The Middle Moments Of Life

l. INTRODUCTION

-I believe that the Book has the ability to touch every part of our lives. I also believe that the Book has the ability to reach us at certain time frames of our lives.

-It has the ability to reach us when we are children. It has the ability to direct us in our youth. It has the ability to guide us in our decisions as adults. It has the ability to give us financial counsel, techniques for child rearing, and for marital stability. It has the ability to encourage those who are elders in age. In fact, there is nothing more thrilling than to hear an old saint or an old preacher

express how God has led them through the years.

-Youth is the time of life that has many influences that are evil and those influences have the ability to sway usaway from the precepts of God.

-Consider the words of Paul:

l Corinthians 6:18 -- "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he

that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."

l Corinthians 10:14 -- "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry."

ll Timothy 2:22 -- "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with

them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

-There are great temptations that come to young people. There is also the danger of looking ahead to "When I grow up, I am going to be thus and so!" Sometimes waiting on someday causes the young man to freeze with inactivity. Don’t wait on someday, just do it!!!

-On the other hand, old age also has it’s perils. While the young is living in tomorrow, the aged sometimes try to live in the past. There is the talk of the "good old days" and that is a sure way to

lead one into the depths of depression.

-There is still something valuable that the elderly has to contribute, not only to life, but to this church.

ll. THE MIDDLE OF LIFE

A. Psalm 91

-Psalm 91 is one of the most encouraging Psalms that was written. It magnifies the ability of God to take care of those who will trust in him. There is not a single aspect of life that the Psalmist did not cover here.

-We find here:

1. The Position and of the Believer -- Psalm 91:1-2

2. The Power of his God -- Psalm 91:3-4

3. The Immunity of the Believer -- Psalm 91:5-10

4. The Elevation of the Believer Over Trouble -- Psalm 91:11-13

5. God’s Exaltation of His Church -- Psalm 91:14-16

-The origin of Psalm 91 is most likely from the pen of Moses. There is no title on this particular Psalm and the Jewish doctors consider that when the author’s name is not mentioned we may assign the Psalm to the last named writer which would be Moses who wrote the previous Psalm.

-Many of the expressions of Psalm 91 can be cross referenced to the book of Deuteronomy which was somewhat of a compilation of the history and movements of the Children of Israel while Moses was leading them.

-While the Psalm states the things that God can provide relief from, there is a phrase that I would like to focus on and perhaps break it down for our benefit.

Psalm 91:6 -- ". . . the destruction that wasteth at noonday."

-There is a destruction that has the ability to waste at noonday. The middle of life has it’s vast perils, probably more that what we face in youth or in old age.

B. Examples of Men Who Flourished at Noonday

-We have the three-score and ten which is seventy years that the Bible gives to us as the average length of life. If seventy years will conclude life then life has to be divided up into thirds to adequately understand the "noonday."

-By looking at thirds, we find that the noonday of life is between the ages of 23 and 46. I would prefer to extend that scope to the ages of 20 to 55. I hope that those who are not in that particular time reference will forgive me for singling out this particular group.

-The pages of history bear witness of men who flourished at noonday. There contributions must

be recognized because they continued until they saw the final result.

Moses was the deliverer of the children of Israel during life’s middle time.

Joshua became the courageous follower and held the mantle of Moses’ leadership in life’s middle

time.

John Wesley’s most productive years were the middle time of life.

John Knox shook Scotland with his prayers in life’s middle time.

Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses were banged in the church door during life’s middle time.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, the Boston surgeon, moved America with his pen in life’s middle time.