First Baptist Church of Hoquiam
Sunday Worship, June 8, 2025

      • Psalm 119ESV

  • Artistry Spotlight

    Eternal Words

    Isaiah 40:8 ESV
    8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
    Matthew 24:35 ESV
    35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
    1 Peter 1:22–25 ESV
    22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
    Today’s section in Psalm 119 will emphasize the importance of holding to the eternal Word of God even in the face of persecution.
    Hebrew Letter Qoph
    Psalm 119:145-152 in Hebrew
    Psalm 119:145–152 ESV
    145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes. 146 I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. 148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. 149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life. 150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law. 151 But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true. 152 Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

    The Cry

    Psalm 119:145–149 ESV
    145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes. 146 I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. 147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. 148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. 149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

    What is the Psalmist pleading for?

    An answer
    To be saved
    Help
    Rest
    Life
    Whatever He is facing has left him in a place of deep desperation.

    The Problem

    Psalm 119:150 ESV
    150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.

    Persecution

    Threat of death
    Loss of Freedom
    Social shaming
    False accusation
    Silencing

    The Solution

    Psalm 119:151–152 ESV
    151 But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true. 152 Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.
    God is near
    Matthew 28:20 ESV
    20b And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
    2. God’s Word is reliable
    Proverbs 30:5–6 ESV
    5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

    What does the Bible teach us about persecution?

    Jesus Teaching

    Matthew 5:10–12 ESV
    10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
    Matthew 10:16–25 ESV
    16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

    Example of Stephen

    Acts 6:8–15 ESV
    8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
    Acts 7:51–60 ESV
    51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” 54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

    How then, do we prepare for persecution?

    Know the unshakable truth of God’s Word.

      • Isaiah 40:8ESV

      • Matthew 24:35ESV

      • 1 Peter 1:22–25ESV

      • Psalm 119:145–152ESV

      • Psalm 119:145–149ESV

      • Psalm 119:150ESV

      • Psalm 119:151–152ESV

      • Matthew 28:20ESV

      • Proverbs 30:5–6ESV

      • Matthew 5:10–12ESV

      • Matthew 10:16–25ESV

      • Acts 6:8–15ESV

      • Acts 7:51–60ESV

First Baptist Church of Hoquiam
fbchoquiam@outlook.com
3605324887
http://fbchoquiam.com
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