Why do so many of God's own people today
seek after psychological and pharmaceutical solutions
to their emotional, mental, and behavioral problems,
rather than follow after Biblical and spiritual (Holy Spirit directed) solutions?
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Thought for Meditation
Why do so many of God's own people today seek after psychological and pharmaceutical solutions to their emotional, mental, and behavioral problems, rather than follow after Biblical and spiritual (Holy Spirit directed) solutions?
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Weekly Sermon
Psalm 119:25-29 reads, “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.” In Psalm 119:25-29 the psalmist, this young servant of the Lord, presented a series of requests unto the Lord. Then in Psalm 119:30-32 he presented a series of commitments unto the Lord. However, it is important that we understand the circumstances and context out of which the psalmist expressed these requests and commitments. Even so, the psalmist cried out in the opening line of Psalm 119:25, “My soul cleaveth unto the dust.” Again in the opening line of Psalm 119:28, he cried out, “My soul melteth for heaviness.” The psalmist, this young servant of the Lord, was suffering under a great trial of affliction. Yea, he was suffering so much that his soul, his inner man, was pressed down unto the lowest point, to the very level of the dust. Yea, he was suffering so much that his soul, his inner man, was melting away with grief and sorrow, possessing no strength to go forward. In like manner, we ourselves may also suffer under such a great trial of affliction. That great trial of affliction may come through opposition and oppression, through trouble and tribulation, or through discouragement and depression. At such times we may also find our inner man pressed down to such a low and weak condition, to such a condition of hopelessness and helplessness. At such times, what can we do? At such times, we should follow the psalmist’s example by looking up unto our Lord in prayer. So then, for what did the psalmist, this young servant of the Lord, pray in his time of hopelessness and helplessness; and for what should we pray in our times of such hopelessness and helplessness? Weekly Sermon
Psalm 119:18-20 reads, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.” Through these three verses, the psalmist, this young man of God, this faithful servant of the Lord, expressed the burden of his heart for the Lord’s guidance in his life. Even so, in these three verses we find nine characteristics concerning the burden of the Lord’s servant for the Lord’s guidance. Thus if we would also walk as faithful servants of our Lord, we must also maintain a burden for our Lord’s guidance in our lives. Yea, we must also maintain these same characteristics in our burden for our Lord’s guidance. Weekly Sermon
Psalm 119:17-24 reads, “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.” The theme of Psalm 119 as a whole is – The desire of the Lord’s suffering servant to seek the Lord through His holy Word. In verse 17 this servant of the Lord sought the Lord in prayer, saying, “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.” Herein the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, expressed his desire to walk aright with the Lord his God – to live a godly life of obedience unto God’s Word. Yet herein the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, also expressed his understanding of his need for the Lord to help him so that he might walk aright – to deal bountifully with him so that he might live a godly life. Even so, we also should maintain a desire to walk aright with our Lord; and we should make request daily that our Lord might help us to walk aright. In Psalm 119:17 we find four ingredients to this request by the Lord’s servant. Weekly Sermon
Psalm 119:9-16 reads, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” Through the grammatical constructions of Psalm 119:9-16, we may note five elements of truth in these eight verses. The first element that we note in this passage is the concern of God’s man. In the opening portion of verse 9, the psalmist, this young man of God, expressed his spiritual concern and burden through the grammatical form of a searching question – “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” The second element that we note in this passage is the responsibility of God’s man. In the closing portion of verse 9, this responsibility was delivered through the grammatical form of an instructional answer – “By taking heed thereto according to thy [God’s] word.” The third element that we note in this passage is the praise of God’s man. At the center of these eight verses, in the opening portion of verse 12, the psalmist, this young man of God, revealed the spiritual assurance and faith of his heart through the grammatical form of an exclamatory praise – “Blessed art thou, O LORD.” The fourth element that we note in this passage is the request of God’s man. In these eight verses, the psalmist, this young man of God, lifts up two requests unto the Lord through the grammatical form of a heart-felt prayer. In the closing portion of verse 10, this young man of God lifted up his first request unto the Lord – “O let me not wander from thy commandments.” Then in the closing portion of verse 12, this young man of God lifted up his second request unto the Lord – “Teach me thy statutes.” The fifth and final element that we note in this passage is the commitment of God’s man. Actually, this matter of commitment encompasses the majority of these eight verses, including the opening portion of verse 10, all of verse 11, and all of verses 13-16. In these verses, the psalmist, this young man of God, presented his fervent and faithful commitment through the grammatical form of a personal declaration. In verses 10-11 he declared, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Then in verses 13-16 he declared, “With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” In this message let us focus our attention upon the fourth element of the passage – the request of God’s man; and let us consider the two-fold request that this young man of God lifted up unto the Lord. Yea, let us consider these two requests with the recognition that we ourselves also ought to lift them up from our hearts unto the Lord each and every day. Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: And His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful - Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:6-7 reads, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Now, the fullness of this promise and prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. The Lord Jesus Christ has not yet come in the fullness of His glory as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule and reign over the whole world from the throne of David in Jerusalem. Yet the fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has indeed begun to be fulfilled. Unto us that Child has been born. Unto us that Son has been given. The zeal of the Lord is already at work. God the Father has already sent God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be born into this world as God in human flesh. The fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has already begun in Christ’s first coming, and most certainly the fulfillment will be completed in Christ’s second coming. Amen, and amen. “Even so come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20) However, the focus of this message is not upon the coming of our Lord, but upon the character of our Lord. In the closing portion of verse 6 five titles are given to reveal the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son who was given to be born in human flesh – “And his name [His title] shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” In this message let us consider four truths concerning the second of these titles – “And his name shall be called . . . Counsellor.” Now, the word “consellor” refers to someone who possesses such wisdom that he behaves wisely in his own conduct and is able to deliver wise counsels and correctives unto others. So then, in what ways is our Lord Jesus Christ to be called Counsellor? Weekly Sermon
Psalm 119:9-16 reads, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” In the opening portion of verse 9, the psalmist expressed the spiritual concern and burden of his heart with the question, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” He desired to know how he himself, as a young man of God, might have his way cleansed and might continue in the cleansed way. In the closing portion of verse 9, the answer of God’s Word is delivered – “By taking heed thereto according to thy [God’s] word.” Through this principle we lean that we may have our way cleansed and may continue in the cleansed way by taking heed to conform our way in accord with the standard of God’s Word. We must give our attention and our obedience to the Word of God. Certainly this will require commitment on our part. It will not just happen. We must specifically prepare ourselves and commit ourselves every day to the task. So then, what is involved in the commitment to take heed unto our way in accord with God’s Word? Throughout Psalm 119:10-16 the psalmist, this young man of God, presented eight points of commitment that he had made in this matter. Through his example we learn what is involved in the commitment to take heed according to God’s Word. Now, the eight points of commitment that the psalmist made may be divided grammatically into two parts. The psalmist’s first four commitments he presented in the past tense as those commitments that he had already done. In them we find our responsibility to apply ourselves unto God’s Word. We must apply ourselves to make our Lord and His Word the governing priority and principle of our hearts. The psalmist’s second four commitments he presented in the future tense as those commitments that he intended to do. In them we find our responsibility to apply God’s Word unto ourselves. We must apply the truth of God’s Word to our daily living so that our daily purposes and pursuits are conformed thereto. In this first part of the message, let us consider the first four commitments of the psalmist and our responsibility to apply ourselves unto God’s Word. Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 1) Psalm 119:7 reads, “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.” In this verse we find three ingredients. First, we find the ingredient of praising the Lord. Second, we find the ingredient of an upright heart. Third, we find the ingredient of God’s true and righteous Word. Furthermore, in this verse we find a progression to these three ingredients. Although we encounter the ingredient of praising the Lord first in the sentence, it is actually the last ingredient in the progression of thought. The opening portion of this verse speaks of praising the Lord our God “with uprightness of heart.” Indeed, in order to so praise the Lord our God, we must first possess the ingredient of an upright heart. In fact, in order for our praise to be acceptable unto the Lord our God, it must flow out of an upright heart. So then, in the progression of thought “uprightness of heart” must come before acceptable praise unto the Lord. Yet the closing portion of the verse then proceeds to reveal the means to such “uprightness of heart,” saying, “When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.” Indeed, the ingredient of an upright heart comes only as and after we learn the righteous truths of God’s Holy Word. In fact, God’s true and righteous Word is the very foundation for an upright heart. An upright heart can only be built upon the foundation of God’s righteous Word. So then, in this series of messages, let us consider the relationship of God’s righteous Word to an upright heart and the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word. In the first part of the message, we have already considered the first three steps in this process: (1) Our hearts must be gleaning from the truth of God’s Word; (2) Our hearts must be governed by the truth of God’s Word; and (3) Our hearts must be guarded by the truth of God’s Word. In this second part of the message, let us consider the next two steps in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word. Outlines in Psalms
Psalm 143 contains twelve verses and is divided directly in half by the “Selah” at the end of verse 6. Each half of this psalm begins with a request by the Lord’s servant David for the Lord to hear him. Psalm 143:1 begins with the request, “Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications.” In like manner, Psalm 143:7 begins with the request, “Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth.” The six verses of the first half of this psalm may be divided into three parts, each part containing two verses. Within each of these two-verse parts of this first half of the psalm, we find three points presented. Even so, the outline for this first half of the psalm may be found at the following link: O Lord, Give Ear to My Supplications - Psalm 143:1-6. However, the six verses of the second half of this psalm are presented in a different form. Herein we find a series of requests, and with each request we find a reason why that request might be answered. Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to five previous sermons: Blessed Be the Most High God - Genesis 14:19-20 The Most High Ruleth - Daniel 4:32 The Most High Uttereth His Voice - 2 Samuel 22:14 Sing Praise to the Name of the Lord Most High - Psalm 7:17 Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High - Psalm 91:1 Psalm 77:10-12 reads, “And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” In Psalm 77:1 the psalmist Asaph presented a summary for the entire psalm, saying, “I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.” Yet the opening portion of this psalm (encompassing Psalm 77:2-8) does not present a scenario in which Asaph had a positive attitude toward the Lord. The context and circumstance in which Asaph wrote this psalm was one of great trouble. Even so, in Psalm 77:2-4 he stated, “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.” Now, in the midst of this great trouble, Asaph did remember the Lord his God. Yet at first his remembrance of God did not bring him to a place of comfort, but to a place of complaint. Again in Psalm 77:2-3 he stated, “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.” At the first Asaph’s prayer to God and remembrance of God brought him to doubt and question God’s loving care. At the first he was not comforted or encouraged in the Lord his God. Rather, at the first he complained against the Lord for allowing such trouble in his life and for not removing it more quickly from his life. Even so, in Psalm 77:5-9 Asaph expressed his complaint against God, saying, “I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.” Indeed, at the first Asaph doubted and questioned the loving kindness of God, and the goodness of God, and the everlasting mercy of God, and the faithfulness of God, and the abundant grace of God, and the tenderness of God. At the first Asaph, in the midst of his great trouble, had a negative attitude of complaint against the Lord his God. Yet in the opening line of Psalm 77:10, Asaph confessed his wrong attitude, saying, “And I said, This is my infirmity.” He acknowledged and confessed that his negative attitude of complaint against the Lord his God was his infirmity, his wrong doing, his sinful iniquity. Even so, with this confession Asaph began the process of correction and change in his attitude toward the Lord his God. With this confession Asaph turned the focus of his heart away from his troubles and away from his complaint against God for those troubles. With this confession Asaph turned the focus of his heart toward God’s past faithfulness and toward God’s faithful character as demonstrated by His past faithfulness. In Psalm 77:10-12 he declared, “And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” Having confessed his sinful attitude of complaint against the Lord his God, Asaph committed himself to enter into a three-step process for correcting and changing his attitude toward the Lord his God. First, he committed himself to remember the faithfulness of the Lord. Second, he committed himself to meditate upon the faithfulness of the Lord. Third, he committed himself to testify unto the faithfulness of the Lord. He committed himself to remember, to meditate, and to testify. Yet upon what specific works and characteristics of the Lord his God did Asaph focus his remembrance, meditation, and testifying? Yea, upon what specific works and characteristics of the Lord our God should we focus our hearts in our times of trouble, in order that we might have an attitude of comfort and encouragement in our Lord, rather than an attitude of doubt and complaint against our Lord? What specific works and characteristics of the Lord our God should we remember, meditate upon, and testify unto, as we consider “the years of the right hand” of the Lord our God, the most high God? The answer is to be found in the closing portion of Psalm 77, in Psalm 77:13-20. Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to six previous sermons: In the Way of This Life - Psalm 119:1 In the Ways of Our Lord (Part 1) - Psalm 119:3 In the Ways of Our Lord (Part 2) - Psalm 119:3 In the Ways of Our Lord (Part 3) - Psalm 119:3 In the Ways of Our Lord (Part 4) - Psalm 119:3 Away from the Way of Sins's Lies - Psalm 119:3 Psalm 119:1-5 reads, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!” In Psalm 119 we encounter the words “way” and “ways” eighteen times and the word “path” two times, indicating that the pathway of our lives is an important subject of this psalm. In fact, through these twenty references this psalm presents four categories of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life. With the phrase “in the way,” verse 1 introduces us to the first category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of this life. With the phrase “in his way,” verse 3 introduces us to the second category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of our Lord. In direct contrast to our Lord’s way, verse 29 refers to “the way of lying” and thereby introduces us to the third category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of sin’s lies. Finally, with the phrase “my ways,” verse 5 introduces us to the fourth category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of this life – the way of our lives. Already concerning the way of this life, we have learned that in this life we all must face challenges, make choices, and accept the consequences. Already concerning the way of our Lord, we have been exhorted to choose to walk after His ways. Already concerning the way of sin’s lies, we have been exhorted to choose to avoid sin’s ways. Yea, being exhorted to walk after our Lord’s ways, we have learned of our need for determination, conviction, passion, education, adoration, meditation, transformation, rejection, and continuation. Furthermore, being exhorted to avoid the way of sin’s lies, we have learned of our need for correction, separation, instruction, and abomination. Now concerning the way of our lives, we are brought to the place of personal application. It is not enough for us to be exhorted with our need. Now we must actually apply these principles to our personal walk day by day. Weekly Sermon
Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Brethren, it is our responsibility as God’s own children to walk and live each day by faith, not by sight; for without faith it is impossible for us to please the Lord our God. (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6) The life that we are now living in this flesh, we are to live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and give Himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) Just as we received our Lord Jesus Christ through faith as our eternal Savior, even so we are to walk and abide in Him through steadfastness of faith, being rooted and built in Him thereby. (Colossians 2:6-7) We are to stand and become established in the things of the Lord by faith, and through such steadfastness of faith in Him we shall obtain a good report. (Acts 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Hebrews 11:39) Although we do not see our Lord with physical sight, yet we are to look unto Him with the sight of faith and thereby to rejoice in Him with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:8) Even so, the four lines of Proverbs 3:5-6 present four important truths concerning this matter of walking by faith and trust in our Lord. Thought (Questions) for Meditation (Examination)
Often the counsel is given to leaders in the ministry (especially to younger ones), "You must make a plan; then you must work your plan." Yet is this counsel able to be supported from the absolute truth of God's Holy Word, or is it founded upon the wisdom of men? Furthermore, what about finding out and following after our Lord's purpose and plan? What about committing our way unto the Lord? What about waiting on the Lord, and keeping His way? What about acknowledging the Lord in all our ways, and allowing Him to direct our paths? Finally, is it truly possible to work our plan without it being altered, regularly and often significantly, by the revision of our Lord's direction, by the resistance of our adversary the devil, by the rearrangement of others' decisions, and by the reality circumstantial difficulties? P.S. When we give counsel to leaders in the ministry, would it not be better to give it direclty from the truth of God's Word, especially from those epistles in the New Testament that were given for that primary purpose? Meditations in Exodus
Exodus 3:7-8 reads, “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” Exodus 3:1-6 introduces us to the occasion wherein the Lord God acquired Moses’ attention with “the burning bush” and met with Moses’ out of “the burning bush.” In verses 7-8 the account continues as the Lord God reveals unto Moses the reason for His meeting with Moses. Indeed, the Lord our God reveals that He knows the sorrows of His people and that He is moved to deliver His people from their sorrows. Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons: By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 1) - Romans 12:2 By the Renewing of Your Mind (Part 2) - Romans 12:2 Romans 12:1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God. Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves as such a living sacrifice unto the Lord our God. The opening portion of the verse presents the first command – “And be not conformed to this world.” Then the second command follows – “But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Brethren, we are not to be “conformed to this world.” We are not to be in the same form or in agreement with this present evil world. Rather, we are to be “transformed.” We are to be changed into a different form and a different character than this present evil world. Yea, we are to be changed into the same form and character as our Lord Jesus Christ. Even so, 2 Corinthians 3:18 declares, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image [as the glory of the Lord] from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” In addition, Romans 12:2 reveals that the means of this transforming work is “by the renewing of your mind.” We are commanded to be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.” This means that we ourselves must involve ourselves in the renewing of our minds. We ourselves must seek out, and commit ourselves to the things that will make for the renewing of our minds. What then are the things that will make for the renewing of our minds? Already in the first two parts of the message, we have considered four answers to this question – (1) We must commit ourselves to the truth of God’s holy Word; (2) we must commit ourselves to put away from us any and all sin; (3) we must commit ourselves to live wholly unto the will of God; and (4) we must commit ourselves to the truth of our new life in Christ. Now in this second part of the message, let us consider one additional answer to this matter. |
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