1-21-07 We are digging out from 8-10 inches of snow. My daughter, Rachel, is visiting us from Tennessee. We spent yesterday with her Beagel, hunting rabbits. What a riot!! Today we loaded up in the 4 wheel drive pick-up, and made our way to church. We had a pretty good group, considering the weather and icy roads. Here is the morning sermon. Hope it blesses you.
God Bless
Ridge & Elizabeth
SERMON
1-21-07
If we bring into one day's thoughts the evil of many, certain and uncertain, what will be and what will never be, our load will be as intolerable as it is unreasonable.
Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)
It ain't no use putting up your umbrella till it rains.
Alice Caldwell Rice
Day 19
"I sought him, but I found him not."
— Song 3:1
Tell me where you lost the company of Christ, and I will tell you the most likely place to find Him. Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer? Then it is there you must seek and find Him. Did you lose Christ by sin? You will find Christ in no other way but by the giving up of the sin, and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell. Did you lose Christ by neglecting the Scriptures? You must find Christ in the Scriptures. It is a true proverb, "Look for a thing where you dropped it, it is there." So look for Christ where you lost Him, for He has not gone away. But it is hard work to go back for Christ. Bunyan tells us, the pilgrim found the piece of the road back to the Arbour of Ease, where he lost his roll, the hardest he had ever travelled. Twenty miles onward is easier than to go THAN one mile back for the lost evidence.
Take care, then, when you find your Master, to cling close to Him. But how is it you have lost Him? One would have thought you would never have parted with such a precious friend, whose presence is so sweet, whose words are so comforting, and whose company is so dear to you! How is it that you did not watch Him every moment for fear of losing sight of Him? Yet, since you have let Him go, what a mercy that you are seeking Him, even though you mournfully groan, "O that I knew where I might find Him!" Go on seeking, for it is dangerous to be without thy Lord. Without Christ you are like a sheep without its shepherd; like a tree without water at its roots; like a sere leaf in the tempest—not bound to the tree of life. With thine whole heart seek Him, and He will be found of thee: only give thyself thoroughly up to the search, and verily, thou shalt yet discover Him to thy joy and gladness.
(from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Devotion)
Matt 6:33-34
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
NKJV
Matt 6:19-34
19 Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
(Luke 12:33,34)
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 The Lamp of the Body
(Luke 11:34-36)
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 You Cannot Serve God and Riches
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Do Not Worry
(Luke 12:22-31)
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
NKJV
WHEN FEAR STARTS TO COME??
1. ASK YOURSELF (Mt 6:27) DOES WORRYING AND FEAR ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING?? DOES IT PROFIT?? CAN IT CHANGE ANYTHING?? (THE ONLY WAY IT CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING IS IF WE CAN BESTOW IT UPON SOMEONE THAT CAN CAUSE THE DESIRED RESULT) HUSBANDS AND WIVES USE THIS STRATEGY SOMETIMES ---- IF YOU CAN CAUSE YOUR MATE TO WORRY ENOUGH, THEY WILL TAKE ACTION --- (EXAMPLE: MONEY PROBLEMS --- MAKE IT MISERABLE ENOUGH ON YOUR MATE AND IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY THEY WILL GO FORTH AND BEG, BORROW, STEAL, WORK UNTIL THE FEAR IS RELIEVED )
2. SO WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE WHEN THE PRESSURE OF FEAR AND WORRY COME?? (Mt 6:33 --- Seek First The King and His Kingdom)
Ps 55:22
22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
NKJV
Matt 11:28-30
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
NKJV
In the Philippines I heard a local pastor use the following parable to illustrate Christ's offer of rest (Matt. 11:28) and the response of people who won't trust him completely:
The driver of a carabao wagon was on his way to market when he overtook an old man carrying a heavy load. Taking compassion on him, the driver invited the old man to ride in the wagon. Gratefully the old man accepted. After a few minutes, the driver turned to see how the man was doing. To his surprise, he found him still straining under the heavy weight, for he had not taken the burden off his shoulders.
-- Larry Chell, Denver, Colorado. Leadership, Vol. 6, no. 2.
See: 2 Co 5:4; Isa 28:12; Mt 11:29
THE WEIGHT OF WORRY AND FEAR IS REAL --- WE CAN ATTEST TO THAT TRUTH!! JUST AS THE WEIGHT IS REAL, SO THE RELIEF OF THAT BURDEN IS REAL --- AS CHILDREN WE FEEL THE WEIGHT RELEASE USUALLY BY REPLACEMENT (EXAMPLE: YOU LOSE YOUR LUNCH MONEY, A KINDLY TEACHER TAKES PITY ON YOU AND BUYS YOUR LUNCH (WHAT A RELIEF --- TO A CHILD) I REMEMBER LOSING A DOLLAR IN A STORE ONE TIME AND HOW FRANTIC I WAS TO FIND IT --- THE TROUBLE I WOULD BE IN IF IT WASN’T FOUND
1. RELIEF COULD COME BY FINDING THE DOLLAR
2. RELIEF COULD COME BY SOMEONE REPLACING THE DOLLAR
3. RELIEF COULD COME BY PRAYING AND ASKING JESUS FOR HIS PEACE (I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT WAS A “REAL” POSSIBILITY)
I HONESTLY CAN’T REMEMBER HOW THE SITUATION WAS RESOLVED, BUT I CAN STILL CLEARLY REMEMBER HOW FRANTIC I WAS LOOKING FOR THE DOLLAR
29 Take My yoke upon you
WHAT IS TAKING HIS YOKE UPON US???
1. WHEN TWO OXEN ARE YOKED TOGETHER
A. THEY ARE PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION
B. ACCOMPLISHING THE SAME TASK
C. SHARING THE LOAD
IF WE YOKE UP WITH JESUS IT ISN’T THAT ALL OUR PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR BUT:
1. THERE IS A “PURPOSE” FOR THE LOAD WE EXPERIENCE
2. HE WON’T GIVE US A BURDEN TOO HEAVY FOR US
1 Cor 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape , that you may be able to bear it.
NKJV
WHEN WE ARE YOKED WITH JESUS HE IS PULLING WITH US SO WE FEEL THE LIGHTEST LOAD WHEN WE ARE GOING IN HIS DIRECTION
“OBEDIENCE”
John 14:21
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.
NKJV
WHEN WE FOLLOW HIM AND OUR OBEDIENT TO HIS WILL HE MANIFESTS (REVEALS) HIMSELF TO US AND WE “FEEL” RELIEF FROM THE HEAVY BURDEN OF WORRY AND FEAR
Parents never feel as if they get away from the responsibility they've shouldered. I saw a card recently that said, "Do not feel totally, personally, irrevocably responsible for everything. That's my job. Love, God." So pray for them to know this.
n John Maxwell
ISN’T THAT THE TRUTH --- SO MUCH OF THE WORRY AND FEAR WE TAKE UPON OURSELVES IS FALSE-BURDEN --------- A BURDEN THAT WE AREN’T SUPPOSED TO CARRY ---- REMEMBER HIS BURDEN IS LIGHT (BECAUSE HE IS SHOULDERING MOST OF THE LOAD --- AND YOUR PART REALLY IS LIGHT (VISITING GERTIE IN THE NURSING HOME) REALLY A LIGHT BURDEN
I BELIEVE THAT GOD EXPECTS ME TO GO BY AND VISIT WITH HER FROM TIME TO TIME AS HE LAYS IT UPON MY HEART ---- BUT MY JOB ISN’T TO WORRY ABOUT HER??? OR TO BE FEARFUL THAT SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO HER.
'Tain't worthwhile to wear a day all out before it comes.
Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909)
A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work.
Sir John Lubbock (1834-1913)
Ah, what is more blessed than to put cares away!
Gaius Valerius Catullus (C. 84-C. 54 B.C.)
Care admitted as a guest quickly turns to be master.
Christian Nestell Bovee (1820-1904)
Cares are more difficult to throw off than sorrows; the latter die with time; the former grow upon it.
Johann Paul Friedrich Richter (1763-1825)
-Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entries 12055-12059.
If only we would stop lamenting and look up. God is here. Christ is risen. The Spirit has been poured out from on high. All this we know as theological truth. It remains for us to turn it into joyous spiritual experience.
A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)
No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourself so.
George Macdonald (1824-1905)
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
1-21-07
If we bring into one day's thoughts the evil of many, certain and uncertain, what will be and what will never be, our load will be as intolerable as it is unreasonable.
Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)
It ain't no use putting up your umbrella till it rains.
Alice Caldwell Rice
Day 19
"I sought him, but I found him not."
— Song 3:1
Tell me where you lost the company of Christ, and I will tell you the most likely place to find Him. Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer? Then it is there you must seek and find Him. Did you lose Christ by sin? You will find Christ in no other way but by the giving up of the sin, and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell. Did you lose Christ by neglecting the Scriptures? You must find Christ in the Scriptures. It is a true proverb, "Look for a thing where you dropped it, it is there." So look for Christ where you lost Him, for He has not gone away. But it is hard work to go back for Christ. Bunyan tells us, the pilgrim found the piece of the road back to the Arbour of Ease, where he lost his roll, the hardest he had ever travelled. Twenty miles onward is easier than to go THAN one mile back for the lost evidence.
Take care, then, when you find your Master, to cling close to Him. But how is it you have lost Him? One would have thought you would never have parted with such a precious friend, whose presence is so sweet, whose words are so comforting, and whose company is so dear to you! How is it that you did not watch Him every moment for fear of losing sight of Him? Yet, since you have let Him go, what a mercy that you are seeking Him, even though you mournfully groan, "O that I knew where I might find Him!" Go on seeking, for it is dangerous to be without thy Lord. Without Christ you are like a sheep without its shepherd; like a tree without water at its roots; like a sere leaf in the tempest—not bound to the tree of life. With thine whole heart seek Him, and He will be found of thee: only give thyself thoroughly up to the search, and verily, thou shalt yet discover Him to thy joy and gladness.
(from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Devotion)
Matt 6:33-34
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
NKJV
Matt 6:19-34
19 Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
(Luke 12:33,34)
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 The Lamp of the Body
(Luke 11:34-36)
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 You Cannot Serve God and Riches
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Do Not Worry
(Luke 12:22-31)
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
NKJV
WHEN FEAR STARTS TO COME??
1. ASK YOURSELF (Mt 6:27) DOES WORRYING AND FEAR ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING?? DOES IT PROFIT?? CAN IT CHANGE ANYTHING?? (THE ONLY WAY IT CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING IS IF WE CAN BESTOW IT UPON SOMEONE THAT CAN CAUSE THE DESIRED RESULT) HUSBANDS AND WIVES USE THIS STRATEGY SOMETIMES ---- IF YOU CAN CAUSE YOUR MATE TO WORRY ENOUGH, THEY WILL TAKE ACTION --- (EXAMPLE: MONEY PROBLEMS --- MAKE IT MISERABLE ENOUGH ON YOUR MATE AND IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY THEY WILL GO FORTH AND BEG, BORROW, STEAL, WORK UNTIL THE FEAR IS RELIEVED )
2. SO WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE WHEN THE PRESSURE OF FEAR AND WORRY COME?? (Mt 6:33 --- Seek First The King and His Kingdom)
Ps 55:22
22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
NKJV
Matt 11:28-30
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
NKJV
In the Philippines I heard a local pastor use the following parable to illustrate Christ's offer of rest (Matt. 11:28) and the response of people who won't trust him completely:
The driver of a carabao wagon was on his way to market when he overtook an old man carrying a heavy load. Taking compassion on him, the driver invited the old man to ride in the wagon. Gratefully the old man accepted. After a few minutes, the driver turned to see how the man was doing. To his surprise, he found him still straining under the heavy weight, for he had not taken the burden off his shoulders.
-- Larry Chell, Denver, Colorado. Leadership, Vol. 6, no. 2.
See: 2 Co 5:4; Isa 28:12; Mt 11:29
THE WEIGHT OF WORRY AND FEAR IS REAL --- WE CAN ATTEST TO THAT TRUTH!! JUST AS THE WEIGHT IS REAL, SO THE RELIEF OF THAT BURDEN IS REAL --- AS CHILDREN WE FEEL THE WEIGHT RELEASE USUALLY BY REPLACEMENT (EXAMPLE: YOU LOSE YOUR LUNCH MONEY, A KINDLY TEACHER TAKES PITY ON YOU AND BUYS YOUR LUNCH (WHAT A RELIEF --- TO A CHILD) I REMEMBER LOSING A DOLLAR IN A STORE ONE TIME AND HOW FRANTIC I WAS TO FIND IT --- THE TROUBLE I WOULD BE IN IF IT WASN’T FOUND
1. RELIEF COULD COME BY FINDING THE DOLLAR
2. RELIEF COULD COME BY SOMEONE REPLACING THE DOLLAR
3. RELIEF COULD COME BY PRAYING AND ASKING JESUS FOR HIS PEACE (I DIDN’T REALIZE THAT WAS A “REAL” POSSIBILITY)
I HONESTLY CAN’T REMEMBER HOW THE SITUATION WAS RESOLVED, BUT I CAN STILL CLEARLY REMEMBER HOW FRANTIC I WAS LOOKING FOR THE DOLLAR
29 Take My yoke upon you
WHAT IS TAKING HIS YOKE UPON US???
1. WHEN TWO OXEN ARE YOKED TOGETHER
A. THEY ARE PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION
B. ACCOMPLISHING THE SAME TASK
C. SHARING THE LOAD
IF WE YOKE UP WITH JESUS IT ISN’T THAT ALL OUR PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO DISAPPEAR BUT:
1. THERE IS A “PURPOSE” FOR THE LOAD WE EXPERIENCE
2. HE WON’T GIVE US A BURDEN TOO HEAVY FOR US
1 Cor 10:13
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape , that you may be able to bear it.
NKJV
WHEN WE ARE YOKED WITH JESUS HE IS PULLING WITH US SO WE FEEL THE LIGHTEST LOAD WHEN WE ARE GOING IN HIS DIRECTION
“OBEDIENCE”
John 14:21
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.
NKJV
WHEN WE FOLLOW HIM AND OUR OBEDIENT TO HIS WILL HE MANIFESTS (REVEALS) HIMSELF TO US AND WE “FEEL” RELIEF FROM THE HEAVY BURDEN OF WORRY AND FEAR
Parents never feel as if they get away from the responsibility they've shouldered. I saw a card recently that said, "Do not feel totally, personally, irrevocably responsible for everything. That's my job. Love, God." So pray for them to know this.
n John Maxwell
ISN’T THAT THE TRUTH --- SO MUCH OF THE WORRY AND FEAR WE TAKE UPON OURSELVES IS FALSE-BURDEN --------- A BURDEN THAT WE AREN’T SUPPOSED TO CARRY ---- REMEMBER HIS BURDEN IS LIGHT (BECAUSE HE IS SHOULDERING MOST OF THE LOAD --- AND YOUR PART REALLY IS LIGHT (VISITING GERTIE IN THE NURSING HOME) REALLY A LIGHT BURDEN
I BELIEVE THAT GOD EXPECTS ME TO GO BY AND VISIT WITH HER FROM TIME TO TIME AS HE LAYS IT UPON MY HEART ---- BUT MY JOB ISN’T TO WORRY ABOUT HER??? OR TO BE FEARFUL THAT SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO HER.
'Tain't worthwhile to wear a day all out before it comes.
Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909)
A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work.
Sir John Lubbock (1834-1913)
Ah, what is more blessed than to put cares away!
Gaius Valerius Catullus (C. 84-C. 54 B.C.)
Care admitted as a guest quickly turns to be master.
Christian Nestell Bovee (1820-1904)
Cares are more difficult to throw off than sorrows; the latter die with time; the former grow upon it.
Johann Paul Friedrich Richter (1763-1825)
-Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entries 12055-12059.
If only we would stop lamenting and look up. God is here. Christ is risen. The Spirit has been poured out from on high. All this we know as theological truth. It remains for us to turn it into joyous spiritual experience.
A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)
No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. Never load yourself so.
George Macdonald (1824-1905)
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
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