## How Does It Work?

## Psalm 119:9-16

June 25, 1963 the Supreme Court struck down legislation that would allow school prayer. The case was Engel V. Vitale. It was a 22 word prayer that went like this:

"Almighty God we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country".

Since then:

- Teen pregnancies up 400%
- Our parents...Divorce rate has 600%
- Our teachers...S.A.T. scores at an all time low
- Our country...

When we remove God from the human equation, man is left without hope and without a standard of truth to direct us.

Last week we began a series of messages from the longest psalm in the Bible. Ps. 119. The psalm is divided into 22 sections of 8 verses each. The entire psalm speaks of the Word. Last week we saw what the Word would do for us. This week we want to see how it will work.

Read: v9-16

Many Christians become discouraged because of personal failures in their spiritual lives. Some have said, "Christianity? No thanks, I tried it and it didn't work!" Often believers fail because they get three important aspects of Christianity out of order.

1. Worship God

2. Walk with God

3. Work for God

If we try to do them in any other order we are destined to fail. Note vs 9 begins with 'Wherewithal' or How? The attitude most dangerous to Christians is passiveness. Christianity is offensive in nature. It strives for a goal Phil 3:14.

(Phil 3:14) "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

There are three things with the Word of God that must happen in the heart of any believer who would strive for this goal.

I. Focus The Heart v9

A. What is our DIRECTION 'Taking heed' [taking seriously]

1. An attitude resolved to adjust the way ones life at whatever point it doesn't line up with the Word of God.

(Prov 28:9) "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

2. No matter how good etc...the bottom line is our heart attitude toward the Word.

(Dan 1:8) "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."

(Ezek 33:32) "And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not."

B. Lookout for some dangers. 10

(Heb 2:1) "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."

1. This is just one of five warnings given.

2. These are warnings of God's chastisement.

3. But the psalmist is afraid, not because of chastisement---his fear is to wander from the sweet fellowship of the Word of God.

4. There are tremendous dangers for the believer who wanders away from the Word of God!

II. Feed The Heart v11-12

A. Do we have a teachable spirit? V11

(Jer 10:23-24) "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. {24} O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing."

1. Some people do not go want to go any further.

2. Some could, but do not wish to submit to God in this area.

3. Note: Eph 4:11-12

(Eph 4:11-12) "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; {12} For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"

4. 'Edifying' means building up or growing up.

5. That will not happen unless we are teachable in the things of the Word.

B. Be Reachable v12

1. The more we get to know the Word of God, the more we will love the God of the Word.

2. The more we love God, the more we will love the Word of God.

3. We need to be open to the correcting power of God's Word in our lives.

C. Be Usable v13-14

1. The Dead Sea is aptly named.

2. It does not sustain life, it is dead.

3. There is an inlet, but no outlet.

4. For us to be usable in God's plan of redemption we must realize that we must be involved in giving as well as receiving.

5. The proof of real learning is being able to teach others.

(2 Tim 2:2) "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

6. We must:

a. Proclaim the Word v13

b. Prize the Word v14-15

c. Prove the Word v16

III. Fix The Heart v15-16

A. Fix = to establish

1. We must determine that we will prove the Word of God in our lives every day.

2. Meditation in God's Word will lead us into right paths.

3. The practicality of the Bible is that it applies to our everyday life in every area if we will meditate upon it.

B. Delight = to look upon with pleasure

1. The psalmist used this in reference to the Word of God.

2. The Word is not something to be regretted or neglected, but rather it is to be a joyful part of our lives.

3. Living according to God's principles as outlined for us in His Word is not restrictive, but it is truly liberating!

4. I'm free because Jesus Christ set me free on Calvary, and the Truth sets me free daily as I live out the Word of God in my life.

(John 8:32) "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

C. "I will not forget Thy Word"

1. James talked about the man who read the Word, but immediately forgot what he read.

(James 1:25) "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

2. The best way to avoid the above is to keep It alive in our daily life by practice.

3. We cannot do what we do not know, and we cannot know what we do not learn, and we cannot learn unless we are teachable.

4. Not teachable by me, as your pastor, but teachable by the Holy Spirit of God.

John 16:13a, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:"

First we must "Worship God" then we "Walk with God" and then we can do a "Work for God". For us to be able to keep these straight we must:

- Focus The Heart v9-10
- Feed The Heart v11-14
- Fix The Heart v15-16

What is your need tonight?