8/10/2019 b. Psalm 119.9-16.pdf

1/5

8/10/2019 b. Psalm 119.9-16.pdf

2/5

2 It can be quite relaxing or quite stressful depending upon who it is!

When you become a Christian you become a beth-el, a dwelling

place of God.

In our homes, if you have been out in the garden and there is muck on

your shoes or Wellingtons you take them off; if you have been working at

something and your hands are all dirty, you wash them; if your clothes

are filthy, you leave them out to be cleaned, and you put on fresh clothes.

It is the way it is we try to keep our homes clean.

Now, as a Christian, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?

You are living with God now, He is not a visitor who comes and goes, He

is a Resident, - your home is His home, your heart is where He lives.

What people sees of God is what they see through you. God never

goes on holiday, once He comes to live in your life He never goes away, -He never leaves you.

In the middle of the night He is there, when you get up in the

morning He is there, He is there with you all and every day, He is the

Friend that is closer than any brother or any member of your family.

When you become a Christian God moves in and takes

permanent residency.

Christian, you are living with God. That is tremendous! Its

fantastic! I am living with God!

Yes, and am I on my best behaviour now Christ has moved in?

He is perfection I am not. He never does anything wrong that is

offensive to God I sometimes do. How can I go about living the way

He would have me to live? Living with God

LEARNING FROM GOD

Warren Wiersbe made a beautiful little comment, The Bible is the

owners manual and it must be obeyed. The owner is God, His manualis the Bible and He gave it to us that we would obey it.

The psalmist asked the question, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse

his way? and he answered,by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

We have all got the same manual, - the Word of God is absolute

truth and absolute truth never changes, because it never needs any

change. It doesnt mean one thing to you and something else to me.

If our first parents had remained obedient to Gods commandment sin

and the consequences of sin would never have entered this world; therewould never have been any prisons, or any hospitals, - there would have

been no need for them.

8/10/2019 b. Psalm 119.9-16.pdf

3/5

3 You turn to Gods Word, even in the 21stcentury, and it tells you

what God says about murder in all its various forms, - it clearly teaches

against abortion and euthanasia, for example; it tells you what God says

about drunkenness and sodomy and the occult and all the sins that have

ever been committed.

But it also tells you how God wants you to live and He comes and

dwells inside you to help you live how He wants you to live.

He doesnt simply give us a rulebook full of dos and donts and

chastise us when we go wrong He gives us His rulebook and God the

Holy Spirit comes to live inside us to help us to be obedient to it.

He teaches us that All scripture is given by inspiration of God (II Tim.

3:16), - we dont need to worry or not whether we should accept some

parts of it and not others, - He tells us that allof it is to be trusted. It isprofitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in

righteousness.

It is where you are taught sound doctrine not mans fancies and

errors. Sound doctrine is the basis of sound living as a Christian.

Erroneous doctrine leads away from Christ and strips Him of glory,

honour and the sovereignty He so zealously guards. It produces weak and

emaciated believers

It is for reproof, for correction, - it pulls you up when you need to beput right. It leaps out at you from the page and stares you in the eyes

when you need to be corrected. If you are a child of God, you will take on

board how the Word of God reproves and corrects you because you

want your way to be perfect, - you love your Saviour, you know what He

wants and desires; Hes livingwith you and you are willing to take

heed thereto according to [His]word.

You are learning from Himall the time; you are seeking Him with

your whole heart. You wouldnt dream of doing anything contrary to HisWord; when you do fall, it breaks your heart but you return to Him

and He mends it and you resolve not to fall to that sin again.

His Word is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for

instruction in righteousness. Gods Word teaches me about my tongue, my

mind, my heart, my relationships; when Solomon had finished building

the temple in Jerusalem he spoke before the people of Israel and He said

to God, II Chron. 6:17 Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word beverified 18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold,

heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house

which I have built! and he prayed for his people, v.31 That they may fear

thee, to walk in thy ways.

8/10/2019 b. Psalm 119.9-16.pdf

4/5

4

You cannot succeed in the Christian life without adhering to Gods

Word, - it is one of those definites we can be sure about. If you do not

seriously study the Word of God you will not know all that He expects of

you. (Lord, I didnt know! No excuse!). The psalmist pleaded with

Him, v.10 O let me not wander from thy commandments. When youwander, you get lost, and it is not Gods will for you to get lost.

It isa danger, - none of us here should take for granted that any of us

could wander away from God.

Again, we return to what the Bible says about Christ living in us if

we dont look after the house, it points to the fact we have little

consideration for the One living with us, - any old thing will do Him!

You see, Peter wrote something that is worthy of our consideration

here, I Pet. 4:17 the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God.

We are I Pet. 2:5 as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy

priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, and it is His desire and will for

each of His children to do that which isacceptable to God by Jesus Christ. ... And it is through His Word, - there is no substitute, - that we learn

from Him, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee .

Living with God, learning from God

LEANING ON GOD

Some people would rebel against what I have been saying this

morning, they would like to be more in control and tell God what He

wants but God is not like that; we do what Hesays, not the other

way round!

The psalmist understands this, Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy

statutes. I bless You, Lord, for I know You have much to teach me and I

have much to learn You are teaching me teach me much more!

Some people are teachable, others know it all, - it was the same in

Bible times, its the same today. The false prophets and the Pharisees

knew it all, - they knew far better than the men God sent and the Son of

God Himself.

The psalmist, on the other hand, had a teachable spirit, - he realised

that no matter how much he had learned, he had still so much more to

learn.

Being a church member for fifty-sixty years, graduating with degrees

from a theological faculty, being a young person and keeping up-to-datewith all the latest Christian authors and trends doesnt mean you know it

all it simply means you must keep on learning.

8/10/2019 b. Psalm 119.9-16.pdf

5/5

5 One of the things it teaches you is that the more you learnthe more

you lean. You learn that you are livingwith Christ Whose Word never

bends to suit the circumstance. No matter how heavy the burden you are

carrying, He holds you up so you will not fall.

He wants you to be confident in Him; He wants you to trust Him.

You can remember what He has already done for you, v.14 I have

rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches and you can

trust Him for what He will continue to do for you.

He has a will for your life; He has your life mapped out, Job 23:10 he

knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Prov. 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

He knows what is around the corner and He has it there so that

you would look to him, lean on Him and trust Him.

Often we are in so much of a hurry, - and in a panic, - but the

psalmist here teaches us to slow away down and come to God, - He is

never far away: remember, He is living with us, and the psalmist

confidently looks to God, and in this child/father relationship he promises

God, v.15 I will meditate in thy precepts [teachings, commandments, word], andhave respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not

forget thy word.

He is leaningon God and that is how he keeps going.

Conclusion

Beth it is a house, in which, - believer, - you are living with God,

you are learning from God, and you are leaning on God.

There is no mortgage outstanding in this house, - it has all been paid

for, - there is nothing owing.

It is a sound structure, - there is nothing ready to fall in or collapse.

Its Chief Resident is Christ and He has come to live with you.

When the old debt collectors come banging on your door as they used

to, tell them you owe them nothing send them away!

Your house is Gods house, you are privileged to have Him with you.

Keep your house in good condition, - living with God, learning

from God, leaning on God keep it right Eph. 2:20 built upon thefoundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief

corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto anholy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an

habitation of God through the Spirit.