How to Develop a Strong Faith – Part Three

Psalm 27

In our uncertain time stabilizing faith is needed. Compacted in the 27th Psalm are found sequential steps involved in developing a strong faith. Let’s dig them out like a miner who has just struck a major pay-load vein of rich ore. Each is essential to the other and none are possible without the first.

SALVATION “The Lord is my light and my salvation, Whom shall I fear?”  (Verse 1)

“The Lord” is a reference to Jesus Christ.  For us it is a clear prophetic reference to Immanuel, God with us. It identifies the virgin born, sinless God incarnate who shed His blood for our sins on Calvary.

A SUPPLY OF SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH 

“The Lord is the strength of my life….”(Vs. 1b)

This has to do with eternal security. All stability in time has to do with security in eternity. 

Once a person enters into union with Christ as Savior they are in eternal union with Him and nothing can get them out of that union.

STUDY “One thing have I desired of the Lord….” (Vs.4)

The house of the Lord to which he made reference was the tabernacle. People in that era could not read. Therefore, the Lord devised symbols to teach them great doctrinal truths. Every item in the house of the Lord, the tabernacle, symbolized some great truth. Today we can read; and the Lord teaches us these truths through His written Word, the Bible. 

His “desire” is comparable to our hunger for a better understanding of God’s Word. This requires study.

The expression “To behold the beauty of the Lord” means to meditate on His graciousness. To meditate on means to fill your mind with.

The Psalmist then says he wants to “inquire in His temple.” The word “inquire” meant to investigate. It is a further reference to searching God’s Word.

If you want faith to face today’s tests, you must study God’s Word.

SECURITY “In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion…” (Vs. 5)

The “pavilion” was the outer court in the tabernacle. “In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion” is comparable to saying, “The Word of God comforts me.”

SPIRIT GUIDANCE “The Lord is my Light” (Vs. 1)

Christ is our illuminating source. He indwells the believer in the person of His Holy Spirit. Thus our stability is within us. It is not dependent upon externals.