Author: Art Davison

HE SENT HIS WORD
PSALM 107:15-22

Key verse: v. 20, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

Introduction:

God has sent His Word throughout this world to meet the needs of mankind. It has transformed many lives over the centuries. It has mended the broken hearted and encouraged those that were discouraged.

The Word of God has done the ultimate service for man that he could not do for himself. It saved his soul the moment man put his truth in the Savior, Jesus Christ.

I. HE SENT HIS WORD TO ALL THE WORLD

A. His Word runs swiftly upon the earth, Psalm 147:15, “He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.”

1. An army has published His Word, Psalm 68:11, “The Lord gave the word: great was the company (army) of those that published it.”

2. The Word of God has had “free course” (free run) throughout the world, 2 Thessalonians 3:1,“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”

a. Those who have heard it have been blessed, Luke 11:28, “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

b. The Word reached deep into our hearts and souls, Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

B. The Word of the Lord came with healing, 2 Kings 20:4-5, “And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5- Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.”

1. Healing for our souls, Psalms 103:3, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;”

2. Healing for our hearts, Psalms 147:3, “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds [GRIEFS].”

a. Out of the heart proceeds evil, Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”

b. God gives us a new heart, Ezekiel 36:26, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

3. Healing for our spirits, Romans 7:6, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”

C. The Word of the Lord came with authority, Matthew 8:8, “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.”

1. The word of the humble sinner, “I am not worthy,” Psalm 10:17, “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:”

2. The word of authority, “Speak the Word only,” Psalm 33:9, “For he spake, and it was done ; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

a. The example of the leper, Matthew 8:2-3, “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3- And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

b. The example of the man with an unclean spirit, Mark 1:25-27, “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26- And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27- And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.”

II. HIS WORD HAS BLESSED MANY WHO REFUSE THE LORD PRAISE

A. God showed His Word to Israel, Psalms 147:19, “He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

A. God sent His Son to this world, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

1. He was rejected, Mark 8:31, “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

2. He was hated, John 7:7, “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”

a. They hated Jesus because He brought to light the truth, John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

b. Men hate the Father also, John 15:23, “He that hateth me hateth my Father also.”

c. These are the ones who love death, Proverbs 8:36, “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”

C. God expressed His love for the world in His Word, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

1. God loves the sinner, Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

2. Today he offers salvation, 2 Corinthians 6:2, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

CONCLUSION:

God has preached His Word throughout the world and the time is coming to a close when He will send His Son Jesus back to claim His own from this world. He has done everything to save man from destruction in Hell, but men continue to reject His Word.

LEANESS IN THE SOUL

PSALM 106:10-15; ROMANS 15:4; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:61

Introduction:

“The history of God’s past is a record of continuous mercies, the history of man’s, one of as continuous sin.” Israel had been redeemed from slavery out of the land of Egypt and had cross the Red Sea on dry land. Soon afterward the people began to rebel against the Lord. They soon forgot what they had witnessed as God brought plague after plague upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

They received what they wanted, but soon forgot how they got it. Then they received something they did not want – God’s judgment against a rebellious people.

I. GETTING WHAT THEY WANTED v. 10

A. They wanted redemption from slavery, Psalm 111:9, “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”

1. As servants of the enemy, Psalm 18:17, “He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.”

2. As servants of sin, Romans 6:17-18, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18-Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

B. They wanted rest, Psalm 16:9, “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.”

1. To dwell confidently, Exodus 33:14, “And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

2. To have peace of mind, Psalm 38:3-4, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4- For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.”

C. They wanted deliverance, Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”

II. FORGETTING WHAT HE DID v. 13

A. He saved them from the hand of him that hated them, Exodus 14:30, “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.”

B. He redeemed them from the hand of the enemy, Psalm 107:2, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”

1. God had redeemed them, Psalm 31:5, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.”

a. God preached the truth to them as He has to us, Psalm 40:9, “I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.”

b. The Lord preached repentance from sin, Mark 6:12, “And they went out, and preached that men should repent.”

c. Faith in Christ was preached, Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

2. God had forgiven Israel of all his iniquities, Psalm 130:8, “And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

a. This was Israel’s greatest need, Acts 5:31, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

b. Through Him all that believed were justified, Acts 13:38-39, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39- And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

III. GETTING WHAT THEY DIDN’T WANT v. 15

A. For rebellion God sent a cruel messenger, Proverbs 17:11, “An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.”

1. Israel had a history of rebellion, Deuteronomy 9:7, “Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.”

2. They provoked the Lord, Deuteronomy 9:8, “Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you.”

B. Israel lost his identity because of rebellion, Deuteronomy 4:27, “And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.”

1. For the sin of their mouth, Psalm 59:12, “For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.”

2. For their pride, Proverbs 16:5, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

3. For their cursing, Psalm 109:17, “As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.”

CONCLUSION:

Israel was unfaithful to the Lord and suffered the consequences for that unfaithfulness. God gave him all of the advantages and yet Israel turned from the Saviour as John tells us in John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

The Lord has opened the door for the Gentiles and many have trusted Christ as their Saviour. However, many have walked away from the truth. God’s judgment is a terrible thing. Many will feel His wrath, but not His children as Paul tells us in Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

There is NO LEANNESS for God’s FAITHFUL servants.

THE MERCY OF GOD

PSALM 103

 

“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

Psalm 100:5, “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Introduction:

Mercy is the result and effect of God’s goodness. The Psalmist said in Psalm 33:5, “He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth id full of the goodness of the Lord.” God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psalm 119:68, “Thou art good and doest good.” This relative goodness is nothing else than the mercy of God.

I. IT IS THE DESIGN OF THE BIBLE TO REPRESENT GOD AS MERCIFUL

Exodus 34:6-7, “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7- Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

A. God does not clear the guilty, Psalm 57:10,“For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.”

B. His mercy is far above the heavens, Psalm 108:4, “For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.”

C. The Rainbow is a symbol of God’s mercy, Genesis 9:16, “And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.”

II. GOD IS MORE INCLINED TO MERCY THAN WRATH

A. God delights in mercy, Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”

B. He does not delight in wrath, Isaiah 27:4, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

C. God does not punish until He can bear no longer, Jeremiah 44:22-23, “So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. 23-Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.”

D. God does not afflict us willingly, Lamentations 3:33, “For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.”

1. Punishment is call God’s “strange work,” Isaiah 28:21, “For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.”

2. He is slow to anger, Psalm 103:8, “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

3. He is ready to forgive, Psalm 86:5, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

III. THERE IS NOT A SITUATION THAT GOD WILL NOT SHOW MERCY

A. When Israel was in captivity He showed mercy, Lamentation 3:22, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”

B. He could have destroyed Israel, Ezra 9:8-9, “And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9-For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.”

C. His mercy is on them that fear Him, Luke 1:50, “And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.”

CONCLUSION:

The Lord has certainly been good to us. His mercy has been shown to us throughout our lives. While we get tired of those who offend us, He continues to show His mercy when we deserve His wrath. Thank the Lord that He does not delight in wrath and that we have been saved from His wrath by trusting Jesus Christ as our Savior.

FROM THE HEIGHTS OF HIS HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

PSALM 102:12-22

Key verse: v. 19

Introduction:

Looking out like a watcher from his tower, what was the object of this leaning from the battlements of heaven? Why this intent gaze upon the race of men?

The answer is full of astounding mercy; the Lord does not look upon mankind to note their grandees, and observe the doings of their nobles, but “to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death” v. 20.

Consider the message that the Psalmist is sending to us today through this inspired psalm of the Word of God.

I. FROM HEAVEN THE LORD LOOKS DOWN

A. The Lord is looking down from the MERCYSEAT, Psalms 14:2, “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”

1. He is not looking from an earthly viewpoint, John 3:12, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 31- He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”

2. The Lord was looking from the spiritual [heavenly] viewpoint, John 3:13-17, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14-And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15-That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17- For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

B. He looks down from the HEIGHT of Glory, Psalms 24:7-8, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8-Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”

C. It is the King of Glory that looks upon man, 1 Corinthians 2:8, “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

II. WHAT ATTRACTS HIS NOTICE MOST IN THE WORLD?

A. To hear the groaning of the prisoner, v. 20; Psalms 79:11, “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;”

1. The Lord heard the cry of the Hebrews in bondage to Egypt, Exodus 2:23, “And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.”

2. He saw the Gentiles in bondage to their sin, Ephesians 2:2-3, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3-Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

B. To loose those appointed to death, v. 20; Psalms 146:7, “Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:”

1. To relieve them from their condemnation, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

2. To give them redemption and forgiveness of sins, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

3. All of this for His glory, Ephesians 1:12, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

III. THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH HE NOTICES MAN

A. To declare His name, v. 21; Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

B. To declare His great mercy to those in need of it, Romans 15:9, “And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.”

1. Zion is now in distress, but there will come a time for her relief, v. 13, “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.”

2. All nations shall serve the Lord, Psalms 72:11, “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.”

3. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, Psalms 72:8-9, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9-They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord looked down from heaven and saw man’s great need of His mercy. From Adam until now the Lord’s mercy has been generously given to us. Yet man continues to be rebellious and unthankful.

God’s patience continues as Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

THOUGHTS FOR THANKSGIVING
PSALM 100:1-5

Introduction:

What would stir your to give thanks. The following thoughts are meant to stir us to thanksgiving. They are given to bring to memory all of God’s blessings in the various areas mentioned.

We Americans are among the most blessed people of our world. In no other country has the gospel been preached as in this country. God’s blessings are abundantly seen here even though the people of this country do not see His hand in these blessings.

I. LOOKING AROUND US WILL MOVE US TO THANKSGIVING

A. Looking at the glory of the land that God has given us, Psalm 147:7-8, “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 8-Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.”

1. No land upon this globe has more beauty nor has been blessed more than ours, Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

2. No people have been blessed more than the American people have, Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

B. Looking at other people will cause to be thankful for God’s blessings, Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

C. Looking at God’s bountiful supply will make us thankful, Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

II. LOOKING WITHIN WILL MOVE US TO THANKSGIVING

A. We have salvation by faith in Christ, Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

B. We have His Promises, 2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

1. That He is preparing a place for us, John 14:1-2, “1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

2. That He is coming to take us home to be with Him. John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

III. LOOKING UP WILL MOVE US TO THANKSGIVING

A. Looking toward Heaven will stir us to thanksgiving, 1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

1. We are thankful that the Lord has made a place for us there, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

2. We are thankful that He has promised to come again, Acts 1:11, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

B. Looking to the Resurrected Savior will move us to thanksgiving, Romans 6:5, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”

1. Jesus is the first to be resurrected, 1 Corinthians 15:20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept”

2. Because of His resurrection, we have the promise of our resurrection as well, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22-For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

C. Looking to Jesus, our Advocate, will stir us to thanksgiving, 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

1. We have a lawyer that gives us access to God throne, Ephesians 2:18, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

2. Through Him we can come bold to God’s throne, Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

3. He intercedes for us, Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

4. He is there for us because He loves us, Psalm 34:1-3, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2- My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3- O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

CONCLUSION

If we are not thankful, it is because we are blind. Blind to the truth that God has blessed us even in these confused times while there is little or no discipline in our society.

There is little thanksgiving today because many have chosen to leave God out of their lives. That is the reason we have so many domestic and family problems such as divorce and child abuse. That is why crime is so rampant in our land today.

Are we thankful? I trust you are because of what the Lord has reminded you through this message.