Sermon Notes from April 1, 2012

Psalm 119:54 reading v 49-56. We've seen several fruits that have grown from the Psalmist’s faith in the word.  In v. 50 we see that God's people aren't exempt from troubles.  When troubles get a believer down, let him go to the word and draw life from it so you can say, "Thy word has quickened me and given me hope.”  Faith in the word draws out this comfort.  Have you received hope and encouragement from the word of God?  When you're in trials is that where you go?  In v. 54 we see in a sense that the children of God receive the word by faith & that not only brings encouragement and assistance in trouble, but rejoicing.  Situations arise in the lives of all believers.  Trials will come.  Being led of the Lord from His word brings David joy.  Ps 119:14 “I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as much as all riches."  This identifies the course that you should take. This is my prayer for every soul here.  May we all be able to joyfully look back and say we have rejoiced in the word of God no matter what condition we find ourselves in. 
David considers this life to be a pilgrimage.  Do we consider our lives to be a pilgrimage?  David didn't count this world as his home. Though he lived in this world, he has his eye on a better home.  His life here is temporary distinguishing it from the eternal resting place God has promised his children in his word.  He has a living faith that it is so.  David is a type of those who are true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Believers are pilgrims, as one traveling from one country to the next, not a citizen, just passing through.  Heb 11:10
“He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  Often a believer is treated by people of this land as strangers.  When one by faith becomes a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, the principles upon which they stand will be noticed by those of the world.  They’re taking on different characteristics than the world being conformed to the image of God. 
Secondly in our text, David was rejoicing over God's statutes found in his word in song.  Do you find yourself worshipping God in song?  This is something that can be identified w/those who confess that they're just passing through.  Today we'll be partaking of the Lord's Supper and it's important that this is very clear:  One must be a believer and follower of the Lord, you must be His disciple.  Do you have an interest in God's holy book?  Is that faith in the word b/c you believe the statutes of God to be true and embrace them?  Do you have a hunger for the word that you didn't have before the Spirit began to work in you, do you live unto Christ?  Paul warns us of those who "eat and drink unworthily" in 1 Cor 11:17-21 and of the dire consequences.  He would have each person to examine himself, not so much to determine worthiness, for who is worthy? But as v 29 indicates, “not discerning the Lord's body”, we are to seriously consider our relationships w/in the body of Christ.  Are we acting in ways that vividly portray the unity of the one bread, one body?  Are we conducting ourselves in a way that  declares the self-sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, or selfishness?  How do we fit in w/the body of Christ?  Some of the professors of Christianity at Corinth needed to examine themselves.  They were prideful and had groups, the poor always ate last.  We should be thinking about the very sacrifice Christ made.  Remember his cry, "My God why has thou forsaken me?"  He was the only One who could legitimately ask that question.  He wasn't slaughtered for his sins, but for ours.