Safe & Sound

Introduction

Well, I’m not sure how that song didn’t make the cut, actually, of that of that book. Maybe they were not aware of it. Those who put that book together. It’s a wonderful song by Glenda Shales, who actually was here during the gospel meeting last week. And certainly that the sentiment of that song is what this morning’s lesson is about in large measure. The healing in our Savior’s wings. And may that be an experience that all of us have, if perhaps we do not have it as to this hour.

We are coming off a wonderful feast, as Terry Francis has spoken to us for four days about the parable of the prodigal son. Luke chapter 15. Or, as he mentioned, and as I agree, perhaps better entitled the Parable of the Loving Father, because really the response of the Father is the central issue of the whole story, though it is in the midst of three parables about lost things. And so we call it the parable of the prodigal son. Just when you thought there was nothing else that could possibly be said about that story.

Some thoughts that came to me as I was listening to Terry preach have evolved into two sermons today. The one you were about to hear, as you’ll see, this is not going to be about going through the parable like we’ve already been through it, but just launching from there. Notice I said launch, not lunch. That comes in about 30 minutes or so. We’re going to launch from the parable of the prodigal son. Actually, the sermon you were about to hear was going to be preached tonight. But I started thinking about it, and I thought, perhaps, though I wish everybody could hear the lesson I was going to present tonight, perhaps this one might be better for a Sunday morning. So let me just put it this way.

If you don’t come back tonight, you’re going to miss something you really need. And that I really need. So hopefully you’ll come back tonight at 5 o’clock for the sermon called Grievances. And it’s your business this afternoon to figure out how that fits in the parable of the loving father story. But I want to look at a statement in the parable as our launching point this morning that is not made by the son or the elder brother or the father. But is a statement made by one of the servants with whom the elder brother had inquired as about what’s this celebration? What’s going on here? And in Luke 15, if I turn my clicker on, we might actually have something there. Luke 15, verse 27. The servant said to the elder brother, your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf.

Because he has received him back safe and sound. So I don’t want us to overlook the statement of the servant as to the reason why there is now a celebration unfolding in the Father’s house because the reckless son has come home. He has been received back, the servant said, safe and sound. You know, that’s an expression that we use all the time without ever thinking about it, really. Safe and sound. In fact, Taylor Swift has a song entitled Safe and Sound. Didn’t know that until this week. I probably heard it because I think we have our CDs, but I’d forgotten that she had a song called Safe and Sound, because even though there’s a turbulent war going on outside because we have each other, we are safe and sound.

1. Safe: A Reprieve From Very Real Threats

What does the expression mean? Safe and sound. What does that convey to you? When I think of something that is safe and sound, I think of a reprieve from the very real threats that might exist to our well being, our health, our lives, and in a spiritual connection, our souls. The reckless son has come back to a sphere of safety where there is insulation from the very real threats that exist out there. And so he is safe. Do you like the feeling of safe? I think we feel like at times in our present culture that we live in unsafe times, that we live in an unsafe world. Safety as a possession is a wonderful quality. But spiritually, it is essential that we experience it. Well, what about the other word?

2. Sound: Wholeness and Wellness

Safe and sound. Sound has to do with the idea of wholeness or wellness. I actually preached a sermon on this a while back, I think it was a couple of years ago, where I ran down all of the references in the New Testament where this word sound is found. It’s the Greek word huyano. And it’s interesting that this word sound is used three times in the Luke narrative, because remember what is Luke? He’s a physician. He’s the beloved physician that Paul mentions in Colossians 4 and verse 14. And so a physician by trade is going to be familiar with the word huyano, which is the word for sound in the New Testament because of its relation to physical wellness. And notice its use earlier in Luke chapter 5 and verse 31.

I just want to call your attention again to how this word is used because it’s really cool to me. In Luke 5 and verse 31, when Jesus said, he quotes Jesus, it is not those who are well or sound. It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. And so Jesus came to provide wellness for the sick. And if you look over in Luke chapter 7, that is illustrated in a miracle that he performed. When he healed the centurion’s servant. And when the centurion returned, as the Savior had said, as he spoke a word, as he was healed from afar. The centurion comes back, he returned to the house, and they found the slave sound or in good health.

And interestingly enough, this word sound is found throughout the New Testament, mostly in Paul’s instruction to preachers. Timothy and Titus. That’s where you’ll find the greatest concentration of this word in the New Testament as he talks about sound words that they were to present to the people, or words that present people whole. The doctrine conforming to godliness. Sound words.

In regard to the faith and life that are in Jesus Christ.

Pearl. Now, those of you who are with me at Eastside have probably heard this story before, and you remember, our slightly crazy. She had some mental issues, rather severe mental issues, that plagued our Boston Terrier Pearl. My parents had come for a visit, and somehow Pearl, to her own detriment, found her way out of the backyard. The gate could be left open. We had two young children at the time. And so Pearl is out wandering. We find out late in the evening, she’s gone. So we go on a hunt for Pearl. Well, it’s dark, and Boston Terriers are mostly black. And so at least ours was. And so it was sort of hard to spot a little Boston Terrier in the neighborhood. We drove around a little bit, couldn’t find her.

The next morning, she hadn’t returned. And considering her mental handicaps, it’s not a surprise that she was not able to return home. And so we continued the search in the daylight hours.

Pearl was gone. And after breakfast, I needed to take the little jaunt to the church building. And so, as I normally did, I would pull out onto Business Highway 146 in Baytown. And it was about a half a mile journey from there to the building. And so as I pull out on Business Highway 146, which is a six lane thoroughfare, I see Pearl galloping down the westbound lane, or lanes of 146. There is my dog, the Boston Terrier, running down a busy thoroughfare in the morning. Nearly gets hit by a bus. And I witnessed this. Finally, Pearl runs off into the field. And I’m able to turn my car around and park in a parking lot. It’s at some business. And I run all the way across the field.

By this time, she has run all the way, half a mile across the field. It might not have been that long, but it seemed that long. And I run all the way over there and corner Pearl. And now you’ve got to understand. She only loved Sherry. She would only come to me or sit by me if Sherry was not there. Otherwise, she was scared of me. And I never did anything to the dog. But remember, she had mental problems. So I chase her all the way across the field, and finally I think she realizes okay, I’m going to have to embrace this guy. He’s the only one that can save me. And after all, I know him. So I pick Pearl up and put her in the car and bring her home.

And I and you know what she was. She was the picture of utter exhaustion. She had probably been running all night trying to find her way home, and there was no home to be found. And then finally she’s running on the thoroughfares in Baytown. Nearly hit by a bus. And so you know what Pearl did for like the next 24 hours? She slept. Exhausted, hardly moved, near death. She even let me sit by her.

And sound. She was home. Just like the prodigal.

3. Out of Darkness and Into God's Marvelous Light

If only we could know that spiritually. It is the goal of every sermon of every Bible class, of every occasion that we meet together to contribute to that condition for you. Spiritually. Safe. And sound. Because the call of the gospel is one where we are brought out of darkness and into God’s marvelous light. That’s the very nature of the call. And we need to understand that if we’ve not responded to that call, that the darkness is a place that is unsafe and unsound. And there is nothing good. And nothing last. That issues from the realm of darkness.

Out there is turbulence. Within the fold of safety, there is tranquility. You know what we sometimes fail to see?

That obedience to the gospel is not just about fixing a problem of sin.

Yes, it is about causing us to miss the horrific end of destruction, eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power. Yes, we are being released from the sentence of hell in these new environments. But not only is it not just an issue of that, it is not just an issue now of possessing the very real hope of heaven. And yes, that’s what it is. When we are called out of darkness and into his marvelous light, Colossians 1 and verse 13, yes, it is about fixing the problem of sin. It is about escaping the sentence of hell, it is about having the very real hope of heaven. But even more than that, it is about understanding the crippling nature of the darkness.

Just how unsafe and unsound it is and a deliverance from its tyranny. May I direct your attention briefly to 1 Peter chapter 1. Where Peter says to Christians who have escaped the darkness, he says in verse 13, gird your minds for action. Keep sober in spirit.

I highly recommend that you read that verse often. Because there are so many things that militate against your sobriety. Not just the taking in of alcohol or some substance that militates against sobriety, but all of the things as we’ll talk about tonight that contribute to a lack of sobriety in our world. Stay busy in the right things. Gird your minds for actions, keep sober in spirit, and fix your hope completely on what’s coming when the Lord returns. As obedient children, he goes on to say. Don’t go back to the darkness. And that is such a temptation for us. Do not be conformed to the former lusts. You know, really, that’s what Terry was talking to us about as he was talking to us about being the reckless son this past week.

He is telling us don’t go back to the darkness as obedient children. That’s who we now are. Do not be conformed to the former lust. You weren’t being smart back there. He says, which were yours in your ignorance. You didn’t know any better, but you’ve come to a realization, but now we’re to be like a holy one who has called us. Be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, and we’ve been seeing that in our study of Deuteronomy. Because it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy. This will always be our marching orders as Christians, as those who have come to the sphere of safe and sound. Don’t minimize or neglect the soundness, the wellness and the wholeness to which Jesus calls us.

4. The Gall of Bitterness and the Bondage of Iniquity

And I want to illustrate this in a story, and this is actually going to be introduction to what we’re going to talk about tonight. The story of the gospel spreading in the city of Samaria. There was a fellow there, Simon, who was a sorcerer. And he claimed to be somebody great. He had a follower. People were impressed by what Simon could do. But you know what? They were more impressed when they saw what Peter and John could do. But Philip was there first, and he taught the gospel in Samaria, and they were more impressed with what Philip could do because he had received the laying out of hands from the apostles, and he was performing real stuff, real signs, and a lot of folks in Samaria obeyed the gospel, including Simon the sorcerer.

Now, the Holy Spirit didn’t fall on any of them directly or right away because there was no apostle there to impart those miraculous gifts. So Peter and John come down, they lay their hands on them, and now they too can speak in tongues and perform these real signs that Philip was performing. That Peter and John could perform.

As the Holy Spirit was working in the midst of these new believers. Well, in the process of all of this, Simon makes an inquiry. And he says, could I do that? Could I have this ability to lay on of hands? And we’re going to pick up the reading of this in Acts chapter 8, because there’s a phrase I want to draw your attention to. He says, Give this authority to me in verse 19. He actually offered them money. I’ll buy it from you. What price tag you got on this stuff? I want to be able to do this. Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. That had to be a rush.

Only the apostles, Philip himself couldn’t do this. That’s why Peter and John had to come down. Because that Philip was not the apostle Philip. He was the fellow that they had chosen in Acts chapter 6 to be one of the seven that would take care of the widow. So Philip couldn’t do that. Peter and John could say, Hey, can I, can I buy that from you? You know, this right in his wheelhouse. You know, you’re performing signs for you to be somebody great. And Peter said to him, May your silver perish with you. Because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money. You have no part or portion in this matter. Now, I didn’t understand what that meant for a long time, but what I believe that’s saying is God isn’t going to give this to you.

You’re not an apostle. You have no part or portion in this matter. But furthermore, he says, your heart is not right before God. I don’t know what all of the motives were in Simon’s heart, but it seemed to be somewhat self-promoting, like it was before, something that was prior to him obeying the gospel, that motive was there in his desire to obtain this gift. And so he says, your heart is not right with God. And then look at this. Repent. Notice he is not instructed to be baptized, because he’s already done that according to verse 12. Repent of this wickedness of yours and pray, the Lord, that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the bondage of iniquity. That sounds bad. But Simon answered and said, Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me. He still had a lot to learn. And he learned something here. He did the right thing. He made the right response. And so it was possible that the Lord could indeed forgive him. But I want you to notice that phrase, and that’s the second thing I want to draw your attention to. The call of the gospel is out of darkness and into his marvelous light. But I want you to understand what the status of the sinner is. Again, we need to appreciate the darkness.

And here Simon has gone back to the kind of thinking that was his prior to his conversion. And as a result, I want you to notice his status. This is severe. I don’t think you could state it in any more severe way. You are in the gall of bitterness. And the bondage of iniquity. What is that gall of bitterness? That word is used only one other time in the New Testament. One commentator I read talked about a yellowish green bile. Now that’s that’s all I need to know about gall. I mean, that’s that’s pretty bad. I don’t want any part of that. Matthew 27 and verse 34. In relation to what was given to Jesus to drink, they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall, and after tasting it, he was unwilling to drink.

In part of his mistreatment and mockery, they gave him wine which was mixed with this gall. Nasty is what I just get the idea of nasty from this. The gall of bitterness. Bitterness. The root of bitterness is what is warned about in regard to Esau in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 15. That there be no root of bitterness swelling up inside a person unto his own destruction. And so here’s the term the gall of bitterness and the bondage of iniquity. It is a picture of a malignancy so utterly foreign to a right view of things. It points to the awfulness of one’s condition and being held captivity by it. Look, if there is sin on your account by heaven’s reckoning, that’s where you are. That’s not soundness.

That’s not wholeness and wellness. That is the gall of bitterness and the bondage of iniquity. And it may not feel that bad. I’m sure Simon didn’t feel anything in terms of some negative feeling that he had, oh, I’m in trouble. Until Peter’s instruction was, that’s how God sees you. The gall of bitterness and the bondage of iniquity. If you are not well before God, that’s where you are.

You don’t want to stay there.

He didn’t murder anybody. He hadn’t committed adultery. He wasn’t a homosexual.

Or doing drugs. It was simply a wrong desire for apparently self-aggrandizing purposes and wanting something and coveting something that was reserved for the apostles alone. And here’s what I want you to get out of this. The problem of all sin, all sin, no matter what it is that it is the gall of bitterness and the bondage of iniquity. And the wonderful thing about the gospel is, as Paul realizes his condition under the law and his inability to find justification under a system of law, he says, the things I want to do, I don’t do, I do the things I hate, I don’t want to do, and he says, I’m just miserable in this condition. He says, Wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me from this body of death?

5. Our Refuge Among People Who Care

I want to tell you there’s a wellness message. There is now, therefore, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Wellness. A solution for our failings. And there’s an aspect of that we see in the prodigal son’s story that relates to us as well. He had come home. Familiar surroundings, a loving Father. There is a part of our wellness that involves point number three, our refuge, not only with God, but our refuge among people who care about us, who desire our wellness. And one of the great functions of the Lord’s people, his church, is to provide a nurturing sanctuary, as Terry spoke to us about, for the recovering sinner. Speaking the truth in love.

Who is the head even Christ? Ephesians 4, verse 15. And that whole context is talking about how the body is functioning together as we go on unto spiritual maturity, as we talked a couple of weeks ago about being established in our faith, growing up into our spiritual maturity. We’re here to help each other. That’s what this fellowship is to be about. Now that can’t happen if we compromise soundness or sound words. If we do not preach the doctrine conforming to godliness. But if we will take our stand firmly and squarely on the word of God and issue its message, we can help each other recover and receive eternal salvation. How good are we doing? I remember clearly a lecture at Florida College back in the early 1980s, those many years ago that I was there.

But I remember this as clear as day. My favorite preacher at the time. I have a lot of favorites. Of course, Steve Bowman is one of them, but my favorite preacher who had a tremendous impact on me in my youth was giving the lecture that night. And he was Robert Jackson. And he had a style that was unique.

He was something else, this guy. Could preach the most memorable sermons. And he would get into his Tennessee voice. And he said, that night, the Lord’s army is the only army that I know. That shoots its own wounded. And there was a pause. And some fellow way up in the cheap seats of congymnasium said, Amen. And at that point, everybody breaks out in laughter. The Lord’s army is the only army that shoots its own wounded. Amen. Everybody laughs, and then Robert says, I appreciate that. Amen, brother. That adds a little kerosene to the fire. Those were the experiences of Robert in his many years of preaching. And I’ve seen that too.

We’re here to bind up the wounded and the brokenhearted. I think when let me just say this. I got to get a baseball illustration in here, Kevin. The Cubs, the Cubs play, they don’t ever win World Series, but the Cubs play at Wrigley Field. I’ve been there before. That’s a cool place to go watch a baseball game. But you know what they call that place? The friendly confines.

This ought to be the friendly confines.

Something struck me. One thing we may not think is that the sense of shame and unworthiness. People feel. When they become aware of the gravity of their sin and their consequences, you’re not alone.

We’ve all had those feelings. And may we be here to assist one another. And I think that’s what’s going on. Colossians chapter 3. Colossians chapter 3, one last passage to share with you this morning in verses 12 through 15, as this instruction is given to Christians as so, and so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving each other. Whoever has a complaint against anyone, that’s tonight’s sermon. Whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity, and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful.

Conclusion

This is not a place to champion our unquestionably correct views on everything. But it more than that. This is about the glory of God, Ephesians 3 and verse 21. And us receiving mercy from him and helping others to do the same. You can face the end of your life safe and sound. May we labor together toward that end. Is there someone in this audience who is in a place unsafe and unsound? Are you ready for the day of reckoning that will come? Will you be prepared as those men were in the story of the parable of the talents, the two talented and the five-talent man who heard their master say, Well done. Good and faithful servant. Are you ready to hear those words? Can we assist you in some way this morning?

Can you put on Christ, having your sins cleansed in his blood by being baptized into him? Rising to walk in newness of life. You can begin the life of safe and sound. Can we help you, let’s say and say?