Heartland Christian Church
Main - HCC Sunday Service - November 20, 2022
Matthew 25NIV2011
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Psalm 138CSB
- I Will Not Be Shaken
- I Lift Your Name
- You Are My King
Matthew 25NIV2011
- INTRODUCTIONLet’s turn togetherin our Biblesto Psalm 138.We’re gonna readthe whole Psalm.Psalm 138verses 1-8.& when you find thatin your BiblePls stand for the readingof God’s Word.The Title of Today’s teaching is:Give Thanks to the Lord!In Psalm 138:1-8.The Scriptures say:Psalm 138:1–8 (CSB)I will give you thanks with all my heart; I will sing your praise before the heavenly beings.I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your constant love and truth. You have exalted your name and your promise above everything else.On the day I called, you answered me; you increased strength within me.All the kings on earth will give you thanks, Lord, when they hear what you have promised.They will sing of the Lord’s ways, for the Lord’s glory is great.Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the humble; but he knows the haughty from a distance.If I walk into the thick of danger, you will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies. You will extend your hand; your right hand will save me.The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Lord, your faithful love endures forever; do not abandon the work of your hands.You may be seated.It’s the holiday season.& for most of usthat meansthis is the busiestseason of the year.In a survey of 2000 AmericansConducted by OnePoll& commissioned bya company called LightboxThey found that70% of those surveyed planto attend at least1 holiday event.Of that 70%the average will attend11 holiday events;Spend 25 hours socializing.Meet 5 new ppl& see 4 pplthey wld rather avoid.61% sayholiday socializingis stressful;1/3 will leave eventsearly & turn dwn4 invitations.& 44% plan tosneak out of eventsw/o saying good-bye.The most surprisingstat of all is:on average pplwill spend $788on new outfits.& amid allthe planningpartiespies& presents—With all that busyness—wwe can forgetthe purposeof the holidays.Especially the onewe’ll all celebratelater this week.Thanksgiving!So, todayI want us to look atsix things this Psalmteaches us abtGiving Thanks to the Lord.& you can thank the Lordthat although 6 pointssounds like a lotwe will not be herefor more than a coupleof hours.PRAYERLet’s pray.Lord we thank Youfor the giftof your Word.Open our earsto hear your Word& know Your voice.Speak to our hearts& strengthen our willsthat we may serve YouNow & always.In Jesus nameAmen.[Transition: The 1st reasonWe shld give thanksto the Lord is...]Give thanks to the Lord because He LOVES us.David starts Psalm 138Declaring to the Lord in prayerPsalm 138:1 (CSB)I will give you thanks with all my heart...Notice thosetwo little wordsin red.I will.Though it isthe Lord’swill that we givethanks to Himin every circumstanceThe Lord will notforce usto thank Him.So David says“I will.”“I will what You will“for me Lord.”“I will give thanksw/ all my heart.”Nowthe word heartmakes us think abtour feelings & emotions.If we say welove someonew/ all our heartwe mean we have goodfeelings abt them.But that’s notwhat David means.The heart here isAs Patrick Reardonso eloquently puts itChrist in the Psalms (Psalm 137 (138): I Will Confess to You, O Lord, with All My Heart)When we speak of prayer “from the heart” we mean...from the very core of ourselves, the center of decision and resolve, a region vastly deeper than our emotions.So, what Davidmeans when he says“I will give thanks to youw/ all my heart” is..“I resolve—regardless of myfeelings—I will bring every partof myself into linew/ God’s will for me& give thanksto the Lord.I resolve to give thanksno matter what.When I feel like it& when I don’tI will give thanksto the Lord.& as David goes onto tell us in Psalm 138:2That thanksgiving comesout in worship.David says:Psalm 138:2 (CSB)I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your constant love...Notice againDavid says“I will.”“I willbow dwn.”Let me askto do something:Raise your handif you’ve everbowed dwn to Godin worshipin private.Raise your handif you’ve everbowed dwn to Godin worshipin public.Raise your handif you don’tlike it whenpreachers tellyou to raiseyour hand.When did Christiansstop literally bowing dwnto the Lordin public worship?A lot of ushave been raisedin an environmentwhere the word ‘worship’means we need atalented worship leaderto work up our emotionsas we swaya froth by a worship leaderuntil we expressRight around the timeof the Enlightenment.Ppl started teachingthat the bowingclappingshoutingall of that is to beunderstood assomething we doinwardly.Something we doin our heartsbut now w/ our bodies.& this is whywe can sing songsw/ words like:“We stand & lift up“our hands.”While wehave our handsin our pockets.Or“We bow dwn“& worshipHim now.”When we don’tdon’t bow dwn.We usebiblical languagebut don’t dothe bible actionsthat language describes.What we dois connect bowing dwnto the phrase abtour hearts& say we’re bowing dwnin our hearts.But that’s definitelyNOT whatDavid means.Let’s not forgetthat our bodiesare part of us.& God wants usto use our bodiesin worshipas we give thanksto Himthru our words.& thru our actions.David resolvedto show thanks& he used hisphysical body to do it.& we shld dothe same.& notice whyDavid gives thanksto the Lordin Psalm 138:2.He says:Psalm 138:2 (CSB)I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your constant love and [faithfulness].David gives thanks& gratefully praisesthe Lordfor the Lord’sconstant love& faithfulness.Your translationmay say “mercy”instead of constant love.But constant loveis the better translation.& David’s not talking abtJust any kindof love.David’s not talking abtThe general loveGod hasfor the world.God doeslove the world.But God hasa special lovefor those who are ina covenant relationshipw/ Him.ILLUSTRATIONThe best wayto illustratethe kind of loveDavid’s talking abtis to think abt marriage.I’ve been marriedto my lovely wifefor almost 23 years.God commands meto love all pplEven my enemiesjust like God does.But God commands meTo love my wifein a special way.My love for my wifeIs dfrnt than my lovefor the restof the world.Why?Bcs we’re ina covenant relationship.I’ve bound myselfto AmyThru the covenantof marriage.& she’s boundherself to me.We belongto one another.We made promisesto one another.We made a commitmentto love one anotherin a special way.& there arecertain benefitswe gain frm thiscovenant relationshipthat we don’t sharew/ other ppl.& there are alsocertain obligationsWe haveto one anotherthat we don’ haveto other pplbcs of the covenant.In the same wayThe Lord binds Himselfto those who arein a covenant relationshipw/ Himin the Church.In this covenant relationshiptheir are benefitsthe Lord shares w/ usthat He does not sharew/ those whoare not His ppl.& there are alsoobligations for us& for the Lord.The Lord Jesusis the head of the body—which is the Church—as a husbandis the head of his wife.& just like husband& wife become one fleshSo we who areunited w/ the Lord Jesuswe becomea part of His flesh& His bones.& He obligates Himselfto provide& care for us.He makes promisesto us.We make promises to Him.He remains faithful to us.& expects us to remainfaithful to Him.& that’s what David’stalking abtwhen he gives thanksfor the Lord’s love.It’s the specialcovenant lovethe Lord shares w/those who are marriedto Him in the Church.One of the biggestproblems in the so-calledChristian community isPpl keep mixing upthe Lord’s general lovefor the worldw/ His covenant lovefor His ppl.& misguided teacherstry to applythe promisesGod gives His pplto ppl who are notin covenant w/ Him.They’ve not turnedfrm their sins.They’ve not beenbaptized into Christ.Their not connectedto His bodyin the Church.Yet ppl talk to themas if they werea part of the Lord’s ppl.But people need to know:If they want the benefitsof the covenant loveof the Lordthen they’ve gottaget in a covenant relationshipw/ the Lord.Listen to what the Lordsaid to Moses abt thisin Deuteronomy 7:9.He said:Deuteronomy 7:9–10 (NIV)Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him.This is the samelanguage David usesin Psalm 138:1.The Lordis the faithfulcovenant keeping God.He keeps on extendingthe benefitsof His covenant loveto those who love Him& keep His commandments.Nownotice back inPsalm 138:2David says:God’s covenant lovefor His pplis constant.It’s continuous.It’s certain.& as David saysat the end of Psalm 138:8:Psalm 138:8 (CSB)Lord, your faithful love endures forever...God’s constant covenantlove for His pplCauses Himto keep extendingfaithful love to His ppl—Those who love God& keep His commandments.For that loveDavid gives thanksto the Lordw/ all his heart.& David expressesthat thankfulnessby bowing dwnin worshipAPPLICATION& we who area part ofGod’s covenant pplby being in Christin the Churchwe shld all resolveto give thanks& bow dwn bfr Himfor the Lord’sconstant covenant lovefor His faithful ppl.This love the Lorddemonstratedby laying His life dwnfor us on the cross.This love the Lorddemonstratedby calling usinto communion w/ Himthru the gospel.This love the Lordkeeps on demonstratingas we stay connected& He supplies our every needfor life & godlinessin the Church.The Lord lovesHis ppl. [1…2…3…]& for thatwe shldbe thankful.As a part ofthe Lord’s covenant pplwe have accessto some prettyawesome promises.[Transition: & thatbrings us to the2nd reasonThe Lord’s ppl shldgive thanks to the Lord…]Give thanks to the Lord because of His PROMISES to us.At the end of Psalm 138:2.David says:Psalm 138:2 (CSB)I will...give thanks to your name for...You have exalted your name and your promise above everything else.Your translationmight say“Your Word” hereinstead of“Your promise.”David’s meaningis a combinationof the two.God’s promisesto His faithful pplare foundin God’s Word.& David saysGod has exaltedHis promise—the TruthHe gives usin His Word—& His nameabv everything else.The Lord’s name isHis reputation—His character.& the Lord’s characteris connectedto the truthof the promisesHe gives usin His Word.& by connectingGod’s promisesto His nameDavid’s saying:The Lord’s characteris only as goodas His faithfulnessto keep His promises.If the Lord’s promisesare no goodthen neitheris His name.ILLUSTRATIONDon’t we expect thisin human relationships?We expect pplto keep their promises.We expect themto keep their word.You’ve probablyheard the saying:“You’re only as goodas your word.”When we tell pplwe’re gonna do things& we don’t do themppl lose trust in us.& that’s David’s pointabt the Lord.God puts His reputationon the linethru the truthhe gives usin the promisesin His Word.We shld expect Godto keep His Word.We shld expect Godto keep His promises.The Lord’s promisesare backed bythe impeccable integrityof the Godwho cannot lie& who cannot fail.His promisesare backed byHis faithful character.Unlike what weoften experiencein human relationshipswe will never experienceunfaithfulness frm God.As we read in Numbers 23:19Numbers 23:19 (CSB)God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?The God & Fatherof our Lord Jesus Christis incapableof lying.It’s impossiblefor Godto be unfaithful.God will alwaysdo what He says.There are at least250 promisesin the NT alonefor those who arein a covenant relationshipw/ the Lordin the Church.Those promisescover everythingwe need for life& godliness.Some of God’s promisesare so profoundthey may seem unbelievableto us.But the Lord’sperfect character& His unlimited pwrGive us absolute certaintyHe will keepevery promise He makesto His faithful covenant ppl.& for thatwe shld be thankful.So, let’s give thanksto the Lordbcs of His promises.[Transition:& let’s also give thanksfor one of the waysGod fulfills His promises.]Give thanks to the Lord because He ANSWERS us.In Psalm 138:3David saysto the LordPsalm 138:3 (NASB 2020)On the day I called, You answered me.When we callto the Lord—When we prayto Him—He promisesto answer us.The Lord answersthe prayersof His faithful ppl.We see this truth taughtOver & overin the Scriptures.For examplein 1 John 5:14-15John assures us1 John 5:14–15 (NASB 2020)This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.& in Hebrews 4:16Paul urges us:Hebrews 4:16 (NASB 2020)...let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.The Lord invitesHis pplto approach Himconfidently.To come bfrthe throne ofthe Exalted Kingof the universe.To remind Himof His promises& expect Himto hear uswhen wecall to Him.When we prayWe shld anticipatereceiving God’s mercy& finding God’s graceto help usin our time of need.& it’s God’s grace:David has in mindin Psalm 138:3when he says:Psalm 138:3 (CSB)On the day I called, you answered me; you increased strength within me.God’s graceis God’s powerGod’s divine strengthat work within us.Whenever we prayWe draw frmthe endless streamof divine strengththat flowsfrm the throneof our glorious God.When we call to the Lordin prayer—when we prayaccording to His willwhich we findin His Word—The Lord assures usHe will answer us.& that’s a reasonto give thanksto the Lord.So, let’s make itour aimto pray abt everything.& let’s give thanksto the Lordbcs He answers us.[1…2…3…][Transition: One reasonthe Lord answers usis bcs Hecares for us.& that’sthe 4th reasonWe shld give thanksto the Lord...]Give thanks to the Lord because He CARES for us.In Psalm 138:6David shows ustwo sides of God’scharacter.He says...Psalm 138:6 (CSB)Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the humble...The Lord isthe Most High God.In Theological languageGod is Transcendent.He’s far beyondunlike& separatefrm His creation.But the Scripturesalso revealthat God isvery nearto His creation.He’s personally involvedin caring forHis creation.& the Lord isespecially involvedIn caring for the needsof His humble ppl.That’s whatDavid meanswhen He saysGod takes noteof the humble.When we submitto the Lord as our head—When we humble ourselvesunder His mighty hand—the Lord promisesto take care of us.But noticewhat David saysabt those whoare haughty or proudin Psalm 138:6.David says:the LordPsalm 138:6 (NCV)...the Lord...stays away from the proud.We don’t want tofind ourselvesamong proud pplWho refuse tosubmit to God& walk in His ways.God stays away frmppl like that.James teachesthis same truthin James 4:6-10James 4:6–10 (GNB)“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”So then, submit to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites!Be sorrowful, cry, and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom!Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.We don’t want Godresisting us.We want—we need—God constantlygiving us His grace.We want His faceshining on us& Him looking on usw/ favor.We want Himcaring for us.Bcs when the Lordis caring for usWe’ll lackno good thing.We’ll haveeverything we need.So, we wantto be among the humblewho submit to God& receive God’s graceto live for Him.Bcs humbleservants of God understandw/o Godwe have nothing.We are nothing.God’s humble servantsunderstand that in Godwe live& move& have our being.He’s the giver& sustainerof our lives.David acknowledgesthis truth at the endof Psalm 138:8when he pleads w/ the LordPsalm 138:8 (CSB)...do not abandon the work of your hands.David knew he& all of the Lord’s pplare the workof the Lord’s hands.The Lord is our maker& we cannot livew/o the Lord.We can only livethe life God created usto live in Christby the grace of God.& knowing this truth:Will keep usfrm becoming proud.When we rememberWe cannot livew/o the LordWe’ll keep humblysubmitting ourselvesto Him.We’ll keep lookingto Himto sustain us.When we humbleourselves bfr GodGod takes special care of us& gives us the graceto live for Him.Let’s give thanksto the LordBcs He cares for us.[Transition: & one of the waysThe Lord cares for usis the 5th reasonWe shld give thanks to the Lord.]Give thanks to the Lord because He SAVES us.We all have enemies.We fight w/spiritual forces of evilin heavenly realms.Satan roamsaround the earthlooking to devourGod’s ppl.Sin is an enemyWe all fightin various ways.We’ll all havemany opportunitiesTo be temptedTo get off trackTo fall away frmthe true faith.To becomeLukewarm& Complacent.But there’s apowerful promisein Psalm 138:7.David says:Psalm 138:7 (CSB)If I walk into the thick of danger, you will preserve my life from the anger of my enemies. You will extend your hand; your right hand will save me.When we remainfaithful to the LordNo weapon our enemiesform against uswill prosper.The Lord promisesto preserve us& save usfrm our enemies.We may find ourselvesWalking thrudeep dangersurrounded byspiritual enemies.But David reminds usthe Lordwill extend his hand& w/ His right handwill save us.God’s right handrepresentsHis divine power.& the Lord’s poweris limitless.This means God’s powerto save usfrm our enemiesis limitless.The Lord will fight forHis faithful ppl.Our God will save us.APPLICATIONOur enemies comein many forms.Maybe your enemy is doubt.Maybe your enemy is fear.Maybe your enemyis some sinyou’re easily ensnared by.[1…2…3…]You say you’ll stopBut you get drawn backto that same sin.Maybe your enemyis unforgivenessMaybe your enemyis slothfulnessin spiritual matters.Maybe your enemyIs pride.Or Greed.Or Lust.Think abt the enemiesyour facingright now.What is itthat’s waging waragainst your soul?[1…2…3…]NowMake up your mindTodayThat frm now onYou’ll neverlet that enemyWin another battleagainst you.You’re not gonnalet sin win.You’re not gonnalet Satan win.You’re gonna leaveevery excuse behind.& you’re gonnafight God’s way.How do we fight God’s way?We do what Paul told usto do in Hebrews 4.& what James toldus to do in James 4.We approach the throne of gracewith confidenceso we can receive mercyand find grace for helpat the time of our need.We humble [ourselves] before God.Resist the devil& he will flee from [us].We Come close to God& God will come close to [us].We wash [our] handsPurify your heartsMake sure our loyaltyis not divided btwn God& the world.We humble ourselves bfr the Lordand the Lordwill lift us up& save us frm our enemies.& that’s a reasonto be thankful.Let’s give thanksto the Lordbcs He saves us.[Transition: & let’s alsogive thanks to the Lordfor a 6th & final reason…]Thank the Lord because He fulfills His PURPOSE for us. (138:8)The Lord has a purposefor all of us.& as Davidsays in Psalm 138:8Psalm 138:8 (CSB)The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.In our individualistic societywe tend to puta little too much emphasison the mein this verse& focus onindividual purpose.But the biblical emphasisis always on our purposein connectionw/ the communityof God’s pplin Christin the Church.Humanitycan only find purposeby being in Christ—in the Church.What isthe Lord’s purposefor you?What is the Lord’spurpose for me?Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:3-4.Peter says...2 Peter 1:3–4 (CSB)[God’s] divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.Notice whyGod gave usHis promises.It’s so that thruHis promisesWe might share inthe divine nature& escape the corruptionin the worldbcs of our evil desires.That’s God’s purposefor all of usPaul puts it this wayin Ephesians 4:22-24.God’s purpose for us is...Ephesians 4:22–24 (CSB)...to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires,to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.God’s purpose for us is:To save us frm the enemiesof our old life.To save us frm sinSatan& death.& to renew our minds& our livesin such a wayThat eventuallywe lookexactly like God.God’s purposefor creating humanity& God’s purposefor redeeming humanitythru His SonIs so He cld have a familyof sons & daughtersWho are completely conformedto the imageof His divine SonJesus Christ.As Paul says in Romans 8:28-29Romans 8:28–29 (NASB 2020)And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.That’s our destiny.That’s our purpose.To be conformedto the imageof our divine-humanbig brotherJesus Christ.How?Thru rebirth& the renewingof our mindswe’re being transformed& conformedto the image of Jesus.Ppl will seethe image of Jesusin us.They’ll see JesusIn our moral character.In our love for God& one another.They’ll see JesusIn our passion& love for the truth.They’ll see Jesusin all we say& do.That’s Gods’ purposefor us.Any area of our livesWhere we’renot like JesusWhere we’re falling shortof the imageof ChristIs an area wherewe’re not fulfillingGod’s purposefor our lives.We’re notallowing Godto fulfillHis purpose in us.But if we’ll keeptrusting Jesus.If we’ll keepobeying Jesus.If we’ll live in the graceGod pours out on usThru His precious promisesGod’s power within uswill continueto conform usto the image of His SonUntil we become by graceWhat Jesus isby nature.God’s purpose for usIs to make usexactly like Jesus.& if we remain faithfulto God by obeyingHis commandmentsGod will fulfillHis purpose for us.& for thatwe shld be thankful.CONCLUSIONAs we close.We have so many thingsfor which we shldgive thanksTo the Lord.Let me encourage youAs you celebrateThanksgiving this weekRemember toGive thanks to the LordBcs he loves us.Give thanks to the LordBcs of His promises to us.Give thanks to the LordBcs He answers us.Give thanks to the Lord…Bcs He cares for us.Give thanks to the Lord…Bcs He saves us.& Give thanks to the Lord…Bcs He will fulfill His purpose for us.For all of those reasons& many more…[1…2…3…]Give thanks to the Lord!PRAYERLet’s all stand for prayer.FatherYou are sogood to us.We have so muchto be thankful for.We thank youFor your lovefor us.& that your lovecauses you to fulfillYour promises to usTo care for us& answer our prayers.We thank You for saving us& for continuing to fulfillYour purpose for usAs we rely on Your graceTo make uslike Your SonJesus Christ our LordHelp us to remain thankfulin all things.& help us to expressthat thankfulnessw/ our wordsw/ our works& w/ our worship.In Jesus name we ask.Amen.
- I Surrender All
Matthew 25NIV2011
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Heartland Christian Church
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