I was Glad

Other than my time in the military, when I was stationed at a place where church attendance was not an option, I have attended church almost every Sunday.  I am pretty sure that I could count on my fingers the times that I have missed.  I have always considered attending church to be worth my time.

I.  I Was Glad:  Psalms 122:1

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

This verse includes two parts; our attitude and our actions.  We should have a good attitude when we go to church.  When we attend church we will most likely spend time in praise, time in prayer, time with God’s people and time in the Word.  The attitude with which we do each of these things will make a significant difference.  Have a good attitude!  God can use poor music and a stumbling message if our hearts are open.  (Of course, good music and an anointed message is even better!)

It is necessary to actually go.  Some of us have gym memberships that we never use.  We may have good intentions, but it is necessary to follow through.

II.  Exhort One Another!   Hebrews 10:24-25

 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

It is not just about us.

Our attendance at church is good for us, but that is not all there is to it.  We can be an encouragement to each other to “stir up love and good works”.    You may think that your presence goes unnoticed, but each and every person contributes something to the overall experience.  Church is diminished without you.  Like a scarecrow in a field, sometimes just being there is enough.  Of course, for most of us we can contribute more, a friendly smile, a warm greeting, listening to someone’s story, there is much that we can contribute if we are open to being led by, and used by, God.

III.  Give Thanks:  I Thessalonians 5:18

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

There are two basic categories for the experiences that we will have in life.  They are either good or bad, with all kinds of variations and levels.  It is easy to thank God for the good things, they are, after all, good.  Yet we can thank God for the things that are bad as well.  We are promised in Romans 8:28 that “ ^…all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ”  We don’t always understand, and some things are very painful in the moment, but God can ultimately use all things for good.  Furthermore, we can be thankful that God has promised to be with us always.  We do not face difficult times alone.  God is with us.  We can be very thankful for that assurance. 

It is God’s will that we give thanks.  Sometimes things happen that are not according to the will of God.  Both angels and humans have free will and they can do things contrary to the will of God.  Now, God is able to ultimately orchestrate all things for our good and for His glory.  There is a difference between the will of God and the plan of God.  God is all knowing and can weave things together in a way that we cannot understand with our human faculties, but we can trust Him and give Him thanks.

 

These are the sermon notes from 11/19/17.  All quotes are from the New King James Version of the Bible.  Any advertisements that might appear are placed by WordPress.  I have no control over them, nor do I receive any money from them. 

One Thing

Our head is in the clouds, but our feet are firmly planted on earth.

I.  My Strength:  Psalms 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?

God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.  He is pure goodness, there is no evil in Him.  He is our source of salvation, there is no other way.  He is our source of strength.  We can do whatever it is that He wants us to do because He will give us the wisdom and strength that we need.

II.  One Thing:  Psalms 27:4

One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.

I have been a Christian all my life.  I remember being picked up from the nursery at church.  I remember when falling asleep in the pew was a good thing because it meant you were quiet.  I remember asking Jesus into my heart at about age seven.  I remember powerful times of worship and prayer during my tweens and teens.  I remember the sense of God calling me into the ministry in my twenties and I remember the years of ministry in the local church.

Through all of it the true desire of my heart is, and has been, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to dwell in His house forever.

III.  Seek:  Psalms 27:8

When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

Although I have spent a lifetime serving God and recognize that I have only begun to know Him.  I desire to seek His face, but the cares and concerns of the world demand attention.  Still, I try to open my eyes to His presence.  Since God is everywhere, I should be able to see Him anywhere.

Lord, open my eyes that I may see you.

IV.  Teach:  Psalms 27:11

Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

We may be able to be in the presence of God, but we live here on earth.  We need God to guide our steps, to teach us how to live as His children, to be His people.  God’s ways are not our ways.  May God help us to hear His voice and to be obedient to His Word and His Spirit.

V.  Hope:  Psalms 27:13

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living

Christians should always have hope.  God will help us.  Maybe not in the way that we desire of expect, but God will give us the wisdom to know what to do and the strength to do it.  God will do what needs to be done that we cannot do.

We can trust Him.

VI.  Wait:  Psalms 27:14

Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Just as God’s ways are not our ways.  God’s timing is not our timing.  Be patient.  Wait on the Lord.  Things will work out in His way and in His time.

Throughout the journey of this life, may our eyes be open to the beauty of the Lord.  May we live our lives according to His plan for us.  May His will be done in our lives, and to God alone be the glory!

 

These are the sermon notes from 10/29/17.  All quotes are from the New King James Version of the Bible.  Any advertisements that might appear are placed by WordPress.  I have no control over them, nor do I receive any money from them.