| Home Page | Grace Baptist Church View related sermons Click here |
TEXT: Psalm 4:8
SUBJECT: Henry on Fellowship #3
Tonight, with the Lord's blessing, we'll finish our study of Matthew Henry's devotional classic, Directions for Daily Communion with God. What the book is about is explained by its subtitle: How to begin, how to spend, and how to close every day with God.
Thus far, we've learned how to wake up with the Lord and to spend the day with Him. Now, it's "How to close every day with God".
You agree with me, don't you? There's no better way to close a day than with your Heavenly Father. But how often do you do it? Maybe not so often. But if you want to, Matthew Henry can help you do it.
He starts with the "doctrine":
"As we must begin the day with God, and wait upon Him all the day, so we must endeavor to close it with Him".
In developing his theme, he divides the verse and offers good counsel on its three parts.
"I WILL LIE DOWN AND SLEEP"
Matthew Henry was Puritan and believed in hard work. But he was not a "workaholic" or a "Type-A personality". He believed there was a time for work and a time for rest.
"Let us retire to lay us down. Nature calls for rest...[and so does the Word] "If we must work the work of Him who sent us while it is called day, it is time to lie down when the night comes...It is promised (Zephaniah 2:7), `They shall lie down in the evening' and with that promise we must comply, and rest in the appointed time to rest".
Having said this, he goes on to rebuke people who won't sleep properly.
1."Some sit up to do mischief to their neighbors".
2."Others sit up in pursuit of the world and its wealth".
3."Others sit up in the indulgence of their pleasures; they will not lie down in due time, because they cannot leave their vain sports and pastimes--their music and dancing and plays, their cards and dice, their rioting and excess".
Henry wants us to "lie down and sleep". But before dozing off, he urges us to:
1."Lie down with thankfulness". What for?
a."For the many mercies of the day past, which we ought to review, and to say, `Blessed by the LORD who daily loads us with all benefits' (Psalm 68:19).
b."For the shadows of the evening, that the burden and heat of the day is not perpetual".
c."For a quiet [place] to lie down. Unlike "Nebuchadnezzar who lay with the beasts of the field, or Jacob with the cold ground for our bed and a stone for a pillow".
d."For the [ability] to lie down. Many go to bed, but cannot lie down because of pain or sickness or breathlessness. Our bodies are of the same mold, and it is by the Lord's mercies that we are not so afflicted".
2."Let us lie down with penitent reflections upon the sins of the day past". Review the day, in other words. But not so you'll feel rotten about yourself, but so that you might...
a."Make a fresh application of the blood of Christ to our souls, for the remission of our sins, and the gracious acceptance of our repentance...and to bless God that there is `A fountain open for cleansing'".
3."Let us lie down with humble supplications for mercies in the night".
a."That our outward man may be under the care of God...and our inward man be under the influences of His Holy Spirit".
This is very practical advice. When it comes time for bed, let's say with David, "I will lie down". Not up all night worrying or working or watching TV, but "lying down".
"I WILL LIE DOWN IN PEACE"
1."Let us lie down in peace with God; for without this, there can be no peace at all...`Being justified by faith, we have this peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ'. This should be our first care, that God have no quarrel with us, nor we with Him".
2."Let us lie down in peace with all men. `Be angry and do not sin, let not the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil'. Those who go to bed in malice have the devil for their bed [partner]! We cannot lie down at peace with God, unless we be at peace with men. `As much as lies in us, live peaceably with all men'".
3."Let us lie down at peace with ourselves".
Why not? If our sins are confessed and forgiven, we have peace with God and ourselves.
"I WILL LIE DOWN IN PEACE AND SLEEP FOR YOU ALONE, O LORD, MAKE ME DWELL IN SAFETY".
This means to lie down with faith in God's power and grace.
1."By God's power we are kept safe in the night, and on that we must depend continually. It is He who preserves man and beast by the word of His power. `Except the LORD keep the city, the watchman wake in vain'. Be the house ever so well built, the doors and windows never so well barred, the servants never so careful--unless God undertakes for our safety. If He is your protector, `At destruction and famine you shall laugh and know that your tabernacle is peace".
2."By God's grace we can think ourselves safe, and on that grace we must depend. The fear of danger, though groundless is as [worrisome] as if it were [real]". This faith will silence our fears and open our lips in holy triumphs--`If God be for us, who can be against us?' This is going to sleep like a Christian, under the shadow of God's wings--going to sleep in faith".
There's a place for common sense, of course. But isn't this better than barring your windows, loading your guns, and turning on the security system? In short, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man".
SUMMARY
This is how Matthew Henry would have us "close the day with God". Go to sleep with thanksgiving, with repentance, and with faith in God to keep you through the night.
CLOSE
Beginning the day with God. Spending the day with God. Closing the day with God. How happy we would be if only we did this. Henry says,
"It is certain that all who go to heaven, begin their heaven now".
And that "heaven" is not golden streets and pearly gates, but fellowship with God. "In Your presence is the fulness of joy; at Your right hands are pleasures forever more".
God give us His fellowship all day every day. For Christ's sake. Amen.
| Home Page |
Sermons provided by www.GraceBaptist.ws |