Topics: guidance, fellowship, relationship
I. Bless the Lord for our eternal relationship
* The Lord is thorough with His eternal salvation!
- Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits (Psalm 103:1, 2).
- Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle (103:3-5).
II. Bless the Lord for our earthly fellowship
* The Lord allows us to walk in the freedom of forgiveness!
- The Lord performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel (Psalm 103:6, 7).
- The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:8-12).
III. Bless the Lord for our loving guidance
* The Lord showers us with everlasting love as we fear Him!
- Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, and its place acknowledges it no longer. But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to those who keep His covenant and remember His precepts to do them (Psalm 103:13?18).
- The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word! Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you who serve Him, doing His will. Bless the Lord, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion; bless the Lord, O my soul! (Psalm 103:19?22).
Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, October 8th, 2023
Life group flow and discussion questions
Treasure God's many benefits
An important Guideline of Life Groups: Remembering the Lord's gracious benefits as a Life Group builds greater spiritual maturity than most people realize. Take time to rehearse His many blessings and praise Him for His loving dealings with us.
Getting Started:
- What is the difference between your eternal relationship with the Lord and your earthly fellowship with the Lord?
- How do you attempt to keep from forgetting something important? What was David telling his soul in Psalm 103:1, 2?
Discussing Truths:
- What does it mean to "Bless the Lord" with "all that is within me"?
- When John writes: "If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin . . . If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:7, 9); why must we confess our sins if we are already cleansed from all sin?
- What does it look like for you to "fear the Lord"?
- When you think of God's many benefits; what comes to your mind first?
- How grateful are you for the fact that the Lord has not dealt with you according to your sins, nor rewarded you according to your iniquities?
- Evaluate how similar you are to the angels who perform God's Word with obedience and like the heavenly hosts who serve the Lord doing His will (Psalm 103:20, 21)?
- Do you know and realize how much it cost God so He could forgive you?
Now What? Application:
- How can you treasure God's many benefits more faithfully each day?
- What can you do this week to model the Lord's forgiveness to others?
