The Webster Bible Church Podcast

Part 2: I'll Live For The Lord - Here's How - Psalm 116:10-19

Transformative Truth:
Believers “pay back” the Lord by magnifying his inexhaustible goodness.

10. I believed, even when I spoke: "I am greatly afflicted"; 11. I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."

10. I believed, so [therefore] I spoke: "I am greatly afflicted"; 11. I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."

The gratitude we show God is itself a gift from God.

I'll live for the Lord, and here's how:

1. I will celebrate: I will lift up the cup of salvation.

2. I will supplicate: I will call on the name of the Lord.

3. I will congregate: I will worship in the presence of the Lord's people.

4. I will consecrate: I will dedicate myself to the Lord's service. 

Believers "pay back" the Lord by magnifying his inexhaustible goodness.

Part 1: I Love The Lord - Here's Why - Psalm 116:1-9

Transformative Truth:
Tell others publicly why you love the Lord personally.

"I love the Lord," and here's why:

1. He has heard me Psalm 116:1-2

2. He has rescued me Psalm 116:3-6

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. - Hebrews 5:7-9

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise." 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Behold, I and the children God has given me." - Hebrews 2:9-13

Tell others publicly why you love the Lord personally.

The theological truth is that every experience of being rescued from death (the experience of Psalm 116) - whether being saved from dying or being raised from the dead - is possible only because of the death and resurrection of Christ. Psalm 116 is ours in Christ, as those who died with him and are raised with him (Rom. 6:1-11).

"I love the Lord," and here's why:

1. He has heard me.

2. He has rescued me.

3. He has cared for me. Psalm 116:7

The Pleasure Of Public Worship - Psalm 122

Transformative Truth:
It is a great privilege to praise God with his people.

You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. - Hebrews 12:22-24

Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One, and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won: O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we, like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.

Their Delight in Jerusalem Psalm 122:1-2

Their Description of Jerusalem Psalm 122:3-5

Jerusalem, built as a city should be, solidly united, where the tribes, the LORD's tribes, go up to give thanks to the name of the LORD. - Psalm 122:3 
Christian Standard Bible

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? - 1 Corinthians 3:16

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. - Ephesians 2:21-22 NIV

Their Dedication to Jerusalem Psalm 122:6-9

"How lovely is the sanctuary in the eyes of those who are truly sanctified!"

It is a great privilege to praise God with his people.

Lift Up Your Eyes! - Psalm 121

Transformative Truth:

You are kept safe as you journey through life with Jesus.

 

 

Reality #1: The Lord is all-powerful. 

 

Resolution A: I will look to the Lord for strength.

 

Resolution B: I will look to the Lord for stability.

 

Reality #2: The Lord is ever-watchful.

 

Ramification A: I have shade in the midst of difficulty.

 

Ramification B: I have a shield in the midst of danger.

 

You are kept safe as you journey through life with Jesus.

God Bless Us! - Psalm 67

Transformative Truth:
The church is God's channel of blessing to the nations.

1. The Request for God's Blessing

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. "So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them." - Numbers 6:24-27

2. The Reason for God's Blessing

3. The Results of God's Blessing 

"Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man."

4. The Realization of God's Blessing

The Most Important Question - Psalm 15

Transformative Truth:
Only the morally perfect get to enjoy God’s presence.

The Question Asked (v. 1)

The Question Answered (vv. 2-5)
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

How should we respond to this text?
1.

2.

3.

Rest For The Stressed - Psalm 4

Transformative Truth:
Believers can rest secure, because our God reigns supreme.

"These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." - Luke 24:44

REST FOR THE STRESSED Psalm 4:1-8

Believers can rest secure, because our God reigns supreme.

1. Call upon the Lord. Psalm 4:1

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

2. Confront your enemies. Psalm 4:2-3

3. Counsel your friends. Psalm 4:4-5

a. Be angry.
b. Don't sin.
c. Search your hearts.
d. Be silent.
e. Offer right sacrifices.
f. Put your trust in the Lord.  

Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. - James 1:19

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. - 1 Peter 2:23-24

4. Count on God's peace. Psalm 4:6-8

Believers can rest secure, because our God reigns supreme.

The Way To Live - Psalm 1

Transformative Truth:
Christ has provided the path of blessing for his people.

The Way of the Godly Psalm 1:1-3

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. - Joshua 1:8

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. - Jeremiah 17:7-8

The Way of the Ungodly Psalm 1:4-5

The Watchfulness of the Lord Psalm 1:6

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21

Four Responses 1. "Amen!" 2. "Oh, no!" 3. "Oh, yes!" 4. Let's go!

The Gospel For All People - John 4:27-35

Introduction

 

Proposition: We must be available to take the gospel to all people … to target unreached people and unevangelized places.

 

Transition: In John 4:27–35, we discover 3 ageless, timeless obstacles to being available to take the gospel to all people … to targeting unreached people and unevangelized places.

 

Outline

 

1. Prejudice is a hindrance to availability (4:27) … “Not them!”

 

   Whereas prejudice is a hindrance to the gospel penetrating all nations, Jesus models the universality of God’s grace in 4:27.

 

 

2. Preoccupation is an obstacle to availability (4:31 to 34) … “Not that!”

 

   The Samaritan woman forgot her … 

 

•Purpose (compare verses 6 and 7 with 28)

 

•Possession (verse 28a)

 

•Pride (compare verses 6, 7, and 16-18 with 28 and 29)

 

   The disciples, on the other hand, remembered their food.

 

   Whereas preoccupation is an obstacle to the gospel reaching all people, Jesus emphasizes the priority of the gospel in 4:31-34.

 

 

3. Procrastination is a barrier to availability (4:35) … “Not time!”

 

   Whereas procrastination is a barrier to the gospel impacting our generation, Jesus appeals to the urgency of our witness in 4:35.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Divine Love Unveiled - Ephesians 3:14-19

Transformative Truth: 
Divine love is revealed and expressed by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Paul prays
(1) That God might strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being (Ephesians 3:6-17a)
(2) That we might have power to grasp the limitless dimensions of the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:17b-19)

Divine Love is revealed and expressed by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

First, to live with an ever-increasing awareness of Divine Love, Consider: Triune love Exists 
 
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Deuteronomy 6:4)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  2 Corinthians 13:14

WBC doctrinal statement He (God) is inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all honor, confidence, and love. He eternally exists in three persons, who are equal in every divine perfection, and who execute distinct but harmonious roles in the work of creation, providence and redemption.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  1 John 4:8 

"It is common when speaking of the Divine happiness to say that God is infinitely happy in the enjoyment of Himself, in perfectly beholding and infinitely loving, and rejoicing in, His own essence and perfection..."  (Jonathan Edwards)

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17

Second, to live with an ever-increasing awareness of Divine Love, Consider: Triune love is Expressed

"His self-giving affection for his image-bearing creatures and his unselfish concern for their well-being, that leads him to act on their behalf and for their happiness and welfare " 

The God who is love - is the Father who sends his Son.
 
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Son) Romans 5:6

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Father) Romans 5:8

And when he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.... (John 16:8 )

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  John 3:5 

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14, NLT

Third, to live with an ever-increasing awareness of Divine Love, Consider: Triune love is Extended

In other words, the shape of the Father-Son relationship (the headship) begins a gracious cascade, like a waterfall of love: as the Father is the lover and the head of the Son, so the Son goes out to be the lover and the head of the church. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you," the Son says (Jn 15:9). And therein lies the very goodness of the gospel: as the Father is the lover and the Son the beloved, so Christ becomes the lover and the church the beloved. That means that Christ loves the church first and foremost: his love is not a response, given only when the church loves him; his love comes first, and we only love him because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)

Divine Love is revealed and expressed by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit