"A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." vs1

We can do nothing. Let us cease the striving, and get to believing. The God of grace is our refuge, not we ourselves. It's his power and goodness. It's his graciousness to save, and to deliver from sin.

God's given us responsibilities, but we do them by faith. We don't preach relying on our preaching. We rely on God, and preach confidently and assuredly. We're not taking matters into our own hands, trusting our zeal, gifts, or holiness. We trust the finished work of Christ - the perfect work that accomplished eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12, "he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption."

We trust God's Spirit, and his grace, trusting him as obedient children in repentance [1 Pet 1:14]. This is the life of peace, where God works powerfully in us and in others. This is not impressing people; it's pointing them to Christ.

Let your heart be filled with joy. The pressure is not on you. God is the one that saves sinners, he gives power, and he brings us to heaven finally.

Secondly, children - spiritual offspring who believe the Lord - are fruit of the Lord's sovereign grace. Psalm 127:3, "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward."

He has chosen and redeemed them. He calls them by the Spirit, who works in us, as we look to Christ. He gives them repentance and faith. 2 Timothy 2:26, “Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.” It's not something that we contribute too.

Yes, we must evangelize the world, but making disciples is God's great work. Yes, we need converts, but he does it. We need revival, but it's his work. Even praying for revival is reliance upon grace. It's not pleading enough, being good enough, or any such thing. It's confidence in God because of the finished work of Christ, trusting his goodness and power. Acts 3:12-13, When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus."

Flee from self effort, and deliver yourself from stress and anxiety. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” He’s given us promises of his working, and we add nothing to it. This enables us to love, be kind, and be patient. We aren't relying on our ability to force people into faith. We aren’t relying on our ability to persuade, nor are we discouraged by the unbelief in others: God saves. Rest in Christ and love for others are both formed in us by the Spirit!

Thirdly, we have enemies at the gate, but a life lived to save others silences them all. We prove ourselves to be God's children by our concern for his other children.

Grace makes us soul winners! What a wonderful God - to make us like himself. Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” We get the privilege of sincerely loving others, rather than living selfishly. We get the blessing of giving.

Don't let the world trouble you with incessant living for yourself. Wise people endure everything for the elect's sake. 2 Timothy 2:10, “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” We give, serve, and commit ourselves to the saints for their nourishment, care, and instruction. God's children bear the marks that silence accusations. We love the Lord. Paul says, “From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus [Gal 6:17].” Perhaps, he was talking about the beatings and scar tissue. Nevertheless, God’s children bear good fruit of patience, endurance, and love.