Psalms 116:12
The sermon emphasizes the vital questions we must answer about our relationship with God and the benefits of loving Him.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the vital questions posed in the Bible, particularly focusing on our relationship with God and the significance of Jesus Christ in determining our eternal destiny. He highlights the benefits of loving the Lord, including forgiveness, healing, and the privilege of prayer, which should not be seen as a duty but as a blessing. The sermon encourages believers to reflect on what they can offer to God, ultimately leading to the decision to accept His gifts of salvation and to live a life of praise and commitment. Smith concludes that the most important response to God's love is to actively engage in a relationship with Him through prayer and worship.
Text
"A VITAL QUESTION"
I. MANY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS IN THE BIBLE.
A. First question God asked man, "Adam where art thou?"
1. Where are you in relation to God?
a. Are you in rebellion?
b. Are you trying to run or hide?
B. "What think ye of Christ whose Son is He?"
1. Son of Joseph.
2. Illegitimate Son of Mary.
3. Son of God.
C. Question that determines your eternal destiny, "What shall I do with Jesus
who is called Christ?"
1. What can I do?
D. Until these questions resolved, this question in Psalms in irrelevant. But
once they have been answered within your heart then this becomes the most
vital question.
II. WHAT ARE HIS BENEFITS TO ME?
A. In Psalm 103 we have one list of benefits.
1. Forgives all your iniquities.
2. Heals all your diseases.
3. Redeemed you from destruction.
4. Crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies.
5. Satisfies your mouth with good things.
B. Here is a new list of benefits prefaced by the words, "I love the
Lord because.. "
1. What a glorious lead line.
a. We could each write our own Psalm using that as a lead line.
2. The Psalmist said:
a. "Because He heard my voice and my supplication."
1. Because He answers prayer.
2. What a blessed privilege prayer is.
3. What a tragedy that some have considered prayer
as a duty.
b. "Because He hath inclined His ear unto me."
1. How wonderful that God will take time to listen to me.
a. I many times have difficulty getting my friends
to listen to me.
2. God the maker of the universe listens to me.
c. vs. 6, The Lord preserves us and helps us.
d. vs. 7, The Lord deals bountifully with us.
e. vs. 8, Delivers our souls from death, our eyes from tears, and
our feet from falling.
C. What can I render to the Lord?
1. Anything I would seek to give Him is really His anyway.
a. gold? where did it all come from?
b. A lamb? Who created it?
c. Talk about the difficulty of getting a gift for someone who
has everything.
2. Thus, the psalmist does not list tangible things.
D. What the psalmist decided.
1. verse 13, "1 will take the cup of salvation."
a. That seems like a benefit not rendering a gift.
b. One of the cruelest things you can do is to spurn a gift of love.
2. "I will call upon the name of the Lord."
3. verse 14, "I will pay my vows."
4. verse 17, "I will offer the sacrifice of praise."
Sermon Outline
- I points: - MANY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS IN THE BIBLE - '{''A'': ''First question God asked man, ''Adam where art thou?'''', ''B'': ''''What think ye of Christ whose Son is He?'''', ''C'': ''Question that determines your eternal destiny, ''What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?'''', ''D'': ''Until these questions resolved, this question in Psalms is irrelevant.''}'
- II points: - WHAT ARE HIS BENEFITS TO ME? - '{''A'': ''In Psalm 103 we have one list of benefits.'', ''B'': ''Here is a new list of benefits prefaced by the words, ''I love the Lord because..'''', ''C'': ''What can I render to the Lord?'', ''D'': ''What the psalmist decided.''}'
Key Quotes
“I love the Lord because He heard my voice and my supplication.” — Chuck Smith
“How wonderful that God will take time to listen to me.” — Chuck Smith
“I will take the cup of salvation.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Reflect on your relationship with God and answer the questions posed in the sermon.
- Recognize and appreciate the benefits God provides in your life.
- Respond to God's love with gratitude and a commitment to praise Him.