ATTITUDES AND CONSEQUENCES
April 16, 2006 AM
Sermon Outline
PS 119:97-104
INTRO: A number of years ago I read a book entitled Attitudes And Consequences. The book was basically a history of the "restoration movement" and the attitude toward scripture which gave rise to it ... and changing attitudes which ultimately caused division within it. Here is a simple and profound fact: attitudes have consequences. In many cases the consequences of our attitudes are of no grave concern. However, there are those attitudes which result in consequences which may cause us no end of difficulty ... even broken relationships ... maybe even the loss of heaven! In our thoughts this morning I would like us to examine attitudes toward the word of God and some of the consequences which might result.
I. SOME POTENTIAL ATTITUDES...
A. "I don't care what the Bible says!" - a life without immovable foundations
B. "I know that's what the Bible says, but..." - prejudices govern thinking
C. "I really don't think the Bible is relevant." - no authority over me now
D. "That's just your interpretation." - different messages to different folks
E. "People cannot see the Bible alike." - division among religious folks
II. THE ATTITUDE AND CONSEQUENCES IN OUR TEXT
A. A love for the law - deep appreciation for God's word
1. Ps 119:97,103
2. such an attitude will likely lead to very positive consequences
3. love and appreciation, however, require communion - the prerequisite here was no doubt some considerable time, thought and study
4. question: do you love the scriptures deeply? or, do you only think of them "in passing"?
B. Consequence: God's word had become his "teacher"
1. Ps 119:102b - "for thou hast taught me"
2. upon the word of God he meditated "all the day"
3. if we spend that kind of time thinking about the word, it will teach us!
4. Rom 12:2 explains what will happen when the will of God (His word) teaches one who loves and appreciates that word - "transformed"
C. Consequence: wisdom
1. Ps 119:98 - "...has made me wiser than mine enemies"
2. the "how tos" of life are addressed through wisdom imparted in the word
3. confusion, controversy, debate, uncertainty all resolve with this wisdom
4. Col 1:9,10 - knowledge of His word leads to wisdom which leads to our walking worthy of the Lord! but notice "for they are ever with me" (v. 98b)
D. Consequence: greater "understanding" than his teachers or the ancients
1. Ps 119:99,100 - "I have more understanding than all my teachers..."
2. "understanding" refers to enlightenment, discernment and such
3. my teachers and the ancients may have greater knowledge of math, science, geography, philosophy and such ... but because of my love and appreciation for and meditation in the word of God, I am more enlightened!
4. this understanding has to do with "real life" issues - moral & spiritual (see Eph 4:17-19)
E. Consequence: abstention from sin
1. Ps 119:101 - "I have refrained my feet from every evil way..."
2. an attitude of love & appreciation for the word of God will surely lead to greater discipline in ones life ... he will both identify sin and abstain from it
3. fearing God and respecting His word must lead one in this direction
4. 1 Thes 5:22 - without a proper attitude toward God & His word this imperative becomes very difficult ... even, perhaps, impossible over time
F. Consequence: constancy
1. Ps 119:102 - "I have not departed from thy judgments"
2. Mt 10:22 tells us "he that endureth to the end shall be saved"
3. "constancy" may be one of the most difficult Christian traits - love, appreciation, respect for God's word, however, give power to enduring
4. if you are having "constancy" problems, it may well be because of some defect in your attitude toward the word of God!
G. Consequence: "therefore I hate every false way" (Ps 119:104b)
1. this is not a hatred of people who are in error
2. it is, however, a hatred of the error which is leading these people away from truth and salvation
3. it is, too, a hatred of the deception of sin which easily overwhelms
4. one who loves God's word can make no compromises with any idea, viewpoint, behavior which violates God's word - His word is not open to negotiation
CLOSE: In your life what are the apparent consequences of your attitude toward God's word? You need to answer this question ... and it needs to be reviewed and answered from time to time. Your answer does have eternal ramifications.
Cecil A. Hutson
16 April 2006