12 November 2006: FOUNDATION FOR LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST - Fear Not For He Is With Us!

TOPIC: Certainty; assurance, faith, foundations, security, sin, tribulations, trials, trust
TITLE: FOUNDATION FOR LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST – Fear Not For He Is With Us! [Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening Devotional, “Morning” November 11]
TEXT: Deuteronomy 33:27

“Underneath are the everlasting arms”

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How do we experience God’s everlasting arms?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

I. WHEN SINKING FROM LIFE’S TRIALS
II. WHEN SINKING FROM SIN’S NATURE
III. WHEN SINKING FROM BELIEVER’S SERVICE

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Jewish Pentateuch; it is the book of summing up or "doubling" up. Pretty much everything is recounted here!

In Deuteronomy 32 the prophetic and historic song of Moses is presented; he is then commanded to go up to Mount Nebo in order to see the Promised Land.

And then in Deuteronomy 33 the prophetical blessing of the twelve tribes is seen; the indescribable happiness of Israel is witnessed. So Moses views the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo, then dies, and is privately buried by the Lord. The Israelites mourn his passing thirty days.

Lastly, in Deuteronomy 34, Joshua takes command of the people.

[Atlas] When I was a boy there was this guy, kind of an early “ahhh-knowld,” who would help wimps learn how to keep bullies from kicking sand in their face at the beach.

For years I looked for one of those bullies in Kansas, I couldn't find any sand anywhere in Kansas … I couldn’t find Toto either.

His logo was a picture of himself holding up the world … his name was Angelino Siciliano but the world knew him as Charles Atlas.

However, the reality is that God Almighty is the is the Eternal Atlas …

[Barnes’ Notes] "As the arm is the emblem of power, and of power in a state of exertion, the words here state that an unlimited and unconquerable power shall be eternally exerted in … defense of God’s Church, and in the behalf of all those who trust in Him."

This was an election week in the US. No matter your affiliation you cannot be comforted by the issues or the line-up offered to the voting public. Each year the candidates become dodgier and dodgier and more and more suspect in their motives … and the people are less and less represented by their government ... I understand the same situation exists in Canada.

This is also the weekend in the states when our Veterans are honored … it’s a shame our politicos got more attention than our heroes.

God is reassuring Israel and his sons of their (and our) inherent security when in the Lord’s care. This is not just a national security but a very personal security as well.

God … the eternal God … is himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking deep in trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in trials and tribulations.

These seasons bring on a sense of hopelessness; when this happens the believer then seeks God and feels humbled before Him until he … as Spurgeon says … scarcely knows how to pray, because he feels worthless and useless in his own eyes.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How do we experience God’s everlasting arms?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:
I. WHEN SINKING FROM LIFE’S TRIALS (Needing a Deliverer, Com-forter, Provider, or Sustainer)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

A. From External Causes

1. Employment, familial (in-laws or outlaws), communal, church, financial, sensual, relational, etc.
2. The believer often sinks into an aching trial from outside influences:

[HELD UP] On a plane a preacher and a young man encountered one another; the youth was also a Christian, but weak in faith; such and so many were his temptations he said didn’t have enough strength to hold out another week.

The minister took a Bible from his briefcase and a pen from his pocket and said, "Do you think this pen will stand up on the cover of my Bible?"

The young man, thinking this was some trick said, "I doubt that, sir."

"But," the minister said, "It is standing up!" "Yea, right! You’re holding it up!" The young man sneered.

"Of course I am. Have you ever known of a pen standing up on its own?"

"I get it; God is saying “apart from Me, you can do nothing" [John 15:5].

In this light, we might ask, if every earthly support were cut away - what then would we do? Nevertheless, underneath you are “the everlasting arms.”

3. Though the believer falls into deep distress and affliction he can’t be so far down the covenant grace of our faithful God cannot still encircle him.

B. From Internal Causes

1. Psychological, emotional, relational, biological, communicational, spiritual, etc.
2. The believer may feel he is sinking low from the his inner demons and may imagine he is in fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of "the everlasting arms" for they are under him yet.
3. And, while thus sustained, all Satan's efforts to get at his heart, his mind, his spirit, and his soul avail him nothing. Consider Job, Jo-nah, Stephen, Daniel, and Joseph if you doubt!

II. WHEN SINKING FROM SIN’S NATURE [Romans 3:9-18]

A. Oh my friends and brethren, recall when you were at the worst and lowest before you discovered "underneath are the everlasting arms."

Sin had a hold on you!

B. Sin might drag you very low, but Christ's great blood-bathed aton-ing and intercessory power are under all that you are.

C. You may descend into the depths, but you cannot have fallen as low as "the uttermost"; and still to the uttermost he delivers.

III. WHEN SINKING FROM BELIEVER’S SERVICE [Luke 17:10]

A. This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest servant of God.

B. It implies a promise of …

1. strength & sustenance for each day

“Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Matthew 6:11-13

2. grace sufficient for each need

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

3. and power for each duty

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

Jesus wears the striped shirt on this field of play.

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: And, further, when death does come, His promise stands firm. We shall descend in to the grave but we go no lower, for His eternal arms prevent any further fall. [Cp. David re his dead son]

When we stand in the midst of the Jordan, as the Ark of the Covenant did when Israel ended their 40 year sabbatical, we shall be able to say with David, “I fear no evil, for Thou art with me”. [Psalm 23]

The flood waters of hell will come but the Lord will hold them back by His word.

All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by “the everlasting arms” - arms that neither fail nor lose their strength, for “the everlasting God faints not … neither is [He] weary.” [Isaiah 40:28]

[HAMMER] A small man went to drive a nail in the wall to hang a picture. He stood on a chair which was balanced on a home-made, wooden box, but it was not high enough.

His wife brought him a phone book and, balancing himself precari-ously, he began hesitatingly tapping the nail with the hammer. His wife said, "Just give it a bang or two, and settle it?"

He said, "How can I give it a good blow standing on this foundation?"

That settles the question of living life to the fullest. It all depends on the foundation upon which we stand. There is a sense of certainty in the knowledge that “the everlasting arms” are beneath us!

The prophets never sounded a note of uncertainty, for God Almighty was their Foundation, and they knew that He stood behind their "Thus saith the Lord."

Our entire text is …

The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms; And He [drives] out [our enemies] from before [us], And [says], 'Destroy!'

Deuteronomy 33:27

So if you are not living your life to the fullest, the problem is not with Almighty God … the trouble is somewhere else.

RELATED LINKS: The SHEEP'S CRIB

SPECIFIC TAGS: Assurance, Certainty, Deuteronomy, Foundations, Tribulations, Trials

GENERAL TAGS: Homiletics, Preaching, Sermons

5 NOVEMBER 2006: NEW EACH DAY - How to avoid making Jesus trivial!

TOPIC: Jesus’ grandeur; majesty, awesomeness; splendor, wonder, glory, honor
TITLE: NEW EACH DAY - How to avoid making Jesus trivial! [adapted from Spurgeon‘s Morning & Evening November 5 – “Evening”]
TEXT: Psalm 100:4 (1-5)

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How should we see Jesus in order to bless Him?
CONCISE OUTLINE: The text is straight forward and suggests …

I. WE SHOULD ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING

A. That is as a result of our salvation when we enter heaven
B. The gates of the Temple are seen
C. Three of them

1. The “eastern gate”
2. The “veil (doors) to the holy place”
3. The “veil to the Holy of Holies”

II. WE SHOULD ENTER HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE

A. That is as a result of our justification
B. Our sins are covered over
C. Three of them

1. The outer court which is open to the people
2. The inner court which is reserved for priests
3. The Holy court in front of the Ark, open to the High Priest
4. Jesus is our High Priest

III. WE SHOULD GIVE THANKS TO HIM

A. For He alone is deserving of thanks
B. We should come with an offering (not things but us)
C. And therefore “bless His name”

And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.

Psalm 72:19

TRUTH/CONTEXT: The Father desires His people be filled with towering, exhilarating, and animating thoughts concerning His blessed Son.

And Jesus is not pleased with those who think commonly of Him; it is His pleasure that His Bride should be delighted with His grandeur. We’re not to consider Him as a necessity, like to bread or water, rather as a lush delicacy, as an exceptional and irresistible joy.

And so, to that end, He has revealed Himself as the only begotten, full of grace and glory, as the one and only Lamb of God in awesome innocence, and as the Bread of Life, with its life sustaining nourishment.

Spurgeon, on the other hand, has an unusual take on this verse …

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How should we see Jesus in order to bless Him?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. WE SHOULD REMEMBER THE SON

A. the high esteem in which He is held in heaven
B. where perfection is the measure

II. WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE FATHER

A. how God, the Father, esteems His Only Begotten
B. His unspeakable gift of love to mankind.

III. WE SHOULD RECALL THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. how God, the Holy Spirit, rejects praise
B. in order that the Lord Jesus receives it all the glory

IV. WE SHOULD THINK OF THE ANGELS

A. how the angelic host esteems Him
B. to whom the highest honor is to veil their faces at His feet

V. WE SHOULD REFLECT ON THE SAINTS

A. And on how the blood-bought and blood-washed already in heaven esteem Him
B. as His high praises resound without end

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: George Matheson said,

Christ has illuminated the world, not by what He did, but by [who He is]; His life is the Light of Men.

We speak of a man's life-work; Jesus’ work was His life....

It’s good to be told the pure in heart shall see God, but the vision of heaven in a pure man's face outweighs it all.

[We’re told] Easter morning has revealed His glory; rather … say His glory has revealed … Easter morning. It’s not resurrection [which] has [empowered] Christ; it’s Christ [which] empowered resurrection.

To those who have seen His beauty, even [Golgotha adds] no certainty; the light of immortality is as bright on [on His crib, as on] His Cross [or] His Crown.

'I am the resurrection' are His own words about Himself - not 'I teach,' not 'I cause,' not 'I predict,' but 'I am.'" [2000+ Illustrations]

So, those of …

“you [who] are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, … you [are to] proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light …”

1 Peter 2:9

How are we to be able to do this? You cannot unless you know Him! So …

• Study Him as He is in His supernatural glory, before He took our nature upon Himself!
• Imagine Him responding to the love of His own sinless heart, as it drew Him from His throne to take your place upon the cross!
• Admire Him in time as well, as He conquered all the powers of Satan and hell!
• See Him raised, crowned, glorified, ascended, and soon coming!
• Bow before Him as the Wonderful, the Counselor, the mighty God, and the Risen Lamb of God … for only then will your love of Him be what the Great Commandment says it should be.
  

[SPURGEON] “High thoughts of Christ will enable us to act consistently with our relations towards Him. The more loftily we see Christ enthroned, and the lowlier we are when bowing before the foot of the throne, the more truly shall we be prepared to act our part towards Him. Our Lord Jesus desires us to think [majestically] of Him, that we may submit cheerfully to His authority. High thoughts of Him increase our love. Love and esteem go together.”

RELATED LINKS: The SHEEP'S CRIB

SPECIFIC TAGS: Praise, Isaiah, Jesus Christ,
Majesty, Psalms, Spurgeon, Thanksgiving

GENERAL TAGS: Homoletics, Preaching, Sermons