It Pays to Serve Jesus

June 18, 1989 AM

Psalm 84:11,12 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

[There are times when we walk through the deep waters of pain, and cannot find a ray of light, spiritually. And then there are times when it seems as though our hearts will burst with joy because of the blessings of God. And strange as it may seem, we may be pleasing God just as much one time as another. Feelings and faith do not always correspond in any way we can understand.]

Introduction:

[This is the "doorkeeper Psalm" to which we often refer when someone opens the door for us. But it has a deeper significance than that:]

The Psalmist is 'away.' Very evidently he misses the place of worship. And he interprets his longing, correctly, as a longing after God.

Often when we have a craving, or a deep longing— when we "cry out" for something, we don't quite know what— that "somthing" is really Someone! OUR HEARTS ARE MADE FOR GOD!

Can that desire for God ever really be met? What does this great promise mean? "Sun, shield ... grace glory ..."

Just how literally may we take these words? And WHEN do these words apply? Are they for "happy" days or for "homesick" days?

The question is, does it really PAY to serve God? Are Christians "blessed" above others?

I. THERE IS MYSTERY INVOLVED IN GOD'S 'BLESSINGS'

  1. God will never be manipulated.

    We can never push God into a simple "cause-and-effect relationship" in order to make Him do what we think ought to be done. We can never simply use the promises of God to accomplish our own desires and selfish schemes. If you can do that, then your God is too small!

    Yes— there ARE promises— promises that if we pray, then God will hear and answer. There ARE spiritual LAWS.

    But God IS! God is GOD! He is unlike all others.

  2. God can never be fully understood.

    We believe that he is GOOD and that He is HOLY. But we can never be certain we understand why things happen. Remember, the Book of Job is full of very wise sayings that simply ARE NOT TRUE! [You must be careful as you read Job to see who is speaking!]

  3. And yet here is the Word: GOD HAS PROMISED HIS BLESSINGS ON THOSE WHO LOVE HIM! What does this mean?

II. THERE IS THE FACT OF STRUGGLE INVOLVED IN ALL HUMAN EXISTENCE

  1. If you DON'T know the Lord, you will know pain.

    The Bible declares that "The way of the transgressor is hard" (Proverbs 13:15): It does not always seem so, but ultimately

    1. Life gives back what is sown (Galatians 6:7), and too, in the end regardless of what we see of outward circumstance,
    2. the transgressor is separated from God. And that is the ultimate tragedy, for we are made for God; made to live in His Presence and to know His blessing.
  2. If you DO know the Lord, you will (also) know pain.

    Even the life of faith means struggle!

    1. There is struggle to enter INTO life! Matthew 7:13-14 says: Strait is the gate! It costs to CONFESS! (Confess need of Savior! Confess SIN! Confess helplessness to save self!) It costs to REPENT! (To TURN FROM our own wicked way!) It is never easy! Jesus said: "STRIVE! (Agonidzomai!)
    2. God's way demands FAITH! Fight the good fight of faith! This way demands that we trust God's LOVE and trust His WORD! It demands that we renounce our claims to our self-centered ways!
  3. If you DON'T ... and if you DO! There is PAIN both ways! So— what is the difference?

    There IS a fundamental difference in the 'hardness' or 'difficulty' of life and living with and without the Presence of the Lord God as Savior and Friend!

    GOD, HIMSELF, IS THAT DIFFERENCE! And that difference is what I want to look at now:

III. THE FACT IS: GOD IS INTERESTED IN MAKING HUMAN LIVES THE VERY BEST THEY CAN BE!

"No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly!" Where men and women will permit Him, God works His best will:

  1. GOD'S WAY BRINGS
    1. Free forgiveness for all our sins!
    2. Life changing purpose: we become partners with God in His work of Creation and Salvation.
    3. Genuine meaning and satisfaction: our lives can make an eternal difference!
  2. (Our text tells us:) GOD IS A SUN AND SHIELD

    (Romans 8:28 "In all things God works— for them that love God.) God will and DOES give grace and glory! God is in the 'construction business.' "I will MAKE you!" God takes great delight in making people like His Son Jesus.

    I John 3:1,2: "Beloved NOW are we the sons/daughters of God ... and it doth not yet appear what we shall be..."

  3. (Some 'personal insights:') WHAT MAKES LIFE RICHEST OF ALL? [When we realize (or re-realize:)]
    1. THE PRESENCE OF JESUS!

      Jesus is present with all believers. And He is now present with you/me. But from time to time we get this insight, this assurance: WE HAVE CONTACT WITH A VERY PRESENT FRIEND! THAT is worth everything!

    2. THE LOVE/TRUST OF JESUS!

      He loves US; we love HIM. We are brought into Christ's company ... fellowship ... salvation .. or whatever we call it ... by loving Him the best we can!

      And as poor as our love may be, Jesus appreciates it and He refines it! Jesus loves US! Jesus loves ME! Jesus loves YOU!

  4. This is NOT mysticism! IT IS THE SCRIPTURAL 'NORM' OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SAVED! We must have a know-so contact with God!
    1. We dare not throw away the old formula: Saved by faith. Confess. Believe.
    2. But all the same we cannot coldly pursue a 'matter-of-fact' salvation, trusting in "the facts of truth" apart from an utterly sincere, open, friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

Does it PAY to serve Jesus?

Can this "craving after God" ever be filled?

The answer is: YES!

God does not promise to remove the tensions of life. He does NOT guarantee that we shall be free from pain. To be human is to suffer,

But to LOVE and to serve the Lord is to come to know Him, to know His Presence, to share His love.

BUT "HOW?"

(Verse 5!) The Psalmist says: I want MY HEART to be the HIGHWAY TO ZION!

  1. Our hearts' deepest cravings are for God!
  2. As we invite Him, He comes with His LOVE! He comes with His TRUST and LIFE PURPOSE! He comes with His ASSURANCE OF SALVATION!

All this PLUS:

The one dimension that is the most important of all is the eternal view! This seems so worthless to modern minds that it has even influenced to some extent the thinking IN the church— the importance of the long-term view!

It does pay to serve Jesus right NOW! Right HERE! But it will be paying one hundred years from today ... and one thousand years from right now, as well!

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We have all experienced the deep longing of our hearts after love and peace and joy! We know those cravings are for YOU!

Please make our hearts "highways to Zion!" Come with your Presence and make us all that You have in mind for us to be!

You have said: "No good thing You will withhold!" So, help us to serve You because we LOVE You! And You work in us as you will!

In Jesus' name, AMEN. #70 It Is Well with My Soul