Your Faithfulness Endures

The euros served as a clear reminder live in a world filled with uncertain life is constantly changing but today untruthful like weekend Alastair beg affirms that God's word and his faithfulness endure forever. So what exactly does that mean for us. Let's find out.

Here's Alastair Psalm 119 in verse 89 forever all Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Your faithfulness endures to all generations.

You have established the earth and it stands fast by your appointment. They stand this day for all things are your servants. If you are law had not been my delight, I would've perished in my affliction I will never forget your precepts. For by them. You have given me life.

I am yours save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. I have seen a limit to all perfection but your commandment is exceedingly broad. Amen. I seems appropriate that on a morning like this marking as it does I something of a new beginning for us as a church that we would take our stand is it where along with the psalmist here in this section of Psalm 119 declaring forever all Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations. I think you would agree that at times like this and moments of transition. It is important not to be launching into something that we have never known, but rather affirming things that we must never forget on this section of it versus affords us that opportunity. I wanted to get into house because there are two laughs in the first four verses the reality of God and in the second floor versus the security of the believer. First of all, the reality of God whether psalmist is making perfectly clear is that there is a direct link between the authority of God's word fixed in the heavens and the creation and the preservation of all that God has done in the world so the psalmist is declaring the inseparable link between God's word and God's world and people ask all the time aware did we get our world from the why do we have these galaxies. Why are they as they are, and of course all kinds of answers are given throughout the years when we turn to the Bible, we realize the Bible is perfectly clear and straightforward that God has created the heavens and the earth that he directs all things according to his purpose. He sustains things by the power of his might and all on account of his word.

In the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God.

And there was nothing made that is been made, except that it was made by him, and so on.

The Bible is full of this in the word of God. The Bible says is unerringly true. It is unfailingly relevant and it is incapable of being overturned by those who are skeptical and those who are insulin no matter the protestations, no matter the pushback of those who are unbelieving, the word of God remains fixed in the heavens. Now do you believe that this morning. You see, that's the real request leave it in a way that impacts your life. Impact your business does it impact my marriage, my parenting my singleness my disappointments. My failures my regrets.

My unfulfilled dreams.

What is it really matter that the word of God is fixed in the heavens. Secondly he says and God's faithfulness endures to all generations.

Does it matter that is truth endures to all generations. Yeah, Psalm 71, your righteousness, so God reaches the high heavens. So even to old age and gray hairs. So God did not forsake me until I proclaim your mic to another generation. Your power to all those to come. You have been. He says from my youth, my teacher and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

I confirm that many of you can to get you some new skills that don't come out until I come and pick you up and we endured and they drag it into the service and said sit still and we endured many centers to another Bible class and we endured it and then do another thing we endured it and here we are enjoying it because we endured it from my youth. You have taught me so to my all good my gray-haired door. Let me go until I tell another generation that your word is fixed in the heavens, and that your faithfulness extends generation after generation. The promises of God are without recall and notice. Thirdly, that God's creation is established and everything works according to his plan and to his purpose. Everything works according to his planet's purpose grown very accustom humbly to to the weather Channel. I don't want to. Maybe you have maybe you are, you know, weather Channel peoples. I don't be unkind since like you know we are in charge of the universe here where the weather Channel and use phraseology that reinforces all kinds of godless notions. There is much see what mother nature has for us this morning who she or they say things like nature knows I gotta tell you something nature knows nothing when it comes to rational knowledge nature is incapable of knowing God who created created nature.

God knows, and all that he is created within the framework of nature.

The psalmist says runs according to his plan's. That's why in Genesis we have this great affirmation while the earth remains, and it will remain as long as he determines until he puts a new heaven and a new art in place as our confidence as believers when you have from the word of God is fixed in heaven as long as the earth remains seed time and harvest. You'll be able to plan and reap cold and heat thereafter will be warm. The author will be called summer and winter, day and night shall not cease from us from who from the creator, whose word is fixed and have and his faithfulness extends dog why would you put your head on the pillow and I do believe that the sun will rise tomorrow morning.

Why does the moon come up answer because there is order.

There is cohesion there is structure in the universe from where from the God who made it. He created his word produced his faithfulness sustains it, and all these things serve as his servants is quite magnificent actually and is something that again we want to affirm the errors endures. According to God's decree everything that exists in the world serves his plans. The ordinances of God are the reason for the very continued existence of creation why this creation still exist why did it exist in the first instance, the psalmist says you need to know this, and even in our rebellious world men and women of science and of learning, thinking, still are left with an impenetrable mystery until they we bow down and acknowledge what the Bible sets Hebrews begins. He upholds the universe by the word of his power in Colossian speaking of the majesty of Jesus in all things hold together. Spurgeon says no Adam escapes his rule, and no world avoids his government's is also the out there and beyond us. How does it really relate to things in the here and now, what about the point here. What about the psalmist. What about the one who's singing this song. How does it impact in a look at what he says your word is fix your faithfulness endures. You've established the earth is by your appointment that all these things are still in place because all these things are your servants. And it is as you know, if this hadn't been true and if I hadn't fastened myself to your law. If I wasn't paying attention to what you have made known of yourself. Then I would've perished in my affliction know if you allow your eyes just to go across your pager down your page you will see that the psalmist was not always having the best of days, and in verse 83 he says it well. 82. He says my eyes long for your promise.

I ask when will you comfort me and he says, for I have become like a wineskin in the smoke shriveled up dried out, set aside apparently useless. That's his prevailing experience and he says it is in that context that I would've perished. If your word if you're law had not been my delight elsewhere. You remember the psalmist as it was good for me to be afflicted. He says because I was a proud beast. I was just going on my own way, but it was when affliction came that I realized I needed to pass through many a testimony is that the people have come to the Bible and of come to Jesus and they been brought there not actually as a result of some great appeal to that which will be wonderful and satisfying as much as it is been out of a deep sense of alienation and of grief. The reality of God leads as this verse points to the security of the believer. And so, in the second section again beginning with whatever he says forever. I will never forget your precepts because the world rests on the word forever. The believer says to himself well if I pay attention to God's word, then this is the place of my safety is a look at his declaration.

I will never forget your precepts. I'm going to keep doing this forever and ever.

And what is really saying is, in the words of the song we sang the word of God as we lighten his darkness and is been hope for is hopelessness and he is responded to the precepts of God by doing with the precepts: to do that is to cast himself upon God's mercy, to believe in God's promises.

The promises which is an Old Testament believer eventually found their fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ. We look back to that he looked forward to that. But the precepts not saving themselves. The testimony spoke of these things, but they lead them to Christ.

When we study the 10 Commandments. Years ago, one of the things we said was that the law of God is not a ladder up which we claim to gain acceptance with God as if we could, but rather it is in the first instance, the matter is a matter showing us that we are actually in the wrong, the precepts confront us with these things and so the psalmist is saying not. I've been a wonderfully good person and I've kept all your laws but notice what he says I'm not going to forget your precepts.

For by them. You have given me life.

In other words, his confidence last rest in the covenant promise of God rests in the grace and redemption that by heeding the precepts he is been led to the grace of the Redeemer who brought his people out of Egypt and promises to come and fulfill all of his promises.

So you see, when the 10 Commandments. Take hold of a life unless we are actually using them as a mechanism to try and make ourselves acceptable to God as a form of duty we may then, in Christ, enjoy them as a delight is a delight. So is delightful well is delightful on the first the first commandment is what you you you shall have no other gods before me is our number one. I think it is so in a world that is full of little gods, the believer in the living God delights to rest in God alone in a world of idolatry. The believer hates the notion of idolatry.

In a world of familial chaos. The believer says I really am happy to honor my father and my mother in a world of immorality.

The believer says it is a delight to obey your precepts to give me life. The keep me on track.

In a world of acquisitive materialism. The believer says it is a delight to me to discover that Isaiah. Attention to your precepts as the spirit of God enables me. I'm free from a covetous hot that's what he saying and that's why it is so wonderfully compelling look at how it goes on not only I will never forget your precepts but I am universe, I am universe you see the promise of God from the beginning was, I will be your God and you will be my people.

That's his covenant. The covenant which finds his fulfillment. Ultimately, in Jesus some hundred and 18 that lovely little section that we pointed out to one another before where the psalmist says all the nations surrounded me and in the name of the Lord.

I cut them off. This is verse 11 of Psalm 118.

They surrounded me like bees. They went out like a fire among thorns in the name of the Lord. I cut them off and then here we go. I was pushed hard so that I was falling, but the Lord help me. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. I think many of us can identify with. Secondly, you might want to make a note of it.

You might need it before the week is out.

Maybe by Tuesday you'll go looking for it when you're pushed hard and falling you're going to say what the psalmist says here Lord I am yours save me, save me from myself.

Save me from my evil propensities save me from going down the broad road that leads to destruction. Keep me on the narrow way. How does God do this by magic. He does it purposefully does it by his word, a word that is fixed in heaven, word of his faithfulness. We have to finish so you will notice he then goes on to say, not only I will never forget your precepts. I am yours. But then he also says I consider your testimonies in which context in the context of the wicked lying in wait to destroy me as a very graphic picture will eventually leave if you look back at verse 85. He says the insulin… Pitfalls for me. They don't live according to your law, you know that when you go back out into the community are not going to look for a fight. You're not trying to foist something on people just going to live your life but if you're prepared to say to somebody in the course of conversation when they start on the weather Channel and you say you're not really sure about that mother nature thing in nature.

No, I read my Bible elegant actually says of the word of God is fixed in heaven that he is appointed all things according to his purpose and they service with all his friends. It's your idea. Sorry about you such a shame. What a mess.

You are and then you'll notice that when you go out for coffee and you come back the role talking to each other. Those can believe you should have her.

She said she thought she was a scientist usually. She said that the thing and for so you come back and's leader, nearly 40 there were conspiring against now.

Here's what to do. Take a leaf out of the psalmist book the wicked lie in wait to destroy me. I'll get that the wicked, revile me I'll revile the wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. In other words, my focus is not on those who seek to undermine me on account of my commitment to you. I'm not going to be preoccupied by that I'm not going to retaliate to that. I'm going to trust in your testimonies and finally he says, I've actually seen a limit to all perfection but your commandment is exceedingly brought. I have seen a limit to all perfection. Think about it in the world of politics. Think about it in dynasties. Think about it. In science, think about it. In mathematical theory.

Think about it anywhere you want to think about it and you will be convinced of what the psalmist says there is actually a limit to all perfection. We sang about it. Everything will fade. Everything will fade the heavens and the earth will pass away, but you will remain.

Yes, you will remain faithful.

See, this is not some arm's-length theological exercise. This, I say to you again in meds itself at every part of our life's your commandment is exceedingly brought. It is comprehensive.

It covers everything it takes in the great sweep of humanity. All of our faults and our foibles. All of our longings and and and fears and sort is all covered by your word actually what he say so that's it. Here we are is the first morning in a new place. I'm glad it's over because now it's not the new place anymore. One more service and is like old hat and and and good and good with but it doesn't matter where we go as long as we have life and breath the eldership of this church, the leadership of this church is committed to the nurturing of your life's on the basis of the fact that God is really God that his word is really true that his faithfulness will extend beyond you and the generations that follow that all that happens and unfolds in the world is under his providential rule and therefore when your enemies dig a pit for your feet when you're crushed by your own sense of depression and inadequacy. It is to God's word. You look because in his word. He then makes himself known by the Luther when he commented on this set as follows. I have covenanted with God that he should not send me visions or dreams or even angels. I am content with this one gift of the Scriptures which abundantly teaches and supplies all that is necessary both for this life and the one which is to come to believe that live in the light on her tell your children about educate them according some compelling convicting questions from Alastair big country for like we can host returns adjustment close with prayer so please keep listening. Today's message is a reminder that the Bible is a book like no other truly is a gift, but understanding how all the stories in Scripture flow together can be confusing.

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Did you know you can use them to hear truthful life simply asked Alexa to play truthful life or if you use Google home asked Google to listen to the Truth for Life broadcast to great way to hear Alastair on your own schedule now hears Alastair to close with prayer, but our confidence is in your word and your son and in your faithfulness, Lord, to our lives as individuals and meters of fresh.

Today we pray as we live out in the mainstream of everyday life in increasingly confused culture and in some cases an antagonistic world made a love of Jesus, Phyllis, as the waters fill the sea and exalting self abasing because really is victory maybe rest in your faithfulness, for we pray in Christ name, thanks for joining us today on Poplar team hope to be back next weekend as we begin a series called the Christian family learn the goal of a healthy biblical marriage Bible teaching of Alistair Begg is furnished by Truth for Life Learning is for Living