Samer

Taught March 10 and 17 at church.

Jonah 2:9: "Salvation is of the LORD."
Salvation can mean temporal deliverance or eternal salvation. The Hebrew word is "yesh-oo'-aw"--almost the same as the word for Jesus ("yesh-u-a"). In Hebrew, there is here one extra letter in the word for salvation, which adds to the sense of not only physical deliverance, but all kinds of salvation. All are of the LORD.

Other verses that say the same thing: Psalm 3:8; 37:39; Acts 4:12; Rev. 7:20.

The LORD's Work
God uses the belly of a whale to bring Jonah to the necessary point of humility and repentance. A sinner will not be saved until he sees his sin, and has humility and repentance. Jonah here made a great prayer, but his prayer was not what saved him from the whale's belly--it was the LORD. Jonah 2:6--God's deliverances are so sure that we can look into the future and speak of God's mercy and deliverance in the past tense.
God's work of salvation is sure because it's founded on Christ and His work. The same God who could cause a whale to swallow and spit out a man is the same God who sent Jesus to die on the cross to save us.
Just as Jonah could take no credit for being spit out of the whale alive, we can take no credit for being plucked out of the pits of Hell. Ephesians 2:8,9. Jonah was as good as dead, and the lost are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1)--only God's power can heal the sick and raise the dead. Only God in flesh could fulfill the law and die to pay the price of all the sins of all humanity, to defeat Hell and death.

The LORD's Will
Jonah ran off and hid from the LORD. God sought after him and used the belly of a whale to get his will in submission.
You can run away from God's will, but it won't do you any good. If you're His, God will chase after you and chastise you until you get on board with what He wants you to do.
Before Jonah could be saved from the whale, he had to be put in the whale and brought low. In the salvation of a soul, God first brings the sinner down--His Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Once the sinner's heart is humbled and turns to God in faith, God saves. Through it all, God is working in the heart of the sinner. God brings low, and God raises back up again. God's Spirit and God's law seek out and convict the sinner, and God's Christ saves the sinner through the Gospel. This happens according to God's timing. 2 Cor. 6:2. A sinner can only repent with God's drawing. John 6:44; Acts 11:18. But it is another fact that God draws all men unto Himself, and God wills all men to be saved—1 Tim. 2:4 and John 12:32.
John 1:12,13--we didn't will ourselves into salvation. We didn't seek God in our lost state. God came down and sought us and gave us the free offer of salvation, which He gave us the grace to respond to.

The LORD's Wisdom
What a strange story, that God swallowed Jonah by a whale! But this is no fancy, for the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus stand on the historicity of Jonah. Mat. 12:39-41. 1 Cor. 1:17-31. The cross seems so foolish--that God should come and die for all His creatures, as the only way to save them from Hell. But it was the only way for God to be just, and the justifier of him that believeth on Jesus (Rom. 3:26).
God's justice must punish sin. It cannot be overlooked. Josh. 24:19. Heb. 12:14. Rev. 22:14,15. God's love and mercy desire to save us, and the cross was the only way to reconcile the two. Psalm 85:10.
Eze. 11:19. Not only does God forgive our sins on the merit of Jesus Christ, who paid our penalty, when we repent and believe; He also turns our hearts to righteousness. He grants the prisoners pardon and, to be just on society, He changes the prisoners' hearts, for when we learn of the agony that Jesus endured so that we could be saved, the Spirit of God fills us with the desire to serve Him in love.
And so it was with Jonah, that his physical trouble and salvation from the whale was so shocking and foolish, that it caused him to turn around and go to Ninevah (yet, as a parallel, we see he still had to deal with his sinful flesh). Salvation causes one to stop running against God's will, and to change direction. In this sense, it's not only of the Lord, it's for the Lord. 1 Pet. 5:10.

Taught at church March 24, 2010.

James 1:12-16 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (16) Do not err, my beloved brethren.

We read of celebrities falling into destructive sin—adultery, wife-beating, murder, drug abuse...
Some of them try to make it right themselves, through counseling, therapy, recovery programs...
Others, the system tries to rehabilitate in jail.
By and large, the sinner will return to his sin, and is only worse and harder-hearted in the end.

But these are lost sinners! Christians could never do these things, right? Wrong... God warns us not to be prideful, for we have the same old flesh they do. 1 Cor. 10:12: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Consider the case of Samson and David—both mighty men of God. They thought they could have a taste of sinful pleasure and get along ok. But their temptations brought them crashing down, and ruined their testimony and lives.

Temptation is there, and no one is exempt—these things are common to man.
1 Cor. 10:13: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Samson should have escaped. He tried to overcome Delilah in his own strength, but she badgered him to death and he gave in. He shouldn't have loved a woman who didn't love the Lord.
David should have been at the battle. The moment he realized Bathsheba was bathing, he should have ran. The second look gave in to the lust and ensured sin and death, when he purposefully set his eyes upon her. Lam. 3:51: “Mine eye affecteth mine heart.” Jesus expounded this in Luke 11:34,35. If you look at the wrong things, it will defile your whole body and transform your heart. David thought it would be safe just to look, but the sinful sights coming in caused sinful thoughts in his heart, and soon sinful and deadly actions came out in his life. “Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

Consider another biblical example—Joseph. When Potiphar's wife seduced him, he didn't stand up to her and say no—he literally ran away like a coward! Is that shameful?

There is no harm in acknowledging our flesh is weak. Instead of running into temptation ready to fight, God suggests we flee. 1 Cor. 10:14: “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” Of course, covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5), and this extends to the love of money and the lust of adultery (1 Tim. 6:11, 1 Cor. 6:18, 2 Tim. 2:22). Our calling isn't to go to the booze joints, gambling halls, and pervert clubs, and win them to Christ. Our calling isn't to date the lost to win them to Christ. Our calling is to live sOBerly, righteously, and godly in this present world, to flee from sin and bring God glory, and in that context, with that testimony, to preach the gospel to the lost.

When temptation comes, the flesh will want to play with it. How can we be encouraged to flee?

Col 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (14) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Rom 6:6-13 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin. (8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: (9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should OBey it in the lusts thereof. (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

(Really, all of Romans 6!)

Next time you want to lie, steal, or disOBey your parents, remember that lies, thefts, and disOBedience nailed Jesus to the cross. They were nailed there with him as ordinances we broke, and they caused Him to be nailed there. When you're tempted to do the things you did before you were saved, remember, your old man is why the Son of God had to come as a man and suffer shame and agony on the cross. You’re not that person anymore, because that person died. I am crucified with Christ—Gal. 2:20. When Jesus was on the cross, He died as you. He was crucified for your sins instead of you paying the punishment yourself. By Jesus shedding His blood for you and dying the death you deserved, God forgives you. When you think of your sin as nailing Jesus to the cross, it should cause you to hate that sin, and flee the temptation of it. Remember: you're dead to sin now, and alive in Christ, and Christ is in you (Col. 1:27). When temptation arises, picture your sinful nature crucified with Christ. He died for you, to wash your sins away, so now He can live in you, and help you flee temptation and do right. 1 Cor. 10:31—Live no longer by ordinances and rules, but live for God's glory, out of a principle of love.

Taught a few weeks ago at a Wednesday night prayer meeting of church.

Psalm 55:22: Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

When we meet for prayer, we bring all our needs and burdens and cast them upon the Lord. 1 Peter 5:8 promises a load of burdens on us all, for the devil is, as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour. Burdens came into the world because of sin. Yet one verse before, we learn that we can cast all our care upon God, for he cares for us. This is the answer to satan's attacks, and to our burdens.

We see a few things in Psalm 55:22:

1. Cast thy burden... The Hebrew word means "throw out, down, or away; hurl, pluck, throw." It's a call to action! Don't ignore your burden, and don't try to hold it by your own strength. Get rid of it, and throw it to the Lord! When you cast it away, it's not your prOBlem any more, and it's not up to you to find the solution. Let the Lord figure it out--if anything happens, the Lord will have to be the one to do it.

2. ...thy burden... David had a great burden, if you read earlier in this Psalm:

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
(Psalm 55:1-8)

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. (Psalm 55:12-13)

PrOBably this was Absalom's rebellion, with David's equal Ahithophel also against him. David's family and friends were against him, and David was at the place in his life where he wanted to just curl up in a ball and die. His burden was so great that he couldn't deal with it--it was crushing him, and he would have loved to escape and hide somewhere where no one would ever see him again. Do we ever feel like that?

This burden was caused by David's sin. 2 Samuel 12:9-12 promises David's family would turn against him. David's burden was a punishment from God, yet David knew to run to God for help--what faith! Are their burdens in your life caused by sin? Even if they are, you need to cast them upon the Lord for help.

Burden: "That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome or oppressive; a birth."
Everyone has spiritual burdens--for self, and for others. People have physical burdens--cancer, disease, pain, etc. No matter the burden, the Lord can take it--see Matthew 11:28-30.

3. ...upon the LORD... NOBody else can better take your burden--not a husband, a wife, a friend, or a pastor. We are called to bear one another's burdens, but ultimately, all our trust should be on God. Our hearts' comfort should not be because our friend is doing something about our prOBlem, or because a doctor is looking after us, but primarily, because the God of heaven is on our side, working continually for our good. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. (Psalm 118:8-9)

4. ...and he shall sustain thee. With anyone else, it would say "might." With God, it's "shall" or "will." David had no doubt that God would take care of him. Sustain: "to hold from underneath; endure without failing; maintain; keep alive." The Hebrew word also means "receive." This word is in the Bible 3 other times, including 1 Kings 17:9 and Nehemiah 9:21. If God could rain down manna from heaven, and sustain Elijah many days with a widow woman's last few scraps, He can surely sustain us and meet our needs--and if you cast your burden upon Him, He will. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

5. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Give God your burdens. Every day, cast your care upon Him. Pray to Him. Have the boldness of David, that God will never allow you to be moved. This is only true for the righteous. You must follow God each day, and live being filled with the Spirit. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (Psalm 119:165)

Furthermore, you must first have the imputed righteousness of God:
And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:4-6)

David's righteousness came not from himself--he was a murderer, liar, and adulterer. He coveted another man's wife, and the New Testament tells us covetousness is idolatry. His righteousness came from his Son--the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Called Jehovah Tzidkenu--God Himself--Jesus Christ is our righteousness. Cast your burden of sin on Jesus, and He will be your righteousness before God, for only He was truly righteous in all His life. In Pilgrim's Progress, Christian lost his burden of sin at the cross: "...as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more." And so the Lord receives us to himself, and sustains us, most of all when he takes our great burden of sin. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)