Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon:  With Respect of Persons - James 2:1 (Part 1)      

James 2:1 reads, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” 

James 2:1 opens the sixth paragraph of this epistle with a direct and distinct prohibition against showing “respect of persons.”  As such, this prohibition establishes the contextual setting for the rest of the paragraph.  Grammatically, this verse presents a Biblical imperative for our daily Christian walk.  Furthermore, this Biblical imperative can be divided grammatically into four parts.  First, there is the direct address of loving concern for our daily Christian walk – “My brethren.”  Second, there is the main clause of spiritual caution for our daily Christian walk – “Have not the faith.”  Third, there is the prepositional phrase concerning the established center for our daily Christian walk – “Of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.”  Finally, there is the prepositional phrase concerning the forbidden characteristic in our daily Christian walk – “With respect of persons.”  In the part of the message, we considered the first two of these truths.  Now, in this second part of the message, we shall consider the latter two of these truths.

Weekly Sermon

James 1:12 reads, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

As we have previously noted, the third paragraph of the epistle begins in verse 12 by pronouncing a sure blessing upon those who endure the trials of life aright.  Grammatically, this verse is a compound sentence.  The first independent clause of this compound sentence presents an expression of a blessed position -- “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.”  Then the second independent clause of this compound sentence provides an explanation of this blessed position -- “For when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”  Furthermore, the second independent clause itself can be divided grammatically into three parts.  First, there is the conditional prospect of the adverb clause -- “When he is tried.”  Second, there is the certain provision of the main clause -- “He shall receive the crown of life.”  Finally, there is the confident promise of the adjective clause -- “Which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Outlines in Psalms

Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

1.  The Priority for Life

“Let . . . be acceptable . . . .”

2.  The Pursuit after Righteousness

“Let the words of my mouth . . . .”

3.  The Penetration (Depth) of Submission

“. . . And the meditation of my heart . . . .”

4.  The Principle of Success

“. . . Acceptable in thy sight, O LORD . . . .”

5.  The Power for Victory

“. . . O LORD, my strength . . . .”

6.  The Provision for Failure

“. . . And my redeemer.”

Posted in Outlines in Psalms, Walk in Righteousness, Serving the Lord

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Thought for Meditation

In order to be Biblically and spiritually minded, 
rather than worldly and carnally minded,
an individual must be daily reading, studying, and meditating 
in the truth and wisdom of God's Holy Word.

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

Psalm 119:9 asks the questions and provides the answer, saying, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

Through the question of this verse and its context, we might conclude that the Holy Spirit inspired author of Psalm 119 was a young adult man.  This young man was filled with the burden to cleanse and make pure his way and to pursue a clean and purified pathway throughout his life.  Thus he expressed his burden with the question, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?”  Basically, he was asking how he himself as a young man might cleanse his own way for life.  Even so, the closing portion of the verse gives the Biblical answer, “By taking heed thereto according to thy [God’s] word.”  So then, through the question and the answer of this verse, we find four steps whereby we all may learn how to cleanse our way.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons:  With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 1)     
                                                                                      With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 2)    
                                                                                      With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 3)    

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 three parts of the message, we have already considered the first six 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; (3) Our hearts must be guarded by the truth of God’s Word; (4) Our hearts must be growing through the truth of God’s Word; (5) Our hearts must be guided through the truth of God’s Word; and (6) Our hearts must be grounded in the truth of God’s Word.  In this fourth and final part of the message, let us consider the last three steps in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons:  With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 1)     
                                                                                      With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 2)    

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 two parts of the message, we have already considered the first five 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; (3) Our hearts must be guarded by the truth of God’s Word; (4) Our hearts must be growing through the truth of God’s Word; and (5) Our hearts must be guided through the truth of God’s Word.  In this third part of the message, let us consider the next step in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous 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.

Weekly Sermon

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.

Thought for Meditation

Faithful church attendance and involvement
is not about personal convenience or personal comfort,
but is about Biblical conviction and godly commitment.

Outlines in Psalms

“A Psalm of David.”

  I.  The Plea of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 141:1-2)
 II.  The Passion of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 141:3-4)
III.  The Perspective of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 141:5-6)
IV.  The Perseverance of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 141:7-8)
V.  The Petition of the Lord’s servant (Psalm 141:9-10)

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to four 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    

Psalm 91:1 reads, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  The Lord our God is the most high God, the almighty and eternal Lord God of heaven and earth.  As the most high God, the Lord our God does indeed involve himself in the affairs of our lives and does indeed care for His own with faithful lovingkindness.  So then, how should we who are God’s own dear children respond unto Him as the most high God?  Through a study within the book of the Psalms, let us consider six ways in which we are to respond unto the Lord our God, as the most high God.

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