Sermon: Arrows – Part 1
by Chris Cumming
There is a story about a totally drunk driver on his
way home from the bar. He turns on to a one-way street going the wrong way. He
is immediately seen by a policeman and pulled over.
The policeman approaches the car and begins talking to the driver. “Were you
aware you were driving the wrong way on a one-way street?” “I had no idea” the
driver replied through slurred speech. The policeman then asked, “Well, didn’t
you see the arrows?” The driver then said, “Arrows?, I didn’t even see the
Indians.”
That joke is old as the hills but it makes the point. Are we seeing the
arrows? Are we hearing and seeing the directions God is giving to us? Is it
possible for a firstfruit to lose sight of God’s way? If so, how?
This is a two-part sermon. Today we are going to establish that God has
provided us with arrows to show the way. On Sunday, we will review all the
specific arrows God gives us to keep us on the straight and narrow.
Key verse:
Haggai 1:5, 7
5 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
He says the same thing in verse 7:
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
In your studies of Haggai you know that he, like the books of Ezra and Nehemiah
are speaking when some of God’s people were released from the Babylonish
captivity and reestablishing themselves in Jerusalem. However God becomes upset
when they fail to reestablish the Temple. You see this spoken to in verse 4
when God states “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses,
and this house [the Temple] lie waste.” where God then commands that
they “consider their ways.”
The Adam Clarke says:
Consider your ways - Is it fit that you should be building yourselves elegant
houses, and neglect a place for the worship of that God who has restored you
from captivity? ~Adam Clarke
We see clearly that God, in everything He does, has a specific purpose or what
the Bible calls “sanctification.” We are to do all things according to the
purpose of God. Notice this almost universal application of purpose in how the
John Gill explains the phrase:
Consider your ways - their sinful ways, and repent of them, and forsake them,
particularly their ingratitude before observed; and their civil ways, their
common ways of life; their labour, work, and business, they were continually
employed in; and observe the event of them; what success they had, what these
issued in; whether there were not some visible tokens of the divine displeasure
on them, which rendered all their attempts to support and enrich themselves and
families vain, and of no effect: and they would do well to consider to what all
this was to be imputed; whether it was not chiefly owing to this, their neglect
of the house of God; and this he would have considered, not in a slight cursory
way; but with great earnestness, diligence, and application of mind: "put", or
"set your hearts upon your ways"; so it may be literally rendered. ~John Gill
In this commentary we see reference made to many aspects in our lives. God is
saying that we must do all things according to His instructions, His directions
and to the purposes He establishes for all things He made and for all things
into which He becomes involved. If we do according to His purpose, we are
blessed and if we do not, we are not blessed. Notice verse 6 of Haggai 1 which
comes in between the two verses commanding we consider our ways:
Haggai 1:6
Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye
drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm;
and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
The New Living Bible renders it this way…
Haggai 1:6
You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You
drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages
disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!
Let us continue with the rest of this short chapter. The theme is repeated.
First God is going to repeat what it is they were doing…not seeing the arrows.
Then God sees His people declaring they will follow those arrows.
Haggai 1:8-14
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take
pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I
did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is
waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed
from her fruit.
11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon
the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the
ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of
the hands.
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the
high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD
their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent
him, and the people did fear before the LORD.
13 Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people,
saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.
14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,
governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high
priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did
work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
What happens when we follow the arrows of God? Go back to verse 8 where
God gives them specific instructions.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take
pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
When we follow the arrows, God is glorified.
In Barnes Notes regarding Haggai 1:5, it says:
And now, thus saith the Lord of hosts; “Consider,” (literally “set your heart
upon) your ways,” - what they had been doing, what they were doing, and what
those doings had led to, and would lead to. This is ever present to the mind of
the prophets, as speaking God’s words, that our acts are not only “ways” in
which we go, each day of life being a continuance of the day before; but that
they are ways which lead, somewhere in God’s Providence and His justice; to some
end of the “way,” good or bad. ~Barnes Notes
Does God set before us both pathways [the right one and the wrong one]?
Does He speak about both blessing if we take the right way and a curse if we
do not?
Jeremiah 21:8 …during a prophecy from Jeremiah regarding the king of
Babylon
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before
you the way of life and the way of death.
Deuteronomy 11:26
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
Deuteronomy 30:15-19
15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his
ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou
mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land
whither thou goest to possess it.
17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn
away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall
not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to
possess it.
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set
before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that
both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice,
and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy
days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Isaiah 1:16-20 …God states specific arrows in this one
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine
eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless,
plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the
mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Does God give purpose to things and does Satan attempt to tempt us to go
against the purpose of these things?
1 Timothy 4:1-5 ...speaking to the purpose of things
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath
created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the
truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be
received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
We just recently completed a series of Bible studies in which we spent at least
one hour in each of these five verses. In the study we see that God has given
specific purpose and design to everything He made and into every circumstance He
in which He involves Himself. Satan and man, himself constantly go against
these purposes and designs. These doctrines of devils are arrows pointing the
wrong way. Each thing and situation that God sanctifies is an arrow we are to
follow.
Ezekiel 18 and verses 20-28 speak to the arrows or ways of God. I could just
read you nine verses and then comment but let us take each verse with a
question.
If the soul sinneth, will it die?
Ezekiel 18:20
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the
father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness
of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be
upon him.
Will we live if we follow His ways?
Ezekiel 18:21
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and
keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely
live, he shall not die.
If we follow His ways will our past sins be forgotten?
Ezekiel 18:22
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned
unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Does God have any pleasure in the wicked dying?
Ezekiel 18:23
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD:
and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
If a man rejects God’s ways will his prior righteousness count for anything?
Ezekiel 18:24
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth
iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth,
shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned:
in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in
them shall he die.
Does man attempt to say God’s ways are unjust? What does God say in reply?
Ezekiel 18:25
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal [just and right]. Hear
now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal [wrong]?
If a man dies the second death, who is to blame?
Ezekiel 18:26
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth
iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
What can a wicked man do to insure eternal life?
Ezekiel 18:27
Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath
committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul
alive. [he is now following the arrows]
Does it pay to consider which arrows we might be following?
Ezekiel 18:28
Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he
hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
These nine verses are clear. We are to follow Gods instructions and His ways.
What generally happens when we think on God’s ways?
Psalm 119:59
I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
In light of the verse I just read, how do we get God involved in thinking on our
ways?
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Who leads us down the path of righteous arrows?
Isaiah 48:17
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God
which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest
go.
Just how long will God lead us and are their blessings as we follow?
Isaiah 58:11
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and
make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring
of water, whose waters fail not.
Can a man direct his own steps, establish his own arrows and follow them?
Jeremiah 10:23
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that
walketh to direct his steps.
Do the arrows lead us to truth?
John 16:13
Howbeit when it, the Spirit of truth, is come, it will guide you into all truth:
for it shall not speak of itself; but whatsoever it shall hear, that shall it
speak: and it will shew you things to come.
Does God guide our feet on this path?
Luke 1:79
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide
our feet into the way of peace.
Does God use reproof to help us see the arrows? How does He do that?
Proverbs 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make
known my words unto you.
Does invoking righteousness actually direct our path?
Proverbs 11:5
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall
by his own wickedness.
Ah, the things sanctified for righteousness are actually the arrows on the path.
If we consider our ways and compare them to God’s ways and set to do it His
way, will He then direct our direction and pathway?
Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Note: The first part of this verse is not talking about a wicked man but
the Haggai 1:5 man who is considering his ways and considering the arrows of
God.
We have been studying the concept of Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom and how
the first two give rise to the Wisdom which is action. Does God teach us
this concept in the process of directing our path of righteousness?
Proverbs 2:1-8
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding;
3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for
understanding;
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of
God.
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and
understanding.
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk
uprightly.
8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Is the path of righteous arrows a plain path?
Psalm 27:11
Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Note: The commentaries state that the path is plain to those with
knowledge and understanding of that knowledge.
Note: The phrase about the enemies has to do with the fact that our
enemies are watching to see us falter so they can scoff.
Does God direct the pathway of the wicked?
Proverbs 21:29
A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
Does God give a command that if followed will result in directed paths?
Proverbs 3:6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Note: What is it, do you think, that we are acknowledging Him about? In
all our ways, we acknowledge the purpose and design He has assigned to
everything He has made, commanded and in which He has become involved. He
sanctifies all these things. It is actually these purposes…sanctification…that
directs the path. These are the arrows.
What is one method by which God guides us? Is the Kingdom of God the result?
Psalm 73:24
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
The evil arrows are foolish. Should we avoid them? What will be the
result? What is the primary admonition in giving up foolish things?
Proverbs 9:6
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Are the arrows of God arrows of mercy and truth if we keep His ways?
Psalm 25:8-10
8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant
and his testimonies.
In our learning about arrows, does immersion into the Word of God and prayer
help?
Psalm 17:4-5
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the
paths of the destroyer.
5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
How should we word that prayer?
Psalm 25:4
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Would it be wise to acknowledge God in these prayers?
Psalm 25:5
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on
thee do I wait all the day.
Should I pray that God put these arrows right in front of my face?
Psalm 5:8
Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way
straight before my face.
How does one walk following the righteous arrows. That is, by what power is
this done?
Galatians 5:16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh.
Is it possible to fall from the path of righteous arrows? What then?
Hebrews 6:4-6
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of
the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Do we need wisdom to do all this? If so, how do we get it?
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Are there those who would attempt to lead us off the path of righteous
arrows?
Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great
signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the
very elect.
Arrows for the Future
In the millennium will God be talking about paths with arrows?
Micah 4:2
And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of
the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his
ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the
word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Will Christ continue to lead humans to righteous arrows after He returns?
Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead
them unto living fountains of waters [truth, understanding, comfort and
happiness]: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Will the humans in the millennium be encouraged to follow the righteous
arrows?
Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye
in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Will God be the leader on this path of righteous arrows?
Isaiah 40:10-11
10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for
him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his
arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with
young.
So this ends Part 1 of this sermon on the Arrows of God. Next time we will list
all the specific arrows of God.
Let me leave you with three quick scriptures:
Does God promise to show us the arrows?
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide
thee with mine eye.
Do the paths of God bring blessings? Do the blessings last all year long?
Psalm 65:11
Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
Where do all these arrows lead us?
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into
the land of uprightness.
So go now and follow the arrows of God.
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