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If I were to ask you the question: “If you were to die right now, are you 100% sure that you would go to heaven?” What would be your reply?
Many have said: “No one knows for sure.” or “I’m 95-99% sure.” “I don’t know.” I run into a few who say with surety: “I am sure I would go to heaven.”
I would like to share with you, from the Bible, God’s Word, how you can be 100% sure.
I John 5:13 says: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”. Notice the word “know.” When you know something you are 100% sure.
Now, how can you know? To simply determine this, one must know what the Bible says in regard to salvation. Some believe that their religion will save them …. But they are not sure of heaven either. Many will say that “I must do the best I can.” Others: “Keep the 10 commandments.” This all amounts to a system of good works.
I submit to you, that if our religion or good works would save our souls – then why did Jesus die on the cross? Let’s see what the Bible says about our good works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”.
Galatians 3:1-3 “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
In Romans 11:6 we read: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”.
Now, I realize that if I put all of the verses on works from the Bible in this post – it would be very lengthy. Would you read it all? The verses above basically teach us that our good deeds do not save us – we cannot save ourselves – we need the salvation that the Lord provides for us.
Galatians 3:24-25 regarding the Law – reads as follows: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster”.
Here we read that the Law was given to show us what sin is. The Law was our teacher, to teach us right from wrong. Why? So we could be saved by faith.
One day, someone took their Bible and shared with me how to be sure of heaven. Allow me to share it with you. It changed my life and my destiny.
First of all – in the Book of Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”
Vserse 12 reads: “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one”. Then verse 23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” I thought “I’m in a bad spot. If I am not good or righteous and am a sinner, I have no hope. What will I do?”
The person went on to share with me the following. Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He explained that God loved me so much that He sent Jesus to die for me. Jesus Christ paid for all my sins, He took the punishment for me, so that I wouldn’t have to.
The, he went to Romans 6:23 which reads: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Hmmmm I’m going to die one day, where will I go?
Being a sinner, I would surely go to hell. But I read and was told that God has a gift for me. That gift is eternal life and it comes from Jesus Christ. God’s gift does not come through me or my goodness or my keeping the 10 Commandments, but it is a GIFT.
O.K. How do I get God’s gift? Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” God’s gift is received by us when we acknowledge that we are a sinner;
and then we receive Christ into our hearts and lives.
Verse 13 reads: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Whosoever means ANYBODY can be saved and it by faith in what God did for us. Whosover means YOU.
In II Peter 3:9 we are told that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. You see, God’s will is for folks to be saved and NOT to perisy = spend eternity in hell. My friend, God loves us so much that He made a plan for mankind. That plan was for us to have eternal life – to be saved – to go to heaven. That plan was for God to come to this world as Jesus Christ – God’s “only begotten son.” He went to the Cross paying the price for every sin that you and I ever committed. He arose the third day, conquering death, hell and the grave fou you and for me. He offers us salvation, a FREE GIFT – forgiveness of sins and a home in heaven. He says that if we believe and receive, we shall be saved.
My friend, would you, now receive Jesus Gift of salvation? If so, the following prayer can be of a help to you. It is not just reciting some words, but it is belief in your heart.
“Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me of all my sins. I now ask Jesus Christ to come into my heart and save my soul. In Jesus name, A-men”.
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Matthew 2 – Visit Of The Magi
Vs 1 – Micah 5:2 – Bethlehem was about six miles southwest of Jerusalem.
From the East – Persia or Arabia
Wise men – gentiles. They were scholars.
“Magi,” a term which designates an order of priests and philosophers which belonged originally to Persia and Media, and who were extensively distributed over the region of the Euphrates.
Vs 2 – They saw His star – In the East is where they were when they say it.
His star – Among the ancients, the appearance of a star or comet was regarded as an omen of some remarkable event. Perhaps they knew the prophecy of Numbers 24:17.
Come to worhip – not necessarily a religious worship. This was the mode in which homage was paid to earthly kings; and this they wished to pay to the new-born King of the Jews.
Vs 3 – Herod was troubled – Herod had obtained the kingdom by great crimes, and by shedding much blood. He was, therefore, easily alarmed by any remarkable appearances; and the fact that this star appeared, and since it was regarded as proof that the King of the Jews was born, alarmed him. Besides, it was a common expectation that the Messiah was about to appear, and Herod feared that his reign was about to come to an end.
Jerusalem was troubled – Herod, fearing rivalry, put to death three of his sons, and several other men and women. The whole city was upset because the people knew only too well what he could do when in a rage over the thought of another rival.
Vs 4 – Chief priests and scribes – the heads of the four and twenty courses of the priests and the High priest and his deputy.
Scribes -transcribers of the Law and they read the Law in the synagogue. Later, they became interpreters of the law and referred to as lawyers.
Vs 5 – Written by the prophet – Micah 5:2. They answered without hesitation. 700 yrs before this, the prophecy was written and the priests and scribes knew it. Yet, we find no evidence that these men went to Bethlehem to try and find the Messiah
Vs 6 – Bethlehem …Juda – This distinguishes it from Bethlehem, in the tribe of Zebulon
Not the least – this distinction lifts it from the lowest to the highest rank. Out of a small city comes a new King – the Messiah.
Rule – to tend as a shepherd – to feed
Vs 7 – When did star appear? – This would give Herod clue as to the age of the new “King”
Vs 8 – Herod wants to worship Him – What hypocrisy here. He only wished to find the child that he might murder him. He sent the wise men that they might actually see him, and bring him word.
Vs 8 – Wicked men often hide their evil motives under the appearance of religion. They attempt to deceive those who are really good, and to make them think that they have the same belief. But God cannot be deceived, and He will bring them to punishment.
Vs 9 – The star took them to Jerusalem on route to Bethlehem.. The wise men perhaps thought that a “King” would be born in a Palace; that’s why they went there first. The star guided them to the house where Jesus was.
A real or ordinary star would have stood indiscriminately over every house in Bethlehem, and would have been no aid whatever toward finding the right child.
Stood over where … they were guided by it to the exact spot by His star.
Vs 10 – When they saw star – Standing over where the child was.
They rejoiced – their search was complete – they found what they had been looking for; success. A Saviour was found.
Vs 11 – Came into house – they place where they lived. Jesus was now about two years old.
They fell down and worshipped Him – (fell down) This was the usual way of showing respect or homage among the Jews. Worshipped – paid homage & showed reverence.
They worshipped Him – not Mary but Jesus
Gifts - The people of the East never approach the presence of kings and great personages, without a present in their hands.
Frankincense was an aromatic used in sacrificial offerings: It was fragrant when burned, and was, used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God.
Myrrh was used in perfuming ointments. The name denotes bitterness, and was given to it on account of its great bitterness. It was used chiefly in embalming the dead, because it had the property of preserving them from putrefaction.
Gold showed that the Magi were affluent & was a usual offering to a king. These offerings were made because they were the most valuable which their country produced. They were tokens of respect and homage which they paid to the new-born King of the Jews. These offerings would be used in the long and expensive trip to Egypt, by Joseph and Mary, and to help with their living expenses in Egypt.
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John 3:16
“He gave His only begotten Son”
Introduction: There is no sweeter verse in the Bible. It declares:
A. That God is love
B. That He loved the world instead of hating it
C. He so loves that He gave His Son. Jesus did not come to appease the Father’s wrath, but He came because God loved so well.
D. He came to keep mankind from perishing.
I. If we could measure the love of God, we would have to measure it by Calvary.
A. The measure of love is always its willingness to “give.”
B. The measure of love is its capacity for sacrifice.
C. In our text – the word “for” = a primary particle used in argumentation – explanation or intensification … It denotes that there is NO DOUBT.
D. There is no doubt about God’s love. He “so loved” = on this fashion or in like manner. This teaches us that – there is NO DOUBT about the love of God … He proved His love for us “in this fashion” – He GAVE His only begotten Son.
II. God’s love is revealed in His giving
A. His giving is beyond all measure
B. We will never know what Calvary cost God
C. We will never know the love that lay behind the Cross of Calvary
III. Here we see the “oneness” of God the Father & God the Son
A. In giving the Son, the Father gave Himself
B. II Corinthians 5:19 (God was in Christ)
IV. Jesus was not just an agent that God used to send a message that He loves us
A. Jesus IS God Himself & God came to earth to love us
B. He just does not expound the love of God – He IS the love of God
C. God “so loved” = so freely – so fully – so sublimely
V. Think of How God the Father gave up His Son on the Cross
A. He incorporated the human nature into His Divine being.
B. This was done by a real human birth
C. Language now breaks down … Such love is beyond our words
D. God loved us in such a way that words cannot express
VI. Christmas is close by
A. In our minds and hearts .. we cannot separate His birth at Bethlehem from His death at Calvary. We cannot separate the cradle from the Cross
B. Without the virgin birth, there never would have been an atonement And without the atonement, there never would have been a virgin birth
Conclusion: The greatest thing that we can know about God is John 3:16 “For God so loved …”
I John 4:19 – Romans 5:6-8.
To experience God’s love is to FIRST, receive Him as Saviour. That is done by simple believing FAITH.
If you are saved – you experience God’s love John 14:15 & 17 – this is by serving, trusting, obeying, walking in His steps etc.
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John 3:16
“He gave His only begotten Son”
Introduction: The word “gave” means “gave up.” God gave His Son to the world;
But also for the world. We must think & realize just how horrible our sin is to require such a sacrifice, as God revealed to us, in the flesh of mankind.
I. His Giving Was A Free Gift
A. We don’t deserve it
B. We have no claim on it
C. It pleased God to give Himself, as Jesus, to die in our place & for our sins – I John 3:1
II. The Magnitude Of The Gift
A. John 3:16 “He gave …… Son.”
B. Its unending reach: He gave to a sinful world – Romans 5:8
C. God’s gift is impartial – ANYONE can receive it – Romans 10:13
III. God’s Gift Has Limits
A. Love is a mutual and binding grace between God and mankind
B. He will save ALL who come to Him by faith and receive Him
C. The limit = He will not save those who refuse Him – John 3:18 = the limit is set by us
IV. No Greater Gift Was Ever Given
A. He left the beauty and greatness of His Father’s throne – for a stable in Bethlehem
B. The Infinite became an infant
C. He left the riches of Glory for poverty on earth
D. He was tempted in every way that we are – hunger, grief, sadness, heartbreak
E. He suffered the shame of being beaten – spit on – A crown of thorns & iron spikes and a deadly spear
F. He tasted death for you and me. Jesus, the One without sin – became our sin bearer
G. He came – He toiled – He hungers and thirsts
He weeps – He suffers – He bleeds and dies
“For God so loved the world, that He gave (gave up) His only begotten Son
Conclusion: God’s giving is different than ours. We tend to give so we can get – God gives so we can get. God gives out of pure love. Our giving has limits (how much we can pay) God’s giving has no limits.
We usually give to friends. God gives to those who really don’t care about Him, Romans 5:6.
We give and want folks to appreciate our efforts and the gift we gave them.
God offers His gift to those who don’t appreciate it & don’t even realize their need for it.
Such Love – Such giving – the greatest gift of all.
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Introduction: Christmas will soon be upon us. “Peace on earth; good will toward men,” is the message. To some, it is just a symbolism of an annual festivity. Others will ponder the mystery of divine love which Christmas really is.
1. Yet, there is the striking contrast between “Peace on earth, good will toward men” and the present state of this world and our country. – It is filled with strife – ill will – international suspicions and cooked politicians.
– There is friction and factions – fears, unrest and war.
– the irony is this: The cure for all the worlds ills and this nation’s ills, lies wrapped up in swaddling clothes.
-The babe in the manger of Bethlehem came to seek and to save that which was lost.
2. The nations of the world need to stop and listen to the angels of Bethlehem. Millions of people with broken hearts – broken homes – living in war torn areas of this world need to go to Bethlehem.
3. If the great Christian religions of this world, had kept true to the word of God, true to the Jesus Christ of the Bible, how different would our country and this world be today. This is not a pathetic appeal but the tragic truth.
The problem we have is that the people of this world and the leaders of this world, have, rejected the babe in the manger – the Christ of the Bible – the King of Kings – the Lord of Lords. In Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Here, this great Christmas story teaches us – the babe in the manger came to save our souls
- Save us from our sins. What a wonderful gift to receive this Christmas the Gift of God’s love – forgiveness and salvation.
4. Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” There will never be peace on earth until there is first “Glory to God in the highest.”
5. The application is a direct one to all of us: Each of us should try to bring “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Bring it into our social lives – our work – our families – our friends and neighbors.
6. Luke 2:15 (read) shepherds “let us go NOW) = they came to Jesus VS 16 with haste (They didn’t wait or procrastinate). If you are a Christian – will you come to Jesus and ask His help? Believe in Him as your pray and ask? Will you live for Jesus and share Him with others?
When will you come to Jesus? He waits for you, even now. To come with haste and to receive His wonderful gift – to have your sins forgiven – to have salvation – to find peace in your heart and rest for your soul. The shepherds came with haste – they came as soon as they found out – how about you?
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Webster defines worry as: A troubled state of mind; anxiety; distress; care; uneasiness; something that causes anxiety or mental distress. Another definition in Webster is: To bite, pull or tear; to harass or treat roughly as with the continual biting or tearing with the teeth as the dog was worrying the old shoe.
In I Peter 5:7 where we are told: “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you …” The word for care is the same word that we would use for worry; both meaning anxiety. The Greek word also means “that which distracts.” Certainly worry will distract a person from their daily routine. In Philippines 4:6 where we are told “Be careful for nothing …” The word translated “CAREFUL” would be the equivalent to our English word “WORRY.” It basically means: “To be anxious about, to have a distracting care.”
In the book “How To Win Over Worry” by Dr. John Haggai, 1987; he begins by telling the reader that “You can die of worry.” He goes on to say that: “half of all hospital beds in the U.S. are occupied by people suffering mental disturbance.” (According to Mike Gorman, Dir. of the Nat’l Mental Health Committee).
Dr Haggai quotes Dr. Edward Podolsky in his book “Stop Worrying And Get Well,” It (worry) deals with the correlation between worry and heart trouble; worry and blood pressure; worry and rheumatism; ulcers, colds, thyroid malfunction, arthritis, migraine headaches and a host of stomach disorders.”
How Worry Becomes A Sin
1. Worry is distrust in the truthfulness of God.
When you worry, you accuse God of a falsehood. God’s Word says that: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28; worry says that God lied.
Philippians 4:13 tells us: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Worry says “You lied, God.” Phillippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” If we worry, are we not saying here, God you lied to me?
2. Concern is not worry and it is not wrong to be concerned. The last thing that we should do is be a people that is not concerned, for this leads to apathy. Concern, as Webster defines it is: be of interest or importance to; to involve or Interest; a matter of interest or importance to one; that which relates to or affects one as in business. We should have interests and be interested in matters such as our homes, our children. our jobs, our daily tasks, each other, hobbies etc. etc. Concern is showing an interest – for the situation, spiritual matters, concern for the unsaved.
3. When worry becomes a sin When it controls you rather than you controlling it When it causes you to neglect other responsibilities and relationships When you lose hope instead of finding answers when it damages your body
4. Some causes of worry – Matthew 6:25-34
a. A threat to something that is important to you: danger, loss of self- esteem; separation from others; undermining of our values; the impact of outward influences upon us; loss of job or the threat of a layoff; deep in debt; threatened by another person or persons; etc. etc.
b. Danger: crime; war; violent weather; unexplained or unexpected illness; taking a test; even a visit to the dentist can produce worry.
Why? Because the person is uncertain about what to expect and feels helpless to prevent or reduce the threat.
c. Self-esteem: Most people like to look good and perform competently. We feel threatened by anything that that might harm our self-image or imply that we are not competent.
Many will become anxious in a new social situation because they are not sure just how to act or feel threatened by the re-actions of others. Some people will avoid taking an exam, accept a promotion, or risk failure because of the possibility of failure and that it poses a risk to their self-esteem.
d. Separation: Being on your own can be confusing, and the pain can be intense when we have been left or rejected by an important person or by one that we love. The death of a loved one; moving; divorce; the breaking of an engagement; all can lead a person feeling uncertain bout the future and saddened by the gaping inner emotional void, and the wonder of “What do I do now? or “Where do I go from here?”
1. Values: We will feel threatened when our freedoms are in danger of being undermined or taken away. When someone else mocks or ridicules what you believe in or stand for; morals and religious beliefs, etc.
2. Unconscious Influences: Threats and influences can be pushed into our unconscious by our refusing to deal with it; the refusal to communicate with one another.
They will stay within our subconscious and fester and then when you are forced to deal with it, you really do not know how to deal with it. If we hide the problem in the back of our mind, hoping that “it will go away,” We do ourselves and others a great disservice. Remember …. it doesn’t go away until we deal with it.
3. Conflict: When a person is influenced by two or more pressures there is a sense of uncertainty that often leads to worry. People basically approach conflict in three ways.
a. The approach-approach: example, you may be faced with two different invitation on the same night. To decide which one to attend can often be difficult and sometimes it causes annxiety or worry.
b: Approach-avoidance: You want to do a particular thing, and then………………………………… you don’t.
Example: You may be offered a new job; to accept may bring new opportunities and more money and a chance for advancement; (the approach). On the other hand, it may necessitate a move out of town or out of state; the inconvenience of re-training; leaving friends and loved- ones, etc.
4. Avoidance-avoidance: Here, you have two alternatives, both of which can be unpleasant.
Example: You may have severe pain or an illness and need an operation that will also be painful and put you out of commission for a while. Most conflicts involve a struggle between two or more alternatives. There is a positive and a negative to them.
Worry and anxiety will exist until the choice is made, and sometimes after the decision is made while you wonder… “Did I really make the right choice?”
h. Fear: I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear …” Different people are afraid of failure; the future; rejection; war; intimacy; success; taking responsibility; conflict; a meaningless life; sickness; death; loneliness; change; and a lot of other real or even imagined possibilities.
Sometimes, these fears build up in one’s mind and create intense anxiety and worry as well as discouragement and depression; even when there is the absence of any real danger.
5. Un-met needs: Each of us may have a different view of what our basic needs are in life. Each of us might have different answers, all of which would be correct in your own personal life. If we fail to meet these or other needs, we can begin to worry over them. You may feel that all is “up in the air,” or you may feel frustrated or afraid. Now…lF all of your needs were met, would your life be complete, satisfying and worry free? Most likely not.
Remember … psychologists’ tell us that our feelings can change from 2,000 to over 3,000 times per day.
I Peter 5:7-9; and II Corinthians 11:3.
We can have no lasting freedom from our worries until we are at peace with God, resting in His promises and knowing the stability that comes from confessing our sins and realize that we have been forgiven when we have confessed them.
6. Individual differences: People react differently to the same problems and situations. Then there are those with claustrophobia; hydrophobia; and other phobias that are not in themselves dangerous.
6. Some Effects of Worry
a. Physical reactions: Ulcers, headaches, skin rashes, backaches, and various other physical problems.
b. Psychological reactions: if you have taken an exam or applied for a hard-to-get job, you will know what I mean. Did you ever have your mind go “blank” during a test? The actor who forgets their lines while on stage? We often worry if we will get it right or remember what we are supposed to remember, and by doing so, we have anxiety and we worry ourselves into failure.
c. Defensive reactions: Ignoring the situation; pretending that it does not exist; rationally explaining-away the symptoms; blaming someone else for your problems; alcohol; drugs; and other things in hopes that it will all just go away………………. and it don’, does it?
d. Spiritual reactions: Sometimes problems may motivate us to seek God’s help that we have previously ignored. Many people do turn to God in times of stress.
On the “flip side” of this; worry and stress can drive people away from God at the time in which they need it most. They quit reading their Bibles; slack off in their prayer life; start missing church: bitterness about why the Lord is .so seemingly silent in the face of your crisis. People get angry because bad things are happening to good people.
This is where TRUST comes in. When we begin to see another Christian faltering under the weight of stress and worry, we need to read Galatians 6.
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The First And The Last Revelation 22:13
Introduction: Jesus is the self-existent, independent, unchanging, eternal God. He originated the whole plan of salvation, He will determine its close; He formed the world, and He will wind up its affairs. Revelation 21:6 & Revelation 1:8 (reference is to Christ).
Some other references are: Isaiah 44:6 & Isaiah 48:12. In our text: Revelation 22:13 – A friend addresses us who was before all other friends; a friend who loved us long before we knew the love of a mother or father – Jeremiah 31:3
1. The First – This tells us that Christ always existed. John 1:1-3; John 1:14 – The Bible teaches us that Jesus is the “Word” of John 1:1 “In the beginning” precedes Genesis 1:1 John 16:28 – “again” John 8:58 – “I am” – Jesus is the Great I Am.
Isaiah 9:6 – Jesus is the “everlasting Father” The word “everlasting” in the Hebrew is “perpetually, world without end.”
2. His Preeminence – Colossians 1:18 – to be the first in rank – the highest. Jesus is to be supreme. Jesus is higher than all men. He is higher than angels. The brightness of the Father’s glory. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
3. The Work Of Creation – Colossians 1:16-17 It was through His hand that the material universe was framed. It is by His constant superintendence that the whole universe is carried on.
He is the cohesive force that holds the whole universe in order and harmony. Matthew 28:18 – “power” This means “authority” “jurisdiction” “right” “strength” “mastery” “control.”
4. His Relation To The Bible Christ is the FIRST in these sacred pages. Jesus is the creator and planning a new creation – Revelation 21:1 The object of the Holy Scriptures is to reveal the person of Jesus Christ.
5. His Relation To Redemption He is the first in the plan of salvation. John 1:17 Salvation has been accomplished through Christ – John 14:6 Jesus stands as the center and the head of God’s grandest work – the restoration of a ruined people. He offers salvation to sinners.
He paid all the cost for our salvation. He loves us with an everlasting love –Jeremiah 31:3 6.
The Last – This teaches us the eternal existence of Jesus The heavens and earth will pass away, but Jesus will still be here Luke 21:33 – Hebrews 13:8 He is the life of all life. He is the first and last of everything.
Revelation 1:11& 17 – 2:8 & 19 – 22:13 – Hebrews 12:2 Jesus is the finisher of our life and our work. Christ is the end and substance of all things. In the end – Revelation 20:10 – the devil meets his doom from the Lord. Conclusion: At life’s end, when we see Jesus as He is, we will find His heart a fountain of pure love. His smile is the substance of all joy; His life is the life of all life.
We will have nothing that is not a part of Him and connected with Him. Every face we see will reflect His beauty. Every joy we feel will be radiated from His heart. Every glory we wear, will be a reflection of His holiness.
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The Rock Of Ages Isaiah 26:3-4
Introduction: The words “everlasting strength” – in Hebrew, means the “Rock of Ages.” The Lord Jehovah is the “Rock of Ages”. The verse is the foundation for the beautiful hymn that has been sung for many years.
The Lord is our Rock The Rock of our heart The Rock of our salvation The Rock that is higher than we are The shadow of a great Rock in a weary land The Rock of Ages. 1
. The Rock – I Corinthians 10:1-4 This refers to the rock in Exodus 17:6. It speaks of Christ as our Saviour.
While perishing with thirst, Israel, was led by Moses to the face of the rock. Moses, the Lawgiver, lifted up his rod and smote the rock as God commanded. Immediately, water came poured out in a living stream. It was enough for all to drink and give to their cattle until their thirst was completely satisfied.
In like fashion, Jesus was smitten by the rod of the law and judges as our sacrifice and substitute. From His pierced side, flowed the water of life, where we can drink of His boundless mercies, His forgiving love and amazing grace. This water is what Jesus spoke of in John 4:10 & 14
2. The Following Rock – I Corinthians 10:4 “…the same spiritual rock that followed them …” The rock did not follow but it was the river that flowed from the Rock.
It followed them with floods of life and cleansing. The Rock of ages sends its living foundations all along our way. Desert may be all around us and wells may seem dry, but faith must take over and believe as the waters spring forth in abundance.
3. The Sheltering Rock – Psalms 61:2 & Isaiah 32:2 The shadow of a great, projecting rock, is the most refreshing. It protects from the sun and has a natural coolness. In Psalms 61:2 – the Rock is higher than David. It was too high for him to climb.
We will never reach the heights and majesty of God. God is our protector. He is always there for us. He will comfort us and give us peace and safe refuge. He gives the perfect security to those who put their trust in Him.
4. The Foundation Rock – I Corinthians 3:11 The Rock of Ages is also a foundation rock. It is a place to build upon. This is the resting place of faith and hope. Here, faith finds full assurance as it leans upon the promise – John 3:36. – I John 1:7 Mountains will fall and crumble, hills can be removed, but the Rock will stand.
Things of this world will rust away; buildings will decay; fire destroys homes; business can go out of business, but this Rock will stand forever. The Rock of Ages remains unshaken, and is unmovable, As we stand upon it, we shall be able to say: God is our refuge and strength He is an ever present help in trouble I shall never be afraid I am safe forevermore
Conclusion: There is much more that one can say about the names of Jesus and, here, the Rock. There are depth that no words can fully describe about Jesus Christ. Christ has been the rock of Ages. He has brought comfort to countless numbers of believers. He is the Cornerstone. Isaiah 28:16. He has been proved in temptation, in sickness, sorrow and in death. Our fathers and mothers have proved Him. Past generations have proved Him. Our past trials have proved Him. As the Rock of Ages, he will live through the future ages. He keeps us secure forever. Trust in the Lord for He is our Rock of Ages.
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The Wonderful Counselor Isaiah 9:6
Introduction: In the Old Testament, they were familiar with a child king. Samuel, as a child, had been Israel’s best prophet and judge. Young Josiah wore a crown at the age of 5 years and was Judah’s best king, after David.
1. The name: Wonderful Counselor, has reference to His prophetic work and office. He is our Prophet as well as our King. The term ‘counselor” has reference to His guidance more than to His teaching.
A person may know a lot and not necessarily be a good counselor. Jesus leads His trusting children in the right paths where we will not stumble.
2. The Lord often leads us contrary to the ideas, opinions and judgments of wise Men. His thoughts are high above our thoughts. Isaiah 55:9. He is to be our guide. Here, he may lead you to do something that you or others may think is foolish. Matthew 11:19
It must have seemed foolish to the Canaanites to have an army march around their city walls for seven days; blowing their trumpets and giving a shout. This was the wisest way in which to take Jericho.
How foolish it must have seemed to ask a widow to give away her last handful of meal to a stranger. She and her son were starving. But was God’s best way to save them from starvation and supply their need for the coming months.
Then, there is David. As a boy, how absurd to have him fight a giant and then, with only a simple sling and some stones. This was God’s way to give the victory.
God chose 12 men to evangelize the world. Some were uneducated fishermen; a tax collector who was hated and despised by the people. This was God’s wisdom and it displayed His mighty power.
3. Jesus is a wonderful counselor because we are weak and sometimes foolish.
Without His guidance, we would be utterly helpless. By committing ourselves to His guidance, we become weaker in ourselves and depend less and less on our own wisdom. This is, then, our strength. II Corinthians 12:10
4. He is wonderful in His patience and love. Jesus is willing to take infinite trouble with us. He teaches us, over and over, lessons that we are slow to learn. He repairs our mistakes and lifts us up when we stumble. What is it that we don’t understand?
He can unravel any difficulty. He takes interest in even the little and smallest detail of our lives. There is no tangle too involved for Him to unravel. Complications; difficult circumstances; nothing can be too extreme for Him to take hold of and lead us gently out into the light.
Even when we become rebellious and do stupid things, He is never provoked toleave us. He patiently waits, loves and leads us until He brings us to His perfect will.
5. The best part about Jesus as our counselor, is that He just doesn’t tell us what to do and give us a map of the way; He comes with us every step of the way and He becomes our own personal guide.
If you were to go on a fishing or hunting expedition in the mountains or in Alaska, and you asked a guide the best way to go, he would probably laugh at you. He would tell you that you would never find your way. He might say that he cannot tell you the way, but that he can show you the way and be your personal guide. John 10:4-5
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Introduction: Happiness can be defined as: To go forward – to be honest – to be proper – to be blessed.
1. Happiness is found in the ways of wisdom – Proverbs 3:17-18
2. Our happiness is in God – Psalms 73:25-26
3. Is described by Christ in the beatitudes – Matthew 5:3-12 “Rejoice” = to be glad – joyful – a calm happy or well off –
4. Happiness comes from a fear of God – Psalms 128:1-2 – Proverbs 28:14 “Fear” or “feareth’ = A reverent fear One great commentator of old said: “The fear of reverence, of dread to offend, of anxiety to please, and of entire submission and obedience. This fear of the Lord is the fit fountain of holy living: we look in vain for holiness apart from it: none but those who fear the Lord will ever walk in his ways.”
5. Happiness comes from trust in God – Proverbs 16:20 –Jeremiah 17:7 “trust” = bold confidence in God – to lean on. The word “trust” in the Old Testament is = to the word “faith” in the New Testament.
6. Happiness comes from obedience to God – John 13:17 – Psalms 40:8 In John, here, the word happy means: supremely blessed – fortunate. In Psalms, the word “delight” = desire – favor – well pleased – have pleasure James 1:25 7. Happiness comes from salvation – Isaiah 12:2-3 – Vs 3 – “with joy” = cheerfulness – gladness rejoicing. Psalms 118:14 – Psalms 144:15.
Knowing the Lord as savior is happiness. The confidence that we ARE saved and will be in heaven some day. Happiness in knowing that God saves us and keeps us saved. Conclusion: There are things in life that make us happy and things that make us sad. Things are temporary in this life. Christians can find happiness in the midst of the trials of life. Happiness in the things of the Lord: His Word – His salvation – His wisdom – trust – obedience – reverent fear. Find happiness in the things of the Lord and it will last.
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Introduction: When we think of God’s goodness, what comes to your mind? In Psalm 25:8, the word “good” in the Hebrew means: Best, better, bountiful, cheerful, loving, pleasant, precious just to name a few of the descriptions. In Psalms 52:1, we find the word “goodness.” Means: Beauty, kindness, mercy.
1. Goodness is a part of God’s character. Psalms 25:8 Because God is good and upright, He will teach sinners the right way or the way of salvation.
Since man has a free will, man either receives or rejects Christ by his own decision. Nahum 1:7 – Good refers to His nature and conduct.
2. God’s goodness is abundant. Exodus 34:6 Abundant means: Exceedingly full, great; sufficient.
Psalms 33:5 – the earth is full of His goodness.
The word “full” here, means overflow.
3. God’s goodness is enduring. Psalms 23:6 – Psalms 52:1
David sets his happiness in the reverence and service of God and not in the pleasures of this world.
These twin guardian angels (goodness and mercy) will always be with me at my back. The saved enjoy communion with God and will be with Him forever.
4. God’s goodness is rich. Romans 2:4 – This is a Hebrew mode of speaking, for “his rich Goodness;” It quotes Exodus 34:6.
“Riches” denotes that which abounds or exceeds what you and I presently want.
Psalms 104:24 – God’s riches are the product of His power and kindness. God did not make the earth a poor house, but a palace.
God’s table is not bare; He has filled the earth with food.
All the riches of the earth are not the wealth of nation but the riches of the Lord. If His house below is so full of riches what must His house above be, where “The very streets are paved with gold”.
5. God’s goodness can be known.
Psalms 34:8 – “Taste” is used here, figuratively. It means to perceive.
“Taste and see” means to “try it and to experience it.”
One preacher of old said: “You cannot perceive what the sweetness of honey is, you must taste it to perceive it.
The same applies to the Christian life. One cannot know the sweetness of the Lord unless they first receive Him as Saviour. First you taste the honey and you know …. First you receive Christ and then you can know
