Benefits of being a
child of God
Psalms 73:23-28
INTRO.- Always in his presence, always in God’s presence. Does this remind you of anyone?
Genesis 5:21-24 “When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”
How did he walk with God? I guess he walked with God by continually talking to Him throughout the day.
I wake in the mornings, talking to God. I say, “Good morning, Father” and take off from there. I talk to Him about anything and everything. There is nothing that I consider to be “off limits” with God and nothing is “off limits” with Him!
The Psalmist tells us what it means to always be with God.
1- We are held by God’s hand
2- We are guided by God’s counsel
3- We are taken into God’s glory
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
This is a close relationship that he is holding you by your right hand, you must be son.
Romans 8:15-16 “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
Psalm 139:9-10 “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
WE ARE GUIDED BY GOD’S COUNSEL
24 You guide me with your counsel.
We all need some guidance and direction in life, do we not?
How does God guide us? With His counsel, with His truth. And what is His counsel, His truth? I think it’s His Word.
Psalm 23:3 “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Does He? Does we want Him to guide or lead us?
Psalm 25:4-5 “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long
Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
What is that keeps us from going with the way of sinners, the wicked and the mockers? It’s God Word
Psalm 119:9-11 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 16:7 “I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.”
Psalm 119:24 “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” So be it.
WE ARE TAKEN INTO GOD’S GLORY
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
I want to go to glory, don’t you? Do you want victory, to you want to be taken into a victorious life?
Any trial, tribulation, weather is a illness, family problem, financial problem the Lord will take you in glory, victory
If its death: Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Remember: Romans 8:17-18 “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Share in His glory? “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Conclusion: The times in which we are living are difficult and they may get even tougher. This is not a time for boys or kids. We need big help to make it in life. WE NEED GOD HIMSELF. And the only way for Him to come to us is for us to walk with Him.