SERIES: Topical MESSAGE: Truths to Transform 2015 SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: Psalm 90 MESSAGE SUMMARY Moses wrote Psalm 90 at a time in his life when he experienced great loss. As we study his words, we learn some simple yet powerful truths that can transform our year if we put them into practice. Looking ahead, we can't predict what's coming up, but we can make our days count for eternity. STUDY GUIDE Prognosticators have once again made predictions for the coming year. But whatever may come, we are reminded in Psalm 90 that God is never-changing; He is always our Rock. This private prayer of Moses was written around one of two historic times for Israel: Numbers 13 or Numbers 20. In Numbers 13, Moses sent a troop of spies into the Promised Land, and because the people believed the bad report of the ten and not the good report of the two, they then wandered in the desert for forty years. Thirty-eight years later in Numbers 20, both Miriam and Aaron died, and Moses hit the rock twice out of anger and unbelief, resulting in God telling him that he would not enter the Promised Land. Both events represented great loss, sorrow, and disappointment for Moses, yet he still expressed some monumental truths about God. Let's look at these five truths. First, God is big: magnify Him. The term dwelling place from verse 1 could be translated refuge or den the comfortable place in a house where the family hangs out. Verse 1 could read, "Lord, You have been our family room." Are you at home with God? Do you feel comfortable in His presence? If God is your dwelling place now, then you will be in His dwelling place for eternity. Consider that Israel dwelt in tents for forty years when Moses wrote this, which makes it even more awesome that he considered God a warm family den, a secure refuge. Moses took a big God and, through his words, made Him bigger; he magnified the Lord. As a telescope makes a huge, faraway object look much closer, words that magnify God make our immeasurable God more visible. Read Philippians 1:20-21, Psalm 34:1-3, Luke 1:46, and Acts 19:17. How do these verses make God bigger? How do you magnify or speak of God in tough times? Second, you are frail: rest in Him. Moses compared God's greatness to our frailty (see vv. 2-8), making it clear that God alone is in complete control. It's good that we make plans, but God holds the editing rights. Consequently, blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken. If we had been in control the past year, many things would have been different: no suffering, but also no growth from that suffering. We are frail and weak in our understanding, so we must trust in Him. How do you rest in God? Share some practical examples. Third, life is short: live for Him. In this chapter, Moses spoke of the brevity of life; even to live seventy or 100 years simply postpones the inevitable (see vv. 9-12). Yet Moses asked God to help him number Page 1
his days, not his years in other words, to make each day count for God. If you are thirty-five, it is estimated that, after you take away time for sleep, work, eating, and all other necessary functions, you only have about 500 more days in which to do what you want. However, we shouldn't count time, but make time count. Here are the ABCs of doing so: A: Acknowledge that tomorrow is not promised to anyone. B: Breathe. Take life in smaller chunks, take breaks from your routine this year, and wait before taking on new responsibilities. C: Commit every single day to God. Release control to Him. Consider that this day could be your last, so live for Him. Which one of the ABCs acknowledge, breathe, or commit is the toughest for you? Why? What do you need to remember about God in order to help you make your days count? Fourth, joy is possible: depend on Him. Keep in mind the context of this psalm: Moses was either about to march with whiners in the desert for forty years or be refused entrance into the Promised Land. Facing disappointment in either case, he prayed for joy (see vv. 13-15). Imagine it: for forty years, this lost generation had been burying people day in and day out, yet he was seeking the joy of the Lord. The word rejoice means to bring a ringing cry. Moses didn't have joy on his own or in his circumstances, but he was seeking God for it. Joy is a choice; it is an outlook that is determined by our uplook. Moses prayed for joy in proportion to what he had suffered. Why is this encouraging? Finally, there's a plan: work for Him. Moses wrapped up his prayer by considering God's work (see vv. 16-17). Notice he referred both to "Your work" and ʺthe work of our hands." The secret to making sure your life is not a waste is to make your work God's work. God will bless the work of your hands when it is the work of His hands. Two of the most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you discover what you were born for and only God can truly show you that. Human beings are a strange mixture of dust and divinity, frailty and foreverness, creatures of time and eternity. Let's make our time count for eternity, so that in eternity, we have a great time. How can you work for God in your life? How do you get involved in His work? What's your first step? Adapted from Pastor Skip s teaching The BIG Idea God is big; magnify, rest in, live for, depend on, and work for Him. DETAILED NOTES I. Introduction A. We can't predict what's coming in the new year B. Psalm 90 is the oldest psalm; the author is Moses C. Two possible times that Moses could have written it 1. Numbers 13-14 2. Thirty-eight years later: Numbers 20 3. Both were times of great loss for Moses D. Through the pain, there are some great truths that could transform your year II. God Is Big: Magnify Him A. The main subject of this psalm is not Moses or his circumstances; the main subject is Moses' God B. Moses looked back through all generations, including his parents', Amram and Jochebed C. Dwelling place (v. 1) is the Hebrew word maon Page 2
III. IV. 1. Shelter, fortress, house, or den 2. Being invited into the family room or den is a sign of relationship, intimacy 3. Are you at home with God? Are you at ease with God? Do you hang out with Him? 4. If God is your dwelling place now, you will be in His dwelling place later D. Moses had a great view of God E. Robert Dick Wilson: big-godder or little-godder? F. Moses was a big-godder; he magnified God 1. God was great whether Moses said He was or not 2. But he made the big God appear big before people 3. Philippians 1:20 4. Magnify means to enlarge or make great G. How do you make great the greatest one who ever lived? 1. To many people, Jesus is a misty figure from 2,000 years ago 2. You make Him either big or small by what you say and how you act 3. You are either magnifying Him or driving people further away You Are Frail: Rest in Him A. Verses 3-8 show how big God is and how small and frail man is 1. God is infinite; we are finite 2. God is unlimited; we are limited 3. God is timeless, ageless; we are limited by time, space, and age B. One of the biggest differences between us and God is control 1. There's so much of life we can't control 2. Here's a motto for the new year: blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken 3. The truth is that God is great and we are frail; God is totally in control and we have such little control C. Verse 6: the older you get, the more you wither; "Time is a great healer, but a very poor beautician" D. If there's so little you can control in life, why not rest in the arms of the one who does control everything? Life Is Short: Live for Him A. The average lifespan is around seventy 1. "If by reason of strength" (v. 10): genetics, environment, cholesterol, exercise 2. You're just postponing the inevitable death B. Moses said we ought to view our life by our days, not our years 1. It adds perspective to life 2. You have the ability to decide how you're going to spend your days C. "Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom" (v. 12, NLT) D. Since time flies, it's up to you to be the navigator E. Counting time is not as important as making time count; how can you do that practically? 1. A Acknowledge that there are no guarantees of how long you have to live a. Hebrews 9:27 b. God has editing rights over your script 2. B Breathe more this year a. Take life in smaller chunks Page 3
b. Take more breaks in your routine c. Wait before taking on new responsibilities 3. C Commit every day to the Lord a. Think, Perhaps this is the last day I'll live b. Luke 12:16-20 c. "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last" V. Joy Is Possible: Depend on Him A. Moses was praying for joy in proportion to the sorrows the Israelites tasted in the wilderness B. How can you have joy when death is all around you? By depending on God for it C. Philippians 4:4 1. In part, joy is your choice 2. Joy is the accompanying emotion that goes with the life of trust D. Why not make joy a choice this year? VI. There's a Plan: Work for Him A. Verse 16 says "Your work"; verse 17 says "the work of our hands" 1. There's the secret to make sure your life is not a waste 2. Make sure your work and His work are the same work 3. God will bless the work of your hands when the work of your hands is His work B. It doesn't matter what occupation you have C. The two most significant days of your life: the day you were born and the day you discover what you were born for D. Roman aqueduct: what years of service couldn't destroy, idleness disintegrated E. However old you get, make sure you are always in God's service VII. Closing A. Human beings are a strange mixture between dust and divinity: we all will die, but we'll all live forever B. We're creatures of time and of eternity: what we do here will determine how we enjoy there C. Make sure your time counts for eternity so that in eternity, you have a great time 1. Philippians 1:21 2. Make sure you don't just waste or spend your time, but invest your time into something that will outlive you Figures referenced: Robert Dick Wilson Hebrew words: maon Cross references: Numbers 13-14; 20; Psalm 90; Luke 12:16-20; Philippians 1:20-21; 4:4; Hebrews 9:27 Topic: Time Keywords: time, eternity, magnify, control, rest, life, death, joy, trust, work, occupation Page 4
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