Three (3) Steps of the Saints
Psalms 37:23-26
Introduction:
There is a set of books called the Treasury of David that I have, and in it this statement may be found…..
“All his course of life is graciously ordained, and in lovingkindness all is fixed, settled, and maintained. No reckless fate, no fickle chance rules us; our every step is the subject of divine decree“.
Psalms 23:4 says…
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
I Peter 2:21 says…
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Psalms 119:133 says…
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
The Word (ordered) in Psalms 37 means….prepared or established
The Psalmist in 119:133 is asking the Lord to establish his steps that he will not fall into iniquity.
Proverbs 16:9 says…
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
~When we look at the passage found in Proverbs we see why he has asked for the Lord to
direct him
Look at the words in Psalms 40:2 which says…
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings;
~Not only has he brought me up out of a pit, and out of the miry clay, but then he set my
feet upon a rock, then he established (prepared-directed) his goings.
~Thank God for the Work that He has done for us.
Allow us a few minutes to see where the Lord is directing our steps to go this morning.
1. STEP UP
Look with me in Isaiah 6:1-8 with me.
1 n the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
A. The king was dead…Vv.1
B. But the Lord is still on the Throne…Vv.1
~Although Uzziah may be dead, the Lord is alive and well.
~That is exactly what Isaiah wants you and I to know here.
~Aren’t you glad He is alive and well?
C. His train filled the temple…Vv.1
~The key here for us to learn is that there is no room for anything else but God. What do
you have filling up your vision of God?
~There is even no room for the seraphims, they stood above it…Vv.2
>>>Here is our part found in Vv.8
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Isaiah knew he was undone, unclean, and dwelled with people of the same…Vv.5
He knew he was a sinner…Vv.7
…despite being undone, unclean, he was still willing to go.
1a. Before Isaiah could go he had to get things right.
~Verse 7 says….and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
~Once things are right, then the Lord can use us for His glory.
2a. We can’t make a difference for the Kingdom till we are self can be ready for the
Kingdom. Its only then can we say what Isaiah said….”send me”
3a. It is time for the Church to get off the bench and get in the game of life, get going like
its black Friday, and it’s the best time to be out sharing that Eternal gift.
4a. Stop saying there is nothing for me to do, stop saying I can’t do it, stop saying let
someone else do it, stop making excuses, and make saints.
5a. Start saying, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Phil 4:13)
SO AGAIN POINT NUMBER ONE IS STEP UP
2. STEP OUT
Look with me in Matthew 28:19-20 which says…
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
>>There is two (2) very key words found in both of these verses.
TEACH(19) and TEACHING(20)
>>Matthew is directing us on what to do when we encounter the Lost. “to teach”
A. Not to pound them crazy with there sins.
B. Not to tell them how bad they are
C. Not to tell them they are damned to hell if they don’t change from there evil ways
>>Teach them the way they are living is contrary to the Will, and Word of God.
>>Teach them there is a better way for them.
>>Teach them there is a better plan for them.
Teach, teach, teach is the Key. In other words, love, love, love.
The Lord is clearly looking for FAT people in the church.
F. Faithful A. Attentive T. Teachable
SO AGAIN POINT 2 IS TO STEP UP
3. STEP IN
Look with me in Luke 10:20 which says…
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Heaven is defined by the American Tract Society Dictionary
~In the Bible, means primarily the region of the air and clouds, and of the planets and stars, but chiefly the world of holy bliss above the visible heavens. It is called "the third heaven," "the highest heaven," and "the heaven of heavens,"
~In this life we can know but little of the location and appearance of heaven, or of the employments and blessedness of its inhabitants. The Scriptures inform us that all sin, and every other evil, are forever excluded; no fruits of sin will be found there-no curse nor sorrow nor sighing, no tear, no death: the former things are passed away.
THIS MIGHT GET SOME EXCITED
~It is a kingdom, an inheritance: there are rivers of pleasure, trees of life, glorious light, rapturous songs, robes, crowns, feasting, mirth, treasures, triumphs. They also give us positive representations: the righteous dwell in the presence of God; they appear with Christ in glory. Heaven is life, everlasting life: glory, an eternal weight of glory: salvation, repose, peace, fullness of joy, the joy of the Lord.
It is built by the Hand of God
Hebrews 11:10 says…
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:13-15 says…
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
A place for the Saints
II Corinthians5:8 says…
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Philippians 1:23 says…
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
I Thessalonians 4:17-18 says…
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Comfort Ye with these words…
Things are going to get better------It may be bad now, but we are comforted
If all fails, we are comforted.-------Whatever may be, we are comforted
CLOSING:
AGAIN POINT 3 IS TO STEP IN
“ “ 2 “ “ STEP OUT
“ “ 1 “ “ STEP UP
THESE ARE THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN
For the Cause
Bro. Stepp
1/22/09
