I'm going to be preaching from
Psalms 31 the 31st Psalm Want to read verses 14 through 16 Psalm 31 verse 14, but I trusted
in thee Oh Lord I said, thou art my God. My times are in thy hand. Deliver me from the hand of mine
enemies and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon
thy servant. Save me for thy mercy's sake. I'm just gonna stop right there.
My title is this, my times are in thy hand. John Flavel said this, grace makes promises. Providence makes the payment. I like that. And both are from
the Lord. Grace and providence. Now, let's
be clear. My times are all of my times. Now, it may be what I consider
good and it may be what I consider bad, but they're all my times. And my times are in thy hands. I mean, I don't mean to make
light of anyone's situation or anyone's circumstance. But it
doesn't matter whether I consider them good or bad. They're mine.
They're mine. I have a tendency, when reading
the scripture, to relate that scripture to myself as a believer. As a believer. And I'm gonna
tell you something, folks. This may surprise you. Believers
aren't perfect. We stumble, we fall. Now here, David is writing, this
is the Psalm of David, and David's writing about other things. But
I do want to put this out there. We are affected by our circumstances. But here's the thing. It's a
comfort to think of this. that my times are in his hands. This is a comforting psalm, a
comforting part of the psalm. The believer's times are in his
hands. Verse 14 says this, but I trusted
in thee, O Lord, and said thou art my God. Now, see that word
but that this starts with. Well, let's just back up a little
bit verse 9 says have mercy upon me O Lord for I'm in trouble
Mine eye is consumed with grief. Yay my soul in my belly for my
life is spent with grief and my years with sighing my strength
fail us because of Mine iniquity It's my own fault and my bones are consumed. I
was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially what?
Among my neighbors. And a fear to mine acquaintance.
They that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man.
Out of mind, I'm like a broken vessel, for I've heard the slander
of many. Fear was on every side while
they took counsel together against me. They devised to take away
my life. People actually were, at times,
trying to kill David. That's before he was king. That's
after he was king. He was besought. on every side
by bad people. And yet, after all that, he says,
but. Oh, let me tell you something,
folks. This is where you wanna go when you're in trouble. This
is where you wanna go. I trusted in thee. Not just sweet little Jesus.
I trusted in thee, oh Lord. Oh Lord. And I said, thou art
my God. And folks, that's what we need
to say today. Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand. Oh, I like that, I like that.
Because here it is. It's because thou art my God,
my times are in thy hand. Now I'm gonna say this. It's not the point of this particular
scripture, but I just wanna say this. Everybody's times are in
God's hands We believe our Lord is is the sovereign Lord our
Lord Jesus Christ What's we just saying it what his kingdom is
glorious? You know why he rules over all
But here Well, I thought about it on the
way up. What was it said about Christ
in Acts? It was through the determinate
counsel and the foreknowledge of God, he was delivered up and
slain by wicked hands. My times are in thy hands. You understand, there was a fellow
who stood up one time. David told me about it years
ago. I think it was Rex Humbart, of
all people. Now why David was listening to Rex Humbart, I don't
know. Who stood up and said in front
of a congregation of people and on TV, I guess, or radio, that
crucifixion was a wicked deed, and if I'd have been there, I'd
have stopped it. No. He was determined by the
determinant counsel and foreknowledge of God delivered into those wicked
hands that crucified him and slain him and that Was good for us for believers,
yes, it's wicked But yes, it's the glorious work
of God and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy
Spirit of God For this cause I came into the world and what
he accomplished on that tree at Calvary and afterwards. His
death, his burial, his resurrection, and his ascension. And what he's
doing now, seated at the right hand of the majesty on high,
that all came from that crucifixion. Oh my. But right now, here in
this place, 2,000 years after that, our times are still in
his hand. What's it say? He's seated at
the right hand of the majesty on high. What? And he ever lives
to make intercession for us. Oh my. But David clearly states,
even though he told all about it, you can read the rest of
the psalm, that his times were not in the hands of his enemies.
His enemies might have thought they were, or they were trying
to make it that way, but my times are not in the hands of my enemies,
good or bad. Verse four, he said, my enemies
have laid a net for me. Verse six, he said, well, where
is it? I have hated them that regard
lying vanities. I trust in the Lord. They were
lying about him. They laid a net for me, tried
to snare me. Verse seven, enemies have troubled
me. And verse nine, of course, they
caused me grief. And my enemies have made me a
reproach. Even amongst my neighbors. People are supposed to know me. They've made me a reproach. Oh
my. And here's the thing, folks.
Don't ever forget this. I mean, I don't see it, thankfully,
so much because I'm not out in the world as much as I used to
be when I was working. There are people who not only
hate the gospel of God, they hate the people who believe the
gospel of God. I was listening to tape on the
way up, the tape. I was listening to Bluetooth
on the radio through my phone, go figure, amazing. But it wasn't
old tape of Henry's that they digitized. And he said, this
fella who was a deacon at this church he was preaching at, the
preacher warned him, he said, that fella hates election. He
hates election. He said, Henry said, I got up
there, he liked his message Sunday night, he liked his message Monday
night, he got up there Tuesday night and read from Ephesians
1, the first 18 verses or so. And the guy closed his Bible
and set it beside him, got out his pocket knife and started
whittling on his fingers, cleaning his nails in the service. That fellow hated election. And
he wasn't none too fond of Henry right at that moment, I can tell
him. He knew. Well, it turns out that fellow's
father used to be a free will Baptist preacher. So that might
have been where he got some of his attitude toward, but here
the thing is, election's in this book. God chose his people in
the sun before the foundation of the world, God gave them to
his son, and his son is saving them out of the world, calling
them to himself. Those very same people that God
gave to him. All that the father gave to me
shall come to me. And him that cometh to me, I
want to know why he's cast out. And you know what? Their times
are in his hands. Oh, my. See, this is the thing. Men love darkness rather than
light. And why? Because their deeds
are evil. That's what it says. I mean,
you don't like it, you don't like it. You don't have to like
it. But you better believe it. You better believe in him who
said it. Oh my. There are people, some who actively
hate his gospel, and they hate those who believe him. But I'm gonna tell you something.
There's a reason my times and your times are in his hands. First let's get this out. It's
not because you're good. It's not because I'm good. It's not because anybody's good
You understand Our times are in his hand Because that is the
Lord's work The Lord's work our God is in the heavens. He had
done Whatsoever he hath pleased Now I realize that's in the past
tense What's he doing in the present tense? He is doing whatsoever
he pleases. I can put it in the future if
you want. He shall do all his good pleasure. Oh, I like that. And what's this? His kingdom
is glorious. He rules. He rules over all. Oh, I like that. Psalms 37 and 23 says this, the
steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And he delighteth
in his way. Now is that he the Lord or he
the good man? It's both. Yeah. Answer's yes. He delighteth in his way. Though
he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down. For the Lord upholdeth
him, what? With his hand. With his hand. My times are in his hand. Now it didn't say when he fall,
although that's okay if it did. It said though he fall, what?
He's not utterly cast down. We will stumble, we will fall,
we will sin, we will disobey, we will rebel. But I'm not happy about it. You understand? It happens. And though I fall, oh, he upholds
me with his hand. Oh, I like that. The Lord has
ordered The steps of a good man. What's that mean? He's commanded
them. Get back to that verse that we like around here. He
will put in you both the will and to do of his good pleasure. Oh, I like that. You may be among
enemies because Jesus Christ wants you there for the moment. 23rd Psalm says he makes a table
for me in the midst of mine enemies He knows where you are He knows
what you're doing. He knows what you're not doing. Oh My But We are always in his
hand Because no man is gonna pluck them out of my hand No
man is gonna pluck them out of my father's hand. We will stumble, we will fall,
nevertheless, we will not be, what is it? Utterly cast down. Oh, I like that. Why? For the Lord upholds us. He upholds
us with his hand. God's hand is always upon his Oh, I like that. And I'm gonna
tell you something about that thing. Our Lord Jesus Christ
said this. This is Luke 20, verse 17. And
he beheld them and said, what is this then that is written?
The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become
the head of the corner. Now you understand, he's quoting
the Old Testament there. But he added this. He added this,
whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken, shall
be broken. Listen folks, that's the good
part. But on whomsoever it shall fall, being that stone, it will
grind him to powder. We're gonna fall, we're gonna
stumble. I'm gonna tell you something, before the Lord brings you in,
he's gonna break you a little bit. He's gonna show you what
you are. He's gonna show you what you
do, but he's not only that, it shows you what you are. A sinner,
a person who sins. Oh my, but those who reject our
Lord Jesus Christ are gonna be ground to powder. That's what
it says. Under the rock the very same
rock they reject Those who trust Christ have been
broken and you know what? The steps of a good man are art
ordered of the Lord What's he do? He takes us out of the miry
clay and what sits our feet on the rock? We're not under the
rock folks We're on the rock. And what? And he guides us from
there. But we're always on the rock.
We're always on the rock. Why? Because my times are in
his hands. Your times are in his hands. Those who believe the Lord Jesus
Christ are still upon that rock, even in the worst situations.
When all seem to be against you, well, not only seem, when all
are against you, he orders your steps. He orders your steps. When the world hates you, he
will remind you that it hated him first. Hated him without
a cause. Oh my. This is a Psalm of David,
the man after God's own heart. But I'm gonna tell you something,
David knew about enemies. But David knew the Lord. What'd he
say? But I trusted in thee, O Lord. I said, thou art my God. Oh, I like that. Thou art my
God. He started out this psalm, verse
one. In thee, O Lord, do I put my
trust. Let me never be ashamed. What? Deliver me in thy righteousness. Thy hand. My times are in thy
hand. What else is in his hand? Thy
righteousness. Deliver me in thy righteousness. I trust the Lord and when I don't,
the shame is mine. Because he's worthy of trust.
And I like that. Deliver me in thy righteousness. I don't have any righteousness.
Not of any value. Talking about Moose this morning,
I still remember him talking about that. All our righteousnesses
are as filthy rags and that's not the bad part. He says we
put them on and Say hey, look at me Filthy rags Deliver me in thy
righteousness That's the only place there is deliverance and
I want his righteousness. I Need his righteousness And
only thy righteousness can deliver us. What's it say? I think verse
two. No, verse three. For thou art my rock and my fortress. Therefore, for thy name's sake,
lead me and guide me. He's my rock and he's my fortress. But you understand, David's talking
about deliverance here. Now, look at verse five. Into thine hand I commit my spirit. Thou hast redeemed me. Oh Lord God of truth, of truth. Oh my. Thou hast redeemed me. Now he talks about it like it's
in the past tense. Christ hadn't come yet. But David's talking about it
as if it's already happened. Because I'm going to tell you
something, with God, it was just as if it had already happened.
But it was going to happen. It was going to happen. Oh, I
like that. I do. Thou hast redeemed me. John 6
and verse 37 says this. All that the Father giveth to
me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out. Why? because thou hast redeemed
me. Oh, I like that. In Christ, we
have redemption through his blood. Oh, through his blood. But according
to the riches of his grace, of his grace. Because Jesus Christ
is the redeemer. Isaiah says, the Lord of hosts
is his name. The Lord of hosts is his name.
What? The Holy One of Israel. The Holy
One of Israel. Oh, I like that. And then it says after that,
in one verse, the God of the whole earth shall he be called. You know why? because he is the
God of the whole earth. And my times and your times are
in his hands. Oh, I like that, I like that.
Verse seven, David wrote this. I will be glad and rejoice in
what? Thy mercy. For thou hast considered
my trouble, thou hast known my soul in adversities. God's mercy
endures forever. You want something to put with
that? Nothing can be put to it, nothing can be taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before him. I like that
verse too. God's mercy endures forever.
He said it. I am the Lord. I change not. Therefore, you sons of Jacob
aren't consumed. God's mercy never fails. God's
mercy never falters. Our mercy can falter. Our mercy
can be out white, you know, Returned to sender But you understand
God's mercy endures forever And I can tell you where his mercy
is his mercy is in his grace I Will be gracious to whom I
will be gracious. I will be merciful to whom I'll
be merciful Grace of mercy always together. Oh my and what David
say, I'll be glad I'll rejoice I'll rejoice in thy mercy, in
thy gracious, wonderful, wondrous, miraculous mercy. But also, thy righteousness,
it's thy deliverance, thy redemption, and it's thy mercy. And then David comes down in
verse 15 and says, my times are in thy hand. Why? Because of his deliverance, his
righteousness, his redemption, and his mercy. God's mercy, Christ's
mercy. And I will be glad and rejoice
in that mercy because here's the thing, he gives grace and
mercy to whom he will. And him that cometh to me, I
will in no wise cast out. Oh my, isn't that something? Though he fall, he shall not
be utterly cast down. For the Lord uphold him with
his hand. Oh, I like that, I do. Oh my, because it's his redemption,
his deliverance, and his mercy. And that all shows forth that
your times are in God's hands. Your times are in his hands.
Because I'm gonna tell you something, it's because he's redeemed you.
It's because he's delivered you. It's because he gave you his
righteousness in grace and in his mercy. Oh my, I like that. My times are in thy hands. Oh,
righteousness is his, redemption is his, mercy is his, deliverance
is his, salvation is his. Oh. Now here's the thing. Whether I feel it or not, my
times are in his hand. Whether I know it or not, my
times are in his hand. Because you understand, he's
the one running this universe. Not us. I remember one time Henry Mahan
said something to the effect of, you don't own anything, you
just pay taxes on it. Well, this is true. I don't own
righteousness, mercy, or grace, or deliverance. It's in his hand. The only part of it I have is
what he's given to me. what he's given to you, and that's
the only reason we have it. Oh, my. Your times are in his
hands. All times are in his hands. And
this has a special meaning to those who know and trust the
Lord Jesus Christ. Understand I always remember this verse
in Romans. I think Paul's quoting Isaiah
when he says, I was found of them that sought me not. My name was revealed to a people
who sought not after me. That was me, folks. I wasn't looking for God when
he found me. Now, I started looking after
he found me. There's a fella. I don't want
to get that wrong. I don't want to blame him for
something he did. I mean, he didn't do. I don't mind blaming
people for something they did. But there are those. who want to talk about a sovereign
God, but leave salvation up to you. That's not the sovereign
God of the scriptures. It's not the God of the Bible.
It's not the most holy Lord God of Israel. It's his work from beginning
to end. Before you get we get to that
finally, I'm gonna tell you something one day This mortal is gonna
put on immortality And I'm looking forward to that Your corruption
is gonna put on incorruption But even then it's gonna be because
your times are in his hand He's promised that for us We don't
deserve it We've never deserved it. But
he's going to give it to us. Because our times are in his
hands. Oh, my. I want to know his redemption. I want to know his deliverance.
I want to know his righteousness as best as I can. and I want
his mercy and grace. Now the question is, do you?
Do you? Do you? This is it. Understand, I know a lot of people,
and I've been there, they don't understand the Lord
Jesus Christ. have no real comprehension of
a God who saves. A God of power, a God of might,
a God of glory, and a God of grace and of mercy. And they don't want him. And
I can't give you something you don't want. I can't give it to
you if you want it. But I know whose hands it's in.
I know whose hands redemption's in. I know whose hands deliverance
is in. I know whose hands grace and mercy are in. Oh my, and
I know the one who has redeemed his people from their sins. Oh, I like that. That's a wondrous,
glorious, graciously good thing to be in his hands, to be in
his hands. A fellow named William Freeman
Lloyd wrote this, that song. My times are in your hand, Jesus
the crucified. Those hands my cruel sins had
pierced, those same hands, are now my guard and guide. That's a little bit of grace.
That's glorious. I just like the thought that
my times are in his hands and that your times are in his hands. I don't know. Walter mentioned what's going
on in this world, in this country today. I have no idea what's
going on half the time. But my times are in his hands.
And your times are in his hands. Oh, yeah. God knows what God is doing. And that's good enough for me.
Christ knows what Christ is doing. And I know what he's doing, what
he says in here. That he's calling out. What? My brothers and sisters. He's
bringing in many sons unto glory. I know that. And you know what? My times are in his hands. Your times are in his hands.
And all of his people's times are in their hands. And they're
gonna find out about deliverance, and redemption, and mercy, and
grace, and redemption. That's right, I already said
redemption. Deliverance and love. The love of Christ. Thank you. Our Father, we are thankful for
you today. Our Father, you sent your Son
into this world and he gave himself for his sheep. He laid down his
life and he took it up again. Lord, every good blessing is perfect
in you. And every blessing you give to
us is perfect in you. And a blessing for us. Help us,
Lord, to understand and to comprehend and to be comforted that you
do lead and guide and protect us and uphold us with your hand. In Christ's name we pray, amen.