18/10/2017 : Psalm 119 | Gill Wolfaardt

John 17: 17  “ Sanctify them by truth. Your word is truth. “ Where are you?”

We are in the POST TRUTH era. Always check whether what you hear is true.

John 14:6  Jesus IS the Truth and His Truth will set us free.

Facts about Psalm 119:

It has 176 verses. God’s word is mentioned in every verse bar five ( verses 84, 90, 121, 122, 132).   Like a string of priceless pearls. Longest psalm in the bible. Probably written by David over a period of time and compiled into one psalm later. It is written as an acrostic. There are 22 stanzas of 8 verses each. Each stanza and the verses in it begin with one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  It is a poetic and creative masterpiece.  It uses the words: Law, Word, Judgements, Testimonies, Commandments, Statutes and Precepts. All of these are communications from God to His people

We know God through His word. The only way to know someone  personally is through communication. We need a hunger and thirst for God’s word.

Heb 4:12  “ For the word that God speaks is alive and full of power ( making it active, operative and effective); it is sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life ( soul) and the immortal spirit, and of the joints and marrow (of the deepest parts of our nature) exposing and sifting and analysing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.”

Our relationship with God is the closest and most intimate relationship possible. He lives within you and never leaves you.

Rev 19:13  ….HIS  NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD

We need the Word and the Spirit. With only the word we dry up, with only the Spirit we blow up.  Pro 4:20-22

Logos = the total inspired word of God

Rhema = The spoken word / utterance;  A rhema is a verse or portion of scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention with application to a current situation need for direction. Its not a magic formula but it is us aligning ourselves to God’s will and His word.

James 1:21b  “In a humble( gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word, which implanted and rooted in  your hearts contains the power to save your souls.”

Our salvation is assured when we are born again but our souls are still in need of saving. I am a spirit, I have a soul and I live in a body. My soul is my mind, my will and my emotions. That’s where the battleground is and that’s the part of us that needs God’s word.

Some of my favourite verses from Psalm 119.

Verses 1 and 2; verse 24; verse 89; verse 90; ;verse 103; verse105; verse 107; verse 130 and my most favourite

Verse 165 “Great peace have they who love Your law for nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.”

Offence cuts us off from God’s working in our lives. The antidote is forgiveness. The Lord’s prayer. “ Father forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us”

This verse changed my life and hidden in my heart keeps me from sinning against God when I am tempted to take offence.

My prayer for all of us is that we will hunger and thirst for God’s word like never before.

May we answer His question “ Where are you?” with absolute confidence in His infallible WORD.

AMEN

THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH   (x2)

WHEN I FEEL AFRAID , THINK I’VE LOST MY WAY,STILL YOU’RE THERE RIGHT BESIDE ME.

AND NOTHING WILL I FEAR AS LONG AS YOU ARE NEAR, PLEASE BE NEAR ME TO THE END.

CHORUS

I WILL NOT FORGET YOUR LOVE FOR ME AND YET MY HEART FOREVER IS WANDERING.

JESUS BE MY GUIDE AND HOLD ME TO YOUR SIDE, I WILL LOVE YOU TO THE END.

CHORUS