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Welcome to Christ Fellowship and happy New Year. This is my first message for 2012. I decided to share about one of the things I value the most, about what is incredibly valuable and important to me, something I treasure. We’ve titled our first series of 2012: “Secrets to a Blessed Life”. The secrets are found in Psalm 119. What I value so much is the Word of God. The powerful word of almighty God brings incredible benefits if you will passionately study it and purposely obey it. It will bring you a blessed life. At Christ Fellowship we are all Bible, guided by the Word. In the next three weeks we are going to consider the power, benefits and proper response to God’s Word. Today we are going to dig into Psalm 119 to see the power of God’s Word.
Open your Bible to Psalm119, the longest Psalm in the Bible. My prayer for you to today is that you could grasp the power of God’s Word. The powerful word of almighty God brings incredible benefits if you will passionately study it and purposely obey it. At Christ Fellowship we are devoted to the practice of engaging God individually. We do not think it is sufficient to simply come to church and hear sermons, although that’s a good practice too. You need to read and study the Word of God as you personally engage God on a daily basis. That’s why we provide you with a study guide each week preceding the sermon. Right now you have the Psalm 119 prayer guide.
As you aim to start 2012 well, let me strongly encourage you to put this practice into your life. There is no more important personal habit that you could establish than engaging God on a daily basis in his Word and in prayer.
Psalm 119 inspires me to engage God in his Word as I see the truth that God blesses the person who engages his Word. God’s Word gives us power to live the kind of live we want to live.
Psalm 119 is beautifully structured in an acrostic (alphabetical) arrangement. In each paragraph or stanza of eight verses each line begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The 22 stanzas correspond to the 22 letters of the alphabet. So verses 1-8 each begin with the first Hebrew letter, aleph. In the second stanza, verses 9-16 each begin with the second letter, Beth and so on. So as a side benefit, this Psalm can teach you the Hebrew alphabet, another good goal you could have for 2012.
Rather than a logical, linear argument, Psalm 119 presents an artistic kaleidoscopic of motifs that reappear in new contexts inspiring us to see the power of God’s Word. Each stanza has eight lines because the Psalm gives us eight synonyms to describe God’s Word. Almost every verse has a term or description for the word of God.
It would be a mistake to see the Psalm as scholarly or legalistic. Instead it is devotional and prayerful. In fact after the first three verses, nearly all 176 verses address God or describe God. So this psalm is basically a combination of worship, prayer, praise, and instruction. Meditating on this psalm will help you to love and treasure the Word of God more fully.
Turn to the beginning of Psalm 119 in verse one. Notice how the Psalm starts with the promise of a blessed life:
1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart Psalm 119:1- 2(NIV)
Other translations say “happy” are those who follow God’s Word. The Hebrew word means happy, blessed, fulfilled. If you want a life of true fulfillment, you will find it in God’s Word. The secrets to a blessed life are in the Word of God.
The dominant emotion running through this Psalm is joy. Despite his enemies and his own shortcomings, for the writer, God’s Word is always a source of life, wisdom, comfort, and hope. For 2012, I pray that joy will be the emotional theme for your year. No matter your circumstances, you can have a blessed, joyful life if you will engage God in his Word. The more you see the power of God’s Word the more motivated you are to get into it on a daily basis. You can grasp the power of God’s Word today by understanding 8 names for God’s Word, by knowing 6 truths about God’s Word and by seeing 4 pictures of God’s Word. Let’s start with gasping the power of God’s Word by understanding the eight names for God’s Word in Psalm 119.
Understand 8 names for God’s Word
Nearly all eight are found in the first stanza. Each one is used many times throughout the Psalm. Most stanzas use several of the eight terms. The first name is law.
Law (torah)
In Hebrew law is (tôrâh). It communicates direction or instruction. More often the word refers to a body of teaching, often the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. It can be used of the Scripture as a whole. The second name is testimonies.
Testimonies (edot)
In Hebrew this word is (‘ēḏâh). It is a solemn declaration of the will of God. It is a general word for ordinances that became God’s standard of conduct. It is sometimes translated as “statutes.” It can imply faithfulness and dependability. The third name is promises.
Promises (’imrâh)
In Hebrew ’imrâh, It is also translated as “sayings” or “word.” These are God’s commitments. The fourth name is precepts.
Precepts (piqqudim)
In Hebrew, (piqqûḏîm) is a poetical word for injunctions, or requirements; commandments. The fifth word is statutes.
Statutes (huqqim)
In Hebrew (ḥūqqîm) literally means “things inscribed.” So it refers to enacted Laws and is translated by some as “decrees.” It can imply the binding force of Scripture. The sixth name is commandments.
Commandments (miswot)
In Hebrew (miṣwâh) signifies a definite, authoritative command, a distinct, authoritative order. The seventh name is judgments.
Judgments (mispat)
In Hebrew mispat is sometimes translated as “laws.” It represents a judicial decision that constitutes a precedence, a binding law. The word can refer to God’s judgmental acts on the wicked. Finally the eight and final name is “word.”
Word (dabar)
In Hebrew (dāḇār) is a general term for God’s revelation, embracing God’s truth in any form, stated, promised or commanded.
These eight synonyms name the Word of God like eight bells sounding out the power of the Word. It commands, judges, instructs, testifies, promises and reveals. To these eight names we add six truths about God’s Word. You can grasp the power of God’s Word by knowing six truths about God’s Word from Psalm 119.
Know 6 truths about God’s Word
As you read through Psalm 119 you will find descriptions of God’s Word. I am highlighting six truths about the Word that will help us grasp its power. First God’s word is wonderful.
Wonderful 18, 129
I love the prayer in verse eighteen:
18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Psalm 119:18 (NIV)
I encourage you to pray this prayer on a regular basis just before you read or study God’s Word. Ask God to open your eyes to see wonderful things in his Book.
In our post-modern age, some good things from the past are disappearing and one of them is wonder. People used to have their sense of awe incited by some new or unexpected thing. Nothing seems wonderful anymore. There is no mystery. Everything seems commonplace, predictable, dull. You can jump on the Internet see the entire earth on Google Earth and watch a video about almost anything. It’s as if everything has already been seen and done. But God’s Word holds wonders that you can’t find on the Internet, wonders available to those who seek his Word by the Spirit of God in prayer. The writer flat out declares:
129 Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.
Psalm 119:129 (NIV)
In Hebrew “wonderful” means surpassing, extraordinary, to be distinguished; to be great. The word is often used of acts of God. In fact we will see that aspects of God’s character also describe his word. The word “wonderful” can be used to describe unusual things beyond human capabilities. God’s word has power because it is wonderful in the full sense of that word. Secondly, the Word is good.
Good 39
In verse thirty-nine, the writer says,
39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
Psalm 119:39 (NIV).
In Hebrew “good” means pleasing, agreeable, pretty much as it does in English, “good.” We want and need good things in our lives. Ironically some people see the Bible as something bad, hard to read or filled with restrictive rules. On the contrary the Bible is good, and very good for you. Fill your life with it in 2012. Thirdly know that the Bible is true.
True 43, 86, 142, 151, 160
In Hebrew this word means firmness, faithfulness, truth. It indicates reliability, sureness and stability. Truth also is an attribute of God. He is firm and true. You can trust the truth of God’s word in a way that you can trust no other book or resource. In Hebrew this word implies certainly and dependability. You can trust God’s Word because it is true.
Listen to the affirmations of Psalm 119:
86 All your commands are trustworthy; Psalm 119:86 (NIV)
142 Your righteousness is everlasting Psalm 119:142 (NIV)
and your law is true.
151 Yet you are near, LORD,
and all your commands are true. Psalm 119:151 (NIV)
160 All your words are true; Psalm 119:160 (NIV)
We will find blessing in our lives when we pour the true word of God into our minds. In a day when we can’t seem to trust what anyone says, what a comfort that God does not lie, spin or manipulate the data. What God says is true, dependable. You can count on it. That gives it power. A fourth truth about God’s word that we should know is that is right.
Right 75, 106, 137, 144, 172
In Hebrew the word means what is right, just, normal; rightness, justness. It refers to conformity to an ethical or moral standard. God’s Word is right and righteous. Listen to verses from Psalm 119.
75 I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, Psalm 119:75 (NIV)
137 You are righteous, LORD,
and your laws are right. Psalm 119:137 (NIV)
144 Your statutes are always righteous;
give me understanding that I may live. Psalm 119:144 (NIV)
Once again we see that the Bible mirrors the character of God. Anyone who cares about knowing what is righteous and wants to act righteously should study the Bible. Parents should study it; so should teachers, managers and sales people—indeed, everyone who believes that morality matters. The fifth truth we should know about the word is that it is eternal.
Eternal 89, 96, 152, 160
The Bible is not antique or modern, but eternal. It’s truths are lasting, not the flavor of the day. Listen to the Psalm.
89 Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Psalm 119:89 (NIV)
96 To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless. Psalm 119:96 (NIV)
152 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever. Psalm 119:152 (NIV)
Opinions come and go, but God’s Word stand forever. It is eternal. Finally our sixth truth to know about God’s Word is that it is delightful.
Delightful 24, 35, 77, 92, 111, 143
The Hebrew word means much the same as our English translation. The Word of God brings us delight. Delight is pleasure, happiness, joy. Listen to the power of God’s Word.
24 Your statutes are my delight; Psalm 119:24 (NIV)
35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Psalm 119:35 (NIV)
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. Psalm 119:111 (NIV)
143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. Psalm 119:143 (NIV)
My hope for all of us in 2012 is a year of delight. That can be yours if you give yourself to the Word of God. The Scripture brings delight, even in the midst of trouble and distress. It is in God’s commands that our hearts find joy, spiritual pleasure. Some mornings as I read the Word, I turn to my wife Tamara at our breakfast table and spontaneously blurt out: “I just love God’s Word!” My heart is delighted in a deep way, hard to put in words. I want that for you. You can grasp the power of God’s Word in the eight names, in the six truths and lastly you can grasp the power of God’s Word by seeing four pictures in Psalm 119.
See 4 pictures of God’s Word
The writer uses four visual images to help us see the power of God’s word. The first is gold or treasure.
Gold 14, 72, 127, 162
The Word of God is compared to gold, great riches. The writer says,
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. Psalm 119:14 (NIV)
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72 (NIV)
127 Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, Psalm 119:127 (NIV)
His point is the value of God’s Word. How would you feel if you lost God’s Word and could not replace it? These days the price of gold has been in the news with its wild fluctuations. Test how you value God’s Word. Would you trade all of your Bibles and all access to the Word of God for a huge box full of solid gold? When you grow in your understanding of the Word’s power, then the trade is an easy decision. God’s word is not only gold, but also a counselor.
Counselor 24
These days we look for wisdom everywhere. We pay high prices to psychologists, but do we see the Word of God as a counselor to us? Verse twenty-four says,
24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. Psalm 119:24 (NIV)
When you are struggling, when you don’t know what to do, turn to God’s word for counsel. This does not mean you should not also seek other counsel from friends, pastors and psychologists, but have you skipped the Word of God? It is our primary counselor. The Word is not only gold and a counselor, but also honey.
Honey 103
In those days honey was one of the sweetest substances; often used to describe the abundance and goodness of the Promised Land. Some of us like desserts. I confess that I have a sweet tooth, a deep one, especially for chocolate. What kind of dessert or food is your favorite. Try putting it in the verse. The Psalmist says:
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103 (NIV)
Try saying your words are sweeter than Godiva chocolates or Dunkin donuts or crème brule. Do we ever think of God’s word as being like a sweet dessert that we crave? Do we even know what that means? Some people see God’s Word as like necessary food: your broccoli, but Psalm 119 compares it to honey, to dessert. And it is. God’s Word is spiritual dessert for our souls. That’s how powerful it is. Finally the fourth picture is a lamp.
Lamp 105, 130
The writer calls God’s Word a lamp, a light. It lights our way in this dark world. The Psalms says,
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130 (NIV)
The Bible’s light shines on the path before us to expose the wrong, dangerous ways we might take and light up the right ones. These four pictures show the power of God’s Word. It is gold, so valuable; a counselor, so wise; honey, so sweet and a lamp, so enlightening. Grasp the power of God’s Word by understanding the eight names, knowing the six truths and seeing the four pictures.
My prayer is that grasping the power of God’s Word will inspire and motivate you to engage God in his Word every day.
My love for God’s Word has grown over my lifetime. One influence who has increased my affection for God’s Word is the primary mentor in my life, Dr. Gene Getz. Gene and I have know each other for nearly 40 years, which is far and away the bulk of my life, by the way. More than anyone outside my own family, God has used Gene to help me grow in Christ and be equipped to serve the Lord. Gene is the grandfather of Christ Fellowship. About 40 years ago Gene started the very first Fellowship Church. My dad was one of the founding elders with Gene. Since then hundreds of Fellowship churches have begun all over the United States and the world. We come directly from Chase Oaks Church in Plano that was started by Gene in the early 1980s. I served on staff there with Gene.
One Gene’s traits I most appreciate is his commitment to the Word of God. No matter what the questions, Gene always has taken me to the Word of God, to discover the principles that should guide our lives. Even today, at close to 80 years old, Gene has maintained a child-like curiosity about God’s Word, eager to see new truths.
I am thrilled that Gene is here today. Please welcome my great friend and mentor, Gene Getz!
Gene, welcome! It’s great to have you here at Christ Fellowship. Thank you for your huge investment in my life.
Gene, I shared that your love for God’s Word has influenced me greatly. Where did your commitment to God’s Word come from?
What has the Word benefited your life? [share principle #107] Gene, how has the Word of God brought you “true fulfillment,” a blessed life?
Gene, for most of the last decade you have devoted yourself to what I consider your magnum opus, the greatest work of your life. Tell us what you have been working on?
Guys this is a unique resource. There is literally no other study Bible like it. Gene, tell us about the Bible and how it works. Gene you shared a story with me of a ten-year old girl. Tell us that story.
Gene, thank you for sharing this amazing Bible with us. We appreciate you for your gift to Christ’s Church!
For the last 30 years I have read the Bible through every year cover the cover. Each year I pick a new Bible to read. This year I am going to read the Life Essentials Bible. I invite you to join me.
At my request Gene has brought Bibles here that you can purchase. Of course you can buy them on the Internet or at a book store, but today all the proceeds go directly to the ministry of the Center for Church Renewal that Gene leads. Check out a Bible for yourself or someone you love.
What’s the point this morning: you can live a blessed life by pouring yourself into the Word of God. When you grasp its power, you are motivated to read it and study it. Start with the Prayer Guide for Psalm 119. At Christ Fellowship we want every person to engage in the fundamental practice of engaging God individually in his Word. As we do that we will follow Jesus more fully and experienced blessed lives.
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