All of us have basic needs - physical, emotional, social, etc. But our greatest needs are spiritual. Psalm 34:1-7 tells us some creative ways to meet our spiritual needs.
I. Vss. 1-3 - We need to offer up praise A. Vs. 1 - Pray continually. B. Vs. 2 - Boast in the Lord. C. Vs, 3 - Magnify, or exalt, the Lord. II. Vss. 4-5 - We need to seek the Lord in our problems. A. Vs. 4. David sought the Lord, God heard him and delivered him. B. Vs. 5 - "Lighened" means that they had a "glow about them....." Their lights are shining as Jesus demanded..... C. Vs. 5b - They were not ashamed.... III. Vs. 6 - We need to overcome by seeking God. A. He cried...... B. He was heard. C. He was delivered. IV. Vs. 7 - We need to know that God has our backs - so to speak. A. God sends His "ministering spirits," angels to minister to us. B. He has sent more than we have seen... C. Our spiritual needs can be met through the ministry of angels. God wants to meet your spiritual needs and He has given us a good reminder of how He can do this in Psalm 34:1-7
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Paul usually closed his letters with some good advice about living the Christian life. Our text is a case in point. I call it a "Recipe for an Effective Christian LIfe." Here is the recipe:
I. Vs. 1 - Stand fast A. Stand fast on the word - the Bible. B. Stand fast on the issues. Not every political issue is a Christian issue, but abortion and same sex marriage, for example, are moral issues that are not just politics. C. Stand fast on the church. II. Vss. 2-3 - Quit fussing A. Two powerful women who had been good workers, were evidently fussing and people were evidently taking sides. B. Paul advised them to help the women I think that this meant they were not to take sides, which is what keeps fussing going. C. This is an ongoing problem in churches and needs to be dealt with. III. Vs. 4 - Rejoice A. Sometimes its hard to tell whether we are at a celebration of Jesus' resurrection or his funeral. B. People are attracted to joyful people, and that is what we are supposed to be. C. Do you rejoice, or do you have an attitude of rejoicing? IV. Vss. 5-7 - Pray A. Some say "when all else fails, pray". It should be "before all else fails, pray." B. Instead of being careful and anxious we need to take all things to the Lord. C. Look at the great promise of what prayer will do in your life and make it more effective for the Lord. V. Vs. 8 - Think right A. Look at this list of virtues. We should seek all of them. B. This verse describes an effective Christian life. You can take John 3:16 and tell people how to be saved and this verse and tell them how to live the Christian life. C. These are what we should show the world. Based on these are you really attempting to live and effective Christian life? I think youu will agree that this is a good recipe for an effective Christian life. People want to live the good life and to acheive it, some gamble, cheat and steal to pursue it. The good life cannot be bought, nor can it be found in worldly pursuits. The real good life is found in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Our text tells us, from the standpoint of our relationship with Jesus, how we can live the good life.
I. Vs. 13a - Watch your tongue. A. Do not speak with an evil tongue. B. Do not speak evil. James 3:6a 1. Words can help or hurt, heal or wound, encourage or discourage. 2. Be careful about the words you use. Illustration: "Never throw mud. You might miss your mark, but you will have dirty hands." (J. Parker) C. Vs. 13b - Tell the truth. 1. "Truth might hurt, but lies kill." Lies kill trust and intimacy. 2. Good cannot come from anything but truth. 3. Above all, be true to yourself. Can any less be expected of a Christian? II. Vs. 14a - Live a good life. A. "Depart from evil..." 1. If you walked into your house and saw a rattle snake at the door you would not walk over it, you would depart from it. Treat evil the same way. 2. Depart from evil, for evil only causes more evil. No good ever comes from Evil. Ask David! 3. Depart from all evil, even that evil that might not look evil to you. B. "And do good..." 1. Departing from evil is only half of the good life. Doing good completes it. Jesus leads us to be aggressively good. 2. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will only lead us to do good. Illustration: I read of a tombstone inscription: "Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can." C. Get this point: There is no good in evil! III. Vs. 14b - Live in peace. A. We live in peace when we seek peace. 1. Live in peace within yourself. 2. Seek peace with other people. Romans 12:18 If you want a fuss, you can get it, but it is better to want and seek peace. B. We live in peace when we pursue peace. 1. Pursue it through prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 2. Pursue it through your personal relationship with Jesus. 3. Pursue it through love and respect for other people. C. Live in peace and be at peace. I think that you will agree that if we watch what we say, stay away from evil and live in peace, that you can live a good life. Take it and go with it!!!! |
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