WEBVTT 00:00:00.420 --> 00:00:02.210 I'm going to invite you this morning to Psalm. 00:00:02.620 --> 00:00:09.300 Chapter 19 is where we're going to be at Psalm chapter nine, excuse me 119, Psalm chapter 119. 00:00:09.640 --> 00:00:10.480 We're going to be at together. 00:00:11.060 --> 00:00:13.430 And this is a very powerful psalm. 00:00:13.860 --> 00:00:21.060 And one of the things I love about this Psalm is it is it is vital to a life in Jesus, what this Psalm means 00:00:21.060 --> 00:00:22.040 for us. 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:30.220 We have this tendency sometimes as people is thinking in our spiritual journey that we've got to learn like some kind of special, unique things 00:00:30.220 --> 00:00:36.210 about our faith journey that's going to take us to that next level, in your in your Christian walk. 00:00:36.580 --> 00:00:41.140 And truth be told, your Christian journey is not about learning a bunch of new things. 00:00:41.740 --> 00:00:48.720 It's really about becoming disciplined in a few things like learning to walk deeper with Jesus and the things that God has given us. 00:00:48.720 --> 00:00:55.710 So whether you're a new Christian or you've been a Christian for years just to appreciate what God has given us for our faith journey. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:58.710 And Psalm 119 is that Psalm. 00:00:58.980 --> 00:01:03.280 Now, if you're if you brought your Bible today, you're going paperback rather than digital. 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:10.340 Let me just tell you, the quickest way to find Psalm 119 is let your Bible open up to the very center it usually unless your Bibles 00:01:10.340 --> 00:01:11.940 got a bunch of notes to it. 00:01:11.940 --> 00:01:14.390 Psalm 119 is right about the middle of your Bible. 00:01:15.460 --> 00:01:19.240 And it's next to what is the shortest chapter of the Bible. 00:01:19.240 --> 00:01:26.490 So Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter of the Bible, which is important because when you look at Psalm 119, 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:30.260 you discover this is actually the longest chapter of the Bible. 00:01:30.260 --> 00:01:37.540 So for those of you that might like to read the chapter of the Bible that we discuss on Sunday, knowing you're about to read a longer chapter, if you're not successful 00:01:37.540 --> 00:01:41.520 with that, you can make yourself feel better by reading Psalm 117 first. 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:41.780 Right? 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:43.260 So it's only two verses. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:49.680 So you read that and then you can look at Psalm 119, which is 176 verses. 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:56.500 In this 176 verses, it's written in an acrostic and it's broken into chunks. 00:01:56.500 --> 00:02:01.980 There's 22 sections in Psalm 119, and each one of those sections has eight verses. 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:09.740 And the way the acrostic is written in Psalm 119, every section of the 22 sections begins with a Hebrew letter of 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:10.750 their alphabet. 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:16.280 So if you want to learn the Hebrew alphabet, just look at Psalm 119 every eight verses. 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:17.960 It's the it's a new letter of the alphabet. 00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:25.640 And when you're looking at this, each verse, each verse begins with the corresponds to the letter that represents that section that 00:02:25.640 --> 00:02:26.840 you're reading. 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:32.860 And so section one first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, section two, which is where we're going to be today Beth is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:33.580 And on it goes. 00:02:34.020 --> 00:02:38.620 Every one of the verses starts with that letter that matches the section that you're reading in. 00:02:38.660 --> 00:02:44.940 And so we're not going to look at all of 176 verses today so we can thank the Lord. 00:02:44.940 --> 00:02:52.180 You know, that would be a lot to get through, but we are going to look at just a section of it, and we're going to look at the second section of 00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:59.880 this Hebrew psalm to us starting in verse nine down to verse 16. 00:03:00.020 --> 00:03:06.250 And as we look at this Psalm, we should ask ourselves the question, what would compel someone to write such a long psalm? 00:03:07.140 --> 00:03:08.750 Like, what do they want us to know? 00:03:08.820 --> 00:03:15.900 Because as we've studied these Psalms together, one of the things I've reminded us of is that this Psalm 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:22.920 is intended to teach us about our relationship to the Lord and how 00:03:22.920 --> 00:03:25.950 to respond to God and worship in light of who he is. 00:03:27.020 --> 00:03:32.810 One of the things that makes the Psalm unique from all other books of the Bible, the rest of the Bible is really God teaching us about himself. 00:03:33.340 --> 00:03:34.760 But the Psalms are. 00:03:34.820 --> 00:03:38.030 It's man's response back to God in worship. 00:03:38.600 --> 00:03:41.660 How do we learn to engage God in the season of life? 00:03:41.660 --> 00:03:43.960 Where we find ourselves in? 00:03:44.420 --> 00:03:47.430 Psalm 119 is one of those Psalms that's teaching us something critical. 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:48.700 Critical? 00:03:48.760 --> 00:03:49.600 What does that mean? 00:03:49.660 --> 00:03:54.280 Critical about our own faith journey in him. 00:03:54.620 --> 00:03:56.250 And so we're going to talk about this together. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:04:04.120 Four important lessons from Psalm 119 that we need to discover in our relationship with the Lord and 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:05.620 not just discover it. 00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:07.060 To truly appreciate it. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:09.450 Number one, is this in your notes? 00:04:10.740 --> 00:04:17.220 It is a gift to be able to know God and follow him. 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:24.740 It is a gift to be able to know God and follow him. 00:04:26.080 --> 00:04:33.180 I hope this morning one of the things that we just learned to readily recognize as people, and something that we've got to acknowledge we 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:40.150 can often lose sight of, is the gift that it is to have a relationship with the Lord. 00:04:41.320 --> 00:04:45.740 And you see this reflected in the psalm, in the Psalm that we're in. 00:04:45.820 --> 00:04:50.970 I think the part of the psalm that draws that out most beautifully is verse ten, the first half of verse ten. 00:04:51.200 --> 00:04:54.570 The psalmist is saying, with my whole heart I seek you. 00:04:55.540 --> 00:05:02.560 And we're going to find as we read this Psalm, is the reason the psalmist is even saying this is because God has revealed himself to us. 00:05:03.400 --> 00:05:05.740 And so the psalmist is diving into that. 00:05:06.820 --> 00:05:08.890 What does it mean to know God? 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:15.260 Probably verse two is another verse that corresponds to this, which isn't on the screen, but it talks about the idea of that. 00:05:15.320 --> 00:05:20.000 Again, this whole heart surrendered to the Lord and wanting to know him. 00:05:20.380 --> 00:05:25.060 And the only reason we're able to do that is because God has revealed himself to us. 00:05:25.900 --> 00:05:29.020 And it's just a beautiful thought as we look at this Psalm together. 00:05:30.060 --> 00:05:34.510 And to just stop and say, man, what you have in the Lord is precious. 00:05:35.400 --> 00:05:41.680 Now for some of us it may we may be at the very beginning of that where we were just willing to walk in a church door on Sunday. 00:05:41.900 --> 00:05:47.680 But let me just tell you, whatever compelled you to get here, and it may be even a messy thing. 00:05:49.080 --> 00:05:56.300 The fact that you're here with a willingness to want to know about the Lord and In our opportunity to even have the privilege 00:05:56.300 --> 00:05:59.900 to do that is a gift we should not forget. 00:06:00.760 --> 00:06:07.020 And whatever is taking, taking you to get to this moment of where you are in your faith journey, it is precious. 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:11.940 And I hope that we can appreciate the gift of what that is. 00:06:12.540 --> 00:06:15.520 And I'm not saying like just intellectually know about God. 00:06:15.520 --> 00:06:18.360 I'm saying a genuine relationship with the Lord. 00:06:18.380 --> 00:06:21.450 It's the most important thing about who you are as a human being. 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:26.980 Because learning about who God is will then help you discover who you are. 00:06:28.440 --> 00:06:32.500 And the discovering who you are will lead you down a path of then how you live your life. 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:38.520 Everything we do as human beings is determined by a belief, whether we acknowledge that belief or not. 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:46.900 But we've got to recognize that the important place that we should be able to go to in order to understand that belief is 00:06:46.900 --> 00:06:50.360 rooted in God, because he is the origin of all things. 00:06:51.380 --> 00:06:53.560 And so if I want to live my life the right way. 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:55.740 I've got to first understand who I am. 00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:59.140 And if I want to understand who I am, I've got to understand who he is. 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:04.050 Because who he is determines who I am and then how I live, at least in a healthy way. 00:07:04.100 --> 00:07:04.520 It should. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:12.270 Everything I do is determined by a belief, and it is a gift to know God and to be able to follow him. 00:07:13.520 --> 00:07:17.860 Theologians refer to it in a couple different ways when they think about God categorically. 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:25.640 First, they acknowledge that God is a transcendent being, meaning because he is omnipotent and eternal 00:07:25.640 --> 00:07:27.060 and omniscient. 00:07:27.380 --> 00:07:30.420 There are things about God I cannot fully apprehend. 00:07:30.540 --> 00:07:31.780 He transcends me. 00:07:31.780 --> 00:07:32.460 He is holy. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:33.300 He is beyond. 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:34.140 He is other. 00:07:35.620 --> 00:07:42.740 But at the same time, we recognize as we come to understand God, that he's also immanent, that he desires to 00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:49.530 be made known, and he's made himself personal so that we could relate to him, that he didn't leave us alone in this world. 00:07:49.900 --> 00:07:52.220 And so by understanding who he is, I is. 00:07:52.220 --> 00:07:57.810 I get to understand who I am created to be in him and therefore live my life accordingly. 00:07:58.640 --> 00:08:02.520 And Psalm 119 begins in that thought of reflecting it. 00:08:02.520 --> 00:08:09.920 In fact, if I just turn to some other passages that carry this heart or this thought John, chapter 17, 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:11.310 verse three says it like this. 00:08:11.900 --> 00:08:18.150 This is eternal life, that they may know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:25.580 I've always found this as an interesting verse, because if I were to give a quiz to us this morning and I don't plan on doing that, okay, it's just a no. 00:08:25.580 --> 00:08:26.160 Just breathe. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:27.280 Breathe easy there. 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:33.020 But if I were to say to you, okay, here in this quiz, one of the first things I want you to do is define for me eternal life. 00:08:33.900 --> 00:08:36.159 I have a feeling most of us would define it like this. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:38.120 Eternal life is living forever. 00:08:38.820 --> 00:08:42.240 But I want you to know that's not the way that Scripture defines eternal life. 00:08:43.140 --> 00:08:49.450 The way John defines eternal life for us in this passage is only rooted in a relationship with the Lord. 00:08:49.660 --> 00:08:55.780 Eternal life is about knowing him because he himself is the source of all life. 00:08:55.980 --> 00:09:02.890 And it's only through your relationship with the Lord that then you discover what life is and what life is intended to be about. 00:09:04.020 --> 00:09:11.020 And so recognizing the and appreciating the importance of the gift of not just intellectually knowing about God, but having 00:09:11.020 --> 00:09:15.960 a genuine, genuine relationship with God is critical for all of us. 00:09:16.380 --> 00:09:18.580 And then following after him in that. 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:27.300 Lord, help me and all the things that I try to make life about and the complexity of life to 00:09:27.300 --> 00:09:32.940 just stop in the moment and appreciate the gift that it is to know you. 00:09:33.280 --> 00:09:40.620 I mean, maybe even this week would be a good week to just not watch the news at all and just rest in the comforting 00:09:40.620 --> 00:09:46.200 presence of a sovereign God who wants to be known in your life. 00:09:47.020 --> 00:09:51.270 Even the apostle Paul, he categorizes it like this. 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:57.330 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:09:58.020 --> 00:09:59.230 I mean, he's saying like this. 00:09:59.560 --> 00:10:06.680 Whatever he had made his life about up until this point, he realized it was nothing in comparison to discovering 00:10:06.680 --> 00:10:13.960 his purpose in life by discovering the one who created him, which is only routed through a relationship with the Lord. 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:21.840 He says, indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 00:10:21.900 --> 00:10:27.930 For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. 00:10:29.020 --> 00:10:36.060 He's saying that this relationship reoriented all things in his life, because he understood who he was in light of who 00:10:36.060 --> 00:10:41.880 God was, and understanding God helped him then discover everything in light of that. 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:45.700 And guys, it's the same thing for all of us. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:48.250 We all want to know we matter. 00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:51.090 We all want to know we're important. 00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:56.240 And what you look to discover that is critical. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:11:05.120 And sometimes we have this erroneous way of trying to find who we are in the things of this world, or even in relationship 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.160 to other people. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:10.700 And this passage is saying, look, it's not saying relationships with others aren't important. 00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:11.760 I mean, today is Father's Day. 00:11:11.760 --> 00:11:12.900 Happy Father's Day, by the way. 00:11:13.380 --> 00:11:16.010 That's an important role in our life and in society. 00:11:17.020 --> 00:11:19.700 You tend to, no matter what society you live in. 00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:24.830 If men don't walk according to the way God has called you to, women and children suffer. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:31.610 And that's not to demean or undermine the role of the importance of women in society or children. 00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:39.680 But it's to say, guys, do you is your life awakened to the significance of what it is to know God and walk 00:11:39.680 --> 00:11:46.000 with him for the benefit of others, and allowing that relationship to take preeminence? 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:52.480 You know, some people like to rank it like, well, in my life, my relationship with God is first. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:55.300 And, my marriage is second and my kids are third. 00:11:55.300 --> 00:11:56.630 And then I don't know what you put next. 00:11:56.880 --> 00:11:57.820 Church job, I don't know. 00:11:57.820 --> 00:12:04.600 People sometimes try to rank those things and no doubt some relationships are more important than others like it should. 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:10.290 You know, your relationship with Jesus should first impact your home before anything else, and it needs to impact your church community. 00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:12.620 And then it should impact your culture around you. 00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:13.650 Those things are true. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:21.360 But rather than try to rank everything, what we should discover is like, my relationship with Jesus helps me reorient 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:24.640 everything and to the place it's intended to be. 00:12:25.780 --> 00:12:32.820 My relationship with Jesus is critical to understand who I am, so that way I don't look for my validation in things of this world because 00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:40.180 I'm already confident in who I am in regards to who God is, and therefore my life can be poured out to the benefit of others because 00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:47.620 I find my identity in him and the Apostle Paul when he's giving this statement, I think what's critical to recognize is 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:52.260 he's making the statement in Philippians three on the backdrop of religion. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:59.980 And Paul's not only saying as he counted everything as rubbish, what Paul is actually saying is his whole religious life, he was the most religious out 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:00.480 of anybody. 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:04.560 That's how he identified himself in the first six verses of this chapter. 00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:12.660 And then he goes on and says, But I've put religion behind me for one purpose, to make my life 00:13:12.660 --> 00:13:17.800 oriented around this idea, to know Jesus and to follow him. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:25.880 So when you're thinking in terms of the importance of Psalm 119, this is this is critical for all of us to understand that we're made 00:13:25.880 --> 00:13:28.600 to know God and to have a relationship with him. 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:34.040 That is the primary reason for which God has created you, and he wants you to enjoy that for all of eternity. 00:13:34.380 --> 00:13:37.640 As John 17 verse three says, God made you for this reason. 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:42.190 But the question that we should follow up with is then how? 00:13:43.760 --> 00:13:44.660 How do we do that? 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:47.600 A critical question for all of us. 00:13:47.680 --> 00:13:48.460 But let me give you point number two. 00:13:48.520 --> 00:13:56.300 And we'll talk about it says the way I know God, then, the way I know God is through His 00:13:56.300 --> 00:14:00.560 Word and the way I know God is through His Word. 00:14:00.560 --> 00:14:04.090 In fact, this is the very foundation of what Psalm 119 is about. 00:14:04.900 --> 00:14:12.210 Psalm 119 is about reminding us of the importance of who God is through His Word. 00:14:13.280 --> 00:14:20.360 When you look at the acrostic in 22 sections, all representing a different Hebrew letter of the alphabet, each one 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:24.880 of these acrostics are reiterating to us the importance of God's Word. 00:14:24.880 --> 00:14:30.880 And the author of Psalm 119 is really carrying the same thematic idea in each section. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:33.370 This is why we're only focusing on one section. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:41.660 And it's really reminding you and me that we have this tendency of untethering ourselves to the importance of that. 00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:48.800 This is why I say Psalm 119 in the Christian journey is not about learning, some kind of new truth that you 00:14:48.800 --> 00:14:50.290 can become a deeper level Christian. 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:56.860 It's really getting more disciplined in specific truths that we should already know as believers. 00:14:57.900 --> 00:15:02.760 The significance of God's Word and what it means for my life in order to know God. 00:15:02.920 --> 00:15:03.740 Because here's what we have. 00:15:03.760 --> 00:15:10.880 We all have this tendency of bringing baggage from this world in our own hearts and 00:15:10.880 --> 00:15:15.120 lives into our own faith journey with the Lord. 00:15:16.020 --> 00:15:23.220 Sometimes it's wild when you travel the world and you get to places where Christianity was not practiced for many 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:30.320 centuries, and there was this cultural worship system that some people groups had, and all of a sudden that culture came to 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:30.960 know Christ. 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:39.640 And then they kind of take the baggage of that culture, and they extrapolate it into their Christianity and their brand of Christianity. 00:15:39.640 --> 00:15:43.740 You can kind of see some Jesus things in it, but sometimes it comes out really weird. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:49.900 Like, man, this is like animistic, like ancestral worship. 00:15:49.900 --> 00:15:50.840 I don't know, whatever. 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:52.780 Just kind of mixed in with a Jesus thought. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:59.560 And we all have that tendency of doing this, taking the baggage of our past and bring it into our Christian journey. 00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:06.360 Even sometimes when I talk to people that might be from an atheist background, like I'll ask them, you know why? 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.920 Why don't you believe in a god? 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:09.300 Or why don't you follow a god? 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:16.400 And I'll and I'll say, describe to me the God that you don't like and or the God that you think if it existed would be. 00:16:16.420 --> 00:16:19.070 And then they go on to describe whatever they think God might be. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.080 And the God they describe is a terrible monster. 00:16:23.040 --> 00:16:25.680 And that's when I say to them like, yeah, that makes sense. 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:28.200 If I thought that God was real, I wouldn't follow him either. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.580 Right? 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:35.660 Like it is critical for all of us to say, look, I know I come with baggage, but man, I just want to open your 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:42.680 word, God, and for you to tell me who you are, not for me to 00:16:42.680 --> 00:16:48.260 come with all this extra stuff, but to understand you in light of it. 00:16:49.400 --> 00:16:55.870 And so, God, teach me, give me an understanding of who you are. 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:59.380 And so verse, verse, let me read this, verse nine and ten says it like this. 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:01.620 How can a young man keep his way pure? 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:06.359 By guarding it according to your word. 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:09.900 Not with the baggage, but rather God. 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:12.650 Let your word direct me with my whole heart. 00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:14.300 I seek you, God. 00:17:14.300 --> 00:17:16.589 Don't let me wander from your commandments. 00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:24.050 You know, we all have this tendency of trying to usurp what God's Word says, even in our own culture. 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:26.880 Like sometimes we'll treat God's Word like this. 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:29.920 Like I believe God's Word gives me good guidance. 00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:34.040 But then there's times where I don't like what God's Word says. 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:42.320 And so while it does guide me when those moments arise, rise up, I want to follow what I want rather than what God's Word 00:17:42.320 --> 00:17:46.000 says, because I trust in myself more than what God's Word says. 00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:53.640 And so we'll use God's idea, sort of like a suggestion book or God's Word as a suggestion book and more 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:56.080 leaning to ourselves rather than the Lord. 00:17:56.200 --> 00:18:00.170 And I think one of those words that draws that out better than any other is that word commandment. 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:05.820 And for you rebels at heart, you'll read that word and think, make me right. 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:08.060 Like that's what rests in you is you. 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:13.260 You read a word like that and you're like, you know God sometimes until you say that and then I defy you. 00:18:13.260 --> 00:18:17.060 You're like a you're like a spiritual toddler in that sense, right? 00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:20.820 You just you kind of want to go along with mom and dad when it feels fun. 00:18:20.820 --> 00:18:23.190 But that C word comes out and you're like, no thank you. 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:23.700 Right. 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:27.420 And so we war against God in that way. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:32.700 And it's really helping us begin to recognize what we are trusting in. 00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:40.640 And let's just acknowledge this, that whether it's God's command or something else, there is there's something that's 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.700 governing the decisions of your life. 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:45.500 The question is, what is it? 00:18:46.520 --> 00:18:51.980 Because if you refuse to let it be the Lord, you're allowing something to dictate and determine who you are. 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:54.580 It's the place you're discovering your worth and your meaning. 00:18:55.020 --> 00:18:57.280 And maybe we should just ask, how does that work out for you? 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:07.040 When it comes to the idea of God's commandment, sometimes we're reluctant to receive it because, to be honest, we don't fully trust 00:19:07.040 --> 00:19:07.340 him. 00:19:09.040 --> 00:19:10.380 We trust ourselves more. 00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:15.260 And so in that situation, it's critical to really learn God. 00:19:15.260 --> 00:19:22.000 What is your heart about and truly teach me who you are. 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:26.880 Because what you discover when you find the Lord is that he is life itself. 00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:35.620 And God's desire is to make himself known in you so that you can discover who you are in light of him, and 00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:39.240 really walk in joy in relationship with him in this world. 00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:42.660 And so God help me understand that. 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:50.260 And you know, when I say to you something like, well, the way that we discover who God is through His Word, and I understand sometimes we may object 00:19:50.260 --> 00:19:52.720 to that immediately say, wait, wait, wait. 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:55.620 I thought I thought that was Jesus, right? 00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:59.020 Like I thought if I wanted to discover who God was, what I needed is Jesus. 00:19:59.020 --> 00:20:00.240 And to that I would say yes. 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:07.640 Like, if you really want to know who God is, you definitely need to look at Jesus, because the Bible reminds us the importance of that over and over. 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.360 Right? 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:10.560 John chapter one, verse 18, it says it like this. 00:20:11.060 --> 00:20:12.720 No one has ever seen God. 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:19.180 If anyone ever tells you they've seen God, say, no one has ever seen God, right? 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:22.340 Like that's what John 118 says. 00:20:22.340 --> 00:20:29.440 Have you want another another verse first Timothy 616, or we're going to read another one in a minute in Colossians 115 that says the same thing. 00:20:29.560 --> 00:20:35.570 If anyone ever claims to you they have seen God, like you can just say, this is speaking in terms of God the Father. 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.900 Like the Bible says. 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:37.530 That's not possible. 00:20:37.760 --> 00:20:39.220 So only one thing can be true. 00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:41.000 Here you are, the Bible, right? 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.440 So no one has ever seen God. 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.260 The only God. 00:20:43.260 --> 00:20:47.140 Now, talking about Jesus is the only God who is at the father's side. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:49.240 He has made him known. 00:20:49.860 --> 00:20:50.580 So this is what it's saying. 00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:51.620 You want to know what God is like? 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.400 Look at Jesus. 00:20:54.580 --> 00:20:59.540 And sometimes we have this perception of God that he is this angry, judgmental being. 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:06.020 And then if you if you talk to that person that maybe feels that way about God and you say, well, tell me what you think Jesus is like. 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:10.500 And they just describe Jesus as a very endearing way. 00:21:11.300 --> 00:21:19.040 I mean, you can say that person, look, there's some kind of disconnect in your understanding of God because Jesus is 00:21:19.040 --> 00:21:23.160 the word of God or God made flesh, as John tells us. 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:28.860 And so the way you describe Jesus, that he is God. 00:21:29.060 --> 00:21:36.120 And this is what it's saying to us in John 118 or Colossians 115, he talking about Jesus is the image of the invisible God. 00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:37.360 Again, it's saying God is invisible. 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.400 Somebody tells you they've seen God the Father. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.060 He's invisible. 00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:41.210 You can't do that. 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:41.560 But. 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:44.980 But Jesus is the tangible experience of God. 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:46.480 He's God made flesh. 00:21:46.800 --> 00:21:48.420 So if you want to know what God's like, look at Jesus. 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:55.660 Colossians two nine for in him the fullness of God is of deity, dwells in bodily form, so the whole fullness 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.960 of God in bodily form. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:59.750 Again, if you want to know what God's like, look at Jesus or Hebrews one three. 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:04.120 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:06.430 And he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:12.280 After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 00:22:13.060 --> 00:22:14.540 Again it's saying the same thing. 00:22:14.560 --> 00:22:17.180 He is the exact imprint of his nature. 00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:21.400 So the nature of God made known in Jesus because Jesus is God. 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:27.860 So if you want to know what God is like in a personal way, look at Jesus because he is God in the flesh. 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:32.040 But then we still beg the question, well, how do you know Jesus? 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:37.340 And the answer for us takes us back to the same place. 00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:42.360 Well, the way that you know Jesus is through God's Word. 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:50.970 And in fact, in Luke chapter 24, if you remember this story in the Gospels, this is after Jesus's resurrection. 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:59.000 And he joins two individuals after his resurrection, he joins two individuals who are walking on the 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:03.260 streets to Emmaus and to them he is a stranger. 00:23:03.260 --> 00:23:09.420 So Jesus in his resurrected form, appears to these two individuals and starts walking the streets with them. 00:23:09.560 --> 00:23:13.920 And they're actually talking about the idea of Jesus's resurrection and what that might mean. 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:16.120 And Jesus while he's walking with them. 00:23:16.120 --> 00:23:23.280 It says this in verse 27, and beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he Jesus interpreted to them in all the scriptures 00:23:23.280 --> 00:23:25.060 the things concerning himself. 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:33.460 And so what Jesus is doing is he's taking the Word of God, and he's helping him understand how everything in God's Word points them back to 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.260 him. 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:38.660 And then they begin to realize that this is actually Jesus walking with them. 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:46.520 And as soon as they recognize that, Jesus disappears from them because this is the same, the same thing for you and for me, that 00:23:46.520 --> 00:23:49.200 if you want to know God, know His Word. 00:23:49.280 --> 00:23:53.680 And this is this is not just an exercise of just trying to do this because you're supposed to do this. 00:23:53.900 --> 00:24:01.160 This is about realizing this is God revealing himself to you so that you can have that relationship 00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:02.500 with him. 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:09.840 And this is invaluable for all of us to recognize that God desires to make himself known, that 00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:13.320 theologians refer to the idea of God being transcendent. 00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:14.660 He is holy. 00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:18.060 He is other, but also he is imminent. 00:24:18.800 --> 00:24:19.740 He's personal. 00:24:20.260 --> 00:24:22.890 He's he desires to make himself known. 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:30.340 In fact, when theologians refer to these two ideas of God, he they tend to refer to God's revelation in two ways. 00:24:30.340 --> 00:24:33.920 There's a general revelation of God, and there's a special revelation of God. 00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:36.230 And both are important. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.870 But if you had to rank, which is more important? 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:42.220 The special revelation of God is critical for us. 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:49.800 And sometimes I even had this happen to me in the last week where someone tells me that quote, they're a follower of Jesus, 00:24:49.800 --> 00:24:55.240 and I just ask him where they fellowship, and they tell me that their church is the mountains. 00:24:55.560 --> 00:24:56.320 Right? 00:24:56.320 --> 00:24:59.470 And like, I get that, like, I like I like going up to the mountains. 00:24:59.780 --> 00:25:02.140 I like getting to the top of the mountains, looking out. 00:25:02.260 --> 00:25:09.300 There are places where you go in life that they sometimes will just take your breath away and encourage you to stand in all 00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:13.670 of the divine hand of your creation made by your creator. 00:25:14.520 --> 00:25:14.680 Right? 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:18.760 You just you wonder at the greatness of who God is. 00:25:18.760 --> 00:25:20.710 Like Psalm eight talks about that in his creation. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.620 Revelation one. 00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:29.180 Psalm 19 talks about the world that God has created is the evidence of his handiwork, and it inspires our heart to stand in all. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.140 And. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:37.360 But theologians refer to that as a general revelation, meaning we get this general idea that there is a creator, and that's important. 00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:42.980 But more than that, you also need to have special revelation in who God is. 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:46.280 And the Bible tells us there's two places for that. 00:25:47.520 --> 00:25:51.310 Jesus says in John chapter 14, verse six, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:56.460 And then Jesus prays in John 1717, sanctify them through truth. 00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:58.250 Your word is truth. 00:25:58.460 --> 00:26:00.060 Meaning the foundation for Christianity. 00:26:00.100 --> 00:26:06.260 The special revelation for God of God for us is this Jesus made known in the flesh and the Word of God. 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:14.140 And if you want to specifically know who God is, not just in a general way, but particularly walk with him, look at Jesus, and 00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:14.840 look at His Word. 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:19.900 In fact, the foundation of Christianity is built on those two ideas. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:23.300 Is Jesus who he says he is, who Christians claim him to be? 00:26:23.300 --> 00:26:24.450 And is the Word of God reliable? 00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:31.700 And if it is, it becomes the foundation for us and being able to enjoy the journey of knowing God. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:36.600 And this is critical for all of us because of the challenges that we find in life. 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:44.240 In fact, I had a friend that she passed away from cancer recently, and she used to say this, anytime 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:51.960 I come across a new Christian, the first place I want to take them to is Psalm 119, because 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:58.410 I want them to see how much the psalmist just reminds us again and again to appreciate God's Word in our life. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:06.580 And I know if a believer begins to grab Ahold of that no matter where their faith journey takes them from there, they're going to be okay as 00:27:06.580 --> 00:27:13.700 long as they walk with the understanding of what Psalm 119 says to us and appreciating the value of God's 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.580 Word. 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:16.740 In fact, if I if I gave you another passage. 00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:20.060 Second Timothy chapter three says it like this. 00:27:20.260 --> 00:27:27.640 And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:34.640 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. 00:27:34.760 --> 00:27:36.260 Now let me let me just stop here and say this. 00:27:36.260 --> 00:27:37.630 I'll read the last verse in just a second. 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.660 It's recognizing the importance of Scripture. 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.380 Verse 15. 00:27:41.380 --> 00:27:42.040 And then it says this. 00:27:42.260 --> 00:27:49.340 It's inspired by God, it's breathed out, and it wants you to have this idea in mind, in Genesis chapter one and two, 00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:54.540 when God made creation, it tells us God speaks in life begins, God speaks in life begins. 00:27:54.540 --> 00:27:57.960 In fact, God breathed into you and you became a living being. 00:27:57.980 --> 00:28:05.160 In Genesis chapter two, you know that Word of God is life, and that same life that brought things into existence is that 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:08.440 same Word of God that's breathed into Scripture. 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:12.140 The power of God made known in these pages as you. 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:18.640 As you discover who he is and it tells you it's profitable for teaching, it's showing you who he is right for reproof. 00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:23.780 It's showing you where you're wrong, and it's guiding you down that path so that you follow after him. 00:28:23.820 --> 00:28:25.140 That's what verse 16 is saying. 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:29.200 And then verse 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:36.600 Everything that God has called you to in this world is found in His word, right? 00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:40.220 And so discovering who God is in His word becomes critical for all of us. 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:43.700 Let me give you a few examples practically why this is important. 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.750 I was talking to a missionary from. 00:28:47.300 --> 00:28:51.140 He served in Europe for several years, several decades, and he's at the end of his life. 00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:51.880 He's retired. 00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:57.860 And someone asked him, how were you able to remain faithful to the Lord, even to the Lord, even in days when you're discouraged? 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:07.040 And he actually he turned to the book of Hebrews chapter 11 and 12 and he said, even good things can 00:29:07.040 --> 00:29:09.280 pull me away from the things of the Lord. 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.860 And I was very mindful of that in the beginning. 00:29:12.060 --> 00:29:15.660 In fact, he said, if you read Hebrews chapter 11, it's considered the hall of faith. 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:22.340 And in the Hall of Faith, it talks about all these great saints before us and the things they did in the Lord. 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:24.880 And it's very encouraging to us. 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:29.220 But he said, but there's one thing that governed me above all things. 00:29:29.280 --> 00:29:34.620 And while those things are certainly encouraging to read, as soon as you get to chapter 12, it says this. 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:42.540 And now let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for 00:29:42.540 --> 00:29:45.720 the joy set before him endured the cross. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:54.240 And what he's saying is, while there are good things that encourage me in life, I never let it take me away from moving my eyes off 00:29:54.280 --> 00:29:55.100 of Jesus. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:59.630 I always understood that my faith journey is about Jesus. 00:30:00.580 --> 00:30:02.460 And let me tell you why that's critical for you and for me. 00:30:04.020 --> 00:30:07.630 It's because sometimes on this Christian journey, we can have people around us that are encouraging. 00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:12.660 And sometimes on this Christian journey, I can have people around me that are discouraging. 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:17.360 But the reason I do or don't follow Jesus isn't because of them. 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:21.980 The reason I follow Jesus is because of him. 00:30:22.020 --> 00:30:23.260 It's because of Jesus. 00:30:24.320 --> 00:30:27.700 And if we aren't careful, we can build our faith on someone else. 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:35.250 And if someone if that person disappoints me in so doing, I can wane in my own relationship with Jesus. 00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:39.760 And while it's wonderful to have people around you to encourage you, that's important. 00:30:39.760 --> 00:30:43.240 I've got to understand, at the end of the day, people can disappoint me. 00:30:44.300 --> 00:30:47.000 And the reason I follow Jesus isn't because of people. 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:49.170 It's because of Jesus. 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:51.710 Who Jesus is. 00:30:52.060 --> 00:30:54.900 And so my own journey with Jesus is critical. 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.160 Now. 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:58.400 It's not to take away from the from the significance of community. 00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:00.860 Like we all need community. 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:03.800 We want to be known and we want to appreciate life together. 00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:11.000 God created us as beings to show our love for him and how we walk in community with each other. 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:14.480 And so community definitely has a place. 00:31:14.760 --> 00:31:18.180 But I've got to understand that people are people, and sometimes people get people. 00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:24.360 E and my relationship with Jesus should take precedence over all things. 00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:29.940 Now I want to delight in the joy of doing that with people around me, but I don't want it to determine who I am. 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:37.800 Jesus does that, and I want the goodness of Jesus to pour out of my life, you 00:31:37.800 --> 00:31:37.980 know. 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.780 You know what the reasons, other reasons I give you why this is critical. 00:31:38.800 --> 00:31:39.630 And I got to do this fast. 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:44.050 But sometimes people will come to you and say, I have this deep seated belief. 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:46.160 And you might ask them, well, where does that come from? 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:48.880 And they just say, because I had a positive feeling, right. 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:50.440 Like it just it feels good. 00:31:50.540 --> 00:31:51.930 So therefore it must be right. 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:59.480 But here's the reality for all of us, like every religion on the planet has someone that has had a positive experience 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.530 in that religion. 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:03.160 Otherwise, they probably wouldn't be there, right? 00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:05.000 Like and so feelings. 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:12.040 While feelings have a place, they're not the determiner of what's true, because every religion in the world has someone that's had positive 00:32:12.040 --> 00:32:14.060 feelings in it, right? 00:32:14.060 --> 00:32:17.040 So the question for us should be, well, how do you determine what's true? 00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:23.600 Because when you look at all the religions in the world, they can't all be true because they teach something different about God. 00:32:24.580 --> 00:32:27.080 They can all be wrong, that's for sure. 00:32:28.020 --> 00:32:28.940 But they can't all be true. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.900 So how do you determine who's right or who's wrong? 00:32:32.020 --> 00:32:34.420 It's got to be on a deeper basis than just feeling. 00:32:34.560 --> 00:32:41.660 It's like sometimes I use this example that one of you this morning might have this strong feeling that gravity no longer 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:43.540 exists, right? 00:32:43.600 --> 00:32:47.880 And someone else may have this strong feeling that we should probably still believe in gravity. 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:50.700 And so how do you determine who's right or wrong? 00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:54.970 You know, you can believe something sincerely and be sincerely wrong. 00:32:55.260 --> 00:32:56.100 So how do you determine. 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:59.310 And the reality is you've got to go to an external source. 00:33:00.600 --> 00:33:04.390 And the way that we would discover that is we're going to put both of you on the roof today. 00:33:05.300 --> 00:33:10.180 And the one that stopped believing in gravity will just have you demonstrate it by pushing you off the side. 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:10.960 Right. 00:33:11.020 --> 00:33:12.660 You have to have an external source. 00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:20.420 And the reason for you and for me, like the reason it's bad for you to become the determiner of truth, is that you didn't create it. 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:23.880 Truth existed before you, and it's going to exist after you. 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:28.520 And in fact, Jeremiah 17 nine tells us, our heart is deceitful above all things. 00:33:28.540 --> 00:33:35.460 Meaning, no matter how much you might sincerely believe it, you could be wrong and you could even emotionally think that you're right and still be wrong. 00:33:35.760 --> 00:33:36.680 So how do we look for that? 00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:43.220 The Bible encourages us that you have to have a source outside of yourself, and the Word of God is that foundation in Christianity. 00:33:44.560 --> 00:33:48.600 In addition to that, can I can I just hear one more example and I'll give you these last two points quickly. 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:58.780 There is a phrase in our world today that sometimes I hear and 00:33:58.780 --> 00:34:04.580 I often recoil at it because I think it is the most abused phrase and probably all of history. 00:34:06.180 --> 00:34:13.300 And I'm not saying it can't happen, but what I am saying is people use it very manipulatively to get a power 00:34:14.020 --> 00:34:15.960 for a power struggle over someone else. 00:34:16.540 --> 00:34:23.560 And that is this phrase God told me, God told me And someone comes to you and they tell 00:34:23.560 --> 00:34:25.120 you something and you're like, well, how do you know that? 00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:25.880 God told me. 00:34:27.060 --> 00:34:28.260 What do you do with that? 00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:29.360 Like, oh my gosh, right? 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:31.520 God told you like he did not tell me. 00:34:31.520 --> 00:34:34.560 Well, he told you like, how do you how do you walk through that? 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:41.960 Like, what do you do when someone tells you that even as a pastor, I gotta tell you, sometimes people will try to tell me things, to 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:44.980 try to manipulate me, to get me to do something that they want. 00:34:45.100 --> 00:34:48.889 And the way it's phrased is, Pastor God told me that he wants you to do this. 00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:55.560 How do you respond to that? 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:56.840 Is important. 00:34:58.760 --> 00:35:01.020 Like, I'm not telling you that. 00:35:01.160 --> 00:35:01.910 That's not a possibility. 00:35:04.720 --> 00:35:08.560 But what I do want to tell you is you got to be careful with phrases like that. 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:16.420 You don't want to just flippantly say that or claim to speak on behalf of God. 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:21.760 And God forbid you speak on behalf of God and then meet him face to face one day. 00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:23.180 And what you said was wrong. 00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:25.680 God told me. 00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:30.940 I typically respond, you can choose how you want to respond to that. 00:35:32.060 --> 00:35:39.240 I just will just kindly say, well, if God cares enough about that, he can tell me to if that's 00:35:39.240 --> 00:35:40.060 what God wants. 00:35:40.060 --> 00:35:41.690 And in fact, I would just say this. 00:35:42.420 --> 00:35:49.440 Truth be told, according to Second Timothy three, God has already told me what he wants me to know, and if I if I 00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:51.780 want to be serious about it, I would discover it in His word. 00:35:52.040 --> 00:35:59.280 Because second Timothy 316 tells me, God has given me everything for my life, so that verse 17, I 00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:01.250 can live the life he's called me to live. 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.920 And can I just be honest? 00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:07.600 Sometimes we obsess a lot about what is it God wants me to do, right? 00:36:07.600 --> 00:36:10.160 Like you'll read even if I see if I can click ahead. 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:11.360 If it's. 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:11.480 I'll come back to that. 00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:15.350 If you read the rest of this section, we'll see it in a minute. 00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:19.840 But it talks about the commandments and statutes and laws of God, wanting to appreciate it. 00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:22.220 And we'll read that and think I got to figure this out. 00:36:22.220 --> 00:36:23.180 God wants me to do things. 00:36:23.180 --> 00:36:27.260 If I don't do it, God's going to be ticked that I'm not following his commands and his laws and his statutes. 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:28.720 I got to be doing, doing, doing. 00:36:28.740 --> 00:36:29.990 What is it God wants me to do? 00:36:31.160 --> 00:36:34.640 But can I tell you the interest of the Psalm is much, much greater than that. 00:36:36.140 --> 00:36:38.760 God's not primarily interested in what you're doing. 00:36:39.540 --> 00:36:42.960 If I said it like this, people sometimes ask the question, What's God's will for my life? 00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:46.980 God's will for your life is not primarily driven by what you're doing. 00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:55.380 God's primary interest in your life is who you're becoming and the way you discover who 00:36:55.380 --> 00:36:55.960 you are. 00:36:56.040 --> 00:37:01.060 What you're to become is only found in a relationship with him. 00:37:02.180 --> 00:37:04.520 Who he is determines who you are. 00:37:05.560 --> 00:37:09.080 And if you discover who you are in light of who he is, can I just tell you? 00:37:09.100 --> 00:37:10.720 The rest will take care of itself. 00:37:12.040 --> 00:37:19.200 You'll learn what it means to walk the path with the Lord, because you're walking with the Lord and he's shaping who you 00:37:19.200 --> 00:37:19.580 are. 00:37:20.600 --> 00:37:25.280 God is far more interested in who you're becoming than he is in what you're doing. 00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:31.320 It's not to say what you're doing doesn't matter, but who you're becoming is far more important. 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:39.220 In fact, in acts chapter 17, it says, now the Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with eagerness, and they examined the scriptures daily 00:37:39.220 --> 00:37:40.560 to determine if it was true. 00:37:41.020 --> 00:37:45.540 Here's what it's saying is like there's what people said to them as they were being taught, like today. 00:37:46.600 --> 00:37:50.860 But at the end of the day, they wanted to go to a chapter and verse and say, where does God's Word say this? 00:37:51.700 --> 00:37:56.790 Because they understood God has given them everything that they need to live their life according to the way God has called them to. 00:37:57.160 --> 00:37:57.950 So let me give you point number three. 00:37:58.340 --> 00:38:01.220 A true follower makes his word a priority. 00:38:02.020 --> 00:38:04.470 So knowing this, we make God's Word a priority. 00:38:04.520 --> 00:38:08.670 It says in verse 11, I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 00:38:09.600 --> 00:38:16.560 So it's saying, look, the value of this is like not just knowing what your word says, but make it at the core of my being. 00:38:16.580 --> 00:38:19.280 Verse 15 talks about meditating on it. 00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:23.460 It's I am becoming what it says because this word is shaping me. 00:38:23.980 --> 00:38:26.420 And so it has to be a priority of my life. 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:31.960 And maybe I should just ask you this morning because I'm running out of time here, but how does your time in God's Word look? 00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:37.480 I mean, even this past week, corporately, we want to spend time in God's Word together. 00:38:37.600 --> 00:38:41.140 But even individually, how is God's Word shaping you? 00:38:41.580 --> 00:38:48.390 There's several studies out that they talk about the power of the for effect, the power of the number for effect, and what it is. 00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:55.720 What they've noticed over the years is if there are people that genuinely love Jesus and are following after him, if they take four times 00:38:55.720 --> 00:39:02.900 a week in God's Word, if they're doing at least four times a week, spending time in God's Word, that the impact it's making on 00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:04.040 their life is significant. 00:39:04.060 --> 00:39:04.780 And there are several studies. 00:39:05.140 --> 00:39:12.400 I mean, you can get online and Google this on the impact God's Word makes on my life as I am actively spending time with God at 00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:14.110 least four times a week. 00:39:14.160 --> 00:39:17.370 I mean, studies say things like, you're 30% less likely to feel lonely. 00:39:17.720 --> 00:39:20.230 32% less likely to have anger issues. 00:39:20.360 --> 00:39:23.040 40% less bitterness in relationships. 00:39:23.080 --> 00:39:25.480 57% less to struggle with alcoholism. 00:39:26.160 --> 00:39:29.120 68% less likely to have sex outside of marriage. 00:39:29.160 --> 00:39:32.590 60% feeling spiritual, away from spiritual stagnation. 00:39:32.940 --> 00:39:35.860 61% viewing pornography less. 00:39:36.200 --> 00:39:36.800 200%. 00:39:36.920 --> 00:39:38.100 Sharing your faith more. 00:39:38.220 --> 00:39:39.860 230% discipling others. 00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:39.960 More. 00:39:40.020 --> 00:39:42.520 That comes from a study of center for Bible Engagement. 00:39:43.080 --> 00:39:50.200 I mean, Harvard even has a study from 2020 where it says you're 33% less likely to be depressed, 29% more likely to have a 00:39:50.200 --> 00:39:57.600 high life satisfaction, 50% more likely to volunteer, and more likely to support strong 00:39:57.600 --> 00:40:00.220 relationships and habits of gratitude. 00:40:00.820 --> 00:40:07.820 I mean, there are multiple studies on that, but and I'm not saying, look, pick up God's Word and just use it as a manipulative tool to improve your quality 00:40:07.820 --> 00:40:08.680 of life. 00:40:08.880 --> 00:40:13.000 What I think is driving those individuals is a love for Jesus and wanting to know him. 00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:15.420 And that's what we should be spurred by. 00:40:15.480 --> 00:40:16.820 When you read Psalm 119. 00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:20.240 This is not saying feel guilty for not reading God's Word. 00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:21.310 That's not what this is saying. 00:40:22.620 --> 00:40:29.700 This is saying, does your heart recognize that your life is created to know God, and God cares enough to make himself known, and he's giving 00:40:29.700 --> 00:40:31.820 you his word to know him. 00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:35.360 How much of a priority is it in our lives? 00:40:35.380 --> 00:40:36.100 Let me give you the last point. 00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:42.020 A true follower will align their life with the word. 00:40:43.780 --> 00:40:48.860 A true follower will align their life with the word. 00:40:50.620 --> 00:40:57.200 And again, this isn't guilt driven, but this is joy driven that I can know God. 00:40:57.200 --> 00:40:59.420 And God desires to know me, to walk with me. 00:40:59.420 --> 00:41:02.270 Because eternal life is about a relationship with the Lord forever. 00:41:03.080 --> 00:41:06.020 So let me close with this because I got like, 30s and I got to be done. 00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:09.000 I didn't read the rest of it. 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:09.400 I'm sorry. 00:41:09.420 --> 00:41:11.140 Verse 12 to 16 if you want to. 00:41:11.260 --> 00:41:12.070 I ran out of time. 00:41:12.620 --> 00:41:13.140 Ran out of time. 00:41:14.100 --> 00:41:15.120 William Tyndale. 00:41:16.380 --> 00:41:20.220 He's really responsible for you having the English Bible today. 00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:26.840 As the as the Gutenberg press was invented, and the word of God could get more readily available. 00:41:26.840 --> 00:41:31.640 It was actually illegal to have the Bible in any other copy other than Latin. 00:41:33.220 --> 00:41:40.260 And because it was illegal, Christians started to fight for people in their in their own native tongue to have a copy of God's Word. 00:41:40.280 --> 00:41:46.460 In fact, William Tyndale, reflecting on Psalm 119, fought for this as he thought about the importance of God's Word. 00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:54.140 And then he even said things like, when you read the book of acts, when first two chapters of acts, when Peter preaches the first message to the early church, everyone 00:41:54.140 --> 00:41:56.720 heard God's Word in their native tongue. 00:41:57.860 --> 00:42:03.240 We should all have the ability to hear God's Word in its native tongue so that we could learn about the Lord. 00:42:03.460 --> 00:42:10.940 To William, Tyndale is known for saying, I want the regular plowboy to know God's Word better than the religious leaders of my day, but 00:42:10.940 --> 00:42:18.000 because it was illegal, eventually William Tyndale was martyred for translating God's Word into English, and at his 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:20.240 death he gave one final prayer. 00:42:20.360 --> 00:42:23.260 He said, Let the King of England have his eyes opened. 00:42:24.240 --> 00:42:30.400 And one year later the King of England's eyes were opened, and he legalized the Bible in English so that we could have it today. 00:42:31.620 --> 00:42:36.920 Now people have given their life to God's Word, so that you and I could have it. 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:42.100 Knowing how precious it is and how freeing it becomes to the soul. 00:42:43.560 --> 00:42:48.840 God's word is the place you meet Jesus in order to walk with him. 00:42:49.880 --> 00:42:57.000 In discovering that, hopefully you see the significance of the cross, because that's where we truly see the display of God's love that we can find 00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:00.170 freedom, forgiveness, hope for eternity.