Celebrate God’s Word Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Today we are going to continue with our theme of Celebration. I believe we should celebrate every day because we have the gift of life. I want us to focus on a great gift we have from God, His Word!

• The Bible has been the top selling book for years. There have been roughly 6 billion bibles sold worldwide since about 1816. How many bibles do you have in your home?

• I have at least 8 in my office not including all the bible software programs I have. I hope you all have your bible with you today!

• According to Barna Research Institute their studies suggest that 47% of Americans read the Bible every week and 91% of homes in the USA contain at least 1 Bible. The average home contains 4 bibles. (http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/12/18/061218fa_fact1)

• In 2005 Americans purchased over 25 million bibles, twice as many as the then new Harry Potter books sold. In a typical year in the US over 25 million bibles are sold.

• We can go get a bible at so many places, we will not jeopardize our life for owning a bible as some in the world have to deal with and we are not one of the people groups in which the bible has not be translated as of yet.

• I have said before that when we have a lot of something, when something is easy to obtain, we tend not to give it a lot of appreciation.

• Today I want us to see four of many reasons as to why we can celebrate God’s Word!

• We will be in Psalm 119 but we will not cover at 172 verses. Our focus will be on verses 89-105.

• We will start with verses 89-91

• SLIDE #2

• Psalm 119:89–91 (ESV) 89 Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. 91 By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

We can celebrate God’s Word because God’s Word has…

I. The power of permanence.

• We can spend a lot of time talking about how quickly the world around us changes. WE can also talk along time about how people around us change.

• How people think changes over time. Sometimes that is good and sometimes that is bad.

• People can be fickle.

• Verse 89 gives us reason to celebrate because it reminds us that God’s Word is FIRMLY FIXED in the heavens!

• The Psalmist is distressed but yet he gains encouragement from the fact that God’s Word is immutable or put in a different way, unchangeable or permanent!

• Jesus says something similar in Matthew 24:35

• SLIDE #4

• Matthew 24:35 (ESV) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

• Isaiah 40:8 also reminds us of the same thing.

• SLIDE #5

• Isaiah 40:8 (ESV) The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

• Why does the fact that God’s Word is permanent give us cause to celebrate?

• The big reason is we can count on what it says. How tragic would it be to live a life of faithful service to God only to get to heavens gates to be rejected because God changed His mind as to what it takes to be a part of His family?

• VERSE 90 reminds us concerning God, “Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.”

• We can live a consistent life in Christ because we know what pleases God and what pleases God does not change from day to day. People change, what they used to please them can change, but with God we can count on Him.

• SLIDE #6

• Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

• Let’s turn to verses 92-96 of Psalm 119

• SLIDE #7

• Psalm 119:92-96 says: 92If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. 94I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. 95The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. 96I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

• SLIDE #8

We can celebrate God’s Word because God’s Word has…

II. The power to save.

• The Psalmist is speaking in the context of saving his physical life.

• The Psalmist was distraught and would have been utterly lost because of the afflictions that beset him. The Psalmist knew however, that since he belonged to God, he could depend on God to rescue hi, or to save him from the hand of his enemies!