My Presence Shall Go With Thee

(#222, Yermo, 1944; Watchnight service, 1949)

Read Exodus 32:30-33:6,12-17.

Consider the setting of the text as it relates to our setting.  Looking back in retrospect (as we do to 1939) they could see discouragement, failure, complaint, the sin of turning to the golden calf.  Yet God's blessings -- his mercies -- to the children of Israel stand out like stars in a dark night.

Looking ahead in prospect they could see an impossible task, that of conquering Canaan.  Moses must have the presence of the Lord.  God promised Moses: "My presence shall go with thee." We too have this promise (Matthew 28:20).

Think about these simple truths...

ƒ    Whose presence?  God's presence!

The all powerful, all sufficient, all wise, all knowing God, the One who made the world, including man.

ƒ    His presence with us where?

On the journey ... in the wilderness ... before the enemies ... into the promised land.

ƒ    His presence for what?  REST...

w   from the perplexity by giving guidance.

w   from apprehension by guarding.

w   from anxiety by providing.

w   from sorrow by giving comfort.

ƒ    His presence is a means of power.

I can do all things through Him.

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt into Canaan because of God's presence.

Gideon with 300 conquered thousands because of God's presence.

David killed the giant.

Jeremiah, when called to face terrible wickedness, was told "I am with thee to deliver thee."

Let us make sure the Lord is with us, in power.  How shall we know this?  We shall be a separated people (Ex. 33:16).

 

We are appointed to service and the promise is, "Lo, I am with you alway."

Thou Art the Man

(#221, Hinkley/Yermo, Jan. 1949; Imperial, 1958)

Read 2 Samuel 12:1-13a.

David's sin reminds us of the story of the bird with the broken wing.  Although it was made whole, the bird never flew as high again.  Note:

    1.  This was not the sin of a hardened sinner or an irreligious person but of a believer.

    2.  This wrong of David was not just a mistake but a sin.

    3.  While the sin was done secretly (v12), God saw it and judged openly.

ƒ    What leads the believer into sin.

    1.  Inactivity and idleness in the Lord's service.

    2.  Too great security and confidence in the flesh.

    3.  Neglect of prayer and watching.

ƒ    The effect of sin in the believer's life.

w   Upon the Lord: displeasure, 2 Sam. 11:27.

w   Upon the sinner: misery, Psalm 51:12.

w   Upon others:

    1.  An occasion to the enemy, v14.

    2.  Trouble in his family, v10.

ƒ    The place of God's messenger.

w   The messenger might be a pastor, Christian worker, Sunday School teacher, or simply the Word of God.

w   David did not send for Nathan; God sent him (v1,7).

w   Nathan spoke plainly: THOU ART THE MAN!

ƒ    The response of David.

    1.  He did not have Nathan put out.

    2.  He didn't resent the messenger.

    3.  He didn't excuse himself.

    4.  His acknowledgment means "I have sinned."

 Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation.

Psalm 45

This Song is one of the truly greatest Messianic Psalms in all of God’s great hymnbook.  The opening verse says as much: “My heart is overflowing with a good theme.”  And it also says why: “I recite my composition concerning the King.”  There is no greater subject the Messiah, the exalted Son of God.  That was true for the “sons of Korah” to whom this is attributed; that IS true for believers today for whom Jesus is to be their great obsession (e.g. Heb. 12:1-2).

This Psalm actually contains words directed directly to the Church today, although the human author would not have understood.  In the heading this Psalm is called “a Song of Love.”  Indeed it is, a song about the King and His bride.  We know that bride to be the Church, the body of Christ (Eph. 5:22-33).  Note the simple outline:

·        V2-9: The Exaltation of Christ the King.

·        V10-17: The Exhortation to the King’s Bride.

A careful reading of v6-7 will reveal one of the strongest statements in the Old Testament of the Deity of the Messiah, a truth recognized by the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 1:8-9).  But that is not all.  Careful meditation of everything said about the King reveals the Son of God who will be established forever on the throne of Zion (Psalm 2:6-9).

§  V2: He is fairer than the sons of men.  But unlike King Saul who was physically exceptional, the Messiah excels by the grace that is poured on His lips.  His very words, as the Word of God, speak salvation.  Thus He is blessed FOREVER by God.

§  V3: He is noted for His “glory and majesty”.  We know of Christ in terms of His earthly life where there were only glimpses of His glory, but it was “the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). 

§  V4: He will rule prosperously because of truth, humility and righteousness.  What divine qualities were more characteristic of our Lord Jesus Christ in the days of His earthly ministry? 

To be honest words seem so empty.  As the human author said, “My HEART is overflowing with a good theme.”  Words are difficult to come by that make any improvement on the writer of the Psalm!  I exhort you to make this Psalm the object of meditation today.  Think of this King/Groom as He goes to take His bride.  How fortunate she is, how blessed this queen adorned in gold.  And it is all because of the One to whom she is joined!

The advice to the bride makes perfect sense.  “Forget your own people also, and your father’s house” (v10).  “Because He is your Lord, worship Him” (v11).  

Let us make one additional thought.  There is a principle of interpretation given to us in Eph. 5.  What is said of Christ and His bride is to be true of the Christian husband and wife.  Consider this as part of the application of this Psalm.  “Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Eph. 5:33).

May our hearts overflow today with the glories of our King, our Lord!

Which Hope We Have

(#218, Yermo, 1943, 1950; Radio Oct. 1, 1947; Imperial, 1958)

Read Heb. 6:18-20.

In all ages men have tried and are trying to conceive some way of giving hope to the world.  In contrast to the world's hopeless efforts we have one sure source of Hope --

GOD'S WORD

The Bible is full of hope and if you are interested in a future that is bright with hope, you will listen to our text.

ƒ    What the Christian's hope is.

In Josh 2:18-21 & 6:17 the word live is the same word often translated hope.  The story of Rahab shows how this scarlet line was her hope.  The Christian's hope is the scarlet blood of Christ.  And this we say to the world: her hope is not in the Black Shirt or the Swastika (or the hammer & cycle or in Democracy) but in the SCARLET LINE.

ƒ    The twofold picture of the Christian's hope.

w   The place of refuge, v18.

In the Old Testament there were cities of refuge where one might flee from an enemy.  In this sense is the Christian's hope a place of refuge: refuge from SIN which opposes the Christian.

w   The anchor of the soul.

Life is pictures as a sea -- men are the ships -- some securely anchored, others drifting to and fro.  An anchor is requires at all times, in calm as well as in the storm. 

This anchor is different than most in that the holding ground is UP instead of down.  It is within the veil or in Heaven. 

The character of this anchor is sure (as to the anchoring soil) and steadfast (as to the anchor keeping its hold).  We may roll and swing and toss and turn, but we do not leave our place.

 

My hope is build on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.

Is Sin So Bad?

(#214, Imperial, 1956, 1964)

Read 1 John 1:5-2:2; James 1:18; Rom. 7:13.

Men everywhere are trying to find out what ails the world.  Many causes are hinted at but of the many there is just one real cause: SIN is the cause.

Why don't men see this?  Because they don't see sin in it's true light, as God sees it.  There are several wrong attitudes taken in regards to sin:

    1.  To deny the reality of sin.

    2.  To lay the blame for sin on someone else.

    3.  To deny sin's possession.

    4.  To excuse sin, saying "We must sow our wild oats."

According to the Bible sin is a willful aggression against God and is a factor in life that must be dealt with if we are to see God and live and be happy.

    1.  Ps. 51:5: in sin did my mother conceive me.

    2.  Prov. 14:9: fools make a mock of sin.

    3.  Prov. 28:13: he that covereth his sin will not prosper.

    4.  Num. 32:23: be sure your sin will find you out.

ƒ    How bad is sin?

    1.  Paul says sin is "exceeding" sinful.

    2.  Christ revealed the horrors of sin (Mark 9:42-48).

    3.  Sin mars the image of God in man.

    4.  Sin brings broken hearts, broken lives, broken homes.

    5.  The bitterness of sin is seen in the death of Christ.

ƒ    Sin must be dealt with.

All sin must be paid for, it's bitter consequences faced by all.  Will we permit Christ to face this for us.  One of the greatest verses in the Bible says, "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).  Christ is our propitiation; that is, He has satisfied God with His death and covered me with His blood.  (Isa. 53:6; 1 Cor. 15:4)  Sin must be dealt with now!

To trifle with sin or to compromise with it, to keep on in it is like making your bed with leprosy or hugging a deadly cobra to your bosom.

Christians in Name Only

(#212, Yermo/Hinkley/Big Bear, 1948; Radio, June 1953; Imperial, 1957)

Read Matthew 7:21-23.

There are still a majority of affirmative answers to the question, "Are you a Christian?".  The name "Christian" is used with varying significance. It may mean...

    1.  A civilized person as opposed to a savage.

    2.  A person who is humane or decent.

    3.  A person who attempts to follow the Golden Rule.

    4.  A person born in a Christian home and reared in "church".

These are self-styled Christians and God's Word gives us no assurance that these are in fact Christians at all.  These know nothing of a present, living Savior -- a real person.  They know nothing of the power of Christ.  They are "Christians in name only."

Our text speaks of a group of religious people with false hopes.  They said "Lord, Lord", they prophesied, they cast out demons, they did wonders.  They went a long way in religion.

ƒ    Six things that will not make us a Christian.

    1.  A lovely character, Rom. 6:23.

    2.  An intellectual grasp of Christianity, 1 Cor. 2:14.

    3.  An active part in Christian work, Eph. 2:8-9.

    4.  Church membership, John 3:3.

    5.  Morality, Rom. 3:10.

    6.  Trying to follow Jesus' example, John 1:12.

ƒ    Mere profession is not enough, Matt. 7:21-22.  "Not everyone that saith ... many shall say."

ƒ    Christ is the only hope, Matt. 7:21.  Christ is the only One Who can save (Acts 4:12; 1 Cor. 3:11; John 1:12).

ƒ    The ultimate result of mere professors, Matt. 7:22-23.  At the judgment day Christ will say, "I never knew you ... depart from me."  This is eternal spiritual death. 

Is yours a mere profession?  Are you a Christian without Christ?  Accept Him today.