Believers Talk with God

I. God Sets the Terms for Conversation

A. Prayer is an offering up of a believer’s desires to God. “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:8)

B. The focus should be on things agreeable to God’s will. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5:14)

C. Always remember that Christ made the audience possible; if there were no cross, there would be no conversation. “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” (John 16:23)

D. Be utterly honest; ultimately there is no way to hide sin when approaching God, so do not even try. “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” (Psalm 32:5-6)

E. Always acknowledge what God has done in the past; politely remind Him that He has an investment in the petitioner which is appreciated. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)

F. Come boldly. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

II. Start with Expectation of Success

A. Prayer is a very personal expression of dependence on God’s sovereign providence; petitioners must be confident God can do whatever needs doing. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5:14) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

B. Children can expect good things from fathers and God is a believer’s Father. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

C. Share prayer concerns with other believers; prayer meetings are prudential expressions of Christian faith. “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

III. Follow the Revealed Prayer Pattern

A. The Lord revealed a pattern. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

B. Seek God’s glory. “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.” (Psalm 67:2-3)

C. Seek the destruction of evil and the advancement of holiness. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.” (Psalm 68:1) “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:10-11)

D. Plead for people to do what God wants. “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.” (Psalm 103:20-21)

E. Ask God to meet the common and ordinary needs of life; He Who will do big things will do small ones as well. “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” (Proverbs 30:8-9)

F. Seek pardon for sin; only God pardons. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2)

G. Ask for help to stay out of trouble. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8)

Even the Wind Obeys

John 1:1-17; Mark 4:35-41 / Psalm 107:1-43

I. A Storm Overtook the Disciples

A. The story opened in a familiar place, the Sea of Galilee, with a simple statement; the key figures were fishermen and this was where they made their living. “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.” (Mark 4:35)

B. The setting was comparatively private and there was no premonition of anything unusual; the large land crowds were left behind. “And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.” (Mark 4:36)

C. Suddenly the calm was gone; the gospel is not just about getting out of trouble. “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” (Mark 4:37)

D. Jesus had led the men into a situation they could not manage; sometimes Jesus leads His people into awkward and frightening situations. “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38)

E. It is the people God redeems who can say the cruelest things to God. “Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?” (Psalm 44:23-24)

F. Years later Peter would remember this event and other terrifying ordeals. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (1 Peter 4:12)

II. Jesus Took Charge

A. The faithful people closest to Jesus panicked and Jesus ordered the storm to end. “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39)

1. Nature must obey the Lord of Grace; the story is part of the deliverance from Egypt; it is the enemies of God’s people who have reason for terror. “But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” (Exodus 14:16) “And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” (Exodus 14:22) “And the waters re turned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.” (Exodus 14:28)

2. God does the impossible if that is what His people need. “But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” (Exodus 14:29)

B. Fear drowned the voice of the Lord Who had told them they would go to the other side of Galilee. “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” (Psalm 46:1-3)

C. The Scriptures leave no room to doubt the Lord. “Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:27-31)

D. Believers are people under orders and those orders are precise: Trust. “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.” (Isaiah 50:10)

III. Who Is This Man?

A. The evidence demands a response; Who is this that the sea obeys Him. “And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)

B. Faith answers, Him Whom we must serve. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” (Hebrews 12:28)

C. Come to the living God; the disciples went forward with Jesus. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

Believers Talk with God

I. God Sets the Terms for Conversation

A. Prayer is an offering up of a believer’s desires to God. “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:8)

B. The focus should be on things agreeable to God’s will. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5:14)

C. Always remember that Christ made the audience possible; if there were no cross, there would be no conversation. “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” (John 16:23)

D. Be utterly honest; ultimately there is no way to hide sin when approaching God, so do not even try. “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” (Psalm 32:5-6)

E. Always acknowledge what God has done in the past; politely remind Him that He has an investment in the petitioner which is appreciated. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)

F. Come boldly. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

II. Start with Expectation of Success

A. Prayer is a very personal expression of dependence on God’s sovereign providence; petitioners must be confident God can do whatever needs doing. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (1 John 5:14) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

B. Children can expect good things from fathers and God is a believer’s Father. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

C. Share prayer concerns with other believers; prayer meetings are prudential expressions of Christian faith. “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

III. Follow the Revealed Prayer Pattern

A. The Lord revealed a pattern. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

B. Seek God’s glory. “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.” (Psalm 67:2-3)

C. Seek the destruction of evil and the advancement of holiness. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.” (Psalm 68:1) “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:10-11)

D. Plead for people to do what God wants. “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.” (Psalm 103:20-21)

E. Ask God to meet the common and ordinary needs of life; He Who will do big things will do small ones as well. “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” (Proverbs 30:8-9)

F. Seek pardon for sin; only God pardons. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2)

G. Ask for help to stay out of trouble. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8)

Mustard Seed
Isaiah 9:1-7; Mark 4:30-34 / Proverbs 4:1-27

I. What Is God’s Kingdom Like?

A. What developmental or organizational model explains the church? “And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?” (Mark 4:30)

B. Full Bible Christians cannot settle for confusion and despair in troubled times; Jeremiah spoke of such times when ancient Jerusalem fell. “What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?” (Lamentations 2:13)

C. People who reject the truth must go without answers to their questions. “But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” (Matthew 11:16-19)

D. God confounds the world by doing what is totally counterintuitive to the wise people of the age. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:27-30)

II. The Kingdom Is Like a Tiny Seed

A. The mustard seed is tiny and yet it is the illustration that appeals to Christ. “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:” (Mark 4:31)

B. When the seed is treated as it is designed to be treated, it becomes enormous. “But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.” (Mark 4:32)

C. The hope for a civilization is like that for a person: a tiny seed; and God promises that it will accomplish great things in His time. “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)

D. The tiny child Jesus is also the King of Kings and Lord of all reality; sin has met its match, the Prince of Peace. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

III. People Could Not Understand

A. All reality takes people to God when they understand what they encounter. “And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.” (Mark 4:33)

B. Each faithful teaching enlightens the next, leading people from darkness to light in Jesus. “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.” (Mark 4:34)

C. Prayer and revelation are necessary to the proper understanding to God, the gospel, and even the ordinary features of the world. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” (Ephesians 1:17)

D. The pattern for Christians must be the pattern of Jesus; plant the tiny seed and trust the great harvest to God. “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” (Colossians 1:28)

E. The entire world will find refuge in the mature seed of the gospel. “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.” (Romans 16:25-27)

Christian Study Methods

I. Assume the Best of God

A. Christians are seeking eternal life and find it in Jesus Christ. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

B. Through studying the Bible, people come to understand Christ and creation. “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” (Psalm 36:9)

C. In the Bible, believers find what God wants them to know about eternal reality. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:” (2 Peter 1:19)

D. Through Bible study, people progressively develop in the Christian faith. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18)

II. Apply the Puritan Principle

A. Jesus taught people to come to Him with confidence and expectation. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:7-11)

1. What does it say?

2. What does it mean?

3. What do I do about it?

B. Expect to find heaven’s truth in the answers to these questions. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8)

C. Do not impose meanings on God or delay till some better time when seeking what God reveals. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 55:6-13)

D. Approach God on His terms and He will be gracious; do not attempt to make Him small enough to conform to the prejudices of the age. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15)

III. Apply the Geometry of Scripture

A. Jesus is identified as the logic or geometry of God; consequently geometry becomes a Bible study tool. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)

B. Search the Bible with the four primary insights of geometry: Point, line, plane, and solid. “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.” (Acts 17:10-12) “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9)

C. A doctrine will follow the Biblical geometry of God’s Word or it will kill. “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-20)

All in God’s Time

Ecclesiastes 8:9-17; Mark 4:26-29 / Proverbs 11:1-31

I. Farming Illustrates the Gospel

A. Christ approached the farming story from the perspective of the farmer in contrast to the perspective of the seed. “And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;” (Mark 4:26)

B. Human life is fragile like grain, but the new life of the redeemed is eternal. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (1 Peter 1:23-25)

II. Farmers Must Be Patient

A. The farmer must wait patiently because seed grows by itself. “And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.” (Mark 4:27)

B. Human wisdom cannot measure the mystery of the growing seed; similarly the progress of the gospel cannot be patented, boxed, and sold. “Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.” (Ecclesiastes 8:17)

C. The gospel works according to its own rules, but it never fails in God’s purpose. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

D. Believers do not let the unknown shadow the known. “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

E. Jesus opened His gospel preaching with the mystery of human birth. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:7-8)

III. Seed Grows in Its Own Ways

A. The seed matures according to its own nature. “For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” (Mark 4:28)

B. God’s command is the ultimate explanation for life and growth; reality must obey. “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:11-12)

C. Nothing can stop the progress of the gospel. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18)

D. God’s fundamental designs stretch across the full expanse of creation. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

E. The process is beautiful, but it cannot be mastered by human philosophy. “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

IV. Eventually the Harvest Will Mature

A. When God is ready, He will gather His harvest. “But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” (Mark 4:29)

B. Leave the management of the harvest to God; final decisions belong to God rather than to human institutions. “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. ” (Matthew 13:30)

C. God will settle all accounts at the end of the harvest season. “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.” (Matthew 13:40)

Understanding God Changes Life

Psalm 40

I. Believers Get the Good Life 

A. When David exercised patience God heard
his problems; David displayed the messianic
longing of believers.  "To the chief Musician, A
Psalm of David.  I waited patiently for the LORD;
and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."
(Psalm 40:1) "Afterward shall the children of
Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and
David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his
goodness in the latter days."  (Hosea 3:5)

B. God took David from disaster to
strength.  "He brought me up also out of an
horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my
feet upon a rock, and established my goings."
(Psalm 40:2)  "Men and brethren, let me freely
speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is
both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us
unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and
knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him,
that of the fruit of his loins, according to the
flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his
throne; He seeing this before spake of the
resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left
in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption."
(Acts 2:29-31)

C. When God took charge of David's life,
David stopped singing the ancient blues and began
to sing with new joy; the song was new to David
but not to the people of God.  "And he hath put a
new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in
the LORD."  (Psalm 40:3)

D. Ultimately, happiness is reserved for
people who trust God and see His incalculable
influence everywhere.  "Blessed is that man that
maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the
proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.  Many, O
LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou
hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward:
they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if
I would declare and speak of them, they are more
than can be numbered."  (Psalm 40:4-5)  "It is
better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence
in man.  It is better to trust in the LORD than to
put confidence in princes."  (Psalm 118:8-9)

II. God Focuses on the Heart

A. Changed inner life is more important to
God than repairing sin's damage.    "Sacrifice and
offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast
thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast
thou not required.  Then said I, Lo, I come: in
the volume of the book it is written of me, I
delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is
within my heart."  (Psalm 40:6-8)

B. The evidence of David's transformation
is the new emphasis on promoting holiness.  "I
have preached righteousness in the great
congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O
LORD, thou knowest.  I have not hid thy
righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy
faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not
concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from
the great congregation."  (Psalm 40:9-10)

C. God's lovingkindness is the ultimate
defense for Christians.  "Withhold not thou thy
tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy
lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve
me."  (Psalm 40:11)

III. New Concerns Fill Believers

A. People who have encountered God see the
sin and shadow in everything else.  "For
innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine
iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am
not able to look up; they are more than the hairs
of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me."
(Psalm 40:12) cf Calvin's Institutes of the
Christian Religion

Calvin said, "Each of us must, then, be so
stung by the consciousness of his own unhappiness
as to attain at least some knowledge of God.
Thus, from the feeling of our own ignorance,
vanity, poverty, infirmity, and - what is more -
depravity and corruption, we recognize that the
true light of wisdom, sound virtue, full abundance
of every good, and purity of righteousness rest in
the Lord alone."

B. Believers trust God for their
salvation.  "Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O
LORD, make haste to help me."  (Psalm 40:13)

C. Christians turn over their enemies to
God; the struggle becomes spiritual.  "Let them be
ashamed and confounded together that seek after my
soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward
and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be
desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto
me, Aha, aha."  (Psalm 40:14-15)

D. The new focus in life becomes God;
spreading the gospel becomes a dominant interest.
"Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad
in thee: let such as love thy salvation say
continually, The LORD be magnified."  (Psalm
40:16)

E. The knowledge of God utterly transforms
the understanding of humanity.  "But I am poor and
needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my
help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my
God."  (Psalm 40:17)

1. God is the context for all things.  "For in him
we live, and move, and have our being; as certain
also of your own poets have said, For we are also
his offspring." (Acts 17:28)

2. The grace of God becomes essential to all
experience and true understanding. "For ye know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though
he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,
that ye through his poverty might be rich."  (2
Corinthians 8:9)