How to Keep from Falling
Psalms 56:13 (KJV) For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
A. Once a person receives Christ as Savior, he must begin,
then continue, in the Christian life.
Colossians 2:6-7 (KJV) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
1. so walk ye in him
2. Rooted and built up in him & stablished in the faith
3. abounding therein with thanksgiving
1. “so walk ye in him”
Today there are Crippled Christians
1. There are maimed members, -there are limping laity, -Walking wounded
a) It’s not that you can’t walk but you always feel like you are not as steady as others
b) You walk with God, but you have a limp
c) It’s not that you are not trying but you just don’t seem as strong as other Christians around you.
d) You continually fall, or stumble, you’d like to march with the army, or run the race but you just can’t seem to get going because you feel crippled.
(1) But this is not the will of God for your life
(2) God’s desire is to heal our minds and our thinking so that we can be strong saints of God.
(3) A crippled Christian is easy prey for the devil
(a) The lion seeks out the weak to destroy first
(b) The devil will seek out those that are weak and continually try to destroy them.
ILL. ARE YOU A DISCOURAGER? Pulpit Helps 10/90 p. 20
A soldier was court-martialed and dishonorably discharged from the army of a foreign country. This followed a brief engagement of that army in war. The man was not discharged for treason, desertion or sleeping at his post of duty. He was accused of being a "discourager" of the men.
He did nothing more than go among his fellow soldiers with discouraging words and criticism of the military effort.
He broke the spirit and tore down the morale of many who would listen to him.
His presence was more of a hindrance than a help to accomplish the task at hand.
It is alarming how often this same situation prevails in the Lord's army the church.
People do not violently fight against the Lord's program of work.
They just mingle with other members and continually complain about the work of the church, criticizing the leaders, and voicing skepticism concerning plans and goals.
In a very real sense these are "discouragers of men".
Jesus, the captain of our salvation says: "He that is not with me is against me."
Colossians 1:10 (KJV) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Enoch’s walk was so close to God that God took him out before he seen death.
Noah’s walk with God was so close to God that Noah and his family were chosen to be saved in a very wicked world from the wrath of the flood.
Abraham’s walk was so close to God that God told it would be through him that all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
Elizabeth was chosen to bear the forerunner of Jesus Christ , whom Jesus himself proclaimed the greatest of all the prophets.
Mary of whom from her womb came…
• The Way The Truth and The Life.
• The Spotless Perfect Lamb, the King of Kings ……
• The one and only who was capable of bearing the sins of the world upon himself at the cross.
The one who would rise from the dead…
• The only begotten son of God.
See where I’m are going here?
The deeper the walk the greater the blessing!
My blessing is not all about me.
In fact, if my blessing is all about me it will fade away and die.
As I walk with Jesus my blessing will grow.
The deeper I walk, the closer I walk, the more my blessing will grow.
In fact today I need to concentrate on walking with him and as I do the greater his blessings will become!
2. “Rooted and built up in him & stablished in the faith”
The church exists for Jesus.
In fact – a healthy church will build itself around Jesus,
not around their preacher,
their building, or their programs.
Colossians 1:11 (KJV) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
3. “abounding therein with thanksgiving”
ILL.- One morning after a terrible snowstorm, Susan was outside shoveling her driveway. She stopped to wave hello to her neighbor, and he asked her why her husband wasn’t out there helping her with the chore.
She explained that one of them had to stay inside to take care of the children, so they drew straws to see who would go out and shovel. "Sorry about your bad luck," he said. Susan replied, "Don’t be sorry. I won!"
A positive, thankful person is a great witness in this dark world.
We only shine when we are thankful.
Our light shines for the Lord when we are thankful, when we live it and express it!
Instead of looking at the negatives in our lives and complaining,
we must look at and for the positives and give thanks.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Giving thanks is God’s will for our lives.
Giving thanks to God and others is what pleases the Lord.
Colossians 1:12-14 (KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
B. There will be many temptations along the way,
as well as many pressures, many sorrows, many difficulties.
How is Christ able to keep us from stumbling and falling?
The answer is that we are kept by the same grace that saved us in the first place!
The Lord Jesus died to save us from eternal death in hell;
Romans 5:10 (KJV) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
surely, we can "be saved by His life" from falling while living.
Psalms 56:13 (our text) anticipates this great New Testament truth.
Psalms 56:13 (KJV) For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
If the Lord can deliver my soul from death,
surely, He can keep my feet from falling!
Many other verses in the psalms give the same assurance.
For example: Psalms 37:23-24 (KJV) The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
C. It is important that each person professing faith in Christ be sure that his faith is real,
That it is founded on the true Jesus Christ as
Creator, Redeemer, and Lord,
It is not a sentimental faith in "another Jesus, . . . or another gospel"
2 Corinthians 11:4 (KJV) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
In other words, “You seem very willing to accept a spirit or a message that is different from the Spirit and message that you received from us.” (BSB)
It is very important that we have an accurate,
biblically sound understanding of who Jesus is.
He came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
He died and rose again to redeem us from our sins (1 Corinthians 15:2-4),
Jesus’ goal is not to “make us happy.”
Jesus’ goal is to seek and save the lost!
Yes, you will be happy if you come to Jesus,
But coming to Jesus means, living for Jesus, and dying to self
Picking up your cross and following Him!
Committing %100 to Jesus!
If that does not make you happy, then you don’t want Jesus.
To receive forgiveness of our sins
and to walk in His blessings
we must know, love, and serve the true Jesus that the Bible teaches.
Serving “another Jesus” or believing “a different gospel”
Endangers us to the “rebuke and discipline” of the Lord
It can lead to tragic consequences.
Ephesians 4:14 (KJV) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
As Peter urges us to:
2 Peter 1:10 (KJV) … give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
And then, in the last words of Jude, just before the book of Revelation,
we are directed again to Christ.
Jude 1:24-25 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
What a blessed assurance is this!
