SERMON OUTLINE:
God wants to be known - missions (vs 2)
God wants to be praised - worship (vs 3&5)
God wants to be enjoyed – fellowship (vs 4)
God wants to be entrusted – ministry (vs 6)
God wants to be feared – discipleship (vs 7)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• It is a classic musical,
• And you probably all know some of the songs,
• Let me remind you of a few off them.
• “Food Glorious Food”
• “Consider Yourself”
• “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two”
• The best musical version was released in 1968,
• Based on Charles Dickens’ timeless novel, Oliver Twist.
• Featuring an all-star cast, with Mark Lester as Oliver Twist.
• The film, Oliver, won virtually every award going.
• And the most famous line in the movie, musical and book,
• Is said by the nine-year-old Oliver Twist.
• In the workhouse run by Bumble the Beadle,
• It is of course…
• , “Please, sir, I want some more.!”
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/7tOkpntQtBM?si=CsgHeUUG7CCoWQhX
• TRANSITION: , “Please, sir, I want some more.!”
• It is an expression Children learn early on in life,
• “I want!”
• As adults we might not say it out loud,
• But we all think it, “I want!”
Question: Have you ever thought about what God wants?
Answer: This Psalm tells us 5 things that God wants from us!
• Now there is a big contrast between God wanting something,
• And you and me wanting something.
• Often our wants are also our greed’s,
• e.g. New car, lavish holiday,
• Season ticket to watch my football team etc.
• My wants are so often selfish,
• But not so with God.
The five things mentioned in the Psalm are due to God.
• He deserves them for who he is.
• (God, creator, life-giver, provider!)
• And for what he has done
• (In Jesus Christ he has entered his own creation to save us!).
Note: God is the subject of all the verbs in verse 1.
• i.e. “GOD be gracious to us”.
• i.e. “GOD bless us.”
• i.e. “GOD cause his face to shine upon us.“
• The writer of this Psalm/song,
• Makes it very clear, that he believes,
• God is the source of all the good things that we have.
• So, this past week if you have enjoyed something good,
• i.e. food, water, drink, nature, love, and companionship,
• Anything good you can think of in your life,
• You can thank God for it,
• For he is the ultimate source of everything good and perfect.
Ill:
• Anyone know who this is?
• How about now (2nd photo)?
• If you don’t know the face you know the name,
• (Walt Disney).
• (The American animator, film producer, voice actor, & entrepreneur).
• You probably don’t know that Walt had a brother named Roy.
• Who he recruited to manage his finances.
• And Roy was good at his job and dedicated to his brother.
• Late in his life, someone asked Roy about that, and he said,
“My brother has made me a millionaire,
do you wonder why I want to do everything I can to help him?”
• Roy Disney was incredibly grateful to his brother Walt,
• For all he had done for him, and rightly so.
• TRANSITION: likewise,
• How much more should you & I be grateful to God,
• Who has blessed us with everything we have?
• He is the source of life,
• He is the giver of every good and perfect gift we enjoy!
GOD’S FIVE PURPOSES REVEALED IN PSALM 67
(1). God wants to be known – missions (vs 2)
NIV:
“so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.”
NLT:
“Send us around the world with the news of your saving power.
and your eternal plan for all mankind.”
We may today, be taking an interval from the book of Jonah.
• But the theme of mission continues.
• It has to because that is the God we worship.
• Remember the quote I gave you recently?
Quote: Jürgen Moltmann.
“It is not the Church of God that has mission.
But the missionary God who has a Church.”
Notice:
• How many times the words,
• “people,” “nations,” and “earth,”
• Are used in this Psalm.
• Twice in verse 2: “earth” & “nations.”
• Twice in verse 3: “people” & “people.”
• Four times in verse 4: “nations,” “people,” “nations,” & “earth.”
• Twice in verse 5: “peoples” & “peoples.”
• Once in verse 6: “earth (land).”
• Once in verse 7: “earth.”
• Now add them up, that is twelve times,
• In the very short space of the 7 verses,
• The God of this Psalm,
• Is concerned about the nations of the earth!
Quote:
• God is a missionary God,
• As you read this book the Bible,
• His heart from Genesis to Revelation,
• Is a missionary heart set on reaching a lost world,
Ill:
• Herbert Jackson was a young missionary,
• When he arrived on the mission field,
• He was given a car to help him in his work.
• The car was a huge help, but it had one major fault.
• It would not start without a push or a jump-start.
• Jackson devised a system to cope with the car’s inability to start.
• When he was ready to leave his home,
• He went to a nearby school and asked permission,
• To bring some of the children out of class,
• To help him push-start his car.
• Then throughout the day,
• He was careful to always park on a hill,
• Or to leave his engine running,
• When he stopped for short visits.
• For two years the young missionary,
• Used these methods to enable him to use the car.
• Years later, due to poor health,
• The Jackson family were forced to leave the mission field,
• And the mission organisation sent a replacement.
• When the new missionary arrived at the mission station.
• Jackson handed him the keys to the car,
• And explained to the new missionary,
• His methods for starting the car,
• The new missionary opened the car bonnet (hood),
• And started to look and fiddle with things.
• He then said,
• “Dr Jackson, I think I have found the problem, you have the loose cable.”
• He gave the cable a push and a twist,
• They turned the key in the ignition,
• And the engine roared to life.
• For two years, Dr. Herbert Jackson had struggled,
• Because he was not connected.
• TRANSITION:
• Any Christian who is not involved in,
• Or taking an interest in mission,
• Is not connected to the heart of God!
• And they are missing out,
• They are firing on three plugs and not four.
• I encourage you to do two things this morning,
• Choose a missionary, agency, organisation or county,
• And start following it and praying for it.
• Regularly read a missionary book,
• There are some great biographies out there,
• This will help you get connected,
• As you feel the excitement of mission,
• And feel the passion for lost souls,
• And will encourage you as you,
• As you see God at work through ordinary people!
(2). God wants to be praised – worship (vs 3 & 5).
“May the peoples praise you, God.
may all the peoples praise you.”
“May the peoples praise you, God.
may all the peoples praise you.”
Repetition in the Bible is there for a reason:
• It is like when we write in capitol letters,
• Or use a highlighter, to underline something.
• It is there to get our attention!
Ill:
• Charles Swindoll is one of my favourite Christian writers,
• (you can read any of his books, they are all good stuff!)
• He tells the story of how he found himself.
• With too many commitments in too few days.
• He became stressed and tense,
"I was snapping at my wife and at our children, in fact anyone!
…irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day,"
In his book Stress Fractures he writes,
"Before long, things around our home started reflecting the patter of my hurry-up style. It was become unbearable.
I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger daughter, Colleen. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She began hurriedly, 'Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin' and I'll tell you really fast.' "Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, 'Honey, you can tell me -- and you don't have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly." "I'll never forget her answer: 'Then listen slowly.'"
• TRANSITION: Getting our attention in a busy world,
• Is often a problem God faces too!
• God desires my worship.
• He wants me to look to him, to engage with him,
• And to praise him!
Note:
• One thing I have learned from working,
• With all types of Churches and denominations,
• Is that everyone’s take on worship is different.
• If you don’t believe me,
• Go ask a Pentecostal and then an Orthodox Christian,
• Ask Anglican and Strict Baptist.
• Ask a Catholic and then a Methodist,
• Or just ask a young person and a much older person!
• Everyone’s take on worship is different.
• But…here is my point!
• However, you define it.
• Whatever your take or viewpoint is.
• We all need to do it and do it often!
Ill:
• Our English word 'Worship,'
• Originates from an Anglo-Saxon word,
• And that word means `worthship' or `worthiness'.
• In other words, does it have a worth, a value.
• We will not give our time,
• Our energy, our money to things that don’t!
• True `worthship' is a realisation of who God is,
• One of my favourite quotes,
• Comes from the preacher Leonard Ravenhill.
“Prayer is preoccupation with my needs.
Praise is preoccupation with my blessings.
Worship is preoccupation with God alone!”
Ill:
• A. W. Tozer who said,
• “What do you think of when you hear the word, ‘God’”?
• What we think about God,
• Reveals a lot about what we believe God is and is not.
• e.g. The artist Michelangelo,
• Pictures God as a bearded old man in his paintings.
• e.g. Other see God as authoritative figure,
• (Cross between a heavenly Policeman and Judge)
• e.g. Other see God as distant and impersonal,
• (Absent from his world and uncaring!)
Question: Who would want to worship a God like that?
Note: The Bible reveals what God is like!
• God as a Spirit,
• That means he is not limited by physical boundaries,
• Therefore, he is present everywhere.
• God is a Person who feels, thinks, loves, and forgives.
• God is a Holy and Righteous Being,
• Perfect in every detail and unchanging.
• God's character is one of love, grace, and truth,
• When we realise who God is,
• We give him our worship,
• For there is no one who can compare with him!
(3). God wants to be enjoyed – fellowship (vs 4).
“May the nations be glad and sing for joy…”
• God also wants to be enjoyed.
• He wants us to experience his joy and gladness!
• But for that to happen we must spend time with him.
• And make him a priority in our lives.
Ill:
• Stuart Sacks was a missionary in Paraguay,
• He tells the story of a Maka Indian named Rafael,
• Who one day came to sit on the porch of his hut.
• Stuart was eating and went out to see what he wanted.
• Raphael the Maka Indian responded, "Ham, henek met."
• So, Stuart again asked him; “What can I do for you?”
• And once again the answer was: "Ham, henek met."
• Stuart understood the language,
• But he did not understand its significance:
• Raphael the Maka Indian was saying:
• "I don’t want anything; I have just come near."
• Later, when Stuart shared the story with another missionary.
• The other missionary explained,
“This was Rafael’s way of honouring him.
He really didn’t want anything; he just wanted to sit on his porch.
He found satisfaction and pleasure just being near to him!”
• God wants us to enjoy fellowship with him.
• To enjoy his company!
• That is the good news of the gospel:
Ill:
• The gospel in one minute audio of John Piper
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/K6wcW3ZTrm8?si=NoNcE7tOHqAaf6vX
• TRANSITION:
• “Blessed, happy, joyful, jubilant are those whose sins are forgiven!”
• (Psalm 32 verse 1).
• Sin is a barrier that separates us from God,
• (Isaiah chapter 59 verse 2).
• But once we experience God’s forgiveness,
• That barrier is removed.
• (2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21).
“God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
• And as a result of Christ’s death,
• We can come to God in repentance and humility,
• And we can know God enjoy God, serve God and love God.
(4). God wants to be entrusted - ministry (vs 6).
“The land yields its harvest.
God, our God, blesses us.”
Question: Why would God bless us?
Answer:
• He cares, he loves!
• As a good earthly father wants to bless his children,
• So, our heavenly Father wants to bless his children.
Ill:
• For a number of years, I ran a lunchtime Christian Union,
• In Perin’s School. Alresford.
• I remember one Easter,
• Buying a box of Cadburys Cream Eggs (box of 40).
• And took them with me into the school,
• To give away to the kids who came along.
• I arrived in the reception office,
• To sign in and get my lanyard pass.
• As I walked into the office it was full of other visitors,
• A group of about 12 adults.
• And when they saw my box of chocolate eggs,
• Their eyes were glued to it.
• They were like a dog waiting for a scrap of food from the table.
• So, after I signed in, I turned to them and said,
• “Anyone fancy a cream egg?”
• And almost in unison, they said, “Yes please!”
• And so, I popped open the lid,
• And they helped themselves to one.
• TRANSITION: Now I didn’t have to offer them an egg.
• A friendly smile and hello would have sufficed.
• But I had the opportunity to bless them and so I did!
• Likewise, God blesses us, not because we are nice, but he is.
• Not because we deserve it but because he loves us.
Quote:
• The great theologian John Calvin commented on this verse,
• About being “bestowed benefits”:
“And here it is to be remembered, that every benefit which God bestowed upon his ancient people was, as it were, a light held out before the eyes of the world, to attract the attention of the nations to him.”
• The idea here is God bestows everything to us.
• He gives everything to us.
• We then entrust back to God,
• Everything that you and I produce.
• (or make, or manufacture).
• Whatever comes from our hands,
• We are to give back to God for God’s service.
Ill:
• In the 2005 movie version,
• Of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice,
• The Bennet family is central to the story.
• And in one episode,
• Their second daughter Jane is proposed to by a rich man,
• Her mother, realises that,
• Their whole family will now be lifted out of poverty,
• And she cries out:
• “I knew she could not be so beautiful for nothing.”
• In other words,
• Mrs. Bennett believed,
• God had given her daughter that beauty for a purpose:
• To bless their whole family with financial provision.
• TRANSITION:
• Likewise, God has not blessed us “for nothing.”
• He has a purpose in it:
• So that we will use his blessings,
• To make him known through missions & evangelism.
• When we use our blessings to bless others,
• We are a light held out before the eyes of the world,
• To attract the attentions, other people to him!
(5). God wants to be feared - discipleship (vs 7).
“May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.”
God wants his world to know him,
• He wants his world to fear (respect) him.
• He wants people from all nations to come to him.
Ill:
• Think of this Psalm like a necklace,
• Or like links in a circular chain.
• This circular chain and has two connecting links (vs 1 & vs 7).
• Both verses use the words, “May God bless us…”
• The psalm begins and ends with the connection,
• Between the people of God, being blessed by God,
• So that the people of God will blesse the nations for God.
Notice:
• In verse 6-7 it is harvest time,
• The blessing in these two verses is mainly material.
• i.e. Physical food - “The land yields its harvest.” (vs 6).
• But this tiny nation,
• Can never produce enough food to feed the world!
• So, the Psalm has a double meaning.
• The immediate focus,
• Is on how God has provided food for his people.
• Yet, the big picture is,
• That God wants to provide spiritual food for the nations.
• Remember from earlier how many times the words,
• “People,” “nations,” and “earth,” are used in this Psalm.
• Twelve times in just 7 verses,
• The God of this Psalm,
• Is concerned about the nations of the earth!
So, the body of the Psalm teaches:
• Lord, let your way be known.
• Let our salvation be known.
• Let praise arise to you from all the peoples.
• Let joy overflow from the hearts of the nations.
• Show yourself a righteous judge, and a powerful guide.
God blesses his people:
• He blesses his church with riches,
• For the sake of reaching the nations.
• He gives a bountiful wheat harvest,
• For the sake of a bountiful world harvest.
• He gives us more money than we need,
• So that we can meet the world’s greatest need,
• The need-to-know God through Jesus Christ.
Ill:
• In the north of Israel lies the Sea of Galilee.
• It teems with life.
• But in the south, there is another body of water: the Dead Sea.
• There’s no life there.
• Question: Why?
• Answer:
• In the Sea of Galilee, there is inflow and outflow.
• The Jordan River comes in and flows through.
• In the Dead Sea, however, is different,
• Although there is an inflow, there is no outflow.
• Therefore, the salty sulphur minerals build up in the water,
• Killing all life and nothing can grow.
• TRANSITION:
• Christian - what type of sea are you?
• Dead sea – bless me Lord, bless me, Lord!
• But where is the outflow in your life,
• To the non-Christian world (nations)?
• Sea of Galilee – bless me so that I can bless others!
• Bless me materially,
• So, I can use my money etc to help others.
• Bless me spiritually,
• So, I can use my blessing to evangelise others.
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/H4kzs164-Ak
