Title: Days That Speak To Us
Bible Book: Psalms 90 : 9-12
Author: Sammy Burgess
Subject: Life, Days of; Seasons of Life; Time
Objective:
Introduction
Psalm 90:9,10,12; Job 32:7
We find in the Book of Job a young man by the name Elihu speaking. Even though Elihu was a young man, as you read his words, he had great insight and great wisdom. He said; "Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom."
Now our 'days' have a word for us. Our 'days' have a message for us; and I believe that our 'days' are a sermon for those who have ears to hear.
As you read the Book of Job, you will find that is has much to say about our 'days'.
(Job 8:9) says "our days upon earth are a shadow"
(Job 10:20) says "are not our days few."
(Job 14:5) says "our days are determined."
These are just a few references of "days" in the Book of Job. We also see that there are many references to our "days" throughout all the Bible.
(Psalm 39:4) says "Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am."
(Psalm 90:12) says "So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
I want to go back to what Elihu said. He said that "days" should speak to us; that we should give an ear to hear what our "days" have to say. (I want to consider 3 "days" that we will live. These "days" have something to say to us.
I. The Day That Is Behind Us! (Yesterday)
It says; "Learn from me"
Listen to (Job 8:9)- "For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing because our days upon the earth are a shadow."
When we think about Yesterday, we are thinking about the day that we just came through. It is a day that we will never see again. We cannot relive it. (Yesterday says; "Learn from me".) There are some things that we can learn from yesterday.
A) We Can Learn From Our Mistakes
If we were honest with ourselves, we would admit and confess that we have made some mistakes in the past. We may not like to acknowledge it, but as we look back to our yesterday, we can think of our mistakes that we have made.
1. Financial Mistakes. Some times we over-extend our limit on money, and we have to pay for it down the road. This helps us to realize the seriousness of how we should manage our money.
2. Marital Mistakes. We can look back over the troubles that we've had in our home; and many times we wish we that many things could have been different. Some decisions (actions) have led to divorces. Some actions have led children away from the Lord.
3. Physical Mistakes. Down through the years we begin to reap physically what we sowed yesterday.
4. Spiritual Mistakes. Too many people regret not getting saved at an earlier age. So many regret not serving God and going to Church when they had the opportunity.
ILLUSTRATION
A man at a Church that I pastored many years ago found out that he had cancer. He was in his late 50's when he died. I visited him many times, inviting him to Church. He got right with the Lord in his home. He told me that he wanted to go to Church so bad; but he couldn't go because of his cancer. He didn't go when he had the opportunity. He told me a few weeks before he died; "Preacher; I wish that I could relive my days."
It is a sad thing to watch Christians (good Christians) who never take time for God. The Church roll is filled with 'has beens'.
The tragedy of yesterday is that we can't live yesterday again. We cannot go through yesterday. We cannot change anything of yesterday. We cannot alter yesterday. YESTERDAY IS PERMANENT, AND IT WILL REMAIN ON OUR RECORD UNTIL THE DAY WE DIE!
[Example]> Esau made that mistake. He sold his birthright. (Hebrews 12) tells us how he wept many tears of repentance; but there was no changing his father's mind. There was no changing of what had already taken place.
We need to listen to our yesterday's mistakes as they speak to us, so tomorrow we won't make the same mistakes again.
B) We Can Learn From Our Excuses
Excuse - is to make apology for; to remove blame from one self for being careless.
Alibi - is an excuse to discharge oneself from a responsibility
(People have their excuses for not being saved:)
"I have plenty of time"
"Too many hypocrites in the Church"
"I can't live it"
"That's not for me"
"I'm afraid to admit that I am lost."
(People have their excuses for not serving God:)
"I don't have time."
"Let someone else do it."
"That's not my burden."
"I don't know how."
"I am afraid that I will fail and not succeed."
An excuse is just an alibi. Far worse than the drug habit is the 'alibi habit'.
Drugs destroy the body; but an alibi addict is suffering from a disease of the soul. Worse than a violent torture of the body is alibi's to the life.
Excuses stop us from doing what God has told us to do; it keeps us from doing what God has burdened our hearts to do. Learn from past excuses so they won't hinder you in this present time.
C) We Can Learn From Our Difficulties
I wish I could tell you that, as a child of God you would never have difficulties; that you would never have problems. But as I look back over my heartaches; my disappointments; my hurts; my sorrows, I have learned one thing: "God's Grace is sufficient for every need."
God's Grace has always met with us when we needed it the most. God never gives you Monday's Grace on Sunday. God meets you with Grace in the very time of trouble (The Psalmist said in Psalm 46: "A very present help in the time of trouble.") God has always been my strength and been with me through the fiery furnace experiences.
Every burden, every problem, every trial, every situation - is a means in the hands of God to bring you into greater blessings. I am enjoying today what yesterday brought me.
D) We Can Learn From Our Success
Too many Christians have to go back several years in their lives in order to recall an answer to prayer. Too many Christians can only recall what God 'used to do' for them. Many testimonies you hear in Church are testimonies of things that happened in years past, not what God has done for them recently. *When is the last time you heard someone stand up and say; "This week, I had the privilege of leading someone to the Lord."
We can learn from our yesterday's. You see, Jesus Christ the same yesterday.
Yesterday says: "Learn from me."
The Day that is Behind Us! (Yesterday)
II. The Day That Is Before Us! (Today)
It says: "Use Me"
(II Corinthians 6:2) says: "(For He saith), I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of Salvation have I succored thee: behold, NOW is the accepted time, behold, NOW is the day of Salvation."
The Apostle Paul said in (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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
When I think about today, I think about a day that (we are sure of); that (we are certain of); that (we can bank on).
"Now" is the one precious, invaluable portion of time that belongs to you and me, because "now" is the only portion of time about which we can be sure of, and in which we know we can act on.
We often find ourselves looking into the past; but can we roll back time? (No). Yesterday can only live in our memories. We look forward to the future; the future begins with our today:
"The clock of life is wound but once;
And no man has the power.
To tell just when the hand will stop,
At late or early hour."
Because 'now' is now, and will never come back, "now" is very important. Now is a premium; a priority. "Now" must never be taken lightly, ignored, or wasted. "Now" must be looked upon as a small piece of eternity; it should be to us what a diamond would mean to a jeweler; medicine is to the doctor; blood is to the body. "Now" is so important. More so as each day brings us closer to the closing pages of life's final chapter. "Today" says "Use Me".
A) Use Today To Get Saved
God says the brevity of life is so sure. Life is held by such a fragile thread. One reason why a person needs to be saved today, no matter what the age is because no one has the promise of another day. Most people think that when they reach the point of death, that they will call their families to the bedside, fold their arms, read their 'wills' to their family, and tell them good-bye. (It may happen that way; but we will never know until that day.)
When a person say; "Not now" to Jesus, he/she is really saying; "Jesus, as far as right now is concerned, I don't want to have anything to do with Your plan of Salvation. Jesus, as far as right now is concerned, I reject You totally."
For a person to push God off to the side, and miss their opportunity to get saved, it is a slap in the face of Holy God. They are basically saying; "God, You wait on me. I'll get around to You someday; maybe. If You are good enough God, I'll come see You later."
GOD DOESN'T KNOW A BETTER TIME THAN "NOW" TO GET SAVED!
The day you got saved was the only day you were guaranteed. You were not guaranteed another day, another hour, another moment. That was the only time you were certain of.
B) Use Today To Get Revived
Revive means to live again. Are you alive spiritually? Is there something missing in your life as a Child of God?
Ezekiel 37 gives us a story of the Valley of Dry Bones. God asked Ezekiel; "Can these bones live?" Ezekiel's response to the Lord was; "O Lord God, Thou knowest." These bones were alive at one time; and they could live again.
C) Use Today To Get Blessed
God has special things for you today. "He daily loadeth us with benefits." (Ezekiel 34:26) says "there shall be showers of blessings."
D) Use Today To Get Stirred
You ought to get stirred, get moved about your lost loved ones; your lost friends. Jesus said in (Luke 10) that "the fields are white, but the labours are few."
You ought to get stirred about Praising God. We are going to Praise Him for all eternity; we ought to practice while we are here on this earth.
E) Use Today To Get Focused
Spend your days living. Don't just exist; don't stay discouraged; don't stay defeated.
Spend your days reading.
Spend your days praying.
Spend your days serving.
Spend your days forgiving.
Spend your days loving.
Spend your days witnessing.
Jesus Christ the same TODAY! Today says; "Use Me".
1. The Day that is Behind us. (Yesterday)
2. The Day that is Before us. (Today)
III. The Day That Is Beyond Us! (Tomorrow)
It says; "Expect from me."
(Proverbs 27:1) says "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."
Many people fret and fume about the future. They say that it looks so dark and there seems to be no way out. You have to admit that we live in a world that is filled with uncertainty. It seems as if our world is out of control. And this gives us frustration, despair; and even depression.
Today teaches us to "expect from me"
A) Expect Answers To Prayer
B) Expect A Harvest To Your Sowing (Galatians 6:9)
C) Expect Jesus To Come
D) Expect To Come Face To Face With Jesus
Jesus Christ the same FOREVER.
"You ought to live everyday in the light of eternity."
