God’s Word Helps Me to Endure Persecution
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TITLE: God’s Word Helps Me Endure Persecution
SUBJECT: Psalm 119
PROPOSITION: In this part of Psalm 119, we will see that God’s word helps me to endure persecution. God 1) hears my request for relief, 2) sees the relentlessness of the wicked, and 3) provides respite when I yield to His word.
OBJECTIVE: Each listener should take comfort in knowing that God hears, sees, and provides when His people are persecuted.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Psalm 119:81-88
2. About the Text:
1) This great Psalm tells us about the wonderful word of God.
2) God’s word is sufficient to furnish us completely to every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
3) When we study Psalm 119 we get greater appreciation of God and His word.
4) This section tells us how God helps us endure persecution through His word.
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: God’s word helps me endure persecution because . . .
I. God hears my request for relief by providing hope in His word (81-83).
1. Salvation is reinforced through hoping in God’s word (81).
1) Hebrews 11:1 – Faith gives our hope substance.
2) Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).
3) “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?” (Romans 8:24).
2. God’s promises bring the hope of comfort (82).
1) God’s promises are not like man’s promises; they are sure.
2) Hebrews 6:16-20.
3. Even when things seem at their worst, we should not forget God (83).
1) Of all the people who suffered in the Bible, perhaps Job suffered the greatest.
2) He was battered by His friends to confess sin he did not have.
3) Job never forsook God.
4) “Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung” (Job 36:24).
II. God sees the relentlessness of the wicked who do not follow His word (84-86).
1. God will judge the persecutor, but we must endure.
1) James 5:11 – “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”
2) Romans 12:17-21
2. We can take comfort in knowing the traps of the wicked are not of God’s law.
1) Psalm 7:11 – “God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.”
2) Psalm 9:16 – “The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.”
3. In contrast to God’s commandments, the wicked tell falsehoods.
1) God’s people must speak truth no matter how uncomfortable.
2) Ephesians 4:25 – “Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another” (quoted from Zechariah 8:16).
3) Psalm 63:11 – “But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.”
III. God provides respite when I yield to His word (87-88).
1. As long as we don’t forsake God, the wicked won’t make an end of us.
1) God promises us victory in Jesus.
2) Faith is the victory – 1 John 5:4.
3) Revelation 2:10 – “Be faithful unto death.”
4) Read Revelation 19:11ff.
2. We request life from God so that we may obey His word.
1) Remember the purpose of our life – Ecc.12:13, Matthew 22:37-40.
2) Life is given so that we may live for Jesus.
3) “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6).
4) “ and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor.5:15).
CONCLUSION:
1. God’s word helps me endure persecution because . . .
1) God hears my request for relief.
2) God sees the relentlessness of the wicked.
3) God provides respite when I yield to His word.
2. Invitation