Safety For All
Discovering the Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 44:23
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· 1,150 viewsGod promises to keep His people from all lasting spiritual and physical danger. He requires,however, that His people act responsibly.
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Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
Introduction:
On the island of Malta there is to this day the traditional site for Paul’s shipwreck known as St. Paul’s Bay. Because the 276 passengers listened to Paul’s message from God none were lost, even those that could not swim.
God’s message brings safety!
God promises safety
God’s message brings safety from enemies
There is perfect safety in God’s Kingdom
God’s safety brings spiritual safety
We must take some responsibility for this safety from God
There are dangers in safety
I. God promises safety
I. God promises safety
A. To his people
A. To his people
God tells His people they will be safe if they follow His commands...
But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in safety,
See also Dt 33:12; Dt 33:26–29; Ps 48:8; Je 32:37–38; Zec 14:11; Ro 8:31
Man knows by instinct nothing defeats God...
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
God’s promises should develop trust in us...
B. To those who trust in him
B. To those who trust in him
See also Job 11:13–19; Ps 37:3; Pr 18:10; Pr 29:25
to be safe trust God as the ultimate friend...
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
God is our safe place, He is like base for us where no one can hurt us...
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
do not fear but feel safe in the trust developed in the Lord...
The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Safety’s condition is obedience...
C. To those who obey him
C. To those who obey him
We have been given directions to safety...
“Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely. The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely.
See also Le 26:5; Pr 1:33; Pr 3:21–26; Pr 28:26
The needy can find safety in the Lord...
D. To those in need
D. To those in need
Job 5:11; Job 5:15; Is 14:30
The lowly and those who morn ought to turn to God...
he sets on high those who are lowly,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
The needy are saved from the mighty...
But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth
and from the hand of the mighty.
Care for the needy and opposition to the disobedient...
And the firstborn of the poor will graze,
and the needy lie down in safety;
but I will kill your root with famine,
and your remnant it will slay.
No safety for the wicked...
E. But not to the wicked
E. But not to the wicked
Job 5:4; Pr 28:18; Je 12:12
God requires we walk with integrity...
Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,
but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
Enemies beware...
II. Safety from enemies
II. Safety from enemies
So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
See also Jos 10:21; Ps 3:5–6; Ps 12:7; Ps 31:20; Ps 78:53; Eze 28:26; Re 3:10
Without question the safe keeping place of God for His people is the Church...
III. Perfect safety in God’s kingdom
III. Perfect safety in God’s kingdom
See also Is 2:4; Is 65:25; Ho 2:18; Mic 4:3–4; Re 7:16; Is 49:10
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
His safety is greater than care for the flesh...
IV. Spiritual safety
IV. Spiritual safety
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
See also Ro 8:35–39; 2 Ti 4:18; Re 2:11
The Kingdom is heavenly and our safety comes from there...
The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
So we must listen to what the Spirit says...
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Let’s be sure to understand there are responsibilities for us to uphold where safety is concerned...
V. Human responsibility for safety
V. Human responsibility for safety
A. Personal
A. Personal
Pr 11:15; Je 4:6; Je 6:1; Mt 24:15–16; Ac 2:40; Ac 27:44
If God commands us something we are responsible for doing it...
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
From our text about Paul’s shipwreck even the survivors had a responsibility to grab hold of the pieces of the ship...
and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
We have responsibilities for the safety of family...
B. Family
B. Family
Ge 4:9; Ge 43:9; Ge 44:32; Mt 2:13
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
Israel’s sons tried to give pledges of surety for the safety of each other...
I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.
Joseph was even charged with the safety of baby Jesus...
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
We need to also understand that we are responsible for obeying our leadership if we want safety...
C. Church Leadership
C. Church Leadership
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
See also Jn 10:11–15; Ac 20:28; Php 3:1
Jesus takes our safety very seriously...
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Consider the admonition to our Elders...
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Unfortunately we can feel to safe...
VI. Dangers inherent in safety
VI. Dangers inherent in safety
A. False security
A. False security
While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
See also Dt 29:19; 1 Ki 22:27–28; Job 21:9; Job 21:16–18; Eze 39:6; Da 8:25; Ob 3–4; Zep 2:15
B. Complacency
B. Complacency
Pr 1:32; Lk 12:16–21
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
C. Wickedness
C. Wickedness
Je 7:9–10; Eze 39:26
Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?
Greatest Safety in God’s Plan of Salvation
Greatest Safety in God’s Plan of Salvation
Hear
Hear
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Believe
Believe
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Repent
Repent
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Confess
Confess
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Be Baptized
Be Baptized
And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
Remain Faithful
Remain Faithful
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.