The Fight Begins with Desire

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” (Ps 119:133 AV)

The desire of freedom from sin is the overwhelming motive for victory from it.  If a person has no desire to be free from it, then he will not.  This desire is not a desire from the consequences of sin.  It is the desire for the sin to no longer control his thoughts, actions, and goals.  This freedom of which we are speaking as the desire to be free from the control sin has on the heart.  A freedom from dominion.

I have worked with addicts on several occasions and there are several constants.  An addict will seldom tell you all the truth.  An addict cannot see the long-term effects of his addiction.  The addict is self-centered and does not care what damage he inflicts on others.  This addict is driven purely by a physical or mental need that comes above all else.  He is often calloused against consequences.  He hardens himself against the natural results of his choices often destroying all that can be destroyed.  But there is another constant.  The fact they will never be free from their addiction until the want to be free from their addiction.  They must see it as a controlling substance or thing in their life which is robbing them of all ability to choose.  They cannot be free until the see themselves and enslaved.  The same is true of any sin.

The obese cannot be free until they see themselves as slaves to food.  The pervert cannot be free until he sees himself as a slave to immorality.  The arrogant cannot be free from pride until he sees himself a slave to his own ego.  The liar cannot be free from falsehood until he sees himself a slave to self-gain.  The lazy cannot be free from his lack of motivation until he sees himself a slave to leisure.  The angry man cannot be free from his rage until he sees himself a slave to the manipulation of others.  Not until we see ourselves as being dominated by out desires can we have the right desire to be free!  Again, not from consequences, but from the choice itself!  From the temptation itself!  Freedom!  Ah, freedom!

No respect, No Read

“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.” (Ps 119:15 AV)

Value and respect are linked.  What we value, we respect.  What we don’t value, we don’t respect.  There is a difference between respect and honor.  We often use the two words interchangeably, but they are different.  We can honor an authority figure like a police officer, teacher, parent, employer, or pastor because of their position as an authority.  But that does not mean we respect them.  Respect is something that is earned.  Honor is demanded.  The New Testament uses the word ‘esteem’ to relate the same meaning.  In our verse, the writer’s respect for the word of God is the motive for his meditation upon it.  He treasures the word of God.  He respects the word of God.  Therefore, he treats it as something he cannot live without.

I like going to historical museums.  In my own home town, our little historical society had the world’s largest collection of Indian arrow heads.  It had a bedroom set once used by George Washington who had slept in that very room.  Chicago’s museum of Science and Industry is a must see.  Milwaukee’s Historical museum has a wonder exhibit of different cultures at the turn of the last century complete with unique (and pleasurable) smells what might have come from each culture’s neighborhood.  But one thing all these museums have in common is a small placard at the face of most exhibits that ask the visitor not to touch or disturb the exhibit.  One is welcomed to enjoy the exhibit and soak in all the information one can, but because it took countless hours of research and labor to construct such a display, the visitor is to respect the effort and value of the exhibit by not touching it.

We do not read nor meditate upon the word of God as we should because we do not respect it.  We do not hold it in high esteem.  To many, the Bible is just another book.  It may be a little more special than other books (so we feel), but it certainly isn’t at the level the preacher declares as so every Sunday.  The truth of the matter is, the word of God is His manifestation to mankind.  It is holy!  It is supernatural!  It is not just another book.  It is an extension of God Himself!  We don’t meditate upon it because we do not value, or respect, it.  And, this also suggests we do not value or respect the very God whom it declares.

The Ultimate Question

“What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?” (Ps 116:12 AV)

This is the ultimate question for the child of God.  The benefits He as rendered towards us are too numerous to list.  If all that God did was give us life and offer the free gift of salvation, that is far more than we deserve.  I feel as though the American ideal if entitlement has crept into our numbers and has caused a generation that looks upon God as a benefactor of whom we are owed.  The opposite should be our reality.  Gratitude for the mercies of God should motivate the child of God to increased faithfulness, sacrifice, and service.  We see just the opposite in our churches today.

God has been very good to us.  He sent His only Son to take upon himself the sins of all mankind.  Jesus was tortured by the very men whom He created and He did it all so the wrath of God which rightly belongs to us rested upon Him.  He went to a cruel cross, suffered, bled out, and thrown in an grave to be mocked and eventually forgotten.  The God of all creation became a man to be humiliated and murdered that the wrath of God rightly resting upon wicked mankind would be transferred to Him.  All God asks is that we be honest with ourselves and Him.  All He asks is we confess what we already know and approach Him is reverent humility, seeking forgiveness and humbly requesting that Jesus be our Savior.  He graciously permits the imputation of our sin on Christ and His righteousness upon us.  We can stand completely clean and forgiven because of what Jesus Christ did for us.  If all that is what God did for us, we could never repay the basics of God’s grace.

But, He has done so much more.  He has provided for our needs.  He has provided fellowship of suffering and grace.  He has provided families, children, and grandchildren.  He has provided opportunities to serve Him.  Which, by the way, is a greater blessing than we realize sometimes.  He has protected us from the adversary enough to learn and grow.  He has always listened to the prayers of the contrite.  He is ever present, patience, and merciful.  When we fail and fall, He is there to hear our prayers and lift us back up.  When we are afraid of the night, or the future, He is there to remind us that He is and always will be, there.  Our God gives us experiences of life that are priceless.  We may be born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward, but we are not alone.  So, it begs the question:  what could I possibly do to show how much I am thankful for the blessings He has towards me?  The answer to this rhetorical question would be:  not enough.  Therefore, I owe Him all!

Blessings for the Aged Eagle

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:…Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Ps 103:1-2, 5 AV)

Note here that God fills the mouth of the writer with good things.  Not just necessary things.  The Hebrew word for ‘…mouth…’ here means ornaments; trappings (of horses).”  The majesty of the eagle is his comparison.  Without a close examination, it would be virtually impossible to detect an older eagle from a younger one.  The majesty of the eagle as he glides through the air is equally impressive no matter the age.  David is expressing a gratitude for the regenerative nature of God’s blessings.  More so than mere necessities of life, the good thing provided for the mouth represent those things in age which the LORD sends to make us feel a little younger again.

We had the blessing of a five-day visit with our grandchildren.  The last before the head off to Brazil.  My eldest grandchild is three years old, her brother will be two in July, and the youngest is a newborn.  The three and almost two-year-old can carry on a conversation.  They understand what it is that you are saying and they respond back. The shear pleasure of talking with them as a person you can get to know is refreshing.  They ran around in our gym.  Throwing all sorts of balls around and climbing on risers.  They will keep you going as long as you can move.  When they go to bed, you are completely worn out.  Papa and Grammie learn they are not as young as they used to be.  But when they are here for a visit, it is amazing hos much youth one can muster up just to keep up with them.

This is the nature of God’s blessings.  Not merely something from which we derive pleasure, but also a means to enliven us that we might serve him with regenerated youth.  Whether it is grandchildren, a wonderful home, sustained health although it is failing, or some simple things along the path of life, these blessings are needed, welcomed, and most importantly, regenerative that we might serve the LORD with renewed strength.

Glad In His Work

“For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.” (Ps 92:4 AV)

We know what the Psalmist is saying here.  He is discouraged at with some aspects of life.  There are times of trial and persecution.  There are times when our faith is weak.  There are times when the sin which we commit, or the effects of other’s sin, results in a life that may not be as we wish.  Then the LORD does what He does and it makes it all better.  We are glad in the work of God’s hands.  It is His work that is the benefit of life.  It is His gracious hand that makes life a pleasure.  It is in what God does, and not what we do, that makes life such a blessing.  However, I want to look at this principle in a slightly different light.

Part of what God does is what He does through us.  His work includes the work which He has given to us to do for Him and by Him.  As the Holy Spirit enables us to surrender to the call of God and labor for Him, His work is accomplished, is some part, by the obedience and faith of His saints.  This is the work which I wish to dwell on this morning.

There are times when we doubt our effectiveness.  We get to the point when we don’t think we have, or are, making that much of a difference.  We wonder if the LORD used us in some significant way to affect the lives of other people.  We wonder just how significant a piece of the puzzle we are to the work of the LORD.  What we do not realize is the LORD has used us in ways we will never know and has used us to touch lives deeper than we would ever realize.  Not until something happens to reveal just how much the LORD used us are we astounded at the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is at those times we are glad.  We are glad for the opportunity to serve Him.  We are humbled at the open doors of ministry to His saints.  It is never a smooth ride.  There are always bump and accidents along the way.  But the privilege to be part of the work of the LORD, no matter how little or small, sure makes a man glad!  It makes life rich.  It makes life a wonderous blessing.

True Revival

“Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” (Ps 85:5-8 AV)

The saints define revival as many things.  Usually, the definition of a revival is what results are seen by it.  The most common is salvation decisions.  We say that revival is when a larger than normal number of souls come to know Christ.  That is a revival.  That definition cannot be further from the truth.  In order for revival to occur, there must have been life before.  One cannot be revived from a lost state because he is dead in his sins. He can be born again.  But he cannot be revived.  Revival is for the once living.  Those who are living yet not alive.  In our passage, revival is marked by three things.  Three events that are necessary for the saint to be revived.

The first is that God’s anger be removed.  This suggests we need revival because of our sin.  There must be a desire to walk in communion with God in obedience and please Him again.  That is where revival begins.  The second is God’s mercy.  This is God’s forgiveness.  Seeking God’s forgiveness requires repentance.  It requires the people of God to forsake their sin and hate sin more than they love the pleasure of it.  Third, there must be a desire to never return to the foolishness that resulted in God’s anger to begin with.  When the people of God are sick of their spiritual condition and realize God’s hand of correction is heavy upon them, then and only then can revival begin!

Our fellowship, like many other, are praying for a world-wide revival.  Yet much of what people call revival today is not revival at all.  It is an emotion side show with manipulative music design to entice people into making a decision they have little understanding of.  The multitudes come out and the altars are filled.  Yet, the fruit is seen weeks, months, and years in the future.  No lasting fruit.  No real change.  Hence, no real revival.  It certainly was exciting.  But the thing about bringing someone from the brink of death is they usually don’t go back there for a long time. Revival restores what was once there.  And grows it.  We are so far from revival because we do not realize the condition from which we wish to be revived is one of our own makings.  We don’t want to entertain the possibility God is upset with us for our lukewarm faith.  We don’t want to come to the honest truth that God is not happy with our open sin, flaunting it in the church pews.  Not until the people of God get serious with sin will there ever be true revival!

God's Table is Better

“Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” (Ps 78:19 AV)

What was their real problem?  They were not starving.  God fed them manna from the heavens.  They complained because they lacked variety.  They didn’t lack meat for they had cattle which they brought with them.  They could have lamb chops any time they wanted.  They had goats for goat’s milk.  Oxen for beasts of burden.  Sheep a plenty. What was their problem?  They wanted to have the blessings of Egypt in the wilderness.  They wanted those things which made life a little more enjoyable while wandering is an arid land.  The challenge was not whether God could provide.  Of this they were sure.  The challenge was whether God could turn a time of trial and testing into a time of pleasure and rest.  The obvious answer is of course.  God sent them meat in the form of doves.  He sent them tender meat.  Meat full of fat.  God gave them the pleasures in the wilderness and they got sick on it.  There is never a doubt that God can send blessings.  But sometimes, the wilderness is necessary so that we can properly enjoy the blessings.

The Spirit gave me a different way of looking at this.  The children of Israel looked at their wondering only in the light of what they didn’t have.  They compared what they had in Egypt and desires the things of the world even if it meant bondage to it.  What they failed to realize is the freedom they enjoyed, even if it meant a lack of pleasure, was far more beneficial and of deeper blessings than the shallow things of the world.  Sometimes, we as God’s children complain because of the things we lack.  Perhaps the LORD is trying to teach us that perhaps if we had the things which we lack, it might be more of a hindrance to our spiritual growth than if we had them.

Some of the greatest times of ministry we have been able to experience were times in the wilderness.  The times when we didn’t have much and had to do with what we had.  My wife and I were privileged to lead a small youth group in a city church.  It started with a small group of five teenagers.  It grew to 43.  Most were senior high students.  Most were in Juniors and Seniors.  One might thing we had the best of facilities.  All we had was an 18x12 foot empty room and a small kitchen.  That was it.  No gym to run around in.  No yard to play in.  No projector.  No AV equipment.  No nothing.  What we did have was an appreciation for the truth of the word of God and the desire and hunger to learn.  The things of the world would have been more of a distraction otherwise.  God can provide in the wilderness!  He does provide in the wilderness. As long as we have our eyes on God’s priorities, we can see His beauty in a dry and arid place!