Psalm 112: Ignite — A Spirit-Filled Life That Shines in the Dark

Psalm 112, it's not a quiet psalm, okay?

It's a blazing declaration of what a God-centered, spirit-filled life looks like.

You know, if you were baptized on Sunday and you're thinking, well, what next?

Well, get into Psalm 112, get yourself filled with the Holy Spirit and blaze with glory.

Amen? You may be seated, you too.

It's like a prophetic portrait, Psalm 112.

Psalm 112 is, it's like a prophetic portrait of a believer who walks in holy reverence,

holy trust, bold trust even, joyful obedience, and whose life becomes a source of light in dark places.

So Psalm 112, this is not just a description, it's an invitation.

Psalm 112 is an invitation. it's what the Spirit wants to form inside of each and every one of us.

So if you were baptized last Sunday, or even if you weren't,

get into the life that's described in Psalm 112.

Amen? All right, let's read it. It starts with this. It starts with these words. Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord. How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.

Their children will be successful everywhere. Wow.

An entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

They themselves will be wealthy and their good deeds will last forever.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous,

compassionate, and righteous.

Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.

My carpentry business is a fair business, right?

Such people will not be overcome by evil. They who are righteous will be long remembered.

They do not fear bad news. They confidently trust the Lord to care for them. Bless you, Sharon.

Bless you. They are confident.

They are confident and they are fearless. And they can face their foes triumphantly.

They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.

They will have influence and honor.

The wicked, on the other hand, will see this and will be infuriated. Good.

They will grind their teeth in anger. They will sink away, their hopes thwarted.

Psalm 112. It's got to be my favorite one again.

So a little bit of history about Psalm 112. Who likes to know the background

about the Psalms and what? Well, guess who wrote Psalms?

Guess who wrote Psalm 112? No idea.

I know you said, David, but no, it's widely accepted that Psalm 112 does not

name its author like other Psalms do, okay?

Like many Psalms, it's technically anonymous.

It's anonymous. However, there are a few important historical and literary cues

that help us understand its likely origin and context.

There with me, Psalm 112 is part of a group often associated with the later

Psalm collections, mostly written following Israel's return from exile.

And while some traditions loosely believe it was like a David-style wisdom psalm,

most biblical scholars believe it was not written directly by David.

But whoever wrote it, far out, they are awesome. It was likely composed by one

of these people, one of these worship leader people.

It was likely composed by a worship leader or a wisdom teacher in Israel.

It belongs stylistically to the wisdom psalm tradition, similar in tone to Proverbs.

Okay. So the best honest answer about it is the specific human author is unknown,

but it was written within Israel's worship and wisdom community.

Psalm 112. Well, but whoever wrote it, my goodness, well done. Well done.

The psalm opens with a shout of worship.

Praise the Lord. How joyful, Psalm 112 verse 1, how joyful are those who fear

Psalms 112:1

the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.

If you want to turn around old habits or bad habits, if you want to be healed,

if you want to be set free and restored, you know how you start? You start with praise.

When I was laid off on Monday, praise God, praise God. I didn't feel like that, but praise God.

Even through gritted teeth, praise God, praise God. He's got something better in store for me.

He's got something better in store for everyone who makes a decision to praise

God, despite what's going on in your life.

And it's not with striving either. It's with surrender.

It's surrendering, not with pressure, but with the presence of God in your life, okay?

The fear of the Lord, it talks about in this psalm, the fear of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord here is not terror.

It's burning reverence. It's reverence. It's deep honor.

It's wholehearted alignment with our God.

It's the heart posture that says, God, you are right.

God, your word is true. your spirit leads and God, I follow.

That's what fear of the Lord is.

Your spirit leads and I follow.

And notice the language that it uses this psalm. It says to delight in obeying, delight in obeying.

This is a work of the Holy Spirit. When the spirit sets hearts on fire,

obedience becomes joy holiness

becomes hunger and God's

ways become desirable in our lives

now prophetically this morning I'm going to prophesy I believe the Lord is restoring

delight in obedience and love-driven surrender in all of our lives we shouldn't

just be complying with God We shouldn't just be obeying God,

but we should be burning for his ways.

And that's what the Holy Spirit wants to do in our lives.

The psalm then declares that this kind of life releases generational impact.

Generational impact. It says in Psalm 112 verse 2, their children will be successful everywhere.

Psalms 112:2

An entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

Now, who's ever heard of generational curses?

Problems passed down from our past generations, well, it can stop with us and

it can be replaced with this.

Because you see, spirit-filled faith is never contained to one life. Did you hear what I said?

Spirit-filled true faith is never contained just in your own life or in one life.

Trust spreads prayer spreads

some of you have been standing in

for households for your sons and your daughters for your future generations

and the lord says your reverent fear that's described in psalm 112 your passion

and your burning heart for his ways are releasing generational blessings.

Can you believe it? Not only am I blessing Georgia and Josh and Samuel,

but Luca as well, and Luca's children and their children.

It's a generational blessing that comes by living with a burning heart for God.

Your prayers are building things that you cannot see.

Your consistency is creating spiritual inheritance.

Do not grow weary in this either. Heaven is multiplying what you are sowing.

Now, this incredible couple here, they shared on Wednesday night about a situation

that's happened in their family. And I'm sure they don't mind.

And Carolyn's going to come up and share with us this morning because it is

a great example of the fact that our faith and our burning passion for God can

provide blessing to the future generations.

Come on up, Carolyn. Explain that to us. Bless you.

Thank you. Yes, we had a situation this week with one of our grandchildren that

was on the side of suicide and reached out to us.

It was in a very dark place is what I can say.

And so we were at Wednesday night group the next day after I'd spoken with him.

And I prayed with him and gave him scriptures, told him what to say to get him

out of that dark place and bring light.

And thankfully that we are the light, we have the light of God in us to be able

to share, and that was what pulled him through.

And it was the next day that he messaged there was a total change,

and he was starting to speak positively about his life again.

He said, I can't wait. He wants to come back and live with us again.

But he said, I can't wait to come back to that church where he was talking not

even about Jesus at all or anything

to do with God, couldn't even bring himself to talk about the Lord.

And there was such change so quickly because we have the answer. That's right.

Hallelujah. Well done, Carolyn. Well done. Well done.

There is a great example of generational blessing. Absolutely.

These guys standing for their future generations, standing with them,

standing with God, and then that brings blessing to the future generation.

So let's pray for Jack right now, actually. Lord, I praise you for Jack, Lord God.

I thank you, Lord, that he sought out wisdom, Lord.

When he was in that dark place, Lord God, he sought out wisdom.

He sought out his grandparents, Lord, who he knew were godly people.

And Lord, they responded.

They responded with love and acceptance, but also godly wisdom and guidance, Lord God.

So Lord, I pray that Jack continues to grow, Lord God, continues to grow.

We speak life over Jack, Lord God, in Jesus' name.

Lord, he will be back in this church, I declare in Jesus' name,

in not too long, Lord God, where we'll be able to love him, Lord God,

and share what you can do for each and every one of us.

So bless Jack in Jesus' name. Hallelujah. Amen.

So generational blessing. We could stop right there and think,

wow, what an incredible, incredible psalm that is. But it goes on.

The psalm speaks of provision that anchors identity in something a lot deeper than just provision.

Psalm 112 verse 3 says, they themselves will be wealthy and their good deeds will last forever.

Psalms 112:3

Now, notice the emphasis is not on riches, but it's on enduring righteousness.

The Spirit is reminding us that true kingdom wealth is not what passes through

your hands, but what is formed in your heart.

What is formed in your heart? In this season, God is more committed to your

formation than your expansion.

He's building substance in our lives, not just success.

His anointing rests best on character that is helped to be shaped by surrender.

Then comes a promise in the psalm.

Then comes a powerful promise for anyone walking through pressure or uncertainty.

This touched me. This really touched me. Psalm 112 verse 4. It says,

Psalms 112:4

light shines in the darkness for the godly.

They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.

It does not say the godly avoid the darkness as well.

It doesn't say godly avoid the darkness. It says that the godly carry light into the darkness.

I love that. I love that. The godly carry light into the darkness.

When the Holy Spirit lives in you, you're not dependent on circumstances to

be illuminated or enlightened.

You're not dependent on circumstances to provide light in your life.

You're inhabited by the light of the world.

You're inhabited by glory. The same Spirit who said, let there be light,

now dwells inside of all believers.

That means when darkness presses in, heaven rises up inside you.

Hear this prophetically this morning, as I say this.

You are not becoming or you're not being overcome. You're not being overcome.

You are becoming luminous.

You are becoming luminous. Some of you thought that the night meant that you

were losing ground. But God says the night is actually there to reveal the light that is about to come.

You will come out of this season sharper. You will come out with sharper discernment.

You'll come out with deeper compassion. If you go through these dark times,

you are coming through with deeper compassion and stronger spiritual authority. Why?

Because the light of God will shine through you into those dark places and you will overcome.

The Psalm says the righteous are marked by generosity and compassion.

And that is the truth, the true evidence of a spirit-filled life or spirit fire.

Holy Spirit power is not just loud worship or bold declarations.

It's a Christ-like mercy and open-hearted love.

Now, listen to this. The fruit of the Spirit. We all know the fruit of the Spirit.

Love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, all of those. You know them.

You can look it up anyway. They're the fruit of the Spirit.

And then on the other hand, there's the fire of the Spirit. Now,

you think they're probably opposites.

The fruit of the Spirit, the fire of the Spirit are opposites.

No, they're not. They're partners.

They are partners. The fire of the Spirit helps us to let loose the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Awesome. Then comes one of the strongest spirit-empowered promises in the passage of Psalm 112.

It says in verses 6 to 8, such people will not be overcome by evil.

Those who are righteous will be long remembered.

They do not fear bad news.

They confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

Just like me on Monday. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

You know what that is? That is supernatural steadiness in your life.

Despite what's going on, despite it feels like the whole world is coming apart,

you've got a supernatural steadiness inside of you.

It's not denial either that the bad things are happening.

It's not denial. Well, it's an impartation that the Holy Spirit can stabilize

a heart beyond natural temperament.

Holy Spirit. When your confidence is rooted in God's throne,

you're no longer ruled by threatening reports or uncertain outcomes.

Fear loses its grip when trust takes its place.

So when the bad happens, when the darkness happens, trust in God and fear will lose its grip.

Prophetically, God is building unshakable hearts right now, I believe.

Believers who are not easily rattled. Ha! Ha! Lost my job. Ha!

I'm not easily rattled by that. Not easily panicked. Angela, maybe.

And she wasn't too bad oh good,

What was that? Angela was at work.

First day back at work. Angela, are you sitting down? Are you alone?

Guess what? She's gone. You're kidding. Basically what I thought as well.

Anyway, that's all right because absolutely believers are people who are not

easily rattled, not easily panicked, not easily knocked off the perch.

Knocked off centre, not easily, are people who pray first and then listen first and then trust first.

Pray, listen, trust.

This is spirit-formed resilience, which we need to grab onto. Is he awake?

Everyone else is looking at him. I might as well come and look at him and go, oh, that little boy.

Josh, you're missing him? You're missing him? Always, always.

All right. The psalm continues. Let's continue.

Psalm 112 verse 9 says, They share freely and give generously to those in need.

Psalms 112:9

Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.

When the spirit flows in our lives, generosity follows or generosity flows.

When the spirit moves, close fists open up, tight hearts soften.

Giving becomes joy. Giving becomes joy.

You begin to scatter blessing wherever you go. And that's encouragement,

that's provision, that's prayer, and that's mercy.

This is a revival lifestyle.

It is a revival lifestyle. So not occasional generosity, but overflowing,

continual overflowing.

That's revival lifestyle. That is. The psalm ends by contrasting this radiant,

anchored life with the world of the wicked.

The world of the wicked. Frustrated, driven, and dissolving under unfulfilled desire.

They live in the same world as us, but they have different foundations.

Our foundation is God.

That's who we need to grab hold of. We live in a world of evil,

of wicked and frustration, but we need to grab onto God, grab onto his lifestyle, grab onto his love.

One life burns steady because it's built on God, and that's us.

That's us. Psalm 112 shows us that the spirit-filled believer is reverent, is joyful, obedient.

You're writing all this down, obedient, or just read it, generous, fearless, and shining.

Doesn't say perfect, not famous either. Doesn't say we're famous,

but we're formed and we're faithful.

We are formed and we are faithful. And this is not reserved just for a few people either.

It's available to all Who yield to his spirit And delight in the Lord All of

us All of us Come on up Josh.

I want to release some declarations over you this morning I want to release

this As a declaration over you So receive this this morning Close your eyes

Come on, close your eyes And hold your hands out to receive this morning,

Receive The truth Thank you.

Receive something from the heart. Receive something from God's heart to you this morning.

May the Holy Spirit ignite fresh delight in obeying God.

May reverence turn to joy in your life.

Thank you. May trust grow stronger than fear in your life.

May light rise within you in every dark place.

Receive this this morning. May light rise in every dark place.

May your heart become unshakable. Hallelujah.

May your hands stay open and your spirit stay bold in all that you do.

May your light shine with the evidence of God's nearness and power in your life.

May you be a blessing to your children and your children's children and through

all future generations.

Receive that this morning.

May your life shine this morning.

May you be beacons in this evil world.

May you be people that walk into darkness and immediately illuminate the sight,

that illuminate where you are. Be it illuminators.

Because of the light that God has shone into you and he's ready to shine out of you.

Be full of compassion, be full of love, be full of joy.

Be the answer to people's lives. Bring the answer into people's lives.

You are God's hands and you are God's feet and you are God's voice in this dark world.

Go, show and speak it out. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. This is a declaration over each and every one of you.

And if you would receive it, you would walk out of here today and make a difference.

Your life, Psalm 112, are good bits over your life.

You will make a difference when you go into this world.

You will make a difference in the lives of many. You will make a difference

in your future generations.

Come on. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord.

I bless and honour each and every one of you this morning with the truth and

the honesty and the passion and the power of Psalm 112.

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. I declare in Jesus'

name that you are set free, that although

you've wandered perhaps into the darkness you are now liking the darkness you

are making a difference I'm declaring this over each person here you are and

you will make a difference if you would just let that light shine through you.

You would become Psalm 112, spirit-filled believers.

And your mission would be to declare that to this world.

Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord.

It's all about your name, Lord. It's all about your blood that we can go into

this world and make a difference.

It's all about your name and your blood that our lives can turn around for the better,

for our betterment, for our family's betterment and the people that we know

know betterment or better because of the name and the blood of Jesus Christ.

We thank you, Lord. We thank you for this day. I bless each person here this

morning as they go, that they would go as spirit-filled, godly Psalm 112 Christians

into this world in Jesus' name.

Hallelujah. Everyone said amen, amen, amen.