Life from A to Z

Good evening, I wanted to brag for a second on Eugene and probably Gina six or seven or a year ago.

How may months ago lie Utica and were there and Doug had told me previously point got read this paper by Eugene. Okay, so Eugene was nice enough to break not to bring it and I'm so glad were praying for our the Presbyterian Gen. assembly because one of the issues that's coming up is this whole re-voice conference in and what we do with some of the controversial things about homosexuality in our our perspective on what the Scriptures say about it and I want to encourage you if you have not read Eugene's paper is excellent.

It's a systematic look of what Scripture says as far as what God's perspective on homosexuality is, but also a biblical treatment biblical way of saying here's how we are to respond to this loving, gracious, but above all biblical and certainly when somebody I bring that up because when somebody support what is grace Presbyterian Harrisburg like it's a church that takes the word of God says above everything else. And if you've not read this paper about how we view of them have read this wonderful wonderful good absolutely. So I would encourage you if you if you haven't given read through it is enlightening and by the way, when I went through my ordination process. That question came up and I was so thankful to have a reference that I was able to go back to and say you know I have thought about this but really I synthesized Eugene's paper but I say that to say that tonight were going to look at Psalm 119. That is about the word of God and where it should be one of my how many of you have ever been asked the question, tell me about your grandkids. They might ever been asked that how you feel when you get asked that you like you go rather good. Next question or are you like. Perhaps my parents you go my first of all there is to know now. The first one is the oldest and and and for five hours or six or seven hours later were halfway through I got more well.

We love talking about those things that were passionate about. And if you would turn to Psalm 119 Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and all of Scripture is longer than many of the books in the New Testament all the minor prophets.

If it were his own book, it would be one of the biggest books in the Bible on Jeopardy the other night. The question was what city if it were not part of New York would be the fourth largest city in the nation and the answer was Brooklyn. Brooklyn is huge. Psalm 119 is a Brooklyn it's a massively big book. We don't know who wrote it. It sounds sort of like Dave and Charles Spurgeon said he thought it was Davidic. We don't. But what's amazing is this the equivalent of someone asking the psalmist. Hey, tell me about the word of God. The psalmist says the word of God. How can I not, and then he writes 176 verses about the word of God. And here's what's amazing. It's an acrostic non-acrostic. It starts with a when they in Hebrew would be of the letter. What all of you pronounce that really well.

I was missing out like the 80s the TV show how all of any ghost essentially through the Hebrew equivalent of Z, which is I had to look it up top. Yes exactly right. Eight through 12:12 a through Z, and so this is so amazing were the world to look the first eight verses tonight.

Every word of the first eight verses starts with out all of the next eight verses all start with the second letter which is baked your Bibles don't have Alfred above the first eight verses there in the Hebrew if you look at it. It's amazing a a a a a a a all the way down when you get the best, it looks like Beth but is not that BBB BBB BBB it doesn't translate very well and so you may be looking at why is that there if I could show you a slide and I can't because I didn't think about it it it's a work of art. But what does that say about God. He's an artist he's created in the beginning God created me.

That's one of the first things we learn about codices create to. He doesn't just give us things in black-and-white gives us things artistically.

That's the image of God's beautiful picture.

So Psalm 119, all the way a through Z, you have this pick this acrostic in its link. The I can imagine how long it must've taken the psalmist. Maybe David, maybe not to write this. What are some of the implications of talking about the word of God, which is what Psalm 119 is about all but three verses deal with the word of God tying it in with a through Z, what are some of the implications of that.

Think about it for the second, how much of my life should be submitted to God's authority. A through Z, how often do I need the word of God, brothers and sisters.

My heart is black. I need it in the morning when I wake up a time that I go to bed, a through Z, how long will the word of God be relevant to mankind. A in the garden of Eden through Christ's return beyond a through Z, the word of God covers everything a through Z, and so having that in mind, let's dive in and I'm going to read the entirety of Psalm 119 verses one through eight. Blessed are those whose way is blameless who walk in the law of the Lord Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart will also do no wrong.

But walk in his ways. You have commanded your precepts to be Diligently that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes. Then, I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes statutes do not utterly. For sake me.

Let's pray father, thank you, thank you for your word. Thank you for communicating with us that you reveal yourself with us.

There were not groping around in the dark trying to guess what, you may be like what your commandments may be like that you lovingly, clearly communicate and us in a way that we can understand father your word is alive is living and active. It cuts us and father tonight.

I pray that you would do a work in our heart that we cannot do ourselves that you would make us more like King Jesus we pray this in the name of Christ. Amen longest sermon in the Bible is a book by Jesus. The sermon sermon on the Mount absolutely begins with the Beatitudes right of the Blessed are the blessed are the Blessed are the what if you look you longest song begins the same way the Beatitudes do begins with Blessed are those whose way is blameless who walk in the way the law of the Lord very quickly blessed in this case generally connotes full, happy, lacking nothing. So those whose who walk in the law of the Lord or contents. They and this is this is one of the things that I think as we look at Scripture. What we see is the more we fall in love with the law of the Lord, the more we mortify our sinfulness is wonderful sermon by Chalmers called explosive power of a greater affection what it says essentially is, the more we fall in love with Christ, the more sin begins to look heinous to us and so when we began here. Blessed are those whose way is blameless who walk in the way of the Lord well on the positive side, that means that the more we fall in love with God's word, the more we walk in it. By the way, what is walk to note the process to continually stay in the law of the warlord.

It's not just an hour on Sunday morning.

It's a way of living. That's completely dependent. What happens is that is that as I continue and that is my hatred for sin increases the ever have those moments when suddenly you you send and maybe even a little prideful about it. Maybe you kind of hung onto it and God opened your eyes and suddenly you go in Psalm 51 I have sinned against heaven and against you. That's what meditating chewing on the law of the Lord produces, you begin to see sin as it really is. I have a limitless power of self-deception. I can be very spiritual about my sin. And yet when I look at the law of the Lord. What happens while I began to look at it as it really is, as opposed to how I wish it was. Blessed is the man whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord and by the way. Once God's her heart to bless or curse God's heart for us is to bless us not to curse us in the opposite of blessing is cursed. And so if I could take maybe a photo negative of this passage, cursed are those whose ways are rebellious, who lived who love sin. He refused to walk in the law of the Lord disobedience looking to God's long thing I know you say this but I'm going to go do this rings about persons brings about death for who for us but also for those around us. Doug, if you were here a few weeks ago shared a story about a man that he had visited was living in squalor and he sent you ready to give up your alcohol brother with red run to Jesus.

What is the guy say no thanks. I think I will enjoy my freedom curse that's looking at God's long saying I know you say this but I think I'm a little bit smarter. I think I'm a little wiser, I'm to go over this way and it is a curse. And yet in God's providence. Sometimes when we look at God's word were able to go to want to do that anymore. I'm going to turn in. That's repentance I'm turning away from it in the strength God provides numbers to 3223 is always a sobering verse for me. You can be sure of this year. Sin will find you out and I think it's important that we remember.

James says when sin is fully grown.

It always brings forth what death. The goal of sin is not to give you a shortcut. The goal of sin is not to give you the things that God is holding back from you. The goal of sin is always my and your death. And so what is jet what is the psalmist say if you want to experience life, meditate on God's law. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord. Sometimes we we look at God's commandments and we sort of have this quick reaction ago yeah but were saved by grace. Of course were saved by grace through faith alone in Christ alone absolutely. But there's absolutely a blessing for living up in obedience to God's commandments always versus two through three. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies.

By the way, I love that Scripture is called God's testimony. This is what God says about himself. How does our culture to find God today. Anything you want.

Usually whatever keeps me comfortable without having to change without having to do anything differently. He loves me just as I am.

And yet, what we see in Scripture is not God testifies about himself. I don't get to define God.

He defines himself for me. That's God's testimony.

Where does he reveal it in his word. So Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek them with their whole heart and who do no wrong. But walk in his ways. So here were talking about the internal call for God's word. I would love to tell you. Good Christians memorize Scripture and they can recite it and they can argue they can when somebody presents arguments against that you're quick to goat yeah but yeah but yeah but but that's actually not the reason. Where to memorize Scripture. By the way, that is part because we are to give an answer right were always to be prepared to give an answer, but a big part of it is it goes to our heart. It changes us from the inside out this 12 feet 12 feet that a lot of caffeine there's 12 inches between here and here and the call is for you and I as we meditate printed Scripture to travel down from my head down into my heart now in Alcoholics Anonymous. They have a wonderful saying half measures availed us nothing half measures availed us nothing. So what are they say here what is the psalmist say Blessed are those who keep his testimony who seek them with half their heart sinking for an hour on Sunday morning who seek them with their whole heart. And by the way, the word for that is integrity someone who has integrity is someone who's undivided in the literally comes the word integrated is someone who they taken all the parts of their life and they're just one person you've ever met those people resort to millions and they're one way in church and there one way at home there. One way with the wife with her different way while they're at work and sometimes it seems like they those people that they are never meet you go with this guy. I need nice to meet somebody and you go. I think I have a sense of the man I think I know who this person is psalmist is. That's the kind of heart that believers can have that God wants us to have were seeking him in an undivided way with integrity with our whole hearts, perhaps for a lot of us. That's the way Elise in the sinful world. The closest we can get to that is the way we love our children, and even that is marred by sin. But I think maybe that the closest I can get the wholehearted loving somebody I think is with my children. I Lewis I can say with my wife and I'm so sinful by love you baby just sinful dialogue for the sinful. So, with my whole heart my call and if you look at the end of this verse my call is to do no wrong.

But to walk in his ways.

Several weeks ago I had the privilege of going to this wedding and the groom is standing here and he and he looks like you, want to throw out the disease just realized that he's oh my goodness this is till death do us part of a young guy and his bride starts walking down and you can see that in the middle of that. He just looked like this is so good. She was beautiful and she is walking down, and when you're standing there in the moment.

There are very few things in this world that you can point to incite.

This is good because everything so confused and yet in the middle of that is Bryce walking down and you could just see him go. I don't know about a million different things, but I know this is good regardless of marriage, and he says this is good.

You don't have to wonder about it.

One other thing that we can look at and say this is good is God's ways, which he reveals in Scripture we don't have to question that when you open Scripture you're opening up something perfect from beginning to end. Something that perhaps all around us is chaos and confusion all around us is a culture that is become untoward hack my own heart is sinful, but when we open the word of God's perfection in her hand were holding the words of God to us without error. It's amazing. So do no wrong.

But walk in his ways, which are always right that cause us to hate sin to love God, to love our neighbor to run to Jesus and by the way, when we talk about Blessed are those who do no wrong. Are you going to do wrong. Absolutely.

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That's me, that's you that's every son of Adam, and daughter of the and yet what were talking about. As believers will not live a life that's characterized by an abject love of sin. What I mean by that is I love doing it. I planted out.

I rejoice in it and do it again.

Can't wait to do it again.

A believers life cannot consistently be characterized by the can you fall into the setting sinful while yeah we half of course we do. And yet God doesn't leave us there. So when you read in here who do no wrong. Were not talking about you better be perfect because guy no Santa Claus he sees you when you sleep and when you sleep, and he knows when you're awake so you better be good to go to hell, is not how the song goes, but is my version that's not what were talking about what we are talking about. It was a lifestyle characterized by repentance by dependence on the finished work of Christ on the cross and by the way, Jesus is making you and I'm better.

He sanctifying us.

Are we what were going to be no but only what we used to be God's grace know and one day we will be will be like him. That's our great hope so. Verse four. You have commanded your precepts. That's another word for God's commands to be kept diligently. What is diligently mean I had a look us up because I don't use that word a lot with diligently mean, yes, that's exempt faithfully, steadfastly, patiently, why because you have an enemy who is diligently trying to destroy you.

You have an enemy that is patient's you have an enemy that is biding his time and so what is the psalmist say watch it diligently be diligently be diligently be diligent in your ingestion of the word of God is not a one time thing keep coming back. Everything is pictures.

This is kinda gross estimate for the kids in here never seen pictures of animals that chew their cud. You know I was watching this nature video and there's an was a dear, dear, have one-to-one stomachs.

I know that say I think was account. I remember what it was but a choose something swallows it to go up and then guess what happens gross but it comes right back up and it starts chewing again.

Well, that's diligence.

That's a picture of continually coming back chewing on the word of God, forgive me if that's too gross. It's not you it's me, and then make sense to you. The baby okay all right make sense to a nine-year-old okay and incidentally I think it's good to remember nobody steps into spiritual maturity goes why I didn't mean to all the sudden I'm spiritually mature. That was a complete accident, but here it is that nobody does that how you grow spiritually great diligence, great planning doesn't just happen you work at it in the strength that God provides.

But it doesn't does think about the people you admire the people you look at and they are a spiritual giant. They didn't just arrive there one day how I get here.

There's great reliance on the word of God chewing the cud of the word of God over and over lifelong process never going to look at God himself. But we can't look at God without also looking at ourselves your member Isaiah is in the presence of the Lord in Isaiah 6 and he sees Lord of the Lord standing, sitting there, was thrown the cherubim and seraphim, which by the way, means the burning once. I mean, isn't that amazing these angels are firing. He sees them and what is Isaiah say I am undone. I am a man of unclean lips were going to look now the holiness of God. But you can't do that without also looking at our own sin and I would ask you and wish you were better or maybe a better question. Did you ever think you be better by now there there's some things I thought you made some progress on other somethings I go I was talking to two weeks ago lie you and again I was confessing some send to him and just going to be honest with you I'm surprised at myself.

I thought I was better than this. I thought I was further along than this and yet this the heat gets turned up a little bit and I run right back to some of my same stupid sins that I've always run back to and I'm ashamed of it.

Well, if that's you, if you can relate to that. I like to read verses five through six. You're in good company. Oh that my ways may be steadfast know that always a sigh you look at your city disco that my ways may be steadfast. Why because they're not in keeping your statutes then if they were I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on your commandments. This is a very humble psalmist. Whoever it is may be David. This is a very humble it's not psalmist, but what it implies is our ways are not going to be steadfast. Believers are those people who look and go and father.

I fall so short anybody play guitar in here.

Are you like Eric Clapton pretty good. Is there Clapton pretty good yeah I think so. I play guitar and when I am down the basement with my headphones on and nobody can hear me. I am Eric Clapton. I am so much better than Eric Clapton.

I'm so good. You should hear me. But here's the thing. When I listen Eric Clapton. These sorta here and I'm there basements in this building now. As long as I'm not comparing myself to my feel like I'm okay this is what the psalmist is saying, you know, and we have a tendency to look at ourselves and say what you know it could be worse. I'm not a mass murderer, not Jeffrey Dahmer something I'm okay and yet when we look at God's holy requirements, his law, the perfection of it. The demands of its we suddenly see ourselves as we really are and it's shocking because we have a limitless capacity for self-deception. We can tell ourselves by not that bad.

But when you look at a point there's a gap between me and Eric Clapton. There's a gap between God's requirements, which are right and good and just in my performance there just is. And so what is the psalmist say will very quickly Paul puts it like this. And so if you're looking at yourself going. I want you to know you are in good company.

Paul said this in Romans seven. I do not understand what I do you relate I don't understand what was I for what I want to do. I do not know but what I hate I do. I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out for what I do is not the good that I wanted to know the evil I want to. I do not want to do this I keep on doing so. I find this long work when I want to do good, evil is right there with me. In other words, oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes because the truth is there not there not 10 so what's his answer, then I shall not be put to shame. In other words, if I were more steadfast.

I would not feel ashamed now I think is good for just a second to talk about shame in our society today. Pop-culture shame is the enemy. No one should ever feel ashamed for anything no matter how crazy, no matter how perverse, no matter whose lives it ruins. Shame is our great problem. Well according to Scripture.

Shame is one of the tools that God uses and is in the toolshed of God. Shame is one of the ways that God taps us on the shoulder and says hey that was sent. You need to repent. The problem is it shame. The problem is what I did.

That was shameful to member people used to tell kids and even other people.

Have you no shame or I member my grandmother member.

We were driving and I was sassy to my mom and my grandmother looked at me is that the ashamed well they weren't saying you're a horrible human being who does they were saying Chris what you're doing is shameful but is the problem is what you're doing, not how you feel about the problem is you're doing things that are shameful. There are things that we all feel a little bit of shame about if you don't ever feel shame for your sin, you may not be a believer. That's one of God's little lights on the dashboard and says hey, something's wrong here for little shame here. Don't do it run from it. It's trying to kill you. So the psalmist your looks and says you know when I don't keep your statutes when I fall short boy produces in me a feeling of shame. That's good because what is it to causes me to run to Jesus. It causes me to remember Christ word on the cross. It is finished.

There is nothing you can add to the gospel because if you add anything to the gospel is not the gospel. It is finished. So use your shame when you commit a sin. Use it to run to Jesus. Go to the members.

IKEA's he said and anybody that I've sinned against him to repay it four times back. Let your shame cause you to run to Christ and then repent. Make it right.

Good use of shame. Redemptive shame.

Finally, if you give world the last couple verses here in okay and having gone for too long. I think it's important as we look at this to remember that Jesus Christ is the man who was blessed here is you turn. If we can go back to verse one. Blessed are Jesus blessed is Jesus his way was blameless.

He walked in the law of the Lord. Every single word of God's law. Jesus kept blessed. It was Jesus who kept Chuck because testimonies he sought God with his whole heart. Jesus had that undivided heart. Jesus had integrity, Jesus did, no want wrong, but he walked in all of God's ways. You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. But Jesus's ways were steadfast in keeping your statutes.

Jesus his entire life patiently Every word of God's commands. Jesus was never put to shame, because he never sent yet he suffered a sinners death but he had his eyes fixed on God's commandments. Jesus praised God with an upright heart, and he knew his righteous rules. Jesus kept his statutes and yes, how does this all meant. Do not utterly forsake me. And yet Jesus was what utterly forsaken on the cross. Why so that you will never be there's Christ hanging on the cross Peter for something okay.

My mom and my brothers came and said I was out of his mind. We gotta take him back and put them in a mental institution.

Essentially, they forsook him, and now Jesus is hanging on the cross.

He says my God, my God, how you forsaken me for you and for me. He was utterly forsaken suffering the righteous anger of God on the cross.

All of God's wrath towards my sin. Your sin was poured out on Jesus so that it will never be poured out on you. That's my Savior that we worship is what I like to do is to spend a minute in prayer thanking God for his righteous law thanking God that Christ fulfilled every single part of it, thanking God that he can cause us to love it if your heart has grown cold towards God's word can't conform it again and that's my prayer for us. Let's pray father, thank you for your word.

Thank you that it's living that it's active father, which he calls us to love it, which he calls us to fall more deeply in love with it. Would you like a passion in our hearts for your word. The success of our walk with you depends on how much we ingest of it and so let us not forsake that. But father would you give us a hunger for it is not a task it's not a burden. It's a blessing to spend time in your work. We thank you that all of our life. A through Z, can be lived under the authority of your precious inspired and inerrant word and we pray this in the name of our Lord, our Savior and our King, Jesus Christ, amen