Our God, Our Guide

Our God, Our Guide

Griffith Baptist Church – 3/15/09

P.M. Service

Text: Psalm 48

Key verse: Psalms 48:14 - For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

Premise: We all need direction to get us where we need to go and the divine compass and guide of our lives will show us every step of the way, if we will only let Him lead.

The Introduction

Elizabeth Elliot tells of two adventurers who stopped by to see her, all loaded with equipment for the rain forest east of the Andes. They sought no advice, just a few phrases to converse with the Indians. She writes: ’Sometimes we come to God as the two adventurers came to me, confident and, we think, well-informed and well equipped. But has it occurred to us that with all our accumulation of stuff, something is missing?" She suggests that we often ask God for too little. ’We know what we need, a yes or no answer, please, to a simple question. Or perhaps a road sign. Something quick and easy to point the way. ’What we really ought to have is the Guide himself. Maps, road signs, a few useful phrases are things, but infinitely better is someone who has been there before and knows the way." Elizabeth Elliot, A Slow and Certain Light

God guided so many in the Bible:

• The children of Israel out of Egypt

• Jonah to his destination, Nineveh (albeit reluctantly)

• Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matt. 4:1)

• Paul on His missionary journeys

When we take trips, we generally plan ahead; how much it will cost, where we will go, what to take, what we will do when we get there, what kids to leave at home, etc.

We are going to look at one particular verse, verse 14.

Let’s take a look at four (4) aspects of our spiritual journey:

Body

1. The Destination

Going on a trip for a vacation is an exciting adventure in planning. Of course, in order to go anywhere, there ultimately has to be a destination It is not like in Alice in Wonderland. When Alice comes to a junction in the road that leads in different directions, she asks the Cheshire Cat, “Cheshire-Puss...would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to go to,” said the Cat.

“I don’t much care where,” replied Alice.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” Daily Walk, May 31, 1992

A. Maturity – Ephesians 4:13 - Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

i. When Pablo Casals reached 95, a young reported threw him a question: ’Mr. Casals, you are 95 and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?" And Mr. Casals answered, ’Because I think I’m making progress."

Your goal is to make progress every day of your life. Dr. Maxwell Maltz, quoted in Bits & Pieces, June 24, 1993, p. 12

ii. In this life, this is what God desires of us, that we grow up.

iii. These are the steps we take in our lives toward the ultimate destination

B. Heaven – John 14:2-3 - 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

i. One day when George MacDonald, the great Scottish preacher and writer, was talking with his son, the conversation turned to heaven and the prophets’ version of the end of all things.

“It seems too good to be true,” the son said at one point.

A smile crossed MacDonald’s whiskered face. “Nay,” he replied, “It is just so good it must be true!” Disappointment With God, PhilipYancey, Zondervan, p. 97

ii. This is our final destination

iii. As Christians, no matter how we get there (rapture or death) we will end up in the presence of God in His abode

2. The Compass

A. The Word of God – Psalms 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

i. While in a convenience store one time there was one of those tabloid newspapers with this bold headline: “Bible Prophecies the US Government Doesn’t Want You To Know”. You don’t need a Top-Secret security clearance to read God’s word—it’s no secret!

ii. Basis Instruction Before Leaving Earth