February 25, 2007am    In God We Trust.       Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

 

Why Lincoln On The Penny

Perhaps few people today know why the face of Lincoln is engraved on the American penny rather than on one of the larger coins.

The reason for this goes back to the boyhood days of David Brenner, who had known nothing of liberty and much of hunger and want in Russia . After coming to America, where he found both liberty and opportunity awaiting him, Brenner became a famous sculptor, and was the man responsible for placing the face of the man who had said, “The Lord must love the common people, He has made so many of them,” on the most lowly coin of the United States.

Brenner’s idea was that there would be more pennies minted than any other one coin, and consequently there would be more of them in the pockets of the common people. —Evangelistic Illustration[1]

 

So we read that the United States of America Trusts in God on the penny. 

 

Scripture Text:  Psalm 91:1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge-- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

 

Are you living in the shelter of the Most High?  Do you abide in the shadow of the Almighty?  What do you say to the Lord?  The author of Psalm 91 says:  Refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.  You have made the Lord your refuge.  You have made the most high your dwelling place?  Do you believe?  In God do you trust? 

 

What does the Psalmist say that God will do for you:

He will save you.  He will cover you with His wings.  His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  Do not be afraid.  You aren’t helpless and you aren’t hopeless.  Death is coming.  The dread of the dark and the plague that covers all is coming, but you don’t have fear.  He will guard you with His Angels. 

 

Because he loves me says the only true living God: 

 

  1. Because he loves me, I will rescue him.   (David from Goliath)
  2. Because he acknowledges my name, I will protect him.  (Daniel in the Lion’s den)
  3. Because he called on me, I will answer him.    (Three Hebrew Children in the fire)
  4. Because he is in trouble, I will be with him.  (Jesus is delivered from death)
  5. Because he is in trouble, I will deliver him.
  6. Because he is in trouble, I will honor him.
  7. (Because he is unsatisfied), I will satisfy him with long life.
  8. (Because he needs to be saved), I will show him my salvation.  You will see salvation.  He is salvation.

 

Cromwell’s Secretary

Oliver Cromwell’s secretary was dispatched to the continent on some important business. He stayed one night at a seaport town, and tossed on his bed, unable to sleep.

According to an old custom, a servant slept in his room, and on this occasion slept soundly enough. The secretary at length awakened the man who asked how it was that his master could not rest.

“I am so afraid something will go wrong with the embassage,” was the reply.

“Master,” said the valet, “may I ask a question or two?”

“To be sure.”

“Did God rule the world before we were born?”

“Most assuredly He did.”

“And will He rule it after we are dead?”

“Certainly He will.”

“Then, master, why not let Him rule the present, too?”

The secretary’s faith was stirred, peace was the result, and in a few minutes both he and his servant were in sound sleep. —Gleanings[2]

 

Would you let the Lord rule your present?  He is God and He desires to take care of you.



[1]Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : [a treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers]. Garland TX : Bible Communications.

[2]Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : [a treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers]. Garland TX : Bible Communications.