|
“What is Man?”
Psalm 8:1-9
Introduction: Several thousand years ago, David looked up one night and saw the heavens and the stars.
Perhaps he did not know that the earth was 8,000 miles in diameter, containing 198,980,000 square miles.
Perhaps he did not know that even though the earth is that size, Saturn is 995 times as large, and Jupiter is 1,281 times in size.
Perhaps he did not know that even though the earth is so big in all its immensity, the sun could contain 1,384, 462 earths.
Nevertheless, David looked up at the stars and from that night’s observation he wrote Psalms 8:1-8:
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (2) Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (3) When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; (4) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (5) For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. (6) Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (7) All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; (8) The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. (9) O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”
Now please notice again verses 3-4, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; (4) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
"What think ye of Christ?" is probably life's most important question, for a wrong answer means eternal condemnation, as in John 8:24 we read, "…for if you believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins."
But Psalm 8:4 poses life's second most important question, "What is man?" Now, what man thinks of man may be important, but most important of all is what God thinks of man.
Here in Psalm 8 is a picture of the crown of God's creation, man. What is man? Please follow me carefully as I lay before you five truths from verses 5-8.
First: Man was created by God, verse 5, “For thou hast made him…” You and I share the same mineral matter as the dust of the ground, but you and I are more than matter. Man is the climax of creation, the creature FOR WHICH EVERYTHING ELSE WAS CREATED. Psalm 100:3 tells us, "It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves."
Second: Man was created in God’s Image. In verse 5 the term for angels is the Hebrew word "Elohim," one of the Old Testament names for God. "For thou hast made him a little lower than God" is an acceptable translation for the term "in God's image." In Genesis 1:26-27 we read, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Man is a spiritual being. His body at death will return to dust, but the spirit will live on.
Third: Man was known by God in the mother’s womb and as such God has carefully made him. Please turn with me to Psalm 139:13-15 where we read, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.”
Verse 13 could be understood this way, "For God alone, none other, originated my vital organs. You knitted my inner being together in the womb of my mother.
Verse 14 burst forth with praise, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” No one would argue that the human body is a phenomenal combination of strength, beauty, coordination, grace and balance.
Verse 15 could be understood this way, "My skeleton and bones were not hidden from You when I was made in the concealed place of protection, when my veins and arteries were skillfully embroidered together in various color like fine needlepoint."
Verse 16-18 adds the capstone, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (17) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (18) If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.”
These verses tell us that in the womb God was at work in our design. These verses show us that life began at conception.
Fourth: Man was created For God's Glory. When David contemplated the greatness of man, he wrote Psalm 8 to give glory to God. Twice David sang in verse 1 and verse 9, "How excellent is thy name in all the earth." Over in Isaiah 43:7 we read God speaking of man, "I have created him for my Glory; I have formed him; yea, I have made him."
Fifth: Man was created as God's ruler. Notice again in Psalm 8:6-8, “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (7) All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; (8) The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” God crowned man and gave him dominion! It was this fact that so amazed David as he contemplated the place of man in God’s vast universe.
What is man? In the eyes of God, man is the crown of His creation. Man is somebody. Let me give a simple yet, I trust, graphic illustration of God's interest in man.
(Here I have used on the platform standing with me a young child either a boy or girl as the example.)
(Here I have used on the platform standing with me a young child either a boy or girl as the example.)
This is _____; he could be Tom, Dick or Harry. Or we could have here Betty, Ruth, Shirley, Alice or Grace. But this is _____.
I want to tell you something about _____.
Before there was ever a world, God knew there would be _____.
God also had a purpose for _____ to accomplish in life as well as a job to do.
This makes _____ somebody that is special and unique.
Do you realize _____ is a designer model? There has never been one just like _____ before, and there will never be one like _____ again. Just like there are:
no two snowflakes alike,
no two blades of grass alike, and
no two fingerprints alike, so there are
no two of God’s human creations alike.
In other words, ______ is the only one you will see exactly like this. And since _____ is God's creation, a unique creation, a special creation, a creation that God is mindful of, then:
God made the mountains in Colorado like pyramids for _____.
God made the pines in North Carolina as steeples for _____.
God dotted Minnesota with lakes like heavenly teardrops for _____.
God make the plains of the mid-west for _____.
God made the beaches of Florida for ______.
God made the birds that fly and sing through the heavens for_____.
God made the beasts of the field for the enjoyment of _____.
God even made all the fishes of the sea and rivers for _____.
God painted the rainbow in the sky for _____.
God put the stars and moon in the sky by night, and the sun in the sky by day for ____.
All of God's creation was for one person, and he is standing here before you this morning. "When I consider the heavens, the work of Thy fingers the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained, WHAT IS MAN, THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM…"
Here is somebody. Here is _____ , made in the image of God as an object of God's love.
Not only did Jesus create the world for _____,
Not only did Jesus leave the glory of Heaven to come down to the shame of the earth for _____,
Not only did Jesus live thirty-three, poverty stricken, years on earth for _____, but Jesus also went to Calvary for _____.
Why did Jesus take the cat of nine tails before the cross?
Why did Jesus take the spittle of Calvary?
Why the nails in His hands and His feet, and the spear in His side?
Why the mocking of the crowd?
Why the mock wreathe and the mock robe?
Why the tomb, that became empty because of His resurrection three days after His death?
Why, all the dreaded moments of Calvary?
Was it to improve society?
Was it to bring in the kingdom by human effort?
No, all this was accomplished so that people who have fallen away from Christ because of sin might find redemption and salvation through the precious blood of our Saviour who died for _______.
Yes, _____ is somebody. Jesus died for _____. This is _____, made in the image of God almighty, and if _____ receives Jesus as His Saviour, He will live in eternity forever and forever.
Now, for a moment, let me pause and challenge you. I sincerely believe if we are going to reach this community, which is our Jerusalem for the cause of Christ, we need to concentrate on little ones just like ________.
Please turn to Matthew 18 and follow me as I read verses 10-11, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (11) For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” Jesus said, "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones…" My friend, please do not sell Child Evangelism short. The younger a child comes to Christ, the longer he or she has to live for Jesus, and the less time the Devil has of their lives.
Here, Jesus was speaking in context especially of the children. Praise God! Heaven will be populated by these children. It’s God’s will that they be saved. Jesus also died for them.
We tend to think that children need to grow older before they can be saved or develop spiritual character in their lives.
O' my friends, don't sell out their young lives, for their life can also be short.
O' don't be like some in the past who have bickered and feuded over petty things and quit serving the Lord in the ministry or lived a two-faced life. As such, they have despised the children.
Instead, win them to Christ and love the fire out of them. Who cares about the children? Jesus cares, and so should we.
Please turn to Matthew 21 and follow me as I read verses 12-13, “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (13) And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Jesus was at it again. Out went the fundraisers, and praise God, in walked those in need. Notice verse 14-15, “And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (15) And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased…” It was the children, not the stuck-up religious leaders, who lifted their voices to God.
Now we come to verse 16, “And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” Oh, blessed God, how true these words have proved to be in real life: "Out of the mouth of children…" They shall lead their parents. Many a child has been instrumental in leading their parents to Jesus Christ.
Don't sell child evangelism short. God takes a great deal of interest in children, so much so that Jesus died for them just as He also died for older folks.
Please turn to Mark 10 and follow me as I read verses 13-16, “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. (14) But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (15) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. (16) And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” Notice who rebuked the adults for bringing the children to Jesus, it was the disciples. Look at the response of the Lord. I believe that He was mad when He said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not." The word "suffer" means "permit them" or "don't turn them away" or "don't hinder them from coming to me."
May I challenge you to make your life and this ministry count for the glory of God by reaching little children! Right here in this area, we have 1000's of _____.
Every one is the unique apple of God's eye.
Everyone is created in God's image.
Everyone had his sins paid for at Calvary.
May I challenge you on this first Sunday of 2011, to go home and fall on your knees before God, to commit yourself to this ministry by going forth and loving the FIRE out of kids like _____. I challenge you to lose yourselves for Christ's sake to win children and moms and dads to the Saviour.
By the way, we have not forgotten the needs of adults because you are also somebody.
You might be a single lady or man.
You might be a grandparent living only for your grandkids.
You might be a widow lady, or today
You might be a hard working father or mother.
Never the less, you and I are somebody. We are the objects of His creation and His redemption. We are the object of God's love from eternity to eternity, from the making of man in Eden until that day when we will sing, "All Hail the power of Jesus' name."
There is something that happens to us. It can easily happen to any of us, your pastor included. Here it is.
We lose sight of the fact that God has called us to preach to men.
We forget that the purpose of our ministry is to reach men.
We become socialized instead of Gospelized!
We become a fellowship instead of a soul-winning institution.
We get to criticizing and complaining and become involved in all the pity little things.
We lose sight of the purpose for which we are here, REACHING PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
Our job is not to improve society. Our job is not to improve one another, although that usually occurs as we get ourselves right with the Lord. Our job is preaching the Gospel.
Preaching the Gospel will coincidentally save more kids from drugs than all the social and government programs put together.
Preaching the Gospel will coincidentally save more families than all the psychologists will do on purpose.
The need of this hour is for us to be consumed by the great task of reaching men and women and boys and girls with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which is lost." Jesus reached out to men and women.
At midnight it was Nicodemus.
At noonday it was one woman at a well.
On the cross it was one dying thief.
Up a tree there was one Zacchaeus.
On the road was one blind Bartimaeus.
Our Lord preached His greatest sermons to one person. Ah, my friend, keep your sights on men. Our job is not that of changing society, our job is reaching men and women, and boys and girls for Jesus Christ.
May we never get beyond reaching people for Christ.
May we never get to the place where we lose our passion for those like _______!
Dr. George W. Truett, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas for 40 years, gave this illustration, and I think it is nearly what I am trying to say.
One day, Dr. Truett had his five-year-old granddaughter come to the office with him. He was trying to study, and those of you who have children know how it is. Just as he was trying to concentrate, his little granddaughter said, "Granddaddy, I want a drink of water." Dr. Truett said, "All right, all right, I'll get you a drink of water." After he gave her the drink he said, "Now honey, I'm trying to study. Would you be quiet and leave me alone?" "Yes, Granddaddy, I will."
Five minutes later, "Granddaddy, could I have a drink please?" After getting another drink of water and thinking it would pacify her, he said, "Now, leave me alone, I'm busy." Finally a thought hit him. There was a jigsaw puzzle on his desk, a map of the world. He thought, she's only five, it will take her all day to put this puzzle together. How would she know where to put all the nations of the world? He said, "Sweetheart, would you like to put a jigsaw puzzle together?" He put her on the floor in the outer office and scrambled the puzzle up real good, and then said to her "When you get through, show it to me."
Five minutes later: "Granddaddy, it's all together." "You mean you put the world together in the last five minutes?" "Yes, Granddaddy, it's all together." He thought she was exaggerating, and so he walked into the room. To his amazement there it was, all put together. He said, "Sweetheart, where did you learn all this? Did you do it all by yourself?" "Yes, by myself." "How did you know where to put the countries?" "I didn't know where to put the countries." "How did you do it?" She said, "Granddaddy, on the back of the map there was a picture of a man, and I just got the man right, and the world took care of itself!"
If we'll go after man, the world will take care of itself. And when one little girl, or one little boy, or one mom, or one dad, or one stumbling, sinner comes down the aisle to accept Christ, the Bible tells us: "Heaven's joy is over one sinner that repents."
In Acts 1:8 Jesus gave this final word before he ascended back to heaven, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Today, I have brought all of this to mind in order to remind us of our commitment to the DIVINE MISSION OF THE CHURCH which is to win souls! What then are we to do next?
First of all, on our part we need to HAVE A PROPER ATTITUDE. We must decide to view our church as a body of believers ordained by God for a purpose – to win souls to Christ.
The next step is to BE INVOLVED AS A CHURCH MEMBER. Church membership allows a commitment to an area of ministry. Don’t be a bystander or content to sit on the sidelines. Official membership is Biblical.
Third, we need to DEVELOP LOYALTY to the ministry. Please do not sow seeds of discontent, nor above all, don't run when trouble and difficulties develop. They always do, so determine now to be a part of the solution.
Finally, we need to PROJECT MAGNETISM. I believe God wants to draw people to Himself through us, and the Holy Spirit wants to use us as living magnets to attract people through the open doors of our churches.
If we start to reach people for Christ, we are going to have to look at men, women, boys, and girls as God sees them.
I saw God wash the world last night
With His sweet showers on high;
And then when morning came I saw
Him hang it out to dry.
He washed each tiny blade of grass
And every trembling tree;
He flung His showers against the hills
And swept the billowy sea.
The white rose is a cleaner white,
The red rose is more red;
Since God washed every fragrant face
And put them all to bed.
There's not a bird, there's not a bee,
That wings along the way,
But is a cleaner bird and bee
Than it was yesterday.
I saw God wash the world last night,
And I would He had washed ME
As clean of all MY dust and dirt,
As that old white birch tree.
May God wash us and help us to reach people house to house, knocking on doors, preaching to men, witnessing to men! May God help us always to say with the Psalmist as we read it together from Psalm 8:3-4, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; (4) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
***********************************************
If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “What is Man?” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, let me know. Please send an e-mail to pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.
Copy write permission: Because the “Weekly SERMON” will be reproduced into other formats, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING: The “Weekly SERMON” in its original form, without any changes, may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail, and copies may be printed for individual or ministry purposes, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose. Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of the “Weekly SERMON” must set forth in full the heading that is given before each “Weekly SERMON.”
In His Amazing Grace,
PS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Microsoft Word 2007 document (DOCX), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.