Message for THE LORD'S DAY EVENING, March 9, 2014 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister TOPIC: Blessings, God, Thanksgiving
Daily God Loads Us With His Benefits Psalm 68:19 (NKJV)
Our scripture text comes to us this evening from Psalm 68, verse 19. Psalm 68:19 (NKJV) Blessed be the LORD, Who daily loads us with benefits. The God of our salvation!” PRAYER >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> INTRODUCTION Have you ever been reading your Bible when all the sudden a verse just leaps off the page and grabs your attention? Not long ago in my morning devotions, I was reading this 68th Psalm, when this 19TH VERSE grabbed my attention in a way it never has before. I have read this Psalm many, many times over the years, but I have never had this one verse stop me in my tracks like it did that day. All of you who have worked or are currently working a public job know how vitally important EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS are. In addition to one's regular salary or wage, some employers provide HEALTH INSURANCE which may or may not include prescription, vision and dental plans.......... RETIREMENT BENEFITS such as a 401K, ............TERM LIFE INSURANCE.........and even EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS to certain amusement parks or local theaters and restaurants. Those benefits or “perqs” as we sometimes call them are an important part of your over all income.
As with many things in life, we don't fully appreciate OUR BENEFITS until we are in danger of losing them or have had them taken away. Millions of Americans have experienced this with regards to their health care benefits being cancelled as a result of this government enforced, government regulated atrocity called “Obamacare.” Isn't it comforting to know that GOD NEVER CANCELS HIS BENEFITS? As we focus on this beautiful 19TH VERSE there are two important thoughts for us to consider: First, let's consider that..............
I.
Daily God Loads Us With His Benefits 1. There are certain benefits that Christians and non-Christians alike enjoy each day. In Matthew 5:45 Jesus said, “He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” 2. Christians and non-Christians alike get to enjoy the benefit of seeing a beautiful sunrise and sunset. sunset Christians and non-Christians alike get to enjoy the benefit of the beauty of creation,.........the the air we creation breathe........and the fruit of the land that we live upon. 3. Just taking these blessings into account, one would think there is no real benefit to being a Christian as opposed to being a nonChristian. But as we will see in just a moment, Christians have very distinct benefits that non-Christians do not have. 4. Before we look at some of our wonderful benefits, let's take this verse apart phrase by phrase.
(A)
v.19a
“Blessed be the LORD.”
When that word “blessed” is used in the scriptures in relation to man, it typically means, HAPPY. HAPPY But when the word “blessed” is used in relation to GOD, it means to “PRAISE PRAISE or APPLAUD Him enthusiastically.” No one is more deserving of praise and applause than the LORD! Every benefit we have in this life comes from the LORD. JAMES 1:17 (NKJV) Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. There is nothing you or I have that we didn't receive from the LORD. There is nothing you or I have accomplished or achieved in life, but what the Lord didn't bless us with the skills and the ability and the strength to do it. We owe everything to GOD! BLESSED BE THE LORD!
(B)
v. 19b “Blessed be the LORD who DAILY...........” Suppose someone showed up at your doorstep tomorrow morning with a pick up truck loaded with everything you would need for the day. There's enough food to feed you and your family three square meals, clothes for you and every family member to wear tomorrow........a bed , a blanket and a pillow for everyone to sleep on.........and a guard dog to protect you and your family from intruders. Boy wouldn't that be nice to have someone looking after your needs like that tomorrow? But let's say that person shows up at your house the next day with a pickup load of daily provisions for you. And they come back the next day, and the next day, and the day after that week after week, month after month, year after year? The LORD doesn't drive a pickup, at least that we know of, but in essence He has been showing up at your house and mine every day for the past thirty...........forty...........fifty.........sixty years or more to bring His daily provisions. BLESSED BE THE LORD WHO DAILY................
(C)
v. 19c “Blessed be the LORD Who daily
LOADS US WITH
BENEFITS! BENEFITS! Illustration: When I was in grade school we had a lady who worked in the cafeteria named Mrs. Ross. Mrs. Ross happened to be a member of my home Church where my dad ministered. Mrs. Ross knew how much I loved mashed potatoes, so when I would go through the line, she would LOAD my tray with an extra helping of mashed potatoes. And any time we had “pizza burgers” Mrs. Ross would give me 2-3 extra ones because she knew how much I loved them.
That is how GOD is with us when it comes to “dishing out” His blessings and benefits. He doesn't “skimp!” He doesn't “shortchange us.” HE LOADS US WITH BENEFITS. That means He gives us far more than we expect...........far more than we deserve........and far more than we could ever imagine.
5.
What are some of the benefits the LORD loads our lives with every day? Let's begin with the most obvious, one that is right here in this 19TH verse and that is........ (1)
The benefit of SALVATION. SALVATION. v. 19 Blessed be the LORD, Who daily loads us with benefits, the GOD OF OUR SALVATION. One of the greatest benefits that you and I enjoy as Christians is knowing that every day when we wake up that we have been SAVED by the BLOOD of Jesus Christ and we are no longer the objects of God's WRATH. WRATH. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:1, 2 (NKJV) “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Most of the people we share this planet with are lost in their sins and on their way to a horrible eternity of torment and punishment. You and I have the wonderful benefit of knowing when this life is over we will spend our eternity with God.
(2) The benefit of God's MERCIES. MERCIES. Lamentations 3:22,23 (NKJV) Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not, they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. God's mercies are new every morning. That means every day when you and I get out of bed God gives us a “clean slate.” He doesn't hold yesterday's SINS and FAILURES against us. Every day is a “fresh start” for the child of God. God wants you and me to live each day and VICTORY, not wallow in yesterday's DEFEATS.
(3)
The benefit of God's GRACE. GRACE. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Not only did God SAVE us by His grace when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, His grace SUSTAINS us each and every day. On a practical level, that means that no matter what you and I face each day........no matter how heavy our burdens.......no matter how great our trials.......God's GRACE is sufficient to sustain us.
(4)
The benefit of God's HOLY SPIRIT. SPIRIT. Romans 8:26 (NKJV) Likewise the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. What would it be worth to you to have A TRUSTED ADVISER you could turn to every day knowing that he would always give you the right wisdom and guidance on every decision you make and would point your feet in the right direction every time? You and I have such a trusted adviser in the Holy Spirit!
Think of the billions of people in the world who are wandering aimlessly through life with no sense of purpose or direction. They seek guidance and direction from false gods......or......horoscopes..... or they turn to psychics.......or they pay big bucks to professional counselors or Life Coaches. You and I have the wonderful benefit of the indwelling Spirit of God!
(5)
We have the benefit of God's LOVE. LOVE. Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, not things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of GOD which is in Christ Jesus our LORD. One of the greatest of all human needs is to be loved. Everyone of us needs to know that our life matters to someone. God loves you and me with an unconditional love. No matter how miserable our failures.......no matter how big our mistakes......nothing can ever separate us from the love of God.
(6)
We have the benefit of God's FAITHFULNESS Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” People aren't always faithful to us. Sometimes when we fail, people we thought were our friends give up on us. Sometimes when we go through difficult times, people we thought were our friends abandon us. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He will stick with us through “thick and thin”........through every mountain and valley of life.
(7)
We have the benefit of God's JOY. JOY. James 1:2-4 (NKJV) My brethren, COUNT IT ALL JOY when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. God never promised any of us that we would always be “happy” about everything we have to go through in this life. But He did promise us an inward joy in the midst of our trials. That inward joy comes from having the calm assurance that God has everything under control and that when all is said and done He will work all things together for my good.
(8)
We have the benefit of God's PEACE. PEACE. Philippians 4:6,7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The late Vance Havner used to say, “If you don't come apart and pray you will simply come apart.” One of the wonderful benefits of being a child of God is that in the midst of life's greatest storms God gives us an overwhelming sense of peace that the world cannot comprehend. It is that peace that comes from knowing that God is with us in the storm.
6.
Time does not permit us to consider many of the other benefits the Lord “LOADS LOADS US WITH “ every day, such as the benefits of HOPE...... COMFORT......PROTECTION......COURAGE......and FORGIVENESS and a host of others.
Because God is so gracious and so generous with us, what should be our response to Him?
II.
Daily We Should Load God With Our Praise and Thanksgiving Please turn with me over to Psalm 103:1,2 (NKJV)........ 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, (now listen) AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS. BENEFITS.
1. The late Adrian Rogers once said, “There are basically four levels of life. The first is represented by people who are constantly
complaining and grumbling. They brighten the room just by leaving it. The second level includes people who just live lives of ingratitude.They don't complain, but yet they never thank God for His blessings.That's a little better, but not much. The third level of people are those who thank God for His obvious blessings. When something good happens, they are grateful. That's a better level. But there is a fourth level and that is those people who have learned to be grateful for all things at all times. This is the highest level, for these people have learned the secret of joy.” 2. Three times in these two verses David admonishes us to “bless” the Lord. Remember earlier we learned that to “bless the Lord” means to “praise Him or applaud Him enthusiastically.” 3. We have already learned that DAILY THE LORD LOADS US WITH BENEFITS. That means the very least we can do in return is to DAILY LOAD THE LORD WITH OUR PRAISES AND THANKSGVING. 4. David says, “Let all that is within me bless His Holy Name.” The late John Stevenson explained this phrase so eloquently......... “Let your CONSCIENCE bless the Lord with unwavering fidelity. Let your JUDGMENT bless the Lord by decisions that are in accord with His word. Let your AFFECTIONS bless the Lord by loving what He loves. Let your DESIRES bless the Lord by seeking only His glory. Let your THOUGHTS bless the Lord by meditating upon His excellencies. Let your HOPE bless the Lord by longing for the glory to be revealed. Let your EVERY ACT bless the Lord by its integrity!”
4. David says, “Forget not all His benefits.” In other words, “Don't leave anything out!” “When you think you have thanked God for everything, THINK HARDER and more will come to you. Like the song says, “Count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!” 5. Daily let us LOAD the LORD with our PRAISES and THANKSGIVING! ************************************************************ CONCLUSION Contemporary Christian music artist Matt Redman, recorded a beautiful song several years ago entitled: 10,000 REASONS. The lyrics of that song are very fitting as we close this evening. Listen carefully............. "10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)" Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul, worship His holy name Sing like never before O my soul, I'll worship Your holy name The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning, it's time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me Let me be singing when the evening comes You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger Your name is great, and Your heart is kind For all Your goodness I will keep on singing Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find And on that day when my strength is failing The end draws near and my time has come Still my soul will sing Your praise unending Ten thousand years and then forevermore Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul Worship His holy name, sing like never before O my soul, I'll worship Your holy name. (Pick up Bible and read PSALM 68:19 to close)
BLESSED BE THE LORD, WHO DAILY LOADS US WITH BENEFITS. THE GOD OF OUR SALVATION!
