God's Goodness In the Past Propels Us into the Future
Notes
Transcript
5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.
Faithfulness produces fruitfulness!
Ask people to write a sentence of what God has done for them through the ministry of the Church of the Nazarene in the Mission Valley. Either in our Pablo location or our Polson location....
If there is time, allow a few people to share their sentence... Don't elabborate, just read yoru sentence....
The Psalmist declares he can't tell of ALL that God has done!
There isn’t enough time and space
Isn't that true!
We have recounted SOME of the things God has done in the past 60 years... But, there's no way to recount ALL of them.
CONTEXT IS KEY!!!
So, this is verse 5... the Psalmist begins the poem by discussing how he has waited for the Lord in the past. The Lord answered his cry and delivered him.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. 4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.
In verse 5 the Psalmist recalls MANY of the things the Lord has done, but realizes he cannot speak all of them. They are just too numerous. God is that GREAT.
But, the Psalmist continues.
He will declare what God has done to others.
God has done great things and he will share it!!
6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand— you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. 7 Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: 8 I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” 9 I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. 10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
It would seem that everything is well... but it is not!
V. 11-17 detail that the Psalmist, David, is fleeing for his life. He is in a crisis!
And in the midst of that crisis he recalls what God has done and surrenders himself again to God's goodness and God's plan.
11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. 12 For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage. 13 Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. 14 May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. 15 Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!” 16 But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” 17 As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.
That sounds kind of morbid for a 60th anniversary, but it isn't intended to be.
This is a reminder that God has done great things and t is a reminder to submit ourselves to God's goodness to us in the future .
Rear view mirrors are good! But, they are made for glancing at where you have been. We recount God’s goodness in the past as we glance at the past. But, the purpose is to know where we have been so we have an understanding of where we are going! We look at the past to be reminded of what God has done so that we can submit to God for the future!
V.16 is the challenge
That we would seek God and rejoice and be glad in what God has done and what God will do!
16 But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
God has indeed done amazing things these past 65 years.
But, what God has in store for this congregation in the next 65 years can be even greater.
Our challenge is to continue to submit to God's leading.
Our challenge is to continue to be faithful to what God has called us to do and be.
Our challenge is to be faithful and allow God to provide the fruit.
May the memory of what God has done in the past propel us into what God will do in the future.
To God be the Glory!!
