Psalm 119:1-176

Introduction: Does it seem like there is a nonchalant attitude among far too many Christians today? Just enough love for Jesus and His Church to get by. Some say, “If it’s convenient, I’ll serve… invest time, but not at the expense of my pleasure.” Really? After all Jesus has done, and is doing for you & me? The Psalmist gives us several instructions (5) on what God expects of His children and consequently, a life that pleases Him.

1. HAPPY CHRISTIANS! (Psa 119:1, 2)
“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
{“Blessed” is the word esher, which means happiness}
• Happy CHRISTians have a heartache when they sin
• Happy CHRISTians have a heartbeat for truth

2. HOLY CHRISTIANS! (Psa 119:4-8)
“Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently… I will praise thee with uprightness of heart… thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
• Marked by Obedience (v 5, 9)
• Marked by Praise (v 7)
• Marked by Lifestyle (v 9-11)

3. HUNGRY CHRISTIANS! (Psa 119:49-85)
“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me… before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”
• Hungry for the word which comforts (v 50)
• Hungry for the word which corrects (v 67)
• Hungry for the word which builds character (v 75)

4. HUMBLE CHRISTIANS! (Psa 119:143)
“Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delight.”
• “Make thy face to shine” (v 135)
• “Trouble” tsar means tight, straits, distress (v 143)

5. HOPEFUL CHRISTIANS! (Psa 119:145, 165)
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
• Prayerful (v 145)
• Peaceful (v 165)

Introduction: So goes the home… so goes the culture. Unfortunately, our culture is a reflection of our homes, not all homes grant it. Our homes are definitely under attack. Therefore, God has a remedy. I call it “Home Health Care.” The Psalmist gives us (2) strategies for making LOVE last a LIFETIME.

1. Home health Care ROLES for stressed out homes! (Psa 128:3-4, 6)

“Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table….thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord….Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.”

    • Mighty Mamas motivated by LOVE that lasts a LIFETIME (v. 3)

    • Dedicated daddy’s activated by LOVE that lasts a LIFETIME (v.4)

    • Surrendered sons saturated by LOVE that lasts a LIFETIME (v. 3)

    • Disciplined daughters dominated by LOVE that lasts a LIFETIME (v. 3)

    • Helpful husbands fascinated by LOVE that lasts a LIFETIME (v. 3)

2. Home Health Care RELATIONSHIPS for sick homes! (Psa 128:1, 2)

“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands; happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”

    • Lack of continuity

    • Lack of security

    • Lack of maturity

Conclusion: What is our Lord’s prescription for Home Health Care?

1.  Reconnection

2. Reconciliation

3. Rededication

Anybody need Home Health Care?

Introduction: Have you ever been troubled in your heart? Are you troubled with personal problems, medical issues, relational struggles, or spiritual failures right now? What do you do? Our Lord Jesus gave us both the CAUSES, as well as the CURES for Heart Trouble.

1. What are the CAUSES of HEART TROUBLE? (John 14:1) 

“Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.”

   • Emptiness

   • Loneliness

   • Fear of death 

   • Stress

   • Rejection

   • Depression

   • Insignificance 

   • Insecurity 

2. What are the CURES for HEART TROUBLE? (John 14:27)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

   • PEACE comes by believing in Jesus, who is God (John 14:1)

   • PEACE comes by being prepared to go to heaven (John 14:2, 3)

   • PEACE comes by being prepared for Jesus to come again (John 14:3)

Conclusion: Troubles come knocking on our door all the time! But when we send Jesus to the door, they have to go through Him! While certain circumstances can make our heart feel troubled, PEACE comes by believing in Jesus, by being prepared to go to heaven because of a personal relationship with Him, and finally by waiting for His coming!

1. How can we take just ONE DAY at a TIME? (Matt 6:25-33)
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body raiment…..behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not….yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?….Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow…..if God so clothe the grass of the field….O ye of little faith?
• Is worrying for the birds? (vv 26-27)
• Do flowers fade? (vv 28-31)
{Jesus was telling His disciples while preaching this sermon on the mountain – Matt 5, 6, 7 – that our Heavenly Father knows us and cares for us}

2. Who can take just ONE DAY at a TIME? (Matt 6:33)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
• Putting Priorities in Proper Place (v. 33)
• Is Jesus #1 or #2 or #3 after job, family, or entertainment?
{How a person spends his or her TIME and MONEY is a good indicator where their heart is} How about you?

3. How can we take just ONE DAY at A TIME? (Matt 6:34)
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil there of.”
• Nothing wrong with planning – as the Lord wills
• But, as you (we) plan, don’t worry
• It’s a battle of trust instead of being anxious about the “what if’s”

Conclusion: How can we live in this world and not worry? Jesus says neither the birds of the air or the flowers of the field are worried about their food or clothing, so why should we worry since our Heavenly Father knows our needs.

***The Way to Not Worry***
Take….. , “ONE DAY at a TIME, SWEET JESUS”!

Introduction: Going through a hard time? Needing God’s peace and presence? Feeling stressed and worried? The greatest need we (I) have as believers in the living God is to be in fellowship with Him. When that is in place everything else will be in a better place. While on the run and in the wilderness, David understood the importance of his relationship with his God and gives us (3) ways to make that happen, especially in a time of testing. Don’t you want to know how we can maintain that personal connection?

1. How can we stay in TUNE with our God? (Ps 63:1, 2)
“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”
• A heart cry for God
• A heartbeat for Him

2. How can we stay in TOUCH with our God? (Ps 63:2)
“To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.”
• To sense His PRESENCE
• To see His POWER

3. How can we stay in STEP with our God? (Ps 63:3-8)
“I will bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name…My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”
• Lifelong pursuit – knowing God!
• Lifelong satisfaction – our Lord Jesus knowing me!

Joshua 7, 8

1. Have you ever had a “Setback”?
“So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.” (Jos 6:27)
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass….for Achan…took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel….And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai.” (Jos 7:1-9) {Instead of sending a big army after spying it out, Joshua only sent 2,000 to 3,000 men to Ai. They got whooped! Bad!!}
• Joshua asked, WHY? (Jos 7:6, 7)
[When we’re Setback – don’t we ask, “WHY LORD”?]
• Joshua asked, WHAT? (Jos 7:8, 9)
{Examination & Sanctification – Joshua tore his clothes & fell to the ground in humility & brokenness}

2. Do you need to make a “Comeback”? (Jos 7:10-21)
“And the Lord said, Get thee up…..Israel has sinned and they have transgressed my covenant…neither will I be with you anymore, except ye destroy the accursed from among you….Achan said I have sinned…when I saw a goodly Babylonish garment, silver, and gold, then I coveted them, and took them, they are hid in the midst of my tent.”
• What’s the problem? (v. 13)
• How to fix it? (vv 15-25)

3. Are you prepared for a “Takeback”! (Jos 7:25-8:1-35)
“And Joshua said, why trouble us?….And all Israel stoned him….And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai….and his land.” {This Time Joshua sent out 30,000 mighty men of valour (v 3)….through a military strategy of retreat and then ambush, God gave them the victory!}
• Fear not (v. 1)
• Have Faith in God (v.1)

2. BENEATH Me and BESIDE ME are “Green pastures and still waters”! (Psa 23:2)
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside still waters.”
• Promises to guide us (Rom 8:14)
• Promises to quench our thirst (John 7:37, 38)

3. REFRESHING ME ” He restoreth my soul”! (Psa 23:3)
“He restoreth my soul.”
• Promises to lift our heavy burdens (Psa 55:22)
• Promises to restore us (Isa 58:12)

4. BEFORE ME is a “Table”! (Psa 23:5a)
” Thou preparest a table before me.”
• Promises to feed us (John 6:35)
• Promises to supply our needs, not wants (Phil 4:19)

5. AROUND ME are my “Enemies” and “Fear” (Psa 23:4, 5b)
“In the presence of mine enemies.”
• Promises He’s not given us a spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7)
• Promises to defeat our enemies (Rev 19:11-21)

6. AFTER ME is “Surely Goodness and Mercy”! (Psa 23:6)
“Surely Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
• Promises to extend mercy ( Eph 2:4)
• Promises to work for our good ( Rom 8:28)

7. BEYOND ME is the “House of the Lord”! (Psa 23:6)
” And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
• Promises a home in heaven (John 14:1-3)
• Promises us eternal life (John 10:27,28)

^“That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

Introduction: Are you going thru a trial right now? Someone had well said, “Either we are IN a trial, coming OUT of a trial, or fixing to go INTO a trial”! Troubles and trials [allowed by our Lord] have a way of making us or breaking us. Paul, who experienced various trials, reveals (4) discoveries about “How Big our God is” even in a time of trial.

1. When you’re going thru a trial, don’t forget to free your heart from FEAR! (1 Thess 3:2-4)
Timothy was sent to the Church (Thessalonica) to comfort them in this trial of their faith (v 2).
” That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.”
{The word “Moved ” is sah-ee-no which means disturbed, agitate}
{The word “Affliction” is thlipsis which means distress, pressure}
• Trials have a way of “shaking” you
• Trials have a way of “making” you
Paul wrote, “We told you before that we should suffer tribulation” (v 4).

2. When you’re going thru a trial, don’t forget to free your mind from WORRY! (1 Thess 3:5-7)
” ….I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you….but Timothy brought us good tidings of your faith and charity….and we were comforted.”
• Our Faith in God will be tested
• Our Faith in God can be trusted

3. When your going thru a trial, don’t forget to focus on fighting the good FIGHT of FAITH! (1 Thess 3:8-10)
“For now we live, if ye standfast in the Lord…..night and day praying….see your face, and perfect that which is lacking in your faith.”
{“Standfast” means persevere}
{“Perfect” means complete, fit together}
• Attitude of gratitude
• Persevering in prayer

4. When you’re going thru a trial, don’t forget to look at the BIG PICTURE! (1 Thess 3:11-13)
” Now God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you….make you increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men….to the end he may stablish your hearts.. ..in holiness…..at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
• Loving out (v 12)
• Looking up (v 13)

• 40% of the things we WORRY about never happen….that’s almost half!
• only 8% are legitimate concerns.

***NEWSFLASH*** Doctor JESUS has a cure! Paul explains…

1. Why be WORRIED with CARE, when we can be blessed with PRAYER? (Phil 4:6, 7)

• Definition of worry: mental disorder
• Low grade fever
• Pulling apart of the mind
• Dividing the mind

• 1 in 8 Americans (probably more now after the last few months with Covid-19), between the ages of 18 yrs old and 63 yrs old, are plagued with ANXIETY
• #1 Health issue with 65 yrs and older

Conclusion: Worry is a person with a bended head, caring a load of feathers, but thinks it’s lead. Why pray when you can worry? Or better yet, why worry when you can pray?

One lady named Betty Phillips used to tell me in jest, “I’m worried”! While asking why, she would respond, “I’m WORRIED that I’m not WORRIED”!

You ask, so how does this biblical principle work?

Simply put, when we take our eyes off our seemingly insurmountable problems, i.e, cares and worries, which cause anxieties, and instead talk to God, our focus becomes how big and mighty He is in comparison to our situation or feelings. Consequently, our trust in Him releases a state of rest (a guard around our hearts and minds), something we can’t explain.

So rather than WORRY with CARE, we can be blessed with PRAYER, and instead of being depressed, we can experience our Lord’s PEACE and sweet REST.