After 17 years, what should we as a Church be doing?
Psalm 78
June 12th 2011 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (Psalm 145:4)
A.
King David
is dictating a Psalm to his secretary named Asaph
B.
He is
concerned that as the years pass, people of the next generation would move
on without remembering some very important things from the past
1.
David wrote
many of the Psalms so that his children, and the nation of
2.
It never is
an accident
C.
David had so
many memories of God’s hand on his life
1.
Calling him
as a teenager to be king over all
2.
Giving him
the victory against Goliath – when everyone else ran scared
3.
Protecting
him from king Saul’s attacks – for 7 long years
4.
Making him
5.
And, he had
been taught so many things about how God had always been working in their
lives – going all the way back to Abraham, and the later, to Moses defeating
Pharaoh just by faith!
6.
So many
great memories
D.
He realised
that we have a great responsibility
1.
To pass on
those memories – what are WE passing on to next gen?
Debt, bad attitudes…
2.
But more so,
we have a bigger responsibility to pass on an “awe” of God
E.
So he cries
out this Psalm!
1.
Give ear, O
my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2.
I’ve got
something to say!
3.
As a matter
of fact, I have a load of things to say!
4.
I will open
my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old
5.
These are
things “our fathers have told us.”
6.
And we have
decided that “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the
generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his
wonderful works that he hath done.”
F.
Let’s listen
and learn that we who are here this morning, in this church’s 17th
anniversary, have more than just memories to pass on to the next generation!
II.
Background
A.
There are More than just
Memories in Life (Psalm 78:1,2)
1.
I love
memories!
a.
I can’t
believe how much I have been allowed to do, and be a part of in my 48 years
of life!
b.
For almost
31 years, of it, God has been my Saviour and Lord, and has made absolutely
every memory sweet
2.
Too many
people have only bad memories
3.
But beyond
just memories, there are lessons to learn – parables, hard sayings
a.
Things that
require pondering, and praying about
b.
Things that
need God’s word to clear up and explain
B.
There are More than just One
Generation to Worry About (Psalm 78:3,4)
1.
Our parents
tried to teach us
2.
Our
grandparents tried to warn us
3.
We need to
start to see that life is not all about OURSELVES and what we get out of it
day by day
a.
Almost all
of advertising is about SELF and what YOU want and what you DESERVE
b.
Almost all
relationships and activities are about what YOU get out of it, not what is
important for others
4.
Church is
about families – generations of families
5.
About
passing on truth and memories and joy from generation to generation
6.
What good is
a church if it only lasts one generation and then fades away?
a.
The church
that Jesus started 2,000 years ago was not just something for that one age,
nor a passing fad - but was to be kept up from one generation to another
b.
So He
commanded that parents should train up their children in the knowledge of
his law: and, when they had grown up, they must arise and declare them to
their children, that, as one generation of God's servants and worshippers
passes on, another generation may rise to the challenge of preaching the
Gospel and affecting their generation with it!
C.
We as a Church must Affect Our
Generation, and the Generations to Come For Right!
1.
People are
losing every grip on right and wrong
2.
On
moralities
3.
On what to
expect of people
4.
More than
ever, we need to be a bright light in this ever darkening world around us!
5.
Repeating
God’s great works in our lives, reminding them of His perfect words, and
causing them to be in awe of such a God (Deut 6:5-7)!
D.
Why?
(Psalm 78:5-8) Why work hard to make sure the next generations know what we
know?
1.
So that
they might set their hope in God
a.
This is the
main reason – so that they learn that they can trust the God of this Book!
b.
Not have
their hope, in the “givernment"
1)
What a joke
modern governments are!
2)
The last 2
years should have taught people that the Irish giverment is a sorry thing to
trust in!
3)
But will
they learn? NO! They will try and try again to elect people that will take
care of them from cradle to grave!
4)
You had
better learn to trust in the Lord (Ps 37:7; Mt 11:28)
c.
Our
children, and the normal Joe on the street needs to trust the God of this
Bible, NOT try and have hope in themselves
1)
Modern
psychology, self-help, self-hope
2)
New age
inner power
3)
All are
failures, if they would only admit it!
d.
Nor in some
religion or religious activity
1)
Meditations
2)
Pilgrimages
3)
Just
attending church
4)
Saying
prepared prayers
5)
Reading
select portions of inspirational literature
e.
But in the
God of heaven and earth who loves you and became a man just like you and
gave His life at the hands of people just like you, so that He could save
you from a devil’s hell!!!
2.
So that
they will not forget the wonderful and fearful works of God
a.
This whole
chapter is a review of the miraculous and wonderful works of God on behalf
of His people
b.
This whole
Bible is a continuous record of what GOD has done, in spite of our lack of
faith, our lack of praise, our lack of obedience (78:40,41)
c.
We need to
constantly be reminded how much we need God, and how much he does for us, on
a moment by moment basis!
3.
So that
they would keep God’s commandments
a.
God didn’t
write this Book for HIS benefit
b.
He gave us
laws and commands to protect US
c.
These laws
and commandments protect everybody
d.
Do you want
to know what life is like when people ignore God’s instructions?
1)
Just look at
our homes
2)
At our
streets
3)
At our TV
4)
At our music
5)
At our
children
6)
All of this
has been experienced before – even in David’s day!
4.
So that
they would NOT be like their parents
a.
Stubborn and
rebellious
b.
Not right
with God in their HEARTS
c.
Not
spiritually stable with God
5.
But would
follow God and praise Him like he deserves!
III.
Message - These are the Things
we will Pass On to the Next Generation
A.
God’s Word
(Psalm 78:9,10)
1.
It is not
that people don’t have God’s word
2.
It is that
they refuse to obey it
3.
And they
paid for it – with fears and defeats – what a shame!
4.
We aim to
keep preaching the word (2Tim 4:1-4)
5.
We keep
teaching that this Book is perfect, and pure, and can fix anybody’s life and
home and destiny!
6.
So, we will
keep giving Bibles away
7.
We will keep
pointing people to the very words of Scripture
8.
Because THEY
are the words that heal, that save, and encourage (Jn 6:68)
9.
Never mind
what other people, other cities, other countries are doing… this church is
going to keep preaching the word, and calling upon every generation to live
by it!
B.
God’s Works
(Psalm 78:11-16) – “all things are of God…”
1.
God does
wonderful things – He ONLY does wonderful things (Ps 72:18)
a.
Split the
b.
Led
c.
Gave a
million and a half people water from a dry old rock, several times!
d.
Fed them
with manna every morning (78:23,24) for 40 years
e.
Fed them
often with quail in the evenings (73:25-29)
f.
Defeated the
Egyptian empire without a weapon!
g.
He kept
their clothes and shoes from wearing out
h.
He defeated
every army and enemy that attacked them on their way to the Promised land!
2.
What other
wonderful things has God done that our children need to know about?
a.
It was GOD
who created this world, not science – quit allowing people to teach that our
children are only accidents and quirks of nature!!!
b.
It was God
who put the rainbow in the sky
c.
It was GOD
who gave you life and breath, not your parents only
d.
It was GOD
who gave His only begotten Son to save your soul
e.
It was GOD
who drew you to repentance, and then saved you when you believed on Jesus’
finished and perfect work on the cross
f.
It was GOD
who called me to come to
g.
It was GOD
who started this church 17 years ago
h.
It was GOD
who got your attention and convinced you to start coming out and start
hearing the preaching and teaching of the Bible.
i.
It was GOD
who gave you a perfect Bible.
j.
It was GOD
that saved your husband or wife
k.
It was God
who answers your prayers
l.
Don’t ever
stop praying Psalm 103:1-6!
3.
What has GOD
done in your life? I bet you could stand here for 2 hours and testify of the
great things he has done! I know “I” could!
a.
How he
humbled me and convinced me of my sin
b.
How he
changed not only my destiny from hell to heaven, but he changed my life!
c.
How he gave
me my precious wife and amazing five children, and now a grandchild
4.
Well, then,
pass that story on to your children, and to the children of all the families
here! (Mark 5:18-20) They need to know!
C.
God’s Fear
(Psalm 78:17-42)
1.
People today
don’t fear God – they don’t fear “provoking” God
a.
People think
it is wrong to fear some things
b.
We think
sins don’t matter anymore
1)
Swear words,
Filthy words, Lying words – still as wicked as hell
2)
Eyes full of
adultery on the internet and on the movie channels – all just as wicked as
hell
3)
Stealing is
wicked
4)
Bowing
before idols and statues – wicked as the devil
5)
Being too
busy to pray and too proud to obey God – wicked, wicked wicked sins!
c.
Sins are
serious! Romans 6:23a “wages of sin is
still death!”
d.
And it is up
to OUR generation to pass that fear on to the next generation!
e.
I want
people to love and enjoy God…
f.
But without
proper fear of pushing God too far, our children, and the generation today
will only experience the wrath of almighty God!
2.
People mock
God, questioning if he is really “there! – maybe they haven’t seen the
reality in US, so they mock US!
3.
People are
wondering if God is able to do what the Bible says he is able to do!
4.
We had
better get back to reminding this next generation just how faithful God
really is
5.
God does get
angry (78:21,22,29-31,36-42)
6.
Don’t think
empty acts will fix things (78:58)
a.
Idolatry is
not how to worship almighty God!
b.
Flattery
(78:36)
7.
This entire
world is against God, and so is under His wrath
8.
They MUST
repent, just like we did when we turned to Jesus Christ
9.
The message
of the Gospel never changes – because the heart of men never changes!
10.
People will
not think they need God until they understand just how much in trouble they
are with God!
11.
And they are
not going to understand that unless we keep telling them!
D.
God’s Ways
1.
Did you know
that God has very specific ways of doing things?
a.
Ways of
worshipping Him
b.
Ways of
talking to Him
c.
Ways of
raising our children
d.
Ways of
staying married
2.
What are the
ways that God says to do things?
a.
By faith –
not feeling
b.
By obedience
to God, not to the world’s ideals – simply doing what God says to do in His
word
c.
Doing what
seems foolish, because God is wiser than us
d.
Doing the
opposite of what seems natural
3.
Oh that the
next generation in this room would decide EARLY to live that way – God’s
way!
a.
Lifting up
and worshipping Jesus instead of our needs
b.
Praising
instead of worrying
c.
Giving
instead of demanding
d.
Just staying
faithful doing what God has asked us to do
e.
Changing our
world by preaching and not compromising
E.
God’s Will
(Ps 78:41)
1.
Nothing is
greater than doing God’s will
2.
He sees what
is ahead
3.
He knows
what He designed you for
4.
He knows
where he is taking you
5.
And yet we
fight it, and resist His will, and end up limiting His blessings upon our
lives
6.
I am here to
tell you that doing God’s will works
a.
Marry HIS
choice for a mate
b.
Fulfil HIS
design for your career
c.
Surrender to
HIS calling for your life – no matter how hard it is
d.
And you will
NEVER regret it!
F.
God’s Praise
(Psalm 78:4)
1.
If you see
us enjoying our singing in church, it is because we want people to know what
praise looks like!
a.
Not like a
zoo
b.
Not like a
bunch of zombies either
c.
But full of
joy and passion for the Lord Jesus!
2.
If you see
us giving thanks to God, even though in great disasters and defeats, it is
because we have decided to live what we believe – that Jesus is worthy of
our praise ALL the time! Not just the good times!
3.
I want to
teach these kids how great it is
a.
To stand for
Jesus!
b.
To rejoice
in the Lord always!
c.
To be
thankful for everything and everyone in their lives!
4.
I may not
have any money to pass on, but I can pass on the joy of praise and true
worship!
IV.
Conclusion (Psalm 78:4)
A.
We must
never forget where we came from, and how we got to where we are! It never is
an accident
B.
We have so
many great memories
C.
And we have
a great responsibility to pass on those memories
D.
But more so,
we have a bigger responsibility to pass on an “awe” of God
E.
Why? Because
people of the next generation are prone to move on without remembering some
very important things from the past
F.
So, We will Pass On to the Next
Generation…
1.
God’s Word
(Psalm 78:9,10)
2.
God’s Works
(Psalm 78:11-16) – “all things are of God…”
3.
God’s Fear
(Psalm 78:17-42)
4.
God’s Ways
5.
God’s Will
(Ps 78:41)
6.
God’s Praise
(Psalm 78:4)
G.
As pastor of
this Church, I think I speak for all the adult Christians here…
1.
We WILL not
hide all these things (be ashamed of what God has done in our lives)
2.
We WILL show
the next generations what it means to praise the Lord – not each other
3.
What it
means to trust the Lord, and wait on Him
4.
We WILL show
the generations to come just how mighty God is and how far we can trust Him
– all the way to heaven!
H.
And we pass
on this rich heritage…
1.
So that
they might set THEIR hope in God
2.
So that
they will not forget the wonderful and fearful works of God
3.
So that
they would keep God’s commandments
4.
So that
they would NOT be like their parents
I.
It all begins with
Repentance
1.
Sorrow for sin
2.
Asking only Jesus for
forgiveness
3.
Believing that He can
save your soul from hell
4.
Deciding to follow Him
from now on!