Sermon Notes By Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. For Sunday April 6, 2014
Text: Psalm 37:23-26 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. (vs24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. (vs25) I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (vs26) He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”
Romans 8:28-31 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. (vs29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (vs30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (vs31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary Vol.8,Pages 290-291,a comment on Romans 8;28 “In The Widest Sense Human Life--- “ the steps of [each] man,” the path in which he treads--- is under God’s guidance; upheld by his power, directed by his counsel (Proverbs 20:24). As a journey is made up of single steps, and one false step may be fatal; so life, of momentary experiences and acts of choice, of which the greatest may hinge on the least. Life or death may hang on a pair of damp sheets or wet shoes, or a whiff of poisoned air. The fate of an empire may turn on the flight of a bullet. A spider’s web spun across a dark opening has saved a fugitive from his persecutors. A successful career or a happy home may be owing to a seemingly chance meeting. If, therefore God rules human affairs, he must foresee and control their most minute and secure causes.”
To Walk With God Day By Day Progressively, Powerfully And Victoriously I Must Give Up Most Attention To God’s Word
Day By Day means “daily, or each day or every day continuously or done, happening or appearing ever.
EXPOSITION
1.To Walk With God Day by Day Progressively, Powerfully And Victoriously I must Accept and Embrace The Fact That I Cannot Accomplish This By My Own Wisdom--- Jeremiah 10:23 “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”
2. To Walk With God Day By Day Progressively, Powerfully And Victoriously I Must Give Up Most Attention To God’s Word--- Psalm 119;133 “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” (Praise Songs of Israel: A Rendering of the Book of Psalms By John DeWitt) “Establish my footsteps in Thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”
3. To Walk With God Day By Day Progressively Powerfully And Victoriously I Must Have A Mindset That Propels Me Forward --- Philippians 3;13-14 “Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
4. To Walk With God Day By Day Progressively Powerfully and Victoriously I Must Humble Myself Before Him and To Him --- Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk [“step by step”] humbly with thy God?”
5. To Walk With God Day By Day Progressively Powerfully And Victoriously I Must Be Willing To Consistently and Patiently Follow The Steps Of Christ --- 1Peter 2:19-23 “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. (vs20) For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. (vs21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving an example, that ye should follow his steps: (vs22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (vs23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”
6. To Walk With God Day By Day Progressively Powerfully And Victoriously I Must Be Willing To Submit Myself To The Divine Will Of God --- St. Matthew 26:39 “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
7. To Walk With God Day By Day Progressively Powerfully And Victoriously I Must Step by Step and Day By Day:
a. Remember The Importance Of and Strengthen My Faith In God --- 1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
b. Worship Through Praise --- Psalm 61:8 “So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.’
c. Express My Need Through Supplication --- Psalm 86; 3-5 “Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. (vs4) Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. (vs5) For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”
d. Must Stay Alert Through Daily Vigilance --- Proverbs 8: 34-35 “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. (vs35) For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.”
e. Deny Self And Take Up Our Cross --- St. Luke 9;23-24 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (vs24) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
f. Help One Another Through Exhortation --- Hebrews 3;12-14 “Take heed brethren, lest there be in you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (vs13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (vs14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”
g. Keep On Doing Good --- Galatians 6;9-10 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (vs10) As we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”