To highlight the intimate knowledge God has of us, our belonging to Christ, and the call to live in the light of His love.
Good morning, church family! I'm excited to dive into the Word of God with you today. We'll be looking at Psalm 139:1-4, a passage that so beautifully reminds us of God's intimate knowledge of us, our belonging to Christ, and the call to live in the light of His love.
As we prepare to delve into this, I'm reminded of a quote from A.W. Tozer, a respected Christian author and pastor. He once said, "To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love." This pursuit is echoed in our Psalm today.
Opening Scripture Reading – So let's take a look at those verses together from Psalm 139: "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."
Isn't it amazing that our God knows us so intimately? That we belong to Christ and are called to live in the light of His love? It's a beautiful truth to hold onto.
Let's pray as we start our time in the Word today. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love that knows no bounds, for your intimate knowledge of us, our thoughts, our words, even before they leave our mouths. As we delve into your Word today, we ask that you open our hearts and minds to fully comprehend the depth of your love and the security of our belonging in Christ. Amen.
The concept of God knowing us intimately is a truth that transcends our human understanding and yet, it's a reality that we can experience in our daily lives. The Psalmist begins by declaring, "O Lord, you have searched me and known me!" This is not a casual acquaintance or a superficial understanding. The original Hebrew word used for "searched" carries the connotation of exploring, examining thoroughly, even to the point of exhaustion. It implies an intimate knowledge that comes from a deep, personal relationship. This is the kind of knowledge that God has of us. He knows our innermost thoughts, our deepest desires, and our most hidden fears.
A. God's intimate knowledge of us is not limited to our present circumstances. The Psalmist continues, "You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar." God knows our past, our present, and our future. He knows our daily routines and our habits. He knows our thoughts even before we think them. This is an all-encompassing, all-knowing, intimate knowledge that only God can have.
B. This intimate knowledge is not a distant, detached observation. The Psalmist says, "You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways." God is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives. He is not a distant observer but an active participant. He knows our paths because He walks with us. He knows our rest because He is our peace. He is acquainted with all our ways because He guides our steps.
C. Even our words are not hidden from God. The Psalmist says, "Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether." God knows our words before we speak them. He knows our intentions and our motivations. He knows the impact our words will have even before they are spoken. This is a profound truth that should make us pause and reflect on the power of our words and the One who knows them intimately.
D. God's intimate knowledge of us is not a cause for fear or anxiety. On the contrary, it is a source of comfort and assurance. It is a reminder that we are never alone, never forgotten, and never out of God's reach. We are fully known and fully loved by the Creator of the universe.
E. God invites us to know Him as He knows us. He invites us into a personal, intimate relationship with Him. He invites us to seek Him, to know His heart, to understand His ways, and to experience His love. This is the greatest privilege and the highest calling of every believer.
The second point of this sermon is the profound truth that we belong to Christ ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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