When you have a rusty bolt or nut that just won't budge, WD-40 can help you get it unstuck. But what if it was a life that was stuck? Is there a type of spiritual WD-40 to help us get our lives unstuck from the miry clay?
David found something that moved him from the pit to praise and from the mire to the choir. He found God's WD-40 in Psalm 40 - God's Weariness Displacement solution. Are you weary and stuck in your relationship with God? Can you remember a past activity that got you excited? What about when you became engaged, or when your children were born, or when the grandchildren were born? When you became a Christian, you began a new life with God in Christ Jesus... "Old things passed away, and all things became new." 2 Corinthians 5:17. You were excited about your NEW relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
For David there was an unscheduled "pit stop" that would change his life forever. He was in the pit of despair because of his terrible sins of adultery and murder, but he discovered that God had not discarded him but could actually restore him.
We are looking at three truths in this Psalm 40 today... Relationship, Rescue, and Response.
1) RELATIONSHIP - even though David was in this terrible "pit" he discovered that he still had a relationship with God. (We remember that Paul had been in a pit of weariness through the many "pits" in his life of serving God... 2 Corinthians 11 - beaten, in prison, shipwrecked, in perils in the wilderness, at sea, of his own countrymen, in cities, hunger, etc. He experienced that weariness - V.27). David knew that if he prayed to God, that God will hear with understanding - "God heard his cry" and gave him a lift out of the miry clay and out of the horrible pit. When we prayed, "coincidences" happened. If we don't pray, "coincidences" don't happen. David waited for God , but he didn't just wait, he waited patiently. He waited to wait. We don't like to wait. We like the microwave, instant coffee. instant service at the restaurant, etc. We don't like to wait in line for anything. We pick the short line at the grocery store check-out. David had absolute confidence that God had the best for him. Waiting is not inactivity. While we are waiting, we should be active and serving Him. So David waited patiently
with absolute confidence that God had the best for him.
2) RESCUE - Adrian Rogers tells the story of a man who was in a pit with a venomous snake and people of different faiths came by and offered advise. The animist said it was a supernatural power that had animated it. The Hindu came by and said it was just a figment. The Confucius believer came by and told him to "walk wisely." The Buddhist told him to not think about being in the pit. Then Jesus came by and stood between the person and the snake and lifted him out of the pit.
Psalm 40:3 tells us that God put a new song in his heart and a newness in his spirit. The Bible says that many see that newness and trust in God. He saves us from the pit and rescues us.
3) RESPONSE - 40:5 tells us that many are God's works to rescue us. How good God has been. Why not tell someone about how God has been working in my life? His love has indeed lifted us out of the miry clay of our lives. Think about his goodness. Philippians 4 tells us to think on the goodness of God and gives us a list of things - things that are true, honest, pure, just, lovely. Then we should THANK him. V9-10 - David said I have preached of your goodness, your faithfulness, your lovingkindness, your truth, your salvation.
So today share God's goodness with others. Be reminded of your relationship with God and displace your weariness with a new song,,, "From sinking sand, He lifted me."
Epitaph in Virginia for Willard Pease: Here lies the body of old man Pease, buried beneath the flowers and trees, but Pease ain't here just the pod, Pease shucked out and went to God.
Epitaph on a tombstone in New York had only one word, no name, no dates, only the word - FORGIVEN. The best epitaph that could ever be written.
In Palm 32, David speaks of the happiness of being forgiven... he knew forgiveness in spite of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah, so he could take her to be his wife. The product "Tide" has claimed for years to have a stain detector that will clean even the dirtiest of stains. God's forgiveness for David is acting like a stain detector for David;s sins.
What happens when we receive God's forgiveness for our sin? Verses 1-2 say we are "blessed." Like in the beatitudes in Matthew. We are happy... we have joy... when we are forgiven. Sin will always take you further than you want to go. The nature of sin is 1) "transgression" which mean to step over the line or God's boundary of what is right and wrong. 2) "Sin" here is an archery term meaning to fall short or miss the mark of what God intends for you to do. 3) "Iniquity" means crooked, not straight; bad not good.
What happens when God forgives sin? 1) "Nasa" is the word which means to lift up or take away. He picks the sin up off your shoulder and lifts it up. 2) He covers it up - he hides our sin. 3) He imputes not - he takes away the debt, he credits your account.
What are we not to do? V3-4 we are not to keep silent. David is trying to take care of his own sin. We don't have the power to do that. David was physically and mentally in anguish over the seriousness of his sins. He forgot who God is and God's ability to forgive. The seriousness of our sin doesn't affect God's ability to forgive our sin.
What are we to do? V5 1) David broke his silence and acknowledged his sin. He took ownership of his sin. "It is my sin." 2) We are to stop trying to hide our sin. We are to uncover it,,, literally lay it on the table before God. 3) We are to confess our sin, literally push it away... I don't want to do it again! I
Then God will forgive you. John 1:9 "If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Become a part of the Forgiveness Club... the Joy Club. Joy is not optional for those who are forgiven. One word for your tombstone "FORGIVEN."
Born in 1725, John Newton was a ship's captain for several years and made trips to Africa to collect slaves for businessmen. He had a reputation for coarseness and debauchery. On one such trip, his ship "The Greyhound" was caught in a storm that lasted for 11 days. He cried out, "Oh God, save us." God did. That was March 21, 1748. His mother had prayed for him and he repented of his awful lifestyle. Only God's amazing grace could and would take a rude, profane, slave-trading sailor and transform him into a child of God. He confessed, "I am not the man I ought to be; I am not the man I wish to be; but praise God, I am not the man I used to be."
Psalm 29:2 tells us to give God the glory due unto his name. The psalmist describes so many attributes of God's glory. Read them in this psalm now. Indeed, he is the God of the storm. "Glory is something with weight or substance, something of great consequence." Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
The storm in the Sea of Galilee... In Matthew 14 (also in Mark 6) we find that Jesus had just fed the multitude and told the disciples to go across the Sea of Galilee and he would join them later. The Sea of Galilee is surrounded by mountain ranges. It physically sits like a bowl among the mountain ranges. Storms came up suddenly, and rumbling with no warning and continued steadily. Their little boat was being tossed and thrown about by the waves and the wind. About the fourth watch (3-6 PM), Jesus came walking on the water to them.
A Truth abut storms in our lives... Jesus is perceived as farthest when the storm is the greatest. At first they thought it was a ghost and they were fearful. But Jesus spoke to them and told them to not be afraid.
There was a little boy whose house had caught on fire and smoke filled the house and the little boy couldn't find his way out. He climbed up on the roof and saw his dad. His dad told him to jump but he was so afraid and his eyes were nearly closed with so much smoke. But he heard his dad say "jump, son, jump. I will catch you." He jumped to safety in his father's arms.
Second Truth... sometimes we don't recognize God when he is at work all around us.
Amazingly, Peter asked the Lord to let him come to him... and Jesus gave Peter the ability to walk on the water for a few steps. But in the midst of the howling winds and turbulent sea and the shouting of his friends in the boat, Peter got distracted and took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. Jesus stretched out his hand to Peter and caught him and together they went to the ship and got in.
3rd Truth... Taking your eyes off Jesus in a storm invites disaster.
4th Truth... When you connect and focus on Jesus, the storm becomes secondary.
John Newton discovered that... so did the disciples... so did Peter.
John Newton proclaimed, "I am a great sinner and God is a great Savior."
Charles Stanley has called this Psalm the most loved of all the Psalms; Matthew Henry says it is filled with delight; tells us how good God is.
The Psalm begins with the claim that the author has a relationship with the Shepherd. Philip Keller wrote "A Shepherd's Look at Psalm 23." Himself a shepherd, he says the first part of the psalm was written likely in the spring or summer when the pastures were lush and green. The still waters may refer to the morning dew that covered the ground like a wet blanket and glistened as the sun was rising.
But the sheep would need to move as they ate all the grass in one spot. Perhaps the shepherd led them to other fields across gorges and deep valleys where in the shadows animals could be lurking. But the shepherd is with them and they need not fear for he would protect them with his weapon, a rod to fend off predators... and his staff, a long strong stick with a crook in it to pull them out of the bush where they might get caught or out of the water where they might drown.
He may lead them into higher tablelands maybe even close to his home where he could take care of them all year round.
The Psalm ends with a promise, surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of he Lord forever.
Satan has no happy old people. He offers the best first and the worst last... seemingly starting sweet and ending sour. He is a deceiver - shows good times and doesn't show the drunk passed out on the ground or the drunk driver who is ruining homes.
Jesus instead saves the best for last not like Satan. At the wedding in Cana the host said they had saved the best wine for last - the best is yet to come. We sing "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before" and "The Longer I serve him, the sweeter he grows."
The last verse of the Psalm tells us of the certainty of heaven.
1) the Certainty of heaven - SURELY.
John 14 - Let not your heart be troubled. Heaven is a real place. Jesus told the thief on the cross today you WILL be with me in PARADISE. Paradise is the presence of all good... where God is!
2) Heaven is a Company of people - Heaven is not a structure, it is a household, a company of people, a city whose founder is God. In John 17:24, Jesus said "Father, I will that they be with me."
3) The Constancy of heaven - heaven has no end, heaven is forever... a long, long time. He gives us eternal life, life everlasting.
4) The last verse reminds us that Goodness and Mercy are following us... pursuing us... all our lives because of how much he loves us. He gives us abundant life. in 1935 on a winter night in NYC, Mayor LaGuardia visited Night Court and gave the judge the night off. He said I will take your place tonight. The police brought in a raggedly elderly old woman who stole a loaf of bread because her grandchildren were starving. The mayor asked "Do you really want to press charges against her?" "Yes" was the reply. All right $10 dollars or 10 days in jail! He took $10 from his wallet and paid her fine and said you are free to go. And then he turned to the people in the courtroom and said I fine all of you 50c because you agreed with calling her guilty. They collected $47.50 and he gave it all to her. The NYC paper the next morning reported the incident and said even the store owner, 70 petty criminals, the mayor and policemen collected her fine. She got what she didn't deserve - she got MERCY.
That is what we get when Jesus Christ becomes our savior and lord and judge... GOODNESS AND MERCY!
The couple had been married for 60 years and there were no secrets between them except one. The wife had put a shoebox on the shelf in the top of the closet and told her husband to never open it. He trusted her and he never opened it… for 60 years. The wife got sick and went to the hospital. The doctor said it looks very serious. So she sent her husband to the house and told him to bring her the shoebox. She opened it and in it were 2 crocheted dolls and lots of money. There were 50 bundles of $1,000 each - $50,000. My grandma gave me the shoebox and said don’t do or say anything when you are upset with your husband. Just make a doll and put it in the shoebox. So I did. The husband said wow. I’ve done so good… after 60 years, there are only two dolls in the box but what about the money? She said, I took all the dolls I crocheted and sold them for $1 and put the money in the box.
So for 60 years without speaking a cross word to him when she was upset, she saved a lot of money.
In Psalm 19 we see 3 specific ways God is speaking to us.
1) In verses 1-6 God is speaking to us from the heavens, revealing his glory and greatness.
2) In verses 7-11 he is speaking to us through scripture revealing his goodness.
3) In verses 12-14 he is speaking to our souls reminding us of his love and grace.
Today we are using the old saying… Stop, Look and Listen.
1) Verses 1-6 Stop and look up at the heavens and what he made. Now listen to what he says in these verses.
V. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament show his handiwork.
Amazing facts about God's greatness and glory in his creation of the heavenly bodies. There are millions and millions of stars. It is estimated there are 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 of them and God created them all. The temperature on the sun is estimated at 12,000 degrees. The earth tilts on an angle of 23 degrees and rotates on its axis every 24 hours, so the sun won’t burn us up and we get to enjoy the 4 seasons. The air we breathe is a perfect mixture of 79% nitrogen and 20% oxygen so we can survive. The earth is 71% water… any more and the entire world would be a swamp. All this didn’t just happen. The earth is crying out that things happened not by chance but by design. Scientists call this a teleological design and it loudly calls for a master designer. Romans 1:19-20 tells us that "that which is made is clearly understood," making known its creator.
So God is speaking to us through the skies, the heavens… of his Glory and Greatness.
2) Verses 7-11 Stop and look down at the Word of God and listen to him and see his forgiveness, his love and his hope.
In these verses are found 6 couplets and 6 titles or synonyms for scripture – law of the Lord, testimony of the Lord, statutes of the Lord, commandment of the Lord, fear of the Lord, judgments of the Lord.
6 characteristics – perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true and righteous
6 results of engaging with the Word – converting the soul, making wise the simple, rejoicing the heart, enlightening the eyes, enduring forever, warning the servant… lifting you up, knowledge flows into our minds challenging the mind, delighting the heart, will benefit your life.
John Bunyan said “Either God’s Word will keep you from sinning or sin will keep you from God’s Word.” Scripture will always be relevant no matter how old you are.
3) Verses 12-14 Stop and look into your soul. We see ourselves as God sees us, as sinners needing a Savior. Verse 12 - Cleanse me from secret faults, presumptuous sins, (things only you and God know about). David thought he could get away with adultery and murder because he was king, but he was wrong. In these verses God reveals his great grace. A change can and needs to take place in our lives through his grace.
Verse 13 – three thoughts - 1) give me a way to deal with presumptuous sins… 2) don’t let my sins control me… 3) declare me as innocent even though I am a sinner.
HOPE is spelled J E S U S.
God has not stopped speaking to us through the heavens, through scripture and to our souls. As with a radio station signal, we can get out of range; we move too far away from his voice. We let stuff clutter our communication with God and they cause too much interference. In those times when we can’t hear God speaking we must unclutter our lives and get to where we can hear him, and he will speak to us.
James said it well… Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
HMA - Home Owners Association - determine expectations for homeowners in their neighborhood association. They have covenants regarding maintenance of your lawn, when to put your trash out, what kinds of bushes, how many pieces of yard art, etc. rules for how to live together peacefully. If you don't obey the rules, you may get a letter or you may get a fine. Each group has its own expectations.
Does God have rules or expectations for a Christian?
Psalm 15 helps us draw a picture of what a Christian should be like... in church, praying, reading the Bible. But what about outside the church?
In this psalm, the priest would ask "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle (the portable worship tent that traveled with the Israelites everywhere they went)? Who shall abide in thy holy hill (referring to the Temple in Jerusalem)?
There are 5 things in verses 2-5 that say how the worshiper should respond.
1) Walk uprightly... consistently in your walk before the people... in righteousness, doing what was right in your private moments. C.S. Lewis said integrity is what you do when no one is watching. How did you walk this past week when no one was watching you?
2) How you talk - speaking the truth in your heart. Doesn't backbite, doesn't slander, doesn't seek evil against your neighbor, etc. How we talk each week is a picture we draw of what kind of Christian we are. Jesus named a few in Mark 7:20-23 - "the things that come from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man." The question is, Which father have you been more like this past week?
3) How we view people by how they treat God. If they honor the Lord and his word, you honor them. But if they are vile, you cannot agree with them, these things show you how you should view them.
4) Do not make a promise and not keep it. v.4 He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 When you vow a vow unto the Lord, be sure you keep it, for the Lord will require it of you.
5) Lending and taking a reward against the innocent. Give rather than lend. The borrower becomes slave to the lender.
Can we always do these things? NO Ecclesiastes 7:20 "for there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.." Romans 3:10 "As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one."
Let us pray with the Psalmist - 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." And 51:17 "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise." O God, we know you will give us what we need. He is slowly making us more and more like himself. 1 John 3:2 - "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
When we get to heaven, only then will we be fully qualified.
None of these describe what we do in church. God is interested in how you act outside the church building.
"Let Others See Jesus in You"
There was a shepherd boy watching his sheep... sees hundreds of stars and thinks about God and his greatness. He thinks about how insignificant man is compared to God. The writer of this Psalm could easily be David. This is the only Psalm totally spoken to God.
In V.4 he asks... God why do you think about man? We also find these words in Hebrews 2:6-8.
Even today we hear people debate that question. Some underestimate man and say that man is just a blob of protoplasm. He is just an insignificant inhabitant on a planet moving through the universe. Others overestimate man and say that man is the greatest of all and his glory is the highest of all animals.
This Psalm helps us to answer the question with three words. 1) Crowned; 2) Charged; 3) Changed.
1) Crowned - Psalm 8:4-5 says God has crowned man with glory and honor. How did we get here? God made man a little lower than the angels. God gave man a great destiny. Genesis 1:26 says we are made in the image of God. Of all of God's creation, man alone can communicate with God. Man has a God-shaped vacuum inside him and cannot rest until communication with God is established. God didn't love us because we are valuable to him but we are valuable to God because we are loved by him. When man sinned he broke communication with God. God didn't want a robotic response from us because of his unconditional love, so he gave man the power to choose.
2) Hebrews 2:8 - Man has been charged as guilty before God. Man was given dominion over the beasts of the field, the birds of the air and the fish in the sea, and has put all things in subjection to him. Hebrews reminds us that not quite all things were under him, but rather suffering and death were under Jesus' dominion. Hebrews 2:9 says but we see Jesus... Why did he have to come? To suffer and die and save us from our sins.
3) Changed - But the Bible says that we can be changed by grace. Ephesians 2:8-9...We are saved by grace through faith, it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, all things become new.
Jesus paid the debt on the cross so we would have a home in heaven. How do we know that Jesus cares? He wept at the funeral of his friend.
Song Does Jesus care, "Oh yes he cares, I know he cares! His heart is touched with my grief; when the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares."
Christ/ian - literally, little Christs... we are little Christs when we act like him, talk like him, do like him and look like him.
Amy Grant song - "My Father's Eyes"
"She has her father's eyes, eyes that find the good in things, when good was not around; eyes that found the source of help when help would not be found; eyes full of compassion seeing every pain; knowing what you're going through and feeling it the same."
Oh Yes He Cares!
Psalms is the Hebrew Hymnbook. Contrast is the state of being different. eg. Dark... Light; Early... Late; Conservative... Liberal.
Psalm 1 is a contrast of Saved vs Lost. This psalm of David is considered a wisdom psalm... a contrast between a man on the road with God v.1-3; vs a man on the road without God v.4-6. God doesn't divide people horizontally - young and old, rich and poor, etc. but he divides people vertically - in their relation with him.
V.1 - Blessed, "happy"... he tells us how to be happy in life. 1) he is known by the companions he shuns; walking... with ungodly people; standing... in their way; sitting... in deep conversation with them. 3 types of people to shun - a) ungodly and their counsel, they have no time for God, they are good at works, but not at faith. b) the deny-er, who misses the mark and sins intentionally. c) the scornful, who speaks against God and criticizes believers as naive and unthinking. He gets more involved in his life without God. A true believer shuns these types of people and knows how to say "NO."
V2 In His law doth he meditate day and night. He is known by what he does do, and delights in the times he spends in the Word. He desires communion with God. His teachings come from his relationship with the Holy Spirit. Meditate - like the cow chewing the cud. Food is taken into one of the stomachs. and later calls it up and chews on it some more.
V.3 He is like a tree... with strong roots and protected by God. A saint is an ordinary person who said "yes" to God. God will prosper his deeds.
V.4 Ungodly like chaff that the wind blows away. The chaff is the outer covering of wheat and as the winnowing fork tosses the wheat in the air, the chaff is blown away. The ungodly is deficient in worth in God's economy.
V.5 Consequently the ungodly will not stand in the congregation of the righteous; not stand through the judgment that befalls him, he is found guilty and . Not everyone is going to the same place. There is a clear distinction from the righteous.
V.6 He is doomed in eternity. "shall perish" which is a mathematical term meaning "0" or having no value. "The Way of the righteous." The way is the road you are walking on through life, but there is a chasm on this road... a gulf fixed that cannot be crossed in order to get into heaven without faith in Jesus Christ as God's only begotten Son. Christ is the bridge between God and man - on the way from earth to heaven. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one can go to the Father except through HIM!
Try to remember the most expensive banquet you have ever attended. The word banquet actually stands for people and platters. Today we are looking at a totally different type of banquet - at this banquet there was a disembodied handwriting on a wall that ended with the message of doom and decay.
The background for this message goes back to King Nebuchadnezzar.
1) Between the end of chapter 4 to the beginning of chapter 5 some 30 years passed and King Nebuchadnezzar dies, but before he did he praised and honored the King of heaven, who is just and true and able to bring to shame all who are so prideful (4:37). He was a great king and his nation was high but during these years was brought low. His grandson, Belshazzar, became co-regent of Babylon. He was young, immoral and brash.
2) Babylon was one of the great cities of that age - 15 miles wide, 60 miles long and had in it one of the wonders of the world. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built like a pyramid with all of the most beautiful flowers in the world. In such an arid, dry climate, how did they do that? The Euphrates River ran through the middle of the city. For their protection the outer wall was 350 feet high and 300 feet wide. Next was a deep moat. The inner wall was 250 feet high. They were believed to have enough food for 20 years. They were secure and prideful.
1st TRUTH - REVELRY was prevalent. They were an immoral culture. Belshazzar decided to throw a banquet celebrating their success. Everyone was invited - not just the men but also their wives and concubines. The banquet table was built to be 1650 feet wide and a mile long. Imagine that boast of self-greatness. They had trained peacocks which pulled carts of food. They drank and drank and drank. They all got drunk. He sent for the golden cups from the Temple to drink wine from them to toast their pagan gods. The nation was in deep decline and the last step was their mocking of a Holy God, the decay of their society and their immorality.
So today... America where are you? Christian where are you? Your heart is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. God sees and knows when we mock him.
2nd TRUTH - REVELATION, God exposes our sin. THE ARMLESS HAND was the best detox method for this young immoral king to become sober instantly. He called in his wise men to decipher this message. The Bible says a woman (possibly his grandmother, Mrs. Nebuchadnezzar) remembered Daniel and how he had explained what dreams meant. Daniel was offered rewards for his interpretation of this message. Daniel refused these rewards and reminded him that they had forgotten what his grandfather had done and they have now allowed such immorality to happen. God is saying "Mene" the time is here now; "Tekel" you have been found wanting, the scales have found you deficient in God's eyes; "Peres or Parsen" which means your kingdom is divided between the Persians and Medes. It will be taken from you.
3rd TRUTH - RETRIBUTION We have the actual date that this came true - October 12, 534 BC. The Medes dug a huge ditch from the Euphrates. Once the ditch was opened the Euphrates water was diverted and the level of the river in the city went down significantly. The Medes then simply invaded Babylon by walking under the wall of the city. God judged Belshazzar and it was totally unexpected. We are not promised tomorrow. If God sent you or me a message, what would it say?
4th TRUTH - REPENTANCE God offers forgiveness. Jesus said repentance must be preached to all generations. Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
The scene is the Pearly Gates 1)The first man said I should be allowed into heaven because I give so much to the poor and needy. Jesus said, "depart from me." 2) The second man said I have been a good man all my life. Jesus said "Depart from me." 3) The third man said I go to church every Sunday and I obey every ritual. Jesus said to him "Depart from me." 4) The fourth man said I am a sinner and I cling to the cross for my salvation. Jesus said "Come in." Our Justice Department says church people are more likely to be terrorists. But in reality we are TRUSTEES FOR GOD AND HIS WORD.
If someone were to ask you about your hometown where you grew up, you could no doubt tell them all about it. We hear Jesus talk about his hometown... not Bethlehem, not Nazareth... but heaven in John 14. Since he came to earth from heaven, he naturally could tell us all about his hometown.
Three quick observations about Jesus' hometown, heaven: 1) It is real - it is not just a hope or a promise, it is real!; 2) It is relational. It is a dwelling place where God and all the saints live, where they are related to each other and to God, through his son Jesus Christ; 3) It is reserved. It is not for everybody, but only for those who have made a reservation through faith in God's only begotten son, Jesus Christ.
0Want to take the best day trip ever?! What if you could go to heaven for only 5 minutes? If you could, you would be absolutely changed! What would it be like? Who would we meet?
Look in Revelation 21. What would some observations be?
1) It is BIG - V.16 - it is some 1500 square miles (equal to the eastern half of the United States). Of course, we really don't know if John meant for us to take it literally or figuratively. Either way it is huge, big enough for God and all his children to have a place.
2) It is BRIGHT - V.23 - not lighted by the stars or moon or sun, but by THE SON, by the glory of Jesus and the light is moving.
3) It is BEAUTIFUL - V.10,11, ff - walls of jewels, streets of gold as clear as glass, gates of a single pearl.
4) It is BOUNTIFUL - V.22:2 Everything is perfect, we discover this is where we want to be.
5) The BIOLOGY OF HEAVEN - v.21:24 - it the place where a study of life is most important... all of life. You will see people you never knew. Billy Graham, Lottie Moon, Annis Armstrong, great people of the faith - Abraham, Moses, Elijah, etc. You will see perfectly through all the ages.
Let's notice at least 5 activities.
1) We will worship without distinction.
2) We will serve without exhaustion.
3) We will fellowship without fear.
4) We will learn without fatigue.
5) We will rest without boredom.
There will be no end to the perfect day!
There are some things we will not see! polluted sky, polluted water, crime, violence, drug pushers, child molesters, potholes, bitterness, wheelchairs, firemen, policemen, cancer, old people, no one will age, can eat without worry of getting fat or heart disease from obesity.
You can not just hope or think that you are going to heaven. You can know for certain. He did the hard part, dying for your sins and mine. We must choose whether we will put our faith in Jesus as taking our place on the cross so we could have a place in his heaven, his hometown. We have to choose Jesus in order to go to heaven.
Evangelism Explosion asks the penetrating question... If you were standing at the gate of heaven and God were to ask you, why should I let you into my heaven? Heaven's door hinges on your response.
A son came to his dad and told him he was getting near graduation and he said he needed a car. His dad said, OK, if you will do three things and then come back to me and I will get you a car. If you will keep good grades, get a job and get your haircut, I will get you a car. A few weeks passed and the son came back to his father. The father said I see you are keeping your grades up, and you got a job, but you still haven't gotten a haircut. The son went and got an old Bible with pictures of Moses and Jesus in it. The son said, see, Dad, Moses had long hair and so did Jesus. The dad quickly replied, and they walked everywhere they went.
In Deuteronomy 4 we find God telling fathers to observe his commandments and teach them to their children. In Ephesians 6 we find God telling fathers to teach them his ways and not provoke them to wrath.
Now in Micah 6:6-8 we find the Israelites asking what should I bring? What is expected of me? This is true in the secular world as well as the spiritual world. What does your boss or teacher or coach expect of you? And more importantly what does God expect of you?
Giving has always been an important part of worship. So the writer asks what does God want from me?
V.6 asks the question, what should I bring... burnt offerings? V.7 what pleases God? thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil or offering my firstborn? God does not want stuff. He wants you.
Jesus tells us in the NT the story of the two worshipers who came to the temple and one said Lord I am glad I am not like that man. I am important to you... I give a lot of money to the Temple. While the other man simply said Lord be merciful to me, a sinner. Jesus also told in his Sermon on the Mount, when you come to bring your offering to worship, if you have problems with your brother, go first and make things right and then come and make your offering. God looks at the giver more than he looks at the gift. Blessings don't come because you do religious stuff.
Micah deals with the person to person (horizontal) relationship as well as the Person to God (vertical) relationship.
1) DO JUSTICE - Also in Exodus 23:6; Deuteronomy 24:17; Isaiah 1:17. Make sure everyone gets what they are due. In Vs 10-11 we see that there were deceitful business practices, wicked unequal weights to overcharge people. Everyone was to be treated equally and fairly. When you look at Lady Justice you never see her eyes. She isn't looking at the person. She only sees right and wrong.
2) LOVE MERCY - Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. God gives better than we deserve, so we should do likewise... give others better than they deserve for then you are acting the way God acts. Romans 5:8 says that "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." We didn't deserve for Jesus to die for our sins.
3) WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD - a person should not walk as proud but walk with humility. How do we react when God blesses us? Do we think "well I deserved that?" Live humbly with thankful hearts. Remember the second worshiper... Lord, be merciful to me a sinner. Jesus prayed in the garden, "Not my will, but thine be done." Sometimes our Heavenly Father lets us tangle up our lives so badly until we humble ourselves and ask Him for help.
We should be constantly aware of our need for our Heavenly Father.
Every dad needs a father.
One of the most popular TV programs was MASH (Mobile Army Service Hospital). Jamie Farr playing Corporal Klinger attempted to publish a newspaper which included the weather. In it one time he wrote, Tomorrow will be clear, maybe cloudy, hot, maybe cold, and rain, maybe not. Weather predictions are likely guesses, 40% rain, to me means 60% no rain. His uncertainty led to confusion.
It's one thing to be uncertain about the weather; it is totally important about where you stand with God and where you are going after you die. Some people sit in pews week after week, hearing and singing about Jesus and his offer of salvation. They believe and even try to apply it to their lives. But if somebody asked them on Monday if they were sure that when they died they would go to heaven... some would honestly say, I hope so... maybe... can anybody know for sure? The only things certain in this life are death and taxes.
Why do a lot of Christians have questions or doubts about whether they will go to heaven or not?
1) They have accepted non-biblical doctrine. There are many religions that will tell you that you can go to heaven their way. be good, obey laws, help others...etc. Your works will impress God enough to save you. There are even some so called Christian preachers who say that they are not certain that there might be another way to get into heaven other than through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Charismatic(must receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues to get into heaven).
2) They live an inconsistent life and question their salvation because they continue to sin...
3) Unanswered questions. If I am really saved, why is this bad thing happening to me? If God really loves me, why did he allow...?
Uncertainty leads to confusion, and many Christians are going through life in defeat and confusion wondering if they are really saved or not!
These are Question Mark Christians!
This message is intended to make Question Mark Christians into Exclamation Point Christians.
The Bible says we can know for certain! We can have the assurance to know that when we die we will go to heaven!
1 John can be called the "know so" letter. 39 times in 5 chapters John uses the word know (to not have any doubt). {Also in 2 Timothy 1:12 - "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I committed unto against that day (guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. "}
Salvation has a 3 part meaning and experience.
1] There is a point of decision! Not based on what you did but what you believed. I have been saved - 1 John 5:10-11 - "10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Maybe God used a sermon, VBS, revival, tragedy, friend, parent, scripture,etc. You realized you were a sinner and needed forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who is saved has a point when they prayed and asked Jesus to save them. There was an intersection of your life and the life of Christ. That was your spiritual birthday and the time when you were delivered from the penalty of your sins.
2] There is a process - I am being saved... V12 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. We who have been saved from the penalty are now being saved from the power of sin. Because Satan still tempts us at our weakest point and although we have the power to resist Satan, sometimes we fail and yield to that temptation. Some days and weeks are better than others and we follow him perfectly. Someone has said that there are two dogs fighting inside your life for control. A little boy asked which won will win, and the reply was whichever one you feed the most.
3) There is a Promise - I will be saved How long will it last? How long can I be sure? V 13 eternal life... just keeps on going... there is no expiration date on God's promise of your salvation. John 10:27-29 Never perish; Philippians 1:5-6 He will complete the work begun in you; 1 Peter 1:5 kept by the power of God... until the last time.
Salvation never has depended on me, but on God and he will take me to heaven one day.
John Newton, author of Amazing Grace was a wicked, evil, cruel slave trader, buying and selling slaves in England. Shipwrecked, he asked God to have mercy on him. God changed him, sold his ship, gave up slave-trading, became a leader in the anti-slavery movement. He was radically changed... Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
DO YOU have a point in your life when you asked Jesus to save you from the penalty of your sins?
DO YOU realize you have God's power in you to resist the temptation to sin?
DO YOU have the promise of God to move you to heaven when you die?
(Still in progress)