"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Pick up Your Harps
ELCOG 8/26/07
Text: Psalm 137:1-4
This morning I want to preach a very encouraging word into your spirit. In our text we find the psalmist in a difficult situation in his life. The psalmist and his friends are once again on the out side looking in. They sit beside the rivers of Babylon and think about home. Their hearts break as they long to be with family and friends again. Maybe, they are thinking about holding their children or kissing their wives. None the less, their hearts break and they have no desire to sing. They have taken their instruments and hung them up on the branch of the willow tree to silence them.
Isn’t that where some of you find yourself this morning? You are on the outside looking in. You once lifted your voice in great praise, but now you are surrounded by the enemy and the desire to sing has left. The desire to raise hands to worship is gone. The battles have overtaken you and hope has deserted you and you just don’t feel like singing well, hold on I have great news for you today!
Mic. 2:12
12I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
Mic. 2:13
13The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
"The breaker is come up before them."
- Micah 2:13
Inasmuch as Jesus has gone before us, things remain not as they would have been had he never passed that way. He has conquered every foe that obstructed the way. Cheer up now thou faint-hearted warrior. Not only has Christ traveled the road, but he has slain your enemies. Do you dread sin? He has nailed it to his cross. Do you fear death? He has been the death of Death. Are you afraid of hell? He has barred it against the advent of any of his children; they shall never see the gulf of perdition. Whatever foes may be before the Christian, they are all overcome. There are lions, but their teeth are broken; there are serpents, but their fangs are extracted; there are rivers, but they are bridged or fordable; there are flames, but we wear that matchless garment which renders us invulnerable to fire. The sword that has been raised against us is already blunted; the instruments of war which the enemy is preparing have already lost their point. God has taken away in the person of Christ all the power that anything can have to hurt us. Well then, the army may safely march on, and you may go joyously along your journey, for all your enemies are conquered beforehand. What shall you do but march on to take the prey? They are beaten, they are vanquished; all you have to do is to divide the spoil. You will often engage in combat; but your fight shall be with a vanquished foe. His head is broken; he may attempt to injure you, but his strength shall not be sufficient for his malicious design. Your victory shall be easy, and your treasure shall be beyond all count.
"Proclaim aloud the Saviour’s fame,
Who bears the Breaker’s wond’rous name;
Sweet name; and it becomes him well,
who breaks down earth, sin, death, and hell."
Psa. 129:1
1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
Psa. 129:2
2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
Psa. 129:3
3 The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
Psa. 129:4
4 The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
I know in life that afflictions come, but the enemies have never prevailed against me. They may fight me, but they will not win! The Lord is STILL righteous and he has broken the chords of the one that binds me.
Your addictions are broken, Christ has broken the chains, just shake them off. "Shake off those heavy bands, lift up those holy hands, Let all God’s children praise the Lord".
Heb. 12:12
12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb. 12:13
13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb. 12:14
14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
It’s time to take the haps down from the branches and sing a song of praise again. You are not in a place of total despair, God is with you. Lift up your heads, raise your hands and praise God. Jesus has already gone before you. Sing a new song of praise.
Psa. 144:9
9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
Psa. 144:10
10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
Psa. 98:1
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
Psa. 98:2
2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen.
Psa. 40:3
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Psa. 40:4
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Psa. 40:5
5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Psa. 63:3
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
Psa. 63:4
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
Pick up your harps and sing again. You have been in a stage of doubt for too long. Lift up your head and watch God move in your life. The breaker goes before you! You have cried and soaked your pillow with tears.
Psa. 40:1
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psa. 40:2
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa. 40:3
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Today is the day that you have been waiting for. The breaker wants to break your bands of bondage. Get your harps and let’s sing again.