A message from the Pastor

First Baptist Church

9 West Main St. Earlville, NY 13332

Inviting and Accepting

Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

“Who Is Like You?”

(Exodus 15:11-13)

February 11, 2018

TODAY’S SPECIAL

“A Wedding Funny”

Little Emily was at her first wedding and gaped at the entire ceremony. When it was over, she asked her mother, “Why did the lady change her mind?”

Her mother asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well, she went down the aisle with one man and came back with another one.”

INTRODUCTION

How are you doing on your Bible reading this year? I’ve shared with you that I am reading 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sunday. During this past week’s reading, my heart wondered about the phrase read in our text. It is a wonderful phrase – not used much, but with deep insights into God and ourselves. PRAYER

#1. THE WORLD HAS NO SONG (Exodus 15:11-13)

A. What gods? (v. 11a). Turn back a few pages to Ex. 7, beginning with v. 14. The descriptions are great. What was the purpose of the plagues? Simply to prove that the God of the Israelites is greater than Pharaoh? NO! Look again at the plagues:

* Blood (7:14ff) – against the Nile, worshipped by the Egyptians

* Frogs (showing God’s majestic sweep of power)

* Gnats (distinguishing trust in the true God vs. trust in the occult magicians) * Flies and Livestock (distinguishing Egypt from Israel)

* Boils (key word: dust – God’s tool of creation)

* Hail (see 9:19 – a call to trust God’s Word)

* Locusts (a test of Pharaoh’s hard-heartedness vs. the reason of his officials-v. 7 and 20)

* Darkness (JESUS is the light of the world, and the rest of the world is in darkness (vs. 22ff – how long? THREE DAYS – symbolic of Jesus’ time in the tomb)

* The firstborn (ch. 11 and 12 – symbolic of God’s ownership, and of His one day giving His firstborn – one and only Son). THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD!

B. Mighty in battle (v. 11b, 12) and marvelous in leading (v. 13). The psalmist Asaph (Ps. 73:23-24) contemplating these same issues broke out in song “Whom have I in heaven but Thee! And there is NONE upon I that I desire beside Thee!”

Scripture’s first use of the phrase “who is like you” shows us a mighty truth: There is no comparison: THE WORLD HAS NO SONG!

#2. GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE A SONG! (Psalm 89:8)

A. We could have looked at two other passages in the Psalms:

(1) Psalm 35:10 (David speaking): “My whole being will exclaim,“Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.” Our great God is a helper to the helpless. He DOESN’T help those who help themselves! Rather, He helps those who have no help! Ponder that one the next time you don’t know where to turn, what direction to go. Who is like God Who helps the helpless?

(2) Psalm 71:19 (the verse following our church’s “Verse for 2018”, v. 18): “Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?” The unnamed psalmist could only burst out in uncontrolled praise when he pondered the uniqueness of our God! Verse 7 says, “I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge.” How can we possibly know how many people are looking to us for encouragement at any given moment?

ILLUSTRATION: there was a fellow classmate in Bible school named Charlie. While we were in our late teens and early twenties, Charlie in his late 50’s felt led of the Lord to come to Bible School. He ultimately graduated from my class and later pastored in the “North Country” of New York State. But Charlie had one distinguishing trait: he was a prayer warrior. OH, we knew how to pray. But we knew that when Charlie prayed, God heard and God answered! He was a sign to us that God was his strong refuge! We believed it – and he lived it! And because Charlie lived it, when after graduation we all went our separate ways, we, too, knew: who is like God, our strong refuge!

B. Psalm 89:1 teaches a song: The old KJV vs. one says these words which have been put into a wonderful chorus: “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.”

And verse 8 echoes the same heart: “Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.”

The psalmist had a song – and he knew that not only was God mighty, but God was not a God Who is a far off! His faithfulness is on display every day!

And God’s faithfulness could be considered the theme of Psalm 89. Look at verses 2, 5, 14, 33, and 49. In addition to the two we’ve looked at, the psalmist could not stop singing about God’s faithfulness.

So when was the last time you thought on God’s faithfulness?

HAS GOD GIVEN YOU A SONG?

CONCLUSION

We have learned today that the Scriptures remind us of two great truths: the world has no song that has any eternal value; and the Christian has a song which reaches to heaven rejoicing in the faithfulness of the living and most personal God.

But there is one more verse that we must close with.

Deuteronomy 33:29 says “Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.”

Near the end of his life, Moses could look back and exclaim that not only was God unique; God’s people were unique, too. That’s how God looked at Israel. That’s how God looks at you and me. He has made an eternal investment by purchasing us with the blood of His Son at Calvary. He sees us as unique, one of a kind. “Who is like you?” God says of us!

He asks of us, “if I see that in a world that is lost and without hope, you are my eternal investment, will you do this for me: have no other gods before Me. Then repeat daily, “WHO IS LIKE YOU?” – when you think of the only living God!”

Perhaps you can’t carry a tune in the shower! But God has given each of us a new song – He is faithful. There is none like Him!

Sing out your song this week loud and clear!

Prayer

Week Seven, 2018

JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE

By John Grant

Do ye look on things according to the outward appearance? If any man trust himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. – 2 Corr. 2:7

While riding down river through the Amazon Jungle, noticed how murky the water. It was so murky that one could not see a hand below the surface. I didn’t even try because I have heard what creatures swim in those rivers just below the surface.

I thought about how that relates to sin, which often lurks just out of sight and just below the surface of our everyday lives. Often is subtle and the sin is small. Why would I not want to stick a finger below the water just to see what it is like? Look at Lot. He started with small sins which grew and grew and then he failed.

The reason Lot failed is illustrated by an event that happened on June 5, 1976. On that day, under clear skies, without warning, the massive Teton Dam in southeastern Idaho collapsed, sending a torrent of water surging into the Snake River basin. There was extensive property damage and loss of life. It seemed to happen so quickly. Some workers on the dam barely had time to run for their lives.

But it really didn’t happen suddenly. Beneath the water line, a hidden fault had been gradually weakening the entire structure. It started with just a tiny bit of erosion. But by the time it was detected, it was too late. No one had seen the little flaw; no one got hurt by it. But everyone saw the big collapse, and many were hurt.

That’s what happened to Lot. He allowed little sins in his life to go unchecked. They weren’t major, shocking kinds of sins–just “little” sins. But they were steadily eroding his moral character, until finally the sordid incident recorded here burst the dam.

Keep your hands out of the murky water, for you never know what sins are lurking there to hook you into a life or progressive sin.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Obituary:

Joe’s wife passed away and he wanted to keep the obituary as short as possible, so he penned “Sally Smith died.” When the funeral home told him that the minimum wordage was six words, he added “Car for sale.”

Jesus is Lord. And that changes everything.

–o–

During the course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been leveled against us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety.” —Thomas Jefferson (1805)

–o–

In grammar school they taught me that a frog turning into a prince was a fairy tale. In the university they taught me that a frog turning into a prince was a fact. —Ron Carlson

–o–

C. S. Lewis wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” Focus on those you serve and witness the new found value.

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Lord God, I praise You today for burdens lifted, sins forgiven and hope restored.

Pain can be used for good. It causes us to pause and ponder what’s really important. Mark Merrill

In what appears to be his last tweet, on Dec. 1, 2017, R C Sproul wrote about his belief in eternity: “When God writes our names in the ‘Lamb’s Book of Life,’ he doesn’t do it with an eraser handy. He does it for eternity.”

Lord Jesus, what a thrill it is to know You call me friend! It is a bigger thrill to know that You will never unfriend me!

Lord God, I praise You that Your love for me is based on Your character, not on my performance. How great You are!

Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you. Walt Whitman

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618

Week Five, 2018

IN OR OUT?

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. – Revelation 3:15-16

Recently, my bride and I went to a spot on planet earth that was 0-0-0 Latitude. Located in Ecuador, it is literally the middle of the planet. A yellow line depicts the dividing line between the Northern and Southern hemispheres and is commonly referred to as the Equator. It is depicted literally by a yellow line.

One can straddle that line and be half in each hemisphere. Many Christians live their lives that way, half in and half out. John speaks of that in Revelation saying that we have the option of being either hot or cold, but we should not straddle the middle and be lukewarm.

I am not a poker player, but I understand that when a player feels lucky, he can bet the farm, by shoving all his chips to the middle of the table and saying, “I’m all in.” It is either win the table or lose all he has.

Jesus’ words to the church at Laodicea can be confusing. The vibrancy of the church is best to be hot, but cold is better than lukewarm. What this says is that it is better to be an indifferent pagan than to be a backslidden Christian. It is better to have never heard the Gospel than to have heard, accepted and fallen away. The one who has never heard has an excuse, but the one who has does not.

What is your spiritual temperature, hot, lukewarm or cold? Are you all in and not straddling the middle line?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

A crowded Southwest flight was canceled because of a mechanical problem. A single gate agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.

Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight,”

The agent replied, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these people first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”

The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”

Without hesitating, the attendant smiled and grabbed her public address microphone: “May I have your attention please; may I have your attention please” she began – her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14.”

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Remember to give thanks and not be afraid of difficulties ahead.

True freedom is not freedom from responsibility to God and others, but freedom from ourselves in order to live for God and others. John Stott

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618

THINK On These Things

Now !

Philippians 4:8

In the book of Acts, Chapter 3, there is the remarkable story of a man who had been lame from birth and was healed in just a moment.

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said,

‘Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.’

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.”

It is a great testimony to the power of Jesus Name and to the instantaneous power that the faith of a man like Peter can have in that Name. It is also an anecdote about how the apostle got one more opportunity to share the Gospel with the citizens of the day. All this is wonderful indeed.

As we rejoice, let us take a few moments to look at the situation from the viewpoint of the man who was healed. The Word says he was lame from his mother’s womb. It also says he was a man, an adult. At first, we are not told his exact age. Was he 20 years old? 30? 50? We don’t know. What we do know is that he had been lame for a long time – his whole life. (Later on, in Acts 4:22 it is revealed that “the man was above 40 years old.”)

As he sat there that day at the Gate Beautiful, he was not seeking healing. Such a thought was probably not even in the realm of his most hopeful thinking.

He was seeking alms to sustain himself. His hope was for food and perhaps shelter. His life was a settled one without hope of change. It had been the same for more than forty years.

Beg,

Buy food,

Beg some more.

What a cruel existence it must have been. He was totally dependent on others. He was not even able to bring himself to the gate. He needed others to do it for him.

But at a special time, a time called “NOW” in verse 1, a time appointed by God, his whole life changed.

NOW, Peter and John came by.

NOW the Name of Jesus Christ was invoked.

NOW he was instantly and totally healed.

NOW he could run and walk as he had never in his life been able to do.

NOW he was

Standing,

Walking,

Leaping,

Praising God.

Have you ever heard of such exuberance? Oh what joy he felt, what astonishment, what unexpected ecstasy!

It all took place at a moment in time that God had chosen. It didn’t happen 5 years or 5 days earlier. Not a month later. It happened NOW, in the fullness of God’s time. It was the day of God’s visitation, a day of deliverance.

We are accustomed to the idea that those who believe will receive gifts from God. Here is an example of one who received his gift and then believed. Grace upon grace.

Yes, as magnificent as his healing was, the greatest gift that day was his own new, dynamic, exuberant belief.

“And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.” And He Gave Testimony!

Could it be that God has a NOW time for some of us and our needs and infirmities?

Perhaps your NOW time has not yet come. Your need or problem may be an old one. You may not even have been expecting a solution. You may be focused on just making do with the way things are, just as the lame man was.

• God’s NOW time for you may be on the way.

• Wait for it.

• Watch for it.

• Anticipate it.

• Recognize it when it comes.

• Seize it with all spiritual vigor.

• Respond to it in a fashion that enables it to change your life. Let it galvanize your faith.

• Rise up and run about in the public place giving Him praise and testimony.

• Allow your victory to be the means by which a multitude of others discover the love of the Savior.

No act of God’s love

Is too small for us to rejoice,

In the temple and in the marketplace.

12/17

Presented by Bro. Al Salay, Blessed Man Ministries Inc.

1093 A1A Beach Blvd. #273, St. Augustine, FL 32080-6733

www.BlessedMan.net [email protected]

First Baptist Church

9 West Main St., Earlville, NY 13332

Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

January 21, 2018

Series: “WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET?”

Part 1: God Owns It!” (Psalm 50).

PART 2: “You’re In Charge of It!” (Genesis 41).

TODAY’S SPECIAL

[Courtesy of Senator John Grant (Retired), Thoughts on Life, http://www.frankbecker.com]: A crowded Southwest flight was canceled because of a mechanical problem. A single gate agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.

Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight.”

The agent replied, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these people first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”

The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”

Without hesitating, the attendant smiled and grabbed her public address microphone: “May I have your attention please; may I have your attention please” she began – her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14.”

INTRODUCTION

Last week we began a 3 week series entitled, “Stewardship Series 2018”. If you get on our church website [www.fbcearlville.org], you’ll find the original series posted as “Stewardship Series 2011. This year’s abbreviated version is given with the knowledge that, while our church’s finances are “just fine” (according to the studious treasurer), our personal finances might be in need of a little encouragement.

“Stewardship”: according to the dictionary, this term means “the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially, the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care”. Last week we learned from Psalm 50 that God owns everything – even everything in our “wallet”, I.e., our finances and everything we possess. This week takes us to the next step: While God treasures (no pun intended) His ownership, He delegates the care – or “charge” or “stewardship” of what He owns to…us! Let’s look at stewardship in action through the life of that OT saint, Joseph.

PRAYER

There are several key words or phrases in our text which help point us to God’s heart on our “stewardship” of what He entrusts to us:

#1 Qualities of a wise steward

A. He trusts the Lord (41:16). Let’s be careful interpreting verse 14 to meaning that God wants all of His godly men to be clean shaven and wearing a change of clothes all the time! Joseph’s declaration in verse 16 shows that in his giving glory to his heavenly Father, he is showing his unreserved trust in all his Father is doing in his life. Remember his compassionate words to his brothers in 50:19-21. He advised them that all that happened in his life happened under God’s eternal purpose – to save lives (and ultimately, the creation of the nation of Israel!). Joseph trusted God. And if we are to be a wise steward, so should we.

B. He is “discerning and wise” (41:33) While Joseph was recommending to Pharaoh the kind of steward Pharaoh should appoint, he was saying 2 things: #1 I, Joseph am of that character; and #2 the steward is someone who, while recognizing God’s Lordship and Ownership, is also one who recognizes that the Lord has put people in charge of what He has provided. And to be that discerning and wise steward, he must be able to determine what is right and what is not right. Check out Psalm 1 for yourself!

So do you trust the Lord, or are you simply “churchy” in your living? Do you trust the Lord even in your finances? And are you seeking His counsel in the wise and discerning use of what He has wisely placed in your hands?

#2. Pharaoh’s name for Joseph shows…VISION – God’s vision!

It was typical of un-Biblical rulers in Biblical times to give pet names to those who served them. As in Daniel, often the rulers’ purpose was to cause those who served to forget the God the servant worshipped and to put a false trust in the false gods (LITTLE “g”) of their land. Remember, Joseph’s mother, Rachel, gave him the name “Joseph”, which means “God will add” (implying first another son, and then long-range, the nation of Israel).

Notice the name (41:45) that Pharaoh gave to Joseph. Pharaoh’s pet name for Joseph was “Zaphenath-Paneah”. If you are at a loss for names for your future children, here is a good start. Perhaps he called Joseph “Z-P” for short. But what does the name mean? It means “God speaks and He lives.” WHAT? What is Pharaoh saying? He is saying this: every time he looks at Joseph and calls him “Z-P”, he is bowing to the truth that the TRUE God of eternity not only speaks and lives, He speaks and lives through His stewards who are in submission to God’s ownership of all that they own! Pharaoh is thus recognizing the true God’s uniqueness.

So every time someone sees you or me, do they recognize in us that God is speaking through our oversight of what He is entrusting to us? Do they recognize that God is living through us by way of our wise care over what He has placed under our watch? And in the BIG picture of things, that is…VISION!

CONCLUSION

We have looked at some of the qualities of a godly steward, mainly that he trusts the Lord in all that he does and is; and, that by character he is both discerning and wise. God is on display through the pattern of a godly steward’s life.

And we have seen through Joseph that when the world looks at a godly steward (as seen through the eyes of Pharaoh), the world sees, well, the living God Who through His Spirit and His Word speaks to that steward on a daily moment by moment basis. Wow!

But we must wrap this second message with one more word. Did you notice the description of the word in verse 49? During those 7 years of plenty, Joseph stored up the plenty. How much did he store up? Verse 34 says “a fifth of the harvest”. 20 %! I don’t think that is intended as a legalistic target for our finances. But it is an insight that Joseph was trusting God to enable him – on a national level, mind you! – to put aside 20% of the harvest, unused, for future living.

But the word for the day – and for our eternity! – is found in verse 56. Did you catch it? “When the famine had spread…Joseph opened the storehouses.” When was the last time you read the book of Malachi? What? Not recently? Listen to these amazing words from Malachi 3:10: “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

We will learn more next week about our offerings. AND we will not be legalistic and say that the “storehouse” is the church. But by principle, God is saying through both Joseph and Malachi that the godly steward, the one whom God has wisely set in charge over what God owns, will have a vision for eternity in everything that God allows to come into his stewardship.

In other words, God doesn’t want simply casual overseers of what He already owns. One more time, look at the words we’ve learned today. God wants disciplined, wise, discerning, stewards who not only trust the Lord but who are visible evidences that God is alive and worthy to be trusted today.

Are YOU that one in charge?

Close in prayer

Week Four, 2018

Wisdom

“… then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom ” (Job 33:33).

Our education system tends to focus the importance of knowledge, but where do we find wisdom and what we understand about this? The dictionary has these definitions about wisdom:

1. Knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life.

2. The natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand.

3. Knowledge of what is proper or reasonable: good sense or judgment

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10) What does it mean to “fear the Lord” and why is this fear the beginning of wisdom? What is “wisdom”? Who Is “the Holy One” and why is knowledge of Him “understanding”?

What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? Knowledge is really about facts and ideas that we acquire through study, research, investigation, observation, or experience. Wisdom is the ability to discern and judge which aspects of that knowledge are true, right, lasting, and applicable to your life.

Wisdom is acquired by those who listen and learn from those who have traveled before, especially the elderly who often have gained wisdom through mistakes. Recently Pope Francis encouraged the younger to learn from the older saying,

“This is something very beautiful and important. The elderly are the historic memory of every community, a heritage of wisdom and faith to be heard, preserved, and valued.”

If we are young, we are encouraged to listen to the elderly and if elderly, to impart our wisdom to those who will follow behind us. A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. (Proverbs) 13:1

An unknown person once said, “To Be Old And Wise, You Must First Be Young And Stupid.”

We all, no matter what age need to seek wisdom from others, but also remembering that the greatest source of wisdom is the holy Word of God.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

A crowded Southwest flight was canceled because of a mechanical problem. A single gate agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers.

Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight.”

The agent replied, “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these people first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”

The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that the passengers behind him could hear, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?”

Without hesitating, the attendant smiled and grabbed her public address microphone: “May I have your attention please; may I have your attention please” she began – her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. “We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to Gate 14.”

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Reflecting on the past is healthy, but dwelling on it keeps you stuck in the past. Stay positive with a focus on the future. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is a mystery and that is why today is called the present. Brg. General Dick Abel

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com and Thoughts-About-God.com. You can subscribe directly to those on their respective websites.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2017.

©2018 John Grant | Florida State Senator (Ret.) | 10025 Orange Grove Drive | Tampa, FL 33618

 First Baptist Church, Earlville, N.Y.

Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

January 7, 2018

THE END IS NEAR!

—Psalm 71:18 NIV

The Verse of 2018

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “A Golf Challenge”

A young man who was also an avid golfer found himself with a few hours to spare one afternoon. He figured if he hurried and played very fast, he could get in nine holes before he had to head home. Just as he was about to tee off, an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and asked if he could accompany the young man as he was golfing alone. Not being able to say no, he allowed the old gent to join him.

To his surprise the old man played fairly quickly. He didn’t hit the ball far, but plodded along consistently and didn’t waste much time. Finally, they reached the 9th fairway and the young man found himself with a tough shot. There was a large pine tree right in front of his ball – and directly between his ball and the green. After several minutes of debating how to hit the shot, the old man finally said, “You know, when I was your age I’d hit the ball right over the tree.”

With that challenge placed before him, the youngster swung hard, hit the ball up, right smack into the top of the tree trunk and it thudded back on the ground not a foot from where it had originally lay.

The old man offered one more comment. “Of course, when I was your age that pine tree was only three feet tall.”

INTRODUCTION

Last year at this time, we were talking about faith in the form of the Master’s question: when Jesus returns, will He find faith on earth? 2017 sure had many opportunities for stepping out on faith, in both our home, your homes, and in our church. Let’s not stop that focus.

I have been a Christian for going on 47 years this year. I have probably read through the Bible almost every one of those years – although I’ll never top Pastor Tom who in his latter years would read through the Bible once a month with a different version each month. Wow. This year I’m doing something new – just what I’ve challenged YOU to do: “3 chapters/day and 5 on Sunday.” I’ve never done that before. This is a first.

But it ties in with this year’s new verse from Psalm 71. I trust that this year’s verse will be both challenging and encouraging to each of us as we seek to walk with the Lord in fresh ways this year.

This is a simple verse. Let’s look at 3 main parts of this verse today.

Prayer

#1. “OLD AND GRAY”

So we need to ask and answer the question, “how OLD is ‘OLD’?”. Perhaps you’ve known someone much younger than you who has pre-mature gray hair. Is he old simply because he LOOKS old? Or perhaps when you were younger, you met someone 15 years older than you and you said, “my, he’s really old!”. And the first time someone said to you, “ma’am” or “sir”, you felt old, didn’t you?

But what does the Bible say?

David and Solomon both died when each was 70 years of age. At that time – yes, 70 years of age – it was said of David, “when David was old and well advanced in years” (1 Kings 1:1). For him, physically, he was an old man.

Methuselah died at age 969 years. He was the oldest Biblically recorded person. And yet what did he have in common with those who were younger than he? It is said of him (Genesis 5:27), “altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.”

Only one other person in Scripture is described as being “old and gray”. And that is Samuel the prophet. (1 Samuel 12:2). And yet even at that age, he was able to testify to the people of Israel their entire history of rebellion against God. He knew the Scriptures.

Sarah, Abraham’s wife at age 89, was advised by the Lord that although she was old, there was nothing impossible to have happen to her because of the Lord! (Gen. 18:13) – even the birth of Isaac! Do you or I feel that God gives us tasks that are too big for us, regardless of our age?

Proverbs 22:6 is a familiar verse. Our NIV says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Some have interpreted that verse to mean that if we raise our children in church and in the Scriptures, they will never fall from the Lord. But the verse is actually talking rather about a manner of life and lifestyle – both in trade and in character. Are we raising our children to be one day children of godly character?

And finally, of all places, there is John 3:4. But first, do you remember Jesus’ amazing statement to Nicodemus in verse 3? It says, “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” And in verse 4 is the reply of Nicodemus. Now remember, he is a scholar of Scriptures, a master of Israel. Yet he asks the One standing before him, ““How can someone be born when they are old ….Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” The whole theology of the new birth in Christ is centered around the impossibility of man to save himself, and yet the possibility of God to take a creature of dust and make him a new creation in Christ.

So how old is old? The Scriptures tell us that there is no age limit to God’s work in a life. When one is young, he or she should be encouraged in the disciplines of the Word. And when one is older, he or she should know that even at that age, God is still able to do amazing things through that life.

Do you feel “young” today? God wants to establish some good and godly disciplines in you! Do you feel “old” today? God is not through with you!

#2. “DO NOT FORSAKE ME”

Note that the author of this psalm is not named. It could have been David. But theologians share that when authorship of a psalm is not given, that means the psalm takes on a wide view of application. So the “me” in this plea could be anyone – either of the author’s day or even of ours!

This is a familiar expression in Scripture. It was the charge that at age 120 years, Moses gave to Israel in general and to Joshua in particular: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6). It surrounds one of the most oft-quoted verses in Scripture, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). And our Savior Himself, upon giving the charge of what we call the Great Commission, closed His ministry with these wonderful words of encouragement: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Even in the psalm of the origin of this year’s verse, note the author’s plea in verse 9: “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”

What is he saying? That as long as I have breath, God is not through with me! And while the tasks may seem overwhelming, we are invited to cast ourselves upon the promises and character of the One Who has called us to Himself. Regardless of our age, God has a promise for us. Regardless of our age, God has an assignment where He has wisely planted us.

And God’s presence is truly the only support the servant of the Lord needs to do what God has wisely called that servant to do!

#3 “TO THE NEXT GENERATION”

I personally find this last phrase the most challenging of the 3 we are looking at in this year’s verse. Why? Because you and I are often most concerned with…TODAY! Bills to pay. Things to do. People to see. There is seemingly not enough time to do what I want to get done!

Yet the psalmist is looking at “the next generation” and “all who are to come”. How long is a generation? The best estimate is somewhere between 30 and 40 years. Let’s compromise and say “35 years”. Now take the number of years that you are alive today. Add 35 years. OK, to make it easy for you, I’ll be your guinea pig. 65 PLUS 35 = 100 years. You know, I’ve got better things to do at age 100 than thinking about the next generation, of those who are to come after me. Why, by age 100 I should be able to shoot under my age in golf! (well, at least for 9 holes anyway!)

Yet the psalmist reminds us to think “eternally”. I encourage you to read Genesis 17 where the Lord relays to Abraham what is known as the “Abrahamic Covenant”. God bypasses the impossibility of Abraham being a father at age 100. Instead, He encourages Abraham to think “eternally”. What did God say to Abe in verse 7? “ I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”

Why does the psalmist say almost the same thing? Because God wants the generations to come to have the true God as their God! He wants the generations to come to know Jesus as Savior! And the psalmist encourages us that regardless of what we think our purposes in life are today, we need a fresh vision of Who God is and what He has for us to do today! For what we do today will affect at least the next generation! Can we trust God to do that through us?

CONCLUSION

Three phrases:

(1). “Old and gray” – God is not particular as to one’s age nor one’s hair color (or lack thereof). He has a job for us to do.

(2). “do not forsake me” – God invites us to trust Him, and in so trusting, He reminds us of the many promises He has for us – especially the promise of His presence!

(3). “To the next generation” – a fresh vision. God gives each of us a fresh vision of the task, and more importantly, of those hearts around us that He has wisely set before us every day. Those hearts are “the next generation”. They may be family. They may be friends, neighbors, co-workers, or people we meet today for the first time. They are the next generation.

This year’s verse gives us a fresh vision – of God and of His work.

Will you trust Him with me for the fresh vision from Him?

Close in prayer