SF745 - The Value of a Single Life (Psalm 139 1-18)

Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24

INTRODUCTION

How do you measure a person’s worth?

How much money they make?

How many points they score?

How big their church is?

Science says only worth a few cents…

ROE VS. WADE

On January 23, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Roe vs. Wade ruled the following:

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the decision to abort is left to the judgment of the woman and her attending physician. After the first trimester, the State may regulate the credentials and the type of facility of those offering abortion services. After fetal viability (ability to survive outside of womb), the State may regulate and even restrict abortions except when the life or health of the mother is endangered.

ABORTION DEATHS

Currently (1998) there are over 1.5 million abortions per year in America (one abortion per 2.8 live births). This comes to over 4000 abortions everyday. The total lives taken since legalization are MORE THAN THIRTY TIMES greater than the American casualties of all the United States' major wars. For a total of 35 million babies murdered since 1973.

If you began today killing people in the Metro-Knoxville area at the same rate (4000/day) no one would be alive to celebrate the Fourth of July (~600,000 people/150 days).

We are reaping the harvest of a "quality of life" ethic rather than a "sanctity of life" ethic.

The Real Question is “Does human life have any value?”

Psalm 139 - David answers “yes!”

1A. God’s Sovereign Knowledge of Us. (1-5)

1B. God knows us intimately. (1-2)

“searched” = to know through and through

He knows our movements (2a)

He knows our motives (2b)

(Hebrews 4:13 NIV) "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight…."

2B. God knows us completely. (3-4)

He knows our ways (3)

He knows our words (4)

(Matthew 12:36-37 NIV) "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. {37} For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

3B. God knows us personally. (5-6)

God knows how to save us

God knows when to save us

2A. God’s Supernatural Presence with Us.

1B. We cannot escape God’s presence. (7-8)

Death will not separate us from God.

2B. We cannot evade God’s presence. (9-10)

Distance will not separate us from God.

3B. We cannot elude God’s presence (11-12)

Darkness will not separate us from God.

(Romans 8:38-39 NIV) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, {39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

3A. God’s Special Provisions for Us.

1B. God creates us in the womb (13-16)

God creates each person on purpose (13-16a)

Ø Therefore, there are no unplanned children. (13)

(Jeremiah 1:5 NIV) ""Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, …"

(Job 33:4 NIV) "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life."

Ø Therefore, there are no defective children. (14)

(Genesis 1:31 NIV) "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day."

Ø Therefore, there are no disposable children. (15-16a)

The unwanted children

The most dangerous place in America is the mother's womb. Every 20 seconds in this country a baby is torn from the mother's womb

According to the American Association for Protecting Children (a division of the American Humane Association) the number of reported child abuse cased increased from 669,000 in 1976 to 2,200,000 in 1986. This 228% increase reflects more than just a greater tendency to report violence toward children. The 1973 abortion‑on‑demand decision is not curbing child abuse, and its "disposable life" attitude is not content to have one ugly tentacle in womb ‑ it must have another in the nursery.

God creates each person for a purpose. (16b)

“ordained” = to mold into a form; especially as a potter; fig. to determine

(Psalms 90:12 NIV) "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

2B. God cares for us in this world (17-18)

Verse 17 could read “How precious concerning me...”

(1 Peter 5:7 NCV) "Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you."

You cannot even began to number God's thoughts concerning you.

3B. God saves us for eternity (23-24)

God will convict us of our sin. (23-24a)

(John 16:8 NIV) "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:"

God will cleanse us from our sin.

(1 John 1:9 NIV) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

God will change us into a new creation (24b)

(2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Application

Every life is sacred and special to God.

To destroy any life is to violate not only God's law but also God's love.

What can we do?

Be Informed.

Work for to protect the unborn.

Teach sexual morality in the Church and at home.

Have more compassion for the unwed mother.

We can make certain of our own eternal life!

(Mark 8:36 NIV) "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"

The Value of a Single Life
January 18, 1997 - Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24

1A. God’s Sovereign ________________ of Us. (1-5)

1B. God _____________ us intimately. (1-2)

(Hebrews 4:13 NIV) "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight…."

2B. God knows us _______________. (3-4)

(Matthew 12:36-37 NIV) "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. {37} For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

3B. God knows us ______________. (5-6)

2A. God’s Supernatural ___________ with Us.

1B. We cannot escape God’s presence. (7-8)

2B. We cannot ___________ God’s presence. (9-10)

3B. We cannot ___________ God’s presence (11-12)

(Romans 8:38-39 NIV) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, {39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

3A. God’s Special Provisions for Us.

1B. God __________ us in the womb (13-16)

God creates each person on __________ (13-16a)

Ø Therefore, there are no _________ children. (13)

(Jeremiah 1:5 NIV) ""Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, …"

Ø Therefore, there are no _________ children. (14)

(Genesis 1:31 NIV) "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day."

Ø Therefore, there are no ______ children. (15-16a)

God creates each person for a _____________. (16b)

(Psalms 90:12 NIV) "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

2B. God __________ for us in this world (17-18)

(1 Peter 5:7 NCV) "Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you."

3B. God ____________ us for eternity (23-24)

God will ___________ us of our sin. (23-24a)