Sunday Service

Dear heavenly father we come before you this morning just so incredibly grateful for your word so credit so incredibly grateful to be at church. That is built on the foundation of your word.

Lord what a blessing we have. You have equipped us with everything that we need to fulfill your purposes for us. There is nothing we lack because we have you. We've been redeemed by your son. We are filled with your Holy Spirit. And we have your word is our God.

Holy Spirit, we pray that you will fill us this morning to take in your word to understand it more clearly than ever to fall in love with it more deeply than ever. We pray these things in Jesus name. Amen. So this morning we're going to starting a new year and everything. We're going to continue taking a little break from John will pick up on that next week. And I want to I want to look at Psalm 19 and I've titled this a voice to save her a voice to save her. It's kind of a coming down off the holidays message. How many of you this past week have said something along the lines of we survived the holidays. I see Hands. I hear laughter of acknowledging Smiles me to the holiday season this whole season from Thanksgiving through New Year's just has a tendency to wear us out especially. Ken and I have talked about this down here where it's warm this time of year because you can actually do stuff and people aren't mad at each other because they're cold and cranky.

Why is it though that in all seriousness? Why is it that the holiday season where is us out? So bad. Is it not good stuff. I mean giving thanks. Time to be grateful for what? We have the birth of Christ. That's a big one. Obviously that's good stuff to celebrate celebrating a new year. We get together with families and have all these good get-togethers and whatnot. Why is it so stressful? Because we overcomplicate things that we have to do things such as keep this tradition. This kid. My family got married now has two families worth of commitments to keep plus that kid over there in this family got married, and now they have to family commitments to keep and no one and they did the same and someone else did the same in the family. And before you know it the holiday task list has multiplied like the most brilliantly crafted pyramid scheme mankind has ever known and the main goal of enjoying Christmas with family, but we're trying to do gets replaced with the goal of keeping a tradition to bring back Old Times rather than loving the family that we have now.

And what should be our most joyful occasions turn into a stressful ordeal. But we're off and just glad to have over with. Is that really a way to live?

I'm so we make commitments to simplify next year, but almost nobody follows through why?

Because it's a product of the way, we live our lives it exemplifies. The way many of us live out our walk with God and the way we often function as Church. The main goal of enjoying Christ and savoring the vision strengthening and spreading the vision of his glory as a church gets clouded by programs and traditions that helped us to do those things. But the means to that goal of savoring strengthening spreading the glory of God the means to get to that goal ends up becoming the goal and then the real goal Christ gets forgotten.

I don't do New Year's resolutions. I don't I don't like them. I believe if I find send in my life I Repent of it if I see something that I need to improve improve it. I believe in improving when you see a need for it and if a person needs a novelty to make a change there never going to be committed enough to actually stick with it because they lack conviction what I like to do and what I'd like to do this morning. For new years since we start a new year is look at conviction. And strengthen the conviction that we already have because we are a church that is convicted by the word of God. We're church that serious about the word of God. And we're committed to hearing his voice. And because of that we have seen God do some amazing things in this church amazing things that we might in the busyness of everything forget about and just or just not recognized. But do you realize in the last 15 months we've experienced we had six baptisms 6 baptisms in the last 15 month. We have more of them on the docket coming up very very soon. Where in the double digits for professions of faith in the past 15 months? People getting saved a lot of things happen if there's a Revival happening in the church that you don't even really notice. But that's the way the kingdom of God works. A lot of times. It starts like a mustard seed. Together we have built a highly effective children's ministry. And notice how much better are churches gotten with greeting and just and just being aware of these things. But we've built a highly effective children's ministry as well children grow deeper children getting saved.

We are growing deeper is a church all of this all of it. It just come through deepening our commitment to God's word.

see a lot of churches putting a lot of Hope in different things and focusing on all kinds of activities and programs and Ministries busy with busy work some busy with busy work trying to do good with good Hearts behind it some just trying to survive keep their head above water keep the lights on.

Are people growing deeper our souls being saved? As we head into a New Year, let us take this Sunday. To reflect deeply on our commitment to God's voice that has been proving so effective in this place. So as we walked through psalm 19, the main point is this The voice of God fills the ears of those who long for him bringing a pathway of righteousness to desperate Sinners Like Us. Let me read with you song 19 verses 1 through 14. Just Psalm 19. The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork day to day pours out speech and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speed nor are there words whose voice is not heard their voice goes out through all the Earth and their words to the end of the world and then he is set a 10 for the sun which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber and like a strong man runs. Its course with joy its Rising as from the ends of the heavens and its circuit to the end of them and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect Reviving The Soul, the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart. The commandant of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever. The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether more to be desired are they than gold even much Feingold sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb more in keeping them. There is great reward declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins and let them not have dominion over me. Then. I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Oh Lord my rock and my redeemer.

We walk back through this. Out of our Point number one comes out of verses 1 through 6, and that's this. We hear God's voice. When we Savor his glory in his creation. When we Savor his glory and his creation looking first one. The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork when you're reading through psalms and you see these little inventions note that this is kind of how you recited a maid of the Hebrew poetry Works in thought patterns more so than rhymes like we do in English and so you have a main point stated and then you have a supporting Point behind it. The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. See creation serves as a declaration of God's glory. And it's our task to pay attention to this. Whenever we go traveling and our last trip just reminded me of this. You see all kinds of different things when you go traveling. I'm not talking about the crazy stuff. It just has a weird happened to us when we're traveling the landscape the Beauty and the scenery around you. I love driving up through North Georgia East Tennessee see in the mountains. We won't speak of Illinois cuz being a guy from Eastern Missouri, we won't speak of Illinois, but Western Kentucky and Missouri, you see the farm Fields as a joke by the way, don't get offended if you're from Illinois, but you see the farm fields in the Rolling Hills just Laden with crops and Hardwoods hickory's White Oaks Red Oaks. It's beautiful. The mountains are beautiful and the clear Lakes. You see all of that and come back down to Southern Georgia. And you see the Tall Pines. You see the Cypress swamps in all the different types of birds that live in it the worlds beautiful thing to behold. But when you look at all these different things, what do you appreciate about it? Does it make you fall in love with a certain area? Or does it make you fall more in love with your God?

Easy to look at these things and appreciate them and begin to appreciate a region or a place or nature itself. So a lot of idolatry happens, by the way. Making images after creation because you appreciate creation and start worshiping creation rather than the Creator.

But do we do we remember to look at the beauty of creation and mostly appreciate the artistic hand of God in designing it for his glory.

So that we can recognize him and see whether we're looking at creation or whether we're serving in the church whether we're studying his word whether we're praying whether we're singing songs or playing songs in Praise whether we're working whether we're at home. It is our task to savor the glory of God in all that we do. Can we do this? We find ourselves more receptive to his voice? So we're more aware of him. Ready to listen when he answers our prayers. Alert to opportunities to share the gospel with others and a minister to others because when were more aware of his glory around us, we become more aware of opportunities to serve.

Cuz our minds are on him. May we be at church that Savers God's glory in everything. Because he created everything to make his glory now. first number two day to day pours out speech and night to night reveals knowledge. The knowledge of God is made available in creation. God makes himself known in it and Paul draws on this likely from this passage in Romans chapter 1 verses 18 through 20. I think the song had a deep impact on Paul and all the Old Testament had a deep impact on Paul. Romans 1:18 through 20 for the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who buy their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them for his invisible attributes namely his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. So there without excuse nobody in living in the creation that God has made to display his glory has any excuse. Or to stand before God as a center. Because we're living in the very creation that he created.

and we said stats for the world or for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish Hearts were darkened. all of creation brings with it accountability to know God and when we suppress truth pushing it down pushing it away God's Wrath Bears down on us.

You start seeing the importance of following God's word and valuing it. So highly as a church.

Call continues to cite this. suppressing the truth Even though God has made himself known in creation. The reason for idolatry suppress the truth push it down and your mind will be depraved. And God's Wrath will make you a fool and you will worship things that you made yourself.

Suppress the truth Paul continues and God will bring wrath in allowing your mind to be made foolish and verses 26 through 27 to be made foolish so that you desire humiliating and disgraceful things for yourself. Roma he continues this and ran 26 and 27 a Romans one for this reason because they suppress the truth even though God revealed himself. It is creation for this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions for their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to Nature and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another men committing Shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for there are condemnation the curse living out the curse in the world today by humiliating themselves.

UC embracing for accepting homosexuality is a product of a mind that has become depraved due to suppressing God's truth. Therefore the church that Embraces things such as this abandoned in God's word.

To embrace in a culture is a church that's depraved and warped and will cease to be a church.

So moving on versus the heavens declare the glory of God day to day pours out speech and night to night reveals knowledge and there is no speech verse 3 nor their words whose voice is not heard their voice goes out to all the Earth and their words to the end of the world. Here we see God speaks through creation. He makes himself known Call actually quotes verse for in Romans 10:18 after stressing the importance of a Preacher to show that even those who have not heard the gospel are accountable for their sin because they rebelled against God and in his creation and Romans 10:18 Paul says but I asked have they not heard indeed they have for quoting verse for Psalm 19. Their voice is gone out to all the Earth and their words to the end of the world. Right after saying how can they hear without a preacher? How can they know the best way I can illustrate this was? I was once traveling through Canada. And have to do it. I was once traveling through Canada. and as I was driving along I noticed my first speed limit sign said kilometers per hour.

What's that sign? I thought I'm in trouble. I don't have a clue what how fast I'm going in. So I'm sitting here trying to figure out how do I drive in this place? I don't know how fast I'm going. I need somebody to teach me how many kilometers per hour is how many miles per hour someone did eventually teach me two years later when I share in the story. There's actually in small words are those little kilometers per hour on the inside of your speedometer. I didn't recognize that I needed to be taught. How are they to know without a preacher? Here's the thing. I was still accountable to that law wasn't I I was still accountable to the laws of Canada and a 21 year old American boy was going to be in a lot of trouble if I broke the kilometer per hour speed limit, whatever it was.

Because I was living in that land. I was living I was traveling through the land of Canada and that was the rules whether I understood them or not whether I had knowledge of them or not, but I need somebody to teach me. Made it through didn't get pulled over just kind of match the speed of traffic and then when a little slower. But I had a feel for it. That's the other thing. I learned the feel for it through what was around me.

And so I was able to discern whether I was being a law-abiding citizen while traveling through Canada or a lawbreaker.

But I was still accountable to those loss. If we're in God's creation, we are still accountable to him whether we understand the gospel or not. versus five through six and then me a set of tent for the sun which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber and like a strong man runs. Its course with joy its Rising as from the ends of the heavens and its circuits at the end of them and there is nothing that is hidden from its heat. God's glory radiates through the Earth bringing incredible joy to all who embrace it.

when we recognize the glory of God and all things we experience Joy everyday like the joy of a wedding day as we celebrate our Union with. We are his radiant bride. And the groom Reveals His glory to us and showing his love for us each day. I like a strong man who runs his race with joy you've ever seen the movie Chariots of Fire about Star Runner Eric Liddell, and he said when I run I know that God has created me and gifted me to be a runner. And so when I'm running I feel God's joy. Experiencing the glory of God in whatever God has gifted you to do and whatever this creation has to offer you what God has gifted you in creation Embrace his glory.

Recognizing God's handiwork helps us to census join. It's our task to do so because when we sense his Joy it fills our hearts with joy. Phone number to Ida verses 7 through 11. We hear God's voice in his word as we recognize its infinite value.

noticed these next versus these next three versus there's a poetic pattern here the six statements. Like I said Hebrew poetry Works through Works through knowledge and thought patterns more so than rhyme type patterns and notices poetic statements regarding the law of the lord of the word of God leading up to the end result the last of the six statements which is righteousness and all of it building up to highlight. The main point that the word of God is our most desirable and our most valuable asset. Because only the righteous can stand in the presence of God and live in the word of God reveals how to live righteously but also revealed that the only way to become righteous is through Christ. And what we're going to see at the end of this song is David pleading for the same Mercy that we plead for in Christ. So starting a verse 7 the first part of her seven the law of the Lord is perfect Reviving The Soul it is perfect without are fully authoritative means to Revival. It is the means to Revival. Do you want Revival in this church in this community here?

And commit yourself to the intake of God's word. That's it. That's how revivals happened in Israel. Read the law to the people in the people would hear the word of God. That's how it happens today. If you look at our own nation's history in the two great Awakenings that you read about in the textbooks. There's typically two names that come up then the first one Jonathan Edwards in the second Charles Finney. But what's up? I'm not touring with us. Also just not often understood is those weren't really the people that spearheaded the great Awakenings what spearheaded the Great Awakening is what was happening around them leading up to their preaching wear throughout those regions. There was a massive influx of expository preaching going on in the puppets in the Townsend in the countryside's all around there. And when I say expository preaching, I mean preaching where the preacher takes a pack of the word of God and explains it out for the people to understand it. So what he's saying and what he's communicating is just simply sharing the word of God with the people in explaining it out.

And hopefully what you've seen over the past year.

It says that we go through scripture the authors of scripture. We're constantly saturating themselves with scripture. And what we're seeing in the book of in our study through John. Everything Jesus was saying was saturated saturated with the Old Testament. The things that the apostles were saying and writing we're saturated with the Old Testament scriptures. They were making their own points and their own ideas and then trying to pull scripture together to support their were there is not any power behind the word of Chris Kinsley or anybody else, but there is infinite power behind the word of God and it is an arrogant thing.

Your own word in place of the word of God.

There will come a day hopefully decades from now. When is inevitable God will either call me out of the pulpit or call me home to Heaven don't ever. Accept anything less than expository preaching the word of God.

47 B her second part of her seven the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple. the word of God brings wisdom the Bible teaches us the most valuable lessons for life in a simple manner adapted to our weakness. It's amazing. It's adapted our weakness. It gives us access to the wisdom of God is all knowing the scriptures Revive Our Hearts and then firmly established our hearts and wisdom verse 8, the precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart God's commands are to Rejoice our hearts. If our hearts are right, they become a burden if our hearts and minds are corrupted with sin. always remember that if you want to do something and you're sitting there thinking I wish I could but I'm a Christian. So I just can't your heart and your mind is being corrupted by sin. You're being obedient. That's good. What's still work on the matter of heart so you don't fall into temptation?

Hope you're seeing the progression here of what God's word. Does Revival gives you wisdom and then it causes you to rejoice in what is right because you know, what is right. Second part of versed the Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes as we rejoice and rightness our eyes become further Enlighten by God's word is misconceptions begin to fade away. Our eyes become enlightened you no longer just repeat common phrases that you here because you're a you are able to more clearly discern God's word for yourself. It's like moving out of a fog and seeing the world through a clear lens. Because God is enlightened your eyes because you've committed yourself to his word. And you see things you've never seen before you recognize things. You've never recognized before you see wisdom in places. You never knew existed. Verse 9. The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever. The fear of the Lord that comes with the intake of his word brings about purity in our lives leaving to eternal life is the word teaches is the fear of the Lord and the grace of Christ to bring us eternal life through his sacrifice. Everything's that we find in his word brings about instruction for righteousness and integrity that we might live in peace without anything to hide and what a peaceful situation that is to be in when you got nothing to hide.

verse 10 more to be desired are they than gold even much fine gold sweeter also than honey and drippings of a honeycomb. So he's previous three versus showed us the kind of difference that God's word makes in our lives and now here we see. An explanation or a result of conclusion on that matter for these reasons? There's nothing that we have that holds greater value for us personally or is a church then the scriptures. But if you have a choice between the wealth of this world and the knowledge of scriptures choose the scriptures. I have spent tens of thousands of dollars. Over the past few years getting a master's degree and a doctorate degree in Theology and it's the best money I've ever spent in my life.

Wealth can leave in an instant? But God's word endures forever.

the rich in Christ are the richest people of all there is no greater wealth and there's no greater pleasure than what's found in God's word. Sweeter than honey. Job says in chapter 23 verse 12. I've not Departed. From the Commandment of his lips. I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. Jeremiah describes taking in God's word saying in Jeremiah 15 16 your words were found and I ate them and your words became to me a joy and the Delight of my heart for Him call by your name O Lord God of hosts. Food is necessary to nourish and sustain life to the body. And it's also to be used as pleasure.

Don't worry. It is to be used as pleasure. Not out of hand.

but even more so scripture is necessary to nourish and sustain life in your soul. And it's also used for pleasure.

people who love God love his word In the church, that's not deeply committed to the word of God is a church that is not deeply committed to God and a church that needs to fall more deeply in love with him if they're going to be effective.

And I am honored to say that my heart overflows overflows with joy. Fought back tears as I wrote this in my notes my heart overflows with joy as I see this church falling so passionately in love with God's word.

It brings more pleasure than the greatest wealth of the world. It brings more pleasure than the greatest feast. verse 11 Moreover by them your servant is warned him keeping them. There is great reward. The David concludes them that in all of our sinfulness. We have our warning and we have great reward by following and obeying God's word yet. None of us can ignore. the fact that we're in perfect and that we're guilty of disobeying God's word and that's the response that David is giving That's what he's going to acknowledge. Next. We going or last point out of verses 12 through 14. We hear God's voice when we long to be made righteous.

We long to be made righteous verse 12 who can discern his airs declare me innocent from hidden faults your David picks up poetically on verse 6 where the heat of the Sun reaches every nook and cranny of the earth. So the word of God searches every nook and cranny of our hearts and exposes sending our lives beyond what we even recognize. You're constantly doing things in sin. We're hopeless unless God declares us innocent. David pleads for Grace. He recognizes that his sin goes so deep that some of it is hidden from others and even some of it is hidden even from himself. God sees it all. And just as the Old Testament law provided sacrifice for this to point us to the grace of Christ where his sacrifice of himself would cover the multitude of our sins. So please for God's mercy on these terms. And that's all we have. That's why Christ went to the cross and paid for the sins of the world. Buried with him in his burial and Rose from the grave to give us eternal life if we accept his gift of Grace. Let David's plea for Mercy become yours. Go to the Lord asked him to save you and surrender your life to following Christ Living by his word like a verse 13 keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. So notice David does not just want to be declared innocent so that he can feel better and go on the same way. He desires change. Desires change been having Mastery over him he Longs and weird along for God to constrain Us by his word and let Christ and his word have Mastery over us.

Presumptuous sin is a word that means knowing what you're doing yet arrogantly choosing to sin anyways, so he's asking cleanse me of these things. Don't guard me from doing things that I do know about and as we saw Is what abandon in God's word leads to committing these sins? So David asked to be constrained by God to live free of presumptuous sin, and he already explained the process of how this works pleading for Grace following the scriptures verse 14.

He says then I shall be blameless and innocent a great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Oh Lord my rock and Redeemer. David is drawing off the idea of Leviticus. 22:22 says you shall not offer anything that has a blemish or it will not be expressed will not be acceptable for you the gall of it. All savoring God's glory in creation living by God's word receiving his grace is to offer of Glory to God In Praise as a sacrifice. That is pure and please tell him it's about 10. And if your concern and coming here is merely for yourself. You're not bearing the fruit of the one who's experienced as one who has experienced. The grace of God. Our aim is to be transformed by God's word and made pure to bring him glory in all that. We do Romans 12 1 through 2. Paul says, I appeal to you therefore Brothers by the mercies of God to present your body as a Living Sacrifice. Holy and acceptable to God. Holy and acceptable sacrifice, once again drawing off that Leviticus 22:22, which is your spiritual worship do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed strippers in your body is an acceptable sacrifice you are being transformed. By the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern. What is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect salvation changes you Cycle we're talking about in Sunday school this morning. Praying a prayer 30 years ago. I never wanting anything to do with God sense. It's not a transformation. Salvation is a transformation. The change in it brings a change in your desires. If you pray a prayer and live your life without following God's word without being revived without being change with no desire to change by what we see here. It's doubtful that you knew or understood. What following Christ really means. You're asking him to be the Lord of your life. The one who you follow.

Did you make a true commitment?

Are you feeling weighed down? searching for hope John is ready to extend his grace to you and he's shown it to you in his work. Do you want to be changed do you desire to offer up to him acceptable worship with your life?

So we pray and take a moment to reflect on this as we close with a him. I'll invite you to come lay your life down for Christ and learn to savor his voice. Let me pray with you.

Dear heavenly father. We thank you so much. It should have given us a voice to listen to The Voice to obey your word to follow. Lord let us be at church then. Continues and grows in our commitment to your word. And as individuals as a corporate body.

Lord if there's anybody here that is not committed to you Lord, we just pray that holy spirit that you will come upon them and draw them this morning.