A Sermon in Song based on the Hymn:
Blessed Assurance
INTRODUCTION:
After a sharp reprimand for not maturing but rather falling away, the writer of Hebrews has an amazing passage of confidence and assurance: “But beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:9-12)
“Each one of you” (verse 11) – a great expression addressed to individual Christians, each with the potential to realize the “full assurance of hope until the end.” The assurance is not to a crowd but to individual Christians.
We all need assurance: husbands, wives, children, employees, friends, saints, all need assurance of love, care, acceptance, approval and the assurance of God’s continuing love and care for those who are His!
David in the 23rd Psalm beautifully pictures the assurance we have from God. Read the 23rd Psalm and sing this hymn: The Lord’s My Shepherd
Paul expresses the assurance of the Christian. “The Lord stood with me and strengthened me … And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:17-18)
John writes of the assurance of our salvation: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)
With assurance and confidence Paul says, “I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
Fanny J. Crosby was born March 24, 1820. At six weeks she was blinded for life. She is credited with writing the lyrics to over 8,000 hymns.
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Now we will emphasize each phrase in the first verse of Blessed Assurance with songs and scriptures. After each song title I have given the part of the verse that supports the idea. As you choose from the songs listed, you may sing the entire song or just the pertinent verse.
“BLESSED ASSURANCE”
Amazing Grace – “The Lord has promised good to me: His word my hope secures”
Because He Lives – “the calm assurance”
I Am Coming Lord – “He assurance gives to loyal hearts and true”
I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous Grace – “But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day!”
It is Well With My Soul – “Let this blest assurance control”
No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus – “Every day He comes to me with new assurance”
“JESUS IS MINE”
He Whispers Sweet Peace to Me – “He speaks through His Word, assurance He gives, I’m His and I know He’s mine”
This hymn takes us from our previous thought of assurance and introduces the next idea: Jesus is mine! This blessed assurance is founded upon the promises of a faithful God and His inspired word. It depends not on the amount of our faith but on the object of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Fade, Fade Each Earthly Joy, Jesus is Mine
His Banner Over Us is Love – “I am my beloved’s and He is mine”
(Song of Solomon 2:4, 16: “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. … My beloved is mine, and I am His.”)
A Wonderful Savior – “For such a Redeemer as mine”
The Lord My Shepherd Is – Since He is mine, and I am His, what can I want beside?”
“O WHAT A FORETASTE OF GLORY DIVINE”
When We All Get To Heaven – “Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay”
I Have Found A Friend in Jesus – “Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face”
Glory for Me – “Just to be near the dear Lord I adore will through the ages be glory for me”
I Stand Amazed – “When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see”
When Jesus Comes – “In His glory they shall share”
Come to Jesus – “He will share with you His glory, when your pilgrimage is done.”
Love Divine – “Changed from glory into glory”
O Jesus, I Have Promised – “where Thou art in glory there shall Thy servant be”
Old Rugged Cross – “His glory forever I’ll share”
Above the Bright Blue – “the glory of Jesus we’ll see”
Face to Face – “Face to face in all His glory”
Come, Thou Almighty King – “may we in glory see”
Tell Me The Old, Old Story – “of Jesus and His glory”
FOUR RELATIONSHIPS THAT CONFIRM THE CHRISTIAN’S ASSURANCE
“HEIR OF SALVATION”
An heir is someone who has a position granted, not earned. No one is obligated to make us heirs. An heir is not motivated by greed but by joy in being loved.
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17)
“Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4: 6-7)
This Is My Father’s World
A Child of a King – “But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down, an heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown”
Arise, my soul Arise – “He owns me for His child”
Be Thou My Vision – “Thou my inheritance, now and always”
“PURCHASE OF GOD”
“With your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9 NIV)
“Shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28 NKJ)
“You were bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 7:23)
I Gave My Life For Thee – “My precious blood I shed, that thou mightiest ransomed be”
I Hear the Savior Say – “Jesus Paid it All”
He Paid a Debt He did Not Owe
Gone is All My Debt of Sin – “Jesus paid it all”
“BORN OF HIS SPIRIT”
Jesus said, “I tell you a truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit” (John 3:5 NIV)
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6b)
God Is Love – “His Spirit turned our night to day”
Revive Us Again – “We praise Thee, O God, for Thy Spirit of light”
More About Jesus – “Spirit of God, my teacher be”
When This Passing World is Done – “make Thy Spirit’s help so meet”
Heaven Came Down – “Born of the Spirit with life from above”
“WASHED IN HIS BLOOD”
“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of he Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)
“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)
“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin . . .Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:2, 7)
Whiter Than Snow – “wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”
There is a Fountain Filled With Blood – “sinners plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains”
Are You Washed in the Blood? – “Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?”
CONCLUSION:
This assurance is for the people of God. We are blessed by it and we can rejoice in it. Through faith in Christ we may approach God with boldness and confidence (Ephesians 3:12). The Christians hope is described as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19). “The fruit of righteousness will be peace” (Isaiah 32:17). Christians have assurance from Paul that nothing can separate them from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). Christians have assurance that God answers prayer (1 John 3:21,22; 5:14, 15; Matthew 7:7; James 4:2,3). We all should heed this advice (Hebrews 10:19-23; Isaiah 32:17).
Blessed Assurance (chorus only)
Sermon in Song arranged by Paul Brown (1929-2017)