SAFE AM I
PSALM 4
INTRODUCTION: David’s life was filled with pressure, pain, and persecution. In spite of the circumstances in which David found himself, David found comfort in the safety of the Lord. David realized that nothing could ever destroy the relationship that he enjoyed with God. In Psalm 4 David acknowledged that his relationship and security was not based on who he was or what he did. His eternal safe keeping was completely from God. He declared, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8) This morning I want to assure those of you who have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior that no matter what transpires in your life you are safe in Him. A chorus that we used to sing was “Safe Am I”. "Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand. Sheltered o’er, sheltered o’er, with His love forevermore. No ill can harm me, no foe alarm me, for He keeps both day and night. Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand." Truly today I am eternally safe.
I. I am safe because God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ for He alone has SAVED me.
A. John 6:47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
B. The sole condition for receiving eternal salvation from hell is faith (trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died a substitutionary death on the cross for man’s sin and rose from the dead (John 3:16-18; John 6:47; Acts 16:31). No act of obedience, preceding or following faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, such as a commitment to obey, sorrow for sin, turning from one’s sin, baptism, or submission to the Lordship of Christ, may be added to, or considered as a part of, faith as a condition for receiving eternal salvation (Rom. 4:5; Gal. 2:26; Titus 3:5). This saving transaction between God and the sinner is simply the giving and receiving of a free gift (Eph. 2:8,9; John 4:10; Rev. 22:17). – (Grace Evangelical Society Affirmation of Belief (brochure), Grace Evangelical Society, Irving, TX)
C. John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
D. Two skydivers jump from a plane at 15,000 feet. Both are wearing parachutes. One of them folds his arms, ignores the ripcord, and says to himself: "I’m perfectly safe because of my parachute." He is still saying these words as he hits the ground. The other skydiver knows he will be safe only if he actually does something. He pulls the ripcord and lands safely. That is where all of us are today. Either we pull the cord and head for safety or we ignore the manufacturer’s instructions. Many people are falling rapidly with a closed mind. They gain speed as they seek peace and safety in the things that promise life with gusto while ignoring the "Manufacturer’s" instructions. Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). We may not agree with the manufacturer of the parachute. We may not like the color, the style, or the texture but it still is a fact, the ripcord is the only choice to avoid destruction. I can insist that is just too narrow and I don’t believe it will work. Then I can be "dead" wrong.
E. 1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
F. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…
G. From A to Z our salvation is by Christ and Christ alone.
H. Remember Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
II. I am safe because the Holy Spirit has SEALED me.
A. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
B. The Christian’s heart is the Holy Spirit’s home.
C. Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
D. Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
E. The Holy Spirit is God’s mark of ownership, authority, and security over us. No one can remove us from his ownership until the day of redemption.
F. Hebrews 13:5 “…He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
G. When a piece of registered mail is mailed from a post office, it is sealed until delivered. Actually, only two persons can open registered mail - the sender (if it is returned to him) and the designated recipient. To draw a parallel for believers, God is the One who sends us on our way to heaven, and God in heaven is the recipient on our arrival. As with registered mail, only God can break the seal of our redemption. However, he had promised not to do so - and the guarantee of that promise is the presence of the Holy Spirit, who is the One in whom we have been sealed by God – Charles C. Ryrie,The Holy Spirit, Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1965
III. I am safe because the Father SHELTERS me.
A. John 10:29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
B. Colossians 3:3 For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
C. Psalm 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
D. Two year, Emily, had a health problem that the parents had hoped would resolve itself as she grew. It had not and the doctor wanted to do an invasive test on her to find the cause and hopefully fix the problem. The day of the procedure her father took her in, dressed her in a little hospital gown that was much to big for her, and waited. A nurse came in and gave her a drug that the parents were told would help her relax. The nurse said it might make her sleep but it doesn’t work on all children. They knew their daughter and hoped she would sleep but knew she probably would not. Dad rocked her as the drug worked and she fell asleep in his arms. After a little bit, the nurse came back in to check on Emily. Satisfied she was asleep, and instructed the father to carry her down the hall to a room where the doctor and several nurses waited. He laid his baby girl down on that cold table and was told he could wait in a chair over by the wall. They were going to insert a tube inside her, inject some dye, and then take some pictures. It was an uncomfortable procedure, to say the least, and he was told that just in case Emily woke up there would be a nurse on each arm and leg to hold her still. She did wake up not long after he laid her down and walked away. She struggled to get up when she realized there were strangers around her holding her down. She was scared and confused. She could see her Daddy sitting in the chair and did not understand why her Daddy would not come to her rescue. They began the procedure and she cried over and over, "Daddy, hold you! Daddy, hold you! Daddy, hold you!" It broke his heart to hear her cry and have to sit back for her own good. He wanted to grab those nurses holding his baby girl down by the backs of their uniforms and throw them aside and take her into his arms again. He wanted to be her protective Daddy and for her to know she was safe. When it was finally over he did go over and pick her up and carry her to the rocking chair, hold her close and tell her, "Daddy’s sorry it hurt. I’m here. I love you. Everything is OK." God is our heavenly Father who loves us and wants to bring us into His arms and bring us home one day. We go through so much here in this earthly life. Pain, trials, loss & grief, temptations, and so much heartache. I believe that God, like Emily’s father, hurts over our pain. Why else would He send His Son, Jesus, to die for us? Because of that sacrifice, we can cry out, "Father, Hold us!" And even though we don’t understand so many things that go on now and we don’t know why we have the pain, we know He will hold us. "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you." Isaiah 49: 15 – Sharon Paxton (Emily’s story told by her father, Dusty Rush, at the International Soul-Winning Workshop in Tulsa, Oklahoma this past March.
E. Jude 24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
F. A mountain climber in the Alps had come to a perilous gap in the ice where the only way to get across a chasm was to place his foot in the outstretched hands of the guide who was a little way ahead of him. Told to do this by the one who was directing the party, the man hesitated a moment as he looked into the gloomy depths below where he would certainly fall to his death if anything went wrong. Seeing his hesitation, the guide said, "Have no fear, sir; in all my years of service my hands have never yet lost a man!”
G. 2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
CONCLUSION: David could say, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” He could say that because he had a relationship with God based on faith. Do you have that assurance this morning? Have you established by faith a relationship with God through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ?
