“ God’s anger and God’s favor ” As part of this sermon, Dr. Morecraft quotes from John Calvin's comments on Psalm 30:5: "We are hereby taught . . . with how much meekness of spirit, and with what prompt obedience [David] submitted his back to God’s rod. We know that from the very first bloom of youth, during almost his whole life, he was so tried by a multiplied accumulation of afflictions, that he might have been accounted miserable and wretched above all other men; yet in celebrating the goodness of God, he acknowledges that he had been lightly afflicted only for a short period, and as it were in passing. . . . If we are prosperous, we devour God’s blessings without feeling that they are His . . . but if anything sorrowful or adverse befall us, we immediately complain of His severity, as if He had never dealt kindly and mercifully with us. In short, our own fretfulness and impatience under affliction makes every minute an age; while, on the other hand, our repining and ingratitude lead us to imagine that God’s favor, however long it may be exercised towards us, is but for a moment. It is our own perversity, therefore, in reality, which hinders us from perceiving that God’s anger is but of short duration, while His favor is continued towards us during the whole course of our life."
“ The heart and the tongue ” Among other points made in this sermon, Dr. Morecraft explains that if somebody is trusting in the Lord, God's going to help him. If God helps you, you're going to rejoice in your heart and have a happy heart. There is a direct connection from the heart to the tongue. Whatever fills the heart is going to be expressed through the mouth. So if you are always complaining, always criticizing, with no joyful encouraging words seasoned with salt, what does that say about what fills your heart? But if your mouth is full of genuine heartfelt praise to the Lord, that tells you that your heart is full of praise.
“ Slander as persecution ” In preaching on one part of Psalm 27:12 ("For false witnesses have risen against me"), Dr. Morecraft explains that David is praying that God would protect him from slander, which in some ways is the most vicious form of persecution of Christians. He then quotes from William Plumer's Studies in the Book of Psalms: "Who can stand before false testimony? How it pierces the soul with anguish! It is the most intolerable species of murder. It kills by torture. When it extends to judicial oaths it shows the worst possible state of society." Slander is the most difficult form of persecution for Christ's sake to deal with. It is one of the most deadly.
“ The best sermon on tithing I've ever heard! ” Thank you for this. Great series, and this is the best explanation of - and defense of - tithing that I've ever heard!
“ Hating the assembly of evildoers ” Dr. Morecraft explains that in Psalm 26:5 ("I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked"), David is saying that he does not want to associate or join himself to anyone who in any way opposes the Lord. He doesn't want to worship in any congregation that tolerates evil and does not worship according to His Word. Whether it's a liberal church, that doesn't believe the gospel and approves of abortion and homosexuality, whether it's a political party, whether it's any other kind of organization, he hates the assembly of people who oppose God. As William Plumer wrote, "No man ever dreaded or hated sin excessively." Plumer went on to say, "Death is not an evil to be compared with the loss of integrity." Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33).
“ A pious ancestry ” In explaining the last part of Psalm 25:13, "his descendants will inherit the land," Dr. Morecraft quotes from William Plumer as follows: "The extent, to which under God we are indebted to a pious ancestry, is understood by few. Let men know that their conduct will have a vast bearing for good or evil on those who shall come after them." When you fear the Lord and He is instructing you in the way you should choose, not only will you yourself experience prosperity and health, but your children and your grandchildren will inherit the blessings of God as well.
“ The blessing from the Lord ” Dr. Morecraft explains that the phrase "He shall receive a blessing from the Lord" (Psalm 24:5), refers to the blessing from God that is comprehensive, that encompasses every area of life, that changes and enriches and influences everything a person does, all his relationships, everything that's important to him. Dr. Morecraft then quotes from William Plumer's Studies in the Book of Psalms that it is "the blessing which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow, including grace and glory, all of earth that is worth having, and all of heaven that [a believer's] capacities can embrace."
“ Still waters ” In discussing Psalm 23:2, Dr. Morecraft explains that there are all kinds of occasions in this life that Satan can use to fill us full of stress and anxiety. And the Lord Jesus Christ gives us freedom from those worries and those fears as we completely entrust ourselves and our families to Him. And it is because of that that Paul could say in Philippians 4:6, "be anxious for nothing," or in other words, "don't worry about anything," "but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Paul is saying there what the imagery of Psalm 23:2 means: "he leads us beside still waters." There's nothing in this life that you need to worry about. Nothing. Be anxious for nothing. Instead of being upset by things in your life that cause other people to worry themselves silly, you respond to those things with prayer, thanksgiving and supplication.
“ Christianization of the earth ” Dr. Morecraft teaches that there's coming a day when there will be global repentance. All the ends of the earth will turn to the Lord. All the families of the world's nations will worship the triune God. The prophecy of Psalm 22:27, "all the families of the nations will worship before Thee" has yet to take place. The future Christianization of the earth is certain due to the fact of God's universal sovereignty. Because God is the sovereign of the whole universe Who has everything under control, we can know for sure there's coming a time when the families and nations of the earth will bow in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Morecraft quotes Charles Spurgeon's comments on verse 27: "Out from the inner circle of the present church the blessing is to spread in growing power until the remotest parts of the earth shall be ashamed of their idols, mindful of the true God, penitent for their offences, and unanimously earnest for reconciliation with Jehovah."
“ Jesus will destroy His enemies ” In discussing Psalm 21:8-10, Dr. Morecraft explains that the Bible teaches Jesus will destroy His enemies and their children. Consider verse 10: "Their offspring thou will destroy from the earth and their descendants from among the sons of men." It's because Jesus is so loving that He responds this way to the enemies of His people who seek to destroy us. As William Plumer writes, "If this world could be made as the wicked would have it, if they could bring to pass all the evil that is in their hearts, earth would soon differ but little from hell." This explains abortion in the United States. Jesus is punishing the people who kill their babies by killing their babies. Abortion is Christ's punishment for abortion. He is wiping out the generation of those who hate life and who hate Him. That's a solemn thought but God often punishes sin with more sin. God punishes abortion with abortion by aborting whole generations of evil leaders. This does not justify abortion. Abortion is murder.
“ A biblical theocracy ” Dr. Morecraft explains that the word theocracy describes a society governed by God's law revealed in the Bible. Old Testament Israel was a theocracy; it was a nation governed by the laws of the Lord God Almighty revealed in the Bible. A theocracy is a nation governed by God's law enforced by representatives of that law elected by the people. So another term for a biblical theocracy would be a Christian republic. A theocracy pledges its allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, a biblical theocracy has a clear separation between church and state. In the Old Testament there was a clear separation between church and state as two different institutions with two different functions and two different sets of officers and two different jurisdictions. But they were both accountable to Almighty God and His law. Finally, in a theocracy the government does not use coercion to force people to believe certain things. There are no thought police in a biblical theocracy. The state does not punish you for believing the wrong things.
“ Divine revelation is essential ” In explaining that you can't get to God by reason apart from divine revelation, Dr. Morecraft quotes from Robert Candlish's commentary of Genesis: "When I draw inferences for myself concerning the Author of creation,—when I reason out from His works the fact of His existence, and the chief attributes of His character,—I am conscious of a certain feeling of superiority. The Deity becomes almost, in a certain sense, my creature,—the product of my own elaborated process of thought. I am occupied more with my own reasonings than with the transcendent excellences of Him of whom I reason. . . . The God whom I discover is like the dead abstract truth to which a train of demonstration leads. I myself alone have a distinct personality;—all else is little more than the working of my brain on its own imaginations. . . . But now, God speaks, and I am dumb. He opens His mouth, and I hold my peace. I bid my busy, speculative soul be quiet. I take my station humbly, submissively at His feet. I learn of Him. And what He tells me now, in the way of direct personal communication from Himself to me, has a weight and vivid reality infinitely surpassing all that any mere deductions from the closest reasoning could ever have."
“ Listen to this man! ” Thank you Dr Morecraft and Heritage Presbyterian for posting these videos of this great preacher of the Gospel! He has continually challenged me to follow CHRIST more closely in each and every sermon. And Dr Morecraft faithfully preaches Christ and Him alone as the Only hope for mankind! May the Lord CONTINUE to bless Dr Morecraft, Heritage Presbyterian, and all those who are blessed by his faithful preaching! Dr Morecraft is making a HUGE DIFFERENCE in and for the kingdom of God! You are so blessed to have this man as a PASTOR!
“ Divine justice on the wicked ” In explaining Psalm 18:26, Dr. Morecraft quotes from William Plumer's Studies in the Book of Psalms: "Any course of divine justice will bring certain, righteous and amazing ruin on the incorrigibly wicked. When Jehovah shall arise, they will find that he is to them a more terrible enemy than the most perverse of all their earthly foes, though he swerve not from perfect truth and rectitude. . . . The great principles of retribution are the same from age to age. . . . God's government is so perfect, so comprehensive, that it is impossible for man to violate any of its great laws without sooner or later meeting consequences the most painful, making him feel that his pains are the fruit of his own folly and wantonness. When it is said that with the forward God will show himself froward, the meaning is that the result will be as if it were so."
“ Swords in God's hands ” In discussing Psalm 17:13-14 (KJV: "deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world") Dr. Morecraft explains that the oppressors are swords in God's hand against David and He was using them in David's life to test him. They cannot go beyond God's will and so David was perfectly safe in the midst of his enemies. They are swords in God's hands. God uses armies, He uses swords, He uses oppressors, He uses wicked men to accomplish His purposes. David finds comfort in knowing that a sovereign God is in control of his enemies and yet at the same time he prays to be delivered from them.
“ Holiness precedes happiness ” Dr. Morecraft explains that holiness on earth must precede happiness in heaven. If you are going to enjoy God, you must glorify Him. To glorify God means to live for His honor, His praise and His pleasure, not your own. How can we enjoy God when life gets painful and life hurts? In Exodus 20:24 God says, "in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you." God is enjoyed where He has commanded His people to meet with Him. Where are those places where God will meet His people? In the means of grace. That is, those ways and means that God has set in our lives whereby He brings His grace into our lives and makes His presence known to us. Among these are: studying the Bible; meditation on God and His truth; sitting under the preaching of the Word of God; praying; private, family and public worship, etc. God promises to meet His people in all those places and to make Himself known in fullness of joy so we can enjoy Him. As we glorify Him by going to the means of grace we find ourselves enjoying Him.
“ Separate from the world ” Dr. Morecraft explains that a Christian should not let the world dictate to him his goals, his values, his lifestyle, his dress, or what's important to him. Christians should separate themselves and their families from the ways and superstitions of this unregenerate world. As John Calvin wrote in his commentary on Psalm 16: "We cannot be united into the one body of the Church under God, if we do not break off all the bonds of impiety, separate ourselves from idolaters, and keep ourselves pure and at a distance from all the pollutions which corrupt the holy service of God."
“ Calvinism won't save you from hell ” In offering words of application for this sermon, Dr. Morecraft quotes from a commentator as follows: "It cannot be too strongly impressed upon the minds of men that principles merely professed, however excellent, which do not sanctify the heart and mould the character, cannot be acceptable with God." In other words, Calvinism won't save you from hell. You may have wonderful Calvinistic principles and doctrines, but how are they affecting your life and character?
“ Depression is caused by unbelief ” Dr. Morecraft explains that Psalm 13 teaches us how to avoid depression. Depression is caused by unbelief (unless it's caused by poor blood circulation, or by a vitamin deficiency, or some other genuine diagnosable physical condition - which is only a small percentage of reasons for depression). It is caused by a failure to trust God when it's difficult to trust Him, and to be more concerned with ourselves than we are with God and with God's bounty. Christians never have to get depressed (unless it's a diagnosable physical condition). Depression comes upon us because of a failure to trust God. Life hurts, and whatever leads us to prayer is good for us.
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