2025-11-23 Sermon Notes1
| Speaker | Archibald Allison |
|---|---|
| Date | 2025-11-23 |
| Location | Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church |
| Passage | Psalm 106:13 |
| Title | God's Works and Counsel |
| Takeaways | [object Object] |
| Subjects | ["God's calling"] |
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
They soon forgot his works. They didn't wait for his counsel,
Points
- After God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians, by safely passing them through the Red Sea, the Israelites believed God and praised Him.
- Psalm 106:11-12 The waters covered their adversaries. There was not one of them left. Then they believed his words. They sang his praise.
- However, this praise was short lived, for the people soon forgot God's works. It was not long before they forgot all the mighty works that God did, all the tremendous mercy that He had over them. Instead, the Israelites turned to grumbling.
- Psalm 106.13 They soon forgot his works. They didn't wait for his counsel,
- This is what we so often do.
Glorify God in the Calling God Gives You
- The glory of God must always be the foundation of what you do.
- 1 Corinthians 10.31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
- Westminster: God has made us to know Him and l
- eccles 12 teaches us that we ought to fear the LORD.
- Matthew 6.33 But seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Do you want to know God's guidance in your life? Then seek God's glory above all else. Be consumed by the glory of God and seek to spread His glory throughout this world.
What is a calling?
- What do we mean by calling?
- Everywhere, in all times and places, God calls His creation to His purposes.
- You and I need to think of our life in terms of what does God call me to do in my life?
- In every area of your life: in marriage, in your vocation
Stewardship
- be a faithful steward of the gifts and talents that God has given you.
- Parable of the Talents teaches that in the end God will call us to account for the gifts and talents that He entrusted to us.
- You have been given so many gifts. If you have health, a mind that can think, you live in a free country, you have air in your lungs. You are not entitled to any of these blessings, and you have a responsibility to use each and every one of these blessings for good, for the glory of God.
- ❓ what are your desires? What do you enjoy doing (provided that these things honor God)? Diligently work to do these things.
Read His Word and Commune With Him.
- As you read His word God speaks to you. The Bible is a living word. It is not just an old book. God, still speaks to us today. Read it, study it, get to know the word of God. Make it your business to be get more and more familiar with His Word.
Pray to God
- Speak to the Lord daily through prayer.
- Lay your needs and requests before Him.
- Intercede, that is, pray for others.
- This is how we do not lean on your own understanding
Church
- When you come to church, you are under the means of grace.
- When you hear a preacher you are not hearing a mere man. You are hearing a man appointed by God to tell you the truth of the Gospel.
- Ask for advice, counsel and prayer from your fellow church members. We are in the same body. We build each other up and support each other. This is how the body of Christ functions.
- It is not just about what you can get from the body, but it is more important what you can give to the body of Christ.
- You are there especially for needy people in the Church (and everyone is needy). Look out for them. Search for the needy people. It will bring you great joy and enrichment.
- This is why you should never absent yourself from the people of God.
keep the Sabbath day Holy
- Remember this. It is in God's holy law.
Consider How you can serve the Lord in your life
- Put His service in your mind. Is there an area that you can meaningfully contribute to, for the glory of God? Ask God if He is preparing your for one or more of these areas of service.
- Ministry is not some nice thing that always goes your way. Ministry is giving your own body as a living sacrifice to the Lord.
- You must have this unshakable desire to please the LORD.
- do not choose the easy way. The Bible makes clear that there is a cost to being a Christian, even a heavy cost.
- Christians should not shy away from difficult things. Do not shy away from suffering.
- Being a parent comes with a cost, suffering, and self-denial.
- when people are faced with a choice, usually we look for the easier choice. The one that gives us more time or money.
- But for the Christian we know that there is an eternity of joy and rest to be felt with God in Heaven.
- Christians should not shy away from difficult things. Do not shy away from suffering.
Our Plans are not the Best Plans
- Our plans are not the best plans because
- we so easily forget how good and great God is.
- Remember the Israelites praised God after He saved them through the Red Sea and yet they soon forgot Him.
- we are impatient.
- We don't simply want blessings from God. We want it now. But the Bible so often calls on us to way.
- we are carnal. That means we are worldly-minded.
- We are selfish.
- Psalm 106.14 but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland.
- The people lusted after food. they did not trust in Him to provide. They did not delight in Him who is already good and sufficient for them.
- we so easily forget how good and great God is.
- let us examine ourselves. Are we like Israel? Are we forgetful, impatient, carnally minded?
- God could give you what you want, but it would be to your own detriment.
- Sarah and Hagar's plans to bring their own sin.
- David and Nabal
- Peter said to Christ that He should never suffer. Peter's plan was bad.
- God could give you what you want, but it would be to your own detriment.
- Our plans are not the best plans, but God's plans are the best.
God's Plans Are Worth Waiting For
- How do I know that God's plans are good and worth waiting for?
- Psalm 106 is full of wonderful things that God did, beyond what we could ever repay or deserve.
- God's plans are worth waiting for.
- Jeremiah 29.11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," says Yahweh, "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.
- God knows exactly what you need.
- You and I do not know what will happen tomorrow. We do not know what is best for us, but God does.
- God has a plan that is good and perfect. Sometimes that plan means affliction, weaning us off of self-reliance and arrogance.
- God's plans are worth waiting for because God is a God of mercy.
- he has a heart of mercy.
- Shouldn't we be enthralled with His plan? Shouldn't we be pleased to wait on Him and His purposes.
- If you realize today that you have so often forgotten God, forsaken Him, dear believer, remember that God is merciful toward you.
- Psalm 106:47-48 Save us, Yahweh, our God, gather us from among the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise! Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, "Amen." Praise Yah!
- Dear sinner, taste and see that the Lord is Good. In spite of all your rebellion, perhaps you are lean spiritually, but God's mercy can fill you up. When he pours His love and mercy and grace into your soul, when you humble yourself before Him and plead to Him and give thanks to Him, then the Lord comes in His mercy.
- When you devote yourself to Him, your body may waste away in the short term, in suffering, in waiting, in difficulty, even in sickness, but your soul will prosper!
- Turn to God for He will abundantly pardon you.
Application
Be aware of self-centered motives
Know and follow God's revealed will
- We know His revealed will. We do not know His secret council.
- But He has given His revealed will in the Bible.
- Get to know God in the bible.
Live a life in complete dependence upon God
- Wait for Him, look for Him. Do not run ahead of God but follow behind Him for He is your glorious Master.
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions
2025-11-23 Sermon Notes1
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On this page
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
Points
Glorify God in the Calling God Gives You
What is a calling?
Stewardship
Read His Word and Commune With Him.
Pray to God
Church
keep the Sabbath day Holy
Consider How you can serve the Lord in your life
Our Plans are not the Best Plans
God's Plans Are Worth Waiting For
Application
Be aware of self-centered motives
Know and follow God's revealed will
Live a life in complete dependence upon God
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions