I Am Not Going Anywhere

Text:

Psalms 118:17:

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

 

Theme:

I Am Not Going Anywhere

 

Introduction:

• The Book of Psalms is the 19^th book of the Old Testament and 2^nd of the books of poetry. It is distinguished as the longest book of the bible with 150 chapters and also contains the longest chapter of the bible, the 119^th division of Psalms.  Psalms is also organized in 5 divisions.
  • The author is David, the God-Appointed King and originator of the Davidic line of Kingship and rule in Israel.
  • Psalms is a book of praise and song consisting of verses that were rhythmically relayed in song as in poetry.
  • Psalms can be divided into 6 classes based on their content:
    • Hymns of praise to Jehovah
    • Temple hymns
    • Religious and moral songs of a general character
    • Elegiac psalms, that is, lamentations, psalms of complaint, generally united with prayer for help
    • Messianic psalms
    • Historical psalms
• Specifically, the 118^th Division of Psalms is written in the light of the goodness of God.
  • Psalms 118:1, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.”
  • The goodness of God compels the believer to respond with thankfulness for all the Good Things that come from God
    • James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
• The Goodness of God causes the believer to waiver with regard to the unavoidability of DEATH
  • Paul wrestled with the temptation of dying and leaving this world. However, it was reconciled in Philippians 1:21 when he said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
  • Even Jesus had the struggle in his request of God in Matthew 26:39, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
    • The child of God is convicted by his or her submission to the Will of God.
      • However, David asserts a rather radical view on death in our text.

“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”

• David is saying that “I am not going anywhere!”
  • When wondering about when I am gonna die…
  • When wondering whether it is better to die or to live…
  • When struggling over the fear of being taken away from this life…
  • When wondering why should I even be alive…
    • We hear David declare è I Am Not Going Anywhere!!
  • We can bring it home even more by saying, “I ain’t going nowhere!”

 

Body:

• Theologically, David expresses the conditional immortality of the believer.
  • H. Spurgeon explains it this way:

“Those who would gladly measure me for my coffin had better wait a bit, for “the Lord hath chastened me sore, but he hath not given me over unto death.” Glory be to His name forever! I am immortal till my work is done. Till the Lord wills it, no vault can close upon me.”

•             As long as God has something for me to do, I will not die AND will live!

• There are three elements of understanding in David’s declaration used to empower our lives:

“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”

•            The condition required is to be commissioned and submitted to the work of God
  • If you are NOT doing God’s business, you will DIE!
    • Physical Death
      • Job 21:13, “They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.”
      • John 8:21, “Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.”
      • Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
    • Spiritual Death
      • Not doing God’s Will breaks the relationship and separates us from Him…which is death.
        • Ephesians 4:18, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”
      • To be carnally minded…is death.
        • Romans 8:6, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
      • To live in sin…is death.
        • Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
    • If you are doing God’s business, you will LIVE!
      • Physical Life à Alive for Living a life!
        • Psalms 41:2, “The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.”
        • Jeremiah 49:11, “Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.”
        • John 14:13, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
      • Eternal Life à Through Christ
        • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
        • Ephesians 2:5, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
        • John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
      • We were created to do His will and her will preserve us until it is done!
        • John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
• I AIN’T GOING NOWHERE!!!

 

Conclusion:

• Like David, I have the assurance ==> God will take care of me!
  • I’ve got HEAVEN on high!
    • 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
      • There is Heaven for ME!!
        • When I get weary, I can think about Heaven.
  • I’ve got HEAVEN here on earth!
    • John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
      • God is working it out for me!
        • When I am troubled, I know that God’s got my back…soooooo…

I AIN’T GOING NOWHERE!!!

 

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