ISAIAH 26:3 ETC.
SONG FOR ALL SEASONS
Please turn in your hymn books to Hymn #316. You will note that we have already sung all four verses of this great hymn, It Is Well With My Soul.
This week I asked each of our high school graduates to choose a hymn for us to sing as a congregation. Three out of the four chose this hymn as their favorite! Denise was the first to suggest this hymn, so that's why her name is next to this song in the bulletin. Amber and Josh had to take second choices.
I had already decided to address the graduates as part of the sermon this morning. Upon learning of their appreciation for this hymn, I decided to set aside my traditional sermon based on a Scripture Text to bring you a message based on the main thoughts of this song.
Please don't panic. Although we are talking about thoughts from a hymn, we are going to examine the Word of God, showing you how It Is Well With My Soul teaches us the truths of the Bible. God's Word is still our only authority for truth.
If you were at the Victory 5 concert last evening, you are aware that this song is sung very well by them. This is a song which Dan introduces in the concert, telling how the song was written. Those of you who have heard Dan share the story please bear with me, as I repeat it for those who may not know the hymn's background.
"This beloved gospel song was written by a Chicago Presbyterian layman, Horatio G. Spafford, born in North Troy, New York, on October 20, 1828. As a young man Spafford had established a most successful legal practice in Chicago. Despite his financial success, he always maintained a keen interest in Christian activities. He enjoyed a close and active friendship with (evangelist) D.L. Moody and the other evangelical leaders of that era. he was described by George Stebbins, a noted gospel musician, as a 'man of unusual intelligence and refinement, deeply spiritual, and a devoted student of the Scriptures.'
"Some months prior to the Chicago Fire of 1871, Spafford had invested heavily in real estate on the shore of Lake Michigan, and his holdings were wiped out by this disaster. Just before this he had experienced the death of his son. Desiring a rest for his wife and four daughters, as well as wishing to join and assist Moody and Sankey in one of their campaigns in Great Britain, Spafford planned a European trip for his family in 1873.
In November of that year, due to unexpected last minute business developments, he had to remain in Chicago; but he sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre. he expected to follow in a few days. On November 22 the ship was struck by the Lochearn, an English vessel, and sank in twelve minutes. Several days later the survivors were finally landed at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, "Saved alone..." Shortly afterward Spafford left by ship to join his bereaved wife. It is speculated that on the sea near the area where it was thought his four daughters had drowned, Spafford penned this text with words so significantly describing his own personal grief - "When sorrows like sea billows roll..." and the victory which our Lord Jesus Christ gives, "It is well with my soul." Source Unknown
Graduates, you have chosen a great hymn. It is a hymn which, I feel is a hymn for all seasons. As you rely on the Scriptural truths behind this hymn, you will find this to be a hymn that will help you get through each part of your lives. This hymn will also assist each of us in this room, as we make the truths of this hymn real in our own lives.
This morning as we consider this hymn for all seasons, we want to see,
THE PARTS OF LIFE
THE PROBLEM OF SIN
THE PROVISION OF CHRIST
THE PEACE OF THE SOUL
THE PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE
THE PARTS OF LIFE
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When trials lie sea-billows role
The opening words of this song remind us that life is a mixed bag.
There will be various parts of life.
Humanly speaking this is a "peace like a river" time for our grads.
All four of them have graduated towards the top of their classes.
Each one of them has happy plans for the future.
But there have been already and will be more times in their lives when trials, like great, troubled, waves of a storm at sea will come up and disturb you.
I am reminded of a passage in God's word, which I believe that Denise quoted in her graduation speech. Please turn to Ecclesiastes 3, and follow along as I read the first eight verses.
To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
These verses remind us that the experiences of life are varied.
There will be times of great joy like graduations, weddings, academic, business, and Spiritual success.
But there will also be times of great sorrow, like the one facing the Helm family right now with the death of Bruce's Dad.
There will be times when you will be able to see clearly what God is doing.
There will be other times when you will say, "What in the world is God doing?"
These are the parts of life which we will face.
THE PARTS OF LIFE
THE PROBLEM WITH SIN
Thou Satan should buffet, tho trials should come...
Grads, let me remind you that you have an enemy!
Your enemy is the Spirit being who rebelled against God, Satan, and his forces of evil.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
2 Corinthians 11:14 - And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light
Satan will disguise himself as light, to get you to sin against God.
Satan is, however, not your biggest problem, or your biggest enemy neither are the trials that will come to your life.
The biggest problem is the result of Satan's temptations, and the cause of trouble in the world.
The problem is sin. Sin is failure to please God. Sin is going my own way, and doing my own thing, disregarding God. Sin is disobedience against God. We have all sinned!
Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 3:10-18, 23 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips: Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet [are] swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery [are] in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
You might say, "Well, so what Pastor. I'm human. I'm not perfect. So I'm a sinner. What's the big deal?"
The "big deal" is that God hates sin.
The "big deal" is that sin is an offense to the holiness of God.
The "big deal" is that sin will keep us out of Heaven and from communication with our righteous, holy, wonderful God!
Ezekiel 18:4 says in part - The soul that sinneth it shall die;
Death is separation. Because of sin we are separated from God now.
In the future there is eternal separation which is referred to as "hell"/.
Israel was told in Isaiah 59:2, But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.
Our "Song for all Seasons", It is well with my soul, reminds us that there is a big problem that must be dealt with.
THE PARTS OF LIFE
THE PROBLEM OF SIN
THE PROVISION OF CHRIST
Please notice what the hymn writer says in the second stanza:
Thoug Satan should buffet, tho trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed his own blood for my soul
Here we see the love of God at work.
Here we are reminded of the work of the Lord Jesus.
Here we are told of the forgiveness that is available in Christ.
1 John 4:10 - Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
Isaiah 53:2-6 - He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The price for your sin was paid in full on the cross.
What you couldn't do, atone for your own sins, Jesus did for you on the cross.
All that is required of you is faith in Christ!
More about that in a minute.
Perhaps all the grads and you have already trusted Christ.
You already know that your sins are forgiven and that you are going to Heaven. If you do, the third stanza is a great relief!
My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought:
My sin not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross
and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, oh my soul.
Grads, if you already know the Lord as your Savior, you also know that you continue to sin.
God is not pleased with you sin.
But, it is paid for on the cross.
It is covered by the blood of Christ.
This does not mean that you should take sin lightly.
Any sin against God is a sin against the Savior who gave his all for you.
That indeed is serious!
But there is still forgiveness.
There is forgiveness that means you will be in Heaven in spite of any new sin.
There is forgiveness which restores communication with God.
We must remember that sin grieves God, and hinders the fellowship, peace, and answered prayer that come from him.
1 John 1:8-10 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Psalm 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Graduates and other Christians, please keep short accounts with God.
Confess your sins. Remember, the price has been paid. They've been nailed to the cross. Apply the cleansing blood to your account through confession.
THE PARTS OF LIFE
THE PROBLEM OF SIN
THE PROVISION OF CHRIST
THE PEACE OF SOUL
The chorus is what speaks of peace for the soul.
It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.i
We already told you that the price for forgiveness has been paid on the cross.
The only thing a person needs to do is to turn to Christ in faith and put trust in Him.
Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
To be justified is to be declared right with God.
When you turn to Christ and place your faith in Him at a specific moment in time, you become "born again" by the Spirit of God.
You become a member of God's family.
John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
As a member of God's family, you now have peace with God.
You are no longer God's enemy because of sin, but you are God's child!
So, indeed you can sing "It is well with my soul!"
Is it well with your soul? If not, turn to Christ in faith this morning.
But wait, there's more!
When Horatio Spafford wrote this song, It Is Well With My Soul, he was already a Christian. He already had peace with God.
But through the trials of financial reversals and dead children, Spafford was experiencing the peace of God.
Please turn to Isaiah 26:3 - Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.
My Christian friend, part of life is sorrow.
My Christian friend, part of life is great distress.
My Christian friend, part of life is going to hurt.
The problems do not go away.
Many facts, like death, incurable illness, family problems, lost wages, and lost jobs, and misunderstandings do not always change.
But God has promised peace for the Christian through the difficulties.
What is the secret to a Christian's peace?
Keep you mind "staid" or focused on the Lord.
Bring the trials to Him!
Trust Him!
Matthew 11:28-30 - Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Annie Johnson Flint wrote,
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction, He addeth his mercy
To multiplied trials, his multiplied peace.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of his infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, giveth again.
THE PARTS OF LIFE
THE PROBLEM OF SIN
THE PROVISION OF CHRIST
THE PEACE OF SOUL
THE PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
There is hope beyond this life.
And graduates, please remember that there is more to life than college, work, money, marriage, children, and vacations.
You and I who know Christ are looking forward to a glorious day, when He is coming again!
John 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 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.
And if you are looking forward to the Lord's coming, please remember that we are to live a certain way.
Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
THE PARTS OF LIFE
THE PROBLEM OF SIN
THE PROVISION OF CHRIST
THE PEACE OF SOUL
THE PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE