THY WORD
Ps 119:9-11 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
a.) This is probably one of the most popular, deep & profound verse of scripture found in the O.T.
- It reveals the deep desire, the deep longing of one who wants to live right before God!
- & he specifically asks “how can a young person stay on the path of purity?”
- & he answers his own question, “by living according to your word”
- The psalmist understood that God’s word was the heart & mind of God & profitable for living & overcoming in life!
1. Now, the Psalmist begins verse 11 by acknowledging God’s word.
2. The Psalmist says “Thy word” which means “commandment, speech, word”
b.) In the O.T. the word of God played a major part in the lives of many of the bible patriarchs & figures!
First of all concerning God’s word, in Gen, we see God speaking the world into existence by his spoken word!
So in that we know that the word of God is very powerful!
1. In the O.T. the word of God was revered as real, truth & powerful!
-For them, it was there guide, their instruction, their inspiration, their strength, comfort, protection & means of prosperity or success!
Jos 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Deu 5:32 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. (33) Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
2. King David said: That the word of the lord was “flawless” in 2 Sam 22:31
3. It was considered fulfilling to the soul & to make one wise, complete & totally secure! (Ps 19:7)
Psa_119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psa_119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. (revived me, or brought me to a place of life)
Psa_119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psa 119:105 Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.
c.) Basically God’s word was His promise!
1. The O.T. teaches us that when everything else fades, fails & disappears, the word of God will stand forever! Isa 40:8
Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
2. This is talking about God’s word in terms of His promises!
- God’s promises will never fade, fail or disappear!
2. The N.T.
a.) The N.T. teaches us that God’s Word is alive, active & powerful!
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick ( or alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
1. The writer of Hebrews wants us to know that the word of God is alive, living, active, effective, energetic, efficient, & powerful!
2. He tells us that it’s sharper than any two– edged sword.
3. It pierces & penetrates & reaches deep into the depths of the heart & separates & bares all!
- It lays open the real motives & feelings of a man or woman & reveals what & who they really are!!
- The writer of Hebrews wants us to know that the word of God is so powerful that it has the ability to reach deep into the recesses of one’s heart & judge a person’s thoughts & intentions!
- God’s word is so dynamic, so powerful that it has the ability to get a man to face himself & let him see his real character!
- We see the outside but God sees the heart & judges the thoughts & intents of the heart!
II. HIDDEN TREASURE.
1. The Word Of God.
a.) The psalmist says that he “hid” the comfort & the power of God’s word in his heart!
Ps 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in my heart….”
1. The word “hid” means: “to hide, to conceal” “so as to keep secret or private!
- It’s also means to hide one’s thoughts, purposes & designs in one’s heart!
2. It also means to lay up “treasure” into one’s heart!
- In essence the psalmist considered God’s word as a treasure, as the most valuable thing he possessed, & he stored it, he hid it like buried treasure in his heart!
- & It was the hidden treasure of God’s word that governed, ruled & directed his life!
- It was the hidden treasure of God’s word where he found comfort & strength!
- It was the hidden treasure of God word where he found the inspiration to live for God & to love God!
-He hid God’s thoughts, purpose & design for his life that God confirmed thru his word in his heart, he buried them in his heart!
- How many of you believe that God has a plan, a design & purpose for your life!
- I believe that God has designed great things for you confirmed by his word!
- You’re not here on this earth without a purpose!
-You’re not here just to exist & wander aimlessly with out purpose, but God has a good plan for your life!
- & I believe that God has spoken this into some of your lives & you need to treasure that word!
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
b.) The meaning of the word “Hid” means “to keep secret, private or inaccessible.”
1. I’ve learned thru the years that Christians are good at keeping secrets & hiding things in their hearts.
- They’re hiding everything in their heart but God’s word!
2. A lot Christians are doing things in secret & no one suspects anything because it’s all done in private & in secrecy!
- The bible calls them secret sins!
c.) & a lot of Christians are struggling with secret sins.
1. They don’t want to be in this position & yet they are, & in turn they’re filled with guilt & condemnation because of the secret sin!
-The thing about secret sin is that it doesn’t allow you to be real!
-You have to put on a show to let everyone around you know that you’re OK & yet inside you’re being eaten away by secret sin!
- Also, secret sin robs you of life & real joy & you walk around waiting for God to pound you to the ground!
d.) Secret sin is widespread.
1. You’d be surprised to find out how many secrets there are in church!
(1) Secret hate!
(2) Secret un-forgiveness!
(3) Secret bitterness! (It’s one of the best kept secrets in church!)
(4.) Secret jealousy & envy!
(5) Secret prejudices!
(6) Secret uncontrolled lusts!
2. Then, there are sins that Christian do in secret, behind closed doors!
- One of the most prevalent is internet pornography!
- Last week we heard about the dangers of pornography at men discipleship!
- I think we know that it’s just wrong to watch porn & in the end it’ll mess you up!
- & you know what, the devil is laughing at you as you struggle & attempt to free yourself from porn!
3. Also there are secrets of the past.
(1) You might have had an abortion.
(2) You might’ve been abused or molested & you been hiding all your life, it’s time to talk to Jesus & get some help & healing!
(3) Maybe something has happen in the past that was not your fault & you’ve been living with guilt for a life for some thing you didn’t do, God wants to help to set you free!
c.) The truth is, these secret sins aren’t really a secret because God knows all about them & he wants to help!
Psa 90:8 You know about all our sins. You see every one of our secret sins.
1. The bible teaches us that if we don’t deal with it then God will reveal it!
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
2. Your Heart.
a.) The psalmist gives us a way where we can over-come sin!
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
1. The psalmist hid God’s word in his heart to protect, to keep & shield him from sinning against God!
Note: You’ll notice that when you sin, you sin against God!
2. The psalmist deeply desired to have God’s word as a continual source in his life that would guide him, direct him & deter him from falling into sin!
-Listen, if God’s word is only black ink on paper & not in your heart, then don’t be surprised when you’re over-taken by sin!!
- If God’s word is going to be effective in keeping us from sin, it’s got to be a treasure hidden in our hearts!
- It’s got to be the most valued thing in your life!
- You got to deeply bury it as treasure in your heart!
-A lot of people have it in their brain, but they don’t have it as a treasure in their heart!
- But it’s got to be buried as a valued treasure in your heart!
- It got to be the hidden treasure of God’s word that governs, rules & directs our life!
- It’s got to be the hidden treasure of God’s word where we find our comfort & strength!
- It’s got to be the hidden treasure of God’s word where we find our inspiration & motivation!!
- It’s got to be the hidden treasure of God’s word where we find the power to over-come sin!
b.) How does one have God’s word as a treasure in his heart?
- Simply put, by reading it!
1. If we’re going to be conquerors, if we’re going to be winners, then the word of
God is going to have to find its way into the heart!
- If it’s not in the heart, then it doesn’t work!
2. I want to encourage God’s people to fill your heart with the treasure of God’s word!
c.) Also, what secret, what secret sin are you hiding from God?
1. The truth is, He’s knows all about it & he wants to help you!
- He loves & adores you as his son/daughter & he wants to help you!
