Hating

Psalm 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Not only should we not walk down the wrong way, we should hate the false way. The evil path should be easy to see, but a false way implies deception. A false way could appear to be morally good. Anything that is not in line with the Word of God is a false way.

We should measure every circumstance, every decision, and every choice by the Word of God. We should hate every way which does not measure up to God’s Word.

I am afraid there are many Christians who don’t seem to be bothered by false ways. They live good, moral lives. They don’t drink or smoke, and are faithful to their commitments. They stand against abortion and against homosexuality. They would seem to be perfect examples to others, but they will not stand against the false doctrines taught in many religious institutions. 

Many who claim to be believers today do not truly hate the false, deceitful ways being taught. Whether it is the Easy-Believism of the Progressive Church Movement, or the Health and Wealth gospel of the Charismatic Movement, it seems most Christians just look the other way. These false ways are not just insignificant deceptions, but they are taking multitudes down a path which leads to hell. It is not my contention that every person involved in these movements is lost, but they are being introduced to a false god.

Why do we not hate a way which takes people to eternal judgment? Why do we not speak up when people are being misled? The hate of the false way may be the only hope for the deceived.

Tasting

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

Just as we love to eat certain kinds of food, the Word of God is sweet to the taste of the man who loves it. Sometimes, when we are sick, we don’t even want to eat our favorite foods. We couldn’t eat even if we tried. A sign that we are spiritually sick is a lack of appetite for the Word of God. When God’s Word is no longer sweet to you, remember that the problem is not the Bible.

First, knowing the Word of God helps us to be greater witnesses.

Ezekiel 3:1-4 ...he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.

Second, knowing the Word of God produces joy in our hearts.

Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Third, God’s Word is our source of strength.

Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

What does God’s Word taste like to you? Does it taste like dry oatmeal or filet mignon? 

Departing?

Psalm 119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

Deuteronomy 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

When we learn from God’s word we will not depart from His judgments. Life and problems and circumstances are seen more clearly when viewed through the Word of God. It is only through the power of God that we are able to obey Him and stand against sin. It is through this power we will not even consider departing from His Word.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is by God’s Word we are taught how to stand, but if we should happen to fall we learn how to get back on our feet again through repentance. It is through God’s Word we see sin for the evil that it is, rather than something that is flippant and easy to be justified. It is God’s Word that must be planted in the hearts of unbelievers so God can give the increase. God’s Word is the answer to all, so why would we dream of leaving it?

Psalm 18:30-32, 35 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect... Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Sermons Uploaded

Missionary John Quinlan

Pastor Richard Austin

October 25th

October 18th

Sorry these are so late, I'll be uploading songs from Singspiration soon.
- Spencer

Refraining

Psalm 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

First, the statement, “I have refrained my feet,” reminds me of the man who had been saved from alcoholism. He had come to the Lord in repentance and his life had been changed, but he came to his pastor one day and asked him to put him on his prayer list because he was facing great temptations and he was afraid he might yield. He told his pastor that he was tempted to go into the bar he passed while going to work and back. His pastor’s response was, “Drive a different way.” Refrain your feet and don’t go that way anymore.

I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Second, we should not just keep our feet from doing evil, but from the evil way. It is easier to obey God’s Word when the path we take is not leading in the wrong direction. It would have been much easier for Lot to not fall into complacency and pride if he had never pitched his tent toward Sodom, but if he had not followed this evil path who knows what God could have done through him? Refraining our feet from the evil way not only keeps us from doing evil, it also makes it possible for us to do good.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Holiness produces hatred and indignation against ungodliness and wickedness. The righteousness that comes from God will stir up loathing and disgust for every evil way.

Understanding

Psalm 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Many people base their understanding of life on personal experience rather than leaning on God’s Word to make informed and prudent choices.  There are four reasons why God’s Word is better and more valuable as a foundation for making decisions.

First, God’s Word is Exact. The experiences of even a worldly man are only a few when compared to the wisdom contained in the Word of God. God’s Word covers every circumstance which produces happiness. The Word of God is not based on the knowledge of just a man, but on the omniscience of God.

Second, God’s Word is Absolute. It is the source for all true wisdom, while experience is ambiguous at best. It is difficult to gather great wisdom from the feelings found in experience.

Deuteronomy 29:2-4 ...Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.

Third, the Word of God is Safer and Cheaper. The cost of tuition from learning by experience is expensive, but the cost of learning by God’s Word is discovered while on our knees.

Fourth, the Word of God is Shorter. Learning by experience is the long way. The foolish virgins will tell you not to wait too long to learn from God’s Word, or it may be too late.

God’s Word Produces Understanding

Psalm 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy testimonies are my meditation.

Who couldn’t love the Word of God? Not only does it make you wiser than your enemies, it also gives you greater understanding than your teachers. In fact, the greatest knowledge of all is the knowledge of the Word of God. Through meditation of God’s Word our understanding will exceed the understanding of even our teachers. 

We may hear the wisest teachers and still remain fools, but wisdom is found by meditating on God’s Word. There is more wisdom in the testimonies of the Lord than in all the teachings of men if they were all gathered into one vast library. That one Book outweighs the total sum of all others.

According to this verse the surest way to excellence is to make the testimonies of the Lord your subject of study for life and to make meditation the method by which this subject is studied.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

God's Word Produces Wisdom

Psalm 119:98 Thou through Thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

Who couldn’t love the Word of God? God will use it to make us wiser than our enemies. Although, as Jesus said, the people of this world are wise in their own generation, they are blind to spiritual wisdom. They are living well in a temporary existence, but cannot see eternal life. Everything for which the world strives is vain and will eventually end, even if it is believed to be perfect.

Even in this world our lives are more pleasant. Our guide is the Spirit of God, while Satan is the guide of the unsaved. Our security is in the power of God, while our enemies security is something that is just temporary. While the unsaved have no special grace to go through the trials of life, all our trials are faced with our hand in the hand of God.

The Word of God is always trustworthy and will never fail us. When we hide the Word of God in our hearts we have immediate access to ready help even through the greatest of difficulties. It is available to help us confront all temptations, to help us shoulder any burden, and to teach us what to do and for what we should hope. A good man will carry his Bible with him, maybe not in his hands, but always in his heart.

On the other hand, when we derive our wisdom and direction from without we are depending on something that is just temporary. Even the counsel of a great man will be imperfect because he isn’t perfect, and even the greatest of men cannot be available all the time.

God's Word Produces Love

Psalm 119:97 O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Who couldn’t love the Word of God?  It will convert our soul and give wisdom for our way. It is a light unto our path and a lamp unto our feet. It will protect us from the onslaught of the enemy and is our sword with which to do battle. Who would not claim to cherish God’s Word?

Do we truly love the Word of God? An indication of how much we love God’s Word is how much time we spend in God’s Word. You automatically spend time with the object of your love. If you love the Word of God, you will be investing valuable time in the Book.

God’s creation comes in groups of threes because it is patterned after the image of God, which is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We are body, soul, and spirit. Time is divided into the past, the present, and the future. There are always three primary colors, whether ‘basic’ (red, yellow, blue), or ‘subtractive’ (magenta, yellow, cyan), or ‘additive’ (red, green, blue), or ‘cone’ (red, aquamarine, purple). Every object has three dimensions.

The three loves that cannot be separated are love for God, love for God’s Word, and love for people. You cannot have one without the other.

I John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 

John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.

God's Word is Our Perfect

Psalm 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but Thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Everything this world would consider to be perfect is going to have an end. Goliath - the biggest and strongest was overcome. Asahel - the fastest was overtaken. Ahithophel - the wisest was duped. The perfect car will eventually deteriorate. The perfect house requires upkeep. The world cannot produce absolute perfection.

While the world produces nothing that is really perfect, the Word of God has proven itself to be absolute perfection. Critics from varying fields of study have tried to find imperfection in God’s Word, but the closer they look and the more they study they discover that blemishes cannot be found. Whether they use scientific, historical, archaeological, anthropological, or etymological methods, the Word of God is always right. No matter how broad a person’s study may be and no matter how critical he may be of God’s Word, it proves itself to be perfect everytime.

When you consider the fact that nothing in this world is perfect, then you must admit that you are also not perfect. Also, when you consider that the Word of God is always perfect, then you must come to the point where you know that you will always fall short. 

It is when we realize this fact and seek forgiveness for our sins through repentance that we receive the perfection of the Word of God, Jesus Christ. This perfection is found inside the Gift of God and cannot be discovered by a work of man no matter how perfect it may be by our standard. Since our standard is the standard of a man and that standard is flawed, it would be impossible for that standard to produce everlasting perfection.