week 7

Introduction

Attention

Interest

Analogy

Personal

Need Element

Historical

Context

Textual Idea

Sermon Idea

Interrogative

Transition

Main divisions

Stated here

When I was a policeman, there was nothing like chasing criminals. While I did it often, there are several chases that stand out above the others. One sunny morning, Corky Sandifer and I were chasing two thieves who had abandoned their stolen car and were running up the wooded hills of Signal Mountain, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was a strange experience. At times we felt them watching us, but we couldn’t see them. We didn’t know if they were armed. Soon, because of the distance we had hiked, our radios would no longer transmit. And on top of all that, we were soon lost. I can assure you that it was not a fun experience. In fact, it was a very frightening time. Finally, not only did the thieves escape, but we had to walk several hours before we found our cars.

As children of God, there are many times when our earthly walk seems fraught with danger as well. We are unsure where we are headed, or even where we are. We, too, may feel as if we are wandering around hopelessly lost. God wants us to know, however, that we are never alone, and that his love and care is always present, regardless of our circumstances.

(Read text here)

In this passage, we see two people who were traveling through the hills on the rocky, and often treacherous, road to Jerusalem. They were going to worship at the temple and were discussing the truths concerning God’s promised provision for his people.

The travelers were discussing God’s constant help for his children on their difficult journeys.

God provides constant help for His children.

How does God supply constant help for His children?

This passage shows three ways God PROVIDES constant help for His Children.

First, God provides for His children through His complete concentration. Second, God provides for His children through His control over creation. Third God provides for His children through His constant care.

Body Division # 1

Explanation Ps. 121: 1-4

Historical

Cultural

Principle

Illustration

Analogy - Athletics

Argumentation

Cross-reference

Reason

Application

Descriptive

Restatement

God provides constant help for His children through His complete attention.

This psalm begins with a discussion between two travelers on their way to Jerusalem. The first person who speaks asks a question as he looks toward the mountains, “From whence shall my help come.” The roads leading through the mountains around Jerusalem were often dangerous. Robbers were plentiful and physical harm was an ever present reality. The speaker answers his own question by saying, “My help comes from the Lord.” His companion, perhaps a Levite or other religious person, continues the conversation as he shares about God’s ever vigilant protection for His children. God has promised to keep the traveler’s “foot from slipping,” a figurative phrase for protection, and to keep from “sleeping,” another figurative phrase describing God’s constant presence.

In my opinion, there is nothing more exciting than a college basketball game. The atmosphere is always electric. The fans of the home team are often whipped into a frenzy by the cheerleaders and the play of the team. However, it isn’t so exciting for the visiting team. They find themselves in hostile territory, without much support or help from the crowd. This is especially evident when they have an opportunity to shoot free-throws. As the opposing player peers towards the rim, thousands of the home fans rise and wave assorted objects in an attempt to distract the shooter. Good players, however, are not distracted. They have the ability to place all of their attention on the rim, not on the distractions of the crowd.

Likewise, God is not distracted either. Verse 4 of our text demonstrates that God never sleeps. He never goes off duty. 2 Chr. 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” God is always aware of what is happening in your life Nothing takes Him by surprise.

Do you sometimes feel like God has abandoned you? Do you wonder why certain things have come into your life? Are you ever tempted to think that God doesn’t know what you are doing? God is always with you; He sees everything you do; He Knows everything you are going through; Even if you don’t feel it, God always has His complete concentration on you!

Transition

Division # 2

Explanation

Ps 121: 5-6

Historical Cultural

Principle

Illustration

Analogy – object

Argumentation

Cross-reference

Genesis 1:1

Genesis 7:1-ff. et al.

Reason

Application

Descriptive

Restatement

Not only does God provide constant help for His children through His complete attention, but

God provides constant help for His children through His complete control.

Our traveler continues to speak as they travel along the hot, dusty trail. They may have stopped in the shade as they sought relief from the blazing sun. He begins to discuss how God helps deliver His children from the natural elements. He states that God is the shade of the traveler, the one who protects from all trouble. He then refers to two common ailments of the traveler. When he talks about the “sun which smites,” he is figuratively referring to the danger of sun-stroke and heat exhaustion. God is the one who keeps the traveler safe in his travels. He is even able to deliver the traveler from the dangers of creation.

I love to go out to the airfield and watch people fly their remote control airplanes. I hope to begin that hobby myself one day, and so I often talk to the people who are flying their planes. I remember asking a man who was flying a beautiful biplane, “How can you make that plane perform so well?” He gave me an interesting response. “I can control this plane so well, because I created it. I know just what it will and will not do. Hence, I am in complete control.”

The Bible begins with these words, “In the beginning, God created the heaves and the earth.” God created everything you see. He is in control of all creation. Hence, He can do with it as He sees fit. The Bible tells of times when God flooded the earth, sent earthquakes, made the earth stand still, calmed the storms, and one day God will destroy the earth with fire.

God is in control of all creation. You don’t need to fear earthquakes, tornadoes, drought, global warming, or any other type of natural disaster. God controls it all. Nothing can happen in your life that God does not permit. You have His complete concentration, and He is in control over creation. God provides His constant help for you!

Transition

Division # 2

Explanation

Ps. 121:7-8

Word – Study

Historical Cultural

Principle

Illustration

Analogy – History

Argument

Cross-reference

Proverbs 20:24

1 Peter 5:7-8

Reason

Application

Descriptive

Prescriptive

Not only does God provide constant help for His children through His complete attention and complete control but

God provides constant help for His children through His complete protection.

Finally, the traveler begins to speak about God’s ability to deliver the traveler from evil. The work evil literally means “anything which is anti-God in nature – either inwardly or outwardly.” It is here that the discussion moves from the individual traveler to the universal application of the child of God anywhere. God promises to protect from the evil one and to keep the soul. He couches this discussion in the picture of one who guards a city. The watchmen observe those who pass in and out of the city. He is constantly watching for possible trouble If an emergency situation arises, he calls everyone into the city and closes the gates to protect the people. Our speaker pictures God as the one who guards His people from evil, keeps their souls, and cares for them in every area of life.

The members of the Secret Service have one of the most difficult tasks in law enforcement. The have been commissioned to protect the life of the president, even if it means giving up their own. I remember when President Reagan was shot. As soon as the shots rang out, a group of men threw themselves on the president in an attempt to protect him from any other shots. These men have the highest intentions, but sometimes, as in Reagan’s case, they fail.

God never fails. He is always protecting and guarding your steps. The Bible says, “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord.” The devil is trying to devour you; God is the one who is caring for you. Peter said, “Cast all your care on Him, because He cares for you.” If you want to stay in God’s care, it is essential that you follow His footsteps. When you do, He provides His consistent protection.

Are you walking with God today? Are you following His steps or walking your own way? If you walk with God, He will protect you from all evil. He will keep your soul, and He will guard your very steps. Walk with God and avail yourself of His consistent protection in your life!

Transition

Conclusion

Visualization

Reiteration

Action

Appeal

God provides constant help for His children through His complete attention, His complete control, and His consistent protection.

If you have a proper understanding of the constant help God provides for you, you will be able to live with the kind of peace and purpose that God intended for you. You will live with an awareness that God is constantly concentrating on you. He is watching your actions and guiding your steps. You will also live with awareness that God is in complete control. You don’t have to live in fear of the weather or other global problems. God is in control of all that happens. Finally, you will be able to live with awareness that God is providing consistent protection for you. He is protecting you from the evil one and guarding your soul. You can live with confidence in Him.

You will live with a renewed sense of security in an unstable world when you realize that God provides constant help for His children through His complete attention, His compete control, and His consistent protection.

You may be thinking, “I want to live with that sense of security, but I don’t know how.” The first step is to begin every day by acknowledging the presence of God in your life. Confess any sin that is in your life and surrender yourself to the control of the Holy Spirit. Then you can live with an awareness that God has His complete concentration on you. The second step is to give your day completely to God. Simply tell God, “Here is my day. I don’t know what it holds, but you do, and I know that your will is best for me”. Then you can live that day knowing the God is in control over the events that occur in Hid creation. The third step is to choose to live that day in obedience to God’s word. When you are living for God, you know that He is consistently caring for you. Cast all of your cares on Him, and you can know that He is caring for you. He promises to protect you for evil and guard your steps. Trust Him, and you can live every day with the security and peace that comes from an active faith in God.

God is waiting to give you his constant help. All you have to do is take advantage of His offer. It will involve a willingness to confess sin and surrender your will to His. But your decision will lead to a life of peace and security like you have never known!