Acts of Grace 39
Declaration of Dependence I
By Ps Simon Cheong

When we became Christian, in a sense, we were set free: freedom from Satan, freedom from sin and independent of the things of the world. But being set free by God actually entails the fact that we need to be dependent on Him totally - not once a while, but all the times and especially as we see what is going on in the world and in our Malaysian arena. We need to be reminded that in the midst of all the circumstances and adversities in life our dependence is on God.

Yes, we need to go to cell, we need the pastor to pray for us, we need the church, we need to go to school, we need our parents, parents need the children etc; society, organizations, all these are important things that we depend on. But the main thing as Christians is that we must remember of our total dependence on God.

And Psalm 121 actually draws our attention to 3 important truths about dependence upon God in times of need.

There are three questions brought out from this passage of scripture: in verse 1: where does my help come from? You will only ask this question when you are in need. So, if I need help, whom should I go to? Where should I go? That is a relevant question.

The second question answered in this Psalm is – why then should we trust God for help? Why not trust this institution or that association? Why not trust in man? But why trust God? Again, it is a relevant question.

The third question answered in verse 6 to 8 is, if I come to God then what kind of help will I get from Him?

1. The first declaration of dependence is the declaration of dependence on God who is. This is taken from Hebrew 11:6, the Bible says he that cometh to Him must believe that He is, translated mean He exists. So the first declaration as a believer that I need to make, especially in times of difficulty, is to declare He is. He exist even though I may not see Him in the midst of the storms of life. The scripture says, in Psalm 121:1, I will lift up my eyes to the mountain where shall my help come from. Three things in that verse I want to highlight: God is the keeper of our lives; God is the keeper of the nation of Israel and God is the keeper of the nation of Malaysia and especially the keeper of God’s people in this land. Do not worry and do not succumb to all the negative news and the negative things that we hear that everything is ‘doom and gloom’ - God is above all!

And I will lift up my eyes - this calls for a decision that I need to make. We need to be decisive, we must not change our minds - sometimes we trust God, sometimes we do not trust Him; sometimes we look to other sources, but let us be steadfast and say, “I will lift up my eyes.” When I have needs I will lift up my eyes to the Lord who exists.

Secondly, the verse also speaks to us not only to be decisive but also speaks about focus. It is easy during times of difficulties and problems when we read in the news all kinds of things happening, whether bad or good, and we can loose sight that God still exists. Because, the media will not say God is alive but we need to be reminded to focus on God.

Thirdly, we not only need to be decisive, and be in focus but also be ‘up there.’ Many times we want Jesus to come down. He cannot come down. He is up there in heaven interceding for us. And it is we who need to get into the presence of God. You say, pastor but God dwells in me, I know God dwells in you but He does not just dwell in you alone, He also dwells in me, He also dwells in the whole congregation and He also fills the whole earth. We need to get into His presence and the Psalm tells us that entering into God’s presence is so crucial and so important. So, let us declare in times of need and say, “God I will depend on You who exist.”