Who's on First?
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119: 9-40
9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD!
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
23 Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.
25 My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
28 My soul melts from heaviness;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying,
And grant me Your law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me.
31 I cling to Your testimonies;
O LORD, do not put me to shame!
32 I will run the course of Your commandments,
For You shall enlarge my heart.
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.
Psalm 119 is another one of my favorites. Like Isaiah 53 that we read last week.
I read a lot of verses but I could have read all 176. I think it's one of the passage
every new Christian should read right away. What is amazing to me is that most
Christians believe the Law to be some heavy, burdensome thing that the children
of Israel had to be shackeled to. Reading psalm 119 doesn't give you that
impression of it, does it? This section begins with a very good question. How can
a young man cleanse his way? This is so crucial because it starts with the
premise that his way needs to be cleansed. If you do a survey of the average
guy on the street and ask them if they think they're a good person, the majority
would say yes they are. But that's not what the Word of God says. Jeremiah 17:
9, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?
So, what is very important to know is that your way needs to be cleansed. Your
heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. No matter how good you think you
are....you're not! Let me just say that there were dozens of things that at age
sixteen I thought in my heart that I would never, ever do; that by the time I was
twenty-one I had already done. There were several things that at twenty-one I
would have sworn I would never do, that by thirty I had done many times. That is
the deception of the flesh. Were you raised on the wrong side of the tracks doing
and saying all the wrong things? Well, you're wicked! Were you brought up in
the church doing and saying all the right things? Well, you're wicked too! If
you're a head banger with a dozen piercings and just as many tattoos, that
curses like a sailor, that drinks, smokes, and does drugs; you're wicked! If you're
a straight arrow whose never been in any trouble, that never curses, never
drinks, never smokes, never does drugs; you're just as wicked! It's not about who
you are or what you've done; if left to your own devices....you are wicked. No
doubt about it so the sooner you figure that out, the better off you'll be.
Now, back to that first question. How does someone cleanse their way? There
are four distinct things that are mentioned. First, taking heed according to God's
Word. Second, seeking after God with your whole heart. Third, not wandering
from the commandments of God. And lastly, hiding the Word of God in your
heart. These four things are so you will not sin against the LORD Yahweh. Over
the past few weeks we have been emphasizing the importance of reading God's
Word. That covers the first thing; taking heed or listening to God's Word. For
the sake of today's lesson, we're going to be focusing on the second thing on the
list; seeking after God with our whole hearts.
What does it mean to seek after God with your whole heart? Do you know?
When something is important to you people can usually tell without too much
effort. My husband Jeff is really into sports. A good portion of his free time is
spent either playing or watching some sort of sport so you can tell they are
important to him. My daughter Kristen is really into talking on the telephone. Last
month alone she spent over 3700 minutes on her cell phone and that doesn't
count all the time she spent on the house phone. Do you have any idea how
much time that is? That's over 60 hours. Makes it kind of easy to see that she's
into it, huh? So, what are you into. What takes priority for you? I think seeking
after God with your whole heart means putting Him in the first position in your life.
The things of God will take first priority. Let's you want to spend a half hour every
morning in God's Word but you're finding that you never have time. Yet you have
time to watch your favorite television show, or spend time playing a video game,
or talking to friends. That should be a red flag for you that you are not seeking
after God with your whole heart.
What is getting in your way? Is there anything? Your friends and family, your
hobbies, your car, what? What could possibly get in between a believer and God?
Colossians 3:1-10
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life
appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness,
passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the
wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once
walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man
with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according
to the image of Him who created him.
This passage begins with what we're talking about; seeking those things that are
above, setting your mind on things above, not on things on earth. It says things
like fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness is idolatry.
So, what would be the idol? How about yourself? If your own selfish desires are
more important than the Word of God, you have become your own idol. Your
wants have come in between you and God.
Exodus 20:1-6
1 And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you
shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of
those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My
commandments.
Remember what Egypt represents? Sin. The LORD Yahweh has taken the
believer out of sin and bondage. He has commanded that we have no other gods
before Him.....that includes ourselves. No thing and no one else should come
between you and seeking after God with every thing you've got. We often sing
the song 'Consume Me' but do we really mean it? Do we really want the things of
God to consume us; any time, any place, does He really invade your space? Or
is your space invaded by the things of the world? Who's on first in your life?
What is consuming your time, your effort, your money? Is it God? Or something
else?
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date: January 21, 2007
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119: 9-40
9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O LORD!
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
23 Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.
25 My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
28 My soul melts from heaviness;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying,
And grant me Your law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me.
31 I cling to Your testimonies;
O LORD, do not put me to shame!
32 I will run the course of Your commandments,
For You shall enlarge my heart.
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.
38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.
Psalm 119 is another one of my favorites. Like Isaiah 53 that we read last week.
I read a lot of verses but I could have read all 176. I think it's one of the passage
every new Christian should read right away. What is amazing to me is that most
Christians believe the Law to be some heavy, burdensome thing that the children
of Israel had to be shackeled to. Reading psalm 119 doesn't give you that
impression of it, does it? This section begins with a very good question. How can
a young man cleanse his way? This is so crucial because it starts with the
premise that his way needs to be cleansed. If you do a survey of the average
guy on the street and ask them if they think they're a good person, the majority
would say yes they are. But that's not what the Word of God says. Jeremiah 17:
9, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?
So, what is very important to know is that your way needs to be cleansed. Your
heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. No matter how good you think you
are....you're not! Let me just say that there were dozens of things that at age
sixteen I thought in my heart that I would never, ever do; that by the time I was
twenty-one I had already done. There were several things that at twenty-one I
would have sworn I would never do, that by thirty I had done many times. That is
the deception of the flesh. Were you raised on the wrong side of the tracks doing
and saying all the wrong things? Well, you're wicked! Were you brought up in
the church doing and saying all the right things? Well, you're wicked too! If
you're a head banger with a dozen piercings and just as many tattoos, that
curses like a sailor, that drinks, smokes, and does drugs; you're wicked! If you're
a straight arrow whose never been in any trouble, that never curses, never
drinks, never smokes, never does drugs; you're just as wicked! It's not about who
you are or what you've done; if left to your own devices....you are wicked. No
doubt about it so the sooner you figure that out, the better off you'll be.
Now, back to that first question. How does someone cleanse their way? There
are four distinct things that are mentioned. First, taking heed according to God's
Word. Second, seeking after God with your whole heart. Third, not wandering
from the commandments of God. And lastly, hiding the Word of God in your
heart. These four things are so you will not sin against the LORD Yahweh. Over
the past few weeks we have been emphasizing the importance of reading God's
Word. That covers the first thing; taking heed or listening to God's Word. For
the sake of today's lesson, we're going to be focusing on the second thing on the
list; seeking after God with our whole hearts.
What does it mean to seek after God with your whole heart? Do you know?
When something is important to you people can usually tell without too much
effort. My husband Jeff is really into sports. A good portion of his free time is
spent either playing or watching some sort of sport so you can tell they are
important to him. My daughter Kristen is really into talking on the telephone. Last
month alone she spent over 3700 minutes on her cell phone and that doesn't
count all the time she spent on the house phone. Do you have any idea how
much time that is? That's over 60 hours. Makes it kind of easy to see that she's
into it, huh? So, what are you into. What takes priority for you? I think seeking
after God with your whole heart means putting Him in the first position in your life.
The things of God will take first priority. Let's you want to spend a half hour every
morning in God's Word but you're finding that you never have time. Yet you have
time to watch your favorite television show, or spend time playing a video game,
or talking to friends. That should be a red flag for you that you are not seeking
after God with your whole heart.
What is getting in your way? Is there anything? Your friends and family, your
hobbies, your car, what? What could possibly get in between a believer and God?
Colossians 3:1-10
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life
appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness,
passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the
wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once
walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man
with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according
to the image of Him who created him.
This passage begins with what we're talking about; seeking those things that are
above, setting your mind on things above, not on things on earth. It says things
like fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness is idolatry.
So, what would be the idol? How about yourself? If your own selfish desires are
more important than the Word of God, you have become your own idol. Your
wants have come in between you and God.
Exodus 20:1-6
1 And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you
shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of
those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My
commandments.
Remember what Egypt represents? Sin. The LORD Yahweh has taken the
believer out of sin and bondage. He has commanded that we have no other gods
before Him.....that includes ourselves. No thing and no one else should come
between you and seeking after God with every thing you've got. We often sing
the song 'Consume Me' but do we really mean it? Do we really want the things of
God to consume us; any time, any place, does He really invade your space? Or
is your space invaded by the things of the world? Who's on first in your life?
What is consuming your time, your effort, your money? Is it God? Or something
else?
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date: January 21, 2007