I was just reading Psalm 119 now and a few verses jumped out at me. Verses 12-16 says…
Psalm 119:12-16 NLT [12] I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. [13] I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. [14] I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. [15] I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. [16] I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.
As I read and reflected two things jumped out at me – a past statement and a future promise.
I have is the past statement. The author prayerfully reminds God that he has recited in God’s laws and has rejoiced in them.
I will is the future promise. I will study Your commandments and I will rejoice in Your decrees and not forget Your Word.
In my own life I can relate to this. I have read and studied the Bible in a formal setting of Bible college and also meditated on it in the privacy of my home.
The I will future promise inspires me to make the same commitment to God’s Word. I need to continue on in His Word. I cannot rest on old learning, but must stay fresh in His Word.
Hebrews 4:12 NLT says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
God’s Word is alive and active. I need to be alive and active in it too. I need to remind God of my past meditations and make a promise to continue on reading and reflecting on His Word going forward.
This morning I was reflecting on who I am in Christ and what I have. I was reminded of a sermon I did a few years back titled, “Remember these things”. I thought I would share it here. Please enjoy…
Remember these things
In Old Testament times they celebrated a number of festivals and ceremonies each year to remember certain things that God had done for them. I think for us as Christians today we need to be reminded of certain things too. Today I want to share three main ideas and a number of verses. Today it is more about letting Scripture speak. So I will read my point, read the Scripture and make a brief comment.
1. Remember who you are in Christ
a. I am a child of God
Galatians 3:26 – All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus.
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we become members of God’s eternal family. We are God’s children and members of His eternal household. When we step out in faith to take on new things, the devil often tries to make us forget who we are and who is our Father. So it is vital we remember this very important foundation.
b. I share in God’s divine nature
2 Peter 1:4 – And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
When we were born into this world we were affected by sin. We were all made in God’s image, but the fall of man effected this. But the good news is Jesus death restored what the fall did. Now as Christians the image is fully restored. We have Jesus is our hearts and the Holy Spirit lives within us. We are partakers in God’s Divine nature. We are one with Him through Christ and He is one with us.
c. I am a new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 – This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
This is the NLT. The NIV says we are a new creation. New. Completely new. The old is gone and the new has come. The devil wants to make us doubt who we are. He wants to remind us of our old lives. But God says who we are – we are a new creation.
d. I am more than a conqueror
Romans 8:37 – No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Again, this is the NLT. The NIV uses the term “more than conquerors”. When I looked up the Greek word used for this I found it was hoop-er-nik-ah’-o. This means to vanquish beyond, to gain a decisive victory: – not that conquering, more than conquer. You are more than a conqueror. If you are in Christ, you have overwhelming victory. Jesus defeated sin, Jesus defeated death, Jesus defeated all the powers and principalities of this world… and you are on His team. You are more than a conqueror.
2. Remember what you have in Christ
a. I have eternal life
1 John 5:11-12 – And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
Right throughout the NT it tells us that if we trust in Jesus for our salvation, we have eternal life. Not a vain hope at the end of our lives. A present reality. Eternal life begins at the moment we accept Christ. Our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life. Our eternal passports are stamped “Citizens of God’s Kingdom”. Whoever has the Son has life. He has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son.
b. I have abundant life
John 10:10 – The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
The Bible says that the thief comes to do damage and tear down. Jesus says His purpose is to come and give a rich and satisfying life. Another version says abundant life or life more abundant. The Greek word for abundant is per-is-sos. This means exceeding abundantly above, more abundantly, or beyond measure. The life we have in Christ is a life of love, peace, blessing, abundance, hope, and security. I wouldn’t trade these things for all the money in the world. These are things that can only be given by God.
c. I have divine provision
Philippians 4:19 – And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
One of my favourite sayings is “God owns all the cattle on all the hills”. If He needs you to do something, then He will supply your needs out of His riches. Matthew 6:33 echoes this when it says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be added to you”. It doesn’t say some a few things will be added. It doesn’t say some things. It says all things. We have divine provision to fulfil His Kingdom purposes in this world.
d. I always have Jesus with me
Hebrews 13:5b – For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
God promises to be with us always. That means He is not leaving. He is not going anywhere. No matter what we face in this life, He is always right beside us. The same God who was with David when he fought Goliath is with you. The same God who was with Daniel in the Lion’s Den is with you. The same God who was Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego in the fiery furnace is with you. And He promises to never leave you or fail you.
3. Remember what you can do in Christ
a. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.
We can do all things through Christ. I remember years ago I got asked to be best man and MC at a wedding. I have never spoken publicly before and I really panicked. For four months I was petrified. As I was a new Christian I looked into the Bible for help. I found this verse and I wrote it on a piece of paper. Every time I got up to speak at the wedding reception I put my hand in my pocket and recited “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. I believed it and I survived. It was life changing and I actually thought maybe one day I could be a preacher. I gained strength from God’s Word and from Jesus who is the one who backs up that statement.
b. I can fulfil God’s plan for my life
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
As I have shared with you a number of times. God has a plan for all of our lives. Our part is to recognise it and just walk it out. Not only does God have a plan but He has gifted you to carry it out. 1 Peter 4:10reminds us that, “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another”. As Christians, we need to remember that we are not here with no purpose. Our purpose is to love God, love on another and fulfil God’s plan for our lives.
c. I can walk in love
1 John 4:19 – We love each other because He loved us first.
What a great verse – we love because He first loved us. God is a loving God who love us. Because we are made in His image, we are capable of extending His love to others. Now we all have people in our lives that are hard to love at times and it can be a challenge. But if we relaxed and ask God to allow His love to flow through us it becomes easier. One thing that helps me is Galatians 2:20. It says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.
d. I can do what is good
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Have you ever wondered God requires of you? This verse tells us. 1. Act justly or fairly 2. Love mercy or show mercy to others 3. Walk humbly with God. These three things set us on the right path to doing what is good in God’s eyes. Because God is with us, because we have been born into God’s eternal family and we have the Holy Spirit, we can do what is good.
Closing summary
Today as we finish this message I want us all to remember these three things.
Remember who you are in Christ Remember what you have in Christ Remember what you can do in Christ
Many years ago I did a sermon using the letters of the word faith for the outline – F.A.I.T.H.
When preaching I always try and do something like that so people have something to hang on to and to help them remember.
By the time you make the point and read the passage you only need a paragraph or two to create a 10 minutes homily. Here are the dot points.
F – Freedom in Christ
John 8:36 NLT – So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
A – Assurance from Christ
Mark 5:36 NLT – But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”
I – Involvement for Christ
Matthew 9:37 NLT – He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
T – Triumph through Christ
Romans 8:37 NLT – No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
H – Heaven with Christ
John 14:2-3 NLT – There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? [3] When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
Using an acronym is a simple way of making things easier for people to remember. Whenever I did a homily like this, most people could at least tell me some of the points a week later.
A great habit I have used over the years is to pray the Scriptures. By this I mean using the words of the Bible to convey our heartfelt needs to God.
The Bible tells us that God’s Word goes out and achieves His purposes.
Isaiah 55:11 NLT says, “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
So here is an example of a prayer for healing. I start by reading the Psalm to declare God forgives our sins heals our diseases.
Psalm 103:1-5 NLT [1] Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. [2] Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. [3] He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. [4] He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. [5] He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagles.
Then I pray the next two verses as a prayer.
Acts 4:30 NLT [30] Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Psalm 6:2 NLT [2] Have compassion on me, LORD, for I am weak. Heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
For Psalm 6:2 I pray it as is for myself, but I change “me” to the persons name if I am praying for someone else.
I find praying this way declares God as our healer, it asks for His power to heal and it shows our total dependance on Him. And it is done in Jesus’ name.
I encourage you to give it a try next time you need to pray for someone, or even try it for yourself.
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