Sermon Tone Analysis

*Is Your Security at Risk?*

Preached at:

Friendship Baptist Church, Ontario, CA

May 18, 2003

 

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Psalm 16:8, 9, 11          Acknowledge

Psalm 18:2                 

Hebrews 6: 17- 20             *Read*

 

 

Needless to say, every since 9~/11, security has been a major issue for this nation, its citizenry both collectively and individually.

All of us at some time since that gray day have listened intently for news of the current alert status of our nation and our cities in particular.

Some of us have planned our lives, our vacations and other outings around the alert status.

We have learned to add time to travel arrangements just to stand in line longer, to be searched and to have our personal things examined, all for security sakes, you understand.

Then, we all have our own ideas about the recent war in Iraq.

It was not so much of a war with Iraq, but it was in Iraq.

Even though most Americans do not want to be engaged in war at this time, when we think about the surprise of 9~/11 and the future of our country and our very lives and manner of living, suddenly, security takes on a whole new meaning.

Isn’t it funny how we can so easily become engaged in doing our best to help ensure our national security?

Why is it, do you suppose that we, I mean we Christians, take our spiritual security for granted so easily?

Even with all of our star wars like ingenuity, our massive defensives on land, in the sea or in the air, even with our strategic armed forces and the capable men and women that man them, there is only one thing that we can bank on for sure:  it’s still not perfect.

We are not 100% secure.

Our nation is still vulnerable to a fault.

No matter how experienced, how educated, or how knowledgeable our military personnel, they are still human just like you and I.  The best laid plans fail.

Our Scripture today is posing a different scenario, a different type of security that is risk-proof.

Our spiritual security does not need to be at risk today.

I know that we pride ourselves at being Christians and doing the work of a Christian, but we need to give some major attention to our spiritual lives.

We often talk a good game, but just how secure is your court?

How tight is your might?

Are you on high alert status, or just coasting from day to day?  Occupying the land or sight seeing?

The major threat to our spiritual security, that which would rob us of our peace of mind body and soul; that which would steal our joy and tarnish our testimonies; that which would keep us wondering if everything is alright; how am I going to make it; that which would cause us to doubt what we *know* to be true; that which would kill our defenses; steal our purposes; destroy our *best* intensions; the major threat to our spiritual security is *sin*.

I’ve just come by to tell you today that there is a way of escape.

It’s yours now, if you want it.

There is a way to make sure that your spiritual security is not at risk of decay, defeat or destruction.

This security for our souls is possible because of three actions.

They are right here in our Scripture: 

·        The Performance of the believer

·        The Priesthood of Christ, and

·        The Promise of the Father

There is a commercial on T.V. advertising the new Nissan Xterra SUV.

These guys drive up on a mountain and stop at a large gorge.

The SUV is backed up just to the rim of the hole, they place a mid-sized rock behind one of the rear wheels; attach a long rope to the bumper and dangle the rope down the hole.

One guy takes the rope in hands and proceeds down into the hole.

His only way back up, his whole survival strategy is based upon that mid-sized rock holding the SUV in place and to provide the anchor that he needs to hold him and support his return from the hole.

The problem is, at least from my perspective, is a shift in the earth, a sudden flat tire, or deterioration of the rope, or a loose knot; any one of these or other unnamed situations would cost him everything that his hope is built on.

His anchor is faulty.

Are you with me?

Throughout the times the Church has used several symbols to express Christian tradition.

The Cross, the Fish, the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of Sacrifice are among them, as is the Anchor.

The anchor has been used to express Christian Hope.

Dr.

Lynch says that it was used a great deal during the time when Christianity was persecuted in the first century church, a time when the Christians needed secret symbols in order to communicate their faith to each other safely.

The traditional shape of the anchor contains the shape of a cross.

At the base of the cross there is a curved piece which cradles the bottom of the cross; this is the part that would dig into the bottom of the sea to hold fast the boat in the water.

So our scripture paints the picture of our hope and spiritual security.

They should be trusted to Christ, the Anchor of our souls.

Well, I told you that there were three things that condition your security.

The *first* condition or action is the *performance of the believer*.

You can’t run this race on a level running field.

It’s time that we take to the hills.

It’s time for those who call themselves Christians to move into maturity.

It’s time to leave the foundations and move to the walls.

Leave the ABC’s for the PH.D.  I don’t mean literally necessarily, but in spirit.

·        Paul says that it’s time to leave the basic things and move into maturity in our understanding.

o       Move into the inner court - the Holy of Holies

o       Stop snubbing the saints and start to minister to the saints

o       Be diligent, not lazy

o       Imitate the promise takers, not the promise makers

I just came to tell you that it’s time to become confident men and women of God.

Not confident in your own self-assurance; but confident in your persuasion and committal about your calling; secure, locked in and unyielding in your mind.

Get in the loop; come past the inner circle, into the Holy of Holies.

No matter what life brings, no matter how fierce the storms, you don’t have to try and hold on alone.

You can go into the inner circle.

You are part of the clique.

In God’s family, there is a clique and it meets in the Holy of Holies.

When you are in the Holy of Holies the storm waters may still be fierce, but you’ll find peace; the waves may rise but you’ll know joy, not happiness - that’s of the flesh, but joy of the Spirit; you’ll experience long suffering, gentleness, goodness and faith that is past the hoping stage.

It’s in the Holy of Holies.

There’s no dangling rope, you can be totally secure in the Throne room of God.

The second action that determines your security is the *Promise of The Father* (vs.6).

·        The fact of the promise is that it was available to Abraham and it is available to us.

·        The nature of the promise - it provides strong encouragement

·        The security of the promise - it is based on two unchangeable (immutable) things: God’s oath and His promise that reveal:

o       God’s eternal character - what God is

§        He is from everlasting to everlasting, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

§        He is the treasure of those who diligently seek Him

§        He is faithful and sure

§        He is Creator and holder of the universe, and everything in it

§        He’s God Almighty!

The Great I Am - The one who said “I am the Lord, I change not”

o       God’s written Word - what God has said.

§        His Word is true for He is Truth

§        He cannot lie

§        He never changes

You can bank on every promise God has made to you.

Lay hold of it, trust in it; feel secure in it; be satisfied with it and long for it.

It’s yours, if you trust Him.

David believed this, although most of his contemporaries did not.

Many others in David’s time worshipped Yahweh.

It’s just that they also worshipped other things.

They used Yahweh when convenient, but wanted to keep their options open.

It seems like the right thing to do until one looks at the results.

David put it like this:  they multiply their sorrows.

You see, many gods means many bosses, telling us what to do.

If your god is “How you look” then you must obey and worship fashion designers, shoe manufacturers, hair stylists, etc.