Give Your All

It's Going to Take More Than Faith – Give Your All

Main Text: Psalm 119:9-16 (AMP)

LET'S REVIEW:

1. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD

JAMES 2:17 (AMP) So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].

2. EXERCISE YOUR FAITH

2 PETER 1:5 (AMP) For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence

3. LOVE ACTIVATES FAITH

GALATIANS 5:6 (AMP) For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.

Storm Story: A few weeks ago we had a storm come through and after the storm came through, we noticed that we had a water leak. So, I called a window guy to help me find out what's wrong with it. The window guy said the window is fine, he said with a strong south wind and heavy rain going sideways it has the potential to overflow the lips of the window. He said the wind provides the pressure and the water has nowhere to go.

Developing Moral Excellence

Developing moral excellence, often referred to as "virtue" in biblical terms, is a key aspect of Christian character. Here are steps based on biblical principles to cultivate moral excellence:

1. Begin with Faith

2. Study and Apply God's Word

• Psalm 119:9 - "How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word." The Bible provides instructions for moral living; study and apply its teachings.

How to Keep Your Way Pure

Psalm 119:9-16 (AMP) How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

• Taking heed of God's word
• Seeking God wholeheartedly
• Hiding God's word in the heart

With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience]. Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
Blessed and reverently praised are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes.
With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts]. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

8 THINGS TO DO WITH THE WHOLE HEART

1. LOVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART

MATTHEW 22:37-38 (AMP) And Jesus replied to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.

2. TRUST HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART

PROVERBS 3:5 (AMP) Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

3. SEEK GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

2 CHRONICLES 15:15 (AMP) All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought Him with their whole heart, and He let them find Him. So the Lord gave them rest on every side.

4. PRAISE GOD WITH ALL MY HEART

PSALM 9:1 (AMP) I will give thanks and praise the Lord, with all my heart; I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds.

PSALM 111:1 (AMP) Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the congregation.

5. SEEK FAVOR WITH ALL YOUR HEART

PSALM 119:58 (AMP) I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise.

6. CRY OUT TO GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

PSALM 119:145 (AMP) I cried with all my heart; answer me, O Lord! I will observe Your statutes.

7. OBEY GOD WITH ALL MY HEART

PSALM 119:34 (AMP) Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law; And observe it with all my heart.

8. RETURN TO GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

JEREMIAH 24:7 (AMP) I will give them a heart to know Me, [understanding fully] that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

Discussion Questions

1. Psalm 119:9 asks, "How can a young man keep his way pure?" The answer is "by keeping watch according to Your word." How are you currently "keeping watch" over your life according to God's Word?
2. The passage emphasizes doing things with "all your heart." In which of the eight areas (love, trust, seek, praise, seek favor, cry out, obey, return) do you struggle to give God your whole heart?
3. Psalm 119:11 says, "Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, that I may not sin against You." What Scripture have you memorized or "stored in your heart" recently?
4. The storm story illustrates how pressure (wind) and overflow (water) can cause damage. What pressures in your life are causing spiritual "overflow" or damage?
5. Matthew 22:37-38 calls loving God with all your heart "the first and greatest commandment." If someone observed your life, would they conclude that loving God is your first priority?
6. Proverbs 3:5 instructs us to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding." In what area are you currently relying more on your own understanding than on God?
7. Second Chronicles 15:15 shows that when they sought God "with their whole heart," He gave them "rest on every side." What would wholehearted seeking look like in your current situation?
8. Psalm 119:14 says, "I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches." Do you find as much joy in God's Word as you do in material blessings?
9. Psalm 119:15-16 mentions meditating on God's precepts, regarding His ways, and delighting in His statutes. Which of these practices (meditate, regard, delight) is most lacking in your spiritual life?
10. Jeremiah 24:7 promises God will give a heart to know Him to those who "return to Me with their whole heart." Is there an area where you need to return to God wholeheartedly?

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