Romans 1:1-17: The book of Romans

 

Romans 1:1-17

I.                  Author of the book of Romans: The Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus)

II.                The original audience: the Church (people) in the city of Rome

A.     The church was founded by people who had been reached by Paul

B.     The church was made up of converted Gentiles, converted Jewish proselytes who were born Gentiles, and full Jews who were converted to Christianity

III.              The book of Romans was written to instruct the believers at Rome who had not been discipled by the Apostle Paul

A.     He is preparing them for a possible visit

B.     He is presenting the basic system of salvation to a church that had not yet been taught by an Apostle of Christ

C.     He is explaining the relationship between Jew and Gentile in God’s plan of redemption and especially in the new covenant administration

IV.              Romans was probably written from Corinth during Paul’s third missionary journey in AD 57-58

V.                The book’s theme: The righteousness of God revealed and applied to sinners

A.     The universal unrighteousness of humans

B.     The gracious righteousness of God and His plan of salvation

C.     The application of God’s just righteousness to believers

D.     How humans get a right standing with God

VI.              Theme of Romans chapter 1: The gospel of grace for unrighteous sinners

A.     Introduction to Romans and the gospel of grace Rom 1:1-17

B.     The gospel of grace saves humans and sets them apart for kingdom service vs. 1

                                                                             i.      Slave, Lordship, called to be an Apostle of Christ (only 13)

                                                                           ii.      Set apart to share the gospel

C.     The gospel of grace that saves was declared in the Old Testament vs. 2

                                                                             i.      Promised beforehand

                                                                           ii.      Revealed in the Prophets (All Old Testament writers)

                                                                          iii.      The Scriptures are holy, without spot, blemish, or error

D.     The gospel of grace is centered on God’s Son, Jesus the Messiah vs. 3-4

                                                                             i.      Seed of David, humanity, Jewish, Abraham, Messianic covenant

                                                                           ii.      God’s Son, fully divine, co-eternal, co-equal, 2 natures, the God-Man

                                                                          iii.      Sender of the Holy Spirit, resurrected from the dead

                                                                          iv.      Centered on Yeshu’a the Messiah, the LORD

E.      The gospel of grace will radically change your city vs. 5-7

                                                                             i.      The obedience it produces is the fruit of faith and repentance

                                                                           ii.      It includes the Gentiles in the new covenant for Jesus’ glory

                                                                          iii.      Called to salvation in Yeshu’a the Messiah through faith

F.      The gospel of grace must be nurtured in the true believer’s life vs. 8-13

                                                                             i.      Radical converts shake up the world with their lives

                                                                           ii.      Radical converts shake up the world with their words – the gospel

                                                                          iii.      Praying by believers for believers is necessary for all

                                                                          iv.      The need for fellowship and edification is included in the prayers

                                                                           v.      Apostolic sign gifts were given by the Apostles’ own will during the writing of the New Testament to authenticate the men and the message

                                                                          vi.      Mutual edification and encouragement are vital to the Christian life   (Jesus started with 3, 12, 120, 3,000, see The Man-code)

                                                                        vii.      Fellowship involves planning, traveling, effort, and results in fruit

G.     The gospel of grace must be brought to all the ethnic groups vs. 14-15

                                                                             i.      It is the believer’s duty to spread the gospel to all by giving, praying, sending, and going

                                                                           ii.      The message to be preached includes the gospel (Creation, Rule, Grace, Man, God, Christ, Repentance, Faith, Surrender)

                                                                          iii.      Local evangelism and foreign missions is the obligation of all believers and all churches

H.     The gospel of grace powerfully saves sinners who truly believe vs. 16

                                                                             i.      The world rejects the gospel, but we are not to be ashamed of this message that is foolish and without signs

                                                                           ii.      The Jews were to receive the message first in God’s plan of redemption

                                                                          iii.      The Gentiles also get to hear the message after the Jews hear it first

                                                                          iv.      Everyone who believes is delivered from sin’s bondage by God’s power

                                                                           v.      It is not a person’s own strength, but the power of God that saves a  sinner

                                                                          vi.      The gospel has power in itself and when applied by the Holy Spirit; it is power upon power

I.       The gospel of grace is the message of God’s righteousness by faith apart from works vs. 17

                                                                             i.      The righteousness, holiness, and justice of God are revealed in the gospel message

                                                                           ii.      Man receives righteousness by faith and faith alone, from start to finish

                                                                          iii.      Deliverance from sin and the Christian life begin and continue by faith

                                                                          iv.      No one is saved by self-righteousness or good works, but by an alien imputed righteousness apart from rituals, ceremonies, or deeds

 

 

Psalm 1:1-6 A life that Matters for Eternity

 

Sermon Title:  A Life that Matters for Eternity

Sermon Text: Psalm 1:1-6

(Introduction)

Attention: Imagine that you were allowed this night to eat a wonderful meal in the ship’s kitchen.  But now it is time for you to commence work.  So you are washing dishes on the Titanic, The ship hits an iceberg.  Now, should you keep on washing the dishes so that most will be done before water fills the kitchen?   It is all going to bottom isn’t it? At that point in time any further work on those dirty dishes will be futile, vain, empty, and valueless.

Need: Have you ever wondered, does my life’s work really matter?  Am I doing anything of lasting value?  Will the things I pour my time into be permanent?  Is there anything in my life of lasting value, or is all temporary and vain?  Can I choose a lifestyle that will give my life purpose, meaning, and permanence? Fund-raiser said, “a man reaches 50 he has a desire to have his name on a building.”  Men often look to their work for permanence and women often look to relationships. Solomon struggled with the same issues in Ecclesiastes.  His answer there was to have a relationship with God that was characterized by obedience. FCF We have outside & inside pressure to follow the wrong lifestyle.

Background:  Psalm chapter 1 is anonymous.  We don’t know who the human author was.  Certainly, David could be the author.  But because it is clearly an introductory chapter to the whole book of Psalms, Solomon, the author of Eccl. and Proverbs is also a likely candidate.  Regardless, - Divine author – God – Bible and this is for us.

Textual Idea:  In this passage, the Psalmist reminded Israel about the difference between the life of a righteous person and the life of an unrighteous person.             [read text here, pray]

Sermon Idea: Today, we need to examine the difference between the lifestyle of a righteous person and the lifestyle of an unrighteous person.

Interrogative: What are the differences between the lifestyle of a righteous person and the lifestyle of an unrighteous person?

Transition w/ Key Word:  In Psalm chapter one, we observe the characteristics of two lifestyle directions.

(Body)

Division 1 Statement: A PERSON’S BEHAVIOR & DESIRES REVEAL THEIR HEART’S PRIORITIES. vs. 1-2a (who they really are)

Explanation: “walks not.”  - a word picture for all of a person’s life, thoughts, and behavior.  There are some things the righteous person does not do: listen to – world’s advice or surrender – world’s influence. Do not let the world squeeze / instead, the righteous “delight” in God’s instruction - the Bible – they are in the world but not of it / The “Blessed” person knows God’s love & favor, & has a deep-seated contentment, a purposeful, meaningful life.  The 2nd type of person has a different lifestyle – “counsel” is to accept world’s belief systems / walking - standing - sitting – downward spiral – listening, joining -settling down in evil & mocking / for both types of people, the progression is from thinking – behaving to belonging. Walk – stand – sit. Another progression: ungodly – sinner – scornful (unlike God, to breaking His law, to mocking God and His true truth).

Illustration: Harold Morris was just riding with some friends.  He did not know that when two of them got out at the gas station that they had robbed it before getting back in the car.  When the police pulled it over, they all went to jail, including Harold.    Modern day Bonnie & Clyde. The Bible says, “Bad company corrupts good morals.”  You see, ignorance was not an excuse for Harold, if you surrender to the wrong influences, things get worse and worse. Witness to the lost, but do not follow them.

Argumentation: - righteous delight –God’s Word.  NIV Psalm 119:70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. NIV Psalm 119:77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.  To not join in the world system means to separate from – close associations / it is not a separation from –people. In Mark 16:15 Jesus send us into the world to preach the gospel. Influence them / Life guard empathetic – coughing water out lungs, not a comfort – drowning person.

Application:  Cable, Satellite, internet, radio, educational institutions have the ungodly persons counsel, path, and scoffer seats. Evolution and - teaching that man is – measure of all things – are not just cute ideas.  They have deadly consequences.  You move from thinking to behaving to belonging.  You become a settler in evil town and mock - righteous.  How do you get off this runaway train?  You embrace Christ and the truth, and you move from correct thinking to correct behaving to assurance that you belong to Him.  Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, not for the years of time alone, but for eternity.  Now, that sounds like permanence to me.

Transition: Not only does a person’s behavior and desires reveal their hearts, but second,

Division 2 Statement:   A PERSON’S PRIVATE ACTIVITIES INFLUENCES THEIR LONG-TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS. vs. 1, 2

Explanation: The righteous “delight” in God’s instruction - loves the Bible – reading & reciting, Meditate, murmur, repeat it, live it. Could it be that this person has found – secret to a meaningful life that counts? Yes, following the narrow path through the difficult gate leads to life everlasting. They are reading the Bible night and day, put the time into – Word – change – thinking. But, the unrighteous goes deeper down the spiral of the world’s ideas and views, on the broad road to destruction.

Illustration Like a cow digests her food is a good example of what to do with God’s instructions in the Bible.  Hear it, Examine it, Read it, think about it, memorize it, repeat it, apply it, teach it.  This includes his commands and promises.

Argumentation: Societies move from deism to agnosticism to atheism.  The lifestyle of the dead is highlighted in Eph. 2.  The world, the devil, and spiritual deadness are powerful forces to contend with in the unrighteous person’s life. They are too strong for him / her to take on in their own strength and power. Paul applies this concept to direct business partners and potential marriage partners. The Bible says, “Do not be unequally yoked.”  This principle is for your protection and reveals truth about God person, Be holy, because I am holy.

Application: Christian, do you delight in, Love the Bible?  Does it have priority? Heb. – older Christians eat the meat / start with 5 minutes a day for six weeks. What you think is important.  As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  Out of the heart proceed all types of wickedness. Guard your heart, for from it flow the issues of life, Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you  -- Truth in, allows for truth to come out, Error in allows for confusion and error and sin to come out

Transition: Not only, does a person’s behavior and desires reveal their hearts, and a person’s private activities have an influence on their accomplishments, but third

Division 3 Statement: A PERSON’S PATTERN OF LIVING REVEALS THEIR DESINTY. vs. 3, 5, 6

Explanation:  Look at the word “fruitful” in verse 3.  Certain plants are designed to bear fruit, and so are humans.  Jesus told stories that rural societies understood.  Give the tree a little more time to bear fruit, and if it doesn’t chop it down.  Trees are supposed to bear fruit.  Unfruitful trees are cursed and wither up.

Illustration:  of the righteous. vs. 3.  This tree was planted in a specific place by a specific person.  God has a plan and He is working that plan.  Will you join Him in that plan?  God not only knows, but He also designs things for His children.  Now why is “rivers” plural?  This word was used for many man made irrigation canals dug by the farmer to water the fruit trees.  Not only is the tree planted near the source of water, but the water is channeled to the tree by kind gracious design. Not only does God have the resources to meet your needs, but He has the channels mapped out that He will use to meet your needs.  You can trust God! He is faithful!

Argumentation: If a farmer takes such good care of a fruit tree, how much more will – heavenly Father take care of His children?  That is why it makes so much sense to live for the glory of God.  He is so great, and He is great to us.  Blessings are sure to come on the day our works are evaluated, and the rewards are given out.  Heaven is not just a wonderful place, but it’s a place of great rewards for those who are fruitful and faithful believers in God.  And, if we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, He will provide all that we need in the here and now.

Explanation: There is another group’s destiny pictured in this chpt. Look at vs.5, “not stand in the judgment” shows on judgment day, in – picture of a court scene the ungodly will have nothing to say and are afraid of their future.  They will not have a defense attorney. They will be alone. Permanently separated from the congregation of the righteous, the residents of heaven.  The unrighteous are seen as useless, temporary, rootless, and weightless.  But it does not have to be this way.

Illustration:  Look at vs. 4, The Bible compares the unrighteous to chaff.  This word picture is used in both Testaments.  The chaff is the light husk of the grain that is broken apart by the grinding wheel.  Then a winnowing fork, is used to toss the mixture into the air.  The heavy grain falls down, the light chaff blows away.  It is useless, temporary, rootless and weightless, no glory.  John the Baptist predicted Jesus would use His winnowing fork and separate the wheat & bring fire on the chaff.

Argumentation: There are two paths and two destinies. Isa. 29:5 chaff is temporary, Psa. 35:5 the chaff flies away in the wind, and it is without weight or value.  There you have it.  You can be like a well-watered tree or like stubble blowing in the wind. Is it reasonable to remain on the path of the ungodly?

Application: One of the lies of the scoffers from verse one is that man is basically good. In Psa 51 David tells us, we are born sinners.  We sin because we are sinners.  So if we are sinners, how then can we receive God’s righteousness and change His evaluation of us before His holy throne in His courtroom of justice? Or how can a person born a sinner be later called righteous?  By a substitute, embracing Christ in faith and repentance is the way from the path of the ungodly to godly, from unrighteous to righteous.  God has good plans for His people.  He can be trusted.  Do you want your life to matter, to count for something?  Then leave the Broad road that leads to destruction and enter by the straight gate of repentance and take the narrow way to the foot of the cross.  The virgin born Son of God became a sacrifice for sinners, and He was worthy to do so as the sinless God-Man.  You must receive Him; embrace Him, by a deep trust, a turning from sin, and surrender to Him as Boss and Master of your life from now on.  It is by grace alone, Christ alone, faith alone that we are saved.  But saving faith will never be alone, so we can see who someone is by the way they live, the path on which they stay.

Transition: What have we seen in this text?  Let’s pull it together.

(Conclusion)

Visualization: Picture Jesus on His throne, and the angel taking a group of sheep and putting them on His right and a group of goats on His left.  In Matt. 25 we learn this will be a permanent arrangement for both groups.  The goats go into the everlasting fire; the sheep go into everlasting purposefulness and enjoy heaven.

Reiteration: We have considered the life of a righteous person contrasted with the life of an unrighteous person.  We looked at some characteristics of these 2 paths. A person’s behavior and desires reveal their heart’s preferences, and a person’s private activities influence their long-term accomplishments and a person’s pattern of living reveals their destiny.

Action: Christian, act like who you are.  You go into the world to influence them, not to surrender to their influence.  Evangelism yes, influenced by the world, no.  And friend, if un-like-God describes you, you need to come to Christ.  Today you can switch paths, lifestyles, futures, and rewards. Today is – day of salvation, come to Jesus.

Appeal: Today is the day to think, act, and belong like who you really are or to become who you can be in Christ.

 

 

Psalm 126:1-6 Salvation Has Come!

Introduction

1) Illustration: God’s people were slaves in Egypt. They called out to God to deliver them; God came    in power and saved them.  The exodus stands as a testimony to anyone who is enslaved to sin, that    they can call out to the same God.  The God of - Bible can deliver them from slavery just like He did the Nation of Israel.  The term - Salvation - in - Bible has two close synonyms: Deliver and preserve. When one is drowning, they want to be delivered from the waters, saved from drowning, and preserved as one who can continue to breath air and stay alive. The true historical accounts in the Bible of how God saved people from their slavery & prison stands as a testimony to all who are slaves and prisoners today.  

2) Background: Psalm 126 deals with another deliverance of God.  The Jews from the southern

kingdom had been deported to Babylon.  This Psalm expresses - joy of Salvation, of God delivering His people from captivity and returning them to the Promise land.  Whenever a person is enslaved to sin, or needs to be delivered from a sinful habit, the song is for them.  This song gives us the principles of Salvation.  The Restoration has come.  Behold the salvation of our God.  Once we get saved we need to sing this song.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

We have been delivered and preserved by God. It appears that Jesus and Paul had this Psalm in mind when they taught about Evangelism.  Many teaching texts in the NT use the farming pictured in the Psalm to illustrate how to witness.

He was born in England, and his name was William. He was saved, and he was a Baptist.  He had only one problem, he kept reading his Bible.  In God’s book he saw God’s heart for those not yet saved, they needed to be delivered from darkness.  He saw we were God’s tools to reach the world, but no one wanted to go.  

William Carey challenged the Particular Baptists of his day to simply obey God’s command to go, make disciples, baptize and teach.  A missions society was formed and they sent William to India.  

The people in India needed to be delivered from captivity to sin and released from Satan’s prison house. This Psalm illustrates what Carey did in India and the fruit his work is still producing today.  If you are saved today this Psalm is for you.  When you were saved you were also enlisted in God’s army.

Here are His orders for you.  Here is how to farm and to fight. You see farming, fighting, even eating is intentional. Evangelism to be Biblical, need to move from optional in our practice, to intentional.

3) Direction

1.  We need to respond suitably to the salvation of our God.

2.  We need to submit to the command to join God in His harvest field.

 I.  WE NEED TO RESPOND SUITABLY TO THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD.  vs 1-3

(Psalms 126:1-3 NIV) A song of ascents. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

     A.  The Joy of God’s people. v 1-2a

1.  The Bible prophesied that God would restore the captives to the land.

2.   In 538 B.C. it happened.

3.   What a wonderful experience to be out of captivity, back to God’s land.

4.   It happened so fast it was like a dream. Pinch me, is this real?

5.   The people of God respond to deliverance w/ shock, then joy and laughter.

6.    They couldn’t help shouting and telling everyone how God had saved them.

     B.  The proclamation among the nations. v 2b 

1.  This great act of restoration was talked about around - world.

2.  When God providentially steps in, His mighty works witness that He is                                                able to deliver His own people.

3.   The joyful people cannot stop testifying and declaring the mighty acts of God                                    who delivered them from darkness into His marvelous light.

     C.  The Thanksgiving for salvation.  v 3

          The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

1. The shock is over

2.  The prodigal is home; and it is now time to party.

3.  When God saves His people, the pagans recognize the greatness of God.

4.  God’s people are overflowing w/ joy because God has saved them.

(ILL.)  When a person really gets saved, there is relief from guilt, a change, and joy. Do you remember where Jesus found you? Do you remember the joy & happiness? When someone gets saved, it brings joy on earth and in heaven. If you have been delivered, saved, it is something to be joyful about. The greater our captivity, the thicker the prison walls, the greater the joy. Free at last.  Thank God, I am free at last.

II.  WE NEED TO SUBMIT TO THE COMMAND TO JOIN GOD IN HIS HARVEST FIELD. vs 4-6

(Psalms 126:4-6 NKJV) Restore our fortunes, O LORD, As the streams in the South (Negev). Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him.

     A.  The prayer for God to make us fruitful.  v 4

1.  Judah was destroyed.  Everything was torn down and burnt.  We need to pray.

2.  God has delivered us, now we need Him to restore our fortunes, prosper our work.                            Do for us what you did for Job.

3.  When God sends the rains in the South, around Beersheba, the rain comes across that dry land in powerful flood streams. “God, open the flood gates of heaven and pour out your blessings on all our work.” We have repented of our sin. We are committed to obeying your command. Bless the labor of our hands

     B.  The promise of answered prayer.

1.  God will keep his promise.

2.  God raised up the prophet Haggai to speak to the returned captives.

(Haggai 2:19 NIV) Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. From this day on I will bless you.

3.  Is it a surprise that God wants His people to be fruitful? “Be fruitful & multiply fill the earth.” God commands physical fruit. And the number of disciples multiplied, they added daily to the church those whom God was saving. That is spiritual fruit.

(Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV)  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

(John 15:5 NIV) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

    Fruit = the fruit of the Holy Spirit, good works, praise to God, giving, and new Christians.                   If we are really concerned about bearing fruit, then vs 5-6 are very important to us.

     C.  The presentation of the law of the harvest. v 5-6

1.  Going: One of the things you learn from the Bible studies in MasterLife, God has not suggested that you share your faith. God has commanded us to do it. Five times the resurrected Christ told us to go, preach, make disciples, be His witnesses. There are no good excuses. We are going, or we are sinning. To not Go and Tell, is to directly disobey God. This in not asking people to come and hear. This is going to them and telling the gospel, Good News.

     a) Go is present tense.  Continually going. Forth, means we leave something behind.

     b) Every farmer must choose his field. Where will I start?

(Matthew 13:38 NKJV) The field is the world

(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

     c) We start casting seeds right here! Stand on your front porch and claim the three houses in front of you. Front porch evangelism. Claim the desks around yours in the class. Look at the text under 'going.' One GA preacher said, 'we have too many sitters and getters and not enough goers and tellers.'

2.  Weeping (Emotions)

     a) (ILL.)  Our second son, Jacob was born blue, they took him to Syracuse, & it started snowing, I visited him in ICU. The next day they operated on his heart. My wife, Deb, was in Elmira, our first son John in Valois. I did a lot of weeping when I prayed all alone in a strange city. When was the last time you asked God to save someone, & you asked w/ tears?

      (ILL.) Daimon: The call came, I have wonderful news, let me share it w/ you. Amway, I listened, then it was my turn, and I shared about Jesus taking away my sin, paying for them

b) We need a passion for souls.

c)  We must pray w/ earnestness, passion

        d) We need a burden from God for souls. Moses & Paul

        e) Jesus wept.

      1. Over a man, Lazarus and the pain and sorrow of sin & death.

              2.  Over obstinate Leaders, the Leaders of Jerusalem keeping the people from                         salvation.

                      3.  Over a world, ours. In the Garden of 'the crushing' (John 11:35, Mat. 23:37,                     Lk. 22:39-46)

3.  Sowing (The Mind)

(Luke 8:11 NIV) This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

          a) Sowing the seed is sharing the gospel.

          b) We must cultivate the ground before we sow

          c)  We simply go and tell what Jesus did for us and in us.

          d) If no one goes and sows, nothing will come up.

      (ILL.) An unbelieving neighbor through a tomato at the church building next to the parsonage. I washed it off the building. The next year 3 healthy tomato plants came up at that spot. 

e) Cultivating and sowing must be intentionally scheduled in our weeks like eating.  If not, it won't happen. Two Monday night a month are set aside for evangelistic visitation. This is not for just deacons; it is for Christians.

      (ILL.)  John MacArthur plane

f) Get the training you need so you can share w/ o fear and effectively.

4.  Reaping (The Will)

a) The promise to the Jews, God will make you fruitful.  Pray and sow, and guess what? You will have to reap. The same is true for the Church. Look at the book of Acts. Sowing produces reaping. Paul said, what you sow, you will reap. If you sow nothing, you will reap nothing.

       b) (ILL.)  Tomato plant S.C., removed rocks, planted, watered, weeded, fertilized, and reaped.

       c) (ILL.) Bee Gee was the WMU leader at Darrel Robinson’s church in Texas, she attended the witnessing training so she could teach others. She told the pastor, I have tried to witness, I get emotional and cry. I can’t witness, but I will teach others. She took her witnessing book to the beauty parlor, Cookie asked, What are you reading? I am reading a little book about Jesus.  May I share it w/ you? Cookie read the book and wanted to get saved.  Bee Gee panicked and went to see Pastor.  He set up a time for them to go together and meet w/ Cookie and her husband.  That hour God saved them both. After surrendering to the Lord Christ, Cookie asked Bee Gee, you have invited me to come to your church for all kinds of things.  But how come You never told me about Jesus till now? Bee Gee never said she could not witness again.

Conclusion

1.  We need to respond suitably to the salvation of our God.  JOY.  Happiness.  Change.

2.  We need to submit to the command to join God in His harvest field.                                                        We must Go, weep, sow, and reap. More of the same never produces change.                                            Will you commit to intentionally obeying Jesus' command to you to share your faith?                            What are you willing to do under:

Going

Weeping

Sowing

Reaping

(ILL.)  Robert M. McCheyne’s weeping over his congregation in prayer

Do business with God today. Agree to join Him in His harvest field. There is grain ready to be picked.   There are fields ready to be cultivated, some are ready for sowing. There are projects away from home, but we must first start at home. Then we can go to Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Psalm 106: Yahweh’s love and Israel’s disobedience

He is strong, I am weak

The author of this psalm is unknown. This psalm is classified as a hymn that celebrates Israel’s history of deliverance in spite of their continual rebellion (also called a narrative or story telling psalm). This psalm’s storyline begins with the nation in exile in Egypt with a focus on their repeated failures and God’s amazing patience and covenantal love. Grace that was greater than all of Israel’s sin. This is the last song in book 4 of the psalms.

I. A call to worship (vs. 1–2)

    A. Sing praises to Yahweh

    B. Yahweh alone is good

    C. Yahweh’s covenant love is everlasting

    D. Yahweh’s mighty acts of deliverance should be the subject of our praise

II. A prayer for God’s deliverance (vs. 3–5)

    A.  Yahweh standard: perfection brings blessing

    B. We are to always be just in our dealings righteous in our actions

    C. Only the Messiah can meet this standard, we are not good enough

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8 NKJV)

    D. Thus the sinner prays for grace, forgiveness, and deliverance from sin

    E. The righteous are concerned about the real believers, chosen one, God’s people

III. A confession of sin and declaration of Yahweh’s deliverance (vs. 6–12)

      A. We live in community and bear individual and corporate guilt

      B. Miracles do not produce faith, but trials do

      C. The people respond to the ten plaques with complaining and unbelief 

      D. Man’s natural direction is towards unfaithfulness, discontent, rebellion

 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen 6:1 NASB)

       E. God saves sinners in spite of themselves for His own glory and according to His own                     faithfulness to His promises

       F. The contrast between Yahweh and humans could not be greater

      G. Amazing faithful love (hesed) in spite of the failures of sinners

      H. The salvation (yeshua) news goes beyond Israel to result in the salvation of Rahab

       I. The Red Sea: God is able to deliver His people and judge His enemies at the same time

       J. Finally, a little mental assent and half-hearted singing occurred at God’s deliverance

IV. A history of Israel’s unbelief and Yahweh’s judgments (vs. 13–43) 

      A. Israel forgot the truth, complained, lived selfishly and brought God’s judgment

      B. Impatience, lack of trust, dependance, love, and gratitude resulted in diseases

      C. Jealousy and rebellion against God’s appointed leaders resulted in splitting of the ground             and fire (Korah, Dathan, Abiram went into the earth, 250 were consumed by fire, Num 16)

      D. Their idolatry brought them near to total destruction

           1. Man’s heart is an idol factory, and the natural man is quick to forget God’s works

           2. Miracles strengthen the faith of believers, giving evidence to the truth

           3. The deliverance from Egypt was a redemptive saving event 

 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Pet 2:1 ESV)

           4. Idolatry always denies the nature of the God revelation and salvation

           5. Moses stood in prayer for God’s people and caused their judgment to be postponed

           6. Moses was learning to be servant in this trying times

      E. Then the people refused to believe the promise and obey the Word of God = DEATH

           1. The downward spiral of sin, idolatry to unbelief and then to rebellion

           2. At Kadesh Barnea the people rebelled instead of living by faith

           3. Only two spies had faith, the rest of that generation passed away in the next 38 years

           4. Even in this oath God warns them of the coming exile for these same sins

     F. Immorality, fornication, adultery with the idol worshipers lead to further idolatry   

          1. Spiritually mixed marriages resulted in judgment

          2. The priest Phinehas stopped the plaque by dealing with the compromisers (Num 25)

     G. Further rebellion against God’s Word and further idolatry= EXILE

          1. They murdered babies

          2. They worshiped false gods

          3. They became just like all the cultures around them

          4. The innocent blood defiled the land and brought God’s chastisement on them

You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste. (Lev 26:33 NASB)

            5. The covenant curse of exile comes when all the other judgments fail to bring repentance 

          6. The wicked could bring themselves to judgment, but they could force their                                        descendants to remain under it

          7. Once a nation sins enough to bring God’s judgment it will fall

V. A declaration of Yahweh’s covenant love and postponed judgment (vs. 44–46)

      A. God preserved the Jews during the captivity

      B. He postponed (nacham) His severe wrath so they would remain as a people

VI. A prayer for Yahweh’s deliverance (vs. 47)

      A. Save us O Yahweh our God and return us from captivity

      B. Let us again bring glory to your name by our worship and faithfulness

VII. A benediction of worship (vs. 48)

        A. The author ends as he began, a command to praise Yahweh

        B. This conclusion is fitting benediction, Praise Yahweh, His covenant love is everlasting

        C. We are un-loyal and unfaithful, He is faithful, and loyal

Lessons to live by:

• God’s patient covenant love (hesed) is beyond our imagination

• Sin continues to control us and spiral us down deeper and deeper in its grip

• Spiritually mixed dating is the first step toward spiritually mixed marriage

• God always reserves the right to postpone pronounced judgment for repentance (vs. 45 nacham)