West Lynchburg

1. We are useless, but the Lord builds the house

2. We are selfish, but the Lord rewards us with children

• Children are a gift, not a burden

• Children are a protection to parents as they grow older

• Parents are overjoyed with a full house

3. Fear the Lord, not man

4. Provide a full house

5. God delights in blessing his family

Psalm 39 - The Fragility of Man Before God- Robert Garber

1. Background of the author

2. Family History

3. Personal history

4. Interpersonal Relationship History

5. The ending

1) Do not compromise the Authority of God.

2) Seek after God’s Authority for your life with intentionality and intensity.

It is important (crucial and commanded) to teach the succeeding generations the faith passed down (vs 1-4)

1) We are to teach them in ways that they can understand (vs 2-3)

2) We are to teach them the failures of the past so that they won't repeat them (v. 8)

3) We are to teach them the great deeds and faithfulness of God (7)

4) We are to teach them that the Lord disciplines those whom He loves (v9-69)

5) We are also to teach them of God's great provision (V. 70-72)

Are you an enthusiastic worshipper?

Enthusiastic worship is external…

Shouts (v1) Thanks (v2) Sings (v3) Plays (v3)

3 Reasons Enthusiastic Worship is Possible

1) God speaks: His Powerful WORD (v4-9)

2) God plans: His Perfect PLAN (v10-12)

3) God sees: His Protective LOVE (v13-19)

Enthusiastic worship is internal...

Waits (v20) Trusts (v21) Hopes (v22)

1) Recognize the Plight of Man (v1-3)

a. Universal Rebellion (v1-2a); b. The Heart of Sin (v2b-3)

2) Regard God (v4-6)

a. The Position of God (v4a); b. The Disposition of God (v5 ) 

3) Rejoice in His Coronation (v7-9)

a. Preeminence (v7); b. Possession (v8); c. Power (v9)

4) Reconsider Your Ways (v10-12)

a. Reverence (v10-11a); b. Rejoicing (v11b); c. Refuge (v12)

Central theme of Psalms 42/43: “Finding renewed Hope when my soul is downcast.”

Sermon in a Sentence: “How do you talk to a downcast soul?”

(v.1-3) The Psalmist’s desperate thirst for God’s presence and his inner spiritual turmoil: Parched, Thirsty, Longing, Desperation, Weeping, Fasting.

(v.4) The Psalmist’s condition made worse by his bitter-sweet memories of worship with God’s people.

(v.5-11) The Psalmist's fight to overcome spiritual depression by talking “Hope” into his downcast soul. What do you say to a down-cast soul?

We learn the necessity to…

1) …be grateful towards God. (v1-3)

2) …experience God’s power and protection. (v4-7)

3) …live a Godly life (v8-14)

4) …allow God to be God (v15-22)

Psalm 32:1 “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Romans 4:7-8, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered, blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Rom 3:10-11 “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.”

Mark 10:17-18, “And as He was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”

Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Romans 3:21-25, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.”

2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Psalm 4:1, “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!”

Psalm 71:16, “With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.”

Psalm 24:5, “He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

Gift #1 - God will give you passions that persist (v1-2)

Gift #2 - God will give you pursuits that prosper (v3-4)

Gift #3 - God will give you protections that are permanent (v5-6)

Psalm 34:8, Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!