Download... March 21, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
There is an analogy in the children's book The Velveteen Rabbit (by Margery Williams) to this morning's message. Just as when a child's love brought the shabby toy rabbit to life through a fairy, so the miracle of love's working faith gives our ragged fleshly life, linkages to new true life through Jesus. Our close connections then is translated into our daily life. It is all about having links of faith expressed in our everyday living, making that connection, unmovable. It often seems hard for people to comprehend that living for the world in this earth is to live in the land of shadows, whereas living for the spirit, is to live in the land of light. Living in the faith of Jesus, is to live as strangers and pilgrims, daily passing through only, in this life on earth.
TEXT:Psalm 15:1-5
1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
If we cannot take up a reproach against our neighbor, then neither can we take up reproach against our own family. A practical guide in salvation from this Psalms, translated into everyday living.
To have the proper links of faith is to be immersed in God's Righteousness and all that God would have for us. Each attribute of Righteousness is a necessary link strengthening and supplying the needed connections. The benefits and exhortations in this Psalm, clearly shows a life that illustrates our faith, by not being weary in well doing.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Don't be weary in well doing is our admonition. To be weary is to break the links or let up on the strengthening practices that is so vital to faith. We must not let being weary cause us to choose a different, lesser, and more fleshly way. God will fill us if we allow Him to, with His way. Walk upright, speak truth, backbite not with our tongue and worship not the fleshly idols or pastimes of this life. To be unmovable spiritually, link your faith to your daily living. Putting others before yourself, helping the downtrodden, etc is part of keeping those links strengthened, as is making sure only God merits our undivided devotion and worship.
Another analogy to this message, is the hyperlinks we so often see on the internet or web sites. You click on a hyperlink, and it usually takes you somewhere to do with the contents you just left. It becomes natural, like second nature if often used. So should our faith's links be exercised so that it is second nature to have it strengthened and working in our daily life. It is a revelation of a Christian's life that has proven true over and again.
Practicing my faith should result in something that God is pleased with. Sometimes it may seem to fail because there is too few links cultivated in the things of God. A person can "pull away", or isolate their self from God, so that the connections are too weak to stand against the strains of life. The above Psalm (15th chapter) has a series of things, walking upright, speaking truth,etc., that illustrates what it takes to increase our connections to faith in God.
James 2:14-18
14: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15: If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16: And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
If your faith is isolated or disconnected from your works or actions, it is in vain. Faith and works must go together. It is more than an intellectual knowledge, but an actual practice in your daily living. Faith will produce works. What are works? A practice of daily living which is evidence of our faith. That practice of daily living will work itself out somewhere. Standing up for Christ in the midst of unbelievers is just one example of working out of our faith. Our faith links will be in our talking, deeds, behavior, etc. So your faith can easily be expressed from day to day. Only one weak "connection"? Not enough! Our prayer should be "God help us to immerse our faith so that it is natural through and through, and unmovable." Some links are Church, prayer, bible study, our speech and our actions. Why would you be weary in well doing? Because you allowed faith's connections to "fade away." Then your works are largely uninfluenced by your faith or disconnected, and moved. No real linkage anymore.
Is our daily living so immersed to express the faith God has given us? Mere religion does not expose sin as the focus of people's problem. The gospel has become a "social" gospel, and ceased to be a personal gospel. Most do not teach you must get rid of your sin. Sin must be dealt with. When sin ceases to be recognized as the focus of a problem,there is no longer a connection between righteousness and daily living. Society cultivates concerns of the flesh, and therefore a disconnection to faith. We live in a world of broken linkages in spite of most religion institutions that do not truly deal with sin.
Again Psalms 15: 1-5 verse2 He that walketh uprightly, worketh righteousness, speaks the truth in his heart. verse4 He condemns sin or a corrupt person. These are this scripture's instructions for keeping the linkages with God and faith. God wants your daily actions in faith's linkages to be as natural as you putting gas in your car, or buying groceries, etc.
Pastor D Goble also referred us to the many exhortations found in Psalms 119. He pointed some out, how it is broken down in segments of 8 verses each, with each clearly underscoring a particular thought. Those references he shared were as follows:
verses 1-8 Happiness comes from walking with God
verses 9-16 Purity comes from obeying God's word.
verses 17-24 Bountifulness comes from God's word.
verses 25-32 Sustenance comes from God's word.
verses 33-40 Endurance, comes from cleaving to God's Word.
verses 41-48 Walking in God's word comes from Seeking God's word.
God will show you through faith's linkages, His wisdom on how to walk in His word,...for the connections He provides are multiple. Abiding in His links of faith should be made natural by your daily living. Have you dealt with sin? Otherwise there is no way to link your faith to righteous living, which without we will not make heaven.
