PSALM 116. GETTING CLOSER TO GOD v1 ADORATION ; I love the Lord.

This psalm would perhaps lose some of its glory if praise and worship was excluded. What a challenge to us today to stand up and be counted as followers of Jesus. JOSHUA 24 v 15 ; And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve. Whether the gods whom you served that were on the other side of the flood or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua was having trouble with the Israelites for they had forgotten God and were worshipping the gods of the Amorites. Today so many people are turning away from God and worshipping all kinds of gods. Yet the light is still shining on the hilltops when people are saying I love the Lord.' PSALM : 22 v 22 ; I will declare your name unto my brethren. In the midst of the congregation will I praise You. This is the talk of one who really loves his Lord and seeks to please Him. The Psalms are full of verses of praise and worship of God. My Jesus I love You, I know You are mine. For You all the pleasures of sin I resign. My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou If ever I loved You my Jesus it's now. v 1 ; EXPLANATION ; PSALM 103 lists many of the things that should encourage us to love our God and seek to please Him. v 3 ; Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases. Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies. v 8 ; The Lord is merciful and gracious slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. v 12 ; As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Would you be free from your burden of sin ? There's power in the blood, power in the blood. Would you o'er evil a victory win ? There's wonderful power in the blood. v 2 ; SATISFACTION ; PSALM 41 v 1-3 ; I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth even praise unto our God. Many shall see it and fear and trust in the Lord. The Psalmist was indeed filled with satisfaction over his God. PSALM 43 v 4 ; Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy, yes upon the harp will I praise You O God, my God. Many people find that following the world's satanic way of life seems sweet until they become addicted to alcohol, drugs, immoral behaviour and things that displease God. They suffer the consequences here on earth and choose for themselves the eternal torments of hell. The sweet becomes bitter as do the consequences. How much better to be a friend of the God of Abraham and Moses and proclaim satisfaction in Him. Would you be free from your burden of sin, there's power in the blood, power in the blood. Would you o'er evil a victory win ? There's wonderful power in the blood. v 2 INTENTION ; The psalmist makes a promise to praise and .worship his God in the congregation. PSALM 50 v 14-15 ; Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay your vows unto the most High. And call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.

PSALM 56 v 12-13 ; Your vows are upon me 0 God. I will render praise unto You, for You have delivered my soul from death. will you not deliver my feet from falling that I may walk before God in the light of the living. PSALM 62 v 6-7 ; He only is my Rock and my Salvation. He is my defence, I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory, the Rock of my strength and my refuge is in God. I will sing the wondrous story Of the Christ who died for me. How He left His home in glory For the Cross on Calvary. I was lost but Jesus found me Found the sheep that went astray Threw His loving arms around me Drew me back into His way. v 3 ; CONDITION ; of the man before he meets his God and is drawn into the family of God. 1 CORINTHIANS 6 v 9-11 ; Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of mankind, nor thieves nor covetous, nor drunkards nor revellers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God And such were some of you, but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. One has only to read the local newspapers to keep up with the deeds of the unsaved. They need to repent of their sins and return to God who will show them mercy and forgiveness, 1 CORINTHIANS 2 v 14 ; But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. Have you any room for Jesus, He who bore your load of sin ? As He knocks and asks admission, sinner will you let Him in ? v 3 ; DESTINATION ; As man and the consequences of his sin come together he chooses his own destiny ; LUKE 15 v 13-14 ; And not many days after the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country and there wasted his substance with riotous living. v 16 ; And he would have fain filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat and no man gave unto him. v 18-19 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, father I have sinned against heaven and before you. And am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants. . The father immediately forgave his son and brought him back into the household as his son and not a servant. LUKE 16 v 19-31. (v 22-24 ) And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And in hell he lift up his eyes , being in torments and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. If only the rich man had followed the laws of God and repented of his sins while he was alive. because of his foolishness he chose to go into the eternal torments of hell. Beneath the Cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand. The shadow of a mighty rock, within a weary land. A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way. From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day. v 4 ; CONFESSION ; Then I called on the name of the Lord. Everyone has to confess his or her sins, confess them to God and ask forgiveness. Then accept Jesus as Saviour and Redeemer. ACTS 4 v 12 ; Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved. PSALM 40 v 1-3 ; I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought

me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth even praise unto our Lord. Many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord. 1 JOHN 1 v 9 ; If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 2 CORINTHIANS 7 v 1 ; Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the law. Jesus, Master, whose I am, Purchased thine alone to be By Thy blood, 0 spotless Lamb, shed so willingly for me. Let my heart be all Thine own. Let me live to Thee alone. v 4 ; PETITION ; 0 LORD, I beseech You, deliver my soul. Petitions do not have to be long, only sincere. The Apostle Peter called out, Lord save me. Even the short prayers are answered. PSALM 28 v 1-2 ; Unto You will I cry, 0 Lord my rock, be not silent to me; lest if You be silent to me I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy oracle. The psalmist acknowledges God's answer to prayer. PSALM 32 v 5 ; 1 acknowledged my sin unto you and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and You forgave the iniquity of my sin Let us praise God for His answer to our prayers. Pass me not C gentle Saviour, hear my humble cry While on others You are calling, do not pass me by. Let me at a throne of mercy, find a sweet relief. Kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief. v 5 ; ADMISSION ; Gracious is the Lord and righteous. Yes our God is merciful. The psalms are full of adoration and praise to God. Way our minds and spirits be just as full. PSALM 56 v 12-13 ; Your vows are upon me 0 God, I will render praise unto You. For You have delivered my soul from death. Will You deliver my feet from falling, that I might walk before God in the light of the living. PSALM 62 v 5-6 ; My soul, wait you only upon God, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my Rock and Salvation, He is my defence, I shall not be moved. What a great way to glorify God, by talking about Him to other people and telling them about His love and compassion, The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win. His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin. v 6 ; PROCLAMATION ; The Lord preserveth the simple. I was brought low and He helped me. We should all have a testimony to the goodness of God and be willing to proclaim it. PSALM 62 v 7-8 ; In God is my salvation and my glory the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your heart before Him, God is a refuge for us. There is something wonderful about having a real experience with God, the result of getting close to Him. PSALM 22 v 22 ; I will declare Your name unto my brethren. In the midst of the congregation will I praise You. Each time you stand up in church to preach, teach, or praise and glorify God, you are getting closer to Him. As we get closer to God we experience more of His love, guidance, blessing and mercy and our testimony grows stronger as we grow spiritually.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone The arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own. Put on the gospel armour, each piece put on with prayer Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there. v 7 ; CONSOLATION ; Return unto your rest, 0 my soul for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. Don't get despondent for God is ever ready to forgive us our sins and free us from sinful addictions. Reach out to God in the name of Jesus. The promise that God will forgive our sins and hear our prayers stands true today and for ever. JOHN 14 v 23 ; Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love Me he will keep My words and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him How many years have we wasted in apathy and reluctance to draw closer to God. Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want, He makes me down to lie In pastures green He leadeth me, the quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again, and me to walk doth make. Within the paths of righteousness even for His own name's sake. v 8 ; LIBERATION ; You have delivered my soul from death and my feet from falling. Have you felt the joy of being liberated from some addiction ? God is so good. He took my sin, now I am free. ROMANS 6 v 17-18 ; But God be thanked that you were the servants of sin. but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. v 22 ; But now being made free from sin and become servants to God you have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. Liberated from the bondage of satan and now in the family of God through the shed blood of Jesus. JOHN 8 v 32 ; And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Would you be free from your burden of sin ? There's power in the blood, power in the blood. Would you o'er evil a victory win ? There's wonderful power in the blood. v 9 ; RESOLUTION ; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. What a precious theme the psalmist makes as he walks with the Lord and shows in his person the fruits of the Spirit. He promises to glorify God with his daily walk in the presence of the most High. PSALM 35 v 18 ; I will give thanks in the great congregation, I will praise you among much people. PSALM 34 v 1-3 ; I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. The humble shall hear thereof and be glad. 0 magnify the Lord with us, and let us exalt His name together. PSALM 71 v 22-24 ; I will also praise You with the psaltery, even Your truth, 0 my God, unto You will I sing with the harp, 0 Thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto you and my soul which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long. For they are confounded for they are brought unto shame that seek my hurt. I will sing the wondrous story of the Christ who died for me. How He left His home in glory for the Cross on Calvary. I was lost but Jesus found me, found the sheep that went astray v 10 ; OBSERVATION ; I believed therefore have I spoken, I was greatly afflicted. I have experienced my rescue from the depths of hell. I know God has been good to me. We cannot get past a person who knows

the reality of God and His companionship. 1 JOHN 1 v 1-2 ; That which was from the beginning,. which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life. For the life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of glory devine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. V 11 ; DESPERATION : In the middle of my sinning and troubles I discovered that no man could help me and give me peace of mind and eternal life with Jesus. All their advice was hopeless. Then I repented and called upon God for forgiveness and help. PSALM 51 v 1-3 ; Have mercy upon me 0 God, according to Your loving kindness, according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquities and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. v 10 ; Create in me a clean heart 0 God and renew a right spirit within me. v 12 ; Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your free spirit. PSALM 66 v 20 ; Blessed be God which has not turned away my prayer nor His mercy from me. 2 CORINTHIANS 5 v 17-18 ; Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. And all things are of God who has reconciled us to Him self by Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. I've wasted many precious years, now I'm coming home. I now repent with bitter tears, Lord I'm coming home. I'm tired of sin and straying Lord, Now I'm coming home I'll trust Thy love believe Thy word, Lord I'm coming home. v 12 ; MEDITATION ; PSALM 19 v 14 ; Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight 0 Lord my strength and my Redeemer. What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me PSALM 103 v 2. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all His benefits. PSALM 116 v 1 ; I love the Lord. v 2 ; I will call upon Him as long as I live. v 9 ; I will walk before the Lord. v 13 ; I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. v 14 ; I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of His people. v 16 ; 0 Lord, truly I am Your servant ... You have loosed my bonds, v 17 ; I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the Lord. PSALM 30 v 1 ; 1 will extol You 0 Lord for You have lifted me up and not made my foes to rejoice over me. What are we prepared to offer God for all His blessings, compassion and forgiveness ? I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me. I tremble to know that for me He was crucified That for me a sinner, He suffered, He bled, and died. v 13 ; CONSECRATION ; I will become His disciple and servant, I will walk and talk with Him and share His love with others. PSALM 86 v 12-13 ; I will praise You 0 Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorify Your name for evermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the lowest hell. PSALM 22 v 25 ; My praise shall be of You in the great congregation, I will pay my vows before them that fear Him. PSALM 95 v 1-3 ; 0 come let us sing unto the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods.

When we reach the stage of consecration we will have no trouble praising God and telling people about the way of salvation. Have Thine own way Lord, have Thine own way ,Hold o'er my being absolute sway Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only always, living in me. v 14 ; DETERMINATION ; Let us speak up in the congregation of the Lord with the joy of the Lord encouraging us to praise Him and share our Christian love with others. PSALM 51 v 10 ; Create in me a clean heart 0 God and renew a right spirit within me. v 12-13 ; Restore unto me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with Your free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Your ways and sinners shall be converted unto You. HEBREWS 10 v 23-25 ; Let us hold fast the profession of out, faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised ) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works . Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching. Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. v 15 ; REVELATION : The psalmist had many things revealed to Him By God and the Holy Spirit and He learned much by practical experience as He journeyed with God over the years. PSALM 89 v 1-2 ; I will sing of the Lord for ever. With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I have said mercy shall be built up for ever, Your faithfulness shall You establish in the very heavens. As we stay close to God in prayer and the reading of His word so much will be revealed to us to strengthen us and bring us to spiritual maturity. People can read us like a book, they see us when we are grumpy and bad tempered and when we are cheerful and showing the fruits of the Spirit. May no one be put off Christianity by something unpleasant that they may see in us. King of my life, I crown Thee now , Thine shall the glory be Lest I Lead I forget Thy thorn crowned brow, me to Calvary. May I be willing Lord to bear, daily my Cross for Thee. Even Thy cup of grief to share, Thou hast borne all for me. V 16 ; DECLARATION. 0 Lord, truly I am Thy servant, Lord I love You, I can praise You and I will be Your disciple. Having meditated upon Your Holy word and experienced the joys of walking close to You I am convinced that You are the mighty God of the universe. PSALM 28 v 7 ; The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusted in Him and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices and with my song will I praise Him. PSALM 34 v 7-9 ; The angels of the Lord encampeth around them that fear Him and delivereth them. 0 taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusts in Him. 0 fear the Lord, you His saints for there is no want to them.-who fear Him. Our witness for Jesus shows how close we are to God and the strength of our love for Jesus. What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought. Since Jesus came Into my heart. I have light in my soul which so long I have sought, Since Jesus came into my heart.

v 16 ; TRANSFORMATION : You have loosed my bonds. Formerly addicted to satan's way of life, now You have broken the shackles and made us free to follow You, 2 CORINTHIANS 5 v 17 ; Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. Has anyone seen a transformation in you since you received Jesus as your Saviour. Are they astonished at the transformation for good ? Keep praising God for His mercy and goodness and blessings and He will abundantly bless you. JOHN 8 v 36 ; If the Son therefore shall make you free you shall be free indeed. ROMANS 6 v 17 ; But God be thanked, you were the servants of sin but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you 0 love that will not let me go I rest my weary soul in Thee I give You back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer fuller be. v 17 ; RESTORATION ; 2 CHRONICLES 7 v 14. if My people which are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. God wants all the backsliders to repent of the evilness and return to Him. He gets no pleasure in the death of the wicked. "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." PSALM 50 v 23 ; Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me, and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. JOHN 14 v 27 ; Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. I've wasted many precious years, now I'm coming home I now repent with bitter tears, Lord I'm coming home. Out of unrest and arrogant pride, Jesus I come, Jesus I come. Into Thy blessed will to abide, Jesus I come to Thee. v 18 ; DEMONSTRATION ; I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people. Let God see the fruit of the Spirit working in our lives, that Jesus may be seen to be living out His purposes in our lives. PSALM 35 v 27-28 ; Let them shout for Joy and be glad that favour My righteous cause, yea let them say continually, let the Lord be magnified which has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long. Demonstrating the power of God in our lives shows people that we are standing on the promises of God by faith and with great joy. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, 0 what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God born of His Spirit Washed in His blood. v 19 ; PARTICIPATION ; Not only in the Lord's house will I talk about Jesus but outside the church walls also. PSALM 62 v 1-2 ; Truly my soul waits upon God, from Him comes my salvation , He is my defence, I shall not be greatly moved. With the Holy Spirit abiding within us, we have a perfect guide for our daily walk with God, There is so much for the Christian -to do in and out of the church so let us participate where possible by joining to team of Christian workers in the community

Gracious Spirit, love divine let Thy light within me shine. All my sin and fear remove, fill me with Thy heavenly love. Life and peace to me impart, seal salvation on my heart Breathe Thyself into my breast, earnest of immortal rest. Trust In the Lord and do good, so shall you dwell in the land and verily you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the, Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.