A RESERVOIR OF BLESSINGS BEHIND THE DAM

Text; Psalms 78:41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

The Psalmist uses the past events in the history of Israel to point out the reason for their present condition.
II Chron.7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Isa.59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

I. God is the source of unlimited blessings.
Eph.3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
I Cor.2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

A. They often had to 'stand still and see'.
Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Prov 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

B. Past events prove his ability to give and ours to receive.
At the Red Sea, the waters were divided before the children of Israel stepped out.
Exo 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
Exo 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
Exo 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
At the Jordan river, they had to step into the water before it was stopped. God proves Himself to us, but then we must have faith.

C. His power is not less today.
Isa.50:2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
Isa.50:3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
Isa.59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Isa. 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

D. Look at the blessings yet in store.
1.The joy of winning souls.
2.Witnessing the commitment of lives in Baptism
3.The peace of service.
4.Exultation of battles won!.

II. Blessings are held back by a dam or 'log jam' of our own making.
A. Ordinary debris of careless living.

B. Deliberately built dam of neglect. Deliberately shunning duty for doubtful pleasure. Can we look the lost in the eye and say, "my pleasure is more important to me than your eternal soul?"


C. The landslide of sins of a backslider. {Scrambling around on a rocky slope; one loose rock dislodges two more!]

D. The closed gate of a rejecting or disobedient heart.

E. One sin in the life of one church member can soon become the 'key log' in a massive jam which affects the whole church. [Aachan's sin]

III. How to remove the obstacles to the flow of blessings.

A. Remember [conviction]
Psa.77:77:1 To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

B. Remembrance will cause us to call out. [repentance]
Psa.42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the LORD will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

C. Calling will bring an answer.
I Jno.5.14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.