Temple Baptist Church - 8-3-2025
Psalms 133
Introduction:
A. Psalm 133 is another of the Songs of Degrees or Upward Psalms that God’s people sang as they traveled to Jerusalem on the Feast Days when all males were required to be there. As they traveled over the miles, some over 1000 miles (just to get to church, today they won’t drive across town or county), there was a clear message of the UNITY OF GOD’S PEOPLE, which was a REQUIREMENT for worship!
B. So many local churches of all denominations are divided and splintered because wicked-hearted people sit in the pews. The question might be asked at this point, “Why did you say wicked-hearted?” God's people are taught by both the Bible and the example of Christ to be tenderhearted, forgiving people.
C. The greatest enemy of the local church sits in its pews. Throughout the Bible, we find that one of Satan's most effective tools is division!
James 3:16-18 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (17) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (18) And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
D. I know of no such division here tonight. It is a pleasure to come to Temple because of the sweetness of the spirit here. We are family: the family of God and also a church family.
E. People come to stay. I often leave before many of you when the service is over. The parking lot filled with parents talking and children playing. It is good to see the smile, hear the laughter, and experience the love found here. One of the great strengths of the local church is unity. Unity is also one of the greatest strengths of marriage and the family. Unity is the strength of our nation. Without unity, no “glue” on earth can hold these institutions together and division destroys.
F. In these verses, we see the results of unity: from the top of the head to the hem of the garment the precious oil of the Holy Ghost is equal. From the pulpit to the last pew love and friendship is experienced. If you did not get your hand shook many times tonight, it is your fault because you should have made the effort to encourage and welcome each and all.
1. The Benefit - "good" - 1 - Of great benefit, valuable, prosperity,
2. The Bliss - "pleasant" – 1 - Sweet, agreeable, delightful, musical
3. The Binding - "together in unity" - 1-2 - Alike, in one accord, harmony
4. The Blessing - "life forever more" – 3
G. How to keep Unity.
1. Always Give Others The Benefit Of The Doubt - 1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
2. Learn To Forgive And To Forget - Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
3. Keep Your Eye Focused Upon The Purpose - Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
4. Esteem Others Better Than Self - Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Philippians 2:1-4 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5. Learn To Be Quiet When There Is A Problem - Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
H. I want to look at the last result for a few minutes: “The Blessing.”
1. The Blessing of Fellowship with God’s People - Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
2. The Blessing of Encouraging God’s People - 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
3. The Blessing of Bearing The Burdens of God’s People - 2 Corinthians 7:1-4 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
4. The Blessing of Hearing That God’s People Are Steadfastly Serving - 2 Corinthians 7:12-16 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
a. Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
b. 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live,if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
5. The Blessing of Sharing The Ministry With God’s People - Philippians 1:3-11 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
6. The Blessing of Seeing God’s People Unified - Philippians 2:1-4 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
7. The Blessing of A Godly Testimony of God’s People - Philippians 2:14-18 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
8. The Blessing of an Inner Witness With God’s People - Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
9. The Blessing of Leading Others To Christ - 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.
10. The Blessing of Giving Account For God’s Faithful People - Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
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