Rent is Due and You Don'T Know What to Do
E.A. Johnston teaches that in times of desperate need and uncertainty, like when 'rent is due,' believers must trust God’s deliverance and rely on His provision through the body of Christ.
In this devotional sermon, E.A. Johnston draws from David’s experiences in Psalm 34 to encourage believers facing overwhelming challenges. Johnston shares personal testimony of financial hardship to illustrate how God’s deliverance often comes through the faithful support of the Christian community. Listeners are reminded to praise God continually and trust Him even when human resources fail.
Full Transcript
David penned Psalm 34 in the throes of desperation. He'd become so close to death at the hands of Saul, he feared for his life as he was haunted like a flea among the rocks. He goes to Achish, the king of Gath, to hide there, but he is recognized by the king's servants as King David, who the people sang about.
Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. So David is so desperate to save his skin, he acts insane. We read in 1 Samuel 21, And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let spittle fall down upon his beard.
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad? Wherefore then have ye brought him to me? And David writes in Psalm 34, I will bless the Lord at all times. Meaning, he will bless God when times are good, and he will bless God when times are bad. But either way, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
What do you do when the rent is due, and you don't know what to do? There are times when trouble comes from every direction, and you feel as if you are standing under a crumbling building that will soon crash down upon you. All human resources are gone. Friends have gone into hiding, and your only friend left is your faithful friend, Jesus.
And because of the raging storm, you are barely able to hang on to him. Because of a recent heart attack, I've fallen several months behind on my rent, and my landlord is pressing me. My December rent is a week past due, and I have no money, and I don't know what to do.
All I can do is make the need known, and then trust God to meet that need through the body of Christ. I know God is a God who delivers, but he uses people to facilitate that deliverance. David was eventually delivered from the hand of Saul, and he could look back and speak in Psalm 34 about the reality of divine deliverance.
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Sermon Outline
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I
- David’s desperate situation and hiding from Saul
- David’s feigned madness before Achish
- The context of Psalm 34 as a song of deliverance
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II
- The reality of facing overwhelming troubles
- Feeling abandoned by friends and resources
- Clinging to Jesus as the faithful friend
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III
- Personal testimony of financial hardship and trust
- Making needs known and trusting God’s provision
- God’s use of the body of Christ to deliver
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IV
- The promise that the Lord hears the righteous
- God’s deliverance from all troubles
- Encouragement to praise God in all circumstances
Key Quotes
“I will bless the Lord at all times, meaning, he will bless God when times are good, and he will bless God when times are bad.” — E.A. Johnston
“What do you do when the rent is due, and you don't know what to do?” — E.A. Johnston
“The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- When overwhelmed, openly share your needs with God and trusted believers.
- Maintain praise and trust in God regardless of your circumstances.
- Recognize that God often works through others to provide deliverance.