1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:08,480 This morning we're going to turn it our Bibles to God's Word. 2 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,040 We're turning to Psalm 103. We were singing from part of the 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,960 Psalm in our opening praise, and we're going to read together 4 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:24,720 from Psalm 103. Let's hear the Word of God for 5 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:26,520 those online. The words will come up on 6 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,640 screen. We pray the Lord will bless us 7 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:33,120 as we read together from the Holy Scriptures. 8 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,240 Now, normally after this reading, I would do a short 9 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,400 children's address, but I'm not going to do that today. 10 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,880 We'll leave that to the following Lord's Day and then 11 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:48,760 we'll start a little series on the Jelly baby family. 12 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,240 So you can pray about that. Think about it for next week, 13 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:57,200 the Jelly Baby family. I'll be starting next week in 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:05,600 the will of God, Psalm 103. Let's hear God's word reading of 15 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,400 course, from the King James Bible. 16 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:15,720 Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me. 17 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:21,120 Bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and 18 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:27,040 forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, 19 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:31,760 who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from 20 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,400 destruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender 21 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:42,520 mercies, who satisfy thy mouth with good things, so that thy 22 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,760 youth is renewed like the eagles. 23 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:49,280 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement for all that are 24 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,040 oppressed. He made no one his ways unto 25 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,760 Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. 26 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:02,600 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and 27 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,960 plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide, 28 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:09,960 neither will He keep his anger forever. 29 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,240 He have not dealt with us after our sins and rewarded us 30 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,200 according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above 31 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:23,480 the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him as far 32 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,320 as the east is from the West, so far as He removed our 33 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:32,280 transgressions from us. Like as a father pityeth his 34 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:38,280 children, so the Lord pityeth them that fear Him, for He 35 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:43,400 knoweth our freedom. He remembereth that we are dust. 36 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,520 As for man, His days are his grass. 37 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,600 As a flower of the fields, so we flourisheth, for the wind passes 38 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,320 over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it. 39 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,440 The war. But the mercy of the Lord is 40 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:04,120 from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his 41 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:08,720 righteousness unto children's children, to such as keep His 42 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,680 covenant, to those that remember His commandments to do them. 43 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:18,080 The Lord had prepared His throne in the heavens, and His Kingdom 44 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,720 ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, ye His angels 45 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:28,480 that excel in strength, that do His commandments heartening unto 46 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,680 the voice of His word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye His 47 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:37,000 hosts, ye ministers of His that do His pleasure. 48 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:44,000 Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion. 49 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:50,000 Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, Amen. 50 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,920 We know God will stamp with His own approval and blessing this 51 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,720 reading of His own precious infallible word. 52 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:04,680 Now my text this morning is taken from Psalm 103 and in the 53 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:10,960 verse 2 it reads as follows. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and 54 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:16,560 forget not all his benefits. Now, if entitled today's theme 55 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:23,200 in the form of a question, are you living on God's benefits? 56 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,960 Many throughout our province, through no fault of their own, 57 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:33,240 are living in state benefits, a meagre existence. 58 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,200 But my question is not about the state benefit system. 59 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:43,080 I'm asking the question, are you living on the Saviour's 60 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,520 benefits? You see, Psalm 103 is a 61 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:50,120 wonderful Psalm. It's well known and sung the 62 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:55,240 world over, especially within the reformed Protestant church 63 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,520 circles. In the Sam, you've got to think 64 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:03,320 of David being alone with God. Say he's in the palace, He's 65 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:07,600 maybe in his study or library, could be in his bedroom. 66 00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:11,080 Remember, he is in a right relationship with God and here 67 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,320 he is in an attitude of prayer and praise. 68 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,840 He is meditating on God's being who he is. 69 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,960 Think of the words bless the Lord. 70 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,000 The definite article is employed here. 71 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:29,640 Think of the word Lord that's repeated throughout this song. 72 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,360 He's thinking of what God is like. 73 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,080 For example, verse 8. The Lord is merciful and 74 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,000 gracious, slow to anger and plenteous and mercy. 75 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,760 He will not always change, neither will he keep his anger 76 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:46,560 forever. But he also begins to focus in 77 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:51,320 this Psalm on the blessings of God in his life. 78 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,720 He's telling his soul. It's called in the English a 79 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,240 solouquy. In other words, he's talking to 80 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:05,720 himself and he's addressing God, and this is what he says. 81 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:12,200 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me. 82 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,720 Bless His holy name. Notice seven times in the space 83 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,920 of 22 verses these words, Bless the Lord. 84 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,600 Now if you read the Psalm carefully, it begins and ends 85 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:25,720 the same way, verses one and two. 86 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,440 Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me. 87 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:32,840 Bless His holy name, bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not 88 00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:35,320 all his benefits. In the space of 2 verses you've 89 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:39,560 got the words Bless the Lord three times. 90 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,840 And if you come to the end of the Psalm, verse 20, write down 91 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:47,080 to verse 22. You've got Bless the Lord, ye 92 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,880 his angels. There's the fourth one and the 93 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:56,680 5th. 121 Bless ye the Lord, O ye as hosts, ye ministers of His 94 00:06:56,680 --> 00:07:01,040 that do us pleasure. And here's the 6th one, bless 95 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,680 the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion. 96 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,760 And then the 7th one, bless the Lord, O my soul. 97 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,640 The Psalm begins and starts the same way. 98 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,320 Seven in the Bible is the number of perfection. 99 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,040 And what a perfect Psalm of praise. 100 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,440 Psalm 103 is. Chapter Spurgeon likened it to a 101 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,440 mountain climber climbing the Alps mountains. 102 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:33,160 Now the Alps is the peak. It's the apex of the mountains 103 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:34,920 of the world that climbers climb. 104 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:40,680 And Psalm 103 stands like an apex of the sands, the highest 105 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,720 peak in the mountain range of praise and worship. 106 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:48,040 David is spiritually excited. He has something to sing and 107 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:52,320 something to shout about, and here is reflecting not only in 108 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,120 who God is and what he's like and what he's done, but he also 109 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:59,920 thinks about the real experience of forgetting who God is and all 110 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:03,040 that he has done. I have no doubt his heart was 111 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:09,200 stirred when he sang and shouted Forget not all his benefits. 112 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,760 He knew it was a real problem. He knew that it was something 113 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:17,400 that we were all prone to do. He followed this by listing some 114 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,280 of the good things the Lord bestows. 115 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:25,280 And all who know and love him. He tells us there, who forgiveth 116 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,800 all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who 117 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,520 redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee 118 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,720 with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfieth thy 119 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:36,960 mouth with good things. So thy youth is renewed. 120 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,159 Like the eagles. The Lord executeth righteousness 121 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:42,520 and judgement for all that are oppressed. 122 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,360 He made his no way. He made known his ways unto 123 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,280 Moses, His acts unto the children of men. 124 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,560 Did you know the Apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians 125 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:58,640 chapter 2 verse 9? These words listen carefully. 126 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:05,040 First Corinthians 2 verse 9. But as it is written, I have not 127 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:10,240 seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man 128 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:15,640 the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. 129 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:20,160 What encouragement, what a tremendous verse. 130 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:26,080 See Psalm 103 is taken up with those good things. 131 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:30,960 David is reflecting on being in a right relationship with the 132 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:35,880 God of heaven, and he's rejoicing in all the benefits of 133 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:39,120 the Lord. And these benefits that he 134 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:43,920 mentions, they represent all the provision that the Lord provides 135 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,680 for his children, all the provisions physically and 136 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:51,240 mentally, emotionally and spiritually, all to do with our 137 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:56,120 well-being. And as we reflect in Psalm 103 138 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:01,640 today, especially focusing in on verse 2, asking the question, am 139 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:05,560 I living in God's benefits? I pray today this will be a word 140 00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:09,320 of encouragement, a word of comfort, this will be a source 141 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:15,000 of help even on the journey. And I say that especially to all 142 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,880 who are struggling today and many are struggling. 143 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:27,800 So whatever your struggle is, if it be physical, if it be mental, 144 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:35,000 if it be emotional or spiritual, here's a word for you today. 145 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:41,920 Ask yourself this as you listen, Am I living on God's benefits? 146 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:48,600 I want you to think, first of all, the sword of God's 147 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,480 benefits. Notice the word benefits in 148 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,560 verse 2. It's the last word. 149 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:58,840 The word benefits is in the plural. 150 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,360 So that means there's more than one young people. 151 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,680 Notice the way it's spelled. This finishes with an S. 152 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,400 Did you know that the word benefits is only mentioned three 153 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:18,760 times in the Bible? 3 is the number of witnesses. 154 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,600 Here we have in Psalm 103 verse 2. 155 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:29,120 Forget not all his benefits. David is saying that to his own 156 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,120 soul in the presence of the Lord. 157 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:37,040 And then in Psalm 68, verse 19, we read, blessed be the Lord, 158 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:41,960 who dearly loaded us with benefits, even the God of our 159 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:47,680 salvation. And in Psalm 116, verse 12, the 160 00:11:47,680 --> 00:11:52,280 psalmist asked us, what shall I render unto the Lord for all his 161 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:59,600 benefits toward me? Now think of this, the sword of 162 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:06,040 God's benefits. Think about the benefit of God's 163 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:10,440 pardon. Verse 3 says, who forgiveth all 164 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:15,040 thine iniquities, the blessing of a full and free and forever 165 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:22,400 part, all sin, the thought, word and deed carried away, covered 166 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:26,280 over by the precious blood, cancelled out. 167 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:31,160 Isn't this what the psalmist said in Psalm 32 and in the 168 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:35,640 verse one and two he made this tremendous statement. 169 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:38,120 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose 170 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,440 sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the 171 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:44,000 Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no 172 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,080 guile. It's a wonderful thing to know 173 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,080 that your sins are behind God's back. 174 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,840 They're in the sea of forgetfulness, and God makes a 175 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:53,960 promise. Hebrews 10 and 17. 176 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:57,640 Thy sins and iniquities. Well, I remember no more. 177 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:02,120 Didn't he testify through Isaiah the evangelical prophet? 178 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,960 I even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine 179 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,440 own's sake, and will not remember thy sins. 180 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:12,240 And a member of the Guinness family. 181 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,920 Not recommending Guinness now, but OS Guinness. 182 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,920 He was a preacher. Not sure. 183 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:24,440 I think he perhaps belonged to the Gospel Hall assemblies, did 184 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:29,080 a tremendous ministry, and he preached A sermon one time about 185 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:33,000 sins been blotted out, blotted out of God's book. 186 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,000 So when you open the book with your name on it, there's nothing 187 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:42,640 there, nothing recorded, blotted out by God's own hand and 188 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,160 blotted out of God's mind. You see, see, forgiveness means 189 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:52,000 that God makes you a promise. Thy sins and iniquities, I will 190 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:56,200 remember no more. They're not only forgiven, but 191 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:01,120 they are forgotten. And you see, sadly we are prone 192 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,280 to forget we are sinners. The Lord Jesus sitting in 193 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:10,240 Matthew's house made the comment to the scribes and Pharisees. 194 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:13,360 Matthew 9 and 13. I have not come to call the 195 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,840 righteous, but sinners to repentance. 196 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,440 See, many of Northern Ireland have forgotten that for all have 197 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:23,320 sinned and come short of the glory of God. 198 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,000 They've heard it so many times it's like water for ducks back. 199 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:30,680 It hasn't impacted upon them. And remember where sin come 200 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:35,560 from, Romans 5 and 12 where for us by one man sin entered into 201 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,400 the world, and death by sin and death passed upon all men. 202 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,080 For that all have sinned. We sinned in Adam inherited the 203 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,600 guilt of his first transgression, every additional 204 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,960 sin and hers additional guilt, and we have a bad record before 205 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:48,520 God. And we also inherited a bad 206 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,560 heart, a heart that loves sin. That's why Jeremiah said the 207 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,160 heart is deceitful and above all things desperately wicked. 208 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,200 Who can know it? And what's the result of sin? 209 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:03,040 Death passed upon all men. Why for that all have sinned 210 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:07,360 physical death. That's why we die spiritual 211 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:09,520 death. We're dead spiritually to God. 212 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,040 We need to be made alive in the new birth and and we're in 213 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,920 danger of dying eternally. Jesus said if you die of your 214 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,000 sins, where I am, there you cannot be. 215 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,280 And the great message of the Bible is this. 216 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,520 The God of the Bible is a pardoning God. 217 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,640 The God of the Bible is a God who pardons people. 218 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,640 And yet this reality is that even in Northern Ireland, 219 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,160 thousands will be in the House of God on the day of God. 220 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:43,080 They may even offer praise to God in their lips. 221 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:48,320 They'll hear the word of God and yet never have experienced God's 222 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:52,760 salvation. They know nothing of God and his 223 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:57,960 salvation. All need to be pardoned, all 224 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,960 need to be forgiven. The big question is why? 225 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,200 And you see often times, even in church by ministers, and I say 226 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:10,760 this sadly, God's salvation is not often explained properly. 227 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:13,880 It's not often explained scripturally. 228 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:19,640 Individuals can be traumatised. They end up having a low 229 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:24,480 estimate of their own sin or a false impression of it. 230 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:28,400 They have a false impression of who God is and what he's like, 231 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:35,960 and a low estimate of God. See, many have a little estimate 232 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,760 of what sin is. Sin is any want of conformity 233 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:40,680 unto your transgression of the law of God. 234 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,000 Sin is a transgression of the law. 235 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:49,040 Sin is serious. And how are we saved from it? 236 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,680 Well sometimes the preacher just says to you, let him in and 237 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:55,800 that's good. In the Book of Revelation we 238 00:16:55,800 --> 00:17:02,480 read in Revelation chapter 3 and in the verse 20 where the Lord 239 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:06,599 Jesus actually says, behold I stand at the door and knock. 240 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:14,040 And Revelation 3 and 20, behold, I stand at the door and knock. 241 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,640 If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to 242 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,440 him and will Sup with him and he with me. 243 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:27,200 And it's easy to say let him in. But why? 244 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:34,040 It's only through the door of repentance, being sorry enough 245 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:40,920 to quit your sin and faith in Christ that receives and rests 246 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:46,640 upon him alone in salvation. The Lord Jesus came preaching 247 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:48,280 the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. 248 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:54,760 Repent. You see, it's not about turning 249 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,840 over a new leaf. It's not about making a 250 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,000 commitment to follow him. I remember a man in Coleraine, 251 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,560 He turned up at the church one time. 252 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,360 He started to attend a few weeks. 253 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:07,600 He got his haircut and he got a new suit and a tie and he 254 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,640 cleaned up his life. And he told me he was trying to 255 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:16,880 understand the Bible and he was exercised to read it, and he was 256 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,640 trying to obey the 10 commandments and he wanted to 257 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,520 love God and he wanted to love his neighbours herself. 258 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,600 And he was going to stop swearing. 259 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,880 And I said to him, Maynard, you're not going to be able to 260 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,240 do it. Why not? 261 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:39,480 It's just because you need a new heart, because you're not born 262 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:43,320 again of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus said, marvel not that 263 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,360 I say unto thee, you must be born again. 264 00:18:45,360 --> 00:18:48,280 And when you're born of the Spirit, you'll be given the gift 265 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:52,920 of repentance toward God and the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. 266 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:56,880 And in that context, in you'll acknowledge your sin, you'll 267 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,960 have a sense of how serious it is, and you'll be brought to 268 00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:05,160 believe, rest on and receive Christ alone as salvation, and 269 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:09,680 you'll ask him to forgive you. Remember what sin is sins 270 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:14,560 against God, Psalm 51, verse four against thee they only have 271 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:16,880 I sinned and done this evil. And thy sight that thou mightest 272 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,160 be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 273 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,360 And once you turn from sin, having acknowledged it and 274 00:19:24,360 --> 00:19:27,600 believed in Christ, then you'll confess Christ that you've 275 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,240 become a new creature. You'll confess him before men. 276 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:35,440 That is your Lord and Saviour. Do you know the blessedness of 277 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:39,920 God's pardon this morning? Can they your head in the pillow 278 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,560 and rejoice That's well with your soul. 279 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:44,320 You're in a right relationship with him. 280 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,480 He's the one who's forgiven all your iniquities. 281 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,480 Think about the blessedness of God's pleasure, which says in 282 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:57,600 our Psalm here, who crowneth thee with loving kindness. 283 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:04,440 Verse 4 See often times we forget the benefits of God's 284 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:08,160 love to us in Christ. John 3 and 16 For God so loved 285 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,520 the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever 286 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,360 believeth in him should perish, but have everlasting life. 287 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,960 Romans 5:00 and 8:00 But God commended his love toward us, 288 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:20,440 and why we were yet sinners. Christ died for us. 289 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,200 Listen to what John says first. John 4:00 and 10:00 here in His 290 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:28,760 love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and gave His 291 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:33,720 Son to be a propitiation for us. Whenever I was down at the open 292 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:36,840 air, just the other Friday, a young girl would come up and she 293 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,200 asked me this question. Could you tell me if God loves 294 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,920 me? I had the joy of sharing with 295 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:44,120 her. Jesus loves me. 296 00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:47,080 This I know, for the Bible tells me so. 297 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,040 You see, God loves us everlastingly. 298 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:55,080 I've loved you with an everlasting love. 299 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,880 He loves us freely, as without money and without price. 300 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,200 He loved just sacrificially the Son of God. 301 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:02,920 He loved me and gave Himself for me. 302 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:06,400 Got to think of Christ's death in the cross, His once and for 303 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:10,080 all sacrifice for sin. He loves you personally. 304 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,280 Take out the word world in John 3 and 16 and put your own name 305 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,120 in. He loves you continually. 306 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,760 Having loved His own, He loved them unto the end. 307 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,440 See, the love of God is not influenced by events, not 308 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:26,800 influenced by circumstances. God's love is spontaneous. 309 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:30,480 Maybe you feel down this morning and you're discouraged and 310 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:35,200 you're disheartened. Story told about see a Spurgeon 311 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,760 visiting a farmer and he noticed a weather vien up in the 312 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,160 farmer's barn and it had the words God is love. 313 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:45,480 There's a bit of discussion about that weather vien and 314 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,200 whether it was right to put those words up on a weather 315 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,520 vien. And Spurgeon says it was because 316 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,440 no matter what way the wind was blowing north-south, east or 317 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:59,360 West, God's love doesn't change. And no matter what you're facing 318 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:02,840 today, the death of a loved one, maybe you're facing a financial 319 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,520 crisis, maybe there's a sickness in your body or in the body of a 320 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:09,160 loved one. Maybe you're just lonely. 321 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,560 And how many people are lonely. Maybe you feel you're 322 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:15,520 persecuted. Fill your heart and mind with 323 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,920 this truth. God's love doesn't change the 324 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:25,960 benefit of the Lord's pleasure. He crowns you with loving 325 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:31,640 kindness and with tender mercy. Very quickly, the blessedness of 326 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:35,200 the Lord's provision. Do you know one of the most 327 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,680 beautiful things that the psalmist taught us? 328 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:43,440 The Lord is my helper. There's three 7300 promises in 329 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,640 the book according to Herbert Lockyer, and here's some of the 330 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:51,560 most wonderful ones that is found in the Scriptures over 331 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:57,320 there in the book of Isaiah, in Isaiah chapter 41, and in the 332 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:00,840 verse 10. It was the evangelical prophet 333 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:03,240 that made this tremendous announcement. 334 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:07,320 Listen to the word of God. Fear thou not, for I am with 335 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:09,840 thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy 336 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:11,160 God. I will strengthen thee. 337 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,720 Yeah, I will help thee. Yeah, I will uphold thee with 338 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:17,000 the right hand of my righteousness, he says in 339 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,600 chapter 43. But now thus saith the Lord that 340 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:23,760 created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear 341 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,880 not, for I every deem thee. I've called thee by thy name, 342 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:29,000 the word mine. When thy passes through the 343 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,840 waters, I'll be with thee, and through the rivers they shall 344 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:33,880 not overflow thee. When they walk us through the 345 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,440 fire, they shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle 346 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:38,320 upon thee. Why? 347 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:43,440 Because the Lord is my helper. There's help available, even if 348 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,680 you're at the point of despair and in the depths of 349 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,360 discouragement, and you need someone to help you. 350 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,440 The psalmist said the Lord is my helper. 351 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:59,640 You can say by faith my help cometh from the Lord, which 352 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:04,600 maketh heaven and earth. See, often times we're too proud 353 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:10,320 to ask for help, aren't we? But when we pray, help me. 354 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:17,800 Help is available not only the Lord's provision regarding help 355 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:22,160 but the supply of our need. Philippians 419 says, but my God 356 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:24,320 should supply all your need according to his riches and 357 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:28,600 glory by Christ Jesus. What do we need all their needs 358 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,920 physically, mentally mostly and spiritually. 359 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,880 Her being that it's not tremendous. 360 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,520 You think of what we already have the gift of homes and 361 00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:42,400 clothing, food, job, clean water, health and strength. 362 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,880 Even when we're sick, we can go to a hospital, we have doctors 363 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,600 and nurses to care for us. We have dentists, we have money 364 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:51,480 in our bank, we have mum and dad to look after the children and 365 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,280 the young people. We've got Bibles, we have a 366 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:58,680 House of God to come to see. All of these are blessings and 367 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:02,480 the Lord has given them to us even though we haven't really 368 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,840 fully deserved them. He has given them to us in 369 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,200 grace. As the psalmist said, blessed be 370 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,080 the Lord who daily loaded us with benefits. 371 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:16,600 Every day, physical and material and mental and emotional and 372 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,760 spiritual blessings are streaming toward us. 373 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:22,640 I often think about those in Africa. 374 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:24,880 We mentioned them last Lord's Day evening. 375 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:32,360 Nigeria, Sudan, Mali, Jamaica, the destruction there in the 376 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:35,240 wake of the hurricane. We should be thinking of these 377 00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:38,000 places. Our hearts should go out to 378 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,960 them, and yet we should do so with thankful remembrance of the 379 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,240 blessings of God upon us, even if we need guidance. 380 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:49,480 I said this to Brother Ryan and I emphasise to him a little 381 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:53,800 Psalm that was shared with me a long, long time ago in Psalm 32, 382 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:58,520 and says in the verse 8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in 383 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:02,400 the way in which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with mine eye. 384 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:05,160 We were singing, Count your blessings. 385 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,960 Name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has 386 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:10,680 done. Think of the blessing of the 387 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,760 Lord's presence. The Lord is with us, He says, 388 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:19,680 fear not, for I am with thee. We face 1001 enemies, the world, 389 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:23,800 the flesh and the devil, but we're not on our own. 390 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:27,080 Sometimes we cry out, where are you Lord? 391 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:31,320 And he comes and says, I am with you in the pain. 392 00:26:32,360 --> 00:26:34,480 I am with you in the hospital bed. 393 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,640 I am with you in the funeral parlour. 394 00:26:38,120 --> 00:26:41,080 Here's my promise. I will never leave you nor 395 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,720 forsake you. Oh, we deserve to be forsaken. 396 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:48,520 We deserve to be left alone. But his promise is true. 397 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:52,320 Think of the little story of the footprints walking along the 398 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:54,960 sand. Two sets and then one. 399 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,320 Where are you, Lord? Why did you leave me? 400 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,560 I'm walking along this alone. And the Lord just says I don't 401 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:06,360 leave you, my child. I'm the one that's carrying you, 402 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,920 and at times He does that. He puts us strong arms around 403 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:14,200 it, about us when we have no strength to carry on because 404 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,080 underneath are the everlasting arms. 405 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:22,760 Heaven is real, Earth is real. And here's our hope, the 406 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,960 blessing of the Lord's presence with us on the journey. 407 00:27:26,120 --> 00:27:27,760 The blessing of the Lord's protection. 408 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:31,560 He's a son and shield for us. Things happen in this life that 409 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:34,800 we can't understand. All happens in His will. 410 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:38,480 He's a plan, a plan and he has a purpose. 411 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,200 Remember, As for God, His way is perfect and we have to bow the 412 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,400 knee to his sovereignty, to his Providence, and we have to 413 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,680 remember that all things work together for good. 414 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,160 That's what Paul says and we know that all things work 415 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:53,000 together for good to them that love God and to them here the 416 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:58,240 called according to his purpose. What about the benefits of God's 417 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:02,320 peace? In John 14 and verse 27, the 418 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,160 Lord Jesus said this to His disciples in the upper room. 419 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:08,880 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. 420 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:10,400 Not as the world giveth, give unto you. 421 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,960 Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 422 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:16,520 See, Christ is the Prince of peace. 423 00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:19,600 We'll be celebrating that shortly at Christmas. 424 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:22,960 And He came to purchase peace, peace through the blood of His 425 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,880 cross, Peace with God, the peace of God. 426 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:30,800 But He also promises His peace. My peace I give unto you and 427 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,600 this piece is about safety, certainty and enjoyment because 428 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,080 he's concerned about your well-being and this perfect 429 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:37,480 piece that will keep him in perfect peace. 430 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:44,680 His mind to stay to thee because he trusteth and they see all 431 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:47,280 kinds of benefits begin to flow when they meditate. 432 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:51,080 Do you know if I was to go out around the doors I could meet 433 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:52,960 many people with horrible stories. 434 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:58,120 The news is sad. I meet so many women who tell me 435 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:00,920 they've ended up having to divorce their husband. 436 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:06,520 Various reasons. Or my husband's in hospital 437 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:12,960 dying. A few years ago, a woman told me 438 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:15,000 that her husband was in the hospital dying. 439 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:17,600 She was a young woman. He was a young man. 440 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:20,960 You could think of the stress and strain of that in her face. 441 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,920 And then she added, you know, a few years ago I buried my only 442 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:30,560 daughter and at the present time a granddaughter, 17. 443 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:34,080 She's in a mental institution. Would you say we prayer for Mr 444 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,880 McLaughlin and the sun will he's badly his nerves. 445 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:41,800 He can't leave the house. See illustration after 446 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:43,520 illustration. We could bring them up. 447 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,600 This is real life because this is life on earth. 448 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:51,240 And they need God's benefits to cope. 449 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:54,840 And benefits are there to help us. 450 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,920 The greatest benefit of all is the benefit of God's pardon, 451 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,360 God's pleasure, God's provision, God's presence, God's 452 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:06,680 protection, and God's peace. Even in the midst of the stress 453 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:10,600 and strain of a husband dying in the hospital, a daughter being 454 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:14,120 in the mental institution and or a daughter dead and a 455 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,720 granddaughter in the mental institution and a son Bad 456 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:20,360 reasoner. In that context, God would say 457 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,400 forget not all his benefits. Very quickly our time has gone. 458 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:26,960 The seriousness of God's benefits and forget not 459 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:29,880 underline the word forget, forget not. 460 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,560 What does that mean? It means to lose your memory. 461 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:38,120 It means fail to remember. It also means to ignore, to 462 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:41,080 cease to care about. David is telling us here, don't 463 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:44,120 lose your memory. Don't fail to remember God's 464 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:46,600 benefits. Don't choose to ignore or cease 465 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:48,800 to care about the God's benefits. 466 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,040 You see, we're often guilty of forgetting what we should 467 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:56,920 remember, and we're often guilty of thinking upon and remembering 468 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:02,120 what we should forget. We fail to remember. 469 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:05,320 And when we fail to remember, we're not only watered down in 470 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:09,160 the subject of praise, but it reveals A deeper heart problem. 471 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:15,600 Once we fail to remember, choose to ignore, cease to care, we 472 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:19,680 fall into the sin of apathy, indifference based in gratitude. 473 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:22,360 Remember the story. Of the 10 lepers, 10 were 474 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:24,080 healed. Many come back to thank the Lord 475 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:25,040 Jesus. Just one. 476 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:27,680 And that was a Samaritan. The Jews, the religious, the 477 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:29,680 respectable people, they didn't bother. 478 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,640 Did you ever hear the story of a young man by the name of Edward 479 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:35,920 Spencer? He was a Bible college student. 480 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:37,240 He was training for the ministry. 481 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:40,560 It's September. It's 1860. 482 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:44,600 It's the summertime. There's a Steamboat out in Lake 483 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:48,400 MI in the state of Illinois. The alarm is raised that the 484 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:49,840 Steamboat is getting into trouble. 485 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:54,680 People are in the water. They're in danger of draining. 486 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:57,720 I can't swim, so I would drown. I'd go like a stone to the 487 00:31:57,720 --> 00:32:00,240 bottom. The students raced to help. 488 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:03,640 Edward Spencer was the first to hit the water. 489 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:08,040 He rescued 17 people. It was not a tremendous feat. 490 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:12,800 Young people, 17 people, such a breathing swimmer and put the 491 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:15,960 result impacted upon them. It impacted upon his own health. 492 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:19,600 He had to quit the college, didn't finish his ministerial 493 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:27,520 student days got worse and eventually he died sometime 494 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:30,320 later. You think of it, this young man 495 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:34,800 gave his life for 17 people. They were facing death. 17 496 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:37,840 people who lived who could enjoy their family, their friends, 497 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:41,440 could enjoy Christmases, enjoy birthdays, enjoy things. 498 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:46,640 This young man lost his life. Do you know when his funeral 499 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:51,160 took place? There wasn't one sympathy card 500 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:56,960 from any of those 17 people. There wasn't a card ever to say 501 00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:59,880 thank you. There wasn't a gift. 502 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:04,160 There wasn't even one of them turned up at the funeral. 503 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,520 Isn't that awful? You would say, Well, that's 504 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:11,600 shotgun. Shame on them, but that's an 505 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:17,440 indication of human nature. We can be thoughtless, we can be 506 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:23,120 cruel, the psalmist said. Forget not all his benefits. 507 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:26,480 Why? Because we can be like that. 508 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:35,040 Once we feel to remember, once we choose to ignore, once we 509 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:39,800 cease to care, then we drift into apathy and peace and 510 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:42,320 gratitude. A king one time and mediaeval 511 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,600 times had a number of page boys in the palace. 512 00:33:46,360 --> 00:33:48,760 He was told that they were eating their meals in the palace 513 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,120 without prayer and saying thank you to God. 514 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:53,920 He thought well they need a lesson. 515 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:59,160 So at meal time he prepared the sumptuous banquet fight at them 516 00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:01,960 all along. He brought in a smelly old 517 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:03,840 Trump. They'd given them some money to 518 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:10,560 come. His dirty hands, he smelt like a 519 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:15,920 rotten bin. He was in rags, tattered hair 520 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:19,600 and he come in and sat at the table and he just started 521 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,480 grabbing everything he could see, stumbled it into his mouth 522 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:24,120 and was falling all over the place. 523 00:34:25,199 --> 00:34:29,520 He burped and slapped, drank. The king didn't say a word. 524 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:33,199 Then after he'd eaten his fell he got up and he had a big burp 525 00:34:33,199 --> 00:34:38,360 bite of him and he walked out. The boys were whispering, 526 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:47,360 couldn't understand it, and the king said, boys, you've behaved 527 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:49,120 exactly the same way as as Trump. 528 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:57,560 You need to be happy in my palace, but you also need to be 529 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:01,600 humble. And humility is connected with 530 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:05,080 giving thanks to God. Because of him, you move on a 531 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:07,400 living of being and he's the one that's provided. 532 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:10,000 It's come from my hand, but it's come through him. 533 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:15,200 Don't be like the mean Trump. Don't be caught up with things. 534 00:35:16,040 --> 00:35:18,280 Negative things are positive things. 535 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:25,000 Forget not all his benefits, the king told the page boys, One 536 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:26,160 last thing. Our time is gone. 537 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:30,840 The subject of God's benefits, not just the sort and not just 538 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:33,960 the seriousness of God's benefits, but the subject of 539 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:37,520 God's benefits. They're set in the context of a 540 00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:41,720 Psalm of praise to God. The psalmist has taken up with 541 00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:45,160 God's person. He's the God of our salvation. 542 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:50,480 The psalmist has taken up with God's power what God is able to 543 00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:56,120 do in the life, and the psalmist has taken up with God's praise. 544 00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:05,080 Our words, our walk, our worship, our work, our warfare 545 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:08,640 has to be connected with this command. 546 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:18,680 Forget not all His benefits. Maybe your life this morning as 547 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:24,360 I finish is full of trouble. You haven't yet come to Christ. 548 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:29,640 You don't know the Lord. You can't praise Him for the 549 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:36,520 benefits of His salvation. Can I point you to this morning 550 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,000 to one who can set you free? The psalmist said. 551 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:41,280 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction? 552 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,840 The word redeem has to do with paying a price, and the one who 553 00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:49,480 paid the ultimate price was the Lord Jesus Christ, His once and 554 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:53,000 for all selfless sacrifice in the cross. 555 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:56,560 Galatians 2 and 20. What did he tell us? 556 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:59,920 The Son of God who loved me, gave himself for me. 557 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:04,960 He came and shed his blood, and the ground of that blood you can 558 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:06,520 have a right relationship with God. 559 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:08,920 In the ground of that blood, you can know God's forgiveness in 560 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:10,960 the ground of that blood, you can know the Lord with you In 561 00:37:10,960 --> 00:37:13,120 the ground of that blood, you can know the Lord's peace, 562 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:17,000 protection, provision, and every other blessing because every 563 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:20,360 blessing is connected to the precious redemption. 564 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:24,440 That's fine. In the Lord Jesus Christ Christ 565 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:28,000 came, our sins were laid in His own body. 566 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:31,280 He was nailed to the tree. He wore the crown of thorns for 567 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,320 me. And you can have this life in 568 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:36,920 Christ, and even though you feel your life's helpless, you can 569 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:39,000 have hope and the hope is in Christ. 570 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:42,800 And you can come from a state of death, spiritual death, and the 571 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:45,240 newness of life and that life's in Christ. 572 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:48,680 You can come from a place of despair and disappointment to 573 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:51,200 delight, and you can delight in the things of God. 574 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:53,400 You can come from darkness to light. 575 00:37:53,400 --> 00:37:55,440 You can have home and a hope in heaven. 576 00:37:55,920 --> 00:38:00,560 Not all will be in heaven. Only those in Christ that may 577 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:05,480 ask you this. Will you enjoy heaven because 578 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:09,240 you know Christ? He's your Lord and He's your 579 00:38:09,240 --> 00:38:12,040 Saviour. The subject of God's benefits is 580 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:16,680 connected to God's person and power and praise. 581 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,400 May the Lord take these few thoughts and bless them to you 582 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:20,800 today. Thank you for coming and for 583 00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:22,600 those who are visiting with us for the first time. 584 00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:25,520 We're really delighted to have you pray you'll come back again 585 00:38:25,720 --> 00:38:26,880 in the Lord's will.