Rockport Sermon

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Fighting for Joy

Before I even get started, I would like to say to everyone reading this that Bob and Scott are BRUTAL when it comes to the fact that I haven't posted anything yet. So, here we go with my first post and let me say...it is great that we have something like this. I pray that this might be a place for people to come and ask questions, seek answers, and that together we might "recount" the wondrous deeds of our Savior and exult in His Name!

I am not sure, but there is a struggle within me because of the different matters going on from day to day. There are days when I am completely exhausted, there are days when it feels as if I am under attack, and days that quite frankly I wish that I could back in bed and try it all over again.

This morning I was reading Psalm 9 and found what David said here and found it interesting....perhaps you will too. In verse 1, we find:

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

First, I would like to explain a couple of things that really stuck with me this morning. David says, "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart." Oh my dear friends, when we consider the work of grace in the life of the believer, we should give thanks with everything that is within us. We should not give praise with our lips only, but with our hearts, our lives, and our total being. It is possible to appear to be in outward obedience, but have a heart that is far from God. God is not honored by our simple obedience out of a sense of obligation or duty...but he wants us to delight ourselves in Him.

I see this theme throughout the Psalm as David is thankful to the Lord for the blessings that he has seen. For this, he is forever grateful. Can I please just leave you with a few things that I see in the first part of this Psalm that might help all of us as we are fighting for that joyful heart in the midst of a fallen world filled with struggles and temptations?

  1. Give Thanks to God (1a)
  2. Give Thanks to God with everything "Your Whole Heart"
  3. Recount His Wonderful Deeds (1b)
  4. Be glad and exult in Christ (2a)
  5. Sing glad songs that rejoice over the victory of Christ over sin in your life, in the lives of your brothers and sisters.
If I could offer a brief summary of this. When we see the work of Christ in and around us, it should move us to an attitude of WORSHIP. Not just singing, but a rejoicing by "recounting" and a glad heart that is fixated on the One who gave Himself up for the ungodly, making them His treasure.

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good!

2 comments:

Bob said...

Good thoughts Brother. I am fighting for that same joy this morning. Part of my reading this morning was in Psalm 40 and it was focused on waiting on God. Oh how often we rush around, not satisfied in God because we are too busy. And we end up settling for lesser things. I pray that as we enter Worship as a body tomorrow, the things that you have spoken of will dawn on our poor hearts and minds and our recourse may be to lift up glad hearts to such a Wonderful Savior and Great God.
thanks Bro

Scott said...

It's a amazing how God strikes a common theme in each of us. I was in Psalm 62 this morning, "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him." Funny thing, I was in such a hurry -- with lots to do today, I almost missed this jewel (thus illustrating your point!). But I notice here that it is God ALONE who is my hope (v 6) my rock and my salvation (v 7). God alone. Oh, may we wait in faith upon Him and His steadfast love!