The Secret Power of the Word of God
Psalm 119:9-16
The movement we take our eyes off Jesus, there are going to be all kinds of problems, all kinds of offenses. Today, this morning, I would like to teach you the importance of keeping your eyes on Jesus. But how do we keep our eyes on Jesus? By constantly keeping our eye on the Word of God.
The secret of God’s protection is in the secret of His presence. And the secret of God’s presence is in the secret of keeping His Word.
Now, before we read this section of the Psalm, I want to tell you a few things about Psalm 119. It is 176 verses. It is the longest psalm in the Bible, and it is divided into 22 sections. When we see Psalm 119 in our bible, each section is numbered by the Hebrew alphabet. The first letter is Aleph, which is equivalent to A. That’s the beginning; Aleph, Beth, B, and so on. Each of these sections have different emphasis, but they all hold importance to the Word of God.
Today let us meditate on the second section of B. B equivalent to the second letter of Hebrew alphabet of Beth. How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to your Word. Psalm 119:9. This section of psalm 119 tells that the only real protection a person can have is when the Word of God finds a home. That’s why the letter Beth. Beth means “a house.” We all know that Bethlehem means, house of bread. Unless the Word of God finds a home in our hearts we can’t have a protection in our family. That’s why the Apostle Paul said, in Colossians 3:16 ‘Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, and singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Where? In your hearts.
But there is a great difference. The Word of God makes a difference. There is a great difference between fighting the enemy with our own strength or trying to overcome temptation by our own strength and fighting in the power of the Word of God. That is why psalm 119:9-16 tells us two very important things. In the Word of God:
I. There is an Indescribable Power: (verses 9-12)
First it tells us about this indescribable power of the Word of God in verses 9-12. Then it tells us about the incalculable preeminence of the Word of God in verses 13-16. The question is how do we experience the power of the Word of God? Verse 9 tells us that it has the power to cleanse us, and in verse 10 tells us that it has the power to control us. And in verse 11: it tells that it has the power to correct us. Here it is: Cleanse, Control, and Correct.
a) The Power of the Word of God cleanse us:
Psalm 119:9 says, How can a young man cleanse his or her way? By taking heed according to the Word of God. The Psalmist is saying that when it comes to character and conduct, no amount of goodwill, no amount of good intentions, no amount of good efforts, no amount of good anything will achieve the desired effect. He is telling us something that the world will never comprehend or understand. He is saying, “The younger you begin filling the mind and the heart with the Word of God, the more of his power you experience when you grow up”. The younger you begin to make your heart a home for the Word of God, the more peaceful, contented, and joyful you will be later on.
There are many people on this earth who suffer from these awful addictions and destructive behaviors. Because of their addictions they have the inability to relate to their spouse, and the inability to socialize, and just to love another person. These are all the results of bad seeds that have been planted early in life. Habits in an undisciplined life begins early in life, but through the grace of God, at any age and at any stage, the Word of God, when it is applied, it has the power to purify. Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him: "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Martin Luther, standing before the Diet of Worms and before Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, said: "Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves) I am bound by the Scriptures. I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God." The power of the word of God not only cleanses, but it also controls.
b) The Power of the Word Controls us:
Psalm 119:10: “With my whole heart I have sought you; Oh let me not wander from your commandments!” In other words, “Keep me under the control of the Word of God.” Situational ethics, which is taught in many Christian environments and Christian colleges, teaches that our actions depend on the circumstances. They just depend on the surroundings. But God’s Word said, “Do the right things when nobody’s watching.” When Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, the Bible was not written. The Word of God was not there literally. But Jacob, Isaac, and, most likely, Abraham would have taught Joseph about the Lord. In the times of temptation, Joseph could have thought, “I can get into politics. I can get ahead with Pharaoh’s household. I can become rich. I can become powerful. I could experience success. This is my chance.” But he said, No. Psalm 105:19 says, “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.” The power of the Word of God cleanses, and the power of the Word of God controls us.
c) The power of the Word of God corrects:
Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Why? Because there is indescribable power in the Word of God. Not only will the Bible tell you what is right; it will tell you what is not right. So it is also profitable for "reproof." This word carries the idea of rebuking in order to convict someone when either their behavior is wrong or their belief is wrong. If you will read this Bible it will show you any flaws, any faults, any failures in your life; anything that is causing you to be less than God wants you to be, and do less than God wants you to do.
2 Timothy 3:16 says All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. Now when you read this Bible, it will scan you from head to toe. It will scan both your soul and your spirit, and it will convict you of sin in your life. But not only will the Bible tell you what is right and what is not right, but when you are not right it will tell you how to get on right. So it's also profitable for "correction.”
II. There is incalculable preeminence in the Word of God: (verses 13-16)
Beloved, our generation seems to know the price of everything and the value of nothing. The value of the Word of God is incalculable. There is no calculator that can calculate it. And I would like to give three exercises. They are all from the Word of God. To treasure the Word of God in your hearts is wonderful. It’s very important, but you cannot stop there. For the Word of God to have preeminence, we must learn how to apply the Word of God in every area of our life and in every circumstance we face. I knew some people in the past who memorized the Word of God, and yet their life was contrary to the Word of God. When I was a VBS teacher, during my teen years in our small village, I knew a girl. She has a very devoted christian family. In 2nd grade, she learned, memorized, and would tell the entire chapter of Psalm 119 in front of the congregation. I thought she would be a great leader of the community in future. However, unfortunately, she lost her good spiritual life because of worldly desires. My dear youth, listen to the Word of God. 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
The first exercise is: It causes you to speak it. The Word of God wants you to verbalize it. The second exercise is verses 14 and 15. It says, it causes you to savor it. The Word of God wants you to speak it and savor it. And thirdly, the Word of God causes you to substantiate it.
The first exercise is Speaking the Word of God: Speaking the Word of God in your life. In verse 13 the psalmist said, “ With my lips I have declared. All the judgments of Your mouth.” Dear brothers and sisters, reading the Word of God is wonderful. Meditating upon the Word of God correctly is fantastic. Saturating your mind in the Word of God is absolutely great. For it is going to help you, and it’s going to build you up. It’s going to bless you. And you will experience its power.
First of all verbalize it. How? By sharing with family and friends and whoever will listen. Sharing what? Sharing what the Word of God taught you, and sharing with others how the Word of God enriched your life. Sharing how reading and studying the Word of God, guided you and guided your steps. As you verbalize the Word of God to whomever will listen to you, you are being built from the inside out.
The second exercise is savoring the Word of God: What does that mean? Verse 14, “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.” Suppose you go home this afternoon and you get a phone call. And in that phone call, you’re told that you have a rich uncle whom you really did not know existed. He has died and left you a fortune. How do you react? I mean, you will be jumping up and down, because you’re excited. You might tell your family members. You call them immediately and let them know. You want everybody to know what happened. You call your best friends and you’re celebrating. You are on cloud nine, right. And the psalmist said that this is how you should feel about the Word of God. It's like inheriting a fortune everyday. You are so joyful, you’re overwhelmed, and you cannot wait to share it with others. The preeminence of the Word of God causes us to verbalize the Word of God to others. The preeminence of the Word of God causes us to savor and rejoice in sharing the joy with others.
Thirdly, it is the preeminence of the Word of God that is substantiating your life. Substantiating it, what does that mean? It says in verse 16, “I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. How? by allowing the Word of God to be demonstrated in your life , and by allowing the Word of God to be proven. Now, the Word of God is true whether it’s proven or not, but when you allow it to be proven in your life, you receive blessings like you have never received before.
Take for example the story of David. He was a young man with a small group, and the king of Israel and his whole army was chasing this man. David knew he was the anointed king when he was a young man, and he knew he was going to be king because God keeps His Word. And he has done nothing wrong and everything right. One day, David had the chance to be freed up from all the chasing and from all of his trouble. He had the chance to be delivered from the pain and suffering. David and his crew were walking by, passing a cave, and there was Saul, the king, and his entire army. They were in deep sleep. David had gotten his chance. What an opportunity! David could save his life and save his family and his friends, and also save a lot of headaches and sufferings. However, David not only knew the Word of God, he treasured the Word of God. He also applied the Word of God. He obeyed it, even when it was not to his advantage.
He proved it within his life, and God honored him for it. Demonstrating the Word of God in David’s life taught him that shortcuts, in any decisions you’re making in life, are no good. Shortcuts are filled with worse grief. Shortcuts are short lived. David not only knew the Word of God, but he demonstrated the Word of God in his life. He came as close to the king as to take his cloth and cut a piece of it. Imagine, his crew probably were saying, “Stab him, stab him. He’s asleep, he won’t even know what happened. But David said, ‘No.’ He cut a small piece of the garment in order to prove to the king what the Word of God said: “Harm not God’s anointed. Touch not God’s anointed”. That’s demonstrating the Word of God, and trusting in the Word of God. Trust in God's timing. Let’s say it again: “Trust--”
CONCLUSION
Dear brothers and sisters, knowing the Word of God is good, but not good enough. We must substantiate the Word of God, and prove it through how you live your life. For this is how you honor God. Understand, the word of God is powerful. It has the ability to cleanse you from your sins, control your life towards a blessed life, and correct you from making the same sins again. The word of God has incalculable preeminence. And as the children of God, we are called to speak of it, savor it, and substantiate it in our lives. Applying it in everyday situations, brings about God’s pleasure over you. Do you want God’s protection? You have to have God’s presence. You want God’s presence? Allow the Word of God not only dwell richly, but be applied and demonstrated in your everyday decision making. The beginning of this sermon, I asked how we can keep our eye on Jesus. The answer is by constantly keeping our eyes on the Word of God. Amen.
