Bulletins - Heartland Christian Church -3

- - Matthew 25NIV2011
- - Bible Trivia
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- - Psalm 138CSB
I Will Not Be Shaken
I Lift Your Name
You Are My King (Amazing Love)
- - Matthew 25NIV2011
INTRODUCTION
Let’s turn together
in our Bibles
to Psalm 138.
We’re gonna read
the whole Psalm.
Psalm 138
verses 1-8.
& when you find that
in your Bible
Pls stand for the reading
of 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 us
that means
this is the busiest
season of the year.
In a survey of 2000 Americans
Conducted by OnePoll
& commissioned by
a company called Lightbox
They found that
70% of those surveyed plan
to attend at least
1 holiday event.
Of that 70%
the average will attend
11 holiday events;
Spend 25 hours socializing.
Meet 5 new ppl
& see 4 ppl
they wld rather avoid.
61% say
holiday socializing
is stressful;
1/3 will leave events
early & turn dwn
4 invitations.
& 44% plan to
sneak out of events
w/o saying good-bye.
The most surprising
stat of all is:
on average ppl
will spend $788
on new outfits.
& amid all
the planning
parties
pies
& presents—
With all that busyness—w
we can forget
the purpose
of the holidays.
Especially the one
we’ll all celebrate
later this week.
Thanksgiving!
So, today
I want us to look at
six things this Psalm
teaches us abt
Giving Thanks to the Lord.
& you can thank the Lord
that although 6 points
sounds like a lot
we will not be here
for more than a couple
of hours.
PRAYER
Let’s pray.
Lord we thank You
for the gift
of your Word.
Open our ears
to hear your Word
& know Your voice.
Speak to our hearts
& strengthen our wills
that we may serve You
Now & always.
In Jesus name
Amen.
[Transition: The 1st reason
We shld give thanks
to the Lord is...]
Give thanks to the Lord because He LOVES us.
David starts Psalm 138
Declaring to the Lord in prayer
Psalm 138:1 (CSB)
I will give you thanks with all my heart...
Notice those
two little words
in red.
I will.
Though it is
the Lord’s
will that we give
thanks to Him
in every circumstance
The Lord will not
force us
to thank Him.
So David says
“I will.”
“I will what You will
“for me Lord.”
“I will give thanks
w/ all my heart.”
Now
the word heart
makes us think abt
our feelings & emotions.
If we say we
love someone
w/ all our heart
we mean we have good
feelings abt them.
But that’s not
what David means.
The heart here is
As Patrick Reardon
so eloquently puts it
Christ 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 David
means when he says
“I will give thanks to you
w/ all my heart” is..
“I resolve—
regardless of my
feelings—
I will bring every part
of myself into line
w/ God’s will for me
& give thanks
to the Lord.
I resolve to give thanks
no matter what.
When I feel like it
& when I don’t
I will give thanks
to the Lord.
& as David goes on
to tell us in Psalm 138:2
That thanksgiving comes
out 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 again
David says
“I will.”
“I will
bow dwn.”
Let me ask
to do something:
Raise your hand
if you’ve ever
bowed dwn to God
in worship
in private.
Raise your hand
if you’ve ever
bowed dwn to God
in worship
in public.
Raise your hand
if you don’t
like it when
preachers tell
you to raise
your hand.
When did Christians
stop literally bowing dwn
to the Lord
in public worship?
A lot of us
have been raised
in an environment
where the word ‘worship’
means we need a
talented worship leader
to work up our emotions
as we sway
a froth by a worship leader
until we express
Right around the time
of the Enlightenment.
Ppl started teaching
that the bowing
clapping
shouting
all of that is to be
understood as
something we do
inwardly.
Something we do
in our hearts
but now w/ our bodies.
& this is why
we can sing songs
w/ words like:
“We stand & lift up
“our hands.”
While we
have our hands
in our pockets.
Or
“We bow dwn
“& worship
Him now.”
When we don’t
don’t bow dwn.
We use
biblical language
but don’t do
the bible actions
that language describes.
What we do
is connect bowing dwn
to the phrase abt
our hearts
& say we’re bowing dwn
in our hearts.
But that’s definitely
NOT what
David means.
Let’s not forget
that our bodies
are part of us.
& God wants us
to use our bodies
in worship
as we give thanks
to Him
thru our words.
& thru our actions.
David resolved
to show thanks
& he used his
physical body to do it.
& we shld do
the same.
& notice why
David gives thanks
to the Lord
in 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 praises
the Lord
for the Lord’s
constant love
& faithfulness.
Your translation
may say “mercy”
instead of constant love.
But constant love
is the better translation.
& David’s not talking abt
Just any kind
of love.
David’s not talking abt
The general love
God has
for the world.
God does
love the world.
But God has
a special love
for those who are in
a covenant relationship
w/ Him.
ILLUSTRATION
The best way
to illustrate
the kind of love
David’s talking abt
is to think abt marriage.
I’ve been married
to my lovely wife
for almost 23 years.
God commands me
to love all ppl
Even my enemies
just like God does.
But God commands me
To love my wife
in a special way.
My love for my wife
Is dfrnt than my love
for the rest
of the world.
Why?
Bcs we’re in
a covenant relationship.
I’ve bound myself
to Amy
Thru the covenant
of marriage.
& she’s bound
herself to me.
We belong
to one another.
We made promises
to one another.
We made a commitment
to love one another
in a special way.
& there are
certain benefits
we gain frm this
covenant relationship
that we don’t share
w/ other ppl.
& there are also
certain obligations
We have
to one another
that we don’ have
to other ppl
bcs of the covenant.
In the same way
The Lord binds Himself
to those who are
in a covenant relationship
w/ Him
in the Church.
In this covenant relationship
their are benefits
the Lord shares w/ us
that He does not share
w/ those who
are not His ppl.
& there are also
obligations for us
& for the Lord.
The Lord Jesus
is the head of the body—
which is the Church—
as a husband
is the head of his wife.
& just like husband
& wife become one flesh
So we who are
united w/ the Lord Jesus
we become
a part of His flesh
& His bones.
& He obligates Himself
to provide
& care for us.
He makes promises
to us.
We make promises to Him.
He remains faithful to us.
& expects us to remain
faithful to Him.
& that’s what David’s
talking abt
when he gives thanks
for the Lord’s love.
It’s the special
covenant love
the Lord shares w/
those who are married
to Him in the Church.
One of the biggest
problems in the so-called
Christian community is
Ppl keep mixing up
the Lord’s general love
for the world
w/ His covenant love
for His ppl.
& misguided teachers
try to apply
the promises
God gives His ppl
to ppl who are not
in covenant w/ Him.
They’ve not turned
frm their sins.
They’ve not been
baptized into Christ.
Their not connected
to His body
in the Church.
Yet ppl talk to them
as if they were
a part of the Lord’s ppl.
But people need to know:
If they want the benefits
of the covenant love
of the Lord
then they’ve gotta
get in a covenant relationship
w/ the Lord.
Listen to what the Lord
said to Moses abt this
in 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 same
language David uses
in Psalm 138:1.
The Lord
is the faithful
covenant keeping God.
He keeps on extending
the benefits
of His covenant love
to those who love Him
& keep His commandments.
Now
notice back in
Psalm 138:2
David says:
God’s covenant love
for His ppl
is constant.
It’s continuous.
It’s certain.
& as David says
at the end of Psalm 138:8:
Psalm 138:8 (CSB)
Lord, your faithful love endures forever...
God’s constant covenant
love for His ppl
Causes Him
to keep extending
faithful love to His ppl—
Those who love God
& keep His commandments.
For that love
David gives thanks
to the Lord
w/ all his heart.
& David expresses
that thankfulness
by bowing dwn
in worship
APPLICATION
& we who are
a part of
God’s covenant ppl
by being in Christ
in the Church
we shld all resolve
to give thanks
& bow dwn bfr Him
for the Lord’s
constant covenant love
for His faithful ppl.
This love the Lord
demonstrated
by laying His life dwn
for us on the cross.
This love the Lord
demonstrated
by calling us
into communion w/ Him
thru the gospel.
This love the Lord
keeps on demonstrating
as we stay connected
& He supplies our every need
for life & godliness
in the Church.
The Lord loves
His ppl. [1…2…3…]
& for that
we shld
be thankful.
As a part of
the Lord’s covenant ppl
we have access
to some pretty
awesome promises.
[Transition: & that
brings us to the
2nd reason
The Lord’s ppl shld
give 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 translation
might say
“Your Word” here
instead of
“Your promise.”
David’s meaning
is a combination
of the two.
God’s promises
to His faithful ppl
are found
in God’s Word.
& David says
God has exalted
His promise—
the Truth
He gives us
in His Word—
& His name
abv everything else.
The Lord’s name is
His reputation—
His character.
& the Lord’s character
is connected
to the truth
of the promises
He gives us
in His Word.
& by connecting
God’s promises
to His name
David’s saying:
The Lord’s character
is only as good
as His faithfulness
to keep His promises.
If the Lord’s promises
are no good
then neither
is His name.
ILLUSTRATION
Don’t we expect this
in human relationships?
We expect ppl
to keep their promises.
We expect them
to keep their word.
You’ve probably
heard the saying:
“You’re only as good
as your word.”
When we tell ppl
we’re gonna do things
& we don’t do them
ppl lose trust in us.
& that’s David’s point
abt the Lord.
God puts His reputation
on the line
thru the truth
he gives us
in the promises
in His Word.
We shld expect God
to keep His Word.
We shld expect God
to keep His promises.
The Lord’s promises
are backed by
the impeccable integrity
of the God
who cannot lie
& who cannot fail.
His promises
are backed by
His faithful character.
Unlike what we
often experience
in human relationships
we will never experience
unfaithfulness frm God.
As we read in Numbers 23:19
Numbers 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 & Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ
is incapable
of lying.
It’s impossible
for God
to be unfaithful.
God will always
do what He says.
There are at least
250 promises
in the NT alone
for those who are
in a covenant relationship
w/ the Lord
in the Church.
Those promises
cover everything
we need for life
& godliness.
Some of God’s promises
are so profound
they may seem unbelievable
to us.
But the Lord’s
perfect character
& His unlimited pwr
Give us absolute certainty
He will keep
every promise He makes
to His faithful covenant ppl.
& for that
we shld be thankful.
So, let’s give thanks
to the Lord
bcs of His promises.
[Transition:
& let’s also give thanks
for one of the ways
God fulfills His promises.]
Give thanks to the Lord because He ANSWERS us.
In Psalm 138:3
David says
to the Lord
Psalm 138:3 (NASB 2020)
On the day I called, You answered me.
When we call
to the Lord—
When we pray
to Him—
He promises
to answer us.
The Lord answers
the prayers
of His faithful ppl.
We see this truth taught
Over & over
in the Scriptures.
For example
in 1 John 5:14-15
John assures us
1 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 4:16
Paul 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 invites
His ppl
to approach Him
confidently.
To come bfr
the throne of
the Exalted King
of the universe.
To remind Him
of His promises
& expect Him
to hear us
when we
call to Him.
When we pray
We shld anticipate
receiving God’s mercy
& finding God’s grace
to help us
in our time of need.
& it’s God’s grace:
David has in mind
in Psalm 138:3
when he says:
Psalm 138:3 (CSB)
On the day I called, you answered me; you increased strength within me.
God’s grace
is God’s power
God’s divine strength
at work within us.
Whenever we pray
We draw frm
the endless stream
of divine strength
that flows
frm the throne
of our glorious God.
When we call to the Lord
in prayer—
when we pray
according to His will
which we find
in His Word—
The Lord assures us
He will answer us.
& that’s a reason
to give thanks
to the Lord.
So, let’s make it
our aim
to pray abt everything.
& let’s give thanks
to the Lord
bcs He answers us.
[1…2…3…]
[Transition: One reason
the Lord answers us
is bcs He
cares for us.
& that’s
the 4th reason
We shld give thanks
to the Lord...]
Give thanks to the Lord because He CARES for us.
In Psalm 138:6
David shows us
two sides of God’s
character.
He says...
Psalm 138:6 (CSB)
Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the humble...
The Lord is
the Most High God.
In Theological language
God is Transcendent.
He’s far beyond
unlike
& separate
frm His creation.
But the Scriptures
also reveal
that God is
very near
to His creation.
He’s personally involved
in caring for
His creation.
& the Lord is
especially involved
In caring for the needs
of His humble ppl.
That’s what
David means
when He says
God takes note
of the humble.
When we submit
to the Lord as our head—
When we humble ourselves
under His mighty hand—
the Lord promises
to take care of us.
But notice
what David says
abt those who
are haughty or proud
in Psalm 138:6.
David says:
the Lord
Psalm 138:6 (NCV)
...the Lord...stays away from the proud.
We don’t want to
find ourselves
among proud ppl
Who refuse to
submit to God
& walk in His ways.
God stays away frm
ppl like that.
James teaches
this same truth
in James 4:6-10
James 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 God
resisting us.
We want—
we need—
God constantly
giving us His grace.
We want His face
shining on us
& Him looking on us
w/ favor.
We want Him
caring for us.
Bcs when the Lord
is caring for us
We’ll lack
no good thing.
We’ll have
everything we need.
So, we want
to be among the humble
who submit to God
& receive God’s grace
to live for Him.
Bcs humble
servants of God understand
w/o God
we have nothing.
We are nothing.
God’s humble servants
understand that in God
we live
& move
& have our being.
He’s the giver
& sustainer
of our lives.
David acknowledges
this truth at the end
of Psalm 138:8
when he pleads w/ the Lord
Psalm 138:8 (CSB)
...do not abandon the work of your hands.
David knew he
& all of the Lord’s ppl
are the work
of the Lord’s hands.
The Lord is our maker
& we cannot live
w/o the Lord.
We can only live
the life God created us
to live in Christ
by the grace of God.
& knowing this truth:
Will keep us
frm becoming proud.
When we remember
We cannot live
w/o the Lord
We’ll keep humbly
submitting ourselves
to Him.
We’ll keep looking
to Him
to sustain us.
When we humble
ourselves bfr God
God takes special care of us
& gives us the grace
to live for Him.
Let’s give thanks
to the Lord
Bcs He cares for us.
[Transition: & one of the ways
The Lord cares for us
is the 5th reason
We 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 evil
in heavenly realms.
Satan roams
around the earth
looking to devour
God’s ppl.
Sin is an enemy
We all fight
in various ways.
We’ll all have
many opportunities
To be tempted
To get off track
To fall away frm
the true faith.
To become
Lukewarm
& Complacent.
But there’s a
powerful promise
in 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 remain
faithful to the Lord
No weapon our enemies
form against us
will prosper.
The Lord promises
to preserve us
& save us
frm our enemies.
We may find ourselves
Walking thru
deep danger
surrounded by
spiritual enemies.
But David reminds us
the Lord
will extend his hand
& w/ His right hand
will save us.
God’s right hand
represents
His divine power.
& the Lord’s power
is limitless.
This means God’s power
to save us
frm our enemies
is limitless.
The Lord will fight for
His faithful ppl.
Our God will save us.
APPLICATION
Our enemies come
in many forms.
Maybe your enemy is doubt.
Maybe your enemy is fear.
Maybe your enemy
is some sin
you’re easily ensnared by.
[1…2…3…]
You say you’ll stop
But you get drawn back
to that same sin.
Maybe your enemy
is unforgiveness
Maybe your enemy
is slothfulness
in spiritual matters.
Maybe your enemy
Is pride.
Or Greed.
Or Lust.
Think abt the enemies
your facing
right now.
What is it
that’s waging war
against your soul?
[1…2…3…]
Now
Make up your mind
Today
That frm now on
You’ll never
let that enemy
Win another battle
against you.
You’re not gonna
let sin win.
You’re not gonna
let Satan win.
You’re gonna leave
every excuse behind.
& you’re gonna
fight God’s way.
How do we fight God’s way?
We do what Paul told us
to do in Hebrews 4.
& what James told
us to do in James 4.
We approach the throne of grace
with confidence
so we can receive mercy
and find grace for help
at 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] hands
Purify your hearts
Make sure our loyalty
is not divided btwn God
& the world.
We humble ourselves bfr the Lord
and the Lord
will lift us up
& save us frm our enemies.
& that’s a reason
to be thankful.
Let’s give thanks
to the Lord
bcs He saves us.
[Transition: & let’s also
give thanks to the Lord
for a 6th & final reason…]
Thank the Lord because He fulfills His PURPOSE for us. (138:8)
The Lord has a purpose
for all of us.
& as David
says in Psalm 138:8
Psalm 138:8 (CSB)
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.
In our individualistic society
we tend to put
a little too much emphasis
on the me
in this verse
& focus on
individual purpose.
But the biblical emphasis
is always on our purpose
in connection
w/ the community
of God’s ppl
in Christ
in the Church.
Humanity
can only find purpose
by being in Christ—
in the Church.
What is
the Lord’s purpose
for you?
What is the Lord’s
purpose 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 why
God gave us
His promises.
It’s so that thru
His promises
We might share in
the divine nature
& escape the corruption
in the world
bcs of our evil desires.
That’s God’s purpose
for all of us
Paul puts it this way
in 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 enemies
of our old life.
To save us frm sin
Satan
& death.
& to renew our minds
& our lives
in such a way
That eventually
we look
exactly like God.
God’s purpose
for creating humanity
& God’s purpose
for redeeming humanity
thru His Son
Is so He cld have a family
of sons & daughters
Who are completely conformed
to the image
of His divine Son
Jesus Christ.
As Paul says in Romans 8:28-29
Romans 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 conformed
to the image
of our divine-human
big brother
Jesus Christ.
How?
Thru rebirth
& the renewing
of our minds
we’re being transformed
& conformed
to the image of Jesus.
Ppl will see
the image of Jesus
in us.
They’ll see Jesus
In our moral character.
In our love for God
& one another.
They’ll see Jesus
In our passion
& love for the truth.
They’ll see Jesus
in all we say
& do.
That’s Gods’ purpose
for us.
Any area of our lives
Where we’re
not like Jesus
Where we’re falling short
of the image
of Christ
Is an area where
we’re not fulfilling
God’s purpose
for our lives.
We’re not
allowing God
to fulfill
His purpose in us.
But if we’ll keep
trusting Jesus.
If we’ll keep
obeying Jesus.
If we’ll live in the grace
God pours out on us
Thru His precious promises
God’s power within us
will continue
to conform us
to the image of His Son
Until we become by grace
What Jesus is
by nature.
God’s purpose for us
Is to make us
exactly like Jesus.
& if we remain faithful
to God by obeying
His commandments
God will fulfill
His purpose for us.
& for that
we shld be thankful.
CONCLUSION
As we close.
We have so many things
for which we shld
give thanks
To the Lord.
Let me encourage you
As you celebrate
Thanksgiving this week
Remember to
Give thanks to the Lord
Bcs he loves us.
Give thanks to the Lord
Bcs of His promises to us.
Give thanks to the Lord
Bcs 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!
PRAYER
Let’s all stand for prayer.
Father
You are so
good to us.
We have so much
to be thankful for.
We thank you
For your love
for us.
& that your love
causes you to fulfill
Your promises to us
To care for us
& answer our prayers.
We thank You for saving us
& for continuing to fulfill
Your purpose for us
As we rely on Your grace
To make us
like Your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord
Help us to remain thankful
in all things.
& help us to express
that thankfulness
w/ our words
w/ our works
& w/ our worship.
In Jesus name we ask.
Amen.
I Surrender All
- - Matthew 25NIV2011
- - Bible Trivia
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