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"THE BELIEVER’S
PORTION" (Lam 3:24; Ps. 119:57-64) June 14th, 09 Int. David here comforts
himself in the certainty of his Regeneration. 1. Octavius Winslow:
"It is our great privilege, beloved, that we live in a 'portionless'
world. When God parceled out the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel,
He made an exception in the tribe of Levi, to whom He said, "You shall have no
inheritance in the land, neither shall you have any part among them;"
assigning as His reason, "I am your share and your inheritance." The gospel teaching of this is
obvious and significant. As the Lord's true priesthood, this world is not our
portion, nor earth our rest. It may have required some painful discipline,
and no small measure of faith, On the part of the devout
Levite, as he gazed upon the fertile meadows, the watered plains, and the
vine clad hills of the Promised Land, before he was made willing to
relinquish it all for Him who is invisible. It needs no little teaching and
discipline of our God, and no little faith on our part, before we are led to
give up . . . The world, the creature, self, and all, for Christ; satisfied
to have the Lord alone as our Portion, and heaven only as our inheritance. "The Lord is my portion,
says my soul." His love to us was so great, that when He could give no
greater proof of that love, He gave HIMSELF! Nothing more could have
expressed the yearnings of His heart, nothing less could have satisfied the
desires of ours." I.
THE BELIEVER’S PORTION.. A.
THE LORD IS THE BEST PORTION.. 1. (Psa
73:26) "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the
strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." 2. (Deu
32:9) "For the LORD'S PORTION is his people; Jacob is the lot of his
inheritance." B.
LUTHER’S ADVICE TO EVERY CHRISTIAN..Answer all temptations by saying, "I am a
Christian." C.
THOMAS BROOKS SAID IT THIS WAY: "THE LORD IS MY PORTION." 1. When
tempted with honours, say: "THE LORD IS MY PORTION." 2. When
tempted with Riches, say:: "THE LORD IS MY PORTION." 3. When
tempted with favors, say: "THE LORD IS MY PORTION." 4. When
persecuted and face losing everything, say: "THE LORD IS MY
PORTION. A. (Job
1:21) "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and
naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD." B. (1
Tim 6:7) "For we brought nothing into this world, and it
is certain we can carry nothing out." 5. When
we face the loss of friends, say: "THE LORD IS MY PORTION." 6. When
we face the loss of life, say: "THE LORD IS MY PORTION." 7. When
Satan tempts us with an APPLE, say: "THE LORD IS MY
PORTION." 8. When
Satan tempts us with a GRAPE (As w/ Noah), say: "THE LORD IS MY
PORTION." 9. When
tempted with a change of rainment as Gehazi, say: "THE LORD IS
MY PORTION." 10. When
tempted with a wedge of gold as Achan, say: "THE LORD IS MY
PORTION." 11. When
tempted with a bag of money as Judas, say: "THE LORD IS MY PORTION." 12. When
tempted with a Crown and a Kingdom as Moses was, say: "THE LORD
IS MY PORTION." D.
GOD IS OUR PORTION FOREVER. (Ps 118: 57) Note: If there ever was a time in the life of David, when one would
want to envy him, it would not be: 1.
When David was standing over the body of Goliath. 2.
When David was being praised for "Slaying His ten thousands, while
Saul only slayed his thousands." 3.
When David was declared the undisputed King of ( ALL)Israel. 4. But
it was at that very moment that David bowed his head and said:
"THE LORD IS MY PORTION." 5. (Lam
3:24) "The LORD is my portion, saith
my soul; therefore will I hope in him." 6. (Psa
142:5) "I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my
refuge and my portion in the land of the living." II.
THE BELIEVER’S PROMISE..(Ps 119:57) "I have said I would keep thy Words." A.
WE CANNOT ALWAYS LOOK WITH COMFORT UPON WHAT WE HAVE SAID: 1. JESUS
SAID: (John 14:23) "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a
man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and
we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." 2. Many
say with David, "THE LORD IS MY PORTION." a.
But here is the point, how do they prove it? III.
THE BELIEVER’S PRAYER.. (Ps. 119:58) "I intreated Thy favour with my whole heart." A.
BLESSED ASSURANCE DOESN’T SET PRAYER ASIDE, BUT ENCOURAGES IT. Ill.
"How can I flaunt myself proudly?" (A Puritan Prayer) Merciful Father, Do not let
pride swell my heart. My body is made from the mire beneath my feet, the dust
to which I shall return. In body I am no better than the vilest reptile.
Whatever difference of form and intellect is mine, is a free grant of Your
goodness. Base as I am as a creature, I
am lower as a sinner. Sin's deformity is stamped upon me, darkens my brow,
touches me with corruption. How can I flaunt myself proudly? Lowest abasement
is my due place, for I am less than nothing before. Thou hast helped me to
see myself in Thy sight, then pride must wither, decay, die, perish! Humble my heart before Thee,
and replenish it with Thy choicest gifts. Keep me humble, meek, lowly." B.
DAVID INTREATED THE LORD "WITH MY WHOLE HEART" (Ps. 119: 58) 1.
Genuine prayer is chiefly a heart work. 2.
God hears the heart without the mouth, but never hears the mouth
without the heart. IV.
THE BELIEVER’S PETITION.. (Ps 119:58) A.
DAVID DWELLS UPON GOD’S FAVOUR AND MERCY----NEVER UPON SELF MERIT. 1.
David doesn’t demand, but entreats (or begs) B.
DAVID LEAVES THE ANSWER UP TO GOD’S DISCRETION AND WISDOM.. (Ps. 119: 58) 1. "ACCORDING
TO THY W0RD." (Ps. 119: 58) 2. Many
would have mercy, but will not observe God’s direction.. V.
THE BELIEVER’S PATH.. (Ps. 119: 59) "I thought on my ways, and turned
my feet unto Thy Testimonies" A.
WHEN THE MIND REPENTS OF ILL WAYS; THE FEET ARE SOON LED INTO GOOD WAYS. 1. "I
thought on my ways." (Vr.
59) 2. The
Hebrew signifies to think: "accurately, advisedly,
seriously, studiously and curiously." B.
NOTICE HIS CHANGE OF DIRECTION.. (Vr. 59) "I thought on my ways, and turned
my feet unto Thy testimonies." Int.
True Conversion turns us to the Word of God. 1.. To
examine ourselves: (2 Cor 13:5) "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in
the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how
that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2. . As
our Mirror, to dress by ...(James 1:23-24) "For if any be a
hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his
natural face in a glass: {24}For he beholdeth himself,
and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he
was." 3. . As
our rule, to walk and work by: (Gal 6:16) "And as many as
walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and
upon the Israel of God." 4. As
our water, to wash us...(Psa 119:9-11) "Wherewithal shall a
young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to
thy word. {10}With my whole heart have I sought thee: O
let me not wander from thy commandments. {11} Thy word
have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." 5. As
our fire, to warm us...(Luke 24:32) "And they said one to
another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with
us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" 6. As
our food, to nourish us. (Job 23:12) "Neither have I gone back from
the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth
more than my necessary food." 7.
As our sword to
fight the enemy..(Eph 6:12-18) 8. As
our Counsellor, in all our doubts. (Psa 119:24) "Thy
testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors." 9. As
our Comfort, to comfort us..
(Rom 15:4)
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might
have hope." 10. As
our Heritage, to enrich us..... (Psa 16:6) "The lines are fallen
unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." VI.
THE BELIEVER’S PUNCTIALITY...(Vr. 60) "I made haste and
delayed not to keep Thy commandments." A.
DUTY DISCOVERED SHOULD BE INSTANTLY DISCHARGED. 1.
Tomorrow is on Satan's calendar, nowhere else. 2. Tomorrow is now written on
the almanac of time. 3. Tomorrow is the rock upon
which ships are wrecked. 4. Tomorrow is the idiots gold
at the Rainbow's end. 5. Tomorrow is a floating
island, no one has seen. 6. Tomorrow is a dream. 7. Tomorrow men wake up at the
Judgment. 8. The Holy Spirit says:
"TODAY!" 9. "Haste makes
waste" may be
true in some things, but not in "OBEDIENCE". 10. "Procrastination is the thief of
time." 11. God's call to the sinner is not for
tomorrow; it is today, if thou will hear His voice. VII.
THE BELIEVER’S PERSECUTION.. (Ps. 119: 61) "The Bands of the
wicked have robbed me." A.
THE PRIMARY MEANING OF THIS STATEMENT IS: 1.
GILL SAYS: Very probably Saul and his ministers seized on his effects,
when he fled from him; 2.
The Amalekites plundered him of all his substance, when they took Ziklag; and
Absalom and the conspirators with him robbed him. 3. H
e was obliged, because of them, to flee from his palace and court, which they
entered and took possession of. 4. (Psa
18:4) "The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of
ungodly men made me afraid." B.
THOUGH THEY COULD NOT KILL HIM, YET LIKE SATAN WITH JOB, THEY COULD ROB
HIM. VIII.
THE BELIEVER’S PERSEVERANCE..(Ps. 119:61) "But I haven’t
forgotten Thy Law." A.
MANY FORGET GOD’S LAW WHEN ALL IS WELL. 1. (Psa
119:71) "It is good for me that I
have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." B.
MANY FORGET GOD’S LAW WHEN ALL IS WRONG. 1. (Heb
12:8) "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof
all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." C.
MANY DESPISE GOD’S LAW ALL THE TIME. 1. (Prov
1:7) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction." a. Mt
Henry says: "Fools are persons who have no true wisdom, who
follow their own devices, without regard to reason, or reverence for
God." IX.
THE BELIEVER’S PRACTICE.. (Ps. 119:62) "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee for thy
Righteous judgements." A.
DAVID WAS NOT AFRAID OF THE ROBBERS BECAUSE: 1. He
rose, not to watch his house, but to praise his Lord. 2. His
mind was not on the thieves, but "THANKS". Ill. William
Law, in his Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life writes,
"Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who
prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives most alms, or is most
eminent for temperance, chastity, or justice, but it is he who is
always thankful to God, who wills everything that God willeth, who
received everything as an instance of God's goodness, and has a heart always
ready to praise God for it." a. (1
Th 5:18) "In every thing give thanks: for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 3. While
the world’s Belshazzars were partying at midnight; David was praising God. 4. Notice
too, that he rose: a. Many
kneel when praying, some praying without kneeling, but the best is to
kneel and pray. X.
THE BELIEVER’S PREFERENCE.. (Ps. 119:63) "I am a companion of all
them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts." A.
THE LAST VERSE SAID: "I will"....this one says:
"I am". 1.
This Holy man spent his nights with God, and his days with people. 2. Though
he was a King, His companions were: "Those that feared the
Lord." XI.
THE BELIEVER’S PASSION... (Ps. 119:64:-b) "Teach me Thy
Precepts." A.
THE TRUE BELIEVER IS BRANDED WITH SOME IDENTIFYING MARKS. 1. This
the prayer of the man of God in whom all the former marks are found. XII.
THE BELIEVER’S POSSESSION. (Ps. 119:64) "An earth full of
mercy" A. Though
exiled, David was not driven beyond the range of God’s Mercy. B. Though he slept in
deserts and caves, yet, even here he found Mercy. C. The
Believer is surrounded by mercy on every side. 1. The
Furniture in the Tabernacle spoke of "THE MERCY OF
GOD." 2. Abel’s
lamb spoke of "THE MERCY OF GOD." 3. Abraham’s
Ram caught in the thicket, spoke of " THE MERCY OF GOD." 4. The
Passover Lamb in (Ex. 12) spoke of "THE MERCY OF GOD." CONCLUSION:
David wrote one entire Psalm in which he mentions the mercy of God 26 times..(Ps. 136) 1. The
Lord is a suitable portion...(Isa 55:2) "Wherefore do ye spend
money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth
not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good,
and let your soul delight itself in fatness." 2. The
Lord is our double portion..(Deu
21:17) "But he
shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving
him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the
beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his." a. (2
Ki 2:9) "And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that
Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away
from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy
spirit be upon me." 3. The
Lord is a full portion for us. (Col 1:19)
"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;" 4. The
Lord is a satisfying portion..(Psa
63:5-6) "My
soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my
mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: {6}When I remember
thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." 5. The
Lord is our Everlasting Portion. (Psa 73:26) "My flesh and my
heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and
my portion for ever." 6. The
Lord is the best of portions...(Jer 10:15-16) "They are vanity,
and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall
perish. {16}The portion of Jacob is not
like them: for he is the former of all things; and
Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his
name." Conclusion: Poor portionless creature, receive
Christ as you portion tonight. 1. Renounce
all other portions, and take Him for your portion for time and eternity. 2. (Luke
16:25) "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy
lifetime receivedst thy good things, (Portions) and
likewise Lazarus evil things:(Portions) but now he is
comforted, and thou art tormented." Ill. A
tax assessor came one day to a poor pastor to determine the amount of taxes
the pastor would have to pay. The following conversation took place: Earnie W.
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