Worship Leader   Rev.Shinichi Hirohashi   司会者　   　 廣橋信一牧師

Accompanist     Mrs. Kazusa　Oba   　　　奏楽者     大場かづさ姉妹

Preacher     Elder .Syohei Ueki   　奨励者 　　　 植木象平長老

Interpreter   　   Rev.Shinichi Hirohashi   通訳者 　      廣橋信一牧師

Song Leader     Elder Muneyasu Nasu   賛美リーダー   那須宗泰長老

Worship song : Days of Elijah　　エリヤの日

Prayer

Worship song :　 Heart of worship　　心からの賛美へ

Worship song : How Great Thou Art （輝く日を仰ぐとき）

Bible Reading :  Psalm 42:1-5　詩篇　42篇　1-5節

Encouragement ：   　”Hope in God”　 主を待ち望め

Elder .Syohei Ueki   植木象平長老

Worship song: Praise to the Lord, the almighty Offering

Prayer

Worship song: 　Awesome God  　 大いなる神

Benediction　　    Rev.Shinichi Hirohashi   廣橋信一牧師

Manuscript

Introduction

I went to Unites States first time in 2001. It was my senior year of my college life. I took one year absent from the college and spent ten months in America. When I left Japan and flew toward the US, I was full of excitements and wonderful expectations, not knowing future, even one week later.

I arrived in America on September 4th, 2001. Many of you notice that it’s one week before from September 11th. Just one week after I landed America, the whole nation has changed. Many people became hopeless from hopeful. Many people became desperate because of what they lost. People cried out to God, “Why did you do such a terrible things!?” “Where is your love and hope, God?” Even people asked, “Where is my God?”

Our life is not easy because our life is not full of excitements and enjoyments. Some of you are enjoying life right now. But you need to know it doesn’t last forever. Some of you are struggling life right now. You need to know it also doesn’t last forever.

Today’s Bible passage is from Psalms. In this passage, the writer of Psalm laments his desperate situation. But at the same time, he tries to remember his God who lasts forever. I would like to talk two points from this passage.

(Transition: The first point we want to know is that “we are desperate without God.”)
Body

1. We are desperate without God.
   1. The psalmist laments his thirstiness.
      1. When we read Psalm 42, our mood is a kind of cheerful.
      2. It’s because there is “deer.”
      3. It reads, “As a deer pants for flowing streams.”
      4. But we need to know this psalm is a poem of lament.
      5. It’s not a deer is jumping and enjoying stream water.
      6. Or it’s not like deers in 奈良公園.
      7. A deer is desperate for the water.
      8. He is dying thirsty.
      9. Likewise, the psalmist confesses his thirstiness.
      10. He might be oppressed, or attacked.
      11. He might be surrounded by his enemy.
      12. He was in a desperate situation.
   2. We are thirsty and needy.
      1. We also need to see our reality.
      2. We are also thirsty and needy.
      3. Yes, when we feel weak, we need help.
      4. When we are in huge trouble, we feel desperate.
      5. But ultimately, we need to know that we are desperate without God.
      6. Do you know what tomorrow is like?
      7. Are you 100% sure you can be happy and have a long life?
      8. I believed my life was secured and live a long and happy life.
      9. But it was not true.
      10. When my wife was diagnosed with cancer, my life turned into darkness.
      11. My hope was gone.
      12. I struggled how to live today.
      13. I struggled how to take care of my kids.
      14. And I struggled even how to die.
      15. I was desperate because I thought God was gone somewhere.
   3. The world tempts us to satisfy with finite things.
      1. When we are in a desperate situation, we try to satisfy ourselves.
      2. We try to satisfy ourselves with things in the world.
      3. Some of you try to satisfy by drinking.
      4. Yes, when you drink alcohol, you feel better.
      5. Likewise, when you have trouble with a spouse, you are tempted to cheat.
      6. These things are things many people in the world do.
      7. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not only things in the world!
      8. Many Christians also do!
      9. And ultimately we have the same temptation in our heart!
      10. We want to be satisfied with these things, but we say we are Christians many people don’t do it.
      11. But what Jesus says is, “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Mt 5:28)”
      12. We need to know that we are trying to satisfy with worldly things.
      13. And the truth is that these things cannot satisfy you forever.
      14. We cannot solve our problem by ourselves.
      15. Moreover, we are not different from people who cheat or alcoholic or murder at all.
      16. We need to know that we are sinful, needy, and desperate people.
      17. We need to know that we are desperate without God!
   4. We are desperate without God.

(Transition: Just like the psalmist laments, we see ourselves with hopelessness without God. But we should notice one thing here. The psalmist knew there is God. And the Psalmist cry to God. What is the psalmist’s cry to God?)
 

1. God is our desperate hope in a desperate (v. 4-5)
   1. The psalmist remembers God’s mercy and love.
      1. Throughout this Psalm, the psalmist cries out to God.
      2. He is crying out with his experience.
      3. The psalmist knew God is good God.
      4. He remembered what God has done for him.
      5. He remembered when he worshiped God.
      6. When he entered the house of God, he was full of gladness and song of praise.
      7. He knows that God is full of love and mercy.
      8. This is why the psalmist cried out to God.
   2. We also experience God’s everlasting love and mercy.
      1. This is the God who we believe.
      2. Our God is same God whom this psalmist believe and relied on.
      3. Our God is full of love and mercy whenever and whoever we are.
      4. Our God is the God who listens to you and answer you.
      5. When you are in desperate, He is with you.
      6. When you are in need, He helps you.
      7. Our God is same loving God yesterday, today and forever.
   3. We are too weak and sinful to remember His goodness. (v. 5)
      1. We forget this truth.
      2. We forget especially when we are desperate.
      3. But remember, even when we forget, God does not forget.
      4. God promises this by two things.
      5. First one is by Jesus Christ.
      6. God sent His only son, Jesus Christ to this world.
      7. And by His life and cross, Jesus showed His everlasting love to us.
      8. He saved us from eternal sin and punishment.
      9. And He promised us an eternal life.
      10. Second, God also sent us Holy Spirit.
      11. After my wife was diagnosed with cancer, God sent a missionary family to our family.
      12. They lived with us and encouraged many ways.
      13. When my wife had surgery, a missionary husband went to the hospital with me and be with me in the hospital, whole operation time.
      14. My kids could play with this missionary kid together.
      15. While I was depressed and could not pray, they prayed for us.
      16. They are not Holy Spirit.
      17. But Holy Spirit helped my missionary friend family to sustain our lives.
      18. God is our desperate hope in a desperate life.
   4. God is our desperate hope in a desperate

Conclusion

God is our desperate hope in a desperate life. Therefore, hope in God, not in earthly things, not in short-sighted satisfaction. God will lead you eternal safe and eternal satisfaction. It’s because our God is eternal God. Our God is our Creator, who loves us with an everlasting love.

Are you in desperate? Are you struggling now? If you do, please read this Psalm. Hope in God. Because He is our salvation. Because He is our God.

Or, do you know someone who is desperate? Tell there is hope in God. Pray Holy Spirit that you can help him or her. Because you know God’s eternal hope. You know God’s salvation.

Hope in God. Because God is our desperate hope in a desperate life.

From past articles here