New Year’s Recalibration

Dismiss the children if you haven’t already

GREETINGS

Good afternoon again Church! As we continue in our worship through the preaching of God’s Word, please grab your Bibles...

…on this last Sunday of 2024, we are looking ahead to 2025 which we enter into…this Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

Go ahead and turn your Bibles to Psalm 119 starting at verse 57. As you make you way there, let me just say Happy New Years! We are one year closer to Christ’s Return. As history would have it … by the providence of God, we all find ourselves here. At the turn of the new year, we look to God’s Word … and this is no accident.

We’re in Psalm 119:57-64 in a sermon entitled “New Year’s Recalibration” …

CHANGE SLIDE @ 57, 59, 61, 63, 64

Psalm 119:57–64 ESV

57 The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words. 58 I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. 59 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; 60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. 61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. 62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. 63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!

PRAY

Introduction

New years is a time when many people come up with new years resolutions for themselves in the upcoming year. They take a look at the past year and think about how the next year can be better. Some of you may have done that, I know I have, and if you’re anything like me, it usually comes with much disappointment because a few weeks in, even a few days in, and in some cases even just a few hours in, I fail.

Typically, New Year’s Resolutions are made to be accomplished with our strength in mind … our will power, our brute strength, our stick-to-itiveness (ouuur persistence, ouuur perseverance) which in our mind is how we are going to accomplish this thing. And because of that, it is a very self-centered kind of approach to life — self-improvement by our own wit and our own grit.

As I was thinking about a New Year’s message for today, I was fascinated by these words here in verse 57, “I promise to keep your words.” That sounds a lot like a New Year’s resolution, and yet it’s the furthest thing from it.

Here’s why. In the context it’s not based on your performance or what you can do in your own strength to actually fulfill it.

It depends, in verse 58, on grace and then again on the steadfast love of God in verse 64, the word hesed, which can be understood as the grace of God’s love or His graciousness … so again, His grace. The Psalmist can only keep this promise by grace; God’s grace working in Him and through Him to actually live out the Word of God.

So instead of a New Year’s Resolution, I’d like to minister to you this afternoon by considering a New Year’s Recalibration instead, where we will embrace God’s grace to keep God’s Word in 2025.

It starts with this n verse 57, that…

I. Christ Is Your Anchor

Psalm 119:57 (ESV)

57 The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

This promise to keep God’s Word is not to earn or merit or gain anything. He does not labor or strive to gain something as you would a job for a salary or a sport for a trophy. Lots of time and energy gets put into a job or a sport to earn something. The promise to keep God’s Word flows out of the reality of something already gained.

It’s like the man who takes his wife out on a date…date night they call it. He’s not dating her because he wants her to marry him; she’s already married to him. If he’s a good man, he’s dating her because he loves her and wants to be with her. The date is simply an outflow of the treasure of already having her as his wife.

These words, “the Lord is my portion”, is Old Testament language of identifying as God’s people. Of already having a relationship with God. This is a person who looks forward to eternal life.

This idea of “the Lord is my portion” comes from the time when Israel was wandering through the desert in hopes of the Promised Land which would later be realized under the leadership of Joshua. But one tribe in particular would not get land, this was the tribe of Levi. Deuteronomy 10:9 says…

Deuteronomy 10:9 ESV

9 Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God said to him.)

What’s so amazing is that the psalmist here is David, of the tribe of Judah, not Levi, and yet he says “the Lord is my portion.” That is his great joy and delight and treasure. Of all the things that a king like David had in his possession, it’s having the Lord as his inheritance that he treasured above all else.

That word Lord is the word YHWH which in general refers to the covenant keeping God. But on this notion of “portion” — the Lord is my portion — we understand that to be clearly Christ.

In the NT, there’s the famous verse in Philippians 3…

Philippians 3:7–9 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

The Lord is my portion to Paul would have clearly been Christ. What he gains through faith in Christ is Christ Himself. The Lord is my portion.

There’s also that famous instance of Jesus in the home of Martha…she was so busy…but Mary was not.

Luke 10:40 ESV

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

Luke 10:41–42 ESV

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus is her portion. This verse is particularly helpful because Jesus is her portion now. Even though that word could be translated as part, I think it’s rightly translated as portion because it’s described as something that belongs to her…something that is hers now to have forever and it’s Christ.

I often think about the story that Pastor John Fernandez shared about his brother Steve who was my pastor growing up. At Pastor Steve’s memorial service, Pastor John said that in his last days he would feed Pastor Steve because he was no longer able to do it on his own. As he was feeding him the thought came to him that it’s going to be better when his brother goes to be with the Lord. I mean, he can’t even feed himself anymore for crying out loud. So he says to Pastor Steve, “isn’t it going to be sweet Steve when you go to be with the Lord.” To which Pastor Steve replied, “it’s sweet now!”

How can he say that? Because the Lord is his portion now and it cannot be taken away from him even now. Even cancer … a brain tumor … wasn’t going to take it away from him.

The Lord is my portion David says, I promise to keep your words. The commitment to keep God’s Word is tethered to Christ as His portion. That’s the anchor. He’s our anchor.

Knowing this then…

II. With Christ as Your Anchor, Recalibrate Your Heart to Christ

Psalm 119:58 (ESV)

58 I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

When the Lord is your portion you know that there isn’t anything else that compares to the glory of knowing Him.

In his heart he wants to have favor with God because he truly values relationship with Him and to be accepted by Him. And yet he knows in of himself he doesn’t deserve it which is why He is so quick to jump to God’s grace, “be gracious to me according to your promise,” he says.

In Hawaii I had 2 pastor friends who I kept myself accountable to. One was blunt force trauma … the other was gracious. And I told them, if I ever mess up, I don’t want to talk to you (blunt force trauma guy), I want to talk to you (the gracious guy).

That is the only way that we who don’t deserve God’s favor, can have favor in His sight — by grace. We can only be pleasing and acceptable to God by grace; there’s no other way.

In the Old Testament, you have to go to Exodus 33 to understand what the Old Testament construct was for having God’s favor by grace. Exodus 33 is when Moses asked God to show him His glory. You know why he asked “show me your glory”?

Because in Exodus 33:12 Moses is shocked by something God says. God told Moses, “you have found favor in my sight.” This is astounding to him which is why in verse 13 Moses says, “if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know you, so that I may find favor in Your sight.” It’s as if he’s not quite getting that He has God’s favor. — — How do I know?

It’s like the person who just came to Christ. It’s an astounding thing to him to know that he’s been forgiven of his many sins. But not just his past sins, but also his present sins and future sins. Furthermore, he is not going to be judged and cast into outer darkness…he’s going to be in heaven. And then on top of that, which is the main thing actually, He has a relationship with God. He knows he doesn’t deserve it and yet some how he has gained God’s favor and it’s puzzling to him because he did not do anything to deserve that favor. How do I know?

Again in verse 16 of Exodus 33, “…how then can it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people.” This is a puzzling thing for Moses let alone the surrounding nations they’re going to have to deal with. If I’m going to be confident to enter into the Promised Land, I need to know that I have your favor. If the nation of Israel is going to march with me, they need to know. And the nations already occupying the land, they ain’t just going to hand their land over to Israel, so they need to know. It’s cloudy for Moses, but it must be clear for him and everyone else. ‘

So Moses has this wonderful idea…verse 18, show me your glory. God says in verse 19, “I myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”

And He does this in Exodus 34:6. God actually shows Moses His glory. It says…

Exodus 34:6 ESV

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Exodus 34:7 ESV

7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Moses’ confusion over having God’s favor was made clear by God’s grace. “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious.” And then again, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious.” The answer to whether or not you have God’s favor is not going to be found in you? It shall be known by God’s grace.

The psalmist jumps to grace because he knows the favor comes by grace. Apart from the grace, there is no favor.

For David, here’s the favor…

2 Samuel 7:16 ESV

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

You think David deserves that? Of course not. He says be gracious to me according to your promise because that can’t happen apart from your grace.

Back in Psalm 119, we need grace for two reasons…

A. We need grace to deal with the struggles from within

Psalm 119:59 (ESV)

59 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;

He has ways that need to be turned because it’s not facing the right way. He has ways that he himself admit is wrong. Something about his life is off.

Appealing to grace means you don’t need to stay in sin, it means you can turn from your sin. Grace means you can move on. Outside of grace your stuck. You are trapped. You are condemned. Your own sin will destroy you. What a beautiful thing how by grace you can turn from sin. You can walk away from it. From the ways of sin…from the destruction of sin towards God and His Word.

Furthermore…

B. We need grace to deal with the struggles from without

Psalm 119:60–61 (ESV)

60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.

61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.

A heart of obedience hastens to obey.

Vangie used to tell the kids when they were younger, “children, obey all the way and right away.” Don’t put it off. Do it as soon as now.

But sometimes things happen out of your control. Things from without. In this case, it’s just being in a world of sin where sinful people will influence you to not live for God or perhaps even persecute you and make it hard for you to live for God.

He says that the wicked ensnares him which is the idea of being hunted down and trapped.

He needs grace to not cave in to the pressures of sin from within and from without. I think of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 who was given a thorn in the flesh. He describes it in verse 7 as “a messenger of Satan to harass [him], to keep [him] from becoming conceited.” As an Apostle, God gave him amazing revelation, enough to make anybody conceited … even the great Apostle Paul. So God allowed a messenger of Satan to afflict him. When Paul pleaded with the Lord for it to be taken from him. Here’s the answer.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

With the grace comes the power to live for God. That’s why when the psalmist says I promise to keep your Word, he jumps to grace.

Recalibrate your hearts that way.

I’m going to move a little bit faster here…

III. With Christ as Your Anchor, Recalibrate Your Worship to Christ

Psalm 119:62 (ESV)

62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.

With the heart and with the grace comes the worship. When God showed Moses His glory it says in Exodus 34:8

Exodus 34:8 ESV

8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

When David was shown favor, to establish His throne forever, it says in 2 Samuel 7:21-22

2 Samuel 7:21–22 ESV

21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Same thing! He worships!

But what does that mean, “at midnight I rise to praise you.” One commentator suggests that it’s praising God even when it’s not comfortable. Giving Him the worship even when it’s not convenient. If you look at Psalm 119:55 something happened. “I remember your name in the night, O Lord.” And because he remembers his name at night in verse 55, he rises at midnight to worship in verse 62.

You know sometimes worshipping God doesn’t fit our schedule. Take the corporate gathering for example. Why are we told in Hebrews 10:25 “to not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some.” Why would we forsake the corporate gathering of the saints to worship God together as a church? Well, because it’s midnight you see. It’s not comfortable, it’s not convenient so I’d rather not go. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s overt. There will be things that will make it an inconvenience to worship God. Be it a hobby, a sports thing, a job, or something for the kids. Something makes it hard or inconvenient to worship God.

I think that’s the point. Even at midnight, the psalmist is game to give God the praise and the worship that is due Him. The Lord is my portion, means that Christ is now everything. He gets the worship because He deserves it even when it’s inconvenient for me.

On March 4, 2015, I remember I was at a conference and it was evening time and i was super tired. I probably heard four other messages that day. The evening session was right after dinner and I was extra tired.

The speaker for the evening was Mark Dever and he was assigned the task of preaching Psalm 119. As he ascended into the pulpit he said would you please turn to Psalm 119. In my weariness I turned there as quick as I could, which was not fast at all. He starts reading verse 1 in this slow paced melancholy and yet booming voice that he naturally has. He reads through verse 10 and keeps going. And then he reaches verse 20 and I’m getting even more weary. By the time he gets to verse 30 I start thinking to myself, “he’s not going to read the entire chapter is he?” And then he gets to verse 40 and I said, “oh no I can’t do this.”

So I go outside to get some fresh air and I sit on the ground and the coolness of the ground ministered to my soul in such a refreshing way. And right above me is this outdoor speaker and Mark Dever reaches verse 50. And so now I have to sit there and listen to this thing. As I was sitting there, I began to get convicted about getting a little upset with Mark Dever reading the entire Psalm 119 after a long conference day and a large dinner. I remember tears were rolling down my eyes. I remember praying to the Lord, “sometimes it’s just hard to worship you God.” Because it wasn’t just that moment. I started thinking about life. My life and the reality that my heart is not always where it should be. I remember asking God, “Please help my weakness.” In other words, be gracious to me O God.

I listened a little bit more before he reached Psalm 119:176.

Psalm 119:176 (ESV)

176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

And then he went on to preach for another 30 minutes or so and by God’s grace I was able to worship.

Dear church, give Him your worship. When the Lord is your portion, you know He’s worthy. Give Him your worship even if it’s inconvenient.

With Christ as your anchor, recalibrate your worship to Christ.

Lastly…

IV. With Christ as Your Anchor, Recalibrate Your Close Companions in Christ

Psalm 119:63 (ESV)

63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.

The Bible says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33). In the context the bad company are the people causing you to believe there’s no such thing as a resurrection, so just live your life any way you want. “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” You were not meant to live a life of sin. You were meant to live your life for Christ.

2 Timothy 2:22 says…

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

There’s a fleeing and a pursuing.

Notice the word “with”. You were not meant to flee sin and pursue righteousness by yourself, but “with” those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

It is God’s design for you to grow in Christ in community. Your friendships … I’m not talking about your acquaintances, but your close companions … is a reflection of your devotion.

Conclusion

Psalm 119:64 (ESV)

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!

He starts with grace to live His Word; He ends here with grace to learn His word. I think what he means by saying that this whole earth is filled with His steadfast love or His gracious love is that anywhere and everywhere that God has you on this earth is an opportunity for you to learn. Learn to live for Him wherever He has you.

In 2025 be anchored in Christ. Give Him your heart. Give Him your worship. Give Him your devotion.

I think if we’re honest, somewhere in there, a recalibration is in order.

Perhaps you’re hearing this today and Christ isn’t your anchor … he isn’t your portion and He definitely isn’t your Lord. Perhaps your mantra is to eat and drink for tomorrow we die… to live it up now because this is all there is. …

PRAY

Communion

Invitation

If you are a baptized believer in good standing with your local church, we invite you to join us in this communion celebration.

Celebration

Communion is a time of celebration, where we as a church take the time to remember Jesus Christ. The elements of the bread and the juice reminds us that He is indeed the Savior.

The bread reminds us that He gave His body for us. He lived the perfect life we could never live and sacrificed Himself for our salvation.

The juice reminds us that He shed His blood. He paid the penalty for my sin. We are made clean by His blood.

He is our Savior. With that I’ll read John 1:19-29

John 1:19–29 ESV

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Go ahead and take the elements, first the bread and then the juice.