From Knowledge to Power (Sermon Outline)

Aside from protecting the consumer and staying out of lawsuits, some manufacturers do not want to miss a dollar by letting us fix some of our own things. Years back I learned how to repair some electrical gadgets on my own, saving money and time. But I feel the buyer saving money is contrary to making money on the part of some companies.

Generally, for most people, the more you know the better off you are. Hopefully most people (some of the children being taught in public schools cannot count change) learned about fulcrums and levers. With that knowledge you can steady a very heavy teetering object by carefully raising it up and putting a block of wood under it.

Provided one does it through Christ, the more one knows, the more spiritual power they will have. Psalm 89 declares it so in verses 11 to 18.

I. Realize God’s Sovereignty 11-12

 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. 12  The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

Knowing and trusting in the sovereignty of God brings tremendous peace and strength in our inner man. One that truly knows Christ can have the peace of God no matter who rules their nation, what flag flies over it, or who threatens to overthrow it. Whether it is an issue like that, or something simply personal, it is good to have faith and trust God to work things out according to His will. We might suffer earthly harm and loss, but as we remain steadfast in Christ, we have eternal gain and blessing.

For this message I considered north and south in an earthly sense and Tabor and Hermon in a spiritual sense.

Regarding north and south, the Holy Spirit did not have Ethan to say the typical phrase, “from Dan to Beersheba.” So I sensed this speaks that,  despite the fact that satan{1} is the prince of this world (John 16:11), God is certainly the ultimate sovereign.

Tabor and Hermon certainly do not correspond geographically to west and east, and certainly not north and south since both are situated in the northern portion of the territory that Israel is to possess. The Holy Spirit could have had Ethan use other mountains to clearly denote geographical dominion. And, of all the mountains pertaining to Israel, just Tabor and Hermon were selected. I felt led of the Holy Spirit to investigate{2} the meaning of the names “Tabor” and “Hermon.”

Tabor means mound, which in turn makes me think of that little stone made without hands (Daniel 2:34-45) that represents Messiah Himself that will cause the kingdoms of the Gentiles to crumble and Messiah’s kingdom to fill the whole earth. Mount Tabor is not far from Nazareth where Messiah grew into manhood. In part, Mount Tabor mentioned here would then represent the vicarious life of Christ. 

Hermon means “a sanctuary.” Add to this the fact that Mount Hermon would be in the extreme north of Israel, an area Israel’s enemies might easily surge into, I sense that God is saying that as we fully trust Christ, He becomes our sanctuary even in the midst of our enemies.

II. Realize God’s Qualities 12g-14

…thy name. 13  Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. 14  Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

God’s sovereignty is always something to trust and praise Him for. So are His qualities (attributes) mentioned from the very last part of verse 12 to verse 14.

The sacred name of God expresses His blessed being which we can only grasp as He unveils Himself in His numerous attributes. Verse 13 speaks of His power, authority and dominion. In verse 14 we see He is not only just, but will effectively render judgment in due time. No one really gets away with murder or anything else. Mercy and truth going before His face speaks that as the Kingdom of God goes through all the earth, all of us sinners are confronted with the fact we do fall short of God’s glory, but mercy is found in His Son if we commit to Him.

III. Know 15a

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:

When someone truly surrenders to God through Christ, they do so being led by the Holy Spirit of God. From that first touch by the Holy Spirit, they then learn to be led by the Holy Spirit. This is how one hears the Good Shepherd speaking to them (John 10:27).

IV. Show 15b

they shall walk, O YHWH, in the light of thy countenance.

There are blessings now and for eternity when we obey the direction of the Holy Spirit. One of those blessings is pleasing God. The light of His countenance suggests to me that the more we obey God, the more things and situations become clear whereby we are more able to sense danger or safety, destruction or edification.

V. Grow 16-18  

In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 17  For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favor our horn shall be exalted. 18  For YHWH is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

We grow in strength by rejoicing in God and walking in Christ, our righteousness. Our authority is increased by pleasing God through loving obedience to Him.

In personally knowing God, with Christ within and we in Christ, we have an ongoing defense against the Kingdom of darkness. We have peace and Eternal Life when He is our King.

Satan wants you either spiritually dead or at least spiritually stymied. Do not let him stunt your growth. Know more of God by studying His Word, communing with Him and obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit.

If you have not surrendered your life to Christ, or if you did and have grown cold, know God in a most personal Way by repenting, forsaking sin, and making a full surrender to Him through Christ, establishing Christ as King in your life.

Godly knowledge is power to live a godly life unto Eternal Life.

Notes: 

{1} I avoid capitalizing that name whenever possible. Triond gives me the freedom to do that.

{2} Information on the meanings of Tabor and Hermon was derived from an electronic version of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong.

God willing you will be able to find links to the audio of this message at  http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M64 within 48 hours of this article being publish.

Bible text used was from the 1769 Authorized Version but modified by author to reflect current spelling and use YHWH where indicated.