“Using the Roadmap”

Psalm 119:9-11

Introduction

One year while hiking in Acadia National Park Sharon and I had an interesting adventure one Saturday afternoon. It was on a trail that went up a high hill called “The Triad”. The park map saved the day! So as we follow Christ, we must use the roadmap he has given us. What is the roadmap of his will? The Lord has made this known in his word or message, the Holy Scriptures. What have we seen from the previous messages in this series up to this point? We have seen that the new life begins with a change of mind that produces commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation through his saving work. This conversion to be Christ’s follower puts new motives into the heart—to live a life worthy of the Lord and to please the Lord in everyway. The follower of Jesus now looks to the Lord’s glory as the most satisfying matter, regardless of the cost.

Now that we have are basic orientation, we should learn how to use the roadmap in a better way.

Exposition

I. To live according to God’s word, you need to make certain “life structure” decisions (119:9).

            A.         The context of these “life structure” decisions or resolutions

Comment: I have mixed feelings about resolutions. In our time most resolutions fail to produce any change, and they can induce a legalistic mindset. Resolutions can’t produce a change of heart; they must flow from a change of heart. However, bad habit patterns must be replaced with good habit patterns. This requires God’s grace and time and resolution. “If you aim at nothing, you will probably hit it.” Or you will hit something you intended not to hit.

                        1.         They come from a heart that knows and loves the Lord.

                        2.         They come from a heart that values God above all things.

            B.         The content of  “life structure decisions” to live according to God’s word.

                        1.         You must decide to become teachable. “My God and Father, you understand better than I do how I should live. Therefore, teach me.”

Illustration: I have trouble teaching some people to use computer programs, because they want to do things their way. The problem is that they don’t know what they’re doing, but they want to do it their way anyway!

Example: A husband must decide that the Lord is right when he reads Eph 5:25.

                        2.         You must decide to prefer God’s approval above the approval of people. People of the world will think that you are weird! 1 Pt 4:4

Example: Giving some of your time to serve other people – “We’re going away for the weekend, but you don’t have much time for yourself, do you?”

                        3.         You must decide to live in conformity with God’s word. This involves the transformation of your mind (Rm 12:2) to make new choices to love God and to love others. These choices are more than general (“I will love you”) but must be very specific (“I will love you by…”).

Example: Col 3:12-13

II.         To seek God with all your heart, you must put seeking God into practical terms (119:10).

Comment: In Biblical terms, a seeker is not an unsaved person looking for God, but it is someone whom God has found and wants to get to know God better.

            A.         We must seek God and not merely the benefits that come from God.

                        1.         God is not some kind of “King of Prussia Mall in the sky” and prayer is not the ultimate “MasterCard” to get everything you want from him.

                        2.         God wants us to approach him in a personal manner, as “our Father in heaven”. We should have a holy mixture of reverence and bold affection as new covenant sons.

Comment: In our time we interact too much with technology and we are losing our ability to communicate with and enjoy people.

Action Step: As you read in the Psalms in our daily Bible readings, learn from the psalmists as they communicate with God. Now how personal they are with God. Observe their passion for God. See how they honestly lay bare their emotions before God.

            B.         We must seek God completely—with all the heart, not only part of the heart.

                        1.         If God is worth seeking, why would you seek him halfheartedly? If you think he is only worth part of your heart, do you really understand his worth?

                        2.         In order to do this, you must take down the “reserved for me” signs from al parts of your heart. This will involve opening your heart for inspection to the Holy Spirit (Ps 139:23-24). You may also need a close friend to challenge you in this area, because you might be a little reluctant to open up your heart to God’s holy gaze.

Example: One friend says to another, “Something seems to be holding you back from following the Lord more closely. Do you want to talk about it with me.” This is the place for small groups or having a friend that you are accountable to. To make this step you must be willing to abandon comfort for commitment.

            C.         We must seek God within his way.

                        1.         God finds people in some strange places, like Las Vegas or South Beach, but they aren’t places to go looking for God.

                        2.         God reveals himself to people through his written revelation, the Bible. So the Psalmist says, “do not let me stray from your commands.” Stay near to his voice.

Illustration: “Stay close to home so you can hear me when I call,” my dad said. I learned a painful lesson when I didn’t.

III.        To keep on the same page with God, you must follow his practical program for seekers (119:11).

            A.         The program explained

                        1.         We must hide God’s word in our hearts. We must place it in the deep parts of our thoughts and emotions.

                        2.         This will involve reading the word, memorizing the word, meditating on the word, and trying to tell others the word. In telling you learn the most.

            B.         The goal promised

                        1.         This is the way to avoid sinning against God. Since other factors such as the Holy Spirit, faith, prayer, meditation, a filial attitude, and putting off and putting on are involved, we should avoid oversimplifying.

                        2.         But the word of God has an important place in this process of avoiding sin. It has a spiritual nature that God the Spirit uses in us to produce change.

Example: Christ’s method during the temptation (Mt 4:1-11).

Apply: Drink and eat from the word of God this week! Use God’s roadmap!