How to Survive Adolescence
Part 2
Sermon Series: A Word about the Word Psalm119
Date: February 2, 2003 AM Service
Place: Allendale Baptist
Text: Psalm 119:9-16
Introduction
For some 5 years, my wife and I felt the desire and had a deep passion to serve the Lord in the Youth Ministry. In those some 5 years we were able by the grace of God to see many young people come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. As I have mentioned this several times, it is a great joy and blessing to have some of these who are now out of college and starting families of their own faithfully serving the Lord, going into the ministry.
But for the ones we see growing we have seen many others fall and stumble in their faith. Some have had children out of marriage and others not in church at all.
I go back to a weekend retreat at Piney Woods Baptist Encampment one Friday evening were I shared the Gospel with a young man by the name of Chris. In his junior year at Conroe High School, he did not come from a Christian family and had no idea what we were talking about when we taught about a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. But that Friday evening at a True Love Waits retreat, Chris came to me and said he desired to have that peace and assurance of forgiveness. Chris that night gave his life to Jesus Christ and for the next 2 years was a faithful member of our Sunday school class.
I will never forget about two weeks after the retreat he came to me and asked a very sincere question. He said Tim how can I life a life that will please God? How can I be sure I will grow as a Christian?
When I got up off the floor I told him if he would commit himself to the Word of God and apply it to his life, I was sure he would grow in his faith and know God’s will and direction for his life.
The psalmist seems to be asking this same question. How can this young man keep his way clean? How can I grow in the Lord?
But he goes on to answer his own question.
I have entitled this message this morning, How to survive Adolescence.
But I believe all of us, the young and old need to know how to keep our way clean.
So, let’s examine 5 truths from our text this morning…
I. Memorize the Word of God
A. Psalm119:11 says; “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.”
B. Philippians 4:8; “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue (morality or merit), and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
C. Get the Word of God into your heart, hide it there, and memorize it.
D. Remember what we said last week it will preserve you from sin.
E. “If you were thinking what you ought to be thinking, you wouldn’t be thinking what you ought not to think.”
Next you should…
II. Personalize the Word of God
A. Psalm119:12; Blessed art Thou, O Lord: teach me they statutes.”
1. Underline the word me in your Bibles.
B. To the child of God, being lead by the Holy Spirit, the Word of God becomes personal.
C. When we come to God’s Word we need to ask ourselves these questions.
1. Is there a lesson to learn?
2. Is there a sin to avoid?
3. Is there a blessing that waits?
4. Is there a promise to claim?
5. Is there a thought to carry with me?
D. Sometimes I like to just let the Word of God become my prayer to Him.
Next you are to…
III. Verbalize the Word of God.
A. Psalm 119:13; “With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.”
B. Declare means to make known.
C. We are to speak the Word of God.
D. What if I just stopped right now and began to go to some of you and ask you to tell us what you have read, what God said to you this week through His Word?
E. Can I go on to say this, many times God reveals a truth in His Word to you that you might speak it as a blessing to some else.
IV. Vitalize the Word of God
A. Listen to some of the definitions of vital or vitality
1. pertaining to life or existence
2. extremely important
3. full of exuberance, full of health and spirit or full of creativity.
B. Psalm 119:14-16
C. Listen to what the Psalmist says.
1. “I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies.”
2. “I will delight myself in thy statutes.”
a. When was the last time you were delighted over God’s Word?
b. When was the last time you had an Old Fashion Holy Ghost “spell” and rejoiced over God’s Word?
c. Well I have to say like that old chili commercial if you have to think about it, “That’s too long.”
V. Internalize the Word of God.
A. Psalm 119:15
B. Meditate means to think deeply.
a. The psalmist says when he comes to the Word of God he is going to think on it so deeply that it will consume him, become a part of him and eventually take over his life.
C. Then he says he will contemplate God’s ways.
a. One of the definitions of contemplate in Webster’s dictionary is to anticipate.
I want to close by showing you the psalmist firm commitment to follow God’s plan and will.
v. 10 “I have sought thee…”
v. 11 “I have hid thy word in my heart…”
v. 13 “I have declared…”
v. 14 “I have rejoiced…”
v. 15 “I will meditate…”
v. 16 “I will delight…”
Did the psalmist survive? Sure he did.
Close
Some here this morning need to commit yourself, your life to Jesus Christ. You need to surrender your life to Him today.
Will you accept Him as Lord and Savior of your life today?
Some need to return to Him and recommit your life to Him today.
Our prayer is you will respond as the Lord leads today…
Invitation
