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Read 1 Peter 1:3-9

This morning we heard Peter introduce the recipients of this letter.
The Scattered
The Selected
The Submissive
The Strengthened

They were a people who,
Because Jesus had chosen them, had been made outcasts.
They were fugitives on the run,
Yet they were expected to lean on the strength God provides
And be obedient to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

These people were living in a difficult world.

Tonight, Peter begins his letter to the suffering saints.
He is writing them a letter of encouragement
Commanding obedience and endurance.

We see three things that Peter asks of the rejected selected.
Again, if you are in a difficult area, then Peter’s words are for you.

#1 PRAISE FOR A LIVING HOPE
1 Peter 1:3-5

Now Peter starts off his letter in a most peculiar fashion.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

DID PETER REALLY BEGIN THIS LETTER WITH A CALL TO PRAISE?
He sure did.

But these people didn’t just experience success in evangelism…
These people didn’t just see their enemies bow at their feet…
THEY ARE SUFFERING!

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD PETER BEGIN THIS LETTER TO THE SUFFERING WITH A CALL TO PRAISE?

BECAUSE:
If you ever find yourself in a tailspin.
If you ever find yourself in depression.
If you ever find yourself with a strong case of the woe-is-me’s,
There is one way and one way only to pull yourself out of it PRAISE.
We live in the most drugged nation on the face of the planet.
America thinks that the way to overcome depression is to take a pill.
THAT IS NOT HOW YOU OVERCOME DEPRESSION!

The Bible teaches the only way to overcome depression is praise!
Remember Psalm 46?
Remember God’s Presence
Remember God’s Promise
Remember God’s Power

If you are living with a severe case of the woe-is-me’s
Then you have forgotten those things.

TURN TO PSALM 77
The Psalmist doesn’t get pulled out of his tale spin until he remembers the Lord.

When we stop focusing on God and start focusing on self,
All we see is how bad we have it and it throws us into depression.

But when we stop focusing on self and start focusing on God,
All we see is how good we have it and it fills us with joy.

The cure for depression is worship.
That is why Peter very rightly starts this letter to the scattered with a call to praise.

NOW LETS GET A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC
Why does he call them to praise?

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope”

He says praise God because you have a “living hope”
Think about that.

Not a dead hope (Muhammad)
But a living one!
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, He holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because He lives.”

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

We suffer, but not hopelessly.
We have hope, and that’s reason to worship no matter how bad it is.

I don’t care how bad your situation,
God deserves worship because He has not left you hopeless.

And let’s look at a few characteristics of hope here.

1) THE REASON
“who according to His great mercy”

DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU HAVE HOPE?
It isn’t because you deserve it.
It is because God is merciful, and He offered you hope.

Psalms 103:9-10 “He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.”

2) THE ROUTE
“through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”

This is the means by which hope became a possibility to you.

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”

Hope is the result of His death and resurrection.

3) THE RESULT
“to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”

The result of God’s mercy. The result of Jesus resurrection.
You have an inheritance, and a really good one.

Revelation 22:1-5 “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”

4) THE REALITY
“who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW SECURE YOUR HOPE IS?

It is perfectly secure.
Not because you are able to protect it, but because God is.
Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Here’s another hymn for you.
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

Can you see why there is never a reason for you not to praise God.
I don’t care how bad you have it.

DO YOU HAVE IT WORSE THAN JOB?
He worshiped.

And listen to a little of the motivation to why Job worshiped
Job 19:25-27 “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!”

Worship God where you are.
Praise Him in the midst of your struggle,
Because He could have left you hopeless, but He didn’t.

That is why Peter says what he does in verse 6
“in this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary you have been distressed by various trials,”

DO YOU WANT TO REJOICE IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS?
Then focus on God and praise Him for all the good He has done for you.

So first Peter wants us to praise for a living hope.
#2 PERSEVERE THROUGH A LITTLE HEAT
1 Peter 1:6-7

Peter says, “look, I know it is hard, but I want you to persevere, and here is why.”

1) TRIALS ARE IMPORTANT
“in this you greatly rejoice, even though for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,”

DID YOU CATCH THAT WORD NECESSARY?

Trials are an important tool used to shape the church.

James 1:1-4 “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

James 1:12 “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;”

It is trials that strengthen the church
By causing them to forsake the world and lean on God.

It is trials that purifies the church
By causing those who aren’t real to leave.

DID YOU CATCH THE WORD VARIOUS?
We don’t face the same trial over and over.
If you do, it is because you haven’t passed that test yet.

Trials are important.
2) FAITH IS INDESPENSIBLE
“so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire,”

Trials are important because they cause faith to rise to the top.
You need something to separate the wheat from the tares.

And the reason faith is so important
Is because it is all that God accepts.

When you get to heaven, God won’t accept American Express.
“it’s not everywhere you want to be.”

God only accepts faith. It is more valuable even than the purest gold.
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

3) THE RESULTS ARE INEVITABLE
“so that the proof of your faith…may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Some day God will reveal what you really are.
Luke 8:17 “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

IF YOU ARE A SCATTERED STRUGGLING CHRISTIAN
FIRST – Pull yourself out of the pit by praising God.
SECOND – Begin to look at trials as opportunities to grow your faith

Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

So praise for a living hope & persevere through a little heat
#3 PROCEED WITH A LOYAL HEART
1 Peter 1:8-9
PETER IS REMINDING THOSE WORDS OF JESUS
Jesus looked a doubter in the face.
Thomas thought the circumstances were too bad to find much hope.
He was hopeless because he couldn’t see.

Jesus confronted this doubt.
John 20:26-29 “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, ” Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Notice He didn’t call Thomas blessed. Doubt is not a blessing.
Jesus called those who don’t doubt in difficult circumstances blessed.

And he gives us three ways he wants us to proceed.
1) KEEP RESPECTING
“and though you have not seen Him, you love Him”

Of course love is more than fondness, or affection, it is the idea of sacrificing for Jesus.
It is the idea of a deep loyalty and respect.

Even though you haven’t seen Jesus show up and defend you.
Even though you haven’t seen Jesus make everything better, continue to love Him.

2) KEEP RELYING
“and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him”

You haven’t seen Him work, and indeed, you don’t see Him working now.
Would you keep trusting Him?

3) KEEP REJOICING
“you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory”

And don’t stop praising Him. He deserves it and you need it.

You may be in a difficult situation.
You may feel like one of “The Rejected Selected”
But make sure you respond properly to God.

Keep respecting Him
Keep relying on Him
Keep rejoicing in Him

Love, trust, and praise in the midst of suffering
Is what it means to pass the test.
That is what God is looking for.

Verse 9, “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

You see, God is testing you.
Do hang tough.

Praise for a living hope
Persevere through a little heat
Proceed with a loyal heart

Hebrews 10:36-39 “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

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Understanding Blessing
Psalms 67
March 29, 2020

Some of you may remember this Psalm.
• I’ll always remember it as Gerri Azam’s Psalm since it was the Psalm she used as her inspiration to go to China on our mission trip back in 2006.

(7) “God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”

That verse was our main banner verse for the mission trip to China.
And it fit well for that.

Tonight we study it as we work through the book of Psalms.

The unique and unmistakable message of the Psalm is that
The Psalmist believes that blessing is ultimately
A means of evangelism and the glory of God.

THE BLESSING PART IS OBVIOUS
• “God be gracious to us and bless us…”
• (6b) “God, our God, blesses us.
• (7) “God blesses us,”

And so is the evangelism part
• (2) “That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.”
• (7) “That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”

Clearly blessing was on the Psalmists mind.
OUR GOAL TONIGHT IS TO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF BLESSING

We hear the word “BLESSING” used a lot.

And I’d say that most of the time it is used in our culture with a reference to worldly success.
• Good finances
• Good health
• Good job

And certainly we don’t deny that everything we have comes from God
And so at the end of the day we are called to be grateful to Him for it.

But what has certainly concerned all of us in our culture
Has been the propensity of the world around us
To desire to seek the blessing more than the giver of the blessing.

That is to say, it has become apparent that men are more prone to seek what God will do for them than to seek God Himself.

And this certainly bothers us.

In fact, we are sickened by this prosperity gospel
That has turned God into nothing more than a powerful genie
Who is there to cosmically grant all that we desire.

We hate that notion.
It’s idolatrous and blasphemous.

We know that’s not the truth.
• We understand the call of Scripture to contentment and even self-denial.
• We see Jesus calling men to leave their wealth.
• We certainly know that if we seek to save this life, then we lose it.

Those truths are clear.

BUT IT HAS NOT STOPPED THE PROSPERITY PEOPLE
FROM TRYING TO JUSTIFY THEIR THEOLOGY.

One popular prosperity preacher: Kenneth Copeland actually stated:
“God needs you well, and He needs you strong, and He needs you rich”

One of the ideas behind that train of thought has been what we’ll call the COVETOUS EFFECT (that’s the most accurate name I can think of)

That when God makes me wealthy it will make other men want God too.
(that’s why I call it the covetous effect)

That basically we use God’s worldly provision
To draw men who love the world to Him.
It sounds so stupid when you say it out loud.

And yet that’s what is commonly portrayed.
This is the basis behind the extravagance portrayed by the Televangelist.

THAT IS WHAT WE CALL A CORRUPT UNDERSTANDING OF BLESSING.

This notion that God’s intent is to bless me with riches
So that He will be more attractive to carnal men.

That is so wrong on so many levels, and we could get stuck there for ours if we wanted to.
• How do you preach the gospel of self-denial to a man after you’ve baited him
with the promise of riches?
• How do you confront the idolatry of greed as sinful after you’ve just appealed
to it for his salvation?

It’s just a backward deceptive and corrupt understanding of blessing.

I mean we remember the admonitions of the New Testament.
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

1 Timothy 6:3-10 “If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Clearly seeking physical blessing is not the goal.

SO WHY DO I BRING IT UP?

BECAUSE: That is almost what this Psalm sounds like it is saying.

(1-2) “God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us — Selah. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.”

(6b-7) “The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”

It almost sounds like the Psalmist is saying,
“God bless me so that other people will want to follow You too”

The Psalmist even identifies the blessing of the day in verse 6.
(6) “The earth has yielded its produce.”

So we CAN’T even take some “spiritualized” approach here and say,
“He is talking about blessing, but not physical ones.”

No, he’s clearly talking about physical blessing.
The only blessing he references is a successful harvest.

SO IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE
He’s praying for a bountiful harvest as evangelistic bait.

BUT THAT’S NOT IT AT ALL.
Instead, the Psalmist has been enlightened to the purpose of blessing
And this Psalm helps us understand it as well.

There are 3 points to the Psalm.

#1 A REMEMBERED BENEDICTION
Psalms 67:1

Now as we read that verse again,
I’m hoping it strikes a familiar chord with you.

You’ve likely heard it before.
Numbers 6:22-27 “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”

This was the prescribed blessing that Aaron and his sons
Were supposed to say to the children of Israel as they ministered to them.

The last verse of the text helps us understand the purpose
Of continually restating this blessing to the people.

“So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel,
And I then will bless them.”

What does it mean “invoke My name”?

Aaron and the priests were to continually put the LORD before the people
AS THEIR SOURCE of blessing.

• “THE LORD bless you”
• “THE LORD keep you”
• “THE LORD make His face shine on you”
• “THE LORD be gracious to you”
• “THE LORD lift up His countenance upon you”
• “THE LORD give you peace”

It was to make the people understand
Who the source of all those things where.
All their blessing, security, favour, grace, peace…
It all came from THE LORD.

In that benediction Aaron and the priests set the precedent in the minds of Israel that God was the source of all things.

And it is important for you to understand that common benediction
So that you will understand verse 1 of this Psalm.

If you read verses 1 & 2 like a prayer request
Then it sounds an awful lot like prosperity gospel.

“God bless us so the world will want what we have”

But if you read it in the context of their understanding
You’ll see that this is not a request, it is a remembrance.

What you have here is the Psalmist,
As he sees that (6) “the earth has yielded its produce”
He is recounting that familiar benediction that he has heard all his life.

He’s simply remembering the benediction
And rendering glory to God for indeed blessing His people.
HE’S NOT ASKING FOR IT SO MUCH AS HE IS ACKNOWLEDGING IT.

Now, we understand that as well in the New Testament.
Often in our family prayer time we will reference James 1:17

James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

It’s NOT us saying, “God make us rich so we can prove your goodness to the world.”

Rather, we’re simply recounting that what James said is certainly true.
God does give good gifts.

That is what the Psalmist is saying.
That benediction is certainly true.

If you’ve followed the daily devotions we’ve put out this week, then Ephesians 1:3 is now coming to your mind.

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

That’s NOT Paul telling us to pray for blessing
So that we can attract the world to God.
Rather, Paul wants us to praise God because He is so generous.

We know God is generous.
“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Peace for today and bright hope for tomorrow; blessings all mine and ten-thousand beside.”

THE PSALMIST KNOWS THAT TOO.
And in verse 1 he simply states that in a moment of reflection.

And then we get the infamous “Selah”
Which of course is a pause for reflection.

He’s just remembering that reality that all blessing comes from God
And he’s sort of basking in that fulfilled truth.

But perhaps it is in this time of reflection
That the LORD broadens his understanding
As to why God is so good and generous to His people.

Remembered Benediction
#2 UNDERSTOOD BLESSING
Psalms 67:2-4

I find this to be so important today in a world where the word “blessing”
Is so quickly thrown out there and used.

As the Psalmist spends time reflecting upon the reality of God’s blessing
It’s as though God expands his mind
TO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THAT BLESSING.

(2) “That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.”

Important here.
The Psalmist references God’s “way” and God’s “salvation”

And he sees God’s blessing as a testimony to that.

WHY?
Well do you understand where physical blessings like a bountiful harvest fit in with God’s plan for Israel?

A bountiful harvest was one of the benefits of loving and serving God only.
• If you did things God’s way, then God would bless your fields.

TURN TO: DEUTERONOMY 28:1-14

There you clearly see the conditions of the covenant.
• If you obey Me, then I will do this for you, and throughout the conditions we see references to bountiful harvest.

(4) “Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground…”
(8) “the LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.”
(11) “The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to our fathers to give you.”
(12) “The LORD will open for His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand;”

• On the flip side, if the conditions of the covenant are violated, then God will remove the blessing and institute the curse (15-68)

(18) “Cursed shall be…the produce of your ground…”
(24) “The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust…”
(33) “A people whom you do not know shall eat up the produce of your ground and all your labors…”
(38) “You shall bring out much seed to the field but you will gather in little, for the locust will consume it.”

And there’s more, but you get the idea.

This understanding was what was behind that famous prayer of Solomon that is so often quoted.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

So the harvest was a stipulation of the covenant.
If you obeyed God, God would bless the harvest.
If you disobeyed God, He would curse the harvest.

The Psalmist then knows that the bountiful harvest
Is the result of God’s faithfulness to His people.

BLESSING IS NOT A BAIT TO THE WORLD,
IT IS A TESTIMONY OF HOW FAITHFUL OUR GOD IS.

And in that faithfulness God distinguishes Himself
Apart from ever other so-called God who cannot do the same.

GOD DOES WHAT NOT OTHER GOD DOES
• He meets the needs of His people in a covenant relationship.
• He cares for His people through His faithful hand.

We see these promises of faithfulness in the N.T.
Matthew 6:25-33 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Philippians 4:18-19 “But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

This is what the Psalmist is learning.
• Aaron’s benediction was meant to teach them that God was the source of all blessing.
But now the Psalmist is also learning that
God’s blessing is meant to be a testimony of His goodness to the world.

And the Psalmist is figuring that out.
Certainly Israel should enjoy their blessings and praise God for them.

But at the same time, by blessing Israel God was demonstrating
That no other nation had a God like Israel did.

Psalms 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”

Psalms 144:12-15 “Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace; Let our garners be full, furnishing every kind of produce, And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; Let our cattle bear Without mishap and without loss, Let there be no outcry in our streets! How blessed are the people who are so situated; How blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!”

It wasn’t blessing just so our lives will be more comfortable.
It was about putting on display that no other nation had a God like ours

And it’s like that clicks with the Psalmist
Because he immediately goes into an evangelistic rant.

(3-4) “Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah”

The Psalmist now simply wants the world to see how great his God is.

“Let the peoples praise You”
“Let ALL the peoples praise You”
“Let the nations be glad and sing”

The Psalmist is now telling the world,
“You’ve just go to see what a great God we have!”

And here’s his lone theological statement to them.
“For You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth.”

He speaks of judgment and guiding.
Some see that as a sort of mixed pair.

What the Psalmist is talking about
Is the tremendous blessing of being in God’s flock.

He is the judge and vindicator of His flock and He is the guide of His flock.

Remember this verse from the famous 23rd Psalm?
Psalms 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

The shepherd had two sticks.
• A rod for beating off the predators
• A staff for pulling the sheep back into the fold

That is what the Psalmist is talking about here.

TURN TO: ISAIAH 11:1-9
• You see there the results of a holy and gentle shepherd.
• A King who will destroy the wicked and care for the lowly.
• Fierce to protect and gentle to guide.

And the result of His balanced rule is a paradise earth.
• You don’t want a shepherd or a King who won’t punish the wicked
because then the wicked will overrun the place.
• You don’t want a shepherd or a King who won’t guide the flock for then
the flock would lose their way.

Israel has a good one.

And the Psalmist here is simply crying out to the world
What a blessing it is to have their God.

And he wants the world to see that and know that.

And then again we get a “Selah”

Which is again a pause and a time of reflection.
• Do you learn anything about the purpose of your blessing?
• Do you see that God has put Himself on display above all other gods?
• Do you understand that part of the reason He has blessed you is to make His name glorious?

Now, in that, perhaps you have picked up on it,
But there is actually another very heavy Jewish theme here.

• We saw in verse 1 the heavy tie back to the priestly benediction in Numbers 6.

Well, what you read in verses 2-4
Also has a very heavy tie an Old Testament passage.

Genesis 12:1-3 “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Do you remember that promise to Abraham?
• Not only am I going to bless you…
• Not only am I going to make you a blessing…
• But “in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

That’s interesting…

Genesis 22:18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Genesis 26:4 “I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;”

God just kept reiterating that promise to Abraham.
You are going to be a source and channel of blessing to the world.

If you don’t know what God meant by that,
We only have to go to the New Testament.

Galatians 3:8-9 “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”

NOW THERE PAUL SPEAKS TO ONE ASPECT OF THE BLESSING.
He says, “those who are of faith are blessed WITH Abraham, the believer”

• And it was the reiterated promise that the way Abraham was blessed is the same way we are blessed; namely by faith.
• God blessed Abraham because Abraham believed God.
• God will do the same for all who believe Him.

BUT THERE IS STILL MORE TO THAT PROMISE.
Galatians 3:16 “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.”

Some of you read this verse this week as well.
Paul there makes an enormous step for us there.

All of those promises to Abraham about blessing.
PAUL CLARIFIES THEM.
“He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.”

What Paul reveals is that the promise make to Abraham
Was ultimately a promise made to Christ.

When God said “in you all the families of the earth will be blessed”
He was talking about Christ.

Christ is the recipient of all God’s promises.

2 Corinthians 1:19-20 “For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us — by me and Silvanus and Timothy — was not yes and no, but is yes in Him. For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”

If you want to share in those promises then you need to be “in Christ”
Consequently that is where Abraham was.
• By faith, Abraham was also in Christ and therefore blessed.
• We then believe and are also united in Christ and blessed as well.

And so Paul concludes the chapter:
Galatians 3:26-29 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

That is how blessing flows.

Abraham was a picture of what God would do for all who are in Christ.
• God would pour out His blessing on all who believed.
• All believers would be made heirs of God.
• All believers would be blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

This was what God said about Abraham and Israel from the beginning.
And the Psalmist is figuring it out.

GOD HAS BLESSED US!
• And God intends for that blessing to spread from us to others!
• We are supposed to testify of that blessing before the world so that they
may also trust in our God and be blessed in Him as well!

It’s really not about acquiring wealth, it’s about acquiring God.
(the prosperity gospel cheats men because it only offers them money)

GOD IS THE TREASURE
You see him understanding blessing don’t you.

Remembered Benediction Understood Blessing
#3 TESTIMONIAL BOAST
Psalms 67:5-7

Well, if God is blessing us with the intent that
We will announce that blessing to the world…HERE GOES!

(5-7) “Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”

He just shouts it out to the world!
Alright people let me tell you about this great God.

• Look at the earth…
• Look at the produce…
• Do you see the blessing that lies upon Israel?

Do you see how blessed we are?
• It’s not because we are such good farmers…
• It’s not because we have better techniques…
• It’s not because we are smarter or stronger or harder workers than anyone else…

It’s because we are in a covenant with the God of the heavens
Who alone controls the reality of the world.

And the Psalmist basically asks,
Do you want to know why the earth has yielded its produce?
• It is because “God, our God, blesses us.”

And do you want to know why God blesses us?
• “That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”

God has done what He did
NOT just to make our lives easier or more comfortable.
God has done what He did
To put His glorious kindness and gracious generosity on display.

And that Psalm clarifies the truth of blessing to us in the church.

CHURCH, YOU ARE BLESSED!
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

• Every good thing God has to give, has already been given to you in Christ.
• Love, Joy, Peace, Hope, Strength…
• When you got Christ, you got the franchise.

It is important that you know that.

Later Paul will say:
Ephesians 3:18-19 “[That you] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”

Paul just wants you to know how blessed you are.
“Blessings all mine and ten-thousand beside”

But the blessing isn’t money or crops or other earthly things.
THE BLESSING IS GOD! IT IS CHRIST!

Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,”

The blessing is not earthly things.
The blessing is Christ.
When we got Christ we got it all.

When our kids found out that weren’t getting to go skiing this year because of the Corona lockdown we had this talk.

“We are those who every day tell people that Jesus is enough and that Jesus is sufficient and that if I have Jesus then I have everything. Well, it’s in the midst of losing worldly stuff that we really get to prove that.”

And that is true for all of us during this lockdown.
When so much of what the world enjoys is now off limits.

What an opportunity for the church to say,
“Take the world, but give me Jesus, All its joys are but a name, But His love abides forever. Through eternal years the same.”

“Take the world, but give me Jesus, Sweetest comfort of my soul, With my Savior watching o’er me I can sing though billows roll”

“Oh, the height and depth of mercy, Oh, the length and breadth of love, Oh, the fullness of redemption, Pledge of endless life above. Take this world, my God’s enough!”
(Give Me Jesus. Songwriter(s): David LaChance, Jr. CCLI: #5495629) https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/give-me-jesus/

We actually now have a chance to show the world
That our God is enough and that the blessing found in Christ
Transcends all other earthly realities.

We have a chance to shout to the world that Jesus is enough for us.
• It doesn’t happen through complaining on Facebook
• It doesn’t happen through griping about closures
• It doesn’t happen through spreading paranoia
• It doesn’t happen through falling apart in fear

We show this world that true blessing is found in Christ.

God has indeed blessed us.
• He has given us a blessing that Corona virus cannot take away.
• He has given us a blessing that a collapsed economy cannot take away.

It is an eternal, imperishable, undefiled blessing.
It is ours in Christ Jesus.

And God has given it to us that we would proclaim it to the world
In order that God may be worshiped and glorified by all nations.

Psalms 73:25-28 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.”

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The Day The Son of Man is Revealed – Part 1
Luke 17:22-37 (22-25)
March 29, 2020

Well, it felt a little bit like we were never going to get back to this text.
Indeed the last time we were in Luke was over a month ago.
• But a week of the flu
• A Pastor’s Conference
• A Sermon on the Corona
• A Spring Break Vacation

Pushed everything back.

This morning we return and yet, thanks to the quarantine
It still doesn’t quite fell normal.

I’m reminded of the statement Paul made to Timothy
2 Timothy 2:8-9 “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.”

If we were to put a current spin on that verse we might say,
“but the word of God is not quarantined.”

So, we press on.
• A small number are able to be here.
• Hopefully our members are able to access this via the website.
• And maybe even an extended number in days to come.

But one thing we are confident of, God’s word will not be stopped.
It never has been, and it never will be.
And in that we rejoice.

And this morning we return to our study of Luke’s gospel.

THE LAST TIME we listened as the Pharisees approached Jesus in order find out the facts about when the kingdom of God was coming.

We have a tough time believing them to have been sincere,
But regardless the question was asked.

And Jesus gave them the answer they needed to hear.
Luke 17:20b-21 “…He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

What Jesus spoke of was a spiritual kingdom.
• The kingdom were He rules the hearts of men as Lord.
• This kingdom was here and is here.
• Christ now reigns as Head over His church.
• It is not a physical kingdom you can easily see, but rather a spiritual one.

Romans 14:17 “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

And this kingdom is entered through salvation.
• When a person repents of their sin,
• And submits their life to Christ,
• Trusting in His atoning death and resurrection,
• God then transfers us into this kingdom.

Colossians 1:13 “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,”

That is the spiritual kingdom that the Pharisees didn’t understand
And it was the one Jesus proclaimed to them.

But Jesus also understands the curiosity
That dwells in the hearts and minds of His disciples.

In many ways the disciples had the same question the Pharisees had.
Lord, when?

This is what they were looking for.
• Many of them even tried to proclaim it during the Triumphal entry of Jesus
where they had hoped Jesus was about to make His power move to bring in
the earthly physical kingdom.

And so Jesus, because the issue is on their minds,
Turns to instruct His disciples regarding the coming physical kingdom.

However, what we see is that His message is most certainly
NOT what the disciples were expecting to hear.

For Jesus still doesn’t tell them when.
Instead Jesus gives them a sermon
Meant to prepare them for what was ahead.

And incidentally, I’d say that this sermon would prove to be one that HIGHLY INFLUENCED the future life and ministry of the disciples.

It is what the Lord wants His disciples to know
Regarding the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

And we want to begin to work our way through it this morning.

We can break Jesus’ sermon down into 4 points.
As Jesus prepares His disciples for what is coming.
#1 A COMING DEPARTURE
Luke 17:22

I’m pretty sure this was NOT what the disciples
Were expecting to here first out of the mouth of the Lord.

“The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.”

• It is a promise of unsatisfied desire.
• It is a promise of a longing that will not be fulfilled.

It is a promise that there is coming a day when
The Lord will not be here conducting earthly ministry,
And regardless of how badly you’d like to see it again, you won’t.

Jesus was speaking of His soon coming departure.

And one of the reasons this would have been so difficult for the disciples to pick up on is because of the mystery of Old Testament prophecy.

Let me give you an example.
TURN TO: Isaiah 9:1-7

This prophecy begins with a people in darkness who see a great light.
• That is with hopeless people who will see a light at the end of the tunnel.
• Isaiah even specifically identifies the region as Zebulun and Naphtali and Galilee of the Gentiles.
• He says a light will come and shine on those people.

Now the interesting thing is that we saw that.

Matthew 4:12-16 “Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES — “THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”

Prophecy clearly fulfilled.

Now, if you were one of the disciples and you picked up on that fulfillment Your temptation would be to go back and read Isaiah 9
AND SEE WHAT ELSE IS COMING.

And immediately following that promise we read in Isaiah:
(READ ISAIAH 9:3-7)

• The temptation then would be to rejoice that the King has arrived.
• The Son has clearly been born.
• He is about to increase the nation.
• He is about to conquer the enemies.
• He is about to establish the government that will reign forever.

You can see how that would have so easily been the expectation.

So what gives?

Well, when you read Old Testament prophecies like that of Isaiah
It is best to picture it like you are approaching a mountain range.

• You see peak after peak after peak and from a distance they all look just
right there together.
• What you can’t distinguish from a long way off is how far apart they are.
• That’s the best way to explain this.

Isaiah saw 2 great peaks.
• He saw a Son being born who would give hope to the hopeless.
• And he saw a King arriving who would establish the kingdom.

What Isaiah couldn’t distinguish was
The 2,000+ years between those two events.

But you understand why the disciples would have expected
The kingdom to arrive any minute. After all, they had found their king.

And so what Jesus says must have been confusing and disheartening.
• I’m leaving.
• There is coming a time in the future on earth when I won’t be here.
• You’ll wish I was here, but I won’t be.

There are very important reasons why Jesus brought this up.

One reason is because it reminds that the OPPORTUNITY for salvation in Israel is rapidly FADING AWAY.

Consider these verses.
John 12:35-36 “So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.”

Life is difficult in Israel now,
But when Jesus leaves it will become even more difficult.

In just a few short weeks the Jewish people
• Are going to rise up and crucify the Lord of glory
• As a result they will be broken off and their hearts will be hardened until the time of the Gentiles comes in.

Romans 11:7-10 “What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written, “GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.” And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. “LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”

They are about to lose their immediate opportunity.
Now, they will be brought back in, but not until a time of great difficulty.
Romans 11:25-27 “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery — so that you will not be wise in your own estimation — that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”

As far as these Jewish disciples are concerned,
There would never again be a time of salvation and conversion
Available like the time when Jesus walked the earth.

THESE WERE THE GOOD OLE DAYS

Part of the reason Jesus reveals this now is to up the urgency of the crowd.
• You cannot expect that Jesus is going to be here forever.
• Today you must believe.
• Today you must trust in Him.

But another reason Jesus would tell this to His disciples is that He might PREPARE THEM for what is coming.

When He leaves, it’s going to get difficult.
Persecution is going to intensify, unbelief is going to grow.

Consider what Jesus will teach His disciples the night before He is crucified.
John 16:1-4 “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.”

Jesus says it is about to get difficult.

Not only that, but we are promised that as we get closer to the end
Evil will grow more and more prevalent.

1 Timothy 4:1-3 “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.”

Or even consider the parallel passage to this one in Matthew’s gospel.
Matthew 24:9-14 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Now certainly we are aware of our Lord’s statements,
• Like the one in John 16:7 where Jesus says it is to our advantage that He
goes away so that the Spirit will come.

We also understand that
• His delay in coming has to do with the salvation of the elect, since He is not
willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

And we understand
• When He told the disciples that He was going to prepare a place for us.

We understand the necessity of His departure.

But it doesn’t change the fact that
The absence of the Lord on the earth
Means the increase of evil, apostasy, and unbelief.

And because it is hard Jesus said, “you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man”

This remains one of the chief sentiments of believers to this very day.
Believers are categorized as those who love Christ’s appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”

The desire of believers is most certainly for the Lord to return.
• We want to see Jesus glorified.
• We want to see His enemies bow at His feet.
• We want to see Him reign over the earth.
• We say with John, “Amen, Come Lord Jesus!”

But before Jesus gives any details about His coming earthly kingdom
He first prepares His disciples for A Coming Departure.

#2 A COMING DECEPTION
Luke 17:23-24

It is like falling dominoes.
• Now we learn that not only would Jesus be going away,
• But we also see that the enemy would seek to capitalize on the desire of His followers to see Him.

Jesus warns that in His absence there would be a coming deception.
“They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!”

That is to say that people will constantly be promising that Jesus is back.

In Matthew’s gospel we read:
Matthew 24:4-5 “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.”

And my how that one has proven true.

Even in my day I still remember the fires in Waco, TX of the Branch Davidian Compound where David Koresh led 76 people to their death claiming himself to be Jesus in this world.

Others of you will remember Jim Jones and the massacre in 1978 when 909 people drank the coolaid and committed mass suicide in order to follow this cult leader who claimed to be Jesus.

Some of you have heard of Haile Salassie. He also made claim to be the Messiah, changing his name to Ras Tafarie and becoming the leader of Rastafarian music and Reggae culture. He died in 1975 and yet many now await his return.

If you do a Wikipedia search you’ll find that since the 20th century began at least 34 people have claimed to be Jesus…9 of which are still alive today.

Jesus’ warning certainly panned out.

Not only would there be a coming departure,
But there would also be a coming deception.

There would be many who would seek to steal the identity of Christ
AND THUS LEAD HIS FOLLOWERS AFTER THEMSELVES.

And it was important that the disciples know this.
So that they not follow these Satanic deceptions.

After all the greatest of all of these deceivers will one day be Anti-Christ himself.

The one Paul described as:
2 Thessalonians 2:4 “who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

And again:
2 Thessalonians 2:9 “that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,”

Jesus warned that the earth would be
Full of phonies and frauds all claiming to be Him.
Jesus said, “Do not go away, and do not run after them.”

And in order that His disciples not fall for these deceptions
Jesus gave the criteria by which we could measure His return.

(24) “For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.”

The main point is that His coming will be obvious.
There will be no doubt when He returns.

You won’t need someone to say, “Hey, come over here we found Jesus.”
When He comes back the second time everyone will know it.

Revelation 1:7 “BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”

This is one of the main reasons
We DON’T FOLLOW the eschatological thoughts of Preterism.

• You may remember that the full preterist believes that the return of Jesus came in accord with the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70.
• If that event had actually occurred, it would not have been so easily overlooked.

Don’t fall for the deception.

And so what you see happening here is that
• More than simply giving His disciples details about His coming,
• Jesus is more concerned to prepare them for His absence.

There is A Coming Departure There is A Coming Deception
#3 A COMING DEATH
Luke 17:25

Jesus just told them about two things they needed to be aware of,
But before all of them Jesus reveals something else that will occur.

The next event on the prophetic timeline is His death.

“But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”

No doubt this would have been the greatest blow
And the most difficult to swallow.

• The disciples were waiting for His coronation.
• They were waiting for His enemies to bow at His feet.
• They were waiting for Him to take Jerusalem and even Rome by storm.
They most certainly were not looking for Him to die.

We only have to go back to the conversation with Peter on the day God revealed to Peter that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
Matthew 16:21-23 “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

Peter couldn’t come to terms with the fact that Jesus was going to die.
That just didn’t fit his plan or his understanding of prophecy.

But as Jesus said, this “MUST” happen.

And there are many reasons, but here are a few.

1) TO FULFILL PROPHECY

You may remember when Jesus was arrested, Peter tried to stop it with a sword.
Jesus answered:
Matthew 26:52-54 “Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? “How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

The Old Testament is filled with prophecies that the Messiah would die.
• Psalms 22 and Isaiah 53 alone have so many prophecies to fulfill that a Messiah who does not suffer simply cannot be the Messiah.

Peter would obviously learn this, for when he preached at Pentecost.
Acts 2:22-23 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know — this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”

Peter clearly understood the death of Christ
As the “predetermined plan…of God”

Even when Peter preached again in Jerusalem:
Acts 3:17-18 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.”

God had already announced the suffering of the Messiah,
IT HAD TO HAPPEN.

2) TO ATONE FOR SINNERS

This one is obvious.
Isaiah 53:4-6 “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”

Jesus came and bore the wrath that sinners deserved.
He atoned for the sins of the elect.

Hebrews 9:11-12 “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

It was redemption which Christ came to purchase.
If He didn’t suffer for sin then He could not atone for sinners.

Hebrews 9:22 “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

• If sinners are to be atoned…
• If the elect are to be justified…
• If anyone is to be granted access to the Father…
Then Jesus had to suffer and die for sin.

Prophecy, Atonement
3) HOLINESS

That is to say the very character and nature of God was on the line.

Now, you could say, “Not really, all God had to do was start killing sinners and then He’d still be holy.”

But what about all those sinners who died before Christ
That God didn’t judge?

Romans 3:25 “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;”

• God had demonstrated so much mercy in the Old Testament…
• God had, in effect, given so much credit to sinners…
• The debt was enormous of all the sin that had yet to be atoned for…

• The sin of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Solomon, Daniel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, etc.

Men of faith to be certain, but still sinful men and women.
And in God’s forbearance He had passed over their sin.

The debt remained and the holy character of God hanged in the balance.
Christ had to suffer to satisfy the holiness of God.

4) MERCY

This is the other side of that same coin.
• On one hand God had shown forbearance and there was an outstanding sin debt which must be paid.
• But on the other hand, apart from an atoning sacrifice God would never be able to offer mercy to anyone else because His holiness would not have allowed it.

That is why we also read in Romans 3
Romans 3:25-26 “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

It was the cross that allowed God to be both “just and the justifier”
• It allowed God to be Judge and Savior.
• It allowed God to be Just and Merciful.

JESUS HAD TO SUFFER.
He had to “be rejected by this generation.”

AND THIS IS WHAT JESUS TELLS THEM FIRST.

They wanted to know about the coming kingdom.
They wanted to know about His glorious reign.

Jesus first shows them what they needed to know.

• What they needed to know that first, He was going to suffer and die.
• And then they needed to know that He was going to leave.
• And then they needed to know that deceivers would be at work.
• And then they needed to know that He would return and it would obvious.

Now if you’ll think about it, this would be the message
That these men would take to the world.

They would go out preaching
The crucified Christ, resurrected, ascended, and returning.

In fact, now listen to Peter’s sermons in Jerusalem.

You remember Pentecost
• I read to you a moment ago about how Peter announced that Jesus was crucified by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.

But Peter wasn’t done.
Acts 2:32-36 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”‘ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ — this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Peter DIDN’T stand to preach about
• The day Rome would be overthrown
• And the lion would dwell with the Lamb.

Peter stood to preach about
• An atoning Savior
• Who had been rejected
• But whom God raised from the dead
• Who had ascended to heaven
• Whom God had made Lord and Christ,
• And who would one day return to judge the world.

Later in Acts 3; Peter’s second sermon.
Acts 3:17-21 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.”

There Peter again reminds the crowd of
• Their rejection of God’s Messiah
• And of His necessary death.

This time Peter does speak of a future day of refreshing and period of restoration,
• But it only comes after the day of repentance for having rejected God’s King.

And even though they were being arrested and beaten
For their message they kept on preaching.

Acts 5, Peter had been imprisoned and the Lord broke him out.
Later his enemies found him preaching once again.
Acts 5:27-32 “When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Same message isn’t it?
• You crucified Christ
• God raised Him from the dead
• He is ascended to the Father
• He is the King
• And you need to repent before it’s too late

It is clear that the disciples learned from Jesus.

Did they want to know about the kingdom? Of course they did.
Did they want to rejoice in all those glorious promises? Of course they did.

Do you want to know about that coming day? Of course you do.
Do you want to know about the future reign? Absolutely

But don’t let your desire to know of those things
Cloud the ministry that you are currently in.

Today
• You live in a time when Christ is not on earth.
• You live in a day of great deception and false Christs.
• And you are here that you might proclaim the truth regarding the necessity of His death.

This is where Jesus takes the curiosity of the disciples.

Now, next time we’ll actually listen as Jesus speaks
About the realities of His second coming and glorious reign.

And what you’ll see is that based upon the facts surrounding His coming,
YOU SHOULD BE ALL THE MORE EAGER
To preach His gospel to the world before He comes.

Download Here

Called To Glorify God
Psalms 66
March 15, 2020

Tonight I simply want to lay before you the expectation that
Your life is set apart as that which is intended to glorify God.

That’s certainly not far-fetched
Jeremiah 13:11 “For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen.’”

Isaiah 43:21 “The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.”

We were very much created for the enjoyment and glory of God.
The intent is that we will be a grateful creation
And give God the glory due His name.

The book of Psalms declares this over and over and over.

Tonight I want you to consider that calling and I want you to consider that calling FULFILLED IN TWO MAIN WAYS.

1) Through Your Faithfulness
2) Through Your Testimony

I want you to consider that you are called to bring glory to God
Both through your faithfulness and your testimony.

If you think about faithfulness, it is easy to bring to mind passages like:

Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

• We are reminded there that the burden of instigating worship falls to us.
• We are to “present” our bodies.
• And we are to present them as “a living and holy sacrifice”

Now someone may ask, what that means?
Well Paul lays it out throughout the rest of the chapter.
In fact, he concludes the chapter with 25 basic commands.

Romans 12:9-13 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”

• That’s just a portion of the list…
• None of those commands are easy.
• None of them come natural.

But when we die to self, and do it anyway,
It is a soothing aroma of faithfulness to God.
We do it and thus glorify God through that faithfulness.

That is what it means to glorify God through our faithfulness.
Basically, we live this life the way we have been asked to live it,
And the way we promised to live it when we were saved.

We are also called to glorify God through our testimony.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

It is God who chose us and rescued us from darkness
And therefore we are called to proclaim how excellent He is as a result.

We remember the Gadarene Demoniac who Jesus freed from a legion of demons.
Luke 8:38-39 “But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”

Very simply he was to bring glory to Christ
By telling everyone what had happened.

We see this continually.
Psalms 40:9-10 “I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, You know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.”

And there are many others, but you get the idea.
We glorify God through our testimony.

So I hold up to you this idea of faithfulness and testimony.

For Israel this was understood because of the ordinances of all of their feasts and Sabbaths and things of that nature.
• They were commanded to go to Jerusalem and celebrate things like the Passover or The Feast of Booths.
• They went in faithfulness and were proscribed to testify through those events of all that God had done for them.

But it seems that in many ways the modern day church
Has seen things like that as a burden and sought to throw them off.

Now, I’M NOT PRESCRIBING that we ought to be back under the Law
Or start attending feasts again.

But I AM TALKING ABOUT
The disappearance of things like faithfulness and testimony.

Christianity today has been plagued with statements like:
• “I can worship God anywhere”
• “Don’t have to go to church to worship God”
• “My faith is private”
• Or even, “I missed church because I had to go…”

You get what I mean.

Perhaps the Psalmist has seen that kind of a slide among his own people.

Psalms 66 is a simple and yet emphatic call
To remember that we are called to glorify God
Through our faithfulness and our testimony,
And it is such a wonderful reminder.

Now let me show you the occasion for the Psalm here.
(There is no descriptive heading as to when this Psalm was written)

What we do know is that God has recently delivered our Psalmist from his distress.

We see that in verse 13-14
“I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows, Which my lips uttered And my mouth spoke when I was in distress.”

• The Psalmist was in a period of distress, and we even see that during that
distress he made certain vows or promises to God.

• And now that God has delivered him from that distress he is here in
faithfulness to pay those vows.

• And as he pays those vows it is also his desire to testify before the world of
God’s great deliverance to him.

You see that in verse 16
“Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.”

So you see why this is personal to the Psalmist.
God has delivered him,
And he wishes to repay the LORD with faithfulness and testimony.

The Psalmist here also cries that
The rest of the world would join him in doing the same.

And that is actually where we begin.
The Psalmist starts with the public exhortation
Before he moves back to his own personal example.

But you at least now see the big picture of what is happening here in the Psalm.

There are 3 thoughts we can break this Psalm in to.
#1 HIS CALL
Psalms 66:1-12

Just in reading those verses the main point becomes clear.
• The Psalmist is campaigning for God to be rightly understood and thus rightly exalted.

There is THEOLOGY here by which we better understand God
There is EXALTATION here whereby we give God the glory He deserves.

Both are important in a call to worship.
You go deep in theology and then you can go high in exaltation.

To make the section easier, we break down the Psalmist’s call into 3 demands.
1) SING, BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN, AND IT IS INEVITABLE (1-4)

The command jumps out instantly.
“Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;”

This NOT just a call for the redeemed,
This is a call for the entire human race.
Everyone, everywhere is called upon to stop and give a joyful shout to God.

That is, they are called to ascribe to Him His goodness,
And express our joy for all that He has done for us.

• It is the opposite of grumbling where we shout angrily…
• It is the opposite of grieving where we shout in frustration…

The Psalmist wants the entire world to stop what they are doing,
Process all that God has done and “shout joyfully to God”

He continues in verse 2
By saying, “Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious.”

This adds a second element.
By speaking of “the glory of His name”
The Psalmist adds an understanding of the nature and attributes of God
Which are bound up in His name.

Much of our understanding of who God is; is bound up in His name.
• Jehovah Jireh – “The LORD Provides”
• Jehovah Rapha – “The LORD Heals”
• Jehovah Tsidkenu – “The LORD is our Righteousness”
• And so on.

So the Psalmist here is asking the world to contemplate
Who God is AND what God has done
And then to give Him the gratitude and glory He deserves.

In fact the Psalmist says “Make His praise glorious.”
• He is not an insignificant God so don’t bring Him insignificant praise.
• He is not an apathetic God so don’t bring Him apathetic praise.

As God asked the priests who disdained His service in the book of Malachi…
Malachi 1:6-7 “‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ “You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the LORD is to be despised.’”

Later God would say:
Malachi 1:11-12 “For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts. “But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’”

God is a glorious God so bring Him glorious praise.

And time would fail us
If we tried to break down all the benefits and glories of God.
At the very least He is our Creator and the Sustainer of life.
He is the Giver of every good thing.

Perhaps we should remember the TESTIMONY OF PAUL to the Athenians:
Acts 17:24-28 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’”

God is overwhelmingly good to humanity.
Even in spite of our sin, God remains gracious.
• Why did God not destroy all of humanity after the garden incident?
• Why did God give mankind a second chance after the flood?
• Why does God continue to send rain on the just and the unjust?

All the earth should most certainly glorify God joyfully.

In fact, the world’s failure to do this
Is credited for being the main reason for God’s wrath on the world.

Romans 1:21 “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Mankind is called to “give thanks” and “honor Him as God”

That is what the Psalmist is saying here.

• You should most certainly “shout joyfully to God”
• You should most certainly “sing the glory of His name”
• You should most certainly “make His praise glorious”

He also adds in verse 3 “Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works!’”

If you read the KJV you read the word “terrible” instead of “awesome”

That is because the Psalmist is transitioning from
An insinuation to worship to the inevitability of worship.

That is to say,
If you are unwilling to recognize that God DESERVES worship
Then you should at least recognize that God DEMANDS worship.

This is not optional.
It will happen.

As the sovereign Creator of all things,
Being worshiped by the creation is NOT UP FOR DEBATE. It will happen.

Isaiah 45:20-25 “Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; They have no knowledge, Who carry about their wooden idol And pray to a god who cannot save. “Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. “I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. “They will say of Me, ‘Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.’ Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. “In the LORD all the offspring of Israel Will be justified and will glory.”

Paul quoted that verse twice in the N.T.
Romans 14:11 “For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”

Philippians 2:10-11 “so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

When the Psalmist tells you
• To “shout joyfully to God”
• Or to “sing the glory of His name”
• Or to “make His praise glorious”

He isn’t really offering up a suggestion.
He is giving you a command that you will one day inevitably obey.

In fact, notice what he says at the end of verse 3
“Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.”

That is to say
• Even those who don’t love God will obey Him.
• Even those who hate God will exalt Him.
• Even those in hell will spend their every waking moment honoring and exalting and worshiping God.

It is inevitable.
(4) “All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.” Selah.”

Everyone will worship God.
Everyone will exalt Him.

And the Psalmist gives a “Selah” which wants you to ponder that.
• You say, “Gratitude is not really my thing…”
• You say, “Singing really isn’t my deal…”
• You say, “I’m really not in to glorious praise…”

The Psalmist says, “That is irrelevant. Sing because God is sovereign and it is inevitable.”

Sing, because God is sovereign and it is inevitable.
2) SUBMIT, BECAUSE GOD SAVES AND IT IS LOGICAL (5-7)

Whereas the first point appeals to your good sense
Not to resist that which is inevitable,
Here the Psalmist appeals to your good sense
To do what is proper or logical.

• It’s NOT just that you should worship because God can make you worship.
• It’s ALSO that you should worship because God deserves worship.

That is why the Psalmist gives you an invite:
(5) “Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.”

He wants you to “Come and see” all that God has done.
This is meant to inspire you that
He deserves the worship that He demands.

And what he wants you to come and see
Is that God does in fact judge the wicked in order that He might save His elect.

Again, I would tell you that the word there for “awesome”
Is rendered “terrible” in the KJV.

The Psalmist points out acts of judgment God has performed,
But they are acts of judgment which God performed
On behalf of His people whom He was saving.

(6) “He turned the sea into dry land; They passed through the river on foot; There let us rejoice in Him!”

There are two events referenced there.

The first is the parting of the Red Sea.
“He turned the sea into dry land.”

This was certainly a salvation for His people,
But it was also a judgment for Pharaoh and his people.
TURN TO: EXODUS 15:1-18

Moses worshiped God,
Not only for His salvation, but also for His judgment.

The second event referenced was the drying up of the Jordan
“They passed through the river on food;”

That again was salvation for the people,
But it was also judgment for all the nations
Whom the LORD was about to dispossess before them.

That is why the Psalmist referred to it as “awesome” or “terrible” deeds.

But what is important to be remembered is that
These were awesome deeds done on behalf of the salvation of His people.

That is the point.
GOD SAVES HIS PEOPLE!

Therefore, “let us rejoice in Him!”

In other words, worship is not just inevitable,
But it is also logical.

• How could you refuse to worship one who mightily delivers you from your enemies?
• How could you refuse to glorify one who intervened on your behalf?

To be such an arrogant and rebellious person
Would be the very essence of foolishness.

Which is what the Psalmist points out in verse 7
“He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.”

Here is the implication.
As far as worshiped is concerned you have TWO OPTIONS.
You will either exalt God or you will exalt yourself.

What manner of rebellious foolishness would choose the later?

Worship isn’t just inevitable it is logical.
• God is the Savior!
• God delivers His people!
• God judges His enemies!

Worshiping Him only makes sense.

Sing, because God is sovereign and it is inevitable.
Submit, because God saves, and it is logical
3) SHARE, BECAUSE GOD SATISFIES AND IT IS DESIRABLE (8-12)

Now we move into the 3rd aspect of the Psalmists call.
• Not only is worship inevitable (you’re going to do it)
• Not only is worship logical (a wise man would see that)

But worship is desirable.
And specifically sharing God’s greatness through worship is desirable.
That is to say, you shouldn’t just do it, but you should happily do it.

Notice the call:
“Bless our God, O peoples, And sound His praises abroad,”

• It is a call not just to worship, but to worship so that everyone can hear.
• It echoes the call to “Make His praise glorious”

In one sense this is a sort of MISSIONAL CALL.
Only here the emphasis is not for the benefit of the sinner,
But rather for the glory of God.

John Piper has the famous statement:
“Missions exist because worship doesn’t.”

It is meant to offer the perspective that
We don’t just go to the lost out of concern for the lost.
We go to the lost out of love for the Father.
He deserves to be glorified by all of His creation.

That is the call here.
“sound His praises abroad”

And the Psalmist says that this action is desirable.

You will notice that the Psalmist actually recounts
God’s sustenance through a dark and difficult place.

(9-12) “Who keeps us in life And does not allow our feet to slip. For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.”

In this statement you notice the important book ends.
• The statement begins with: “Who keeps us in life and does not
allow our feet to slip”

That is a promise of SECURITY.
“That of all You have given Me, I lose none”
“No one can snatch them out of My hand”
“Him who keeps us from stumbling”

• And on the back end of the passage is satisfaction. “Yet You
brought us out into a place of abundance.”

The word for “abundance” there is
The same word for “overflows” in Psalms 23:5

Psalms 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.”

The point then is that regardless of what God might walk us through
We can know two unchanging truths.
1) God will not lose us in the trial.
2) The trial will be worth it in the end.

And that is good reminder because the middle portion of this text
DOES SPEAK OF TREMENDOUS HARDSHIP.

• It even speaks of an intense sanctifying work where by God crushes the flesh in order to produce righteousness.
• It reminds us of that passage in Hebrews 12 where the Lord disciplines us for our good.

Hebrews 12:11 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

That is what we see here.
(10-12a) “For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water”

God indeed walks His people through difficult times,
But the whole time He secures them
And in the end He satisfies them.

Can you testify to that in your life?
• That regardless of the trial, God has held you and God has satisfied you?

• Can you echo Paul that all things work together for good?
• Can you agree with Jeremiah that God’s plans for us are for good to give a future and a hope?

OF COURSE YOU CAN.
Well then, “Bless our God, O peoples, and sound His praise abroad.”

Share of His glory because it is desirable.

So you understand the call of the Psalmist here.
• It is a call to “shout joyfully to God”
• It is a call to “sing the glory of His name”
• It is a call to “make His praise glorious”

Namely because
• He is sovereign and this type of worship is inevitable.
• He is a savior and this type of worship is logical.
• He is a satisfier and this type of worship is desirable.

And if that is the call to the world,
Then how much more should it be considered a call to the church?

And I’ll echo again, it doesn’t really matter to me
If singing is your thing or not.

Those of you who were here last week got an undisputable picture
Of what a horrible singer I am.
I couldn’t find a tune if you hit me in the forehead with it,
But my inability to sing doesn’t change the mandate.

I laughed last week at the Pastor’s Conference.
• During the second day of the conference I sat next to a man from Stephen
Butt’s church.
• Later in the day I was late getting to one of the sessions because the lines at
the book store were so long and I missed the first congregational song.
• After the service the man said, “Rory wasn’t here for the first song, and I could
actually hear myself singing.”

I can promise you this. There are many people who can sing better than me, but you’re going to have a tough time finding people who can sing louder than me.

That’s the only way that I can make His praise glorious.
If He can’t get anything else from me, He’s going to get a joyful noise.

“Shout joyfully to God, all the earth”

#2 HIS COMMITMENT
Psalms 66:13-15

Here we find that not only does the Psalmist offer an exhortation,
BUT ALSO AN EXAMPLE.

For here we find him walking in faithfulness to God.
• When he was in distress he made promises to God and far be it from him to forget about those promises.

It brings Jephthah to mind.

TURN TO: JUDGES 11:29-40

Now just to sort of set your mind at ease.
Most people seem to read that and think that Jephthah killed his daughter,
And then get all bent out of shape.

That is not what the text says.
• Jephthah did not kill her, he devoted her to the LORD.
• She did not weep because she was going to die, she wept for her virginity.
• She was kept from marrying.

But the point is that Jephthah understood
The importance of honoring a vow to God.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 “When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.”

We’ve certainly learned that lesson from Israel haven’t we?

What about those who came to God crying out for salvation and in return pledged to deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him?

It seems only fitting that those people
Who entered that agreement should keep their end of the deal
And not take the Lord’s name in vain.

That is what the Psalmist is saying.
I made vows to God, and I am going to keep those vows.

It is glorifying God through his faithfulness.
And now he is bringing those burnt offerings of bulls and male goats.

We serve a great God.
He deserves glory.
And one of the ways we glorify Him is through our faithfulness.

I’ve told you that with the youth on Wednesday nights we are studying through John.
• A few weeks ago we came upon the story of Mary and how she poured that vile of alabaster perfume on Jesus’ feet even to the reproach of the disciples.

• Jesus said that she did it for His burial.
• She did it out of love for him.
• It was a measurable act of love to our Lord.
• And we asked ourselves, “How does Jesus know that I love Him?”
• (Aside from me just saying I do)

Is there anything measurable
In the arena of faithfulness that would indicate that?

The Psalmist holds up his commitment
And then asks you to follow his example.

His Call His Commitment
#3 HIS CONFESSION
Psalms 66:16-20

First the Psalmist asked for us to keep our commitments to the Lord,
BUT HE ALSO ASKED US to share His praise with others.

Here the Psalmist does that.
He leads out by example to show you what it means to glorify God with your testimony.

Psalms 116:12-19 “What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I shall lift up the cup of salvation And call upon the name of the LORD. I shall pay my vows to the LORD, Oh may it be in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones. O LORD, surely I am Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds. To You I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, And call upon the name of the LORD. I shall pay my vows to the LORD, Oh may it be in the presence of all His people, In the courts of the LORD’S house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!”

That is the Psalmist’s exact sentiment here.
“Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.”

And then notice the steps of salvation here.

1) I CONFESSED (17)
“I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue.”

• That is calling on the name of the Lord.
• That is confessing with the mouth that Jesus is Lord.

But if you’ve read Romans 10 you know that
There is a reason a person confesses.
The confession of the lips is the result of belief in the heart.

Romans 10:10 “for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

The reason the Psalmist confessed is because he believed.
And you see that next.
2) I BELIEVED (18)
“If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;”

That is what we call being “pure in heart”
That is to say his belief was not fake.
His confession was legitimate because his faith was real.

The Psalmist said that the Lord saved him,
Not just because he confessed but because the confession
Came from a heart that was pure and truly believed.

That is what you call a testimony.
3) I WAS SAVED (19)
“But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.”

I believed so I confessed and God heard and saved me.

4) I PRAISE HIM (20)
“Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer nor His lovingkindness from me.”

So because God saved me, now I praise Him!
That is a testimony isn’t it?

And now the Psalmist says: JOIN ME!

How about you?
• Any vows to the Lord that you have failed to keep?
• Any commitments that you made to Him that you are lacking in?
• Are you proclaiming His praise to the world?
• Are you making His praise glorious?
• Are you testifying of His goodness to you?

That is the emphasis of this Psalm.

We are called to be a people who glorify God in this world.
We were created for this.

And according to Psalms 66 we do it
Through our faithfulness and through our testimony.

I would encourage you to go and do likewise.

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A Pastor’s Encouragement During The Corona Pandemic
Selected Scriptures
March 15, 2020

What a week we have had here in the United States
Our culture is being turned upside down over the threat of this Corona Virus.

I typically try to avoid such “trending” topics in our day
And much prefer to just rest in devoted Bible exposition.

And yet, this week I was compelled.
• We saw the cancellation of NCAA sports.
• We saw the suspension of the NBA
• We saw the delay in the start of the MLB
• Colleges canceled classes
• The Houston Livestock Show canceled their event
• Even Little League mandated a delay to practices, meetings, and games

And that is just a portion of the list.

By Friday I began to get emails and to see Facebook posts
Regarding whether or not churches should close their doors
And cancel services as a result of the threat of this virus.

Even as I was typing this sermon President Trump issued
“A state of National Emergency” in our country.

And so I am compelled to address the issue.
So if you will allow me a rare interruption to sort of do a little shepherding here and hopefully set your mind in the right direction.

• Now first of all, it is of little interest to me to use this pulpit to discuss things
scientific, medical, or political.
• I certainly have my own personal thoughts regarding the degree of threat this
virus holds and the reasons why it is being so discussed,
• But you have your thoughts on that too, and at the end of the day it’s all
nothing more than speculation.

Rather this morning I would be fine to concede to anyone
Who sees this as the deadliest threat that ever reached American soil.

I don’t personally think it is, not even close, but what if it is?

Suppose you are in greater danger of death today
Than at any time during the Civil War, the Cold War,
Or any other time of sickness or suffering.

And perhaps there are some who see it that way this morning.
What then?

If this is as bad as some people think, where are we supposed to settle on this as the church of the living God?

As representatives of Christ in this world,
How do we respond to such a threat?

Well, there are just a few things I would like to remind you of
TO HELP GROUND YOU THIS MORNING.

The first one (and you may not like this one) is this.
YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO ESCAPE DEATH ANYWAY.

We often laugh at teenagers who like to see themselves as invincible,
But the panic that has ensued this past week
Would cause one to legitimately question
Whether some people actually expected to live forever?

So let me remind you again of the incident in the garden.
• God said not to eat from the tree.
• Adam and Eve did eat.

And upon Adam we read this curse.
Genesis 3:17-19 “Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”

In short, because of sin,
God cursed this world and appointed that death was coming.

And it doesn’t take long to see it.
• In chapter 4 of Genesis we see Cain rise up and kill Abel.
• Also in chapter 4 Lamech killed a man for wounding him.

• And then we get to chapter 5 where Moses begins to list the “generations of Adam” and one by one we see the same heading.

Genesis 5:5 “So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.”

Genesis 5:8 “So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.”

Genesis 5:11 “So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died.”

And so on and so forth throughout the chapter.
“and he died…and he died…and he died”

• And if that is not enough we come to Genesis 6 where God floods the entire world because of its sin.

And of that event we read.
Genesis 7:21-22 “All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind; of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died.”

The simple point is that from the beginning death has been appointed.
We know it to be the wages of sin.

And what is more, we are told in Scripture that
God has sovereignly ordained the span of our life.

Psalms 139:16 “Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”

Paul spoke to the Athenians.
Acts 17:26 “and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,”

So we know that death is coming.
The writer of Hebrews says that “is appointed for man to die”

And we know that God is sovereign over the timing of that death.
And that alone should be A COMFORT to you.

• The sovereign God of the universe has appointed your days.
• He has appointed my days.

Even before the Corona virus I was never going to live
One second longer than the Lord appointed.

What most people have failed to realize during all of this
Is that death was already waiting for you at every turn.

Jesus said:
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…”

Peter said:
1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Even before Corona virus, the enemy, the god of this world,
Would GLADLY KILL YOU AT ANY SECOND.

It has been nothing less than the sovereign prerogative of God
Which has kept him from it.

I am quite certain that there are for more things in this world
That can kill you at any moment than just the Corona virus.

As one man said, “You take a chance getting up in the morning, crossing the street, or sticking your face in a fan.”

We hear of shocking and unexplainable deaths daily.
• Drunk driving accidents occur and kill families
• A young man I’ve known through Little League died two weeks ago at 28 years of age because he had a seizure and didn’t wake up.
• I’ve heard many speak this week of how young Bug Moore was.
• My dad died at age 60 of cancer
• Others have lost children at young ages

The simple point is that
If you were not keenly aware of the possibility of death
Before the Corona virus then you just weren’t paying attention.

• Death has been called “The Debt That All Men Pay”
• Others have reminded that “No one gets out of this world alive.”
• Others have commented that “Life itself is a terminal illness.”

God has appointed that because of sin, death will touch us all.

• So I hate to burst your bubble, but you were never going to escape death
anyway.
• It has been appointed.
• God already knows when it will be and how it will happen.

BUT I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU THAT GOD WOULD NOT HAVE YOU LIVE IN FEAR OF DEATH.

Now, certainly as believers we are aware that death is coming,
But at the same time we know THAT FEAR OF DEATH
Was something God has sovereignly chosen to SET US FREE from.

We read in Hebrews regarding the incarnation of Christ.
Hebrews 2:14-15 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

Christ came in human flesh
So that He could die and ultimately defeat death
So that you and I would never have to fear it again.

We undoubtedly believe that death is not the end for believers.
Jesus said:
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

The apostle John saw the resurrected Lord who told him:
Revelation 1:17-18 “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”

Jesus conquered the grave.
Death no longer has power.
Death no longer has victory.

Paul said:
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

And then Paul said:
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

You are getting the point.
Death is certain, but Jesus has said we do not have to fear it.

And it was with this hope that Paul told the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

Peter said it like this:
1 Peter 1:3-9 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

Peter would remind you that Jesus Christ came, died, and rose again
To conquer the grave.

And as those who have been found in Him,
We no longer need to fear death.
We have what Peter called “a living hope”.

Thanks to Jesus, we look beyond the grave to “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed”

That is a remarkable promise.
• It doesn’t matter if we face trials…
• It doesn’t matter if we face death…
• We have hope that transcends the grave.

Hear Paul say:
Philippians 1:21-23 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;”

Those who are in Christ have a “very much better” home awaiting us
That is considered as “gain” when compared to the pains of this life.

In short, we are certainly not called to fear or even dread death,
As the worst it can do is usher us into the presence of our Savior.

We are certainly those who believe that death is not the end
For those who are in Christ Jesus.

SO THE NEXT POINT is that I would remind you as the church of Jesus Christ and as the pillar and support of the truth that you do not walk in fear like the world around us.

For a Christian to walk in fear and paranoia
Is an absolute contradiction to the message of hope
That we are offering to the world.

It does not say much for our faith in Christ’s resurrection
When we allow fear of death to rule our lives.

And I would simply remind you of that.

Jesus said:
Matthew 10:28-31 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”

I would certainly point you first to the end of that verse and remind you that AS A CHILD OF GOD YOU ARE VERY VALUABLE TO HIM.
• He set His love on you.
• He has chosen you for salvation.
• He is intimately acquainted with all your ways.
• He cares for you.

Jesus said that He has assessed value to you.
There is no need to fear when you believe
That the God of the universe is for you.

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Now, having said all that, I hope as the church
You are settling back into your purpose, and your doctrine,
And your message, and why we are here in this world.

THIS CRISIS ACTUALLY AFFORDS US A VERY GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

We get a real chance to be salt and light in this world that is currently in chaos.
Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Salt is that which gives flavor.
• We, as believers in Jesus, have that which is life indeed.
• We know what true satisfaction is.
• We know joy in the midst of loss.

And it is in times of national fear and unrest
That we can best demonstrate that.

• If you say “To live is Christ, to die is gain” during a time of ease who cares?
• But if you confess that during a time of national threat and loss, now your words mean something.

Jesus said we are light.
• We don’t run with the darkness,
• We don’t fear the darkness,
• We dispel the darkness with truth.

So I’m going to tell you that
While your Christian witness is always important,
It is especially important during times like this.

I haven’t received THIS QUESTION from any of you,
But it has been posed to me from various other people and platforms.

The question of should we just cancel church and go digital?
I certainly feel compelled to answer that for you as well.

First of all, if you’re sick and running fever and all of that stuff,
• By all means stay home. I’d tell you that if it was strep or flu or anything else.
• Two weeks ago, Carrie and I did just that.

Secondly, precautions aren’t bad,
• We aren’t asking people to walk in arrogant foolishness.
• I’m ok suspending the handshaking time.
• I don’t care if you brush your teeth with hand sanitizer.
But what we’re talking about is the canceling of worship services Over FEAR of a disease, or over the THREAT of something bad.
And this is one of those places where the church gets to rise above the culture.

We cannot forget that in times like this
OUR SIMPLE OBEDIENCE AND WITNESS ARE MORE IMPORTANT.

We have read the command haven’t we?
Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

That verse reminds us that we need each other.
We need corporate encouragement.
We need corporate exhortation.

And that is far more than just listening to a sermon.
It is a grave mistake to assume that digital worship in your home
Is a suitable substitute for physical worship with the church.

As people begin to blur that line
And act like you can worship God just as effectively
From the seclusion and safety of your home,
I would remind you that Biblically speaking, that is not true.

NOW AGAIN,
• I’m not saying that sick people should come anyway (you wouldn’t have done that before the virus)
• I’m not saying it’s wrong to be wise and take precautions.
• I’m not even opposed to all the churches who have canceled services this week in places where the threat is real and they have done so out of compliance to a governmental request or out of concern for their neighbor.
• These things happen.
• We do that when the roads are too icy

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND TAP THE BREAKS
Before people start seeing canceling worship services as “no big deal”
Or digital worship “as a suitable substitute”.

Make sure that when those decisions are made
That they are made out of compassion and not out of fear.
Make sure they are done out of submission to God’s word
And not in disregard of it.

• The church is appointed to meet.
• We are commanded to meet.
• We are not at liberty to forsake that command out of fear.

Perhaps for a little more encouragement here.
You are all aware of Martin Luther the great reformer.

Many remember his trial where he was asked to recant.
What many don’t know is that this was not the only major dilemma faced while in ministry.
• In 1527 the Bubonic plague approached Wittenberg.
• The same plague that could kill within 3 to 10 days and which at the time boasted a 70% death rate.
• Instead of fleeing Luther chose to stay in Wittenberg and minister to the sick.

But here’s what I’d have you understand.
During this time is when Luther is believed to have written his famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

He didn’t write it while on trial for his faith,
He wrote it while facing a deadly disease.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing
Our Helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe
His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate
On earth is not his equal

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He
The Lord of hosts His name, from age to age the same
And He must win the battle

And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him

That word above all earthly pow’rs, no thanks to them, abideth
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also
The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still
His kingdom is forever

Whether we speak of physical enemies or biological ones
We are not those who are given to fear.
We see our God as a mighty fortress.

Luther wrote that song in response to his study of the 46th Psalm.
Psalms 46 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.”

That is a great reminder to us all.
There is no need to be given over to fear or dread.
We have a great God in whom we take refuge.

So my encouragement to you as the church
In the midst of this official pandemic and state of emergency is this.

Do not lose your hope or your faith or your courage.
• We have on our side the living God who has not only created us and appointed
our days, but who has also redeemed us and given us a living hope.

We shall not fear, what can man do to me?

And at the same time I would encourage you to put your faith and resolve on display.
• There is a world out there that needs to see your faith, not just hear about it.

It is perhaps as important now as it has ever been
For you to physically attend church and corporately worship.
It is perhaps as important now as it has ever been
For you to go and minister to others and proclaim the gospel.

Don’t let the hysteria of the world change you.

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

We will go out as lights in the midst of the darkness.

THAT IS MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU WHO ARE REDEEMED.
• To you who have fled to Jesus for refuge and forgiveness.
• To you who have believed that Jesus died and rose again proving Himself to be the only Savior.
• To you who have repented of your sin and confessed Jesus as Lord.

Take Paul’s advice as he contemplated the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

BUT TO YOU WHO DO NOT BELIEVE.
To you who for whatever reason have not confessed Jesus as Lord.

To you I would say, the Corona virus is nothing
Compared to what God has in store in eternity.

To look at a verse we saw a moment ago one more time.
Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Perhaps what is most frustrating regarding this entire response
Is not necessarily the panic over the potential of death,
But the fact that we are society that gives such little concern
To what occurs after death.

And if we learn anything from the Bible,
It is what occurs after death that should really occupy your mind.

We have a day where people are far more concerned
About sanitizer for their hands than sanctification for their souls.

And to that I would also remind you that
You can go to heaven with Carona Virus on your hands
But you cannot go there with sin in your heart.

Hebrews 12:14 “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”

The writer of Hebrews said if you don’t receive sanctification
Then you will not see the Lord.
That is to say you will not be saved.

Do we remember the sobering warning of Jesus?
Matthew 18:8-9 “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. “If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.”

As we have said so many times before,
It’s not the first death you should fear
It’s the second death that you should fear.

It is absolutely the pinnacle of foolishness
That our world would go into hysteria to avoid a death that is certain,
And yet would give such little thought to avoiding the second death
Which through Jesus is avoidable.

Friend you’re not going to escape death in this life,
But through Jesus you can escape judgment.

If nothing else, let this Corona threat be a warning to you to just how fragile life is.
• You never know when death may come for you.
• There are literally threats that you cannot see which can kill you.

And at that moment, if you stand before God apart from Christ,
All that you can anticipate is judgment.

Hebrews 9:27 “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,”

EVEN CONSIDER LUKE’S GOSPEL FOR A MOMENT.
For what Jesus says here is a pertinent warning
Even in the midst of the crisis we face today.

READ: LUKE 17:22-37

He speaks of two great judgment events that occurred in the past.
• The first was the flood and the second was Sodom and Gomorrah.
• And if you’ll notice Jesus gave parallel realities that occurred in both places.

(26-30) “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.”

What Jesus speaks of there was the suddenness of judgment.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE OBLIVIOUS OF JUDGMENT.
(Concerned about the things of life, unconcerned about the coming judgment)

• They were “eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage”

• In Sodom “they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building”

And in a flash, in a moment, judgment came
And all their trivial cares were proved insignificant.

In some ways the Corona virus has given you a warning.
• They can tell you that it is here.
• They can tell you the symptoms.
• They can tell you forms of treatment.
• They can tell you who is most at risk.

But the judgment of God is not like that.
• The Bible teaches that when Jesus returns it will be just as sudden as the flood which broke out upon the earth.
• The Bible teaches that when Jesus returns it will be just as sudden as the fire that fell on Sodom and Gomorrah.

And the clear warning from the Lord
Is that you not be too worried about the wrong life.

You say, “What do you mean the wrong life?”

(31-33) “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. “Remember Lot’s wife. “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”

The danger is people who forsake eternal life
Because they are totally consumed with this physical life.
It speaks of a wrong priority.

And as a chief example you have “Lot’s wife”
Who when leaving Sodom turned to look back and became a pillar of salt.

She became an eternal illustration of the foolishness of being too concerned with this life and not nearly concerned enough with the next.

There are far greater and more dangerous things
Coming to this earth than the Corona virus.
Someday Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead.

If you think stocking up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer is important,
Might I encourage you to consider stocking up on righteousness because that is the only thing that will save you from the wrath that is to come.

If anything good comes out of this Corona virus,
Let it be that during the midst of this virus the church stood strong
And let it be that the fear of death
Drove men to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.

Matthew 10:28-31 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”