Back to Bethlehem

This is a short message that was delivered following the choir's presentation of a cantata titled, "Take Me Back to Bethlehem." The message stresses the need for believers to seek a renewed enthusiasm about the awe and wonder of the incarnation. It also urges believers to seek a renewed excitement regarding the moment of their own conversion and spiritual birth.

Written excerpts: (There was no audio recording.)

We have just listened to the choir sing several songs about the birth of Christ. The title song was called, “Take Me Back to Bethlehem.” The song says, “Take me back to Bethlehem. Let my heart be filled again with wonder, awe and wonder. Let me hear the angels sing. Flood my heart with mystery and wonder, awe and wonder.” The song calls for listeners to “return to Bethlehem” in their minds and hearts in order to discover the wonder and awe all over again.

Being removed over 2,000 years from the original event, as well as hearing the story so many times can bring us to the place where the story really doesn’t move us anymore. 

When we sing, “Take me back to Bethlehem,” we are praying for God to revive the wonder of His marvelous gift to humanity. We pray for the realization to overwhelm us anew that God loved us so much He sent His own Son to be born in an obscure village, in a livestock shelter.

I also would like to use the message in this song as a challenge for all of us to again be awed and amazed by the events surrounding our own spiritual awakening and conversion. Just as “a return visit to Bethlehem” is meant to renew the awe over God’s miraculous revelation in human flesh, so our own return to the events leading up to our conversion to Christ should inspire a renewed sense of wonder at the wonderful grace of Jesus!

For those of us who have known the Lord for a number of years, if we’re not careful, we can lose the thrill and wonder of what Christ did for us as we get used to the daily routines of living.

Do we really appreciate His saving grace as much as we did when He saved us? Are we still excited to know that our sins are forgiven, and the load of guilt is gone? Have we become complacent about obeying His Word and fulfilling the mission He has assigned to His followers? Do we recall a greater zeal and intention to be 100% committed for God? What comes to your mind when you remember how you felt when Jesus came into your life?

I trust that everyone of us here today will be uplifted, inspired and challenged. May God instill within our hearts a new excitement and awe about His salvation provided through His own Son who was sent to earth.

Maybe there are some here today who have not yet put your faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. You have not surrendered your will to the will of God. I hope that you will feel the same sense of awe and wonder over the Christmas story this year that it will bring you to the point of confessing your sins to God and asking Him to forgive you and take over the control of your life.

Christmas time is a good time to seek the Lord.

Promises, Promises

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This is a sermon given on the second Sunday of Advent for this year. The message relates to the prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah, which are promises of God's intervention in history. It not only examines some of the promises that have been fulfilled, but also speaks about the qualities of the "Promise Maker." It concludes by giving reference to a few of the promises that God will still fulfill.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

How easy are promises made? 

How easy are promises kept?

We’ve probably all experienced some remarkable examples of broken promises as well as promises kept.

THE EGG PROMISE (From SermonCentral.com)

Two brothers were getting ready to boil some eggs. "I’ll give you a dollar if you let me break three of these on your head," said the older one.

"Promise?" asked the younger.

"Promise!"

Gleefully, the older boy broke two eggs over his brother’s head.

Standing stiff for fear the gooey mess would get all over him, the little boy asked, "When is the third egg coming?"

"It’s not," replied the brother. "That would cost me a dollar."

This story reminds us of the times we have been disappointed by failed promises. (It's also a reminder to always read the fine print!)

Here’s a story of a promise kept:

ASTOR'S PROMISE (Taken from SermonCentral.com)

One stormy night an elderly couple entered the lobby of a small hotel and asked for a room. The clerk said they were full, and they would probably find so were all the hotels in town. "But I can’t send a fine couple like you out in the rain. Would you be willing to sleep in my room?" The couple hesitated, but the clerk insisted.

The next morning when the man paid his bill, he said, "You’re the kind of man who should be managing the best hotel in the United States. Someday I’ll build you one." The clerk smiled politely.

A few years later the clerk received a letter containing an airplane ticket and an invitation to visit New York. When the clerk arrived, his host took him to the corner of 5th Avenue and 34th Street, where stood a magnificent new building. "That," explained the man, "is the hotel I have built for you to manage."

The man was William Waldorf Astor, and the hotel was the original Waldorf-Astoria.

Christmas is the story of a promise kept!

As I was meditating about the message God wanted for today, I began thinking again about the many times in the Christmas story when the Scripture says, “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet.” (Or some similar wording.) A few years ago, I spoke about the same topic and tried to address some of the questions people often have about the general role of prophecy and its fulfillment. Today, I would like to once again look at the matter from a little different angle as we continue to look forward to the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

I want to speak to you today about the matter of God keeping His promises. After all, the birth of Jesus was a fulfillment not only of a prophecy, but a fulfillment of a promise.

I.          Attributes of the Promise Maker

I assume that many of God’s attributes come into play when we talk about the fulfillment of promises, but I want to specifically mention a few.

A. Omniscience – God is infinite with regards to knowledge and understanding. 

Psalm 139:1-6 “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. ²You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. ³You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. ⁵You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.”

Psalm 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.”

What does it mean to say God is omniscient?

(A.W. Tozer) He possesses perfect knowledge and therefore has no need to learn… He has never learned and cannot learn. 

(Arthur Pink) He knows everything actual and everything possible. 

(Dale Yocum) God not only knows every choice we will make, but every alternate choice we could have made. (Middle knowledge)

I believe God’s infinite knowledge is essential for the unfailing fulfillment of promises because one of the frequent causes of broken promises is the rise of unexpected events or circumstances that remove it from the realm of possibility.

Sometimes people make a promise with every intention of keeping it, but before the promise can be fulfilled, some event happens that neither party anticipated, and it becomes impossible to carry it out.

However, God isn’t surprised by events and circumstances. God’s knowledge is infinite. He knows the future as well as the present. 

B. Omnipotence – God is unlimited in power, might and ability.

Some Scripture references that help us define the omnipotence of God:

Jer. 32:16b-17 “…I prayed to the Lord, saying: ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”

Psalm 115:3 “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.”

The putting these two verses together led one theologian to explain:

 (Wiley) Omnipotence is “that perfection by which God is able to do all that He pleases to do.”

(Tozer) It means having all power. The Anglo-Saxon word, “Almighty” is identical in meaning to omnipotence. The word “Almighty” is used 56 times in our English Bible and is never used of anyone else but God.

(Charnock) “The [unlimited] power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and … the infinite purity of His will may resolve…. Power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the Divine nature. How vain would be the external counsels if power did not step in and execute them. 

“Without power, His mercy would be but feeble pity, His promises an empty sound, and His [warnings] a mere scarecrow….”

I mention omnipotence because it seems that this is another attribute that is intimately involved in carrying out every promise that God has made. There is no possible chance that God could make a promise He isn’t able to perform.

II.        Character of the Promise Maker

A. Faithful – When we speak of the faithfulness of God in regard to keeping promises, we go to those biblical texts that refer to God as a covenant-keeping God.

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV)  Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

1 Kings 8:23 (KJV)  And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: 

Nehemiah 1:5 (NKJV)  And I said: "I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,

These are three examples from different time periods in biblical history. Moses, Solomon and Nehemiah all describe the Lord as one who “keeps covenant and mercy.”

It is comforting to know that the God who makes promises to His people is a faithful God and a keeper of covenants. Many times, in the Scripture we read of God withholding judgment and showing mercy because of the covenant He had made to Abraham or to David.

B. Goodness

(Packer) When the biblical writers call God “good,” they are thinking in general of all those moral qualities which prompt His people to call Him “perfect,” and in particular of the generosity which moves them to call Him “merciful” and “gracious,” and to speak of His “love.”

Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.

Just shortly before this God had said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you…” (Ex. 33:19).

(Packer) Within the cluster of God’s moral perfections there is one in particular to which the term “goodness” points…. That is the quality of generosity.

(John Oswalt) The Hebrew word “chesed” is often translated “loving kindness” and is never used regarding pagan deities, only associated with the Lord. 

It signifies the passionate love and care of a superior being for inferior beings.

God makes promises and keeps promises because He is Good!

C. Holiness – Supreme moral excellence; the absolute exclusion of every conceivable principle of moral evil, and the possession, in an unlimited degree, of every conceivable principle of moral good.

Exodus 15:11 “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

Obviously, His holiness is intimately related to His goodness.

Holiness is a moral attribute that means it is impossible for God to behave in any way that is contrary to His own nature of goodness, love and truth. He cannot lie.

It all boils down to the fact that He can be trusted because of the kind of God He is.

Throughout the Bible, especially the OT, God is revealed as nothing like the pagan gods. He isn’t fickle. He isn’t unkind and evil.

III.       Promises Fulfilled by the Promise Maker

A. To Abraham – I will make you a great nation

Genesis 17:3-5 (NKJV) ³  Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: ⁴  "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. ⁵  No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.

B. To Judah (through the prophet Jeremiah, et.al.) – Remnant will return from captivity in 70 years.

Jeremiah 29:10 (NKJV)  For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.

C. To David – Someone will come and rule forever

2 Samuel 7:12-13 (NKJV) ¹²  "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³  He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Then, a verse we used last week…

Isaiah 9:7 (NKJV)  Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Angel Gabriel’s message to Mary…

Luke 1:32-33 (NKJV) ³²  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. ³³  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

Conclusion:    Promises We Can Expect Him to Fulfill

Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)  'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

This promise was written to a specific people in a specific time period, but it is a promise what we can claim for ourselves.

Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)  "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. (Can also claim for ourselves.)

 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 14:3 (NKJV)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Closing Song: God Has Spoken by His Prophets

What's in a Name?

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This is a sermon given on the first Sunday of Advent this year. It uses Isaiah 9:6 as the main text to talk about the various names or titles that were ascribed to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Names were always significant in eastern cultures, especially in biblical times. Each name provides an additional truth about the character and/or mission of the Messiah.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

A short time ago I was scanning through various sources to get some ideas I might use for sermons during Advent, I came across a short series of messages published by Dr. Stephen Olford. Each sermon focused on one of the names (or titles) given by Isaiah in the passage we read earlier. 

As I pondered that verse and those names, I thought a great title for this sermon would be, “What’s in a Name?” The more that I thought about that, the more it seemed like I had heard that phrase before, so I was motivated to go to the source of all knowledge – “Google!” I discovered that indeed I had heard the phrase before. It is a quote from Shakespeare’s work, “Romeo and Juliet.”

Juliet is speaking to Romeo and referring to the bloody feud between her family and his family. Juliet knows that the family feud prevents her from loving a Montague [which is his family name]. As she ponders it, she concludes it’s only his name that is the enemy. If he had any other name it would be fine. 

So, Juliet poses the question, “What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” In other words, Romeo would still have all the desirable attributes that he has, even if he were not a Montague. (https://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/whats-in-a-name/)

What’s in a name? Maybe Romeo doesn’t have to be a Montague. Maybe a rose doesn’t have to be called a rose. However, in eastern cultures, particularly during biblical times, names were always significant. Over and over throughout the Scriptures people would give names to their children that were filled with significant meaning. Sometimes God even provided certain names to be given to children. At other times God Himself changed individual’s names to reflect significant changes God had done in them and for them.

So, when the prophet Isaiah proclaims the message of the Lord and says that a child is going to be born and a son is given, he then continues to provide the names of this child. These are names given by God Himself.

I want to take the opportunity today to review the names that were provided and explore their significance in relation to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. But, before we do that, let’s notice a few points of context in this significant passage.

Verse 6 starts with a conjunction “for” which is the third verse in succession to begin in that manner. 

OT scholar, John Oswalt, explains in his commentary: There is joy [see v. 3] because God has delivered from oppression [v. 4], and he does that because he has brought an end to war [v. 5]. But how will he do that? This verse supplies the answer. It lies in the coming of a person, thus fitting biblical thought throughout. Ultimately, God's truth is not merely in the realm of ideas; ultimately, it is meant to be incarnated (cf. Mal. 2:17-3:1…). 

Malachi 2:17-3:1 (NKJV)  You have wearied the LORD with your words; Yet you say, "In what way have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the LORD, And He delights in them," Or, "Where is the God of justice?" "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. 

(Oswalt) …then what is the meaning of the emphasis upon this person as a child? Surely, it is for two reasons. First, it emphasized that … the divine ruler will not merely be God, but although partaking of the divine attributes, will have the most human of all arrivals upon the earth, namely, birth. The expected perfect king will be human and divine.

I.          Wonderful Counselor

lit. – “a wonder of a counselor.” 

(Oswalt) So this counselor is a wonder because his counsel goes beyond the merely human.

(Tyndale OT Commentaries) – It is the nearest word Hebrew has to the idea of ‘supernatural’, here bringing a wisdom far above the human….

The word comes from a root word that includes the idea of miraculous. The thought being conveyed here is that this Counselor is a wonder because His knowledge and wisdom is far above human ability so that it can be described as supernatural or miraculous. He counsels in the sense of providing perfectly prudent advice and direction; and in the sense of providing empathetic comfort and reassurance in times of deep despair, sorrow and perplexities.

This child did come. He grew up and is “highly exalted.” He is the perfect counselor for every person in all kinds of troubling situations.

II.     Mighty God

(Oswalt, New International Commentary) Wherever ʾel gibbôr occurs elsewhere in the Bible there is no doubt that the term refers to God (10:21; …). [Isaiah 10:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰  And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. ²¹  The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God.] 

(Oswalt continues) This king will have God's true might about him, power so great that it can absorb all the evil which can be hurled at it until none is left to hurl (53:2-10; 59:15-20; 63:1-9).

For example, chapter 53 describes the horrible treatment the “suffering Servant” will endure, but this does not destroy Him nor deter Him from His mission.

This child has both the attributes of deity and humanity.

His strength is infinite.

III.    Everlasting Father

(Oswalt, New International Commentary) It is either the royal bombast typical of the ancient Near East, which is, in fact, atypical for Israel, or it is a serious statement of a sort of fatherhood which will endure forever. 

(Tyndale OT Commentaries) Everlasting is both general (26:4 “…in the Lord is everlasting strength”) and specific (57:15 “… the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity…”). When [the Israelites] requested a king (1 Sam. 8) they wished to replace the episodic rule of the Judges with the permanency of monarchy. The King to come is the ultimate fulfilment of this longing. 

Father: used of the Lord, ‘father’ speaks of his concern (Ps. 65:5), care and discipline….

(Oswalt, Ibid) When one sees that God's fatherhood is such that it does not impose itself upon its children but rather sacrifices itself for them, it becomes plain that "everlasting fatherhood" must be of that sort.

I’ve mentioned in previous sermons that some former Muslims have testified that the discovery of God as a “father” was something unfamiliar to them, but tremendously appealing.

A few years ago, Gerald Mershimer, Jr. was the preacher for the Fellowship Camp in Circleville. One of the messages he preached was about “father wounds” in which he talked about the scars that many people carry throughout their lives due to the wounds of a father – absent; abusive; etc.

In this child that is proclaimed by Isaiah we have an “Everlasting Father.” One who is perfect, and always here.

IV.    Prince of Peace

The fourth title (name) provided for this child provides an indication of royalty. 

(Oswalt, New International Commentary) Prince of Peace. It is appropriate that this title should come as the last of the series, for it is the climactic one (cf. 32:16ff). [Isaiah 32:16-18 (NKJV) ¹⁶  Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness remain in the fruitful field. ¹⁷  The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. ¹⁸  My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,] 

(Oswalt) What sort of king is this? He is a peaceful king, one who comes in peace and one who establishes peace, not by a brutal squashing of all defiance, but by means of a transparent vulnerability which makes defiance pointless. Somehow through him will come the reconciliation between God and man that will then make possible reconciliation between man and man….

Rom. 5:1 – “… we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:18 (KJV)  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

Conclusion:

(Tyndale OT Commentaries) – The perfection of this King is seen in his qualification for ruling (Wonderful Counsellor), his person and power (Mighty God), his relationship to his subjects (Everlasting Father) and the society his rule creates (Prince of Peace). 

(Expositor's Bible Commentary, Rev.) It is important to note that although the first three names can certainly [be used to designate] God himself, this is hardly true of the last of them. In fact, as Wegner notes, the noun translated “prince” is always used of human leaders (1Sa 2:8; 1Ki 1:19; Jer 26:11). If this name applies to the king, then surely the other three also must, so that the four names taken together point to one who is both fully divine and truly human. 

Closing song: That Beautiful Name

Thanksgiving Choirs

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This sermon discusses the OT book of Nehemiah, chapter 12, where the writer makes reference to "thanksgiving choirs" that were utilized in the celebration when the rebuilt wall around Jerusalem was dedicated. The sermon provides some contextual details and then points out four observations from the passage and applies them to our responsibility to join the Lord's "thanksgiving choirs."

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Nehemiah was a Jew living in exile in Persia. He was a cupbearer to the king of Persia, so he held a very trusted position of importance. He had received word from some who had already returned to Israel from exile that the walls of the city were still in total ruin. He grieved over the condition and he received authorization from the king to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. 

There was great opposition from their enemies, who lied about them and tried to undermine their efforts. You probably remember hearing how Nehemiah organized families to rebuild portions of the wall near their homes. He also organized them so that some were working while others stood guard; as well as even having some carry their weapons while they worked. Once the work was finished, it was time to celebrate. 

(Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary) This ceremony of consecrating the wall and gates of the city was an act of piety on the part of Nehemiah, not merely to thank God in a general way for having been enabled to bring the building to a happy completion, but especially because that city was the place which He had chosen. It also contained the temple, which was hallowed by the manifestation of His presence, and anew set apart to His service. It was on these accounts that Jerusalem was called "the holy city," and by this public and solemn act of religious observance, after a long period of neglect and desecration, it was, as it were, restored to its rightful proprietor. The dedication consisted in a solemn ceremonial, in which the leading authorities, accompanied by the Levitical singers, summoned from all parts of the country, and by a vast concourse of people, marched in imposing procession round the city walls, and, pausing at intervals to engage in united praises, prayer, and sacrifices, supplicated the continued presence, favor, and blessing on "the holy city." 

In verse 31, Nehemiah stated that he “appointed two thanksgiving choirs,” which provided the idea for my sermon title today. One choir went to the right hand on the wall...

Verse 38, the other thanksgiving choir is mentioned as going the other direction on the wall.

Verse 40, both thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God.

On this Thanksgiving Sunday, before we celebrate the sacrament of communion, I want to point out a few observations from the account of the Thanksgiving Choirs in Nehemiah.

1.         Singers, musicians, and others were reinstated to their former responsibilities. (vv. 27-29)

One of the things that Nehemiah and also Ezra did was to re-establish the groups of singers and musicians the way King David had set them up years earlier. These musicians are summoned to Jerusalem to help celebrate the dedication of the wall.

Decades had passed and there was a lot of sorrow and heartache that they had experienced, but God kept His promise to bring them back to their own country. God isn’t finished with them yet as a nation, and those who had been tasked with leading the people in praise to the Lord were once again put into service, as before.

There may be various reasons why some even today experience a long separation from the worship and praise of God. But God isn’t finished with us. If we return to Him and cooperate with Him, He will still give us the opportunity to be useful in His service again.

2.         There is an expected preparation required to be fit for the true worship of God. (v. 30)

Nehemiah 12:30 (NKJV) Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall. 

(Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) – The verb [purified] occurs ninety-four times. It is used almost exclusively of ritual or moral purity, most frequently of the purification necessary to restore someone who had contracted impurity to a state of purity so that he might participate in ritual activities (Lev 22:4-7). The Levites are said to have cleansed all that was holy in the temple (1Ch 23:28) and the temple itself (2Ch 29:15) during the times of revival. Ritual purification was intended to teach God’s holiness and moral purity (Leviticus 16:30 For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.).

God had laid down very strict procedures for purifying the priests, Levites, utensils, and buildings that were to be used in the service of God. It was a direct object lesson for them to illustrate the “otherness” of God and the fact that God cannot tolerate any kind of moral/ethical impurity or evil. 

That’s why Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.” (1 Cor. 10:21) We either belong to God or to the devil. We can’t have a little of both.

The true worship of God with the kind of joy expressed here requires the worshipers to be pure – wholly devoted to God and God alone.

3.         The singers (choirs) were full of joy and enthusiasm. (vv. 42-43)

The Scripture says that they sang “loudly,” and they rejoiced with “great joy.” It also states that the women and children were included in addition to the designated singers or choirs.

It is hard to comprehend or imagine the excitement and celebration that was happening. The enthusiasm flowing through the crowds of people must have been profound. They certainly had reason to celebrate… Defeated, exiled, city / temple destroyed, and wall broken down in ruins. Now that has all been recovered at least to a large degree.

They were expressing their joy so intensely; it is described in verse 43 that the “joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.” I wonder if people around us feel the “joy of Wayside Church?” Are we a people that are excited about what God has done for us; individually and collectively?

4.         It appears that all of the joy and celebration motivated generosity among the people. (vv. 44-45)

It may be nothing more than a reporting of what was happening – i.e. the tithes were collected. However, it does specifically mention, “for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered.”

After God brought them back into their own land, helped them rebuild the temple and the wall, and now has been worshiped and praised in the dedication festivities, there is a level of excitement and joy building that is contagious. Contagious spiritual joy almost always produces generosity. These Jews were bringing their tithes and gifts so that the priests and Levites could be supported just like God originally ordained years earlier.

Even today, when people get excited and joyful over the things God is doing for them, they want to share the joy with others through a genuine spirit of giving, benevolence and generosity that results.

Conclusion:

On this Thanksgiving Sunday, I hope that everyone of us will accept the privilege of being in God’s “Thanksgiving choir” spiritually speaking.

Communion is a special time to thank God for His salvation.

Closing Song: There Is a Fountain

A Hymn of Praise

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This sermon is based on Psalms 103 and expresses the appropriateness of giving praise to the Lord at all times, but especially during the season when our nation recognizes a national day of Thanksgiving. In the Psalm, David provides an appeal for personal praise; a sampling of God’s attributes; and an exhortation for universal praise. 

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

A few years ago, I had the privilege of attending a class at Grove City College called “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement.” It truly gave me a much larger, different and better perspective on the topic of “missions” than I previously had. I think it was the very first class in which the instructor reminded us that our primary purpose in life is to glorify God. We are expected and instructed to offer Him all our adoration and praise. 

That instructor is also the one who first introduced me to “Cat and Dog Theology!” 

A cat says: “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.”

A dog says: “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, You must be God.”

Cat theology – What can I get or benefit from God? Dog theology – How can I honor/bless/direct praise to God? “Dogs” worship God primarily for Who He is. “Cats” worship God primarily for what He’s done for them.

There was another instructor later in the course who made the statement, “God deserves to be worshiped by every person in the world.”

During this time of the year we are encouraged to express our thanks to God as we celebrate the National Day of Thanksgiving. It is fitting and right for us to give thanks to the Lord for all the daily blessings He provides for us, but we must always realize that God is worthy to be praised and worshiped even if He didn’t give us so many wonderful blessings. Why? Because worship is all about Him, not us.

So today, I want to direct our attention to a Psalm that gives us some clear admonitions about offering praise to the Lord. I have referred to this Psalm as “A Hymn of Praise.” You may know that many of the Psalms were sung by the ancient Jews during sacrifices at the temple. In fact, King David organized teams of musicians to take turns providing music at the temple. So I think it is very appropriate to call this Psalm “A Hymn of Praise.”

What does King David have to say regarding the matter of giving praise to the Lord?

David provides an appeal for personal praise; a sampling of God’s attributes; and an exhortation for universal praise.

Let’s review the verses of the Psalm to discover what David has to say about these matters.

I.          An Appeal for Personal Praise (vv. 1-5)

“Bless” – The Hebrew word used here stems from the word for “knee” and is believed to be linked to the usual custom of kneeling to receive a blessing.

(The Treasury of David, Charles Spurgeon) - You have often heard, that when God is said to bless men, and they on the other hand are excited to bless him, the word is taken in two very different senses. God is the only fountain of being and happiness, from which all good ever flows; and hence he is said to bless his creatures when he bestows mercies and favors upon them, gives them any endowments of body and mind, delivers them from evils, and is the source of their present comforts and future hopes. But in this sense, you will see there is no possibility of any creature [to bless] God; for … his infinite and unblemished perfection renders him incapable of receiving any higher excellency, or improvement in happiness; …. To bless God, then, is, … to acknowledge those divine excellencies, which render him the best and greatest of beings, the only object worthy of the highest adoration: it is to give him the praise of all those glorious attributes which adorn his nature, and are so conspicuously manifested in his works and ways. 

A. Praise shall come from the “soul.”

1. “Soul” – “represents the whole man” (Keil & Delitzsch). That aspect which joins the spirit and body thus representing the whole person.

2. “All that is within me” – (NIV) “my inmost being.” (BDB; TWOT) “inward part(s).”

(Keil and Delitzsch Commentary) The ‏[inward parts]‎ is choice expression for the heart, which is called ‏…the reins, the liver, etc.; for according to the scriptural conception (Psychology, S. 266; tr. p. 313) these organs of the cavities of the breast and abdomen serve not merely for the bodily life, but also the psycho-spiritual life. 

(Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) …he has nothing else in mind than a full commitment to the act of giving thanks. There is no thought of a separation between “soul” and “inmost being” (lit., “my inner parts”) or between “soul” and “body,” because in Hebraic thought the worshiper praises the Lord with his or her entire being.

Therefore, though the words “soul” and “inmost being” or “all that is within me” are used, the point clearly is that we are to direct praise to the Lord with every aspect and fiber of our whole being.

B. Praise shall be directed to the Lord.

1. Lord (YaHWeH) This is the same word that God used to reveal Himself to Moses, “I Am that I Am.” The All-Present One; The All-Sufficient One…

As I stated at the beginning of the message, the Lord deserves the adoration, worship and praise of every living creature in the world. 

C. Praise includes thanks for His benefits

1. Forgiveness of sins

Psalm 103:3 (NKJV)  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 

 (Tyndale Commentaries) He begins by remembering that God forgives sin. Sin creates a barrier between humanity and a holy God, but God will forgive the sin of a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17 _(KJV)  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.). 

2. Healing

Psalm 103:3 (NKJV)  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 

 (Tyndale Commentaries) - Indeed, the connection between forgiving sin and healing may indicate that the psalmist himself is thanking God for healing him from sickness that he believed was connected to his sin (a connection made explicit in Psalm 38:3, There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin.).

I’ve heard preachers use this verse to “prove” that God will heal every disease if we believe Him and trust Him. Emphasis on “all.” They say “all your diseases” is to be understood in the same way as “all your iniquities” in the first half of the verse. However, we know from comparing other Scripture and using Scripture to interpret Scripture, that God does not always heal every disease.

My answer is this: He forgives all the sins that are within His will to forgive, and He heals all diseases that are within His will to heal. According to the Bible, there is only one sin that God will not forgive – the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

3. Redemption

Psalm 103:4 (NKJV)  Who redeems your life from destruction… 

Redeems from the “destruction.” The NIV translates as “pit.” It is the same word sometimes translated as “grave” and “hell.”

4. Crowning of life and Satisfying desires

Psalm 103:4-5 (NKJV) … Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵  Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

 (Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised) The Lord “satisfies” and “renews.” He “satisfies” his children with all the blessings of the covenant … so as to “renew” them like an “eagle” (Isa 40:31). The eagle serves as a symbol of vigor and freedom associated with the benefits of restoration to divine favor and covenantal status.

II.        A Sampling of God’s Attributes (vv. 6-19)

These verses discuss some of the attributes of God who is our object of praise. Remember, He deserves to be praised and honored for Who He is, not merely for what He does.

There are four specific attributes mentioned here, with the third one described in much more detail than the others.

A. Righteousness and Justice (v. 6)

Psalm 103:6 (NLT2)  The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. 

B. Self-Revealing (v. 7)

Psalm 103:7 (NLT2)  He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. 

The heathens worshiped gods and goddesses who were always shrouded and hidden in mystery, so that the worshipers were constantly “searching to find out what pleases them and what they expected.” In contrast, our God reveals His character/nature; He openly states what pleases Him; He performs deeds that reflect His nature.

C. Merciful and Gracious (vv. 8-18)

Psalm 103:8-18 _(NLT2) The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. ⁹  He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. ¹⁰  He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. ¹¹  For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. ¹²  He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. ¹³  The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. ¹⁴  For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. ¹⁵  Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. ¹⁶  The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. ¹⁷  But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children ¹⁸  of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! 

D. Sovereign (v. 19)

Psalm 103:19 _(NLT2)  The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. 

III.       An Exhortation for Universal Praise (vv. 20-22)

(Matthew Henry) The Lord has a throne of his own, a throne of glory, a throne of government…. He takes [notice] of all the inhabitants, and all the affairs of this lower world, and disposes all persons and things according to the counsel of his will to his own glory; His Kingdom rules over… all kingdoms and from it there is no exempt jurisdiction.”

A. Praise must come from heavenly beings. (vv. 20-21)

1. They are called angels and hosts.

2. They possess strength unequaled on earth.

3. They obey and serve.

B. Praise must come from His works. (v. 22)

“Works” – That is, God’s creation. His works are located or evident in all places of God’s dominion or universe.

Psalm 19:1-4 _(NLT2) The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. ²  Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. ³  They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. ⁴  Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. 

C. Praise must come from Psalmist himself. 

Last phrase is a repetition of the opening lines in verses 1 & 2. 

It looks as if King David, after exhorting all of God’s creatures and creation to praise the Lord, wants to make sure to include himself in that same chorus of praise.

Conclusion:

As we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends this season, let us all be sure to give praise, honor and adoration to the Lord.

He is worthy to be praised!

There is no one who compares to Him!

Closing Song: Let All Things Now Living

The Sower, the Seed, and the Soil

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player shown.)

This sermon is based on the parable told by Jesus in Matthew 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8 about the four kinds of soil upon which the seed of the Word has fallen. The message uses the interpretation Jesus provided regarding each of the soils and applies them to the present day. Emphasis was given for listeners to do what is necessary to make sure the soil of their own hearts is properly prepared to produce a good harvest.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

The passage of Scripture we will be looking at today is one of the parables that Jesus gave to teach an important point about salvation and the kingdom of God. Parables were usually realistic stories about different facets of life that included a life lesson. They were not necessarily real incidents, but they were reflections of real life. They always brought out a vivid bit of truth to illustrate key principles of the Kingdom of God.

Today’s parable is a story that clearly relates to farming or gardening. Any farmers/gardeners here? This is a teaching story that shares some great insights about the effectiveness of God’s Word in the lives of people who receive it.

I want to turn our attention first of all to the Sower and the Seed because they are constant amid a description of soil that is changing.

1. The Sower – In the parable itself, every hearer would understand the sower to be a farmer, gardener, or some other tiller of the ground. 

The sower is not identified in the parable or even in the explanation of the parable provided by Jesus. The closest we find to any kind of identity for the sower is given in the parallel passage of Mark 4:14, “The sower sows the word.”

Who sows the word? Pastors, Evangelists, Missionaries, teacher, and every disciple of Jesus. All followers of Jesus are called to make disciples. That includes spreading the word.

2. The Seed – The seed represents the Word of God. 

Luke 8:11 (NKJV)  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Just a couple of weeks ago I spoke about the Word of God. It is authoritative; reliable; and effective. 

It is given by inspiration of God – literally “God-breathed.”

It is an instrument of conviction – Heb. 4:12, “quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword.”

It is an instrument of instruction and enlightenment. Ps. 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

It is forever established. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my Word shall never pass away.”

When we talk about this story and the effectiveness of the seed, we are not just talking about today’s newspaper or headline news, but we are speaking about the infallible and all-important word of God.

3. The Soil – When Jesus gives the explanation of the parable, He describes the condition of the soil and how it reacts to the seed. 

There are four different kinds of soil that Jesus describes for us that represent the four different kinds of reactions the Word of God has in the hearts and lives of individuals who receive the Word.

A. Wayside Soil – The first kind of soil mentioned is described in the KJV as along the “wayside.”

Some other translations use the word “path” or “road.”

This description highlights the fact that Jesus was probably describing a sower that is “broadcasting” seed; not planting it under the surface of the soil as we normally would do in our culture.

In Matthew’s portrayal of the parable, Jesus says the seed by the path/wayside represents the Word that is heard but is not readily understood. In Mark and Luke’s reports, it emphasizes the fact that Satan comes and snatches the Word before it has a chance to get down into the ground.

There is the implication of “hardness” because of the path/road that has been traveled so much it has packed the earth. So the seed cannot penetrate the soil before the birds/devil comes and snatches the seed away before it can take root.

The “soil” of this heart needs to be plowed, dug up and softened in order to take the Word in.

B. Stony Soil – The heart of a person who hears the Word and receives it with joy (gladly). To him it is good news!

There is no depth. Stones haven’t completely prevented the introduction of seed into the earth, but they prevent the seed from getting any roots deep after germination.

The stones would represent all those things that rob a person of the amount of time and attention it would take to dig deeply so the roots of faith can grow deeper and stronger.

Jesus says the thing that destroys the seed/Word in this person’s life is persecution and opposition.

C. Thorny Soil – This soil is described as soil that has something else growing alongside the seed of the Word.

The soil isn’t hard, and it isn’t shallow apparently, but it is producing thorns and thistles right along with the good seed.

Jesus said that the thorns represent two/three different things:

1) Cares of life – Everyday cares, burdens and pressures of life. Anything that seems legitimate, but it takes our focus and vision off of spiritual priorities and onto material/physical matters.

2) Deceitfulness of riches – Just a little bit more will be enough.

I’ll just postpone attending to spiritual needs for a little while until I acquire… / until I accomplish…

Every time a decision is made to neglect the attention needed for spiritual development and growth it becomes easier to do it again. Procrastination is contagious.

3) Desires for other things/Pleasures – Matthew does not add this third category, but it is mentioned in Mark and Luke.

Things that appeal to the desires of the flesh and can be bought with the deceiving riches.

The effect of these thorns is fruitlessness. The plant has grown, but it is bare. It is good for nothing. It has produced no fruit to bless and benefit anyone.

This is the person that lasted much longer than the ones who encountered persecution and tribulations and died out. But over the course of time allowed other priorities to choke out the attention to the Word and the fruit that it should naturally bear.

(JFB) They still have the form or profession (the plant) but it doesn’t bring any fruit to ripened condition.

D. Good Soil – The implication is that the good soil has the opposite conditions and qualities of the previous three.

Not hard. Not stony (has depth). Not overrun with thorns.

Fruit – the proof of good soil and proper nurture of the seed and plants.

Conclusion:

Which kind of soil are you? Which kind of soil am I? 

We can rely on the work of the Spirit to help us properly prepare “the soil of our hearts,” but He won’t do it for us.

There is some responsibility on our part to tend to the heart soil. God won’t take away the stones and cause us to have some depth. He won’t remove the thorns that choke out the plant life, so we stay focused on spiritual things rather than worldly things.

Those are our responsibilities. May the Lord help us to take care of our heart life.

The seed is powerful and wonderful if we give it the proper attention and care.

Closing song: Wonderful Words of Life

A Normal Christian Life

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player shown.)

In recognition of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, this sermon was given based on 2 Timothy 3:12, "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." The message emphasizes the fact that suffering for the name of Christ was a normal expectation for first century Christians and for thousands or millions of Christians today.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

What is normal? Someone said, “’Normal’ is the setting on your washing machine!” Some psychologists have promoted the idea that no one is “normal.” Every person has some psycho-social hang-ups, or personality quirks. I think this might be a definition we all can agree on: Normal is whatever I am; abnormal is whatever you are!

How do we apply the word “normal” to the Christian Life? What is normal for the Christian? I suppose we could develop another series of messages on this topic, couldn’t we?  If we took a poll of all the Christians we know and asked them what the Christian life is normally like, we probably would get some very interesting responses.

Among all of the different answers we could provide for what a “normal Christian life” involves, there is one answer provided for us in the Bible. It is normal for Christians to face opposition from the enemies of Christ.

Today, as we give recognition to the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, I wanted to take this opportunity to briefly look at some of the passages in the Bible which describe persecution as a normal part of being a Christian.

In Paul’s 2^nd letter to Timothy he literally states, “all who will live godly shall suffer persecution.”

With the help of God’s Spirit, I want to speak about the conditions that foster persecution; the Christian expectation of persecution; and the preparation to overcome persecution.

The Conditions that foster persecution:

2 Tim. 3:1-9

This section of chapter three the Apostle Paul describes the conditions of the “last days” and “perilous times.” 

For a long time, people have debated about what exactly Paul means by the term “last days.” Some believe it is referring to the end of time, while others point out that biblical writers (Hebrews for example), considered their own era as the “last days.” 

“God has, in these last days, spoken unto us by His Son.” (Heb. 1:2)

My purpose today is not to discuss the exact period of time Paul is describing, but to simply point out the kind of time he is describing. It is a time when people have turned away from the truth in pursuit of all types of pleasure and self-gratification. Those conditions are ripe for evil to excel and righteousness to be attacked. 

We have seen limited instances of people suffering legal attacks and even some physical attacks for their faith in this country. I believe with all my heart that if we do not experience a genuine revival and spiritual awakening in our country then we will witness a continuing rise of persecution that will progressively get more severe.

The Christian expectation of persecution:

2 Tim. 3:10-13

Paul clearly indicates that persecution is a normal expectation for the child of God living in a spiritually hostile world. Paul isn’t the only one that felt persecution was a normal part of the Christian’s life.

John 15:20 (NKJV) Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

Acts 14:21-22 (NKJV) And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

1 Peter 4:12-13 (NKJV) Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

The Preparation to overcome persecution:

2 Tim. 3:14-17

It is not accidental that Paul emphasizes the value of Scripture in this context of suffering persecution in an environment of evil. It is as if he is blaring the truth out – the most reliable remedy against persecution is immersion in the Word of God.

Mark 4:16-17 (NKJV) These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ^[17] and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.

Contrast the condition of these represented in the parable with the people Paul is describing when he writes to the Corinthian believers.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NKJV) We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

Conclusion:

We need to be praying for our brothers and sisters who suffer for Christ. 

We need to be preparing ourselves for the potential time we may also suffer for Christ. (Immerse ourselves in the Word of God.)

We must realize that no amount of persecution can separate us from the love of Christ.

Romans 8:35 (NKJV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Our closing song asks a question: “Am I a Soldier of the Cross?”

Am I prepared to fight the good fight of faith, recognizing that there are going to be hard battles and that it is not going to be easy? Am I prepared to endure hardship as a good Soldier and even suffer at the hands of those who hate our Lord? Neither Jesus nor the Apostles presented the gospel message and the Christian life as something that was going to be nice and easy, or a “bed of roses” as we sometimes say.