A Song of Praise to His Glory
Basilea Schlink emphasizes that despite life's hardships, believers can find joy and praise God through the assurance of Jesus' sacrificial love and the hope of eternal glory.
In this devotional sermon, Basilea Schlink encourages believers to find joy and praise God even amidst suffering by focusing on the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. She highlights the hope of salvation and eternal glory as a source of strength and happiness. Drawing from Psalm 71, Schlink invites listeners to rejoice in the Lord regardless of their current circumstances, reminding them that God's presence and work continue today.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. That in itself should be enough reason to be happy and joyful. But let's face it, sometimes we aren't happy.
If this is your situation at the moment, today's meditation by Basilea Schlink can help you. We read in Psalm 71, My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to thee, My soul also, which thou hast rescued. With joy and worship him, Rejoice in the Lord, All ye lands.
Rejoice in the Lord, All ye lands. However, perhaps in your current situation, you just can't find much reason to thank God. You can't thank Him for your health, because you're sick.
Or perhaps you can't thank Him for fulfilling your wishes, because He has denied them. Or you can't thank Him for your friends or relatives, because right at the moment they're causing you so much trouble. But there is one thing for which we can always be thankful and praise God.
That is, for His love in giving us the gift of His only Son, Jesus, who laid down His life for us. Jesus died so that we might enter the glory of heaven, where eternal joy awaits us. Let's keep our eyes upon this marvelous love of God.
The knowledge that Jesus' sacrifice has opened heaven should help us in all our suffering. He died upon the cross for our sake, to save us from sin, which not only destroys our life here, but also keeps us from the joy of the kingdom of heaven for all eternity. Yes, sin brings us hell on earth and in eternity.
Therefore, as we realize what God has done for us, how can we remain sad and gloomy? We've been rescued from the horror of hell. Through the forgiveness of our sins, heaven has opened up for us, and the glory of God awaits us. So may we praise and sing.
The gates of heaven have been opened. Then the joy of heaven will come into our hearts, and we will be able to overcome all our difficulties. For heaven's joy to men and to you, Jesus, our joy eternal.
Kingdom of heaven is truly at hand, where sinners fall their sins to repent, Jesus, our joy eternal. Jesus, my Lord, my God and my King, you fill my heart with praise to sing, Jesus, our joy eternal. You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan.
To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website www.canaan.org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85028-4099. God bless you.
Sermon Outline
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I
- God lives and works today, giving reason for joy
- Acknowledging times when happiness is difficult
- Introducing the theme of praise despite hardship
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II
- Reading and reflecting on Psalm 71's call to rejoice
- Challenges to thankfulness in sickness and denial
- The constant reason for praise: God's love in Jesus
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III
- Jesus' sacrifice opens the gates of heaven
- Sin's destructive power contrasted with salvation
- Encouragement to overcome sadness through hope
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IV
- The joy of heaven entering believers' hearts
- Jesus as eternal joy and King
- A call to praise and sing despite difficulties
Key Quotes
“God lives and works today. That in itself should be enough reason to be happy and joyful.” — Basilea Schlink
“There is one thing for which we can always be thankful and praise God: His love in giving us the gift of His only Son, Jesus, who laid down His life for us.” — Basilea Schlink
“The gates of heaven have been opened. Then the joy of heaven will come into our hearts, and we will be able to overcome all our difficulties.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- Focus on Jesus' sacrificial love to find joy even in difficult times.
- Remember that salvation through Christ opens the gates of heaven and brings hope.
- Let the assurance of God's presence inspire continual praise and worship.