Fight, O Lord!

Psalm 35

   Rev. Bruce Brown

I.    David's Ignorance and Prayer for Protection (verses 1-10)

II.   David's Intention and Prayer for Rescue  (verses 11-18) 

III.  David's Innocence and Prayer for Vindication (verses  19-28) 

"Those who criticize David for his imprecatory prayer in verses 4-8 should remember that first he prayed for their help and healing. Saul’s men “tore David apart” with their wicked words (v. 15). Like court jesters, at their meals they made him the butt of their vicious jokes (v. 16; and see 69:12)… David’s experience reminds us of Jesus Christ, the son of David, who was also hated without a cause (John 15:25) and falsely accused and attacked by those for whom He had shown nothing but truth and love. God delivered David from his enemies, but the Father “spared not his own Son” (Rom. 8:32) but willingly gave Him to die for the sins of the world."  ~ Warren Wiersbe 

“Rejoicing in the LORD’s Unfailing Love ”

Psalm 33

                 Rev. Bruce Brown            

I.  The Joy of the LORD is Our Strength (verses 1-3)

  II.     Rejoicing in His Work of Creation (verses 4-9) 

    III.     Rejoicing in His Work in History (verses 10-15)

IV.     Rejoicing in His Work Amidst Difficulty (verses 16-22)  

"However loving and skillful a human father might be there are always dangers in life that are beyond us, and no one is able to guarantee the physical, much less spiritual safety of another.  Yet with God there can be no misplacing of confidence, no error of trust.  How could there be?  God has made the entire universe by his mere word and by the breath of his mouth.  He foils evil plans, not merely of individuals but of nations.  God's purposes prevail.  His plans prosper.  He constantly looks upon the affairs of the world to care for His people -- to bless, defend, preserve, and prosper them.  No one who trusts in the LORD is ever disappointed."  ~ J. M. Boice 

“The Way to Joyful Relief”

        Psalm 32

       Rev. Bruce Brown

I.       The Misery with Silence (verses 3-4)

II.     The Miracle of Forgiveness (verses 1-2, 5)

III.    The Mercy in Instruction (verses 6-11) 

“God will continually watch over us… I am glad God promises to do that for us.  For great as forgiveness is, the one who has sinned and been forgiven does not want to repeat the sin or again fall into error but rather wants to go on walking in the right way and so please our heavenly Father.  How are we to do that unless God continues to keep His eye on us?  If we ignore that care and refuse that counsel, we will be like brute beats that have no understanding (vs. 9).  If we persist in our folly, we will be like the wicked who experience many woes (vs. 10).  But if we listen to God, obey him, and so walk in his right way, we will be able to rejoice in God.  And we will be able to teach others also, which is what David has been doing in this psalm.”    ~ James M. Boice

A Prayer of Rest

Rev. Bruce Brown  

Psalm 23

January 31, 2021

I.    Resting in a Competent Shepherd (verses 1-3)

II.   Resting with a Comforting Companion  (verse 4)

III.  Resting in His Complete Provision (verses 5-6)

"It is interesting that the psalm begins at this point ("I shall not want").  We might expect it to begin with motion, with some kind of activity either by the shepherd or the sheep.  But strikingly, it begins with rest.  It is a reminder that the Christian life also begins with resting in God revealed in Christ.  Along the way there will in time be many things for us to do.  But we begin by resting in Him who has done everything for us.  Are you resting in Christ?  Have you found Jesus to be the perfect provider of all your many needs?"  ~ James M. Boice 

Strong Faith When the Foundations Shake

  “Strong Faith When the Foundations Shake”

 Rev. Bruce Brown 

 Psalm 11

 January 17, 2021

I.     The Question that Faith Receives (verses 1-3)

II.    The Answer that Faith Gives (verses 4-7)

III.   The Hope that Faith Holds (verse 7)

“Set against the necessary hatred of God towards the violent wicked is the love of God for justice. God is determined that his world shall be a place of moral order, justice, goodness and fairness. And he will ensure that happens. To join with the church of Christ in speaking verses 4-7 ought to deepen our confidence that, against all appearances, the church of Christ and the law of God are not doomed to failure, but rather they are bound to triumph in the end, as we know with even greater assurance since the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus and his ascension to the place of cosmic authority at the right hand of the Father.”  Christopher Ash

The Glory of the Church

Rev. Bruce Brown

October 25, 2020

Psalm 87

I.  The Glory of Zion (verses 1-3)

   II.   The Congregation in Zion (verses 4-6)

  III.   The Joys from Zion (verse 7)

"Everything that makes life worth living comes from membership of Zion.  Everything.  We do not sing that some of what rejoices our hearts comes from what we may be proud of in this life - our citizenship, or education, or career success, or family - and that there is a little room at the end for a measure of joy that we find in belonging to the church of Christ.  No!  All the fountains that feed my life and give me joy come from being a member, by new birth, of the church of Jesus Christ."  ~ Christopher Ash 

Blessed to be a Blessing

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 67

October 18, 2020

I.    God’s Blessings on the Church to the Nations  (verses 1-2)                                               

      II.   God’s Blessings to the Nations Brings Praise  (verses 3-5) 

     III.   God’s Blessings and the Harvest (verses 6-7)

Our eyes, when we see the bounty that God has heaped on us, can never be focused simply upon our enjoyment of the bounty that God has given to us nor even in our thanksgiving to God for that bounty that He has given to us…but our eyes must turn to the nations. We must ask the Lord, like the Psalmist, that the nations too would share in His bounty. And so the believer longs for God to be served and praised through the salvation of people from every tribe and tongue and nation. This is an expression of the church's desire for the salvation of the nations."  ~ Ligon Duncan 

The Good Friday Psalm

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 22:1-21

April 5, 2020

I. The Christ Forsaken by God (verses 1-5)

II. The Christ Despised of the People (verses 6-11)

III. The Christ Cursed in Crucifixion (verses 12-21)

“His (Jesus’) prayers are answered, but in accordance with the will and timing of the Father.  Was he delivered before death?  No.  Was he delivered out of death?  Yes.  Was he delivered on Good Friday?  No.  Was he delivered on Easter Sunday?  Yes.  It was a better time and a better way… There comes a time, when one is reading certain passages of God’s Word, that commentary must yield to contemplation.  May God impress deeply on your heart the profound reality that the Son did this for you.”  ~ Sam Storms

Taste and See the Lord's Goodness

Psalm 34

Rev. Bruce Brown

I. Testimony to the Lord’s Goodness (verses 1-7)

II. Living Out the Lord’s Goodness (verses 8-14)

III. Assurance of the Lord’s Goodness (verses 15-22)

"Note well: they look to "him," not just ideas or speculative theories about what he's like.  They settle for nothing less than the intimacy of spiritual eye contact.  The result is that they are never ashamed (vs. 5b).  When we seek God this way he promises never to shame us or humiliate  us or mock our feeble efforts.  God will never belittle or demean you for coming to him.  Just think of it: no shame for those who seek God!" ~ Sam Storms

The Grace of Confession

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 51

January 19, 2020

I. Confession Relies on God’s Mercy (verse 1)

II. Confession Seeks Christ’s Cleansing (verses 2-7)

III. Confession Brings Spiritual Renewal (verses 8-12ff)

“Mercy is the sole basis of any approach to God by sinners. We cannot come to God on the basis of his justice; justice strikes us with fear and causes us to hide from him. We are not drawn to God by his wisdom; wisdom does not embolden us, though we stand in awe of it. No more does omniscience, omnipotence, or omnipresence. The only reason we dare come to God and dare hope for a solution to our sin problem is his mercy.” ~ James Montgomery Boice

Wholehearted Gratitude

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 138

December 1, 2019

I. Gratitude Produces Godly Courage (verses 1-3)

II. Gratitude Lives in God’s Mission (verses 4-5)

III. Gratitude Accomplishes God’s Purpose (verses 6-9)

“Our hope of final perseverance is the final perseverance of the God we love and serve.  Because His mercy endures for ever, His work in and for us will continue until we are perfected when we see Him in all His perfection.”  Herbert Lockyer

Our Mighty Fortress

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 46

Our Only Strength (verses 1-3)

Our Greatest Need (verses 4-7)

Our lasting Peace (verses 8-11)

“In spite of the worst possible scenarios, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (vs. 1).  Though the basis of all things visible should convulse, though the most solid and stable of all things created should shake or fall headlong into the sea, our God remains steadfast and faithful.  There is no earthquake of any sort, whether natural, moral, physical, financial, or spiritual, that can shake us out of his loving arms.” ~ Sam Storms

Who is The King of Glory?

 Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 24

September 29, 2019

I. The King of Glory Owns the Fullness  (verses 1-2)

II. The King of Glory Sets the Terms (verses 3-6) 

III. The King of Glory is Mighty in Battle (verses 7-10)

“This Psalm teaches us that…. as children of God, we belong to three worlds: the world of creation around us, the world of the new creation within us (2 Cor. 5:17), and “the world to come” of the wonderful final creation that will be our home for eternity (Rev. 21-22).”

Warren Wiersbe

Who Will Live With God?

Rev. Bruce Brown

June 23, 2019

Psalm 15

I. The Question that Matters Most (verse 1)

II. The Answer that Searches Hearts (verses 2-5)

III. The Promise of God (verse 5)

“Not worthy, Lord! To gather up the crumbs

With trembling hand that from Thy table fall,

A weary, heavy-laden sinner comes

to plead Thy promise and obey Thy call.

I am not worthy to be thought Thy child,

nor sit the last and lowest at Thy board;

too long a wand’rer and too oft beguiled,

I only ask one reconciling word.

~ Edward H. Bickersteth

Leaving a Biblical Legacy

Rev. Bruce Brown

June 16, 2019

Psalm 78:1-8

I. Proclaiming God’s Works (verses 1 -4)

II. Passing on God’s Commands (verses 5-6)

III. Purposing God’s Plan (verses 6-8)

 “All Christian parenting… begins with God. There is One ultimate, unchanging Reality, namely, God. All else in parenting comes from Him. All else is for Him. He is the first and the last and the center of parenting and education. He is the main thing in how you rear children and teach children and discipline children. It all begins with God and it all is built on God and it all is to be shaped by God. If there is one memory that our children should have of our families and our church it is this; they should remember God. God was first. God was central. There was a passion for the supremacy of God in all things.” 

~ John Piper

Christmas Brings a Royal Priest

Psalm 110

December 23rd, 2018

I.                    The Powerful Reign of the King (Vss. 1-3)

II.                  The King is the Forever Priest (Vss. 4)

III.                When the Priest – King Returns (Vss. 5-7)

“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies.  Yet the distance makes no difference.  He is praying for me!”  ~ Robert Murray McCheyne

“Glorious now behold Him arise: King and God and Sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia!  Earth to heav’n replies.  O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.”  We Three Kings, John H. Hopkins, Jr.

PROSPERITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP IS SUNDAY AT 10:00 AM,  5533 PPC DRIVE,  CHARLOTTE, NC.   704-875-1182

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE SERVICE

Christmas Brings an Invincible Throne

Psalm 2

December 2nd, 2018

      I. The World that Hates (verses 1-3)          

II.   The Throne that Overcomes (verses 4-9)

III.  The Message that Calls (verses 10-12)

“The only safe place from the wrath of God is in God. Everywhere outside of His care is dangerous. He is the only hiding place from His own wrath. If you see Him as frightening and try to run away and hide, you will not find a place to hide. There is none. Outside of God’s care there is only wrath. But there is a refuge from the wrath of God, namely, God… Come to God. Take refuge in God. Hide in the shadow of His wings. This is where we live and serve with joyful trembling.” 

 ~ John Piper

PROSPERITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP IS SUNDAY AT 10:00 AM,  5533 PPC DRIVE,  CHARLOTTE, NC.   704-875-1182

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE SERVICE

A Song About Honest Doubt

October 7

Psalm 73

Rev. Dave Latham

I. The Entrance of Doubt (verses 1-14)

II. A Turning Point (verses 16-20)

III. The Resolution (verses 21-28)

Big Idea: We all struggle with honest doubt when we see the wicked thrive. But God meets us in the midst of our doubt and shows us more of Himself in the process.

PROSPERITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WORSHIP IS SUNDAY AT 10:00 AM,  5533 PPC DRIVE,  CHARLOTTE, NC.   704-875-1182

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE SERVICE

PERSONAL POWER

Psalm 139:13-24

Rev. Bruce Brown

I.   Adoration for God's Power (verses 13-18)

II.  An Argument from the Womb (verses 13-16)

III. Appreciating God's Personal Power (verses 19-24)

“What can be more exquisite in all its parts than the formation of our bodies! Divine skill is manifested in the design of its innumerable members. Wonder is exhausted in the contemplation. Select any part, it proclaims that infinite wisdom devised the plan, and infinite power brought it to perfection. Can this great Creator not have most intimate acquaintance with the beings which He thus formed?”  ~  Henry Law

Prosperity Presbyterian Church Worship Service Sunday at 10:00 AM

5533 PPC Drive, Charlotte 704-875-1182

In the Morning I know His Heart

January 14, 2018

Rev. Bruce Brown

Psalm 5

I.   God is Responsive (verses 1-3)

II.  God is Merciful (verses 4-7)

III. God is Just (verses 8-10)

IV. God is Protective (verses 11-12

"We must know what God is like before (or as) we pray.  The character of God is the basis and springboard of our prayers."  ~ Dale Ralph Davis

 "Thou art coming to a King, Large petitions with thee bring; for His grace and pow'r are such none can ever ask too much."  ~ John Newton's hymn, Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare

Prosperity Presbyterian Church - 5533 PPC Drive, Charlotte, NC  704-875-1182

Worship Service is at 10:00 AM - Please come and worship with us.