or transforms your mind. Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. So it's life. What it actually is, is food to the soul, food to the spirit. Why do we think physical food is more important?

Remember when they told Jesus, you need to eat? Oh, I have food that you don't know about, that being the word of God. Turn these stones into bread. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

So even in the challenging portions of the Bible, write down, Lord, I don't know what this means, and look into it later, but then get, just continue to read, and things will come out of God's word that will really change your heart.

What's that old saying? Sin will keep you from the word, or the word will keep you from sin? Many times we don't want to look to the Bible because we love our lifestyle of sin, contrary to the, who wants to read the word of God when they're enjoying their lifestyle that's contrary to the word of God?

It points out error in our lives. And then we see from this verse number two, there's a dependence. A dependence, don't forget your promise to me. I depend on it. So there's a dependence on God's promise.

Resting in God's Promises and Hope

Thank God for the promise that he will never leave nor forsake you. Thank God for those promises. And then we learn from this to rest, promises. We rest on the promises of God when we are under attack.

And Jesus said in Matthew 11, come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. And then also number four, I think we have in your notes, your word caused me to hope. Isn't hope an interesting thing?

I believe it's Proverbs, I didn't write it down, but hope deferred makes the heart sick. If you can keep hope away from someone, that's where the enemy, I'll tell you right now, that's where the enemy's going after in many of your lives and hearts, mine included.

If he can grab that hope and make you discouraged, you are unaffective or ineffective, I should say. Hope deferred, what's that mean? Have you ever heard, I'll defer this payment? Try telling your bank that, see what happens.

Hope deferred, hope that's not coming, hope that's put on hold, hope that I'm not receiving makes my heart sick. And I don't have time to go into it, maybe some other time, but they found recently, over the last probably 10, 20 years now, that these types of emotions can really harm you physically as well.

Anger, what it does to the body. Discouragement, fear, what it does to the body. Things happen, chemical things, adrenaline, things happen, and it actually can change some of your DNA. There's a study called epigenetics, it studies your genes and how you can turn on certain genes with anger and fear and frustration and how it affects your heart.

And the same thing with hope, hope deferred makes the heart sick, but also it can lead often to physical issues. Those often who are sick and they don't know why are holding on to unforgiveness. There's bitterness, there's a lack of hope, and they just walk around angry and cantankerous and they have physical problems often because a lot of this is connected.

Our physical and spiritual, God made us as body, soul, and spirit. All those areas should be operating when possible in a healthy, healthy union. They affect each other. And then number five, comfort in my affliction.

Thank God for that. Remember your word to your servant. You've given me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction. So no matter what I'm going through, because I hope in Jesus Christ and because I hope in what is coming, I can have comfort in my affliction.

If you remember the lady we had speak here on a Wednesday night, Sister Sarah, who spent three years in a Chinese prison and another three years in a Chinese, how in the world do you get through that?

Comfort in my affliction because of your promises. And you begin to realize that your life here is like this. Wait. Can't do that. Just a vapor. And we hope in the promises of God that's comfort in my affliction.

And some of you might need to hear this this morning. Delay is not deny. Hmm. When God delays something, he's not necessarily denying it. It's in that waiting time that humility takes place. It's in that waiting time that focus, renewed focus takes place.

Maybe setting your sights on the goal differently. It's in that waiting time that your heart gets right. It's in that waiting time that you press in in prayer. It's in that waiting time, some of you might get up early and come to morning worship.

Preparing for Battle Through Waiting and Worship

But it is interesting. Most of the people I talk to, for example, morning worship, just while we're on that topic purposely, is many of them are pressing in and hoping for something to happen in their marriage, with their kids, their own personal health.

Isn't it interesting? We'll get here when something's on the line. We're like, oh, my cryptocurrency made a million dollars. And I've got to sleep in and everything's going great. Why do I need to go there in the morning?

My health is great. The doctor just told me I'm in perfect health. The job is good. Those people are not often at the worship. I'm just a straight shooter this morning. It's those who are pressing in and they need to hear from God.

They need that hope. And I want to encourage you, don't wait until then. Because usually when that season comes, you're not prepared because the preparing comes before the battle is here. Many people fell in battle because they're preparing for battle when the battle's here.

When God wants us to prepare, put on the armor beforehand. So when the enemy comes, when the fiery darts are coming, you already have to have the shield. If you're looking for the shield when the darts are coming, it's too late.

And we build the foundation now to weather the storms later. Unbelief and doubt test our spiritual strength. And that's another key we can get from here, strength. I build up strength as I'm remembering God's word.

I build up strength and I think of Isaiah 40 often. But those who wait upon the Lord, we know that verse, right? Those who wait upon the Lord, renew their strength. Some translations actually use that word wait and you'd have to look at the original language why they do that.

It's hope. Those who hope in the Lord, and as you're hoping, you're waiting. So you can use those interchangeably. You're not theologically off. Those who hope in the Lord, renew their strength. Those who wait upon the Lord, renew their strength.

Those who fret and fear and get discouraged and get negative and judgmental and arrogant, they will begin to lose their strength in the Lord. The power of spiritual strength as far as hoping and waiting on God.

Living Sacrifice and Humility Before God

And that's why we used to sing that song sometimes in mainly sometimes early morning worship. We played it and sometimes I think Brent might sing it, but we're blessing you provide the fire. God, I'll provide the sacrifice.

What does that mean? God would often in the Old Testament and there's New Testament imagery as well. They would lay the sacrifice on the altar and the fire of God would fall and consume that sacrifice.

The manifest presence of God, the tangible presence of God, the power of the Holy Spirit falls upon an altar where there is a sacrifice. And many people are not willing to make that sacrifice. Paul said, I beseech you.

You know what that means? It'd be like, I beg you. Can you imagine Paul, if he would, it would be so amazing just to sit and listen. I guarantee you would not be quiet. My old meek little Paul. I mean, the Bible talks about, you know, he wasn't real gifted it says, but he's saying in Romans, I believe it, I beseech you, I beg you.

I wish I could go down every row and say this, I beg you, I beseech you, present your bodies to God as a living sacrifice, broken and humble before him on the altar. I'm begging you, I'm beseeching you because if you don't present your body as a living sacrifice, God cannot use you.

He cannot fill you with the Spirit. God will not fill a prideful, angry man with his Spirit. God will not fill a prideful, angry, bitter woman with his Spirit. You've got to present your bodies as living sacrifices on the altar, not physically necessarily.

Don't go home and try this. And that's sometimes why we open the altar. Yes, I understand it's steps, but I also understand that it's a point of submission where change takes place. And I don't know if it's just coincidence or what, but the last few weeks, people have been coming into the prayer room and one lady, I remember she was crying and saying, oh, I finally went to the altar.

I finally humbled myself and she was weeping. Do you want me to hold you up? Because she met God that week. Don't you understand? It's not about coming here and finding your favorite seat comfortably and getting out of here to hit the brunch.

That's not gonna find God. That type of heart does not find the living God. That type of heart is focused on God being on a checklist. I went to church, checklist. That's not presenting our bodies as living sacrifices.

Holy and pleasing to God, which is our reasonable service. So that's why we open it up, not to be force anyone, but it's a step of humility. Can you imagine if a husband who's never been to the altar came to the altar, his wife would be shocked.

The kid, is that dad? What's going on here? Why don't we pride? But I'm just being honest. If you get upset, that's fine. You're probably meant to get upset. It's pride. It's pride when we do not humble ourselves.

Would to God that kids would see their dads leading at the altar. Can you imagine kids getting up and seeing you praying for them? Or your spouse getting up and seeing you praying for them? On your knees with the Bible open.

Family Humility and God's Security

And I know we complain about our country, but before we complain about our country, we need to look in the mirror. Did you know that our nation now is simply a reflection of the family? It's all it is.

Oh, look what's going on. Oh, I can take you to the family. How are they? How's this going on? Well, you're watching on Netflix. It's happening on the streets. What's the difference? In God's economy, you got to go low to go high.

I thought of this illustration this week, and I'm not gonna do it because it's hard to get up, but if I could just lay right here and show you, you want to go high, you got to go low. And not fake it, but to go up.

Up, they call it up the down staircase. To go up, you got to go down. To go high, you got to go low. Humble yourself under God's hand. Some of you, maybe you're here for months or maybe a few years and prayers aren't being answered.

You're not receiving that fire of God. Check your heart this morning. Check your heart this morning. And then finally, number seven, His word secures us. Does anyone need security right now, or is it just me?

Security. Many people feel scared. The border crisis, what decisions they're making in political office. I saw something on Facebook. I was gonna share it last week, but I forgot and bring a little humor to the situation.

But I feel, this person felt like, and I agree, with this current administration, I feel like I'm sitting in a chair with my hands handcuffed, sitting there watching my two-year-old play with my gun.

It's what I feel like. The perversion they're trying to pass, what's being taught in the schools. Do you know that it's propaganda, it's indoctrination in the schools, in our governmental offices. And there's a need for security, but His word secures us.