July 24, 2024
Submitted to God #
Psalm 66:1-7
Introduction
There are some pretty clear breaks in this Psalm as you read it and study it.
Being submitted to God doesn’t come naturally, or without effort. We find two completely different reasons for being submitted to God, based on where they start from. You only fit into one of two categories, you are a born-again child of God, or you are not. There is no middle ground. You are saved, or you are not saved.
AS we look at these two perspectives, it should be clear how you view God.
I. Reason for Fear (1-7) #
A. Praise from All (1-2) #
Joshua 4:23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: 24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
1 Samuel 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
B. Power recognized (3) #
Terrible – adapted or likely to excite terror, awe, or dread
- Dan. 3:28-29
C. Praise motivated by fear (4-7) #
1. Clear – not just the saved (4) #
2. Confirm, Consider (5-6) #
3. Conclusion (7) – “He ruleth by his power for ever” #
II. Reason for Faith (8-12) #
A. Position (8-9) “our God” #
1. Selection - He is “our God” #
**John 1:12 **But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Rom. 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
2. Sustains our life (9) #
3. Steadies our feet (9) #
B. Proving Process (10-12) #
- Prove – to try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test
1. Trials and hardships (11-12) #
- Our troubles teach us! (James 1:1-5)
2. Wealthy place (12) – wealth of faith! #
III. Response of Faithful (13-20) #
A. Price to be paid (13-15) #
1. Commitment (13) “pay thee my vows” #
2. Cost (15) – multiple sacrifices #
Heb. 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Matt. 16:24 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
B. Proclamation (16-17) #
1. Cry – Come hear what God did for me!!! #
2. Extolled – Praised, lifted up, exalted! #
C. Praised for his mercy (18-20*) #
If I regard iniquity in my heart, that is, “If I have favourable thoughts of it, if I love it, indulge it, and allow myself in it, if I treat it as a friend and bid it welcome, make provision for it and am loth to part with it, if I roll it under my tongue as a sweet morsel, though it be but a heart sin that is thus countenanced and made much of, if I delight in it after the inward man, God will not hear my prayer, will not accept it, nor be pleased with it, nor can I expect an answer of peace to it.” Note, Iniquity, regarded in the heart, will certainly spoil the comfort and success of prayer; for the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord." - Matthew Henry