STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

INTRODUCTION

Today is our seventh study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. You can check out the first 6 studies in the “BLOG/JEREMY STOPFORD” section of this OUTSTANDING web site of Brother Becker!!!

More importantly, are you applying these amazing psalms to YOUR life?

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Have you set YOUR heart on “pilgrimage”? The Christian life is a…JOURNEY! And “Journey” = DISCIPLESHIP! So…are you daily focused: you’ve set your heart on pilgrimage, you’re on a journey, and the result is the learning of a disciple for Jesus!! True for you?

TODAY WE ARE IN PSALM 126

Psalm 126 New King James Version (NKJV)

A Joyful Return to Zion. A Song of Ascents.

OUTLINE OF PSALM 126 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie).

Title & Outline: “Peace (vs. 1-3) and Plenty (vs. 4-6)”

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

What ONE word best describes this psalm for you? Got it? How about “JOY”?

Look at the psalm’s progression:

“Dream” (v. 1), which leads to…

“Laughter” (v. 2a) which leads to…

“Singing” (v. 2b) which leads to…

“We are glad) (v. 3) which leads to…

“Tears” (v. 5a) which leads to…

“JOY” (v. 5b) !!!

“Brought back from captivity” [or, “those of the captivity”] could literally mean “restoring the fortunes”. Can you think of a time when that happened to you? This is a psalm of a sudden “turning the tide” from captivity to freedom, from being under the oppression (whether physical or mental) to a Divinely produced FREEDOM!

Let’s look for a brief moment at the phrase at the end of verse 4, “as the streams in the South.” The psalmist was praying for a revival of sorts! He was praying for the return of the captivity, that is, specifically a return to Jerusalem of those who were in captivity on foreign lands throughout the then known world. In that “restoration of fortune”, the psalmist described it as “the streams in the South”. What does that mean?

Look at Isaiah 35:6:

“Then the lame shall leap like a deer,

And the tongue of the dumb sing.

For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness,

And streams in the desert.”

There is a real sense that one day in a future fulfilled millennial kingdom, the parched land of Israel will be once again a flowering, productive land. Isaiah looked forward to that day, and inspirationally referred to it as “streams in the desert”!

Even so, our Psalmist understood that insight. The “South” refers to the Negev Desert, a parched land which is for all intents and purposes good for nothing. So both the Psalmist and Isaiah understood that the Lord Himself can turn deserts into productive land.

And by application, our Psalmist understands that there is a figurative desert in each of our hearts. And the Lord can change that desert into productivity for the Lord Jesus! That, too, is part of the amazing “returning from captivity” as expressed in this psalm.

Let’s zero in for a look at verse 5. “Sowing” and “reaping” and “in joy” usually ONLY follow what? LABOR FOR THE MASTER! Look at 2 Corinthians 9:6, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Let me give you a personal example – and these truths are NOT limited just to the pastorate! In the thirty plus years I had the privilege of serving the Lord as a pastor, I would often pray, “Lord, bring people into your house on Sunday.” Haven’t you prayed that prayer, too? And after none new would come, I would pray again, “Lord, I asked you for new people, none new came, so I’m asking you again: bring people into your house on Sunday.” And after none new came, you know what I did? Pray? Well, yes, AND…I went out and visited people the Lord laid upon my heart to visit! Often people I knew who were going through hard times. Often people who perhaps had been to church months or even years ago, but hadn’t been back for one reason or another – BUT NO ONE EVER FOUND OUT WHY! Visitation! SOWING! And a funny thing happened! Not immediately, but regularly – as there was SOWING, there was…REAPING!

NOTE the challenge of verse 6: “continually”. Sharing the love of God in Jesus is not a “once for all” thing. It is a CURRENT AFFAIR WITH JESUS! You got that right! If someone were to ask you, “have you ever shared about the love of God in Christ?”, your answer should NOT ONLY be “oh, right after I was saved, in 1971, I couldn’t shut up for Jesus!”. NO, NO! It should be “CONTINUALLY!”. You may not remember places, persons, or incidents. But our lives should be a CONTINUAL sowing the seed of the gospel of Christ and the glory of God in many ways.

CONCLUDING THOUGHT

It would be easy to overlook the challenging phrase at the end of verse 6, “bringing his sheaves with him” – the source of the wonderful hymn, “Bringing in the Sheaves.” What does it mean? Listen to Moses’ pointed instructions of Leviticus 23:10-11a:

“10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord…”

What does it mean to “bring” in the “sheaf”? It means the HARVEST!!! And you WAVE that SHEAF before the LORD, a thanksgiving to Him for what He has produced through your faithful (or perhaps even measly!) efforts!

Let me close with an illustration. A number of years ago, I was meeting with some college friends on the beach of Fort Lauderdale during Easter break. Somehow, in the midst of our playing beach volleyball, swimming, and, yes, sun bathing – the topic of Jesus would come up. One of my friends, also a Christian, would join me in sharing the gospel. After several days of this routine, someone said at the start of that day’s beach visit, “DO NOT BRING JESUS UP AGAIN, PLEASE!”. We didn’t, but Jesus did! Later that fall when the new school year began, one of those beach goers came to me at college and said, “you didn’t say a word, but Jesus did! And I could not escape His love for me at Calvary. I have trusted Him as my Savior.” And a sheaf of rejoicing was raised before the Lord!

The Evangelist D. L. Moody is attributed to be the author of this wise saying, “Share the gospel at all costs. And if necessary, use words.”

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves!

– – – Knowles Shaw, author (1874)

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

INTRODUCTION

Today is our sixth study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. Have you checked out the first 5 studies in the “BLOG/JEREMY STOPFORD” section of the amazing web site of Brother Becker?

More importantly, how are you doing in applying these amazing psalms to your life?

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Have you set YOUR heart on “pilgrimage”?

OR are you in a rut, short for “ROUTINE”!???

Today we are in Psalm 125. It is a psalm both of “trust” and of “turning aside”. As we soon begin, we each need to ask ourselves, “how do I know my TRUST is really in the Lord?”.

It is a brief psalm loaded with 5 most powerful verses:

1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,

Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

So the Lord surrounds His people

From this time forth and forever.

3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest

On the land allotted to the righteous,

Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.

4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,

And to those who are upright in their hearts.

5 As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways,

The Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity.

Peace be upon Israel!

PRAYER

Father – today, you are inviting us to examine ourselves as to where our TRUST is. We SAY it is in YOU alone, through the work of Your Son Jesus at the cross of Calvary, and through His amazing resurrection from the dead.

We SAY that. How can we examine ourselves – like a wise doctor would our physical selves – to PROVE to ourselves that our TRUST is in YOU?

May your Spirit give us Your understanding of this most challenging psalm.

And ahead of time, we give You thanks!

In Jesus Name, Amen

OUTLINE OF PSALM 125 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie). Title: “Confidence in God”

1. Permanence v. 1

2. Protection v. 2

3. Promise v. 3a

4. Peril v. 3b

5. Prayer v. 4

6. Prediction v. 5a

7. Peace v. 5b

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

Dr. Scroggie (author of the above outline) writes, “the permanent tranquillity of God’s people, forever (v. 1), is explained by the abiding protection of their Lord, forever (v. 2)”.

Where is the psalmist when he finds his security in the Lord?

Where are YOU when you are most confident and assured of the security of the Lord? Is that a PLACE or a POSITION or a PRESENCE?

Is it a “PLACE” – do you have to be in a church, for example, in order to feel most secured in the Lord? What if the nearest church to you – one that you “feel” most “secure” in, is miles away with no means of getting there? THEN what do you DO?

Is it a “POSITION” – do you have to be in prayer, for example? On your knees? Standing up? Looking up? Hands raised? Fallen prostrate? A POSITION? So what if you are not physically able to do any of that? THEN what do you DO?

Is it a “PRESENCE” – to be enjoying the place of most security, where you know the Lord’s PRESENCE has been promised ALWAYS, where should you be? What should you be doing?

Well, it is 2020! What with all the limitations due to the recent virus, you may find yourself only at HOME! So may I make an HUGE suggestion? Why not be in the PRESENCE of the Lord in His WORD!!! He will meet you there, regardless of how you FEEL, what situations you are in, what emotions you are in, what events are overwhelming your mental state. His PRESENCE is ALWAYS in His Word.

But Brother Jeremy, what about “PRAYER”? Isn’t God’s presence always in prayer? Well, what does the Good Book say? “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18). The Lord is DEAF when sin is more pressing than HE is in our lives. So, no, PRAYER does not assure God’s presence.

But His Word does! And being in Sojourn Psalms such as Psalm 125 encourages the pilgrim in the security of God’s Forever Presence!!!

But what about when I STRUGGLE? What about when I am struggling with the enemy in the work of the Lord? What about when the enemy is struggling with ME when I’m trying to live for Jesus and the enemy wants me to live for the enemy? What about when all sorts of testings are in my life, orchestrated by the Lord, to develop my character in Jesus? What if? What if? What when? What? What? What???

What ONE word describes the reason for the righteous to struggle, as found in verse 3?

Yes, the word “REACHES”. It IS possible for the righteous – those like you and me who are striving to be holy in a most unholy world – to “reach out to iniquity”. It IS possible for the sojourner to be content with where he is, rather than “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13b-4). It IS possible for the believer to forget that he is but a sojourner, NOT a settler, in this world.

Daily, we must ask ourselves – rather, REMIND ourselves in a question – “today, am I a settler or a sojourner?”. The answer to that question will cause our obedience to the truths of Psalm 125!

In verse 4, WHERE does the sojourner find HELP? He finds HELP in…the PRESENCE of the Lord!!! When he is still before the Lord, he has hope that God will be the HELP of those who are GOOD, of those who are UPRIGHT in their HEARTS! What does that mean? It means that these remember when they wake up that they are but SOJOURNERS and that the Lord Himself is their HELP! They are not settlers. No, NO! “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through!!!”.

Are YOU? Have you found your HELP and HOPE in the cross of Jesus? Is your eternal HELP and HOPE in His death, burial, and resurrection for you personally?

If so, then this psalm is for YOU!!!

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

I am most challenged how this psalm ends!

“Peace be upon Israel !”

I don’t get it, do you? Throughout this psalm, the unnamed psalmist has been talking about the marks of a sojourner. “Israel” as a nation is never mentioned, or is it? “Zion” and the “mountains of Jerusalem” point to both the historical importance and the amazing picturesque sight of Jerusalem and the nation in which it dwells.

So why finish with a prayer for peace? Is it not because the sojourner is more than just an individual? The sojourner is one of many along the road of pilgrimage! He/she is a pilgrim! Together! And together, they are members of a greater purpose than themselves.

In eternity, Israel will be the center of the world!

But apply this psalm to you, and the country in which you dwell. Perhaps like me, you are in the “good ol’ USA”. Like every nation, Covid-19 has hit us hard. Our economy has fallen. Businesses have closed. And even most churches have been closed for many months – and even some have yet to open to do the many challenges of being in compliance with the new “state regulations” for guidance “for the concern of the health of each attendee.” [Hmm. I won’t go there today.]. And in less than 2 weeks we will be voting AS A NATION for the office of President of the USA.

So by application, the psalmist would be praying, “Peace be upon America.”

Have you prayed that prayer today?

And if I may give a commercial – that I am sure both Facebook and Mr. Becker will not eliminate! – have you read the “Star Spangled Banner Series” written by our esteemed web site author? You can find the 6 books of the series at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple! The theme of this psalm is the theme of this series – the deliverance of a nation!

And LOOK for one of the swash-buckling rescuers in Book 6!

(I wonder WHO that could be? Perhaps a semi (?) retired pastor? Hmm?)

PRAYER

Father, we pray for the peace of Israel. We know that that nation is the heart of the world, and of Your end times for the world.

But until then, we pray for the peace of our country. We pray for the salvation through Christ of each one in our land. And we pray for our leaders – both national and local – that they will be guided by Your Spirit in all the decisions they must make each day. And we pray for us citizens, that we who love You will be reminded that You have designed us, as sojourners, to be a light wherever You have wisely planted each one of us.

Thank You for that grace!

We give You all the praise,

With thanksgiving…

In Jesus Name, Amen!

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

Semi-Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

INTRODUCTION

Today is our fifth study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. [You can check out the first 4 studies under “BLOGS/JEREMY STOPFORD” on Mr. Becker’s auspicious web site!]. How are you doing in your “long obedience in the same direction”, as Brother Eugene Peterson ((author of “The Message” Bible) called these psalms?

OUR THEME VERSE

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Have you set YOUR heart on “pilgrimage”?

Today we are in Psalm 124. This is a most fascinating psalm! We are going to see phrases repeated twice (why?). We are going to see illustrations of what happens if God WEREN’T on our side. We are going to see a most familiar phrase, which might cause us to say, “I didn’t know THAT came from the Bible!”. And we are going to see the unashamed Origin of the psalmist’s hope! Let’s go! OH! we have to pray first!

PRAYER

Father – you are inviting us today to examine where our hope is. That shouldn’t be an hard hope to find, but without You and with NO hope, that certainly would be. We are glad that You have put into print David’s experiences in HIS “long obedience in the same direction.” Guide our study today, we pray. And then guide our life’s obedience, we pray as well. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

OUTLINE OF PSALM 124 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie). Title: “Mercy Remembered

1. A Description of Peril (vs. 1-5,7)

A. The peril of “voracious beasts” (vs. 3,7)

B. The peril of “swollen torrents” (vs. 4,5)

C. The peril of “fowler’s trap” (v. 7)

2. An Ascription of Praise (vs. 6-8)

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

David uses a grammatical style often used by both Hebrew writers and even by the Lord Jesus Himself! Remember throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus would say (in our beloved old KJV), “verily, verily”? Check out John 1:51 (KJV), “And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” 25 times in the Gospel of John alone, this phrase “verily, verily” is used by our Savior. Why?

Or how about in Isaiah’s vision of the Lord Jesus, when confronted with the words of the angelic visionaries of True God Himself, Isaiah wrote in triplicate: “holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). Why 3 times did the angel say the word “holy”?

And now here in Psalm 124, verses 1 and 2, the psalmist enters a statement starting with the word “if” in both verses. Why?

Why? Why? WHY? Emphasis! “Verily, verily” means what I am about to say is so truthful you had better pay attention. “Holy, holy, holy” is SO descriptive of our God and so revelatory of the fact that He is the TRIUNE God (One in Three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!). That phrase HAD to be repeated 3 times!

And now “IF”. It is a phrase of immense contrast. IF Jehovah were not on our side, and that is an impossibility – IF it WERE possible, but I just told you that it is an impossibility – all sorts of things would happen! When men rose up against us, we would have been swallowed alive, we would have been overwhelmed just like being drowned in waters, we would have even a stream, much less swollen waters “gone”, literally “swept over” our very souls!

David’s use of the phrase “our soul” is showing an HUGE OT insight of NT truth. The “soul” is that which is either alive or dead to God. We are born “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). But our souls are “made ALIVE” when we come to the truth of the cross and trust Jesus as our Savior. Note Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…”. Can I hear an AMEN!!!

OK, are there really phrases in our Bibles that everyone – even non-believers – use in our regular daily living? How about:

“your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23)

“I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.” (Job 19:20)

Or even in the Garden of Gethsemane just before the cross, the words of our Savior to His sleeping, non-watchful praying disciples: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38).

So it shouldn’t surprise us that in Psalm 124 we might see an old familiar phrase, and immediately comment, “WOW! I didn’t know THAT is in the Bible!”. Look at verse 3, “they would have swallowed us alive”. The description of what would happen to a nation which did not have the Lord on their side is pretty challenging, almost foreboding, isn’t it? Would you like to live in a nation which has rejected the Lord and no longer is seeking God to be “on our side”? And in consequence, are you willing to be part of a nation which would then be “swallowed alive”, “overwhelmed by waters, even our souls being drowned by the simple streams thrown at us? Would you? What a sad situation!

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

The Psalmist David ends this wonderful psalm in HOPE! “Blessed be the Lord”, “our soul has escaped”, “our help is in the name of the Lord.” These are words of triumphant HOPE!

But PLEASE do not let a little phrase pass you by. David recognized that his HELP wasn’t just in ANYONE. He recognized that his HELP wasn’t just in any “god” (LITTLE “g”). No, NO! His hope is in the name of Jehovah WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH” (v. 8). Can I hear another “AMEN”???!!!

David is begging of each of us his present day readers to answer the question, “have you found the Lord to be YOUR help, YOUR hope?”.

My hope is in the Lord Who gave Himself for me,

And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.

Chorus: For me He died,

For me He lives,

And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

Written by Norman J. Clayton, a songwriter for Evangelist Jack Wyrtzen

PRAYER

Father, once again the old Psalmist reminds us of truth for today!

He causes us to ask ourselves, “IS the Lord on our side” – both as individuals and as a nation?

HAVE we escaped those who would want to make us their prey?

And IS our help in Your Name, the Maker of Heaven and Earth?

There is none like YOU!

Quiet our souls, we pray, before You with the words of this heart-provoking psalm.

And we’ll give You all the praise,

With thanksgiving…

In Jesus Name, Amen!

STUDY IN THE ASCENT PSALMS

Retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

INTRODUCTION

Today is our second day in the study of the “Ascent Psalms” – Psalms 120-134. Have you read them yet? Have you read them in one sitting? I think you will be amazed with at least TWO observations:

#1 You will wonder why it has been so long before you discovered them

#2 You will marvel at how much “good stuff” of blessing to your heart you find in them!

Do you remember our “Theme Verse”?

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. (Psalm 84:5 NKJV). Pastor Eugene Peterson, famed editor of “The Message”, described the Ascent Psalms as “a long obedience in the same direction”. That is what our journey with the Lord should look like, How are you doing?

Today we are in Psalm 121. Without question, this was my mother-in-law’s favorite chapter in the scripture. In fact, at her funeral after her passing at age 91, her nephew – a Baptist pastor – used Psalm 121 as his text for her remembrance.

Perhaps today you, too, will find the joy that my wife’s mom found in this precious chapter.

PRAYER

“Father – as we enter what may be for some familiar territory, and as it might be for some new ground, may the Spirit of God be our Teacher.

Draw our hearts to a fresh walk with You.

With thanksgiving, in Jesus’ Name. Amen”

OUTLINE OF PSALM 121 (Dr. W. Graham Scroggie)

1. The Divine Help Proclaimed (vs. 1-2)
2. The Divine Help Promised. (vs. 3-8)

(a) Sleepless Watching (vs. 3,4)

(b) Complete Protection (vs, 5,6)

(c) Inclusive Assurance (vs. 7,8)

SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS

1. In the King James Version, verse 1 is a statement:

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”

BUT in the Hebrew, it is in the form of a question, as properly evidenced in the New King James Version:

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?”

Why do you think this change – from a statement to a question – is important to our understanding? Perhaps it is because NOW it directs the reader to SEARCH his/her heart as to where the true “Source” (capital “S”) or “source” (small “s”) of their hope is!

Ask YOURSELF – where is the true Source of YOUR hope? Are you dependent upon your own wisdom, or on earthly helps? Or are you REALLY dependent upon the One Who alone can be our Help?

In verse 2, the psalmist tells us that his Help is the Lord – and the Source of his help is specifically identified as the One “Who made heaven and earth”. Can you say that about anyone or anything else? No? Then Who should be YOUR help?!!!

2. Every now and then, the Lord in His wisdom directs His writers to talk about a part of the body!

In verse 3, is the “foot”. The Lord is such an Helper that He won’t even allow your FOOT to be moved – literally, like on a banana peel, the foot will not slip! Now THAT sounds like sure FOOTing! (couldn’t resist, Brother Frank – sorry!).

And note verse 5: “the Lord is your shade at your RIGHT HAND”. Now why is THAT part of the body important? Perhaps it is because throughout Scripture the “right hand” is the place of control, of authority, of power. Where does the Lord Jesus sit today? Is it not at the Father’s RIGHT HAND (Psalm 110:5). And while he was being stoned to death as the church’s first martyr, where do the Scriptures say Stephen saw the Lord Jesus? “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the RIGHT HAND of God.” (Acts 8:56) Did you note that Stephen saw Jesus STANDING? What a way to be welcomed into Stephen’s new eternal home!.

3. I really like the thought in verse 3, repeated in verse 4, that “He Who keeps Israel shall neither SLUMBERS nor SLEEPS”. So have you ever told someone, “I slumbered today”? But you HAVE told them, “I SLEPT in today”, right? What’s the difference? To “sleep” is to take a long restful repose from the cares of your day. But to “slumber” is to do what most of us do, take “cat naps” – to get our eyes closed long enough to get that sleepy feeling out of us and a sense of energy back in. God doesn’t need EITHER!!! On our journey of faith, His oversight of His sojourning children never stops – He neither slumbers nor sleeps. And He does that for EACH of us, sees us as INDIVIDUALS, all at the same time. Wow!

4. Finally, the psalmist has a key theme repeated throughout these verses, and all teach us MUCH about our amazing Heavenly Keeper:

* v. 7: God shall WHAT? He shall PRESERVE us from evil; He shall PRESERVE my soul – my innermost being!

* v. 8: God shall do WHAT? He shall preserve my going out and my coming in!

* v. 8: God shall do this WHEN? He shall preserve me “from this time forth, and even FOREVERMORE”!!!

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

I can’t help but think this: IF God is the One Who never slumbers nor sleeps (and He IS!), and He is the Preserver of my soul (and He IS!), AND He is going to be my soul’s Preserver, even when I’m coming in and going out, and even from this time forth and forevermore (and He IS!) – how should that affect the way I live?

Shouldn’t I be living with a focus on the end result of my sojourn – even Heaven itself?

And if THAT is true, shouldn’t I be living TODAY with a focus on the One Who is overseeing, protecting, and even preserving my journey and even my soul – even the Lord Himself?

PRAYER

Father, this psalm is amazing! My heart was born with an hunger to know from where is my help, and in my soul search, in my journey, I have found where my true Help is – YOU alone!

There is none like YOU. You are my Protector and my Preserver. And you are the Hope of my sojourn.

Remind me every day – “from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord Who made heaven and earth.”

And we all give you all the praise.

In Jesus Name. Amen!

A Note on This Week’s Message…

In the flickering glare of the fanatic flames that threaten to consume the heart of our nation, Jeremy Stopford has submitted a sermon that he preached many years ago. In it, he quotes a post-Civil War prayer made by Robert E. Lee:

“May God rescue us from the folly of our own acts, save us from selfishness, and teach us to love our neighbors as ourselves.”

In a sense, Lee’s prayer began to be answered before he asked, when his Army of Northern Virginia lost the last great battle of the Civil War. America began its ascent from the evils of slavery, and God helped us to start up what has become the long road to equality. But now people are sowing the dragon’s teeth of hatred and division. We must ask ourselves whether selfishness and hatred will keep us from ever attaining that goal?

In light of current events, and the attempts by some to erase the facts of history, we should ask ourselves whether we are now producing a climate where similar things can again occur.

The Jewish people wisely build Holocaust Museums because they do not want the evils that befell them and millions of others to be forgotten. George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” A word to the wise is sufficient.

—Frank Becker

“Would You Be Free?” (John 8:31-36)

Originally preached on the 4th of July weekend, July, 2009

By Pastor Jeremy Stopford

TODAY’S FUNNY: “4th of July SPECIAL”

The Fourth of July was coming up, and the nursery school teacher took the opportunity to tell her class about patriotism. “We live in a great country,” she said. “One of the things about which we should be happy is that, in this country, we are all free.”

One little boy came walking up to her from the back of the room. He stood with his hands on his hips and said, “I’m not free. I’m four.”

INTRODUCTION

This weekend we have celebrated the 233rd birthday of our great nation.

Today’s sermon title is taken from a cry from the post Civil War era. One of the great southern generals of that war, Robert E. Lee, a godly man, said this: “May God rescue us from the folly of our own acts, save us from selfishness, and teach us to love our neighbors as ourselves.”

Out text today would teach us that true freedom comes at great cost – not only to our Savior, but to us was well. At the end of the message I will ask you the following question; “are we willing to pay that price?”

PRAY for God’s blessings on this ministry today

Scripture Reading, John 8:31-36

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.“

#1 TRUE FREEDOM COMES FROM ABIDING IN THE TRUTH (8:31-32)

“Those Jews who believed in Him” – that was their “profession of faith”. Have you made a “profession” or do you have a “possession” of faith? There is an HUGE difference. There are many “professors”of Biblical Christianity. Our churches are filled with “professors”. But the narrow road has the only “possessors” of faith. So, are you a professor or a possessor?

Jesus challenged the professors of faith to prove their possession by their abiding – NOT in the temple but in the TRUTH! What priority does this Book have in your life? What priority do its instructions have in your life? What priority does the Lord Jesus and His Lordship on display in EVERY area of your life have in your life.

Note the dynamic teaching on this subject in John 15:1ff:

 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

If true freedom comes from abiding in the truth, are you free? IF NOT, Jesus is saying you are in bondage still!

#2 TRUE FREEDOM CAUSES DIVISION (8:33)

Jesus’ words caused the Jews to cling to their heritage of a works-oriented religion rather than to the freedom that is in Christ.

A simple truth created a division, which is still created today! Are you clinging to the cross, or to membership in First Baptist? To the cross, or to anything else?

Then Jesus says, you are in bondage and not free!

Listen to the sobering truths of Galatians 2:16-20:

16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave Himself for me.

#3. TRUE FREEDOM CLINGS TO THE SON, NOT TO SIN (8:34-36)

This point comes down to one thought: do we love the Son of God, or do we love the sin of man?

How can we tell?

To what or Whom are you in bondage?

Does your world revolve around yourself and your lusts, or does it revolve around the Son and His Lordship, His glory?

CONCLUSION

THE BIG QUESTION!!! Are you in bondage to sin, or free in Christ?

The answer tells not only your eternal, but your daily joy!

Are we willing to pay the price that boldly states, “The Lord Jesus ALONE is my Hope – I am free in Him!”

Close in prayer

“LEAVING HOME – DESTINATION UNKNOWN” (Genesis 12:1-11)

By retired Pastor Jeremy Stopford

Originally preached “Graduate Recognition Sunday, June 12, 2011

TODAY’S FUNNY: “Words not yet in the dictionary”

A graduate needs to be prepared to learn new words – especially ones which have not yet been entered into the dictionary. For today’s enjoyment:

“Elbonics” = “noun, the actions of two people maneuvering for one armrest in a movie theater”

“Petonic” = “adjective, one who is embarrassed to undress in front of a household pet”

“Phonesia” = “noun, the affliction of dialing a phone number and forgetting who you were calling just as they answer”

“Pupkus” – “noun, the moist residue left on a window after a dog presses its nose to it”

“Intaxication” = “noun, euphoria at getting a refund from the IRS, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with”

INTRODUCTION

You are headed on an exciting journey, many of you leaving home for the first time. And when all is said and done, perhaps you will finally settle down in a place which you could not have imagined today. Abram, now called Abraham, went through a similar experience. It is good to learn from those who have already walked the path you are about to walk.

PRAYER

1. “HARAN” – A PLACE WE CALL HOME (Genesis 12:4)

“So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”

ILLUSTRATION: The student was in his first college class, English. The professor began the first class of the semester with this warning: “There are two words I don’t allow in my class. One is ‘gross’ and the other is ‘cool’.

And the student asked, “Yes, so what are the words?”

Everybody has a place we call “home”. My hometown will always be Rye, New York, about 30 miles north of New York City. Home of John Jay, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and first justice of the Supreme Court. Rye was home of Playland Park, which was home of one of the older wooden roller coasters in the country. Playland was also home of one of the main scenes of Tom Hanks movie, “Big”. According to Wickpedia online encyclopedia, “In 2010, Coldwell Banker reported that Rye was the third most expensive city in the country in which to buy a home.” Thus it was a good reason why when my Dad retired in the 1960’s, we moved to Ft. Lauderdale. I only spent 8 years in Rye, but I still call it my Hometown.

“Haran” means “strong, enlightened”. It was Abram’s hometown. It is still in existence. It was home of the worship of multiple deities of the Chaldeans. Its residents had many choices, just like us.

Where is YOUR hometown? More importantly, as with Abram, where is the home town of your heart? Are you searching out which of many seemingly nameless gods to worship? Are you hoping to find the true Deity when you leave home? I imagine so did Abram!

2. “SHECHEM” – A PLACE OF INTRODUCTION (Genesis 12:6)

“Abram passed through the land to the place of SHECHEM, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.”

“Shechem” means “shoulder”. It was a Jewish city of refuge where the criminal could go if he was seeking a proof of his innocence. It later was called by the Romans “Neapolis”.

It was the place where God introduced Himself to Abram (verse 7). There is no recorded worship reciprocated to God by Abram. It was simply where God introduced Himself to Abram, and gave him promises. Abram builds an altar, but there is no formal worship, only a seeking, a ritual.

It was there that Jesus introduced Himself to a woman at a well (John 4). For some of you, today might be your introduction to the true God.

Let’s look at the progression of that introduction:

#1. Jesus: “Give me a drink” (from this well”

Woman: “How is it that You, A JEW, ask drink from me, a Samaritan woman?”

ARE YOU JUST A MAN?

#2. Jesus: “If you know Who I am, I’ll give you living water.”

Woman: “Are you GREATER THAN OUR FATHER JACOB, who dug this well?

ARE YOU GREATER THAN A GREAT FIGURE IN OUR HISTORY?

#3. Jesus: “You drink from this well, you’ll thirst again.

You drink of the water I give, you’ll never thirst again, but have everlasting life.”

Woman: “Give me this water.”

Jesus: “Go call your husband.”

Woman: “I have no husband.”

Jesus: “You have well said – you’ve had 5 husbands, and now you’re living with a man.”

Woman: “Are you a PROPHET?”

ARE YOU A PROPHET – A RELIGIOUS PERSON OF GREAT PROMINENCE?

#4. Woman: “Jerusalem is THE PLACE to worship.”

Jesus: “God desires worship in spirit and in truth.”

Woman: “I know THE MESSIAH is coming.”

Jesus: “I AM HE.”

Woman: “Come see a Man Who told me all things that I ever did.

Could this be THE MESSIAH?”

CONCLUSION: HE IS THE MESSIAH!

3. “BETWEEN BETHEL AND AI” – A PLACE OF COMMUNION (12:8)

“ And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.”

“Bethel” means “House of God”. It was located about 12 miles from Jerusalem, and is still good pastureland. “Ai” means “a place of ruins”, it was so called as it was established only to be a military outpost, not a settled city.

But it was between these 2 points that Abram not only built another altar – a place of marking – but also he called on God, a place of COMMUNION. We’ll see later that when Abram wandered from this place, he had to return there in order to restore the sweetness of his understanding of Who God is.

4. “EGYPT” – A PLACE OF EMPTINESS (12:9-10)

“So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South. Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.”

ILLUSTRATION: The English test had only one question: “Write an essay on ‘The Most Beautiful Thing I Ever Saw.’”

One of the students finished his essay in less than a minute. It read in its entirety: “The most beautiful thing I ever saw was just too beautiful for words.”

He got the only A in the class!

For many, that is what Egypt is. Note that the famine was still in Bethel as well as in Egypt. God was in Bethel, but Abram chose to go to Egypt, the place of the world, where God did not chose to make Himself known.

And you will find, as Abram did, that when you leave the place of God’s presence, you have entered the place of emptiness. It not only IS empty; it leaves you empty as well. Abram was EMPTY.

And to get back to where he was full of God’s presence, he had to go back to where he left off – Bethel.

CONCLUSION

Hebrews 11:8-10 tell us that Abraham responded BY FAITH! God wonderfully calls every step – every “place” of our lives – our “journey”.

The most important point is this: IDENTIFY where you are in this journey. Are you:

1. HOME – a place of seemingly ENDLESS CHOICES, but the one from which I begin my journey.

2. A place of INTRODUCTION – where I first hear about the one true, intimate, personal God, Who loves me with an everlasting love. Where is your place of INTRODUCTION?

3. A place of COMMUNION – where you came to the cross and found Jesus to be true and worthy of your every day.

4. A place of EMPTINESS – where the world is and all it has to offer with its thrills and high prices, with a high cost for those who fall. If you are here, get back to where you left off.

Respond like Abram by faith – come to the CROSS.

Like our chorus, “seek first the kingdom of God.”

Close in prayer

“THE CHILDREN’S CHILDREN” (Psalm 103)

By Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor, Father’s Day, 2014

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “To George Washington ”

A young boy on his way to school one morning passed the outhouse by the pond behind his home.

All of a sudden he got a wild urge to push the outhouse into the pond, so with a running start he knocked it over and watched it roll a few times then slowly sink under the surface as he ran off toward school.

In class that day, they learned about how George Washington cut down the cherry tree, but when confronted about it he told his father the truth and thus did not get a whipping for the deed. So he decided to use this strategy if questioned about the outhouse when he got home.

As he approached his house, he saw his father on the porch brandishing a big switch.

When he got close enough his father said, “Boy, I’m only gonna ask this one time … what do you know about the outhouse getting pushed into the pond?”

The boy swallowed hard and said, “Dad, just as George Washington cut down the cherry tree, but decided to tell the truth, I must admit to you that I pushed the outhouse into the pond.”

With that his father grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and began to give him a good ole country whippin’. The boy cried out, “But Dad, George Washington’s dad didn’t whip him!”

“Yes son,” the father replied, “that is true, but George Washington’s dad was not IN the cherry tree when he cut it down!”

INTRODUCTION

Today is our nation’s “Father’s Day” – a holiday honoring fathers, created to complement the already existing Mother’s Day. It was first suggested in 1909! But believe it or not it was not signed into law until 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson! The reason for the delay? Congress people were afraid of its commercialism, much like what happened to Mother’s Day!.

Scripture has many encouragements to fathers, but one of my favorite is found in the use of the phrase “children’s children”.

Examples:

“May you live to see your children’s children” (Ps. 128:6).

“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children” (Prov. 13:22)

“Children’s children a crown to the aged.” (Prov. 17:6)

Psalm 103 is filled with classic truths for us today. PRAYER Turn to Psalm 103

I. AN HISTORY LESSON (vs. 1-12) David’s focus: REVIEW

I hated history in school! Did you? I hated having to learn FACTS, you know, those facts that you would NEVER have to use again. I hated history! BUT after high school I loved it – because I was no longer being tested on the facts!

As you read Psalm 103, read these verses as David giving an history lesson, in personal, private praise before the Lord!

Note David concludes this section with a classic line on forgiveness (vs. 10-12):

“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

  For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Why is this lesson so astounding? Well, do you know where “NORTH” is? Of course! We “head north”. We “live in the north”. We can even go to the NORTH Pole. Or if we have lots of money, why, we could even go to the SOUTH Pole!!!

But EAST and WEST never meet! And when we come to the cross, our sins are removed THAT FAR from God! Our sins NEVER MEET with an holy God, because He removed them all at the expense of His Son at the cross!

Can I hear an “AMEN!”?

II. A FATHERLY LESSON (v. 13) David’s focus: RELATIONSHIP

In verse 13 David changes directions, from a Review of HISTORY to a Focus on his RELATIONSHIP with fatherhood:

“As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.”

David reveals purpose: the compassion of a father!

ILLUSTRATION.: “A New Father Funny”

Soon after the mother left, the baby started to cry. The new father did everything he could think of to do but the baby wouldn’t stop crying. Finally, the dad got so worried he decided to take the infant to the doctor.

After the doctor listened to all that the father had done to get the baby to stop crying, the doctor began to examine the baby’s ears, chest and then down to the diaper area.

When he undid the diaper, he found that the diaper was indeed full.

“Here’s the problem,” the doctor said. “He needs a change.”

The father was very perplexed, “But the diaper package says it’s good for up to 10 pounds!”

Note: “compassion” can be defined as “mercy”. And when you think “mercy”, you must think of THE CROSS!

While your earthly father might not have been merciful, you are invited to a relationship with the God – the Heavenly Father – Who IS merciful!

III. A GRAND-FATHERLY LESSON (vs. 14-18) David’s focus: LEGACY

“For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

  As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.”

This lesson is HUGE- we think TODAY. God thinks ETERNITY

Did you catch the divine lessons in the Scriptures:

We are mortal – God is eternal (vs. 14-17a)

God is everlasting – His focus is as well (vs. 17b-18)

The key is in the word “keep” (v. 18). It means “to protect, to guard with urgency”. In action it means “a legacy protected”.

WHOSE legacy? GOD’S legacy!

God thinks legacy – not only for today, and for the next generation, but for the generations to come! And we must, too!

Even for those without children or grandchildren! For we think “family”. God thinks “the whole world”:

“For God so loves THE WORLD that HE GAVE His only Son,

that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

CLOSING PRAISE vs. 19-22

The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.

Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Close in prayer

(Genesis 22:1-14)

Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor, Originally preached September 3, 2017

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “A Calendar Funny”

What is the favorite month of lumberjacks? SepTIIMMMBEERRRR!!!

INTRODUCTION

50 years from now, what will our children have learned about their history from the past 200 years? All the statues honoring the heroes of past generations would have been removed or smashed. Even the statue of Thomas Jefferson, honoring him as the founder of the U of Virginia, is being contemplated as being moved. Will they also tear down the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC? Will they close his home in Monticello, VA? which appears on our coins? Will our Jefferson coins & dollars go?What will future generations know?

What about God’s memorial? Are they going to tear that one down, too? Did you know He has one? Our text tells us.

A. THE ABANDONMENT

“Here I am” (Genesis 22:1-2)

“Some time later, God tested Abraham” – these words introduce us to the follow-up to Genesis 12:1-3. What dreams did Abe have? Follow his dad? Follow his trade? Stay in the country? No, he abandoned those to follow his God.

Now, there is another test – and we are specifically told that God is the Author of this test. GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF THIS ENTIRE MEMORIAL. It was His idea. We learn in James that God is NOT the author of temptation – allurements to evil. But He IS the Author of stretching His children so that dependence upon self is put to death, and a heart is abandoned only to God.

We learn 2 specific parts of this test:

#1 Abraham has immediate abandonment “here I am”. This phrase appears 20 times in our Scriptures, and another 5 times as “here am I”. Note: twice here (vs. 1,11); Esau (in conversation with Isaac); Jacob, Moses, Samuel, & Isaiah in conversation with God. And Jesus Himself. Check out Psalm 40:7 (quoted in Hebrews 10:7-9 as referring to Jesus) and Revelation 3:20, His invite to commune with Him! Jesus is showing Who is the heart of God’s memorial, and where – the cross!

#2 Abraham had a treasured relationship with his son, Isaac, and God knew it!

ILLUSTRATION: Like Isaac, I was the son of my father’s old age. He was 47 when I was born. And yet, in retrospect, I was the son he loved because he spent so much time at home with me.

Note God’s 4-fold description: (take) your son (personal), your only son (unique, one of a kind), Isaac (he has a name), whom you love (the receiver of the father’s favor). Did you notice the line “your only son”? Ishmael was born years earlier, but Galatians 4:22ff remind us that he was not a legal heir, nor was he the son of promise. Before God, Isaac was his only son. Years later, another Father would talk about His Son: “that He gave His only begotten – His one and only – Son” (John 3:16).

Also note: “burnt offering” – this is a complete sacrifice, the giving of the entire animal – or, in this case, oneself. Abraham understood this abandonment full well. Do we?

One other quick note: Dr. Arthur Pink observes something that blew right over me: this is the only place in Scripture where the Lord required a human sacrifice. All other sacrifices that He outlined were of animals: lambs, rams, etc. Tuck that info away!

The first heart of this memorial is the abandonment of our Heavenly Father as seen through Abraham’s abandonment of himself before God.

B. THE OBEDIENCE “Early” (vs. 3-6a)

There are at least two important points to describe this obedience. First, it came “early”. Abe did not hesitate to obey his heavenly Father. Do we? Do we seek Him early in the day – first thing before the tasks of the day take over our time and strength? Do we seek Him early when He sets a task before us to do?

But secondly, is the little phrase – almost unnoticed except for it being so LOUD – “the third day”. God in His wisdom always surrounds obedience with promise and hope. “Third day” is the day of…RESURRECTION! And note Abe’s description: we will worship and we will come back. Abe’s obedience was such that he was sure that no matter what happened up on the mount, Isaac was assured of being alive when it was over – even if God would have Abe complete the task of sacrificing his son, his only son, Isaac, whom he loves. In this huge way, God reminds us that obedience is always surrounded by promises – over 2000 of them – in God’s Word! We need to cling to them every day!

C. THE COMMUNION “Father?” (vs. 6b-7)

It would be easy to slide over this vocal interchange from Isaac to his father, Abraham. But in it, we learn much:

#1 Isaac felt very comfortable to talk with his dad – he could question him about anything! And so can we with our heavenly Father! (Oh, and can your children and grandchildren with you?)

#2 Isaac understood what a burnt offering is. He noted that there was a difference between a simple offering (using fire

and wood) and a burnt offering, meaning the offering was to be consumed. How did he know that? Because he learned that from his father! Communion. Sweet intimacy between a father and his son. Do we avail ourselves of that intimacy between our heavenly Father and us? In prayer, we talk to our Father. In His word, He talks with us. Communion. A vital part of this memorial.

CONCLUSION “God will provide” (vs. 8-14)

The name of the mount was identified as “Moriah” (v. 2) and “The Lord will provide” (v. 14), a name for God Himself (“Jehovah Jireh”). Can there be any doubt that the place of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac is none other than Mount Calvary itself?

And if that isn’t enough, check out the. NT application (Heb. 11:17-19). Of course, this is the great faith chapter.

And many years later, God the Father sent His son, His one and only Son, Jesus, Whom He loved, to Mount Moriah – a hill called Calvary. And on the third day He, too, rose from the dead. “And whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

THAT IS GOD’S MEMORIAL!

Are you gonna tear that down, too? Or is that memorial the foundation of your abandonment of self to the Father, the sweetness of your obedience before the Father, and the heart of your communion with the Father?

Would you really want to tear that down, too? Or are you going to pass The Memorial of the cross of Calvary on down so that future generations will also celebrate The Memorial?

Close in prayer

PENTECOST SUNDAY 2014, Originally preached June 8, 2014

Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor

TODAY’S “SPECIAL”: “Next in Line”

While waiting in line at the Department of Motor Vehicle Services for his new license plate, a gentleman heard the clerk call the next customer by shouting, “E-I-E-I-O.”

“Here!” answered the woman standing next to him in line. Curious, the man asked her if she was married to a farmer, or maybe taught preschool.

“Neither,” she replied. “My name is McDonald.”

INTRODUCTION:

Today is “Pentecost Sunday” – 50 days after Easter. This is the commemoration of the day, according to Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit came down to indwell believers. That marked the beginning of the church as we know it.

But the Holy Spirit is mentioned throughout the Bible. Even in Genesis 1, He “moved”, literally “brooded” (like a mother hen) upon the waters of the newly created earth.

Our text in Judges is the first time in Scripture that the phrase the “Spirit of the Lord” is mentioned. And He is mentioned 7 times in Judges – we’re going to look at just 3 of them today.

“Why?” you ask. Because 1 Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

That tells us that the OT Scriptures were written for our benefit, our learning, warnings to us as to how to live.

Let’s pray for what God has for us today.

I. THE ROUGH GEM TEST (Judges 3:1-11)

Note verse 1: “Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan.”

Israel was supposed to wipe out the inhabitants of the land – but they didn’t. Instead, the Israelites intermarried and ultimately worshipped the false gods of the land. God then used these nations as a “test”. Like a jeweler with a rough gem who works the gem to create a more valuable stone, God worked/used these nations to draw Israel back to Himself.

Note the vicious cycle repeated in Judges as first seen in this chapter: first sin (idolatry), then punishment, followed by repentance (crying out to God), then finally God’s deliverance.

Let’s see this pattern in action in Judges 3: Sin (vs. 5-6); followed closely by Punishment (v. 8); followed by Repentance (v. 9a); then followed by God’s gracious Deliverance (v. 9b).

The judge – in this case Othniel (v. 9) – was the deliver. He was Caleb’s nephew.

NOW HERE’S THE IMPORTANT PART! What set Othniel apart from his compatriot Israelites? Note verse 10: The “Spirit of the Lord” came upon Othniel for a purpose, a specific task. Then the land had peace until the judge died.

The Spirit of the Lord, while He indwells believers today, also comes upon us to enable us to perform specific tasks – with God’s wisdom, strength, enablement. For what purpose? That the Lord Jesus may be glorified Who otherwise might not receive any attention!

What tasks might He be calling YOU for?

II. THE FAITH TEST (Judges 6:33-40)

Note verse 1: “Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,”

The cycle begins again!

Note that in verses 11-15, God calls Gideon to be the nation’s new judge. Some scholars believe that the “Angel of the Lord” who spoke to Gideon here is none other than a pre-incarnate Lord Jesus! How can that be? Note that He is referred to as God, not an angel!

WHAT DOES GIDEON HAVE TO DO WITH US AND PENTECOST? See vs. 33-34: the “Spirit of the Lord” came upon Gideon to do what – blow a trumpet! And in turn, Gideon thus caused the union of many of the smaller tribes to come out against the union against Israel!

Our text has a most interesting story about “placing a fleece out before the Lord” (v. 36, 39). God used this to encourage our judge Gideon that God really was going to use him!

ILLUSTRATION: Back in 1971 in my early days as a Christian, I, too, put a “fleece” out before the Lord. And the Lord amazingly honored that fleece with a very specific answer. As a result, I stayed where I was for the rest of the school year. But don’t you think God wants us to trust Him alone?

Is this the way to go today? God calls us to faith, and in Hebrews 11:32 Gideon is listed in the great Hall of Faith. So you decide!

III. THE VOW TEST (Judges 11:28-37)

In Judges 11:1,2, we learn something interesting about a man named Jephthah:

“Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, ‘You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.’”

Jephthah was considered rejected, put down because of his heritage. Have any of you experienced rejection by your own family? You are not alone!

In verse 4, the Ammonites – an enemy people group to Israel – came against Israel. For the feeble people of Israel, this was an huge situation! They had not really sought the Lord, but they knew that Jephthah had proved himself on his own as an excellent soldier and leader. In trouble with seemingly no place to turn, the people of Israel ask Jephthah to be Israel’s helper.

THIS IS WHERE GOD DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE! Note verse 29: “Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah…”. What does the Spirit do – the same “Spirit of the Lord” who helped both Othniel and Gideon, and Who helps His church in the New Testament?

He comes upon Jephthah to equip him to fight a nation, a battle bigger than himself!

BUT THIS STORY ALSO HAS A “SIDEBAR”. In verses 30-31, Jephthah makes a vow before the Lord. He prays, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

Jephthah fully expected that when he returned home from God’s victory, one of the animals living in his house would come first out of the house!

In verse 32 we read about Jephthah’s victory by the power of the Spirit of the Lord upon Him! This is the victory he prayed for, but soon would come his opportunity to fulfill his promise to the Lord.

In verses 34-35 we learn that, of all possibilities, his daughter is the first to come out of the house! What does Jephthah do? What becomes of his promise, and of his daughter?

Verse 37 in the KJV reads that she would “bewail her virginity” – by this some old scholars assumed he sacrificed her. But the NIV has it right. His daughter said, “I will never marry.” The law calls for us to keep our vows. Even a promise to a bank is a vow. We are to be people of character.

As with Gideon, Jephthah is listed in Hebrews 11:32 as a member of God’s Faith Hall of Fame!

CONCLUSIONS

#1 God shows through these 3 characters that the “Spirit of the Lord” can come upon His children to perform specific tasks, to cause the unity of people, and to equip His children to go to battle against impossible odds.

#2 But God is also showing that the USA is in such moral disrepair that He needs people of faith – full of the Holy Spirit – to make a difference for eternity even against impossible odds.

WILL YOU BE THAT PERSON OF FAITH?

Close in prayer

“THE PURPOSE OF MY LIFE IS … ” (Jeremiah 1)

Preached September 15, 2013 by Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor

TODAY’S SPECIAL: “Memory Test, (so stupid it’s funny!)“

Three elderly men are at the doctor’s office for a memory test. The doctor asks the first man, “What is three times three?” “Two hundred and eighteen,” comes the reply. The doctor rolls his eyes, looks up at the ceiling, and says to the second man, “It’s your turn. What is three times three?” “Friday,” replies the second man. The doctor shakes his head sadly, then asks the third man, “Okay, your turn. What is three times three?” “Nine,” says the third man. “That’s great!” says the doctor. “How did you get that answer?” “Simple,” he says, “just subtract 218 from Friday.”

INTRODUCTION

God has a call for each of us. Perhaps it is not an audible call. Perhaps it is better a call to the heart and mind. What is His call? It is the call of the PURPOSE of our lives. Let me ask each of you a question: if you were to fill in the blank, what would you write: “The purpose of my life is…”. Perhaps if we look at Jeremiah’s call, and related Scriptures, we will be able to better fill in that blank!

PRAYER

#1 JEREMIAH’S BEGINNING (vs. 1-5)

A. A wise focus – under Josiah’s leadership (vs. 1-3)

Jeremiah observed a godly King Josiah. He saw godly leadership firsthand. King Josiah, as it were, was a spiritual “mentor” to Jeremiah – because Jeremiah certainly saw the difference in the subsequent ungodly kings. I am thankful for the many mentors God has provided in my life, in particular Pastor Herman Underwood at First Baptist, Canton back in 1971. He took me into his home with his wife and 5 kids, and showed me firsthand not only how to walk with the Lord, but how to minister. Almost 30 years later, I co-officiated the funeral of Clarence Jones. Amazingly, in the BIG picture of things, Pastor Jones was Pastor Underwood’s mentor – some 30 years before I came into Pastor Underwood’s picture. If it weren’t for Pastor Jones’ mentoring, who knows where I would be!

But God also raised up godly laymen for me – Carlos Atkyns, for example. He went Home to be with the Lord just a short time after I came to Beaver Meadow. I wish I had spent more time with him – that was a hard lesson to learn too late. But he sure knew what it was to minister, and to care for his community.

Who are your mentors? To whom do you mentor today?

B. An amazing knowledge – under God’s love (vs. 4-5)

These are amazing verses! God showed His eternal love for Jeremiah, and He has done that for us as well. We all should be familiar with such classic passages as Psalm 139, Romans 8, and 1 John 4:19 (“we love Him because He first loved us.”

THE POINT: God has placed people in leadership to equip us to be the people He has designed us to be – for His eternal purpose.

“The purpose of my life is…” governed by the choices I make in who/Who are my advisors.

#2 JEREMIAH’S BLESSING (vs. 6-10)

A. Jeremiah’s humility is mis-guided fear (vs. 6-8). Illus.: Doesn’t Jeremiah sound a LOT like Moses in Exodus 3 and 4? Because Moses – like Jeremiah initially – doubted God’s ability and call through him, he missed out and Aaron became God’s vessel through whom God would speak.

B. Jeremiah’s power is through God’s Word (vs. 9-10) See Jer. 15:16; Romans 10:8-15. Isn’t it amazing – it shouldn’t surprise us, should it? – that the person God uses the most is a person who has an intimacy with God’s Word.

THE POINT: God has given us His Word as His daily, moment by moment, direction in every area of my life.

“The purpose of my life is…”, if it is to have a spiritual purpose, must be in direct agreement with God’s Word.

#3 JEREMIAH’S BOASTING (vs. 11-18)

God is giving Jeremiah challenges/tests on His eyesight (vs. 11-14)

God is positioning Jeremiah that his boasting will be only in the Lord, and

so boasting will cause him to stand firm for God (vs. 17-18); Jer. 9:23-24

THE POINT: God has given us new hearts that hunger for His heart, His will, His glory.

“The purpose of my life is…” can only be answered in an honorable way if my boasting is only in the Lord!

CONCLUSION

So how did you do?

“The purpose of my life is…” governed by my advisors, guided by God’s Word, and answered as it is directed only to God’s glory.

If we CAN’T fill in the blank, are we guilty of living AN AIMLESS LIFE?

PRAYER