Which Way Do I Go? PS 25
As a side note if you are looking for a sermon idea for The VBS 2005 Rablin Rad Trip you might also check out my sermon "Going Places With Jesus " I preached it the Sunday mornning before our VBS and I preached this one below the Sunday evening before VBS.)
Which Way Do I Go? PS 25
A Psalm of David
A young boy was in Sunday School class and they were studying David. The teacher asked the students…
“Does anyone know where David was originally from?”
One little boy was waving his hand wildly in the air and shouting
“oh..oh…oh I know”
The teacher called on him and he answered with great confidence
“CALIFORNIA.”
The teacher was quite taken aback by the young boys answer and said lovingly
“no I am afraid that is not correct”
The little boy said “well it has to be right.”
The teacher was a bit curious at this point and said…
“OK, if David were from California where in California was he from?”
The little boy answered
“PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA of course…Don’t you ever listen in church… the preacher is always talking about the “PALMS” of David.
Well the 25th PSALM clearly is a Psalm of David and it is really about David’s cry to God for forgiveness of sin and help in the face of affliction.
I want us tonight however to think of that maturing Christian as we think about Psalm 25:4.
Notice I did not say ‘muttering Christian…
I said maturing Christian.
I am quite certain that maturing Christians please the Lord, while muttering Christians probably grieve the Lord.
David was maturing in his faith and he gives to s these words in Psalm 25 and verse 4
Psalm 25:4
4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths
Now the Vacation Bible School (RAMBLIN Road Trip) Theme asks the question…
WHICH WAY DO I GO?
As we take Psalm 25 and verse 4 to heart and as we are sincere about learning “the ways” the Lord reveals to us… and the “paths” he has for us. What happens in our lives?
I want you as a maturing follower of Christ tonight to ponder the question…
I. “WHICH WAY WILL I GO WITH GOD’S WORD?”
FIND PS 119
I think there are many answers but a good one I would like to suggest is DEEPER.
Deeper into God’s Word is a great way for us to go.
So in your maturing process as a Christian do you find you are going deeper in His word?
Psalm 119 and verse 9 says
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
Interesting that the Psalmist is communicating that the Word of God is not merely being read but it is being lived out.
I think it is important for Christians to be reading the Word of God and to be living the Word of God.
Sad is the person who tries to live the Word of God without reading it and properly digesting its truth and taking it in.
Trying to live the Christian life without reading the Word of God is a lot like trying to assemble one of those 300 piece knock down furniture items without reading the instructions.
It just does not go together well without reading the instructions.
Which way shall we go with God’s Word?
Let us go deeper into it that it might deepen our relationship with God.
Let us go deeper in our hunger and desire for God’s Word.
When we ask the question…Which way do I go with God’s Word we should always me ready to answer…”deeper”…and never shall we answer that we have become shallower in the Word of God.
So to answer the question Which way do I go with God’s Word…
I would respond to you….GO DEEP with God’s Word.
We might not only ask which way do I go with God’s Word but also as a maturing follower of Christ …ask
II. Which Way Do I Go with GOD’S WORK?
Find Romans Chapter 12
Look at your life and answer the question …
Have I intensified in my work for the Lord or have I become desensitized in my work for the Lord?
It is truly a question about our WORK that we are doing for the Lord…for His Kingdom….for His church.
I know a lot of people who have been serving the Lord longer than I have even been a Christian.
That is exciting to me.
Exciting to think that they have been faithfully serving the Lord for many many years.
The even more exciting thing however is that they have NOT STOPPED SERVING HIM.
THEY HAVE NOT STOPPED BEING EXCITIED ABOUT SERVING HIM.
Look at what Paul wrote in Romans
12:11
He says
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Let me ask you the question tonight…
When did you stop getting excited about serving the Lord?
WORKING FOR HIM?
If you were asked to go and work for the President of the Untied States you would say what an honor…what a thrill and yet you and I have been invited to work with someone far greater and far more important….
We have joined God in His Glorious work….
How can you NOT be excited about that.
I hope that as you answer the question as a maturing follower of Christ, “Which way do I go with my WORK for the Lord…”
I hope that you can say it is intensifying and never that you are becoming desensitized to serving and working for the Lord.
Now a final question tonight are your ready for the final question.
You know on who wants to be a millionaire they always ask
“Final Answer?”
I am going to ask you a final question and allow YOU to give God a final answer.
III. Which way will you go….. with God’s WILL
Find Luke 22
Which is generally easier for us to follow , OUR will or GOD’S will?
Many of us would probably answer that it is easier to do OUR OWN WILL than to do God’s will.
This is why the Bible says that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
The flesh represents our own desire… outside of Christ in us.
But if we follow the Spirit we will follow God’s will although many times it may be hard to follow God’s will.
No place in all of scripture was it harder for anyone to follow the will of God than that of which the Son following the will of the Father.
Luke chapter 22 Jesus was about to be arrested tried, tortured and then crucified upon the cross. It was the will of the Father and the Son was always ready to do the Father’s will.
LK 22 and way down in verse 41
Jesus prays with a very heavy heart and in verse 41 it tells us.
41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond (His Disciples) , (He) knelt down and prayed, …….he prayed
42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
If we do not seek God’s will then we will only do our own will…and we in turn will miss out on doing much of what is God’s perfect plan for our live earlier I said that most of us would admit that it is easier to do our will than it is to do God’s will….and yet which will be truly be more blessed if we follow?
That is a question that is easy to answer…we will always be truly more blessed when we follow God’s will for our lives because His will is always best.
His will is filled with His love for us and His care for us.
So let us consider tonight
Which way will I go….?
With God’s Word?
With God’s Work?
And with God’s will?
The answer is truly yours to provide.
How will you respond?
