New Years Eve Sermon 2015

New Year’s Eve Sermon
December 31, 2015
10pm

Welcome everyone and thanks for coming to this evening’s service.

This evening we will look at Psalm 119 and see how it can help us connect with the title of tonight’s message: Beginning with God or Beginning in God. This title is so appropriate at this time of year as we look forward to a new year and the aspirations that come with a fresh start. As we all know in our daily lives that how we begin a task or endeavor is of great importance. Everything takes preparation no matter how small or how big. The approach, the set-up, and the preparation is not just a physical undertaking but also a spiritual imperative. Beginning with God implies a conscious effort to establish his presence in all that we do. The psalmist expresses a constant desire to connect and draw close to the everlasting Divine Help that is ever available.
The first section of Psalm 119: Aleph reads:

א Aleph
1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.

Here we see that psalmist knows that we are blessed when we make God our contact in all that we do. But before doing we must establish the ground rule: God. Key words in this first section are : seek, walk, keep, and learn. We seek i.e. prepare by bringing to mind Divine principle and make sure our mind body, and spirit has so been established in this principle that the next step, walking, will be secure and well directed. Once the preparation has been made and the way is clear the next challenge is to keep in the presence of the Divine. Once we begin we have established a scenario which we are obligated to continue to participate. Discouragement and all sorts of challenges will come to make us doubt the course of our actions and even the preparations we have made. This is where we need to “begin” again and re-affirm our initial beginning in God. Each return to God is a new beginning in an ever expanding newness of life. Then we get to the fourth word in Aleph, which is we learn about the Divine principle and how it is a constant help in our daily affairs. As we see what the Divine principle can do we yearn for a deeper and more significant relationship with God. A look at the section Daleth will reveal the quality and the desire we will develop as we learn to begin with God.

Daleth reads:

ד Daleth
25 I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word.
26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me and teach me your law.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I have set my heart on your laws.
31 I hold fast to your statutes, LORD;
do not let me be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commands,
for you have broadened my understanding.

The key words in Daleth are: quicken, teach, and strengthen. As we begin with/in God in all our affairs we begin to see the movement of a Divine hand that is beneficent. To begin with God is to not only to display trust but is evidence of devotion. Devotion not because benefit from it but because we “fall in love” with the awesome majesty and the tender loving care that is always available. We turn to and desire that God quicken us. We look to him to teach us and we find our strength in Him. The most significant section of Psalm 119 is Nun.
Nun reads:

נ Nun
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I have suffered much;
preserve my life, LORD, according to your word.
108 Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.
110 The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts.
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.

Now beginning with God, and inviting Him in all our undertakings develops confidence because we see a good friend that is beside us at all times and is just a mind-thought away. Nun gives us a visual representation of this new relationship God becomes the Word (our Word in times of need). We garner from this Word all righteous judgements and finally we have statues laid out for us. We are guided. We have a framework or a frame of reference because we began with God.
Tau reads:

ת Tau
169 May my cry come before you, LORD;
give me understanding according to your word.
170 May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.
171 May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.
172 May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.
173 May your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, LORD,
and your law gives me delight.
175 Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me.
176 I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.

Here in this last section of Psalm 119.
The Psalmist is now expressing devotion, adoration and a total commitment to God. This is all the result of beginning in God. God will not only give us his Word, He will be our Word. He will also be our statue, our precept, our law, our commandment, and our judgement.

The need to begin aright is imperative. What begins rightly will continue rightly and end up rightly. The benefits of beginning with or in God cannot be overestimated. So as we look forward to the new year, beginning it in God is to set the ground work for the rest of the year and is also the start of a new life. A new start that will bring gifts of strength, quickness, and peace.
Start in God and Abide there in.
Happy New Year!