WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.660 When I was growing up, it was popular to, among Christians at least, to select a particular verse of Scripture and to kind of claim it as a life verse. 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:17.699 Perhaps you have one or you at least are familiar with the practice of that. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:22.100 I don't know that it's as common today. I don't really ever hear people talk about this anymore. 00:00:22.100 --> 00:00:33.859 But typically, if you're unfamiliar, it involved selecting a particular passage of Scripture that were especially comforting or encouraging or insightful, 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:42.320 not really in specific moments of life, but through various circumstances of life is typically how it would work. 00:00:42.380 --> 00:00:50.500 You'd pick one that you could just kind of memorize and recite to yourself across different seasons of life, and this would bring you encouragement. 00:00:50.500 --> 00:00:55.159 Some people would use these verses as a way of sharing their testimonies. 00:00:55.500 --> 00:01:00.299 Perhaps you have been in a mission service, and a missionary has gone up. 00:01:00.420 --> 00:01:04.079 They've quoted, and they've said, I want to begin with my life verse, and they quote the verse, 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:12.500 and then they use that verse to kind of tell their story of conversion or how the Lord has worked in their life to go to the mission field or whatever it may be. 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:18.760 Now, I will caution you and say that in describing that, I'm not necessarily advocating for that. 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:20.319 In fact, I'm not advocating for it. 00:01:21.500 --> 00:01:25.120 We never want to read our own lives into the Scriptures. 00:01:26.379 --> 00:01:28.920 There's huge problems that come with that, isn't there? 00:01:28.960 --> 00:01:32.700 If we kind of take a passage that kind of sounds like what we want to say anyways, 00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:36.980 and then we use it to tell a testimony, even though everything we say is good, 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:41.299 we end up saying something of the Scriptures that the Scriptures aren't saying of themselves, 00:01:41.299 --> 00:01:45.340 then we kind of get ourselves in a mess, and we don't want to do that. 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:47.740 So I'm not necessarily advocating for that. 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:55.740 Still, it is wonderfully helpful and beneficial to have a practice of memorizing Scriptures, 00:01:56.460 --> 00:02:02.560 Scriptures like that, that the Lord will use to call to your mind and bring comfort to your heart, 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:06.659 verses that you can pray again and again. 00:02:06.659 --> 00:02:14.479 And I've never had a life verse, but I can say that Psalm 8611 is as close as I've ever come 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:21.019 to having a verse that is just uniquely present at various times of my life. 00:02:21.020 --> 00:02:23.120 I return to it. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:29.240 I find myself praying these words over and over again throughout various circumstances, 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.719 constantly coming back and repeating this to the Lord. 00:02:32.860 --> 00:02:34.120 Teach me your way, O Lord. 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:34.860 Teach me. 00:02:36.100 --> 00:02:37.740 I want to walk in your truth. 00:02:38.480 --> 00:02:40.080 Unite my heart to fear your name. 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:46.340 And you'll find that if you pray those words, there's no limit to the situations that you can pray it in. 00:02:47.140 --> 00:02:52.340 Every circumstance of life, ultimately, we want to come back to this particular spirit and thought, 00:02:52.600 --> 00:02:53.800 Lord, I want to know your way. 00:02:53.880 --> 00:02:55.160 I want to walk in your truth. 00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:59.939 I want to fear your name and glorify you and who you are. 00:03:00.460 --> 00:03:04.260 So in that sense, it's truly a verse that we can live by. 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:09.540 And it's one that I want to take a few minutes to examine and meditate upon this morning. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:15.180 Now, the uniqueness of it in Psalm 86 is that it's out of place. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:17.300 At least it seems out of place. 00:03:18.160 --> 00:03:23.380 We read through this Psalm, we recognize this is a prayer of lament of David's. 00:03:24.140 --> 00:03:31.040 And David is spending most of this Psalm asking God to do a life-altering work for him. 00:03:32.340 --> 00:03:36.800 Ruthless, godless, insolent men have risen up against him over and over. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:38.980 He's asking for God to intervene in that. 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:43.400 In the circumstance that he's found himself in, he's saying, God, please deliver me. 00:03:43.700 --> 00:03:46.300 He's asking for God to do this life-altering work. 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:51.200 Please do this thing for me and help me, deliver me, save me. 00:03:51.540 --> 00:03:55.240 But when we get to verse 11, it doesn't fit with that dynamic. 00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:59.220 He's not asking for God to do a life-altering work for him. 00:03:59.219 --> 00:04:05.699 What he's asking God to do in verse 11 is to perform a life-transforming work in him. 00:04:06.500 --> 00:04:07.719 Do you see the difference? 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:11.139 Lord, do something about these men. 00:04:11.979 --> 00:04:13.879 Do something about this circumstance. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:17.060 Verse 11, though, is do something about me. 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:19.220 Do something in me. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:21.259 So it sticks out to us, doesn't it? 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:23.500 It doesn't really make a lot of sense. 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:25.139 Why is he saying this here? 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:28.100 Why does he fit it in to this lament? 00:04:28.379 --> 00:04:35.519 And we see this just deep desire come to the surface in David's life where he just really wants to know God. 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:37.220 He wants to know God. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:41.079 He wants to please the Lord with his life. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:45.699 Even in the midst of his heartache, his desire at the heart of it is, 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:47.560 Lord, I just want to know you. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:49.600 I want to please you even in this. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:58.200 It seems out of place until you step back and you realize that it comes in the midst of David's prayer of praise. 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:00.939 There's three stanzas to the psalm. 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:06.360 The middle one, beginning at verse 8, is really a moment of private worship with David. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:10.000 It's a prayer of praise, and it's flanked on either side by this lament. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:18.680 And what we find as we consider that is that it is his worshipful reflection on God's character 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:25.519 and on the work of God's hand that prompts David's prayer for this instruction in righteousness. 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:34.459 It is as he looks at God that he begins to develop a more deep desire to know that God that he's considering, 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:35.819 that he's meditating upon. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:40.620 Notice the place that it has in David's worship. 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:42.339 Look here just in verse 8. 00:05:42.719 --> 00:05:45.000 There is none like you among the gods. 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:49.339 Again in verse 8, there are no works like your works. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:54.579 Verse 9, all the nations shall worship and glorify your name. 00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:56.659 Verse 10, you are great. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:05:58.060 You do wondrous things. 00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:00.319 Again in verse 10, you alone are God. 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:04.180 Verse 12, I give thanks to you with my whole heart. 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:07.180 Again, I will glorify your name forever. 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:10.600 Verse 13, great is your steadfast love toward me. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:13.959 You have delivered my soul. 00:06:14.540 --> 00:06:16.240 It's right in the middle of worship. 00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:18.379 There's no other request here. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:26.800 His eyes and his thoughts and his heart is fixed on the person and the work of God who he knows him to be. 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:32.520 And it is out of this that comes this unique request. 00:06:33.060 --> 00:06:47.840 So we might discern from the structure here that a genuine desire to know and love and obey and worship God flows out of a heart that is already actively engaged in authentic worship. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:57.339 In other words, worship precedes the desire to more deeply know and glorify God. 00:06:58.299 --> 00:07:10.579 Therefore, a lack of sincere longing for God in your life will be directly linked to an absence of the true worship of God in your life. 00:07:10.579 --> 00:07:13.819 And you say, I just have this struggle. 00:07:13.939 --> 00:07:15.459 Like I see these words that David pray. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:21.699 I don't think I've ever had a thought quite as emotionally attached and longing for God quite like this. 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:23.000 Or at least it's been a while. 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:32.240 And we would say, well, as we look at David's prayer here, it must be that at the heart of what you're doing in your Christian life is not authentic worship. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:34.220 It may be religious forms. 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:37.600 There may be other things happening in your life, but it's not authentic worship. 00:07:37.900 --> 00:07:43.400 Our worship is directly linked to our desire for God and for his ways. 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:50.939 And our problem at this point may be that we misunderstand what it means to truly worship. 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:59.720 Worship is not merely recognizing a set of facts about God, as David has done in the psalm, but it's not about that. 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:11.120 It's not about recognizing this set of facts about God and then churning them out in kind of perfunctory prayers and songs and hymns that we just kind of select and we just kind of work our way through it. 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:12.400 You know, you've been there. 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:13.420 I know you have. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:25.440 Worship is a heart level, faith driven, life consuming devotion to God. 00:08:25.960 --> 00:08:27.460 That's what worship is. 00:08:27.459 --> 00:08:33.659 It's not something that we can box up in a moment or in an hour and a half or in a song. 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:39.079 It is a faith driven, life consuming, heart level devotion to God. 00:08:39.439 --> 00:08:44.100 But unfortunately, this is not the natural disposition of our hearts. 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:47.960 We do not inherently long for God. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:50.019 We don't long for his pleasure. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:52.759 We long for self pleasure. 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:55.279 That's how our minds think. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.139 That's how our hearts operate. 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:01.819 And sometimes we're tempted to pursue David's request here. 00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:06.399 This request for knowledge or this request for righteousness. 00:09:06.899 --> 00:09:13.819 But we pursue that without the worship that David has here, which ultimately just amounts to vain religion. 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:15.279 It's cold. 00:09:15.439 --> 00:09:16.819 It's burdensome. 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:19.180 It's ultimately ineffective. 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:28.640 Because our desire to know the word, perhaps, or even our desire to live according to the word is detached from authentic worship of God. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:36.259 We really become no different than the Israelites and some of the prophets when God was so angry with them. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:38.059 They're doing the forms. 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:39.360 They're doing the things. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:42.259 But their heart is far from him. 00:09:43.419 --> 00:09:45.340 And we can very easily fall into that. 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:48.740 What we need is new hearts. 00:09:49.699 --> 00:09:50.799 We need new hearts. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:53.839 If we're going to grasp David's prayers, our own for sure. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.699 Which means that we need the atoning work of Jesus. 00:09:58.979 --> 00:10:09.719 We need the regenerative and renewing work of the Holy Spirit before we can ever experience this genuine desire for God that David exhibits here. 00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:13.099 There's three simple phrases to the verse. 00:10:13.479 --> 00:10:15.099 I want to group them in two categories. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:18.679 First, we'll see the ultimate aim of David's prayer. 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:20.159 That's in the middle phrase. 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:22.519 That I may walk in your truth. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:28.959 Then we want to look at the means that David sees as achieving this desired end. 00:10:29.479 --> 00:10:31.159 That's in the first and third phrase. 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:32.919 Teach me your way, O Lord. 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:37.019 And then he says at the end, unite my heart that I may fear your name. 00:10:37.439 --> 00:10:43.139 So if we were to just kind of rework the structure of the verse a little bit, it may help us see exactly what David's getting at here. 00:10:43.359 --> 00:10:44.559 We could read it this way. 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:46.839 Teach me your ways, O Lord. 00:10:47.179 --> 00:10:53.919 And unite my heart to fear your name so that I may walk in your truth. 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:54.859 Do you see that? 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:58.019 The ultimate goal of the prayer is walk in truth. 00:10:58.539 --> 00:11:00.119 Teaching him his ways. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:02.459 Fearing God's name is the way that he knows. 00:11:02.859 --> 00:11:05.619 The path that he knows to be to get him there. 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:08.839 So let's think about the aim for just a moment. 00:11:08.959 --> 00:11:12.419 That I may walk in your truth, David says. 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:16.959 His desire is to walk in God's truth. 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:19.279 This word walk is important here. 00:11:19.479 --> 00:11:21.559 It's significant in the Bible. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:27.500 It's used over and over in the Bible as an analogy referring to one's manner of life. 00:11:28.839 --> 00:11:32.779 So it points to something that motivates our attitudes and our actions. 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:34.479 That's really what the word means. 00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:36.620 Let me give you a few examples of this in the scripture. 00:11:37.319 --> 00:11:39.299 How about Psalm 1-1? 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:45.339 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, 00:11:45.459 --> 00:11:48.000 but his desire is in the law of the Lord. 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:50.159 What's the psalmist getting at there? 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:54.819 That if you live your life being motivated by, 00:11:54.959 --> 00:11:57.399 your attitudes and actions being motivated by, 00:11:57.579 --> 00:11:59.000 the counsel of the world, 00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:00.799 you will not be the blessed man. 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:03.539 But if you live your life in such a way 00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:06.919 that it is motivated by the law of God, 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.419 you will be the blessed man. 00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:10.500 Walking there is significant. 00:12:10.719 --> 00:12:14.339 It is simply what is the thing that's controlling our attitudes and actions. 00:12:14.959 --> 00:12:16.939 Mark chapter 7 and verse 5 is another one. 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:19.139 The Pharisees use it here with Jesus. 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:20.939 Mark says, 00:12:20.940 --> 00:12:28.920 In other words, 00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:29.940 what they're asking is, 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:33.920 why do your disciples not live according to our law? 00:12:34.020 --> 00:12:41.280 Why is their manner of life not following and structured by what we've said in these traditions? 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:44.879 Galatians 5.16 for a positive look at it. 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:47.299 Paul tells the Galatians, 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:47.860 But I say, 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:49.899 Walk by the Spirit, 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:54.019 and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:56.100 Well, what does Paul mean by that? 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.279 To walk by the Spirit. 00:12:57.819 --> 00:12:58.899 To let your life, 00:12:59.059 --> 00:12:59.559 your attitudes, 00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:01.919 your actions be controlled by, 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:03.740 structured by, 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:05.860 the Holy Spirit's work in your life, 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:09.319 which is automatically going to bring you back to the Word of God in your life as well. 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:11.080 And if you will walk, 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.120 live according to the Spirit, 00:13:13.400 --> 00:13:18.500 you will then not gratify the desires of your flesh. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:20.560 There's many, many more we could go to. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:22.220 You probably get the point. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:26.820 Our walk is the thing that directs our beliefs and behaviors. 00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:29.280 And what David wanted, 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:31.600 guiding every facet of his life, 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.900 as we look at this verse, 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:35.160 is God's truth. 00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:38.740 What he knew to be true of God's character, 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:42.320 what he knew to be clear in God's commands. 00:13:42.920 --> 00:13:44.760 I want the truth of God, 00:13:45.140 --> 00:13:46.240 who he is, 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.680 what he wants, 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:50.620 being the one thing that drives my life, 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:52.720 that controls my thoughts, 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:55.740 that controls the way that I live. 00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:58.000 He wasn't content 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.220 with only being acquainted with God's truth. 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:07.860 He was intent on being controlled by God's truth. 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:10.660 There's a distinct difference in that. 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:14.899 William J. was a preacher, 00:14:15.340 --> 00:14:18.340 and probably Austin can tell you more about him, 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:22.200 in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:24.519 William J. said this, 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:29.120 to walk in anything intends a fullness of it. 00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:31.059 And he gave an example. 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:33.500 For a man to walk in pride 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:37.240 is something more than to be proud. 00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:40.620 It says that pride is his way, 00:14:41.059 --> 00:14:42.079 his element, 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:46.419 that he is wholly under the influence of it. 00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:48.799 So likewise, 00:14:49.579 --> 00:14:51.419 to walk in God's truth 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:53.219 is something more 00:14:53.219 --> 00:14:56.579 than knowing it to be truth. 00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:59.439 It's more than acknowledging 00:14:59.439 --> 00:15:01.059 that this is God's word. 00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:02.279 It's more than acknowledging 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:04.419 that the things that it says are true. 00:15:04.579 --> 00:15:06.199 It's more than simply acknowledging 00:15:06.199 --> 00:15:09.099 that the God that is described here 00:15:09.099 --> 00:15:10.439 is a true God 00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:12.419 and that the things that are said about him 00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:13.559 are true things. 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.599 It's more than that. 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:17.100 It is to make God's truth your way. 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:19.759 It is to make God's truth your element, 00:15:20.040 --> 00:15:23.800 to be wholly under its influence in your life. 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:27.519 So walking in God's truth 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:31.580 is not recognizing that morality is right. 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:36.000 Walking in God's truth 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:38.139 is to live morally 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:40.660 because that's what God desires. 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:44.699 Walking in God's truth 00:15:44.699 --> 00:15:46.379 is not acknowledging 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.759 that kindness, 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.039 love, 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:50.039 and compassion 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:52.039 are good and helpful traits. 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:54.959 But it is to be kind 00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:56.860 and to be loving 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.879 and to be compassionate 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.699 because that's what you know 00:16:00.699 --> 00:16:03.000 to be true of who God is. 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.879 You see, 00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:06.179 it's entirely possible 00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:08.919 to accept what God's truth is 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:11.019 but not walk in it. 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.639 And along these lines, 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:16.059 my concern, 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:16.899 and I know some of you 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:18.259 share this concern with me, 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.419 is that there are many people, 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:23.000 perhaps maybe someone even here today, 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:26.980 you are claiming to follow Christ 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:29.960 without actually being Christian. 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:33.800 You have no problems with Jesus. 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:36.240 You don't deny that He is who He is, 00:16:36.300 --> 00:16:38.100 that He did what He did, 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:39.680 but there's nothing about that 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:41.440 that is really controlling your life. 00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:42.780 You acknowledge it, 00:16:42.900 --> 00:16:43.660 maybe mentally, 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:47.300 but you are not surrendered to it. 00:16:49.040 --> 00:16:49.960 Or else, 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:51.000 some people, 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.120 their discipleship is really 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.340 just a matter of convenience. 00:16:54.660 --> 00:16:56.400 They accept what they like, 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.220 they kind of disregard 00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:59.440 what they don't like. 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:01.879 But to walk as a Christian, 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:05.200 to truly follow Jesus, 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.519 is to come holy 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.799 under the influence 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.019 of His truth. 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:13.180 And that we walk in His truth 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:15.579 is God's supreme desire 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:17.000 for all of us. 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:19.880 God wants us to know Him. 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:21.680 He wants us to love Him 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.779 and obey Him 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:24.900 more than He wants us 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.980 to achieve whatever 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:27.860 our notions of happiness are 00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:29.440 in this life and fulfillment. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:31.360 To walk in God's truth 00:17:31.360 --> 00:17:33.039 is synonymous with His purpose 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.059 in creation. 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:34.799 That is, 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:35.539 we are here 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:37.299 to glorify Him. 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:39.779 As we reflect Deuteronomy 10, 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.380 and now Israel, 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:42.960 what does the Lord your God 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.039 require of you 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:46.400 but to fear the Lord your God, 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:48.960 to walk in all His ways, 00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:50.380 to love Him, 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:52.320 to serve the Lord your God 00:17:52.320 --> 00:17:53.340 with all your heart, 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.740 with all your soul, 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:56.359 and to keep the commandments 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:57.819 and statutes of the Lord, 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.640 which I am commanding you today 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:00.799 for your good. 00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:03.120 What is Moses saying? 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:05.120 This is what God's desire 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.079 for your life is, 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.620 that you would walk in His truth. 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.740 Not that you would merely 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:10.079 acknowledge that it is true, 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.099 but that you would come 00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:12.400 wholly under the influence 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.339 of who He is 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.700 and what He has said. 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.559 Which leads us to 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:18.420 a question of application, 00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:19.420 which is very simple. 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:21.120 Are you walking 00:18:21.120 --> 00:18:22.060 in God's truth? 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:24.140 Not do you recognize 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:24.759 what is true, 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.039 but are you walking 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:26.960 in God's truth? 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:29.380 Do you even care to? 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.980 Is the longing of your heart 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:34.960 ultimately at the end of the day 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:36.360 to please the Lord? 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:37.140 Even if you've done 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:38.440 a miserable job at doing it, 00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:39.320 is it actually 00:18:39.320 --> 00:18:40.279 what you want to do? 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.640 Is it there? 00:18:42.860 --> 00:18:43.779 That's the difference 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.840 between being a Christian 00:18:44.840 --> 00:18:48.220 and being just a Christian. 00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:51.400 Let's look at the means. 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:53.080 So David recognizes 00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:54.320 that a couple of other things 00:18:54.320 --> 00:18:55.120 have to happen 00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:56.759 in order to walk 00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.539 in God's truth. 00:18:58.580 --> 00:18:59.560 And really two things 00:18:59.560 --> 00:19:00.360 is what he gives here. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.420 In order to walk 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:02.080 in God's truth, 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.560 he knows that he must know 00:19:03.560 --> 00:19:04.720 God's ways 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:06.440 and that he must fear 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:07.720 God's name. 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.220 It's really quite simple, 00:19:09.300 --> 00:19:09.539 isn't it? 00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.860 This isn't rocket science here. 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:12.640 You cannot come wholly 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.660 under the influence 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.539 of God's truth 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.580 without first knowing 00:19:15.580 --> 00:19:16.460 what it is 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:18.100 and actually having 00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:19.400 a singular desire 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.780 to do it. 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:21.980 That's essentially 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:23.140 what he's getting at here. 00:19:23.800 --> 00:19:24.560 And there's two things, 00:19:24.660 --> 00:19:25.180 there's two ways 00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:26.100 that I want to address this. 00:19:26.560 --> 00:19:27.720 David essentially says 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:29.519 that knowing God's ways 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.860 involves the instruction 00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:31.600 of the mind. 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.000 So that's the first step. 00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:35.300 Fearing God's name 00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:37.660 involves the affections 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:38.440 of the heart. 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:42.060 Both are absolutely necessary. 00:19:42.840 --> 00:19:45.580 Both are divinely given. 00:19:46.340 --> 00:19:47.040 So let's look at it 00:19:47.040 --> 00:19:47.660 a little closer. 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:49.120 First, I want you to see 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:50.660 the instruction of the mind. 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.080 Verse 11, 00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:53.240 David prays, 00:19:53.320 --> 00:19:54.820 teach me your way, 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:55.420 O Lord. 00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:57.060 Teach me your way, 00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:58.460 O Lord. 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.060 Now again, 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.460 this isn't rocket science here. 00:20:02.340 --> 00:20:03.560 I don't mean to insult 00:20:03.560 --> 00:20:04.240 your intelligence, 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.580 but let's just think 00:20:05.580 --> 00:20:06.519 about this word teach 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.080 for a moment. 00:20:07.360 --> 00:20:08.640 The Hebrew word behind it, 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.620 it simply means 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.480 to point out 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:12.060 or to mark the way. 00:20:12.540 --> 00:20:14.000 Like lighting a path. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.599 So poetically, 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.940 David is using this word 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.480 on purpose. 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.519 He's saying that 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:20.240 to walk in God's path 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:22.079 required that God 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:23.920 would clearly mark 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.839 the way. 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:26.779 So he asked for God 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.579 to teach him, 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:29.039 to point out the way 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:29.519 of truth, 00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.680 to point out the way 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.539 of righteousness 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.559 and make it clear. 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:35.000 Jesus did this. 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:35.900 Jesus once said 00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:36.440 that there are 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:38.539 two possible paths 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.380 that you can walk 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.380 in life. 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:42.820 one is well-traveled. 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.500 Everybody seems 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.160 to go there. 00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:48.760 You may be on that way 00:20:48.760 --> 00:20:49.760 simply because 00:20:49.760 --> 00:20:51.540 it feels comfortable. 00:20:52.020 --> 00:20:52.760 Everybody else seems 00:20:52.760 --> 00:20:53.360 to be walking 00:20:53.360 --> 00:20:54.060 on that way. 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:56.120 There's safety in it, 00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:56.320 right? 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.360 Sometimes we get 00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:58.120 in the midst of a crowd. 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.880 We don't really know 00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.380 where we're going. 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.060 We just know that 00:21:00.060 --> 00:21:01.120 everybody else is going there 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:01.860 so it must be 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:02.760 the right place. 00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:04.600 Jesus is saying 00:21:04.600 --> 00:21:05.200 there's a path 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.280 that most people 00:21:06.280 --> 00:21:07.360 find themselves on. 00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:08.100 They're not really 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:08.660 paying attention 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:09.640 to the signs 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:10.640 on the road. 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.100 They're just kind of 00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:12.920 going along with it. 00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:13.400 It's easy. 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.860 There's a lot of people there 00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:15.660 but he says 00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:16.800 at the end of this path 00:21:16.800 --> 00:21:17.560 is destruction. 00:21:18.580 --> 00:21:19.279 We read it 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.500 in Matthew chapter 7. 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.779 Enter by the narrow gate 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.380 Jesus says 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:23.960 for the gate is wide 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:25.560 the way is easy 00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:27.500 that leads to destruction 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:29.180 and those who enter 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.300 by it are many. 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:31.840 But then he says 00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:32.700 the only other possible 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.820 path for your life 00:21:33.820 --> 00:21:35.519 is this other path. 00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:36.960 It's a bit obscure. 00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:38.040 Not very many people 00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:39.240 find it he says. 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:41.220 It's clearly marked 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:42.259 but it's hard. 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.859 It's the path 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.200 not of least resistance 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.980 it's the path 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.819 of most resistance 00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.539 and it's going to be 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.759 very difficult for you 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.399 but at the end 00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:50.279 of the path is life. 00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:51.119 He goes on to say 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.460 for the gate is narrow 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.940 the way is hard 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:55.399 that leads to life 00:21:55.399 --> 00:21:57.539 and those who find it 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.500 are few. 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:01.359 It is God's path 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.960 that leads to life. 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:05.039 It is his way 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:07.440 that leads to eternal life. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.960 But you'll never find it 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.860 by accident. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.759 Contrary to popular notions 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.880 that we're all 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.759 all these religions 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.360 world religions 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:16.980 are ultimately 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.380 kind of doing the same thing. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.320 They're working their way 00:22:19.320 --> 00:22:20.320 to the same place 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:21.779 and it doesn't really make 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.640 a difference 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:24.120 which route you take 00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:24.779 you're probably 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.559 going to get there 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.400 as long as you're not 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.180 so bad as 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.559 you know 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.440 the infamous people 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:29.860 of history 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.400 like Hitler 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.180 or so forth 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:31.880 you're probably 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:32.580 going to be alright. 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.500 It doesn't really matter 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.440 which route you take. 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.980 That's not what God says. 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.360 He says no 00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.100 this is actually 00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:40.360 not a well-traveled path. 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:44.200 His way is the only way 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:46.299 that actually leads to life. 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.460 And his way is marked 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:50.120 by his spirit 00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:52.960 through his word. 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:53.940 That's the key. 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:55.059 If you're looking for the signs 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:55.860 on the side of the road 00:22:55.860 --> 00:22:56.900 to tell you where you're going 00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:58.059 the only way to life 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:59.140 is to look to the word. 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.600 Is to look to the word. 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.600 The Bible. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:04.179 Our instruction is the Bible. 00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:05.899 Our instructor 00:23:05.899 --> 00:23:07.619 is God himself. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.500 That's why in Psalm 119 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.559 the psalmist says 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:13.639 your word is a lamp 00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:14.559 to my feet. 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.039 It's a light to my path. 00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:18.919 It shows the way. 00:23:19.939 --> 00:23:21.059 As long as I stay 00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:22.319 in the light of God's word 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.779 I'll stay on the way 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.879 to life. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:27.439 1 Corinthians chapter 2 00:23:27.439 --> 00:23:29.519 Paul dabbles 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:31.779 with this dynamic 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.819 of the Holy Spirit 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.339 being the one 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.059 who teaches us. 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:34.839 He says now 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.500 we have received 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.759 not the spirit of the world 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.279 but the spirit 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:39.220 who is from God 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:41.579 that we might understand 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.319 the things 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.579 freely given us 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.240 by God. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.379 That's the scriptures. 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.920 What are the things given? 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:47.779 The scriptures. 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.400 Who is it that helps us 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.400 understand the things 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:50.940 freely given? 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:51.680 Paul says 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:52.660 it's the spirit of God 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.259 who does that. 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:55.519 And we impart this 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.619 in words 00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:58.519 not taught by human wisdom. 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.619 It's not our idea 00:23:59.619 --> 00:24:01.119 but it's actually 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:02.299 taught by the spirit 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:04.839 interpreting spiritual truths 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:07.519 to those who are spiritual. 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.420 In other words 00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.740 you cannot know 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:11.180 the way of God 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:12.599 without God's word. 00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:13.980 And you cannot know 00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:15.000 God's word 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:17.680 apart from God's spirit. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.819 To walk in God's truth 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.660 requires that we be instructed 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:24.160 by the scriptures. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:26.059 And we must pray 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.879 that the spirit 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:29.019 will illuminate his word 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.079 in our hearts 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.859 and in our minds. 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:31.859 Otherwise 00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:34.539 we become like those 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.799 who simply acknowledge 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.139 that this is truth 00:24:37.139 --> 00:24:38.740 without actually walking 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:40.279 in that truth. 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.460 Teach me your way 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:42.899 oh Lord. 00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:45.319 Not let me take my Bible 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.539 and figure it out. 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.019 No. 00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:48.319 You teach me Lord. 00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.399 I have my Bible. 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:50.379 I'm going to read it. 00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.520 I need you 00:24:51.520 --> 00:24:52.700 to help me. 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.180 I need you 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.520 to work in me 00:24:55.520 --> 00:24:56.780 and to illuminate 00:24:56.780 --> 00:24:57.720 my heart and mind 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:59.000 and to enlighten 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.120 my eyes. 00:25:00.320 --> 00:25:01.300 So there is the instruction 00:25:01.300 --> 00:25:01.940 of the mind here. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.940 The second means 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.900 has to do with 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:05.080 the affections of the heart. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.980 The affections of the heart. 00:25:07.280 --> 00:25:08.280 Look again at verse 11 00:25:08.280 --> 00:25:09.580 the third phrase here. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:11.040 Unite my heart 00:25:11.040 --> 00:25:12.640 to fear your name. 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:14.160 So we must know 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:14.940 God's ways. 00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.420 We must fear 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:17.100 God's name. 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:19.520 But what does that mean? 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.279 It's one of the most 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.500 confusing statements 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.420 in the Bible to me. 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.660 What does it actually mean 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:27.019 to fear God? 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.240 Well it doesn't mean 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.440 to be afraid of Him 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:31.319 at least in the 00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:32.299 traditional sense. 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.500 And I want to show you 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:34.539 a passage that helps us 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.559 to understand that. 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.400 In Exodus chapter 20 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.779 I'm not sure if this one's 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.160 on the screen. 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:39.759 Is this on the screen? 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:41.339 So you can just lift 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:41.879 your eyes here. 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.240 Exodus chapter 20 00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:44.440 this is at the 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:46.000 conclusion of God 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.799 giving Israel 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.839 the Ten Commandments. 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.240 And I want you to see 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.779 what happens. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.220 Now when all the people 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.059 saw the thunder 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.559 and the flashes of lightning 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:55.299 and the sound of the trumpet 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:56.539 and the mountain smoking 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.799 wouldn't that be terrifying? 00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:58.700 That would be 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.920 absolutely terrifying. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.539 And guess what they were? 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:03.200 They were afraid. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.440 They were terrified. 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:05.759 They trembled. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.759 So much so 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:08.019 that they stood far off 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:09.200 and they said to Moses 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.599 you talk to us 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.180 and we'll listen. 00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.819 Don't let God talk to us. 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.640 If He talks to us again 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.420 we're going to die. 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.200 He's going to kill us. 00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:18.039 We'll hear from you. 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.620 But watch what Moses says. 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:21.039 He says to the people 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:22.420 do not fear. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:23.100 That is 00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:24.640 don't be afraid of God. 00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:26.420 Instead he says 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.559 for God has come 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.319 to test you 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:30.440 that the fear of Him 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:32.700 may be before you 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:34.180 that you may not sin. 00:26:34.360 --> 00:26:34.960 In other words 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.380 what Moses is getting at here 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:38.220 is that being afraid of God 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.640 is actually the opposite 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:41.519 of fearing God. 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.819 Those who are not in Christ 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.740 those who are still 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.319 in their sin 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.220 lost in their sin 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.379 they have no choice 00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:48.960 but to be afraid of God. 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.539 All that they have now 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:52.339 is judgment and damnation 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:53.180 that awaits them. 00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:54.420 But for those of us in Christ 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.420 that's not the experience 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:55.799 is it? 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.779 We have no need 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.779 to be afraid of God. 00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.879 We do have a need 00:26:58.879 --> 00:26:59.599 to fear Him. 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:00.859 Those two things 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:01.559 are on the opposite 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.379 ends of the spectrum. 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.519 So at least the first thing 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:03.920 that we know 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.920 is that it doesn't mean 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.740 to be afraid of God. 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.940 We see this again 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:08.500 in Isaiah. 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:10.240 Isaiah prophesies 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.720 that Jesus would have 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.819 the spirit of fear. 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.200 But Jesus wasn't afraid 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.000 of God the Father. 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.920 Here's what He says. 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.240 The spirit of the Lord 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.200 shall rest on Him. 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.599 The spirit of wisdom 00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:22.380 and understanding. 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.920 The spirit of counsel 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.440 and might. 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.019 The spirit of knowledge 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:27.039 and of the fear 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:27.859 of the Lord. 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.380 He'll be characterized 00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:30.200 by this. 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:32.240 And His delight 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:34.059 shall be in the fear 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:35.319 of the Lord. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.480 But Jesus wasn't afraid 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.019 of God. 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.000 So what is this? 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.180 What does it actually mean? 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:41.880 Let me give you 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:42.619 a few thoughts here. 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.640 To fear God 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:46.079 is to stand 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:48.480 in awesome wonder 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.880 of Him. 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.960 It's to stand 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.140 in awesome wonder 00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:54.380 of Him. 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:56.220 Which requires 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.880 that you know 00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.559 and believe 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:00.000 what the Bible says 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.940 about Him. 00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.279 Psalm 33. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.779 Let all the earth 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.619 fear the Lord. 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:07.339 Let all the inhabitants 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.000 of the world 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:09.639 stand in awe 00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:11.099 of Him. 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:14.039 To fear the Lord 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:14.879 is to be full 00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:15.799 of adoration 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:17.259 for God. 00:28:17.919 --> 00:28:19.000 Full of praise 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.720 and worship 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.579 for God. 00:28:20.679 --> 00:28:21.240 Psalm 22. 00:28:21.679 --> 00:28:22.919 You who fear the Lord 00:28:22.919 --> 00:28:24.339 praise Him. 00:28:24.939 --> 00:28:25.799 The psalmist says. 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.199 Fearing God 00:28:27.199 --> 00:28:28.179 means loving 00:28:28.179 --> 00:28:29.119 what He loves 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.279 and hating 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:31.240 what He hates. 00:28:32.459 --> 00:28:33.799 Proverbs chapter 8. 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:35.480 The fear of the Lord 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.599 is hatred 00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:37.740 of evil. 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:38.859 It's hatred 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.339 of evil. 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.500 Well why do you hate 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:40.899 evil 00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.839 if you 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:43.000 fear the Lord? 00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:44.099 Because the Lord 00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:44.759 hates evil. 00:28:45.159 --> 00:28:46.039 We hate what He hates. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.119 Deuteronomy chapter 10. 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.779 You shall fear 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.579 the Lord your God. 00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:50.919 You shall serve Him 00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:52.019 and hold fast to Him 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.159 and by His name 00:28:53.159 --> 00:28:53.980 you shall swear. 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.799 You love what He loves. 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.259 You do what He 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.480 says. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:29:00.880 Solomon says 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.579 without the fear 00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.039 of the Lord 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:03.620 you cannot possess 00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:04.339 the wisdom 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.099 and understanding 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.720 that it takes 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.860 to walk in His ways. 00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:08.880 Proverbs 9. 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.620 The fear of the Lord 00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:10.380 is the beginning 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:11.039 of wisdom. 00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.519 The knowledge 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:13.279 of the Holy One 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.279 is insight. 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.079 Psalm 25. 00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:17.299 Who is the man 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.240 who fears the Lord? 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:20.279 Him will He instruct 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:20.839 in the way 00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:22.440 that He should choose. 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.420 It's just a 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.860 surface level approach 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:26.680 of what it actually means 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.500 to fear the Lord 00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.259 is to have a life 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:29.240 that's in awe of God. 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.500 You love what He loves. 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.519 You hate what He hates. 00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.079 To please Him. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.559 Walk in His ways. 00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:36.519 Now David recognizes 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.359 that there is something 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.559 that stands in the way 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:39.539 of fearing God. 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:41.019 Look at it in the verse. 00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:42.700 Unite my heart 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.379 He says. 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.240 Unite my heart 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.160 to fear His name. 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.720 What is it that's standing 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.440 in the way 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.920 of fearing God? 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.220 It's a divided heart. 00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:54.279 We might say 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.480 it's competing 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:57.140 affections. 00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:59.300 so that David says 00:29:59.300 --> 00:30:00.500 unite my heart 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:00.900 God 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:02.120 help me to 00:30:02.120 --> 00:30:03.460 want your glory 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:05.000 more than I want 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.880 anything else. 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:07.840 Help me to want 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.600 your glory 00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.280 more than I want 00:30:09.280 --> 00:30:09.920 the sin. 00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:10.960 Help me to want 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.620 your glory 00:30:11.620 --> 00:30:12.360 more than I want 00:30:12.360 --> 00:30:13.120 the satisfaction 00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:14.800 of sex and lust. 00:30:15.040 --> 00:30:15.640 Help me want 00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:16.259 your glory 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.080 more than I want 00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:17.740 the satisfaction 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.960 of getting won up 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:19.580 on this person 00:30:19.580 --> 00:30:20.480 that I really hate. 00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.340 Help me want 00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:22.040 your glory 00:30:22.040 --> 00:30:22.700 more than anything 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.660 else in my life. 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.800 Unite my heart. 00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:34.659 give it a singular focus spurgeon paraphrased it this way having taught me one way give me one 00:30:34.659 --> 00:30:43.899 heart to walk therein for too often i feel a heart and a heart two natures contending two principles 00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:50.740 struggling for sovereignty that's really the key isn't it what is the real struggle that we have 00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:57.059 as believers it is this inner struggle with who will we allow to have sovereignty in our lives 00:30:57.059 --> 00:31:04.440 will we allow the word of god to guide us and the spirit of god to inform us or will we give in to 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:12.339 the lust and the temptations of the flesh that wage war against it every believer can relate to david's 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:21.019 and spurgeon's experiences of fighting through competing affections of the heart we know what 00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:29.980 this is like we desire to live a morally upright life but there's a competing desire on the other end 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:38.199 to fulfill the lust of the flesh and it's a struggle and it's a fight and our prayer must be 00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:48.440 unite my heart lord so that you win so that i may fear your name we want to be faithful to the worship 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:55.720 gathering on the lord's day that wages war against this other desire for rest and family time instead 00:31:55.720 --> 00:32:04.059 what must be our prayer unite my heart lord don't even let me make my family an idol that comes before you 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:12.460 we want to stand firm on the bible and share the gospel with others we also have this other competing 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:21.659 affection that desires to be accepted by the culture that hates god's law and anyone who's willing to 00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:30.679 follow it they're competing affections they wage war in our hearts and to walk in god's truth requires 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:39.320 that we fear god's name and to fear god's name means that our affection for his glory must reign over every 00:32:39.320 --> 00:32:48.440 other affection of the heart and here's the good news about that is that by god's grace a singular heart 00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:57.240 for god is what's promised in the gospel of jesus it's promised in the new covenant jeremiah 32 i will give 00:32:57.240 --> 00:33:04.519 them one heart and one way that they may fear me forever for their own good and the good of their 00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:10.519 children after them i will make with them an everlasting covenant that i will not turn away from doing good 00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:16.200 to them i will put the fear of me in their hearts that they may not turn from me 00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:25.000 paul talked about this struggle at the end of romans 7 recognizing this war raging within him and he says 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:31.720 at the end of it oh wretched man that i am who will deliver me from this body of death he says and then 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:40.759 he provides the answer thanks be to god through jesus christ our lord that's how we fear god's name 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:46.279 it comes through christ it comes through his gospel and his gospel alone 00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:53.640 and if there is anyone here who maybe you're new to christianity or you're a little confused about 00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:58.840 some of the things that i've been saying the clearest demonstration of what david was getting 00:33:58.840 --> 00:34:03.320 at in this prayer is found perfectly in the person of jesus 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:13.559 another old preacher christopher wordsworth said this verse verse 11 of psalm 86 is the via veritas 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:22.039 vita of the gospel in john 14 in other words christ is our way teach me your way oh lord christ is our way 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:26.279 that i may walk in your truth christ is our truth 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:31.320 unite my heart to fear your name christ is our life 00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:36.199 to see the way you look to jesus 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:46.279 to know the truth you listen to jesus to have eternal life you follow jesus he will teach you 00:34:46.280 --> 00:34:53.640 he will transform the affections of your heart so that you might walk in god's truth not because you're 00:34:53.640 --> 00:35:02.200 capable but because he is capable not because you have to do it to earn god's favor but because he has 00:35:02.200 --> 00:35:06.680 done it and he has granted god's favor on your behalf 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:13.319 the verse is filled with all kinds of things that we're responsible for 00:35:14.919 --> 00:35:22.599 there's no really other way to look at it we must know god's ways which means that we must study god's 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:32.519 word we must walk in his truth god's not going to walk it for us we must do that we must fear his name 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:42.199 and yet david still makes this an issue of prayer it's as if david knows that in order to do this 00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:47.079 he needs divine aid he says teach me 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:52.039 he says unite my heart 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:59.159 because only god if you do those things in me will i be able to truly walk in your ways 00:35:59.159 --> 00:36:03.000 the truth is none of us can actually do any of this on our own 00:36:04.759 --> 00:36:11.000 sin is so permeated our hearts that we desperately need god's intervention to actually fulfill the 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:18.839 purpose for which he has created us we need the word and the spirit to teach us we need the grace of 00:36:18.839 --> 00:36:26.039 god to transform those affections we need the enabling power of god to walk in his truth 00:36:26.039 --> 00:36:35.800 that's why this prayer is worth repeating over and over and over day by day circumstance by circumstance 00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:45.880 teach me your way oh lord unite my heart to fear your name so that i may walk in your truth 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:52.360 it's truly a prayer to live by isn't it perhaps a suitable life verse if you're so inclined