(The three part study (including video, audio and notes) with Psalm 91 is available here)

This three part study entitled “Our sufficiency is of God” came at the onset of the hurricane season and there are many interesting and important parallels found within this particular Psalm that show us how the physical storms that God raises and calms can easily be likened unto the spiritual trials and battles we have in our heavens which He also raises and calms (Psa 107:25-30 , Isa 43:2).

Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

God brings us to our “safe haven” in Christ (Heb 4:11) after we go through the storms which bring us to see our need to cry out to our Creator for deliverance (Psa 107:28). We learn in this life that if our flesh is safe and we are still operating by our own wits, we don’t naturally cry out to God or even begin to see our continual need for His sovereign hand to be guiding all the details of our life, which is what brings true liberty (Rom 8:14 , 2Co 3:17).

Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

When God does bring us to our wits’ end, it is a good thing as we can then more clearly acknowledge His power and might in our lives, working out all the details (Eph 1:11). It takes the light and the darkness, the good and the evil, in order for us to see how “Our sufficiency is of God”, and if not for the sentence of death He has pronounced for our first man Adam we could not be raised as His children into heavenly places where we will learn that we can endure until the end through Christ and His Christ (2Co 1:9  , Eph 2:6 , Php 4:13 , Mat 24:13).

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

2Co 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

God’s faithfulness through the trials of this life are an incredible blessing to His people, as we learn “Our sufficiency is of God”. It is not wrong to have a plan of action in our life, and His word is very clear that we are to be industrious like the ant (Pro 6:6-8). What we initially do however, is we don’t commit our (industrious) ways, our plans, unto the Lord who is the only one who can establish even our thoughts unto His righteousness (Pro 16:2-3).

Pro 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Pro 6:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Pro 6:8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Pro 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

It is through the ripping of the veil of our carnal hearts and minds that we learn to truly seek and ask God for His will and not our own, and without those much needed trials and suffering we endure as a body, we would not learn obedience just as was true of Christ himself who learned obedience by the things which he suffered (Heb 5:8). It is through the fiery trials, the lion’s den, and the Red sea that God takes us through, that we learn to trust our Creator and give thanks to him for the wonderful works that He performs unto the children of men. It is through these works that God reveals His abundant spirit to us and it is where we will find our safe haven in Christ alone through these “wonders in the deep” as they are called (Psa 107:22-24).

Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

It seems so contrary to our flesh that wants to be blessed physically, and call that the only sufficiency of God, when in fact the greater blessing and sufficiency is to have the Lord working in our heavens as He forms the mind of Christ within us, which brings a peace that passes all understanding through the fiery trials of this life (1Pet 4:12 , Php 4:7).

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God knows what we need spiritually before we even ask Him, just as He knows what we need physically before we ask Him, and that is how we learn that Our sufficiency is of Him (Mat 6:8 , Eph 3:20). It is through this process of crying out to our Lord for deliverance, through the storms of this life, that we will learn that He will never leave or forsake us, and that He will always be our Saviour and provider in this life (Psa 103:2-3). Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; truly “Our sufficiency is of God”.

Mat 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

(The three part study (including video, audio and notes) with Psalm 91 is available here)