Fellowship with the Father
A Sermon on Psalm 73:25–26
Scripture
25Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Sermon Description
When everything else fails, is the Christian standing on the solid rock? On this rock, they will never be moved. In this sermon on Psalm 73:25–26 titled “Fellowship with the Father,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains that God is this very foundation of life and notes how the psalmist turns to worship. The psalmist arrives at the goal of salvation: desiring and worshipping God alone. Everything else takes second place to God. For this psalmist, first place belongs to Him. The psalmist has discovered that there is no satisfaction apart from God. He then gives himself to the adoration of this rock. The Christian should long for God and desire to know Him and they may inquire how might they stand on this solid ground. First, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Christian must discover there is nobody else who can help them but God. Second, the Christian then desires God Himself, not merely what God gives or does. Eternal life, as described by the apostle John, is fellowship with God. The Christian should ask themselves what are they looking for in heaven, and if it is God or merely for the blessings of God. They are encouraged to listen to this sermon and build their life on this foundation stone because God is the rock.
Sermon Breakdown
- The psalmist has reached the highest level of spiritual experience in Psalm 73:25-26.
- This level of spiritual experience should be the goal and end result of the Christian life and the gospel.
- The psalmist asks rhetorical questions indicating there is no one who can help or satisfy him other than God. This shows there is nothing apart from God.
- The psalmist now desires God himself rather than what God gives or does. The ultimate test of a Christian is desiring God more than forgiveness or blessings.
- The psalmist finds complete satisfaction in God. God satisfies his mind, heart, and whole being.
- The psalmist rests confidently in God even when his flesh and heart fail. God is the rock of his heart.
- Even when life's foundations are shaking, God remains unmoved as the rock of ages.
- Those who believe in God will never be confounded or put to shame because they stand on the solid rock of Christ.
- We should live by trusting in God alone rather than our own works, experiences, or activities. All else will fail but God remains.
Old Testament
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.