“The Best Benefits”
Pst Steve McKinney
TFI Gateway
November 20, 2011
Psalm 103 (NIV)
1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
Don’t just praise God with your mouth, your words or even just with your body. Praise Him with your soul. With ALL that is inside of you!
Psalm 103 (NIV) 2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
Don’t forget about His Benefits
Miracles, provision, guidance, etc.
Remembering His Benefits builds our Faith
We usually think of Benefits as the “non-cash” compensation from a job
Government jobs in many countries often have better Benefits than secular jobs
The greatest one usually has to do with retirement
What kind of retirement are you going to have?
But benefits are also available right now!
Psalm 103:3 (NIV)
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
Forgiveness of Sins is the greatest benefit of all because without that, there is no retirement in heaven!
Psalm 103:3 (NIV)
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
Heals All of your diseases--Is this True?
He CAN heal any disease He wants to! (often does)
The only times that diseases are not healed in this lifetime are if people do not seek healing or if God has a higher purpose for that person to have that disease. Or if that disease is God’s way for that persons life to end.
No disease will make it to Heaven
Psalm 103:4(a) (NIV)
who redeems your life from the pit
What is the pit?
It’s a place that you cannot get out of without help
Depression, sorrow, pain, anger, jealousy, competition, lying, gossip, deception, etc.
Psalm 103:4(b) (NIV)
and crowns you with love and compassion,
Who wears a crown?
Someone with authority! A King!
A winner! A victor!
Love and Compassion are the Marks of true Authority, Victory and Godliness
Don’t forget to wear your crown!
Nobody will believe you are representing God unless you wear your crown!
Psalm 103:5 (NIV)
Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Desires are important and they need to be satisfied
The first question is, are you going to get your desires satisfied?
If not, you will be MISERABLE
The second question is, are you going to get your desires satisfied with GOOD things, or with other things that aren’t good?
All Good things come from God
Psalm 103:5(b) (NIV)
...so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Eagles feathers are renewed on a regular basis
Young eagles feathers are more like camouflage while older eagles feathers announce that they are available for mating, etc.
Some claim that eagles are able to extend their lives by going through a process in which they pluck their own feathers out and wait for a period of months in order for new, renewed feathers to grow in
Let’s go through some scriptures to see how we accomplish this...
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV)
Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV)
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Jump to Psalm 103:10-12 (NIV)
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.