Blessing the Lord: Embracing His Love and Mercy
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to Colton Community Church! Today, we delve into Psalm 103, a powerful scripture that calls us to bless the Lord with all our soul. The psalmist, David, emphasizes the importance of focusing on God and remembering His benefits. In our busy lives, it's easy to get distracted, but today, let's center ourselves and truly engage with God's word.
David's call to "Bless the Lord, O my soul" is a profound reminder to acknowledge God's goodness and mercy. He speaks of God's forgiveness, healing, and redemption. David's worldview linked physical ailments to sin, but he also recognized that God's forgiveness brings healing. This perspective challenges us to reflect on our own lives and recognize the depth of God's mercy and grace.
The sermon also highlights a progression in our spiritual journey: from being in the pit of despair to being rescued, redeemed, and crowned with love and mercy. This journey is not just about being saved from our sins but also about living a transformed life that reflects God's love and mercy. The story of the cyclist who narrowly escaped an accident but failed to change his reckless behavior serves as a metaphor for how we often take God's rescue for granted without allowing it to transform our lives.
David's reflection on God's historical acts of righteousness and justice, especially towards the oppressed Israelites, reminds us that God's character is consistent. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. This is the God we serve, and this is the God who calls us to bless Him with all our being.
As we conclude, remember that our life is fleeting, but God's love is everlasting. We are called to wear our crowns of love and mercy daily, reflecting God's character in our interactions. Let's honor God, not out of fear, but out of reverence and respect, acknowledging His authority and love in our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Focus on God and Eliminate Distractions: In our busy lives, it's crucial to set aside time to focus solely on God. Distractions can prevent us from fully engaging with His word and experiencing His presence. Take time to be still and know that He is God. [19:04]
2. Remember God's Benefits: David emphasizes the importance of remembering God's benefits—His forgiveness, healing, and redemption. Reflecting on how God has worked in our lives strengthens our faith and encourages us to bless Him with all our soul. [44:43]
3. Transformation Beyond Rescue: Being rescued by God is just the beginning. We must allow His rescue to transform our lives, leading us to live in a way that reflects His love and mercy. Don't just thank God for saving you; let His salvation change you. [50:04]
4. God's Consistent Character: God's actions throughout history show His consistent character—compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Understanding this helps us trust Him more deeply and live in a way that honors Him. [58:56]
5. Live with an Eternal Perspective: Our lives are fleeting, but God's love is everlasting. Wear your crown of love and mercy daily, and live with an eternal perspective, knowing that your actions today have eternal significance. [01:05:45]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[19:04] - Eliminate Distractions
[20:39] - Bless the Lord, O My Soul
[44:43] - Remembering God's Benefits
[45:58] - Forgiveness and Healing
[47:24] - Sin and Sickness in Jewish Thought
[48:42] - From the Pit to Redemption
[50:04] - Story of the Cyclist
[51:25] - Transformation Beyond Rescue
[52:41] - Redeemed and Crowned
[54:17] - Wearing the Crown of Love and Mercy
[55:47] - Renewed Like the Eagle
[57:21] - The Lord's Consistent Actions
[58:56] - God's Compassionate Character
[01:00:43] - God's Abounding Love
[01:02:21] - Fear and Reverence for God
[01:04:09] - Everlasting Love
[01:05:45] - Life's Fleeting Nature
[01:07:03] - Bless the Lord
[01:08:47] - Living as Forgiven
[01:10:42] - Charity Guile's Song
[01:12:26] - Call to Obey and Love
[01:14:12] - Closing Prayer
[01:20:31] - Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)
> "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the specific benefits of God that David lists in Psalm 103? ([20:39])
2. How does David describe God's character in Psalm 103? ([58:56])
3. What metaphor does David use to describe the fleeting nature of human life? ([01:05:45])
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of wearing a "crown of love and mercy"? ([54:17])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does David emphasize the importance of remembering God's benefits? How does this practice impact our faith? ([44:43])
2. How does the story of the cyclist illustrate the concept of transformation beyond rescue? What does this imply about our spiritual journey? ([50:04])
3. In what ways does understanding God's consistent character help us trust Him more deeply? ([58:56])
4. How does living with an eternal perspective change the way we interact with others and handle life's challenges? ([01:05:45])
#### Application Questions
1. Focus on God and Eliminate Distractions: What are some specific distractions in your life that prevent you from fully engaging with God's word? How can you set aside time this week to focus solely on God? ([19:04])
2. Remember God's Benefits: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's forgiveness, healing, or redemption. How can remembering this strengthen your faith and encourage you to bless God with all your soul? ([44:43])
3. Transformation Beyond Rescue: Have you ever taken God's rescue for granted without allowing it to transform your life? What steps can you take to ensure that His salvation leads to a transformed life that reflects His love and mercy? ([50:04])
4. God's Consistent Character: How does knowing that God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love affect your relationship with Him? How can you reflect these attributes in your interactions with others? ([58:56])
5. Live with an Eternal Perspective: Our lives are fleeting, but God's love is everlasting. How can you wear your crown of love and mercy daily? What specific actions can you take this week to live with an eternal perspective? ([01:05:45])
6. Bless the Lord with All Your Being: What does it mean to bless the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and spirit? How can you incorporate this into your daily routine? ([20:39])
7. Responding to God's Rescue: Think of a recent situation where you were "rescued" by God. How did you respond? What changes can you make to ensure that you don't just thank God for saving you but also allow His rescue to transform your life? ([51:25])
Devotional
Day 1: Centering on God Amidst Distractions
In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to become overwhelmed by distractions that pull us away from focusing on God. Psalm 103 calls us to bless the Lord with all our soul, reminding us to set aside time to be still and know that He is God. This intentional focus allows us to engage deeply with His word and experience His presence. By eliminating distractions, we create space for spiritual growth and a deeper connection with God. [19:04]
Psalm 46:10 (ESV): "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
Reflection: What specific distractions can you eliminate today to create more space for focusing on God? How can you intentionally set aside time to be still in His presence?
Day 2: Remembering God's Benefits
David emphasizes the importance of remembering God's benefits—His forgiveness, healing, and redemption. Reflecting on how God has worked in our lives strengthens our faith and encourages us to bless Him with all our soul. By recalling God's past faithfulness, we are reminded of His ongoing presence and provision in our lives. This practice of remembrance helps us to cultivate gratitude and trust in God's continued goodness. [44:43]
Psalm 103:2-3 (ESV): "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases."
Reflection: Take a moment to write down three specific ways God has shown His goodness in your life. How can remembering these benefits strengthen your faith today?
Day 3: Transformation Beyond Rescue
Being rescued by God is just the beginning. We must allow His rescue to transform our lives, leading us to live in a way that reflects His love and mercy. It's not enough to simply thank God for saving us; we must let His salvation change us from the inside out. This transformation involves a daily commitment to live out the values of God's kingdom, showing love, mercy, and grace to others. [50:04]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: In what specific ways can you allow God's rescue to transform your daily actions and attitudes? How can you reflect His love and mercy in your interactions with others today?
Day 4: Trusting in God's Consistent Character
God's actions throughout history show His consistent character—compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Understanding this helps us trust Him more deeply and live in a way that honors Him. By recognizing God's unchanging nature, we can find comfort and assurance in His promises. This trust enables us to navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing that God is always faithful and just. [58:56]
Psalm 103:8 (ESV): "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."
Reflection: How does understanding God's consistent character help you trust Him more deeply? What specific promise of God can you hold onto today as you face challenges?
Day 5: Living with an Eternal Perspective
Our lives are fleeting, but God's love is everlasting. We are called to wear our crowns of love and mercy daily, reflecting God's character in our interactions. Living with an eternal perspective means recognizing that our actions today have eternal significance. By focusing on what truly matters, we can live in a way that honors God and impacts others for His kingdom. [01:05:45]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: How can you live with an eternal perspective today? What specific actions can you take to reflect God's love and mercy in your daily life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Regardless of your circumstances and your situations in life, some of you are probably God is blessing tremendously and so you're rejoicing. For others of you, this is a hard season of life. The challenges, whether they're financial or relational or social or psychological, are insurmountable. I'm here to tell you that God's word is true and that God will bring healing and restoration." [20:39] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Imagine you have a crown on your head. And it says love and mercy on it. What does that mean? It means that you're a prince. You're a princess. Only a prince and princesses get to wear that crown. Everywhere you go, you're identified as someone filled with love. You're identified as somebody filled with mercy." [54:17] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You bless the Lord when you give him all of your heart, mind, soul, and spirit. That's how you bless the Lord. How do you bless the Lord? Well, I think about him, but you don't speak well about him. You don't live for him. Your feet don't walk in his ways. No, you bless the Lord when you give him all of your heart, mind, soul." [01:07:03] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Church, your sins are gone. They're washed away. They're forgiven. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion. Here it is. You have to have a relationship with God. You have to acknowledge God as Lord in your life to those who fear him, to those who respect him, those who honor them, those who walk with him." [01:04:09] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Thank you, Jesus, for the blood applied. Thank you, Jesus. It has washed me white. Thank you, Jesus. You have saved my life, brought me from the darkness into glorious light. There's nothing stronger. There is no wonder working power of the blood that calls us sons and daughters, for we are ransomed." [01:10:42] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Did you notice that praise and blessing intertwines itself with remembering? It is looking back and reflecting and remembering how much we have done for the Lord. It is looking back and reflecting and remembering how God has worked in your life, how God has worked in the lives of others. So he's going to share a little bit about how God has forgiven him, forgiven us." [44:43] (7 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Here's the progression. The progression is the Lord. The Lord forgives. The Lord heals. The Lord redeems. The Lord crowns. Then the Lord satisfies and the Lord renews us. And that's just the first couple of verses. Psalm 103. The Lord's actions are consistent with history." [57:21] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You know why you're tired? Because you're working like a little crow instead of soaring like an eagle. Catch that. A bunch of little finches just chirping at each other. Instead of catching the wind and gliding on the thermals. You know what the wind is in the scriptures? Spirit of God. You ever seen an eagle fly? Drifting. It's not worried. It's not paranoid. It's just gliding on the thermals." [55:47] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Imagine what would happen if the church wore their crowns every single day. Imagine you could not keep people from lifting their hands up in praise. You couldn't keep people out of the room. You could not not talk about God and all that he's done if we simply just wore our crown of love and mercy wherever we went." [54:17] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You bless the Lord when you don't forget his benefits. Every time Satan reminds you of your failure, remind him of his future. Your future is glorious. His future is not. Say, God's already forgiven me for all those sins that you've done. You've got to put this in your mind and say, I am redeemed. I am rescued. I am crowned. Satan, sit behind me. You have no authority to remind me of any of my failures. They're gone, east to west." [01:08:47] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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