Passion and Plan

Introduction

Good Morning Church Family. When I was sitting down to begin writing this sermon, the very first thing I start off with is prayer. Then more prayer. As the thoughts and ideas are coming forward, I pray some more. I have to do this because it helps me align with God plan. Plus it helps me stay on track. If Richard was allowed free reign, we would start off with perhaps conversation about the remnant of Israel and finish talking about the birth of our Savior. Sometimes that’s just it — which way.

Our passage and Scripture is going to relate to us as to our direction. No issue hits home more in living the Christian life that which way should I go. Which direction should I make? Which choice is the best? These questions can come any area of our life, from a job choice, to a mate, to a financial decision to a situation you’re in not knowing exactly how to address it properly.

This reminded me of king Jehoshaphat. We can learn about him if First Kings. In the book of Second Chronicles is where we hear about the directions Jehoshaphat chose. One thing we can gather is Jehoshaphat was dealing with quite a mess. You could thing of this as a crisis. The Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites were coming against king Jehoshaphat for battle. We’ve got something coming in from the Moabites, then from the Ammonites, from the Meunites. Then to top if off, as if he needed another challenge, the Bible tells is “a great multitude” was coming from Edom. So he was learning how to deal with God in a crisis. He as unsure what to do. Anybody ever been there, in a situation where you could find yourself saying “I don’t know what to here.” I don’t know how you all feel. Where we are today, in comparison to king Jehoshaphat, it’s great God allowed us to have access to these stories. They help us, they give us encouragement, and they show us the challenges were faced by normal people.

When we’re learning to deal with God in a crisis it is His Word that guides us. Perhaps your share some overly with king Jehoshaphat with everything coming in from all sides. God has a plan. And, God has passion for each one of us. That brings us to the title of our sermon this morning — Passion and Plan, God’s Passion and Plan. I’d like to invite you to open your Bibles to Psalm 119, and let begin reading in verse 112.

Psalm 119:105–112 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. 107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word! 108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules. 109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. 111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Pastoral Prayer

According to our writer, “your word is a lamp to my fee and a light to my path.” To put it another way, Scripture shows us the direction we should be heading. It’s interesting the writer says “lamp.” Lamps during this time were not like what we could expect today. Technology has allowed to see great distances in the dark. That helps us get to the next step or perhaps down the road. Isn’t it similar to some of the decision we’re either faced or going to make? Much of the time we like to know what the next step should be or could be. Our writer says the Bible, the Word, is like a light that enables us to see in the darkness. God’s Word helps us stay on the right course. In the case if we begin to get off course; the beauty of God Word, is it gives us the direction. There is probably not a person in this room who is not guilty of making bad choices. Now if you’ve lived a life with no bad choices, please meet me after so I can learn your secret. Sometimes bad choices can be a result of limited information.

Let’s zero in on an aspect here. That aspect is life. Our writer uses a picture here speak about the Word of God in this person life. Part of the image of light depicts how God lights up the path of this person life. In the darkness there’s things all around that could cause us hurt. There’s danger out there. This reminds me a single track road at the top of a mountain over here behind McGee Park. This road is narrow in some parts, but there’s also some very short hair-pin turns, that you’re taking very slow. Because, on one side of the road there is an irrigation troff. The troff is not very deep. But! It’s deep enough if you fell off the road it would be very difficult to get out. On the other side of the road is a cliff that varies from just a few feet to over 20. Traveling in the day might not be too bad. The risk of falling off is still there. When it’s dark, that introduces a new dynamic. This is where headlight come in. They help light the way. It’s not like having sunlight to possibly see around the next bend. The headlights only light part of the way.

Here where theology meets the road of life. It’s about having faith, faithful feet. When God lights up our path, our path might only receive light for one step at a time. That’s where faith comes in. As we walk by faith, we’re talking steps in obedience. Eventually all those steps will add up, and we’ll come to our destination. This is a choice we make. We choose to stay in the light, or we choose to stay in darkness. I was surfing around a popular online encyclopedia — Wikipedia. Well. I came across this article titled “Age of Enlightenment.” There were some interesting historic facts and how the Age of Enlightenment came to be. It got me thinking, if we’re in the Age of Enlightenment, why is the world still dark. In many areas it’s missing the light of God’s Word. Many feel this way, searching for the light in the world, but only find this light is temporary. The light from God does not run out, it’s eternal. Without God’s Word our writer would be walking in the dark, unable to see the path before him.

Our writer is doing two things here. First, the writer is making the choice to be in God light. Second, its an aspect built on obedience. Our writer is making a personal commitment, essentially a promise. When you made a commitment or a promise to someone, did you follow through with it? Sometimes we follow through, and sometimes we don’t. If we make a commitment or a promise to God, we should follow through it. In verse 106, we see our writing using some strong language to express a commitment to God.

[Display Verse 106]

Our writer has solemnly sworn, an oath, to keep God’s righteous rules. We understand keeping all the laws is impossible. Because of our Lord Jesus Christ, that’s one of the significant features of the covenant of grace. Making an oath to God is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. For our writer, how God has chosen to reveal Himself to this person, God’s light has illuminated the path, and this reason for our writer, not only to follow it, but make an oath to it. The Lord is the fixed standard in this person life. Our writer firmly holds to our Lord’s commandments. If you notice, our writer’s “faithful words” don’t stop, they continue. Our writer says:

Psalm 119:107 ESV

107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word!

Verse 107 is interesting. Perhaps you’ve been there, severely afflicted. Being severely afflicted today can come in many forms. It also means our adversary also comes in many forms. Today there are many channels which affliction can come. It’s almost endless. Our writer is going through it, but who does is this person turning to? That’s right — THE LORD! A call is being placed to the Lord who is true to His promise. Since, being invited here to be your pastor, our adversary who prowls around, has chased after me. Most of the time it was smooth sailing. There’s been some 20-foot wave, there’s been some 50-foot waves. Through God’s Word, there was reflection on who’s sovereign — JESUS CHRIST! Jesus is always bigger than the storm that seems to be going sideways. A favorite passage of mine that has brought much encouragement through the years can be found in the Book of Isaiah

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Every time I read this passage I think of three words — passion, mercy and grace. When we’re going through it, and have a chance to catch a breath, seeing how God has acted. We could easily see His passion, His mercy and perhaps even His grace. As we see these coming to the surface, we generally bring praise. We approach with throne of God in boldness but also with a tender spirit. That’s what our writer is doing in verse 108.

[Display verse 108]

Our writer gives free praise to the Lord. But! Verse 108 is two fold. Our writer approaches with the attitude of wanting to continue to learn. We really see the humble spirit of our writer. Scripture is not always easy. It can hurt. Sometimes it can feel like dying by paper-cuts. Then there’s those times when we experience the tenderness of God’s love. God’s Word is there to guide us and help us. When Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles he loved them by saying:

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Church family, that’s worth remembering. It’s worth it to have a faithful memory in the Lord. It’s worth it to reflect on the passion and plan our Lord has for you. Our Psalmist writes about this memory in verses 109 and 110. The Psalmist says the adversary (or adversary's), we don’t know who make up the “wicked”. Who ever that might be, notice how verses 109 and 110 nest into each other like matching puzzle pieces!

[Display Verse 109]

The Psalmist’s life is continually out there. Which means it’s accessible and vulnerable. But! Facing these treats, turn your attention to the last half of verse 109 and 110.

[Display Verse 110]

Living in danger, the Psalmist does not deter from God’s way. While there could be detour signs, the Psalmist does not deviate. Our writers compass is fixed on North, True North. Jesus Christ is our True North. When our compass is magnetically set to Jesus, we’re never off course. I don’t know about you. That always brings great joy. In fact our writer says:

Psalm 119:111 ESV

111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

This joy is not something that can be experienced on the surface, then it evaporates. No! This joy is at the Psalmist’s core. It cannot be separated. The two are fused together at a spiritual level, which is deeper than where our DNA rests. Because of all who the Lord is to the Psalmist, the commitment to obedience is complete and permanent,

[Display Verse 112]

which extends “to the end.”

Application

God’s passion and plan is filled with love, mercy, grace, “welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. The list for many of us can go on and on. AND! It’s wonderful we can reflect this way on God. Perhaps the best way to capture God’s passion and plan is best seen through the lens of John 3:16-17. If you’ve never heard this before, these verses capture the true nature of God’s heart.

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

That’s Passion! It’s also a plan! It’s filled with love, mercy, grace and hope!

Perhaps today, you want to experience the passion of God — You can!

Perhaps today, you want to learn more about God’s plan for your life — You can!

Perhaps today, you want a dark path illuminated — you can!

What commitment is the Holy Spirit leading you to today?

Closing Prayer