206 Sermon Illustrations on Praise

Read Psalm 32:1-7

Psalm 32 is the record of David’s experience after he sinned with Bathsheba and then confessed his sin to the Lord. He feels the heavy hand of God’s discipline. “For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer” (v. 4). In other words, David says, “God, Your hand was so heavy on me that it was like squeezing a sponge. You have just squeezed all of the energy out of me.” It’s difficult to have the heavy hand of God’s discipline on us, but it shows that God loves us. “Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Heb. 12:6).

Discipline leads to the forgiving hand of God’s mercy. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile” (vv. 1,2). While David was silent and would not confess his sin, he felt God’s hand of discipline draining him. But when he confessed his sin, that heavy hand was lifted. Then God went to the record book and graciously wiped the record clean. That’s the meaning of that word impute. It means “to put on the account.” First John 1:9 tells us that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession leads to the protecting hand of God’s grace. “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance” (v. 7). David went from silence to confession to singing, When your soul is clean, you have a song in your heart. It’s good to know that God forgives sin. Let’s confess our sin and sing His praises.

Unconfessed sin is a terrible burden. God loves His children too much to allow unconfessed sin in their lives. The hand that disciplines is the same hand that forgives and protects. Are you harboring unconfessed sin? Confess it now and thank God for His forgiveness and protecting hand of grace.

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable [are] His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?’ ‘Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?’” (Romans 11:33-35 NKJV)

The Wisdom And Mercy Of God

• O…riches — Ps 36:6, Eph 1:7-8, COl 2:2-3 — thus should we exclaim, instead of finding fault with what we doubt, cannot fully comprehend. Treasures of goodness and mercy

• wisdom — Ps 107:31 — comprehending relations of all times and events

• knowledge — acquaintance with each detail

• ways…out — Job 11:7-9 — cannot be traced — see Cowper’s “God moves in a mysterious way” — (illustration: foot-prints of animals, etc., in the sand)

• who…Lord? — what angel or man can comprehend all God’s reasons?

• counsellor — adviser (illustration: cabinet councils of earthly kings)

• who…him? — 1 Cor 4:7, 1 Chr 29:14 — who has granted a favour to God?

• it…again? — if he can prove the debt

The deep things of God — W. Stevens

God reveals Himself to man in –

I. The idea of the Deity:

1. Self-existence;

2. Immensity;

3. Invisibility;

4. Omnipotence.

II. Nature.

III. Providence.

IV. Revelation.

Application:-

1. Learn the decrees of God;

2. Listen to the whole truth as in Christ, and support it

The Divine fulness and faithfulness — A relative one day said to the late Rev. W. Day, of Bristol, “It is a comfort to you to see your children round you.” “Yes,” he answered, with an allusion to the occasional dimness of his vision, “it is. It would be more so if I could see them. But I can only see one now, and another then.” “You can, however, see Jesus by the eye of faith.” His countenance kindled with a smile of joy, and clasping his hands, he exclaimed with a loud voice, “He is my great, my only object. 0 my God! my portion! my all! Blessed be Thy name, Thou, hast said unto me, ‘Thou art mine.’” Then, with much energy, he added, “The Bible is nothing to me; the Bible is nothing to me, but as it reveals to my soul a covenant Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. There I see perfection. When I look at man — when I look at myself, I see nothing but vileness:-a rent here, a chasm there. It would drive me to despair. Oh when,” he wept profusely, “when shall I behold Christ as He is, and cast myself at His feet? He has offered me a pledge of this beyond all your imagination can conceive. I have seen Him rising before me in all the majesty of the Godhead. The world has shown me its favours, and has taken them away again. I have enjoyed many tokens of the loving-kindness of my God, and I have at other times been stripped of what I most valued. But, O my God, my Redeemer, Thou hast never failed me!” Then stretching out his hands to his family around his bed, he cried, “0 Lord, shine forth, shine forth in Thy glory upon these dear ones — Thou wilt never leave them — Thou wilt never forsake them.” It was an affecting, a sublime scene. It was like a patriarch standing on the threshold of heaven, looking back to bless his family, and looking forward, earnestly longing to take his last step.

“It remains for us dutifully and reverentially to adore that in the Divine counsels and ways which we do not, and indeed cannot, understand. There is no government that hath not its arcana; and it, would be very foolish for us to imagine that there should be no secrets belonging to the Divine government.” — Howe

“Simplicity is a pre-eminent mode of the essence of God, by which He is void of all composition, and of component parts, whether they belong to the senses, or the understanding.” — Arminius

The four lines of what is commonly known as the Doxology have been sung for more than three hundred years.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

It has been said that the Doxology, which literally means words of glory, has done more to teach the doctrine of the Trinity than all the theological books ever written. To this day, when I sing those powerful lines, I recall the colorful lesson of my first grade Sunday school teacher. With something like cookie dough and bologna magically falling down on the table before us, she read us the story of a God who made the heavens rain bread and quail so that his grumbling people might live and know that He is God. I was impressed. And when we sung the Doxology at the end of the service, I thought it immensely helpful that I knew a little more of what it means when we sing that God is a God from whom all blessings flow.

Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. once said pointedly, “It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular.” He was commenting on the odd phenomenon of finding, especially around Thanksgiving time, people thankful “in general.” To be thankful “in general” is very strange, he concluded. “It’s a little like being married in general.”

Of course, his words are not dismissing the thought that it is good to give thanks in all circumstances. Rather, Plantinga raises an important philosophical question. Can one be thankful in general, thankful for the blessings that flow, without acknowledging from where or FROM WHOM they might be flowing?

In what remains a revealing look at human nature, Moses describes life after Egypt. Rescued Israel was a grumbling people sick of manna, wailing for meat, even longing to go back to the land God had mightily delivered them from. And in the midst of revealing God’s promise for meat, Moses says to them, “You have rejected the Lord, who is among you” (Numbers 11:20).

How revealing these words are to our grumbling prone lips. If being thankful is by nature being aware and appreciative of things beyond ourselves, complaining is refusing to see anything but ourselves. It is refusing to see the one who is among us. Moreover, it is an expression that serves only to affirm our own expectations, whether they are based on faulty visions of reality or not. Certainly the Israelites didn’t WANT to go back into captivity, but in their grumbling even slavery began to look inviting.

Choosing not to see the glory of God, choosing not to raise our eyes to God from whom all blessings flow is in essence to be content in blindness. It is choosing not to wholly consider reality, choosing to overlook the sovereign God at work beyond us, in all things, in all circumstances.

In one of his own doxologies found in Romans 11, the apostle Paul declares the glory of God and lifts our eyes to the one worthy of our praise: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36).

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and living before one who is worthy of our praise, let us be thankful. Let us worship God with reverence and awe, always remembering with praise and wonder the one from whom all blessings flow.

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Copyright © 2003 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

For His name is exalted.

His glory above heaven and earth.

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

Who was and Who is and

Who is to come.

For His name is exalted.

His glory above heaven and earth.

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

Who sitteth on the throne and

Who lives forevermore.

“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:5-7 NKJV)

Unanimity In Praising Christ

• God…consolation {comfort} — 2 Pet 2:9, 2 Cor 1:3, Phil 2:1, 3, 1 Cor 1:10 — patient Himself, giving patience and comfort to men

• grant…likeminded — to have a disposition like His

• according…Jesus — according to His will and example

• With…mouth — Acts 4:32 — unanimously

• Father…Christ — His relation to Jesus the ground of His dearest relation to us

• receive…another — JOhn 13:34 — into love, help, etc.; notwithstanding minor differences

• Christ…God — John 6:37, Eph 1:6 — although we are very imperfect

Paul’s prayer for the success of his words — Matthew Henry

I. The title he gives to God — “The God of patience and consolation,” that is a God that –

1. Bears with us.

2. Gives us patience and comfort.

II. The mercy he begs of God

1. The foundation of Christian love and peace is laid in likemindedness;

2. This likemindedness must be according to Christ;

3. It is the gift of God.

III. The end of his desire. That God may be glorified:

1. With unity;

2. As the Father of Christ.

Learning of Christ — I observe Him {Christ} applying every accidental occurrence to His holy purposes, as it were by a kind of Chemistry, separating the gross matter and subliming ordinary affairs to heavenly doctrine; insomuch that there were scarcely any common affair of life, such as eating, or drinking, or recreation; no disease or infirmity of the body; no trade and occupation, such as merchandise or husbandry; no building or planting, ploughing or sowing; nay, not so mean employment as women’s leavening their bread, grinding at the mill, or sweeping an house, but He spiritualised them, and applied them to His designs. Now, if we would learn of Him, we might with great ease, and without all violence, surprise men into religion; and not only at every turn introduce pious discourse, but render the subject of it intelligible to the meanest capacities; and withal, by those sensible resemblances, give such lively touches upon the minds of men, as that what we delivered upon those occasions would stick and remain with them. And there is no great pains or skill required for the doing of this: the principal requisite to it is, a zeal of God’s glory, and such a constant and fixed eye upon it as shall make us apprehensive of the opportunities that present themselves, and then a little humility to condescend to the weakness of people. Which two things pre-supposed, a very small exercise of fancy would draw the parallel and make the application; as any man will quickly find that will set himself about it. — Goodman

“The weak Christian is welcome to his Heavenly Father, as well as the strong; why should he not be so to his brethren? But, alas! the proverb is here too true ‘Better speak to the master than the man, the father than the child.’ Those that can be bold with God, dare not be free with their brethren.” — Gurnall

“Sincerity is like travelling on a plain beaten road, which commonly brings a man sooner to his journey’s end than bye-ways, in which men often lose themselves.” — Tillotson

There's just enough of a kid in me that I really love those glass elevators they have in some hotels. You know, you get in on the main floor and then you ascend to the top floor, all the time watching the big things in the lobby become small things in the lobby. And the limited view you had down there, oh, suddenly turns panoramic. Or if you've been in some of the world's great skyscrapers, you may have tried some of their elevators. We're talking lobby to observation deck in a matter of seconds, rising scores of floors in less time than it takes to place some phone calls. So, at 10:02, you're down in the lobby or even the basement - and at 10:03, hey, you're looking out over the entire city. All because of an elevator.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “How to go from the Basement to the Penthouse.”

Let's face it, we all have some days when we feel like we're stuck in the basement. The view isn't very inspiring and neither is the situation we're in. Well, the good news is that there is no basement so deep or so gloomy that you have to stay there - because of the elevator.

It's the spiritual elevator many of God's leaders in the Bible knew about - like Daniel, for example. He's a top advisor to the most powerful man in the world, King Nebuchadnezzar. All of the king's pagan advisors have been unable to meet his demand, and they tell him they don't know what his disturbing dream meant. Of course, he also asked them to tell him what the dream was. Nobody could do that. So he sentences them to death - a sentence that applies even to Daniel, even though he wasn't there. So Daniel is literally staring at being executed. You talk about a dark basement!

Wisely, he recruits his spiritual brothers to “plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery” (Daniel 2:17). Then he steps into the spiritual elevator that takes him from the basement of his circumstances to the penthouse of his awesome God. That elevator is called “praising God.” In Daniel 2, beginning with verse 19, our word for today from the Word of God, “Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes the times and seasons and sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise ... He reveals deep and hidden things ... and light dwells with Him...” See, Daniel rises from the basement of a dangerous and impossible situation to the penthouse view from the Throne Room of the Most High God. And everything looks different from there!

Now, one of the secrets of peace in the midst of great stress, of poise when everything is up for grabs, of perspective when you could be freaking out - the secret is to start celebrating the kind of God you have. Remember, you enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise - not just with prayer requests. The great prayers of the Bible are like two-thirds about the greatness of God and maybe one-third about the need. When you start telling God the things about Him you love, the things He's done that you're grateful for, that anxiety in your heart starts to ebb and the peace in your heart starts to grow. You realize that the size of the situation and the size of the need don't change the size of your God at all.

Everyone in your situation, everything in your situation looks different from God's penthouse. You'll see the people differently. You'll see possibilities you haven't seen before. You'll have ideas you haven't had before. You'll have the peace you couldn't have otherwise.

That's the power of praise - the elevator that takes you from the “basement” of earth-stuff to the “penthouse” of your awesome God!

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones;

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;

Worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness.

Come and sing praises to the Rock of all ages,

Come and sing praises to Jesus, my Lord.

Come and adore Him, bow down before Him.

Come and sing praises to Jesus, my Lord.

1. I know of a name, a beautiful name,

That angels brought down to earth;

They whispered it low, one night long ago,

To a maiden of lowly birth.

Chorus:

That beautiful name, that beautiful name

From sin has pow’r to free us!

That beautiful name, that wonderful name,

That matchless name is Jesus!

2. The one of that name my Saviour became,

My Saviour of Calvary;

My sins nailed Him there, my burdens He bare–

He suffered all this for me.

3. I love that blest name, that wonderful name,

Made higher than all in heav’n;

’Twas whispered, I know, in my heart long ago–

To Jesus my live I’ve giv’n.

As a musical composition, Frederick Handel's “Hallelujah Chorus,” stands in a category by itself. Few pieces of music have the power to stir our hearts like that majestic chorus that even brought the King of England to his feet the first time he heard it. But before Frederick Handel wrote the “Hallelujah Chorus” and “The Messiah” oratorio of which it's a part, he wasn't having much of a hallelujah time. He was basically broke, depressed, and against a wall. Then someone asked him to write an oratorio to be performed at this benefit concert on behalf of people who were in debtors prison - locked up because they were too poor to pay their bills. There were 700 people who contributed to be at that premiere performance of “The Messiah” and the “Hallelujah Chorus” - and 128 prisoners went free as a result!

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Liberating Power of a Few Hallelujahs.”

That night of hallelujahs turned Frederick Handel's life around and it set some people free. Hallelujahs still have that power today. It's the power of praising God; especially when it's hard to praise Him.

Turning our predicament and our prison into praise is part of the mission for which Jesus came as announced in Isaiah 61:1-3, our word for today from the Word of God. The Bible says of Jesus: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners ... to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion. To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

I like those trade-ins, don't you? Jesus says He wants to trade our bondages for freedom, our mourning for comfort, our ugly ashes for something beautiful, and our despair for praise. And liberation from so much that's dark in life is rooted in wearing that garment of praise, no matter what situation we're in. Praise can set you free from discouragement, self-pity, frustration, bitterness, even grief. And, on any given day, there's always something to praise Him for. It's like we're always living between these two mountains - the one behind you that He brought you over and the one ahead of you that looks impossible just like that last mountain did. So, on any given day, there's always something to praise Him for, and there's always something to trust Him for.

My friend Kerri kept months of vigil at the hospital as she watched her young husband die a long, painful death. But she never sank to despair, and I think I know why. She said, “Every day on the way to the hospital, I would play praise music as loud as I could. I filled up on praise - because I knew there's only one place the devil will never be - in praise to God.” Kerri understands that praise is a choice - you choose to dwell on the greatness of your God rather than the greatness of your problems, on the God who never lets you down instead of the people who do, on God's faithfulness instead of your failure. You make a choice, usually in the very first moments of your day, to be all about Jesus today rather than all about you.

That way you can experience pain without being a pain. You can walk on the water instead of succumbing to the storm. Praise doesn't just lift up the Lord, it has a way of lifting you up, too. And it's a choice - praising instead of complaining; hallelujahs instead of hassles; the Lord instead of the load. And why can your life always be a Hallelujah Chorus? Because your Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, and He shall reign forever and ever!

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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Psalm 22:22, 25, 27, 31 (NAS) Praise in the Church

A. This Psalm seems originally to have described the sufferings of David as he fled from place to place from the persecution of Saul. But this 22nd Psalm is also one of the Messianic Psalms, a prophecy of the humiliation and suffering of the Lord Jesus upon the cross. After the graphic description of Christ’s death, just as resurrection follows the cross, we come across expressions of praise, the praise which God’s people, the church, can give as a result of His death.

B. 22 I will tell of Thy name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise Thee.

1. this is one of the first things fulfilled after the resurrection; look at John 20:17, and bit by bit, mourning turned to praise

2. this started first with the assembly of 2 or 3, then of the disciples, then of 500 at one time (1 Corinthians 15:1ff)

C. 25 From Thee comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.

1. but after this, and for all time, comes praise in the great congregation, of the church universal; and whence is the source of this praise? … from God Himself

2. but is this its full extent? … well, look at Acts 2:33, 5:31, Philippians 2:9 — this assembly includes men and angels

3. and on behalf of those who fear God, Jesus, now exalted will continue “paying His vows” — carrying out the will of the Father as planned in the councils of eternity

D. 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations will worship before Thee.

1. is there a limit to the praise that results from His work?

2. is there a limit to where the message will have power?

3. from the few, the favoured, the five hundred, the message was to spread, has spread, will spread to all nations

E. 31 They will come and will declare His righteousness To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

1. Praise, for there is no doubt about the result

2. The sovereign Lord God will carry this out, bringing to Himself those who will shout forth His righteousness — Jeremiah 23:6

3. what a reason for us to praise Him in our prayers tonight!

How does the Lord Jesus want you to pray for your marriage?

I’m not asking how often He wants you to pray for your marriage. I’m not asking how long He wants you to pray for your marriage. I’m simply asking how does He want you to pray for your marriage? What type of things does He want you to be praying for your spouse? What should your focus be when you pray for your spouse?

Someone might respond, “Those are great questions, but there is no verse in the Bible where the Lord says, ‘Pray for your marriage in such and such a way’.” That is true. But there are certainly many prayers in the Bible that could serve as models of how God wants us to pray. This is especially true of the most well-known prayer in the Bible: the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).

Just before Jesus begins the Lord’s Prayer, he does not say, “Pray these words: Our Father who art in heaven… “ No, Jesus says, “Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who art in heaven… “ (Matthew 6:9a). In other words, Jesus is not giving us a prayer to recite as much as He is giving us a model of what prayer should look like.

So what does Jesus want our prayers to look like? And how can we use Jesus’ model of prayer in praying for our marriage?

• Our Father, who art in heaven…

Jesus begins His model prayer with a reminder of who it is that we pray to. Before bringing any of our requests before God, we pause to remember the God to whom we are praying.

On the one hand, we remind ourselves that God is “our Father”. He is not a distant God who is far away; He is a God who is near, a God who loves us, a God to whom we can come like a little child can come to his or her father.

On the other hand, we remind ourselves that God is our Father “who is in heaven”. This speaks of God’s sovereignty and greatness, His absolute control over the world. As a result, we not only bow before Him with reverence, we also bring our requests to Him in confidence, knowing that He is powerful and mighty to help us.

Our prayers, then, begin with praise to God, our loving Father who is great and powerful and able to help us. This can be especially important to remember in the context of a marriage that is difficult or going through a rough time. God does indeed love us and is indeed able to help us.

• Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…

The focus of these three petitions is the glory of God. This is very important to recognize. Unlike many of our prayers, Jesus’ prayer does not begin with asking for daily bread; that comes later. Instead, Jesus teaches us to begin by praying for the glory of God. In fact, all three of these petitions are focusing on that very thing.

For example, the word “hallow” in this context means “to treat as holy”. When we pray, “Hallowed be Thy name”, we are praying that God would be treated as holy in this world. We are praying that people would acknowledge His holy character and respond to Him as a holy God. What we are praying is that people would give glory to God.

When we pray “Thy kingdom come,” we are praying the same. The “kingdom” of God is His rule and His reign in this world that is shown especially in the lives of those who have submitted to His lordship. When we pray that His kingdom would come we are praying that more and more people be rescued from the kingdom of darkness and submit their lives to the kingship of God Himself.

When we pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are again praying that God would be glorified in the earth. We are praying that people would be obedient to the will of God so that the kingdom of heaven itself would be reflected in their lives. Once more, then, we are praying that God would be glorified.

How should this impact the way that we pray for our marriage? If God’s glory were our first concern, what kinds of things would we be praying for? Here are a few suggestions to consider:

1. We would pray for the Lord’s perspective — a kingdom perspective — in the decisions that we make as a couple. Ask the Lord to give you a kingdom perspective on life. Ask him to make the things that thrill His heart thrill yours; ask him to make the things that break His heart break yours.

2. We would pray that our spouse would love the Lord God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. We would go so far as to pray that our spouse’s love for God would be greater than any other love that they had.

3. We would pray for our spouse’s spiritual life and their growth in Christ. If they are not a Christian, we would be bold to continue to pray that God would bring them to faith in Jesus Christ.

What all of these suggestions have in common is that they are prayers for God’s glory to be manifested in the context of our marriage. This is how prayer for marriage should begin. Is this how our prayers for our marriages begin?

We began to consider how the model of prayer that Jesus gives us in the Lord’s Prayer could guide us in praying for our marriages. We saw that Jesus has us begin by remembering who God is: our loving Father who is in heaven, mighty and sovereign and able to help us when we call to Him. We then saw that Jesus has us continue by praying that God would be glorified: that His name would be treated as holy, that His kingdom would come, that His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The implication of all of this is that our prayers for our marriage should be founded on a desire that God be glorified in our marriage. God’s glory should be the foundation of our prayers. But our prayers do not stop here, for the Lord’s Prayer continues on.

• Give us this day our daily bread

After focusing on God’s glory, we are ready to ask the Lord for his material provision. Practically, this means:

1. We give thankful acknowledgment to the Lord that He is the source of our material provision;

2. We pray His help and aid in providing for our material needs;

3. We pray that as a couple we would be content with provision of daily bread and that He would protect us from the dangers of materialism.

• And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

This part of the Lord’s Prayer is often confusing to people. Does it mean that we earn God’s forgiveness only when we forgive other people? By no means. God grants us forgiveness freely and as a demonstration of His grace. But that is just the point: we cannot ask this of God on the one hand and refuse to extend it to someone else on the other hand!

Jesus illustrates this for us with a parable in Matthew 18:21-35. We read there of a slave who owed the king millions of dollars. When the slave could not repay the king, the king was going to have him thrown in jail. The slave begged for mercy and the king graciously forgave the debt. That slave then went out and found a fellow slave who owed him only a few dollars. When the fellow slave could not repay, he pleaded for mercy. The first slave refused to forgive him of the debt, however, and had him thrown into prison. When the king learned of it, he was furious! He had forgiven the first slave a debt of millions of dollars and now that slave would not forgive someone else a debt of a few dollars! How could this be?!

Jesus’ point was very clear: you and I, like that first slave, have been forgiven an incalculable debt of sin by God. In fact, the debt of our sin against God is so great that the debt of others’ sins against us do not even begin to compare! And because the debt we have been forgiven is so large, we cannot help but forgive the lesser debts of those who sin against us. If we refuse to do this, we are like that first slave, and risk the anger of God Himself.

How does this impact the way that we pray for our marriage? Here are some suggestions:

1. We must be open and honest before the Lord about our sins, confessing them and repenting from them; this includes the sins that we have committed against our spouse;

2. We must also ask the Lord for His help in forgiving our spouse for their sins against us; this might include asking Him to take away bitterness, to give us a forgiving heart, and to help us to remember the grace that He has shown to us in forgiving our sins.

3. Some helpful resources on forgiveness are: The Art of Forgiving (Lewis Smedes); Bold Love (Dan Allender; deals with anger and forgiveness in difficult relationships); What’s So Amazing About Grace (Philip Yancey; full of good stories; touches on forgiveness very well on several occasions).

• And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

There is some debate among scholars about how this part of the Lord’s prayer is to be understood. One thing is agreed, though, and it is this: there is an evil one in the world who seeks our harm and we are in great need of the Lord’s protection from him. As it applies to marriage:

1. We need to pray that the Lord would protect our marriage. We could pray specifically that: He would help us to maintain our faithfulness to our spouse and purity in our lives; He would protect us from believing the lies of the enemy about marriage; He would protect us from drifting apart from each other or drifting away from the Lord.

• For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.

There is some question whether or not this was part of the original Lord’s prayer (see the margin or footnotes in your Bible at Matthew 6:13). It does remind us, however, of the greatness of God and of His glory. In this regard it takes us back to the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer, reminding us of who God is and of the fact that His glory should be our greatest concern.

Do you want to pray well for your marriage? Let the Lord’s Prayer guide you as you lift up your spouse and your marriage before the Lord.

David and his fighting men had been hiding in the cave of Adullam. He was fleeing Saul. Many of life’s down-and-out had come and joined David’s army. David was content to stay in the stronghold of safety. Then, God’s prophet came to David and told him that he must leave the stronghold and go into the land of Judah.

When life beats down on us and we get to the place where we want to hide in a cave, God often places people around us who prod us into moving in the right direction. He does not want us to remain in the place of discouragement. He wants us to move into the land of “praise.” Judah means “praise.”

I recall when I went through a very difficult time. It seemed to drag on and on with no change until finally I wanted to retreat to a cave and forget pressing on. It was a great time of discouragement. A godly man came to me and said, “You must keep moving! There are too many who are depending on you in the Kingdom.” I didn’t totally understand what he meant at the time. Now I know he was saying that God is preparing each of us to be the vessel He wants to use in the life of another person, but we will never be that vessel if we give up and hide in our cave of discouragement. Not only must we keep moving, we must move into a new realm. Our attitude must move from discouragement to praise. It is when we move past discouragement to praise that we begin living above our problems. Make a decision today to go into the land of Judah.

Many times as I've unpacked something I've purchased, I've found enclosed a warranty and a little card bearing a survey from the manufacturer. I've rarely, if ever, filled out such a survey. I suspect that very few people complete these and mail them in. But there are two categories of people who are quite likely to fill out a manufacturer's survey: those who are dissatisfied with the product (and perhaps hoping for a refund) or those who find that a product has exceeded their expectations and want to express their joy.

The same sorts of motivations prompt people who don't, under ordinary circumstances, pray to express their joy or grievances to the “manufacturer of our circumstances.” The birth of a child may prompt a new parent to send up a prayer of gratitude, though they may not know who will hear the prayer. Others shake their fist in the air when tragedy strikes, unsure who might be up there to blame. Both of these are circumstances when we should be in touch with our maker. In fact, our natural response in the extreme joys and extreme sorrows of life points us to what should be our response for everything. We were created to ponder, question, seek out, and worship the God who made us.

We never are and never will be dispassionate observers of God's creation or God's will. We are a part of that which He has made. Some write and talk about God and his dealings with mankind as if they were literary critics, removed from the story. But we are caught up in it, and our role is to constantly reflect the one who is telling the story. Lyrics written by Matt Redman capture the paradox that even praise of God Himself would not be possible if God did not enable it:

We have nothing to give

That didn't first come from Your hands

We have nothing to offer You

Which You did not provide

Every good, perfect gift comes from

Your kind and gracious heart

And all we do is give back to You

What always has been Yours

Lord, we're breathing the breath

That You gave us to breathe

To worship You

Those who never fill out a manufacturer's survey are still likely to pay attention to the manufacturer's instruction. Our creator has advised us that praise is good for us; we read in Psalm 135:3, “Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.” Psalm 150:6 says, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!” It is hard to think of a more all-encompassing command found in Scripture.

I like the way one hymnodist expresses the idea that we were created to praise God: “Praise is his gracious choice.” Praise is not the penance we owe to the God who has blessed us beyond what we deserve. Praise — even the kind that begins with wrestling — is a gift from God, for us, for our good.

________

Copyright © 2005 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

*

Lift up your gates to the coming King.

Bow before Him and adore Him, sing

To His Majesty;

Let your praises be

Pure and holy,

giving glory to the King of kings.

Acts 16:25–40 — Conversion; and Departure (from Philippi) — (outline by F. F. Bruce, NICNT) « Leader information shown in this fashion »

{A.} The Birth of the Church (1:1–5:42)

{B.} Persecution and Expansion (6:1–9:31)

{C.} The Acts of Peter & Beginnings of Gentile Christianity (9:32-12:25)

{D.} Church Extension from Antioch & Apostolic Decree at Jerusalem

(12:25–15:35)

{E.} Paul Leaves Antioch & Moves to the Aegean World (15:36–19:20)

{1} Recently Planted Churches Revisited (15:36–16:5)

A. Paul Parts Company with Barnabas and Takes Silas as His Colleague (15:36–41)

B. Paul & Silas in South Galatia; Timothy Joins Them (16:1–4)

C. The Churches Grow in Faith & Numbers (16:5)

{2} Philippi (16:6–40)

A. The Call from Macedonia (16:6–10)

B. Troas to Philippi (16:11–12a)

C. The Faith of Lydia (16:12b–15)

D. The “Pythoness” (16:16–18)

E. Paul and Silas Imprisoned (16:19–24) … review

1. Only concern of the girl’s owners was P « rofit » _______

2. Paul & Silas had harmed their P « roperty » ________

3. In imprisoning Paul & Silas, the Philippians failed to check the C « harges » ________ or their C « itizenship » _________

F. Earthquake at Midnight: the Jailer’s Conversion 16:25–34

1. The Earthquake and the Jailer (16:25–28, NKJV): 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying « {present participle} » and singing « {imperfect} » hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening « {imperfect} » to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

a. How can praise grow out of prayer in the midst of trouble?

(A) Acts 5:41 « – the situation confirmed their service »

(B) Psalm 50:15 « – the promise confirmed God’s purposes »

(C) Psalm 149:4–5 « – the grace of God shown in saving us »

b. What interrupted this ongoing prayer and praise meeting? « – the answer of God (”God’s ‘Amen’”, Dr. John M. Moore) »

c. What marks this event as supernatural rather than natural? « – its selective effect: doors opening, bonds releasing, but no deaths nor burying under falling debris »

d. How were the keeper and prisoners situated with respect to each other? … how can you tell this? « – they were in the dark, but with some visual contact; the keeper could see the open prison doors, Paul could see the keeper about to kill himself as well as tell that the prisoners were still there »

e. Who shows the most authority here? … how? « – Paul is in command; at his word, the keepers sword hand is stayed; Paul knows the situation in the prison and can account for all the prisoners. »

f. Discuss: What is our normal response to persecution and pain? How can our attitudes and reactions (toward self, God, circumstances, and others) be shaped so as to be more like that of Paul and Silas? E.g., see Philippians 4:11ff

2. The Jailer and Salvation (16:29–34, NKJV): 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down « {and came} » trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. « Dr. John M. Moore: “from earthquake to soul quake” »

a. Where was this first prison ministry held? « – outside of the prison cell, in the keeper’s quarters within the prison-house; going into his own house came later on »

b. Who attended? « – the keeper, his household servants; his family; the prisoners »

c. How well the keeper understood his own question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” is hard to ascertain fully:

(A) Was he just thinking about his life being spared from punishment or death on account of what had just happened? « – if he believed and had assured himself that indeed all of the prisoners were still there his risk in this instance was minimal »

(B) What would have just reduced his clarity of thought? « – being roused from sleep by being shaken in soul as well as body by the earthquake and surrounding events »

(C) What events would have given the question spiritual (as opposed to physical) meaning?

(1) for some days « – fortune-telling girl had broadcast that they were giving the “way of salvation” »

(2) other? « – probably going to sleep to hymn-singing »

d. How did Paul & Silas understand and answer his question? « – as being spiritual »

e. How do we know that this was the Holy Spirit’s intent? « — by the subsequent salvation of him and his household. There is a lesson here in personal evangelism, which is? … even if the seek is not clear about what he or she is seeking, Christ is still the answer! »

G. Paul & Silas Leave Philppi (16:35–40, NKJV) 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.” 38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. 39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

1. Of what was the magistrates order a tacit admission? « – that there was no legitimate cause for their imprisonment »

2. Why could Paul and Silas not accept a summary dismissal from the prison?

a. The charge against them was … « unproven »

b. Their beating and incarceration was … « illegal (also terrible in its agony as there was no Jewish limitation to 40 stripes) »

c. To accept it would adversely effect … « the reputation of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the good news of salvation »

3. Did the recognition of Paul’s and Silas’ status deliver the new believers in Philippi from persecution (Philippians 1:27–30)? « – they had continuing adversaries and their experience mirrored that which Paul had in their midst and later in Rome »

4. Even though knowing the rights of Paul and Silas, what would prompt the magistrates to plead for them to depart « – their possible inability to protect them from the Philippian people, who already showed uncontrolled public tumult and passion »

5. Where did Paul and Silas go on leaving prison? … what had that place become? « – Lydia’s residence (or business; she could have still maintained a residence, or “head office”, in Thyatira); it was a place where the believers had become accustomed to meet … a pattern we meet again, especially after the “sect of the Way” became excluded from some synagogues. Note: it seems the Jewish community is Thyatira was sizable, that in Philippi, minuscule; therefore, Lydia may have become a God-fearer in her home town. »

To Thee, before Thy passion, they sang their hymns of praise;

To Thee, now high exalted, our melody we raise:

Thou didst accept their praises — accept the praise we bring,

Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King!

ALL GLORY, LAUD AND HONOR

Theodulf of Orléans (c. 750-821)

When Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, hopeful crowds filled the streets waving palm branches and praising God. But less than a week later, when it became clear that Jesus was not the revolutionary they expected, this same crowd demanded His crucifixion.

For Theodulf, whom King Charlemagne had made bishop of Orléans in the late 700s, praise was born of painful circumstances. After Charlemagne's death, Theodulf was exiled to Angers, France, on charges of conspiracy. In the dark prison at Angers, Theodulf apparently wrote the text of this hymn, which became the great Palm Sunday processional of the Western church — a celebration of God's grace sung by millions through the centuries.

________

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Hymns by Mark Norton and Robert Brown, Tyndale House Publishers (1995).

When the burnt-offering began, the song of the Lord began also. — 2 Chronicles 29:27.

That there is a very close connection between sacrifice and song is evident from Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 54. Isaiah 53 is full of the sacrifice of Christ and the first word in Isaiah 54 is “sing.” There could be no new song apart from that sacrifice. The song of Revelation 5:9 has for its great theme “For Thou wast slain.” It is so even in our lives. We enter the realm of song through that of surrender. — H. K. Downie.

We sing the praise of Him who died,

Of Him who died upon the cross,

The sinner’s hope — let men deride;

For this we count the world but loss.

Peter Writes to Pilgrims — 1 Peter 1:3a — Blessing God – « Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. “Blessed be the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord…”

1. First, let us clarify some of what we know about God …

a. … from Malachi 3:6, Hebrew 13:8 – « God is changeless »

b. … from Psalm 102:25–27 « – this changeless God is the Creator of and has a relation with a changing universe »

c. … from Isaiah 51:6 « – He is also the Author of eternal, if not changeless, spiritual realities: salvation, righteousness »

d. … from Isaiah 46:9–11 « – He is Unique, Self-Revealing; He is Sovereign; whatever He intends to do, that He does and none can stop Him. By the constraints of human language, the Bible may use terms in describing God which are inconsistent with His immutability, such as grieve and repent. These are called ‘anthropomorphisms,’ meaning shaping human terms to fit God. Often it can be readily seen in these cases that it is man who changes thereby moving himself from the place of God’s wrath into the place of acceptance by God. »

2. There are two words for ‘blessed’ commonly used in the New Testament: makarios and eulogetos and their relatives

a. The first word, makarios, means blessed, fortunate or happy and is applied to God only in 1 Timothy 1:11, 6:15

i. In our common understanding of the word ‘happy,’ what makes a person happy? « – situation, prospects, circumstances, or things happening to him »

ii. Can God be affected by external circumstances? « – no, for He is changeless and carries out His own plans – this indicates the utter mystery of prayer, for those who by faith pray in His will know it works, which also teaches us something about the gift of faith. »

iii. Is it appropriate, then, to describe God as ‘happy’ in this sense? « – no; He is not ruled, but rules, happenings »

iv. This is the same word that is used in Matthew 5:3–12 (the ‘Beatitudes’) about God’s people; does their being ‘blessed’ or ‘happy’ result from circumstances? « – no, despite their circumstances, Jesus pronounces these people to be makarios »

v. Look again at 1 Timothy 6:15 and the following verse, 16; what is a common thread in the descriptions of God? « – His nature is altogether different from ours; He is the ‘I AM THAT I AM’ »

vi. Now this is hard! What can makarios mean when it is used about God? « – Let me try: God is, by nature, complete in His being as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, being satisfied in performing His will (Isaiah 53:10; see also Psalm 40:7–8 with Hebrews 10:7–9) … in some small measure He conveys this to us, His children (Matthew 5:3–12!!!) – well, that was quite a diversion but it will profit us as we look at … »

b. The second word, eulogetos, that Peter uses here, comes from a verb meaning bless, praise of commend; in fact, I could have translated it, ‘Praised be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ’ but we might have missed some of the lessons to be found in this verse.

i. This word is rooted in two others

(1) eu – meaning ‘well or good’

(2) legw – to lay, to lay down or before, especially a speech, narrative; hence to narrate or relate; thus more commonly to speak, to command

(3) hence it means? « – to speak well, command good »

ii. It is used in a number of connections; how is it used (who is blessing whom or what?) and what does it mean in …

(1) … Romans 12:14, Matthew 5:44?

(a) it is used – « of man blessing man »

(b) it means – « to ask for their welfare, to speak to God for their well-ness or well-being »

(2) … Luke 9:6?

(a) it is used « – of man (Jesus) blessing food »

(b) it means « – giving thanks (acknowledging God’s blessing in providing food) » « »

(3) … Acts 3:26, Ephesians 1:3b (the second part)?

(a) it is used – « of God blessing man »

(b) it means – « His commanding good things for man; His conferring favours or benefits on man; here, repentance and the spiritual benefits associated with salvation »

(4) … Ephesians 1:3a (the first part), 1 Peter 1:3a?

(a) it is used « – of man blessing God »

(b) it means « – to give to God, celebrating His goodness in speech: praise, thanks, worship »

iii. 1 Chronicles 16:29, Revelation 5:12; when we bless God are we conferring a favour unto Him « – no, this is His right and due, both by His nature and His deeds »

iv. Does blessing God affect (ie., change) Him? … who does it change? « – no, He is unchanged by our acts, even our worship … He responds to us in keeping with His will and with His character, including His love. It is us who are changed by Him and brought into a closer relationship with Him by our blessing Him. This is why worship is so important in our lives as His church »

3. Who is the object of Peter’s (and our) blessing in this verse? « – God; which person? … the Father (normal translation, ‘of our Lord Jesus Christ’ – I translated this way to show possessive applies to the word ‘Lord’ and it is a reverse possessive: we belong to Him; He is the one we confess as Lord (Romans 10:9) »

4. Does this mean the other members of the Trinity are not to receive our worship …

a. … Revelation 5:12–13? « – no, Lamb (the Son) is to receive praise and honour on equal footing with the One sitting upon the throne »

b. … John 4:24? « – this is less clear, but a strong implication that the Spirit is to receive worship; the divine honour given to the Holy Spirit in Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:13 accords Him the right to be worshipped »

0 magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. — Psalm 34:3.

Her family were all dead and she described herself “a lone orphan of seventy-four.” I had called once long before, and seeing a gap in the old thatched roof asked with sympathy, “What do you do when the rain comes down?” “Just thank God, dear, that the hole is no bigger,” she replied. Visiting her this winter day, thinking of all the comfort I had left I asked, “Betty, who is taking care of you?” She raised her trembling hands and answered with a look of happy conviction, “The Almighty, dear!” “And what can I do for you?” With a smile that any Queen might envy, the feeble woman looked up and said, “Can you help me to praise Him for all that He has done for me?”

O for a thousand tongues to sing

my great Redeemer’s praise,

The glorles of my God and King,

the triumphs of His grace. — Charles Wesley

Thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. — Psalm 145:10-12.

We do not know when we will speak our last word on earth. But all the words we say are important. A young man found he had cancer of the tongue. The doctor told him that only by removing the tongue could his life be saved. Before the operation the doctor said, “If there is anything you want to say, say it now, for these will be the last words you ever speak!” After thinking a minute, the young man exclaimed, “Thank God for Jesus Christ!” What lovely last words. — V. D. Gunderson.

O may my latest breath, whisper Thy praise;

This be the parting cry my heart shall raise:

This still its prayer shall be –

More love, 0 Christ, to Thee,

More love to Thee.

Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — Romans 5:3-5.

What could have been more dismal than the plight of Paul and Silas at Philippi? Thrust into the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks what were they doing? They “prayed, and sang praises unto God” (Acts 16:25). They were exercising their holy and royal priesthood in that prison. When they sang praises they were holy priests; when they said to the terrified jailer, “Do thyself no harm for we are all here,” they were royal priests. It is a charming picture! They are as full of joy as they can be, and they get the jailer converted.

Praise the Lamb! Yes, Thou art worthy, Who didst shed Thy blood,

To redeem Thy saints and make them Kings and Priests to God.

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. — Ephesians 1:12.

Thrice in Ephesians 1 it is repeated, “To the praise of His glory.” God certainly emphasizes this thought. Here is the highest aim to which a person can aspire. There are thousands of commendable and worthy ambitions, but this overshadows them all. Man, created for God’s glory but lost because of sin, can in Jesus Christ again fulfill that for which he was made. The method, praise; the object, His glory; the place, in Christ. Let His glory be the great, impelling desire of each Christian life. — C. F. Bundy.

We of all His hand created,

Objects of such grace alone,

By eternal love selected,

Destined now to share His throne.

Sing with wonder,

Sing of what our Lord hath done. — T. Kelly.

Peter Writes to Pilgrims -- 1 Peter 4:7–11 — Living to God’s Glory « My translation of 1 Peter is to convey the flavour of the Greek rather than to be for English fluency and literacy. Leader information shown in this fashion »

A. Review

1. Outline, thus far (abridged):

a. 1:1–2:12 – The Blessings of Spiritual Pilgrims

b. 2:13–4:11 – The Duties of Spiritual Pilgrims

i. 2:13–17 – Living as Earthly Citizens

ii. 2:18–20 – Facing Unjust Treatment

iii. 2:21–25 – Christ the Example

iv. 3:1–6 – A Good Woman (Wife)

v. 3:7–12 – A Good Man (Husband)

vi. 3:13–17 – A Defence in Suffering

vii. 3:18–22 – Peter’s “Creed”

viii. 4:1–6 – Leaving the Old Life … review …

2. Overcoming Sin, 1 Peter 4:1–2: 1 Hence Christ suffered bodily. You also then, equip yourselves (as for war) with the same thinking: because he who has suffered bodily has finished with sins. 2 To this end, that you live your remaining bodily life no longer by evil human desires, but by the will of God.

a. How does this help us to deal with our sin? « – seek to do the Father’s will the way Jesus did; inoculation against sin »

b. What other armour will help us deal with sin? « – God’s spiritual armour, particularly the shield of faith »

3. The Reaction of Old Friends, 1 Peter 4:3–4: 3 For you have passed enough time accomplishing pagan purposes, having conducted yourselves in excesses, in evil desires, in times of drunkenness, in wild parties, in drinking-bouts, and in lawless idol-services. 4 In this the pagans think it to be alien — and speak evil of — your not running with them unto the same excessive abandonment.

a. When someone is converted and the Holy Spirit changes his life style, how will old friends respond? « – ridicule; tempt to sin; consider as odd, weird, ‘holier than thou’ »

b. What responses can be made to such friends? « – testify to the Christian joy vs. worldly pleasures; warn of sin’s results »

4. Just Judgement is Coming, 1 Peter 4:5–6: 5 These will render account to the one in readiness to judge the living and the dead. 6 For unto this purpose it was proclaimed to the dead, in order that though they should have been judged bodily according to men, they are living spiritually according to God.

a. How did Peter warn? – « people must face the Judge on this »

B. An Incentive to the New Life 1 Peter 4:7a

1. 7a But the end of all things has drawn near. … There are « (at least) » three ways that ‘end’ can be understood; what are they …

a. … as being Jews (like Peter and some of his readers)? « – the immanence of the destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD) and the cessation of the Jews as a nation »

b. … as being Christians (like Peter and his readers)? « – the return of Christ is promised and considered as immanent »

c. … as being humans (like Peter and all of us)? « – we are only a breath away from death, ending material existence »

d. Which of these do you think fits the context best? « – discuss »

2. In what way is each of these an incentive to Christian living? « – in different ways, each brings us face to face with the fact that all our material relationships and possessions are passing and that we will soon need to give account of our spiritual life »

C. Some Marks of the New Life 1 Peter 4:7b–9

1. 7b Therefore, be healthy minded; be disciplined unto prayers; 8 and first of all, having ‘stretched out’ A. love B. among yourselves, because love covers a multitude of faults C.; 9 hospitable to one another without grumbling. — A. Fervent, extensive; B. Agape; C. Sins, failures

2. ‘Be healthy minded’ – « sane or sober minded; a compound of the root for save and the word to think. » What has God done to permit us to obey this command?

a. 2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline (NAS) or ‘healthy mindedness’? « – the new spirit of power, love and sound mind He gives us »

b. Isaiah 26:3: The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee. (NAS)? « – His peace »

c. 1 John 4:17-19: By this, love is perfected with us, … because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, … We love, because He first loved us. (NAS)? « – His love »

3. ‘Be disciplined « (watchful, circumspect) » unto prayers’ – « this is plural, but not in the non-biblical idea of ‘saying one’s prayers’ but to paying attention to the places and occasions of public prayer; » what makes this important according to …

a. … John 16:24: Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. (NAS)? « – it is Jesus Christ’s command along with His promise that prayer will be answered »

b. … Matthew 18:19-20: Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst. (NAS)? « – the power of agreement by believers in public prayer »

c. … James 5:16: Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (NAS)? « – it is the one way we can help each other no matter how weak and incapable we are »

4. ‘Stretched-out love’ – « this is agape love extended to its limit; » who is the primary target of this love?

a. John 13:35: By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (NAS) – « other believers »

b. Why, 1 John 4:11: Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (NAS)? « – as a response to God’s love »

c. Why, Ephesians 5:25: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her (NAS)? « – in imitation of Jesus Christ (example of an absolute truth) »

5. ‘love covers a multitude of faults’ (or sins) – some say this means we should hide and gloss over a Christians immoral acts; what is the true biblical practice (Matthew 18:15–17, Galatians 6:1, James 5:19-20)? « Seek to restore the Christian, at first privately, and if that fails, publicly in the church body, and finally by withdrawing fellowship; there is also a difference between sins against me, and those against the church body or God »

6. ‘hospitable to one another’ – « literally, ‘friendly to strangers’; » who is the target of this practical friendliness? « – believers »

a. What is to be the mark of this hospitality? « – no grumbling, no murmuring, no muttering under your breath! – or? … generous, open-handed, liberal »

D. Marks of the New Ministry 1 Peter 4:10–11

1. 10 According as each one has received a gift A. minister it among yourselves as good dispensers B. of the many-sided grace of God: 11 if any man speaks, let him do so as speaking God’s oracles; if any man ministers, let him do so out of might which God furnishes; in order that in all things, God should be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and the ruling power unto the ages of the ages. Amen. – A. An ability by grace, charisma; B. Stewards;

2. From the word translated ‘minister’ we get the ‘English’ word, deacon! What is the source of such ability to minister …

a. … according to this verse? « – a gift or grace received of God »

b. … Ephesians 4:11–12a: And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service (‘deaconage’)… (NAS)? « – by equipping through God-given men … ie., from God indirectly through others »

3. The word ‘dispensers, stewards’ is a word for the one who had the ‘rule of the house, the house manager’ – what does this tell us about how God works in the church of Christ? « – delegates to His children, so that every ‘member of the body’ has a role to fulfill, a task to carry out »

4. The word ‘many-sided’ is that which was used in the Greek Old Testament to describe Joseph’s many-coloured coat. How does God work in His church? « – like the variety of His creation so is the variety of the ways God works, even in His church »

5. How should each believer respond to this fact? … cite the two examples and how they can be extended. « – with whatsoever gift a believer has received, a Christian should serve ardently; the two examples encompass both the spiritual and material (compare Acts 6:2–4, minister word, serve tables) »

6. What is the ultimate purpose of such service? « – the same for every kind of service, the worship, praise & glory of God; when ‘me’ enters service, displacing God, that service is empty »

My parents knew I would be musical — I was born with ear DRUMS!

Many years ago in a former church there was one man who felt that music in a worship service was wasted time. At another church, we had a pastor who felt that an organ offertory was “down time,” so he deleted it and gave announcements during the offering. Don’t you feel sorry for both people? How can you possibly read the Psalms and not be turned on to music?

I love Psalm 92. It starts (nlt), “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening… You thrill me Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.”

Even if you are a monotone, doesn’t that make you want to praise God in song? How can a Christian be so callous as to not want to glorify God with music?

Surely, you are grateful, as am I, that God gave us the miracle of music. It is mathematically precise, and why shouldn’t it be — God put it together. He also put you together. You may not like the way he configured the parts, but I’m sure it pleased Him, so be grateful and praise Him — with your life and your song.

”I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving” Psa 69:30

Pastor Kudra’s irrefutable law number 101: If you blow air into a balloon, it will get bigger. That seems logical — and true. No one inflates a balloon just to make it smaller. Of course some balloon sadists inflate them just to see them burst, but that’s beside the point.

Just like a balloon, something happens in the spiritual when we praise God with thanksgiving — He gets bigger! No, not physically — and how can the God of the universe get any bigger anyway? After all, He did create everything. But God does get magnified — in our hearts. You see, God doesn’t need to get bigger for His benefit. But we need Him to be enlarged in us.

When we first become a believer, our God seems very large — we ask, He provides. It makes no difference whether it is a store front parking spot or a new house or lost souls. He seems to be able to pull them all out of the box. But eventually, we become more experienced in our faith and realize that God is too busy for all of our little requests. In essence, He becomes smaller to us. It may be because He finally said “no” to a request or two. Or it may be because we quit asking. Whatever the reason, we put God in a box — a very small box of our own making.

But we are never satisfied with a small God. We always remember the past with fondness. We frequently long for it to happen, but it never does. Why? Because we keep God in His box. He doesn’t want to be there. We don’t want Him there. But we never open the lid.

Eventually, we learn that praise and thanksgiving are good things to do. We begin to earnestly thank God for His goodness. Then, lo and behold, something happens. The door to the God box we made is opened a crack and God oozes out (not that God is gooey). That seems fine to us. We begin to see prayers answered. The more we see answers, the more we rejoice with thanksgiving. The more we rejoice with thanksgiving, the more God does for us and with us. He gets magnified in our eyes — in our lives — in the lives of those around us. Soon we find that God is bigger than any box we could build. We discover that He can do far more than the self- centered requests of our spiritual childhood.

We find that He is the almighty one. There is nothing to great for Him. He is the all powerful. Nothing can stand in His way. He is the King of kings. All powers have to –no absolutely must — bow before Him. See how God is magnified through our praise and thanksgiving?