Psalms 103:1
The sermon emphasizes the importance of remembering God's past benefits and the source of these benefits in God Himself.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the importance of remembering God's benefits as outlined in Psalms 103:1, urging believers not to forget His past provisions, especially during trials. He highlights that God's faithfulness in the past serves as a promise for the future, reminding us of His forgiveness, healing, redemption, and loving kindness. Smith encourages Christians to recognize that these benefits are unearned and stem from God's grace, not our merit, and that His mercy is vast and understanding of our human frailty. The sermon calls for gratitude and acknowledgment of God's continual support and blessings in our lives.
Text
"ALL HIS BENEFITS"
I. "FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS."
A. We have a tendency toward forgetfulness.
1. Especially in the midst of a trial.
2. The disciples on the ship forgot bread.
3. When facing current bills, we forget how He supplied for the past.
4. When dangers threaten, I forget how I got this far. Ps. 124, "If it
had not..."
B. Through the Psalms are constant reminders of God's past work. verse 6, 7.
1. His deliverance from Egypt.
2. His preservation through the wilderness.
3. His bringing them into the land.
4. God's divine power manifested all the way.
a. They were a miracle nation.
b. Their present need did not exceed the supply of the past.
C. The value of remembering past benefits.
1. The faithfulness of God in the past becomes a prophesy of future.
a. He has not sustained you through all the past to just dump
you now.
b. Paul said, "Who hath delivered us from..."
II. WHAT ARE SOME OF HIS BENEFITS?
A. "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities."
1. This is the first and most important.
2. Is there a danger of forgetting this?
a. I meet so many Christians walking around under condemnation.
B. "Who healeth all thy diseases."
1. We need to remember all the things God has healed us from.
C. "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction."
1. Think what it cost God to redeem you.
2. When He paid so dearly to purchase you, surely He will take care of
the up keep.
3. When He has so much invested in you, He is going to protect
His investment.
D. "Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies."
1. Placing them as laurels upon our heads.
E. "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things."
1. God's marvelous provisions for His saints.
2. "So thy youth is renewed as the Eagles."
Ill. WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT THESE BENEFITS?
A. Their source is in God.
1. They are uncaused by us.
a. It wasn't because I was so sweet that God forgave my iniquities.
b. Because "He is gracious and slow to anger, and plenteous
in mercy."
B. We do not deserve these benefits.
1. vs. 10 "He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities."
a. Should He do this, who could stand?
C. To what extent will His mercy go?
1. vs. 11 "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His
mercy toward those who fear Him.
a. We all need and desire this mercy yet we are not always willing
to show mercy.
D. Why such mercy?
1. vs. 14 "For He knoweth our frame that we are but dust."
a. We get exhaled views of ourselves.
Sermon Outline
- I. Forget Not All His Benefits
- A. We have a tendency toward forgetfulness
- B. Through the Psalms are constant reminders of God's past work
- C. The value of remembering past benefits
- II. What Are Some Of His Benefits?
- A. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities
- B. Who healeth all thy diseases
- C. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction
- D. Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies
- E. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things
- III. What Can We Say About These Benefits?
- A. Their source is in God
- B. We do not deserve these benefits
- C. To what extent will His mercy go?
- D. Why such mercy?
Key Quotes
“He has not sustained you through all the past to just dump you now.” — Chuck Smith
“We all need and desire this mercy yet we are not always willing to show mercy.” — Chuck Smith
“It wasn't because I was so sweet that God forgave my iniquities.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We should make a conscious effort to remember God's past benefits and how He has worked in our lives.
- We should not take God's forgiveness and mercy for granted, but rather recognize that we do not deserve them.
- We should strive to show mercy to others, just as God shows mercy to us.