Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are

"Preach The Word"

A Most Comforting Thought For A New Year

"Jesus Cares For His Own"
Preached 1/4/98 AM

Text: Ps.91:1-16

1 ¶ He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 ¶ Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

 Introduction:

1. One of the most comforting thoughts we have to take into the New Year is that Jesus cares for us. There is not a person upon the earth for which He fails to care, yet, there are many people with an empty and meaningless life, thinking no one cares.

2.Some folks think believers are like sheep or cattle who are bought and then turned loose to graze or make it the best way they can. No we are not alone as God’s little children.

3. If a person seeks to live the Christian life without a knowledge of God’s care and leadership, he or she is destined to fail in their Christian living.

4. Many verses in the Bible speak to us of God’s care for His own.

Matt. 10:29-31 says: "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

If God knows when every sparrow falls to the ground, and He cares about the birds, how much more does He care about us, who He has made in His own image.

5. Illustration:

When David found out about Miphibosheth at Lodebar, the place of no pasture, he sent for him and brought him to the presence of the King’s table to eat daily. The goods that Miphibosheth had lost were restored to him. All that the lame Miphobosheth needs was found at the palace of the King.

That is what Jesus did for us. He has saved us with His own blood and makes the provisions we need for our growth, safety and our welfare, all the way to the end of our Christian journey.

6. God cares about you more than you will ever imagine. Calvary alone should be sufficient proof of the care and love of God for a sinful mankind. Romans 5:8 says, :"But God commendeth (demonstrates) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Calvary alone should settle the question about whether God loves every person born of Adam’s race or not, because the Bible says "That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man"(Heb.2:9). He gave himself for the literate and the illiterate, for the educated and the uneducated, for the rich and for the poor, and for the cultured and the crude. This would keep me from believing in a limited atonement for Christ died "for every man"(Heb.2:9).

How do I know that? See the following verse: " And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy [place], for a memorial before the LORD continually"(Ex.28:29).

Note:

When the high priest of Israel went before God, he had a breastplate which had written the names of the tribes of Israel written over his heart. The heart speaks of tender love and affection. The breastplate was a type of Christ caring for His people.

Analogy:

Christ in the New Testament spoke of gathering Israel as, "A hen would gather her chicks under her wings." A chick has a sense of security under its mother’s wings. What Jesus said of Israel, is true also of the Church. He wants to give all of us a place of refuge to give us security throughout the year into which we have entered.

Truth:

God hides you and me in the secret of His presence. The Bible says in Ps.31:20: "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence (Ps.31:20). We are not hid in darkness, we are hidden in His glorious and marvelous light. Our God is a caring and tender God and is full of love for us. Even when he chastises us, He does it because He loves us.

Because He has us in his heart, there are at least five things that are true:

1 Cor. 1:9 says, "God is faithful by Whom ye were called into the fellowship of His Son." Some mother’s might forget their children, some dump them in garbage cans immediately after they are born, but God will NEVER forget His own. Even when we seem faithless, he is faithful to us. That is because we are in His heart.

Jn. 13:1 says, "Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end" (Jn.13:1). Nothing, I mean nothing, can separate us from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus our blessed Lord. Tribulation, famine, sword, pestilence(or disease can come) but it cannot separate us from the love of God which is in Christ. His love never ends.

Luke 1:78 tells us that God would give: "Knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins through the tender mercies of God.

So many imagine God as a cruel master standing over His slaves with a large whip. We are his servants, but we are no serving one who has no regard for us, for He has us in His heart. He is

"Touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb.4:15). He knows our frame and is touched by our needs. His yoke is easy.

Ps. 103:13 declares, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." Our God is our Father. No earthly father, though many deeply care for their own, could care to the extent that God cares for us. He has a sharper compassion, and a wiser leadership than an earthly Father.

How precious as those words to us, "Like a Father." Jesus spoke of God as His Father, even so can we who are redeemed by the grace of God. Jesus is to us all that the father-heart is toward His sons, and much, much more.

Luke 15:5 says, "And when he hath found it(that is the lost sheep), he layeth it on his shoulder."

Luke 15 gives three precious parables. They are the lost coin, the lost son, and the lost sheep. A sheep got lost, so the shepherd went out looking for it. He found his sheep far from the place it should have been, away from the fold. The shepherd picks it up, puts it on his shoulder and brings it home. THE SHOULDER IS A PLACE OF STRENGTH. That is where the high priest of the Old Testament wore the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. He not only has us "under His wings" but He also "carries us on His wings."

De 32:11,12 states, "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord did lead him."

Note: A loving Father has a deep regard and affection for His son and seeks the boys welfare continually. Even so does God.

God is stronger than we could ever fully imagine or comprehend.

Sampson was an extremely strong man. No one could bind him. He could pick up the heavy gates of the city and carry them upon his shoulders. He could lean on the huge pillars of the temple and bring them to the ground.

Christ is able to bear all of our burdens if we will just cast them upon Him. He is the "Mighty Savior." He can push every obstacle out of His way and show forth His everlasting strength.

He is our Sampson, but much mightier than Sampson.

David, you recall is the one that went forth to meet the giant. He overthrew him with a smooth stone, cut of his head with a sword, and sent the enemy to flight.

We have a "Heavenly David." He will meet our enemy for us and make us victorious in every conflict that we find ourselves engaged. We are, "More than conquerers through Him that loved us.."

Christ has already met our greatest foe, the Devil, and has defeated Him, when He cried at the cross, "It is finished" (Jn.19:30).

Do you recall from the Old Testament how Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armour: "Come, let us go over against the host of these uncircumcised" Jonathan realized that is was nothing with the Lord to save, whether it was a few or whether it was many. The overcame the mightest warriors of their day, the Phillistines, because of the strength and courage of Jonathan.

Christ is our Heavenly Jonathan. He can take care of those who make themselves our enemies. They will run from before the presence of the Lord. He will take us to the place of victory in this new year. He can shelter us and also carry us through every battle and difficulty that we will encounter along the way.

III. CHRIST CARES FOR HE HELPS US WITH HIS HAND

The Scripture declares in Isa 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

"dismay" means to "look about with anxiety or worry"

It seems to express a condition that is an ongoing problem.,

God says in Isa 41:13, "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Illustration:

Peter saw the beggar sitting at the gate called Beautiful at the Temple. He was begging alms of those who came. Peter looked down at him and 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. Peter took him by the hand and lifted the man up.

God does not just expect us to stand up and walk after having been paralyzed and lame through a fall, that is through sin. Light Peter did to the man begging alms, Jesus reaches down, takes us by the hand and helps us to walk.

Note:

The Apostle Paul said on one occasion: "The Lord is my helper,I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Heb.13:6). While Paul journey, this fact gave him comfort. There was one who was His constant companion, when others thought he was by himself. God is able to make us to stand.

There are five wonderful Scriptures I feel you should see to begin the new year:

We never walk alone. The Lord is always by our side and even in us. He will hold our hand and handle our conflicts unto the end of this age.

God speaks to Jacob after he saw a vision of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. God gave Jacob comfort and told him He would be with Him, at his side, holding him by the hand. There is nothing more comforting as we wade our way through the darkness of this world, than to know our Lord is near. We can feel the touch of His hand.

When enemies surround, persecutions comes, when we begin to sense we are being overwhelmed by something we should not be, we feel the "touch of His hand." An old song says:

The Apostle Paul understood what it was to have the Lord Jesus walking by his side; standing with him. God encouraged and delivered the apostle. God had a strong grip on his hand. That kept him from stumbling.

When the waters dash high, and rivers in life run swiftly, and the fire is kindled so very hot, our God can still lead us through it all.

As a shepherd does his sheep, He calls us out and goes before us.

A Song says:

"I have Somebody with me, to share the heavy load, I feel His presence near me every day, though troubles overtake us, along this pilgrim way, I have somebody with me all the way."

HE HAS US IN HIS HEART

HE CARRIES US ON HIS SHOULDER

HE HELPS US WITH HIS HAND

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deut.32:27).

Thank God He encamps around about those who fear Him. He goes before us; He is behind us; He is within us; and is also beneath us. EVERLASTING ARMS ARE CONSTANTLY UNDER US. Do you often sense that when you are about ready to fall from exhaustion spiritually? To undergird with the arms speaks of "tender love."

There are two beautiful pictures in the Song of Solomon in regard to the tenderness of those arms beneath us:

4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. {banqueting...: Heb. house of wine}

5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. {comfort...: Heb. straw me with apples}

6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

The wife, here in the Biblical account, leans he head upon the shoulder of her husband, and wants to feel his arm around her.

Thank God we are, "Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast, there by his love ore’shaded, sweetly my soul shall rest."

Just like Christ took the little children in Mark 10 up in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them, He does for us as well in the church age.

We need to lean on Him and sense his support and love.

The Shulamite had finally found her shepherd lover and she is coming to her master’s house. Her hand is in the arm of the one to whom she is betrothed and she leans upon him. She says:

"6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. {cruel: Heb. hard}

7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

The love Jesus has for us is an unquenchable love, an unending love, and an enduring love. Nothing can quench the flames of God’s love toward us and for us. We trust in His love.

If we lean on the arm of Christ we will one day reach home, as did the Shulamite woman in the Song of Solomon.

Jude 1:24 comforts us by saying: " Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."

HE HAS US IN HIS HEART

HE CARRIES US ON HIS SHOULDER

HE HELPS US WITH HIS HAND

HE UNDERGIRDS US WITH HIS ARMS

Ps. 32:1 states, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with Mine eye."

Deut. 4:29 says- "He is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath, there is none else." Those words were given to encourage God’s people to go up against Jericho.

We have one on high who is exalted and is seated at the Father’s right hand.

Christ is: "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named" (Eph.1:19-23).

Illustration:

I read of a young girl who would not go with some other young people to a school dance. He was made fun of by the other girls.

She said, "Mother, all the other girls look down upon me because I won’t go." Her dad spoke up and said, "There was another one dear, who looked down upon you, because He was so far above you, He looked down with approval. He will bless you for what you did and reward your faithfulness.

B. God sees from above.

Ch 16:9 reminds us: " For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."

Note:

Watchmen were put on the top of the gates of the city to see danger coming afar off. God is in a high and lofty position.

He guided Israel in the wilderness by a cloud through the day and by a pillar or column of fire by night.

Ex 13:21 declares; "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night."

De 31:3 tells us, "The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, [and] he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: [and] Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said."

The wilderness of this world has terrors and temptations but we have a shepherd, who goes before us, and brings victory to our lives.

There is a song that says:

"Anywhere with Jesus, I can safely go,

Anywhere He leads me in this world below,

Anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade,

Anywhere with Jesus, I am not afraid."

HE HAS US IN HIS HEART

HE CARRIES US ON HIS SHOULDER

HE HELPS US WITH HIS HAND

HE UNDERGIRDS US WITH HIS ARMS

V. HE GUIDES US WITH HIS EYE

In Matt. 28:18, Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

Jesus began the work that we are doing, but went back to the Father’s house, and assigned us the responsibility of representing Him in this world. Now that he is "taken up" He has left us to complete the work that He began. We are here as "ambassadors’ for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, "And greater works than these shall ye do, because I go unto My Father" (Jn. 14:12). Christ did many signs, miracles and wonders, but today He is working through His children by the Holy Ghost. He is not in one locality working upon the earth, but now He is in Christians all around the world working.

He is in every land through many believers scattered around the world.

According to Mark 13:14, He gives to every man- "to every one his work." We are all sent of God to do a specific work for him in this world.

Christ does not just tell us about how He is with us but He wants us to know that all authority and power is in His hands. Our service is backed with His power.

See Acts 1:8.

We can fulfill the tasks that He has assigned for us to do.

HE HAS US IN HIS HEART

HE CARRIES US ON HIS SHOULDER

HE HELPS US WITH HIS HAND

HE UNDERGIRDS US WITH HIS ARMS

HE GUIDES US WITH HIS EYE

HE BACKS US WITH HIS POWER

He is not just by our side, above us, and beneath us, but He is all about us. That is the idea of "surrounding." Ps. 34:1 says, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them." That is a picture of God’s surrounding care.

A. Ps 125:2 states: "As the mountains [are] round about Jerusalem, so the LORD [is] round about his people from henceforth even for ever."

The is an incident in the Old Testament (2 Kings 6:17) where it looked like the city where Elijah was staying was surrounded by the horses and chariots of the King of Syria. They had surrounded the city and was going to seize Elisha,but there was a host the Assyrians did not see, but Elisha and his servant saw a breath-taking sight. All around the city, God let them see heavenly horses and chariots of fire that dispelled the enemy and encouraged his saints. The word "encamp" suggests protection.

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

We are hidden in the Omnipotent ( all powerful) hands of Deity.

We are safe and need not fear anything in the future.

There are angels sent from God to minister to us(Heb.1:14).

They opened a prison door for Peter, led the Apostle Paul and are about us to deliver us.

We can go into the new year knowing that Jesus cares for you and for me. That is why the apostle Peter said, "Casting all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you" (1 Pet. 5:7)

SERMON FROM DR. TOM WALKER
Pastor Zion Hill Baptist Church--Marion, NC--USA

E-Mail

Site created by Tom Walker