Psalm 119 | #2 God's Word Invites Relationship (Part 1)
Jesus & Me in the Psalms • Sermon • Submitted • 50:43
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· 24 viewsYou know, people and corporations pay big bucks for authors to teach, coach, and consult based on their books. Some books develop into websites, videos, consultant teams, conferences, and even movements. Yet, there is only one book through which the Author invites a personal, eternal relationship full of teaching, tutoring, and joy, and that is God's Word! How well are you relating to it and its Author?
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SCRIPTURE READING:
33 HE. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; And I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; And quicken thou me in thy way.
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, Who is devoted to thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: For thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Quicken me in thy righteousness.
How many of you have ever read a book and afterwards said, “I wish I could get the author to help me understand and do the principles in this book?”
How many of you have ever read a book and afterwards said, “I wish I could get the author to help me understand and do the principles in this book?”
How about a school text book with accompanying homework...students ever wish the teacher could be there to help you?
How about parents helping your children with homework...ever wish the teacher could help you help your children?
What cruel person thought up this idea in the first place? You go to school all childhood and young adult years, and then you go back to school every evening, helping your kids!
You know, people and corporations pay big bucks for authors to teach, coach, and consult based on their books. Some books become websites, videos, technology, consultant teams, conferences, and even movements.
BUT...I only know one author committed to personally teaching and tutoring people through his book for their entire lives...and for an unlimited number of people.
Surprisingly, this same Author has paid the cost for us to access this relationship with Him.
Strangely, such an amazing offer goes unnoticed and underutilized by many.
As I am sure you have figured out, the Author I am speaking of is God, and His book is the Scriptures.
ILL--Atheist Learned/Quotes the Scriptures (without faith)
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Atheist Learned the Scriptures
While studying in the Holy Lands, a seminary professor of mine met a man who claimed to have memorized the Old Testament—in Hebrew! Needless to say, the astonished professor asked for a demonstration. A few days late they sat together in the man’s home. “Where shall we begin?” asked the man. “Psalm 1, ” replied my professor, who was an avid student of the psalms. Beginning with Psalm 1:1, the man began to recite from memory, while my professor followed along in his Hebrew Bible. For two hours the man continued word for word without a mistake as the professor sat in stunned silence. When the demonstration was over, my professor discovered something even more astonishing about the man—he was an atheist! Here was someone who knew the Scriptures better than most Christians ever will, and yet he didn’t even believe in God.
Folks, I’m here to say, this isn’t just another book written by another author.
It’s not to be a mechanical book simply for history, philosophy, or even religion.
It’s God’s way for us to follow
It’s God’s truth for us to stand on
It’s God’s incorruptible seed to give us life
It’s God’s spiritual bread for our nourishment
It’s God’s revealer of the thoughts and intents of our hearts
It’s so much more than all that.
But today, I want us to see it’s an invitation for interaction with it’s eternal, loving Author.
1) God’s Word invites us into relationship with its Author.
1) God’s Word invites us into relationship with its Author.
Notice this first with me in Psalm 119:
With Its Author
Let us rest in God’s promise, for God’s Word powerfully exposes our hearts nakedly before God so that we will be without excuse when we give account to Him.
But I was wrongedBut I didn’t understandBut I was given bad examplesAll excuses that God sees through
With Oneself
Look into the mirror of God’s Word and do something about it in the liberating power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit!
ILL--Bible translation to the Macuna People
With Its Followers
Ethiopian Eunic
With Our Neighbors
ILL--Exhortations of Scripture (full of like a sponge)
The apostle Paul told us the time would come when men would not put up with sound doctrine (). However, with over 70 percent of adults under age 25 thinking all beliefs are equally valid (according to Barna Research), sound doctrine is exactly what is needed. It is the Word of God that plants the seed for the new birth (), and the Word must be taught for the purpose of “teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” () and for taking the true message out into the world ().
the Simple
, , , , , , , , , , (26 verses)
17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, And keep thy word.
18 Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.
v. 18 Open my eyes.
26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: Teach me thy statutes.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Teach me and make me to understand Your precepts so that I can talk of them.
29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously.
Graciously give me Your law.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Enlarge my heart.
33 HE. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; And I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; And quicken thou me in thy way.
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, Who is devoted to thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: For thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Quicken me in thy righteousness.
Teach me the way of Your statutes.
Give me understanding.
Make me to go the path of Your commands.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies.
Turn my eyes from vanity, and revive me in Your way.
Establish Your word to me.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: For I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: But now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Teach me (2x).
v. 67 God sometimes uses afflictions to get us teachable: “Before I was afflicted” . . . “But now”
88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Enable me to keep Your testimonies.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me thy judgments.
Teach me Your judgments.
123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for the word of thy righteousness.
124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, And teach me thy statutes.
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies.
126 It is time for thee, Lord, to work: For they have made void thy law.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold; yea, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; And I hate every false way.
I wait for Your word to be fulfilled.
Teach me Your statutes.
Give me understanding to know Your testimonies.
I expect God to judge those who disregard His word.
Therefore, I love and obey Your commands.
145 KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes.
146 I cried unto thee; save me, And I shall keep thy testimonies.
I cry to God for salvation and for the ability to keep His testimonies.
171 My lips shall utter praise, When thou hast taught me thy statutes.
I praise God with my lips when He teaches me His statutes.
1) God’s Word invites us into relationship with its Author.
2) Jesus demonstrated and promised this for His disciples after His resurrection.
2) Jesus demonstrated and promised this for His disciples after His resurrection.
With Its Author
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Luke 24:13-
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:27
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Luke 24:
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luke 24:44-
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Luke 24:
In & 16, Jesus promised the disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to teach them all things and bring to remembrance Jesus’ words—that’s how we got the New Testament!’
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
,
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Let us rest in God’s promise, for God’s Word powerfully exposes our hearts nakedly before God so that we will be without excuse when we give account to Him.
1) God’s Word invites us into relationship with its Author.
2) Jesus demonstrates and promises this for His disciples after His resurrection.
3) Without the Holy Spirit, no human can understand the things of God.
3) Without the Holy Spirit, no human can understand the things of God.
But I was wrongedBut I didn’t understandBut I was given bad examplesAll excuses that God sees through
Paul writes corrective words to a carnal church in Corinth who were full of divisions.
He explains to them that he came to them with simple, powerful words of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He states that unsaved, unregenerate people cannot understand or accept the Gospel or "things of the Spirit of God” apart from the Spirit of God Himself.
Paul then goes on to rebuke them for acting as though they are natural and not born again with the Spirit of God in them.
He says he chooses to limit what spiritual things he will teach them because they are not walking in the Spirit.
We will consider three truths from this passage:
1. Natural humans cannot understand the spiritual things of God without yielding to and receiving the Spirit of God.
1. Natural humans cannot understand the spiritual things of God without yielding to and receiving the Spirit of God.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
v. 12 We “received” the spirit which is of God “that” we might know…
We “received” the spirit which is of God “that” we might know… in verse 12.
v. 14 Natural man receiveth not the “things” of the Spirit of God…
2. The Spirit of God fully comprehends the thoughts and deep things of God.
2. The Spirit of God fully comprehends the thoughts and deep things of God.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Co 10-11)
“Things” of God in both verses are revealed by the One Who knows them—the Spirit of God.
“Things” of God in both verses are revealed by the One Who knows them—the Spirit of God.
3. The Spirit of God indwells every born-again believer and enables them to understand the things of God when believers walk in the Spirit and not the flesh.
3. The Spirit of God indwells every born-again believer and enables them to understand the things of God when believers walk in the Spirit and not the flesh.
,
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
v. 1 “could not” speak unto you as unto spiritual
v. 3 “walk” as men
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
The Spirit of God dwelleth in you.
Teaches something similar to a different group of believers who recently had some from among them deny Christ and leave them.
Those born of God have the Holy Spirit in them and will continue in their faith and obedience to Jesus.
The Holy Spirit teaches believers as a personal, internal teacher of God’s word.
CONCLUSION:
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Misuse of Scripture
When the preacher’s car broke down on a country road, he walked to a nearby roadhouse to use the phone. After calling for a tow truck, he spotted his old friend, Frank, drunk and shabbily dressed at the bar. “What happened to you, Frank?” asked the good reverend. “You used to be rich.”
Frank told a sad tale of bad investments that had led to his downfall. “Go home,” the preacher said. Open your Bible at random, stick your finger on the page and there will be God’s answer.”
Some time later, the preacher bumped into Frank, who was wearing a Gucci suit, sporting a Rolex watch and had just stepped our of a Mercedes. “Frank.” said the preacher, “I am glad to see things really turned around for you.”
“Yes, preacher, and I owe it all to you,” said Frank. “I opened my Bible, put my finger down on the page and there was the answer—Chapter 11.”
Reader’s Digest, March, 1993, p. 71.
Let’s not misuse God’s Word.
Be in relationship with its Author and learn it rightly.
Let’s remember some of the Psalmist’s requests we saw earlier:
Open my eyes.
Enlarge my heart.
Teach me the way of Your statutes.
Give me understanding.
Make me to go the path of Your commands.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies.
Turn my eyes from vanity, and revive me in Your way.
Establish Your word to me.
We like the Psalmist, can cry out to God for help in understanding and obeying God’s Word.
We like the Psalmist, can cry out to God for help in understanding and obeying God’s Word.
While the Psalmist would have had the presence of God’s Spirit available to Him, we as N.T. believers have the Spirit of God dwelling in us.
If that were not enough, we also have the complete revealed Word of God!
How much more should we respond to God’s loving invitation to abide in relationship with Him through His Word.
1) God’s Word invites us into relationship with its Author.
2) Jesus demonstrated and promised this for His disciples after His resurrection.
3) Without the Holy Spirit, no human can understand the things of God.
Do you want a relationship with the Author of God’s Word?
Do you want a relationship with the Author of God’s Word?
Do you believe in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as the complete and full payment for your sins?
Do you believe in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as the complete and full payment for your sins?
Are you walking in the Spirit so that He can guide you in the things of God as revealed in the Scriptures?
Are you walking in the Spirit so that He can guide you in the things of God as revealed in the Scriptures?
God’s Word invites us to interact with It and ourselves.
God’s Word invites us to interact with It and ourselves.
Look into the mirror of God’s Word and do something about it in the liberating power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit!
Let us rest in God’s promise, for God’s Word powerfully exposes our hearts nakedly before God so that we will be without excuse when we give account to Him.
But I was wrongedBut I didn’t understandBut I was given bad examplesAll excuses that God sees through
ILL--Bible translation to the Macuna People
God’s Word invites us to interact with It and Its followers.
God’s Word invites us to interact with It and Its followers.
Ethiopian Eunic
God’s Word invites us to interact with It and our neighbors.
God’s Word invites us to interact with It and our neighbors.
Ethiopian Eunic
ILL--Exhortations of Scripture (full of like a sponge)
The apostle Paul told us the time would come when men would not put up with sound doctrine (). However, with over 70 percent of adults under age 25 thinking all beliefs are equally valid (according to Barna Research), sound doctrine is exactly what is needed. It is the Word of God that plants the seed for the new birth (), and the Word must be taught for the purpose of “teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” () and for taking the true message out into the world ().
the Simple