Boasting in the Love of God
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
Prayer -
We will examine the first statement and then work our way backward from the conclusion to understand why we can boast as the psalmist does in verses 41 and 42.
Ps 119:41-42 “41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; 42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.”
God’s love is a PROVOCATION towards meditation
God’s love is a PROVOCATION towards meditation
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.
We can be easily distracted from the things of God (Entertainment/Work/Development)
We can be easily turned to things that are helpful that are not God’s Word (Music/Reading/Sermons)
These things are not bad in and of themselves, but have their proper place.
How we focus on God’s love:
Regular returning to His word (It’s in our pocket)
Worship that is centered on the Word (corporate, family, & individual)
Provocation to meditation
God’s love is a PROCLAMATION to be shared
God’s love is a PROCLAMATION to be shared
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
Our great commission in Matt 28:18-20 “18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Let us also remember how this is said in Acts 1:8 “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
Share the Gospel Locally/Regionally/Nationally/Internationally
Even if this means sharing the Gospel in front of those who could have you thrown in prison for it.
Acts 26:24-26 “24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.”
Acts 26:27-29 “27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.””
Provocation to meditation / proclamation to be shared
God’s love is a PRIZE worth defending
God’s love is a PRIZE worth defending
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
Phil 3:12-16 “12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”
Pressing on/maturing/holding true - statements of persistence. Recognize the unchangeable truth of the Gospel and hold to it as you walk forward.
The world will push back against you.
2 Tim 3:12 “12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”
1 Peter 3:13-16 “13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”
Your answer to the hope that is within you is the promised salvation from God achieved by Christ on the cross. Let’s go deeper into this:
Provocation to meditation / proclamation to be shared / prize worth defending
God’s love is a PROMISE of salvation
God’s love is a PROMISE of salvation
41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
v42 - An answer to what? To the taunts of those who hate God.
The answer a testimony of God’s love in salvation.
The answer is a response to those who would taunt.
Maybe you’ve heard, “Living well is the best revenge.” I would like to amend and add to that: Living Godly is the best defense, walking blameless the purest testimony, and preaching the Gospel is the greatest calling.
Defend the faith by walking according to the faith. Be ready to share the story of your conversion, and live in such a way that people will ask, “Why are you different?”