He Lived the Life He Preached 10.15.05
Introduction
It is not too often in this life that we run across a man who exceeded the average life expectancy of the typical man and yet was not sick, not bid ridden, and was able to care for himself up to about a year ago. Today, we come to celebrate the life of one I believe after hearing of his accomplishments was not the typical man. For one to have achieved such a milestone in life living for 101 years I am all would be interested knowing what the secret to reaching the same milestone and experiencing it with same quality of living that Rev. Day did. I believe that this Psalm sheds light on what we must do to strive for the same milestone.
Contextual Background
This psalm was composed by David between the time of God’s promising the kingdom to him and his actual possession of it. David set forth those things that he will do in preparation for possessing God’s promise. In other’s word David lists some do’s and don’ts, and some will’s and won’ts. When God has promised you something it is your responsibility to make sure you are positioned to receive the promises.
It is important to understand that in between the making of the promise by the Creator and the receiving of the promise by the creature there will be many trials and tribulations, testing and temptations; and blessings and curses designed to position you for receiving the promise. No matter what your plight in life is always be ready to sing of the “Goodness of the Lord.” Know this that the same measure of mercy and judgment that God bestowed upon you are expected to show to those you come in contact with.
Propositional Sentence: If we live the life we talk about or preach about we too can expect a bless outcome maybe not as long as Rev. Day’s but we can have the quality of life he had.
Transitional sentence: What were steps that the Rev. Day took in his life that lead to quality he experience? I am sure asked all of the time what was his secret, but I want to let you know there is no secret what God can do what he don’t for others he will do for you.
Message
Rev Day:
Study diet of the Word of God – Rev Day had a study diet of God’s word. Many of you are suffering from spiritual malnutrition and spiritual starvation, but Rev. Day ate a balance meal of God’s Word.
Eccl 12:12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Psalm 66:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Ill. That is why Rev. Day would always say: “ A hungry man can’t feed nobody”, you must had a Study Diet of God’s Word if you are going to help somebody.
Actualize his Faith – Rev Day did not merely talk about God, he lived a godly life
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Ill. Rev. Day actualized Christ in his life when he would say “I love you back with the love of the Lord.” Some people say it, but Rev. Day lived it.
Vitality – Rev. Day waited on the Lord by waiting on the he maintained his vitality
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Exercised – Rev. Day exercised by praising the Lord. That is what praise does it allows us to exercise our faith and express our love to the Lord. It keeps us from getting spiritually FAT
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Psalm 63:4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
Psalm 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Hebrew 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Ill. Rev. Day to those who knew him was affectionately called the Weeping Prophet because whenever his was asked what the secret of his longevity he would always reply with a tear “It is nothing, but the Goodness of the Lord.”
Determination – Rev Day was determined to make heaven his home because he had a Study diet of God’s word, he Actualized his faith, maintained Vitality by waiting on the Lord, and Exercised by lifting his hands and eyes to the Lord. His Determination was further shown by his pressing on. If he could speak right now he would say:
Philippians 3:13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Ill. Hymn – Higher Ground
I’m pressing on the upward way
New heights I’m gaining every day,
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain
Lord, lift me up, and I shall stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground
Conclusion
The secret to his longevity was that he was SAVED; the secret to the quality of life he experience was that he was SAVED!
Closing
Isaiah 40:28Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Peroration
Spiritual Vitamins
Reverend Jeff Monroe Day
Born: February 19, 1904 in Roanoke, VA
Married: 75 years (to the same woman)
Started preaching when he was 20 years old
Pastor for a short time in Clarksburg, WV
Affectionately known as “The Weeping Prophet”`