"THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE”
Psalm 118:20-24
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: THE SOUR INTERVIEW
1. Some people have a knack for picking things. Hannah went to a citrus Farm and asked Henry, the manager, if there are any jobs available at the farm.
2. He told her that the only job available was for a part-time lemon picker. Hannah says the job would suit her well.
3. After Henry has asked her some questions about her education and previous jobs, he told her, "You’re really far too qualified for such a lowly position."
4. "But I would still like the job," said Hannah. "I would be very good at it." Henry asked, "Do you have any experience in picking lemons?"
5. "Well, actually, I do," replies Hannah. "I’ve been divorced three times."
6. That’s funny but betrays a sad view of life that she needed to beat (us too!). God wants us to be positive; people of hope and good expectation. That’s our direction today.
B. TEXT & TITLE
1. “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” Ps. 118:24.
2. We’ve heard this verse for so many years, that it’s possible we could miss the deeper message God wants us to receive from it: circumstances don’t determine joy, it comes from the Lord, in spite of circumstances.
3. The title of this message is, “This is the Day the Lord has Made.”
I. TWO CHALLENGES TO JOY
A. FIRST – ADVERSITY
1. This Psalm 118 was written in incredible adversity. The writer was crying out to God in anguish; he feels surrounded by troubles and about to fall.
2. But despite his troubles, he begins and ends his prayer with praise to God. "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever" (118:1,29).
3. To some, praising God when things are bad may look like foolishness. But PRAISE IS A MAGNIFIER: David said, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” Ps. 34:3. We know what a magnifying glass can do; it makes some things bigger while others stay small. That’s what praise does; it makes God bigger and your problems smaller.
4. When you praise, you redirect your focus to God. Ps. 22:1 KJV says that ‘God inhabits our praises.’ As we praise, the Holy Spirit begins to fill us; our faith rises, and suddenly we feel our chains fall off and our prison doors open, just like they did when Paul & Silas when they praised God in the Philippian jail!
B. SECOND CHALLENGE TO JOY – INGRATITUDE
1. ILLUSTRATION
a. A street vendor sold bagels for 50 cents each at a corner food stand. A jogger ran past and, feeling charitable, threw a couple of quarters into the bucket but didn’t take a bagel.
b. He did the same thing every day for months. One day, as the jogger ran past, the vendor stopped him. The jogger said, “You probably want to know why I always put money in but never take a bagel, don’t you?”
c. “No,” said the vendor. “I just wanted to tell you that the bagels have gone up to 60 cents.”
2. Too often, as believers, we treat God with that same kind of attitude. Not only are we ungrateful for what He’s given us—but we want more.
3. Some feel that God owes us good health, a comfortable life, & material blessings. Of course, God doesn’t owe us anything, yet He gives us everything.
II. JESUS IS THE KEY TO OUR JOY
1. Ps. 118:20-24 says: “This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me, you have become my salvation. The [corner]stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
2. Did you know that Psalm 118 is the center chapter of the Bible? And Jesus is the center of this Psalm! Jesus quoted these exact words in Matt. 21:42, Mk. 12:10-11, & Lk. 21:17. Jesus is the Gate to Heaven!
A. JESUS: CORNERSTONE & CAPSTONE
1. Despite the Jewish nation rejecting Jesus as the Cornerstone (the most important part of the building, upon which all the other foundation stones lean), Jesus still became the “Capstone” (the topmost stone completing the structure). Some interpreters think the “Capstone” represents the “keystone,” the center stone at the top of an arch; it holds all the other pieces together; without it the arch would definitely fall. Whichever…
2. So it’s to be with us: Jesus should be so crucial to us that He’s the foundation of our lives. We’re to start with Him in the morning (as our foundation) and end with Him at night (‘capping’ off the day).
3. The Bible, Church, and prayer should be the three sides of the cornerstone around which our lives should rest. Our lives should be rearranged around Him and depend on His strength.
4. ILLUS.: OUR LIFE TO FIT THE PICTURE
a. A wealthy man once bought a famous picture of Jesus. He hired a Christian decorator to help him place it correctly in his house. But with his alcohol bars, large screen TVs, his abstract artwork and flashy décor, the decorator couldn’t find a room appropriate for the picture.
b. At last he spoke to the home owner, “Sir, you can’t place this picture in your home! You must get rid of this home and build a home specially fitted for it!”
c. Just as surely, we must allow Jesus to alter our life so that it would be appropriate for Jesus to live with you! [Paul Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illus., #3095]
B. EACH DAY IS “HIS” DAY
1. Every day we’re alive, it’s not supposed to be “all about us.” We get caught up in all our plans and forget that God has a kingdom-purpose for our lives.
2. Since we BELONG to Jesus, every day is “His” day. He has new love, strength, and a new mission for us each new morning. He has divine appointments/ encounters with other people that we’re suppose to influence for Christ.
3. The word for "made" is in Hebrew “asah” is also translated as "occupied” in Ex. 38:24. So the Lord should be “occupying” our lives, day by day!
4. Application? You might be facing a tough battle right now, but if you allow Jesus to ‘occupy’ (take over/control/dominate) your life, He will give you victory!
III. “I WILL REJOICE & BE GLAD IN IT”
A. REJOICING IS A CHOICE
1. Whether difficult or joyous, God has made this day.
2. Rejoicing is a choice. We can choose to be despondent today or joyous.
3. The Psalmist said, "I WILL rejoice!" The Psalmist made a deliberate decision to rejoice instead of despair. You can curse the darkness or count your blessings!
B. THE JOY OF THE LORD = OUR STRENGTH
1. An ancient Chinese proverb says, "If you wish to be happy for one hour, get intoxicated. If you wish to be happy for three days, get married. If you wish to be happy for eight days, kill your pig and eat it. If you wish to be happy forever, learn to fish."
2. Happiness comes from circumstances; joy comes from the Lord! Happiness is only available temporarily; the joy of the Lord can be tapped at all times. It originates in God.
3. Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” Jn. 15:11.
4. Why is joy called "our strength" in Neh. 8:10? Because…
a. It’s connected to faith. People that are positive are healthier, more optimistic, and more successful in life.
b. Faith fortifies us against temptation, and makes us strong for service. If persecuted, faith helps you endure it, because you another, better world is coming. It gives an inner strength beyond the physical.
5. A person filled with faith, joy, and God’s Spirit is not easily ruffled or disturbed by outward circumstances.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Missionaries John and Elaine Beekman worked among the Chol Indians of southern Mexico. They rode on mules and travel by dugout canoes to reach this tribe. They labored among them for 25 years.
2. Today the Chol church is thriving. More than 12,000 Christians make up this community and it is fully self-supporting.
3. What's intriguing is that when the missionaries came, the Chol Indians didn't know how to sing. But with the coming of the gospel, however, the believers in this tribe became known in that region as "The Singers!"
4. Do you know why they love to sing now? NOT because they don’t have problems, but because they have something to sing about! Do you?
B. THE CALL
1. So “This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” Ps. 118:24.
2. How many of you have a difficult situation that is attempting to rob you of your joy? We are going to believe with you that God is going to intervene and bring you through victoriously!
3. How many of you need inner healing? Come forward and we’re going to pray for you.
4. This is the day the Lord has appointed, prepared, occupied. God is in charge! I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!
5. Prayer for needy & the unsaved.
[Some thoughts drew on Debbie McDaniel’s message, “This Is the Day that the Lord Has Made” – The Amazing Meaning of Psalm 118”]
