05 December 2017

Youth Conference 2017: Evening Message 3

Text: Psalm 116
Speaker:
Rev Dr Charles Tan
Series:
Youth Conference

Message Notes

YOUTH CONFERENCE 2017 3-7 December Theme: “The Same Spirit of Faith” I BELIEVED AND THEREFORE I SPOKE                            2 Corinthians 4:13 WE ALSO BELIEVE AND THEREFORE SPEAK               2 Corinthians 4:13
  1. Citing Psalm 116:10 “I believed, therefore I spoke”      Psalm 116:10a
  2. Appreciation of the faith of the Psalmist (anonymous)
    1. His love for the LORD “I love the LORD”                        Psalm 116:1
    2. His prayer-life
      1. He knew that God heard his prayers “Because He has heard my voice and my supplications”          Psalm 116:1b
      2. He was determined to pray “Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live”                               Psalm 116:2
  1. Understanding the Context in which the Psalmist wrote this Psalm
    1. Tribulation and suffering “The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow”                                                                                          Psalm 116:3 (Cf. Psalm 16:10)
    2. Prayer amidst great sorrow “Then I called upon the name of the LORD: ‘O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!’”                                          Psalm 116:4
  1. Appreciating the knowledge of the Psalmist of the LORD
    1. The Person of the LORD “Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.”                                                                               Psalm 116:5
      1. God is full of grace
      2. Righteous
      3. Merciful
    2. A gracious deed by the LORD “The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.”                                                  Psalm 116:6
      1. God preserves
      2. He saves
    3. Appropriate response to the LORD “Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.”                                Psalm 116:7
      1. Addressing the soul (the spirit)
      2. Returning to a state of rest (trust, confidence)
      3. Gratitude to the LORD for dealing so bountifully
    4. Bearing testimony of faith in the LORD “For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I believed, therefore I spoke”                                                                                         Psalm 116:8-10a
      1. God delivers from death
      2. God delivers from tears
      3. God delivers from falling
      4. Thankful to be alive
      5. Walking before the LORD
      6. Testify (speaking) of faith in the LORD
  1. Application to life
    1. “What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?” Psalm 116:12
    2. Salvation and calling upon the LORD “I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD”                                                                     Psalm 116:13
    3. Vows (promises) “I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people.”   Psalm 116:14
    4. A servant of the LORD “O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.”                                                                                          Psalm 116:16
      1. Desire to serve the LORD
      2. Offering of self in true humility
      3. In deep gratitude
    5. Thanksgiving “I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD.”                                        Psalm 116:17
  1. We also believe and therefore we speak
    1. Paul and others who had the same spirit of faith
    2. They are in full agreement
    3. They became faithful servants of God
      1. Serving humbly
      2. Serving gratefully
      3. Serving joyfully
      4. Serving with faith in the heart
      5. Serving God in the spirit (with all the heart and soul)