Thursday, December 8, 2011

Forget Not All His Benefits

Psalm 103:1-5

 

by Samuel E. Ward

 

November 20, 2011

 

(Psa 103:1-5 NIV)  Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. {2} Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- {3} who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, {4} who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, {5} who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 

Introduction: 

 

"Back in the day," as they say, it was an oft repeated slogan among those of us who worked in Christian ministry concerning the material benefit we received from our labor that "the pay is low, but the benefits are out of this world!"  I am here to tell you that I will not leave a large inheritance to anyone when God takes me home. Like Paul, I have learned what it is like to have much and little and the secret of happiness in life is to learn to be content with whatever one has.  I am extremely blessed to have a God who loves me, a wife who adores me, and a church who gives me the blessed opportunity to have a place from which to serve God and them.

Today, I want to fulfill a spiritual obligation to not forget all of His benefits and to encourage all of us together that . . .

 

When God Blesses Us, We Should Bless God

 

(Heb 13:15-16 NIV)  Through Jesus . . . let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

 

A.  With Our Praise Toward Him, Psa 69:30-31

B.  With Our Good Actions Toward Others, Prov 15:9; Col 1:10

C.  With Our Goods in Sharing with Others

 

Note:  When we bless God in these ways. . .

 

He is inclined to answer our prayers, Exo 33:17; 1 Kings 3:9-11.

He promises lead us to our place of blessing, Num 14:8; Rev 21:1-4.

 

Returning to our text, when we read it we find, as John Phillips observes in his commentary on this Psalm, that it is like David "counts off on his fingers … five attributes for which the believer can offer praise  as he comes before the Lord." (John Phillips, Exploring the Psalms)

It is necessary to understand that these declarations are not promises.  They are descriptions of the benefits we receive from God's work in the lives of us who avail themselves of His mercy.  God forgives all of our sins, heals all our diseases, redeems our lives from the pit of death, crowns us with His love and compassion, satisfies our desires with good things that lead to youthful strength.

 

Benefit # 1: God Forgives ALL Our Sins

 

A.  At a Great Price:  The Shed Blood of Christ.

 

(Mat 26:28 NIV)  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

 

(Eph 1:7-8 NIV)  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace {8} that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

 

B.  No Matter How Great the Sin.

 

(Psa 51:1-4 NIV)  For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. {2} Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. {4} Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

 

(Isa 1:18-19 NIV)  "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. {19} If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.

 

(1 John 1:9 NIV)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

 

C.  No Matter What Stage in Life

 

(Luke 23:39-43 NIV)  One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" {40} But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? {41} We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." {42} Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." {43} Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

 

All that is required is that we confess our sins, turn away (repent) from our sin, and trust in Christ's  blood to cleanse us from our sin.

 

(1 Pet 1:18-19 NIV)  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, {19} but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

 

Benefit # 2: God Heals ALL Our Diseases

 

How does this statement harmonize with what we observe in the real world.  What does it mean that God heals all of our diseases when experience and observation shows that He apparently does not.  Let us summarize what we do know:

 

A.  God Can Heal all Physical and Spiritual Diseases.

 

Jesus proved in His life and ministry a wide variety of diseases in their worst stages were healed—even when death occurred.  If he does not heal physically it is so that he can heal spiritually—the greater healing.

 

(Mat 4:23-24 NIV)  Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. {24} News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.

 

B.  God Sees the Death of a Believer as the Ultimate Act of Healing.

 

(2 Tim 4:17-18 NIV)  But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. {18} The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

(Isa 57:1-2 NIV)  The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. {2} Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

 

(Psa 116:15 NIV)  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

 

C.  God uses diseases and illness at times to discipline sin and at times will remove them when the afflicted one repents

 

(2 Chr 7:13-14 NIV)  "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, {14} if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

 

(James 5:14-16 NIV)  Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. {15} And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. {16} Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

 

Benefit #  3: God Redeems Our Life

 

A.  From Wickedness

 

(Titus 2:11-14 NIV)  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. {12} It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, {13} while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, {14} who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

 

B.  From the Grave

 

(Job 19:25-27 NIV)  I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. {26} And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; {27} I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

 

C.  To Eternal Life

 

(John 6:40 NIV)  For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

 

Benefit # 4: God Crowns Us with Love and Mercy

 

A.  Our State Before Being Raised from the Pit

 

(Rom 6:20-21 NIV)  When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. {21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!

 

B.  Our State Since Being Redeemed from the Pit

 

(Rom 6:22 NIV)  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

 

C.  The Pure Fact of the Matter

 

(Eph 2:4-7 NIV)  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, {5} made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. {6} And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, {7} in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

 

Let us be thankful for the love and mercy of God because . . .

 

1.  God could have left us in the pit where we wanted to be.

2.  His love would not allow it, even though we deserved it.

3.  He held out his hand and offered to lift us up.

4.  Those of us who took His hand went from death to life, from the pit to a place in God's throne room, and from ruin to the promise incomparable riches in the coming reign of Christ.

 

Benefit # 5: God Satisfies Us with Good

 

A.  The Heart of God toward the World He Created.

 

(Psa 22:25-28 NIV)  From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. {26} The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him-- may your hearts live forever!  {27} All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, {28} for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.

 

B.  The Heart of God toward His People, Israel.

 

(Jer 29:11 NIV)  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

(Psa 81:13-16 NIV)  "If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, {14} how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! {15} Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. {16} But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

 

C.  The Heart of God toward His Son's Bride, the Church

 

1.  If we seek God and His righteousness above everything else, He will take care of what we need for today.

 

(Mat 6:31-33 NIV)  Do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' {32} For [those who do not know God] run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. {33} But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

2.  When we have entered victoriously into heaven, He has promised to put an end to all that robs us of our joy and causes us sorrow.

 

(Rev 21:2-7 NIV)  I [John] saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. {3} And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  {4} He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." {5} He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." {6} He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. {7} He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

 God said it, that settles it.  If you believe it you can have it all by faith in Jesus Christ.  Do you believe it?  I do.  I cannot, and will not, forget all of His benefits which I have received, am receiving, and am promised to receive.

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