God’s Amazing Book - Part 2

January 21, 2007 by PastorMark.

#266, God’s Amazing Book, Part 2, Sunday 01-21-2007

~Text: Psalm 81:8-16
~Theme: How do we connect God’s provision to our need?

 

Introduction:

1. Conversation with a person about Sunday sermons …

A. If I’m not challenging you to feed on God’s Word daily …

B. Would you only eat food on Sunday?

2. This is a picture of God’s provision for us. (a picture of a table full of food)

A. Know that He has no shortage and He is not stingy.

3. In the spiritual realm some of us look like this (a picture of a starving man)

A. Think about how frustrating it must be for the biggest giver in the universe to not be able to give to His own.

4. Psalms 81 was originally written to Israel.

A. God reminded them of where they came from.

B. God was challenging them in their present to receive His provision.

 

Text: Psalm 81:8-16

 

Questions: How do we connect God’s provision to our need?

Think of the table of plenty as God’s Word. What can we do to be spiritually alive and healthy?

 

1. Show Up (at the table)

A. The Israelites had drifted from the table.

1) They forgot how good God had been.

2) They started acquiring a taste for the food of idols.

a) Leaving the table doesn’t happen all at once. We start by skipping meals.

B. Showing up at the table is an act of love and fellowship.

1) To eat together said, “I love you enough to be with you, to share life together.”

2) How do we “show up” and just talk about it?

a) Exodus 34:2 (God to Moses) “Present yourself to me.”

b) Note: God is everywhere, but you consciously focus on Him and present yourself before Him and His Word.

2. Pull Up (to the table)

A. Get yourself close, surround yourself with God’s provision.

B. The Lord longed for Israel’s presence at the table.

1) He kept calling them back.

a) I know you’ve been away, but I’ve prepared this awesome meal.

2) “Hear, O my people … if you would but listen to me O Israel!” (v.8)

C. Why is God so passionate about us listening and coming to the table?

1) So that He could save us from our own stubborn hearts and “devices” (v.12)

2) So that our enemies would be defeated. (vs. 13-14)

3. Eat Up “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it” (v 10)

A. You must trust God before you will open up.

1) What if it’s poisonous or makes you go crazy?

2) “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8

B. To eat up means you “internalize” How?

1) Turn my thoughts to God often.

2) Read the Word every day.

a) “It is to be with him and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God, and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees.” Deuteronomy 18:19

3) Hear God speaking through others.

a) Note: If you feed on the Word you can discern the “bones”.

4) Stay connected with a Bible believing/teaching church.

a) Jesus said to Peter “feed my sheep.” I (Pastor Mark) must do my part, but you must do yours. (My prayer is that you will be hungry for God and His Word.)

C. To eat up means to transform our thought life.

1) Meditate and memorize – heals the deficiencies and keeps us healthy.

a) “Do not let the Book of the Low depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything within it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

b) Example: Find a verse that attacks a sin you have a problem with. For example: when dealing with his pride Pastor Mark used Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance.”

4. Share It.

A. Share it at home.

1) “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

B. Share it among your church family (faith family).

C. Share the Word with the world.

1) Pray for them to be hungry for God.

2) Share as they are able to hear.

 

Conclusion:

What would your spiritual health look like on screen?

Psalm 81:16 “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat, with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

 

 

 

Posted in Podcast, Sermons, Pastor Mark | Print | No Comments »