The sinfully rebellious find the truth of God's Word to be distasteful;
the selfishly foolish find the truth of God's Word to be dull;
but the spiritually mature find the truth of God's Word to delightful.
So then, in which category are you?
|
Thought for Meditation
The sinfully rebellious find the truth of God's Word to be distasteful; the selfishly foolish find the truth of God's Word to be dull; but the spiritually mature find the truth of God's Word to delightful. So then, in which category are you?
0 Comments
Proverbs for Life
1. The Wisdom of God’s Word Is Better 2. The Way of Biblical Humility Is Better 3. The Walk of True Righteousness Is Better 4. The Wealth of Godly Love Is Better 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
This sermon is a companion to five 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 Psalm 119:1-3 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.” To this Psalm 119:29-30 adds, “Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.” 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. With the phrase “in the way,” Psalm 119:1 introduces us to the first category of truth concerning this subject matter – the way of this life. Thereby we learn that we all must travel along the pathway of this life, and that we all must deal with the matter of challenges, choices, and consequences in the way of this life. With the phrase “in his way,” Psalm 119:3 introduces us to the second category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of our Lord. Even so, the intention of this psalm is to exhort us and encourage us to choose the way of our Lord as the direction of our daily walk. Yet this psalm also employs the word “way” in relation to a third category of truth – the way of sin’s lies. Even as the psalm exhorts us and encourages us to walk faithfully in the way of our Lord, it also exhorts us and encourages us to depart away from the way of sin’s lies. Already in our study concerning the ways of our Lord, we have learned that there is a need for rejection, that is – for rejection of the ways of sinful iniquity. Even so, Psalm 119:1 declares, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.” Herein we find that those “who walk in the law of the LORD” are also those who walk “undefiled in the way.” In like manner, verse 3 declares, “They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.” Indeed, those who walk in our Lord’s ways are also those who do not involve themselves in sinful iniquity. Thus in verses 29-30 the psalmist made his request and expressed his commitment, saying, “Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.” The psalmist had made his determined choice to walk in the way of truth as revealed in the Lord’s Holy Word. In union with this choice, he also desired to be kept away from “the way of lying.” Now, in this context this phrase, “the way of lying,” is not referring to the personal practice of speaking lies. Rather, this phrase is referring to the way of sin’s lies and falsehood. Even so, in verse 101 this way is described with the phrase, “every evil way;” and in verses 104 & 128 this way is described with the phrase, “every false way.” So then, what is involved for us to depart away from the ways sin’s lies even as we walk in the ways of our Lord? Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to four 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 Psalm 119:1-3 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.” 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. With the phrase “in the way,” Psalm 119:1 introduces us to the first category of truth concerning this subject matter – the way of this life. Thereby we learn that we all must travel along the pathway of this life, and that we all must deal with the matter of challenges, choices, and consequences in the way of this life. With the phrase “in his way,” Psalm 119:3 introduces us to the second category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of our Lord. Even so, the intention of Psalm 119 is to exhort us and encourage us to choose this particular way, the way of our Lord, as the direction of our daily walk along each step of the way as we face life’s many different challenges. In addition, Psalm 119:1-3 reveals that the consequence for choosing the way of our Lord as the particular direction for our daily walk is that our Lord’s favor and blessing will be poured out upon our lives. So then, what is involved for us to follow the way of our Lord step by step in our daily walk? In the first three parts of this message, we considered the first six of the nine elements that are revealed in Psalm 119. They were the need for determination, the need for conviction, the need for passion, the need for education, and the need for adoration, and the need for meditation. In this fourth part of the message, let us consider the final three of these elements. Outlines in Psalms
“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.” 1. Because the Lord is gracious. (Psalm 147:2-3) 2. Because the Lord is great. (Psalm 147:4-5) 3. Because the Lord is good. (Psalm 147:6) “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.” 4. Because the Lord provides. (Psalm 147:8-9) 5. Because the Lord shows favor. (Psalm 147:10-11) “Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.” 6. Because the Lord blesses His people. (Psalm 147:13-14) 7. Because the Lord reveals His Word. (Psalm 147:15-20) “Praise ye the LORD.” Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to three 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 Psalm 119:1-3 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.” 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. With the phrase “in the way,” Psalm 119:1 introduces us to the first category of truth concerning this subject matter – the way of this life. Thereby we learn that we all must travel along the pathway of this life, and that we all must deal with the matter of challenges, choices, and consequences in the way of this life. With the phrase “in his way,” Psalm 119:3 introduces us to the second category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of our Lord. Even so, the intention of Psalm 119 is to exhort us and encourage us to choose this particular way, the way of our Lord, as the direction of our daily walk along each step of the way as we face life’s many different challenges. In addition, Psalm 119:1-3 reveals that the consequence for choosing the way of our Lord as the particular direction for our daily walk is that our Lord’s favor and blessing will be poured out upon our lives. So then, what is involved for us to follow the way of our Lord step by step in our daily walk? In the first two parts of this message, we considered the first four of the nine elements that are revealed in Psalm 119. They were the need for determination, the need for conviction, the need for passion, and the need for education. In this third part of the message, let us consider the next two of these elements. Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons: In the Way of This Life - Psalm 119:1 In the Ways of Our Lord (Part 1) - Psalm 119:3 Psalm 119:1-3 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.” 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. With the phrase “in the way,” Psalm 119:1 introduces us to the first category of truth concerning this subject matter – the way of this life. Thereby we learn that we all must travel along the pathway of this life, and that we all must deal with the matter of challenges, choices, and consequences in the way of this life. With the phrase “in his way,” Psalm 119:3 introduces us to the second category of truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life – the way of our Lord. Even so, the intention of Psalm 119 is to exhort us and encourage us to choose this particular way, the way of our Lord, as the direction of our daily walk along each step of the way as we face life’s many different challenges. In addition, Psalm 119:1-3 reveals that the consequence for choosing the way of our Lord as the particular direction for our daily walk is that our Lord’s favor and blessing will be poured out upon our lives. So then, what is involved for us to follow the way of our Lord step by step in our daily walk? In the first part of this message, we considered the first two of the nine elements that are revealed in Psalm 119. They were, first, the need for determination, and second, the need for conviction. In this second part of the message, let us consider the next two of these elements. Proverbs for Life
The foundational principle for the entire book of the Proverbs and for the spiritual wisdom that this book teaches is found in Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” So then, what does the book of the Proverbs directly indicate concerning the fear of the Lord? Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: In the Way of This Life - Psalm 119:1 Psalm 119:1-3 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.” In Psalm 119:1 we encounter the phrase “in the way.” With this phrase we are introduced to an important subject matter of this lengthy psalm; for Psalm 119 includes the words “way” and “ways” eighteen times and the word “path” two times. As we have noted in a previous message, the phrase “in the way” employs the words “the way” without any form of modification. Thus herein “the way” does not refer to any particular choice of way throughout this life, but to the way of this life itself. It refers to the fact that we all must travel along the pathway of this life. Furthermore, as we have considered in that previous message, the phrase “in the way” directs our attention upon three aspects of this life that we all must encounter. These three aspects of life are the matter of challenges, the matter of choices, and the matter of consequences. Yet in Psalm 119:3 we encounter a different phrase at the end of the verse. It is the phrase “in his ways,” and it introduces us to another truth concerning our walk along the pathway of life. This phrase does include the modifier “his” before the word “ways.” As such, it refers in context to the way (or, ways) of our Lord. Throughout the psalm this way is further described as the way of His testimonies, the way of His precepts, the way of His commandments, the way of His statutes, and the way of truth. The intention of Psalm 119 is to exhort us and encourage us to choose this particular way, the way of our Lord, as the direction of our daily walk along each step of the way as we face life’s many different challenges. In addition, Psalm 119:1-3 reveals that the consequence for choosing the way of our Lord as the particular direction for our daily walk is that our Lord’s favor and blessing will be poured out upon our lives. So then, what is involved for us to follow the way of our Lord step by step in our daily walk? In this first part of the message, let us consider the first two of nine elements that are revealed in Psalm 119. Proverbs for Life
I. The inspired penman for the book of the Proverbs. (Proverbs 1:1) II. The divine purpose for the book of the Proverbs. (Proverbs 1:2-4) III. The necessary practice for the book of the Proverbs. (Proverbs 1:5) IV. The foundational principle for the book of the Proverbs. (Proverbs 1:7) Proverbs for Life
This post is a companion to a previous post: Proverbs & The Sin of Sexual Lust (Part 1) Proverbs & The Sin of Sexual Lust (Part 2) The book of the Proverbs is written from the perspective of a father who is providing spiritual counsel to his young adult son. With such a perspective, this book of God’s Holy Word presents a significant amount of admonition concerning the sin of sexual lust. Even so, in the book of the Proverbs we find admonition concerning: I. The Power of Temptation’s Deception II. The Pathway to Utter Destruction III. The Protection of Spiritual Discernment IV. The Principle of Fleeing Departure V. The Precept for Marital Devotion & Delight Another Weekly Sermon
Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The following outline is an expansion upon a previous set of outlines: Hungering & Thirsting after Righteousness (Introduction) Hungering & Thirsting after Righteousness (Point 1) Another Weekly Sermon
Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” What then is involved with such a hunger and thirst after our Lord’s righteousness in our character and conduct? Thought for Meditation
Certainly, we should teach our children to think for themselves. Yet we should not teach them to think in accord with themselves, that is - in accord with their own understanding and feeling. Rather, we should teach our children to think for themselves in accord with the precepts and principles of God's Holy Word (to think for themselves, but not according to themselves). |
Follow by FeedFollow by EmailAudio Sermons
|
|
|