Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons:  And His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful - Isaiah 9:6     
                                                                                       And His Name Shall Be Called Counsellor - Isaiah 9:6     

Isaiah 9:6-7 reads, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulders: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Now, the fullness of this promise and prophecy has not yet been fulfilled.  The Lord Jesus Christ has not yet come in the fullness of His glory as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule and reign over the whole world from the throne of David in Jerusalem.  Yet the fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has indeed begun to be fulfilled.  Unto us that Child has been born.  Unto us that Son has been given.  The zeal of the Lord is already at work.  God the Father has already sent God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be born into this world as God in human flesh.  The fulfillment of this promise and prophecy has already begun in Christ’s first coming, and most certainly the fulfillment will be completed in Christ’s second coming.  Amen, and amen.  “Even so come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)

However, the focus of this message is not upon the coming of our Lord, but upon the char-acter of our Lord.  In the closing portion of verse 6 five titles are given to reveal the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son who was given to be born in human flesh – “And His name [His title] shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  In this message let us consider five truths concerning the third of these titles – “And His name shall be called . . . The mighty God.”

Now, the phrase, “The mighty God,” refers to the one true and living God who is almighty in His eternal Person and in His sovereign works.  So then, in what ways is our Lord Jesus Christ to be called The mighty God?

Thought for Meditation

The Lord our God is not seeking to bless us
because He views us as having some powerful ability that He can use.
Rather, the Lord our God is seeking to bless us
with the abundance of His almighty power because we have no useful ability in ourselves.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to five previous sermons:
                Blessed Be the Most High God - Genesis 14:19-20    
                The Most High Ruleth - Daniel 4:32    
                The Most High Uttereth His Voice - 2 Samuel 22:14    
                Sing Praise to the Name of the Lord Most High - Psalm 7:17    
                Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High - Psalm 91:1    

Psalm 77:10-12 reads, “And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.  I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”

In Psalm 77:1 the psalmist Asaph presented a summary for the entire psalm, saying, “I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.”  Yet the opening portion of this psalm (encompassing Psalm 77:2-8) does not present a scenario in which Asaph had a positive attitude toward the Lord.  The context and circumstance in which Asaph wrote this psalm was one of great trouble.  Even so, in Psalm 77:2-4 he stated, “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.  I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.  Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.” 

Now, in the midst of this great trouble, Asaph did remember the Lord his God.  Yet at first his remembrance of God did not bring him to a place of comfort, but to a place of complaint.  Again in Psalm 77:2-3 he stated, “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.  I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.”  At the first Asaph’s prayer to God and remembrance of God brought him to doubt and question God’s loving care.  At the first he was not comforted or encouraged in the Lord his God.  Rather, at the first he complained against the Lord for allowing such trouble in his life and for not removing it more quickly from his life.  Even so, in Psalm 77:5-9 Asaph expressed his complaint against God, saying, “I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.  I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.  Will the Lord cast off for ever?  And will he be favourable no more?  Is his mercy clean gone for ever?  Doth his promise fail for evermore?  Hath God forgotten to be gracious?  Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.”  Indeed, at the first Asaph doubted and questioned the loving kindness of God, and the goodness of God, and the everlasting mercy of God, and the faithfulness of God, and the abundant grace of God, and the tenderness of God.  At the first Asaph, in the midst of his great trouble, had a negative attitude of complaint against the Lord his God.

Yet in the opening line of Psalm 77:10, Asaph confessed his wrong attitude, saying, “And I said, This is my infirmity.”  He acknowledged and confessed that his negative attitude of complaint against the Lord his God was his infirmity, his wrong doing, his sinful iniquity.  Even so, with this confession Asaph began the process of correction and change in his attitude toward the Lord his God.  With this confession Asaph turned the focus of his heart away from his troubles and away from his complaint against God for those troubles.  With this confession Asaph turned the focus of his heart toward God’s past faithfulness and toward God’s faithful character as demonstrated by His past faithfulness.  In Psalm 77:10-12 he declared, “And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.  I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”  Having confessed his sinful attitude of complaint against the Lord his God, Asaph committed himself to enter into a three-step process for correcting and changing his attitude toward the Lord his God.  First, he committed himself to remember the faithfulness of the Lord.  Second, he committed himself to meditate upon the faithfulness of the Lord.  Third, he committed himself to testify unto the faithfulness of the Lord.  He committed himself to remember, to meditate, and to testify.

Yet upon what specific works and characteristics of the Lord his God did Asaph focus his remembrance, meditation, and testifying?  Yea, upon what specific works and characteristics of the Lord our God should we focus our hearts in our times of trouble, in order that we might have an attitude of comfort and encouragement in our Lord, rather than an attitude of doubt and complaint against our Lord?  What specific works and characteristics of the Lord our God should we remember, meditate upon, and testify unto, as we consider “the years of the right hand” of the Lord our God, the most high God?  The answer is to be found in the closing portion of Psalm 77, in Psalm 77:13-20.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to three previous sermons:  Blessed Be the Most High God - Genesis 14:19-20    
                                                                                         The Most High Ruleth - Daniel 4:32    
                                                                                         The Most High Uttereth His Voice - 2 Samuel 22:14    

Psalm 7:17 reads, “I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.”  The Lord our God, as the most high God, is indeed worthy of our worship, praise, and thanksgiving.  Yes, “it is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD,” and to sing praises unto His holy name. (Psalm 92:1)  He is the Most High, and He is worthy.  Therefore, we should commit ourselves daily to lift up our praise with our whole heart unto the name of the LORD most high.  Even so, through a study within the book of the Psalms, let us consider five aspects in which the Lord our God, as the most high God, is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons:  Blessed Be the Most High God - Genesis 14:19-20    
                                                                                       The Most High Ruleth - Daniel 4:32    

2 Samuel 22:14 reads, “The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.”  The Lord our God as the most high God does indeed utter His voice in this world.  He does indeed involve Himself in the affairs of this world.  Yea, the Lord our God as the most high God does indeed move and work in the midst of our lives.  Even so, through a study within the book of the Psalms, let us consider seven characteristics of the Lord our God, the most high God, specifically in His relationship to His people and to this world.

Thought for Meditation
This meditation is a companion to a previous meditation: Not Knowing What, but Knowing & Trusting Who (Pt. 1)

An individual with full assurance of faith in the Lord God
does not know how it is all going to work out, but he does know and trust
the God who is going to work it all out.

Outlines in Psalms

Psalm 145:1-2 – “David’s Psalm of praise.  I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.  Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.”

1.  The Lord is to be praised greatly for His greatness. (Psalm 145:3-6)
2.  The Lord is to be praised greatly for His goodness. (Psalm 145:7-9)
3.  The Lord is to be praised greatly for His gloriousness. (Psalm 145:10-13)
4.  The Lord is to be praised greatly for His graciousness. (Psalm 145:14-20)

Psalm 145:21 – “My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.”

Outlines in Psalms

“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.”

1.  Because the Lord is gracious. (Psalm 147:2-3)
2.  Because the Lord is great. (Psalm 147:4-5)
3.  Because the Lord is good. (Psalm 147:6)

“Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.”

4.  Because the Lord provides. (Psalm 147:8-9)
5.  Because the Lord shows favor. (Psalm 147:10-11)

“Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.”

6.  Because the Lord blesses His people. (Psalm 147:13-14)
7.  Because the Lord reveals His Word. (Psalm 147:15-20)

“Praise ye the LORD.”

Meditations in Exodus

In Exodus 3:16-17 the Lord God instructed Moses to go unto and gather together the elders of Israel and to deliver the Lord’s message of deliverance unto them.  Then in the opening line of Exodus 3:18, the Lord God declared, “And they shall hearken to thy voice.”  Yet in Exodus 4:1 Moses questioned the Lord God on this matter – “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.”  In response the Lord God provided Moses with a series of miraculous signs, with the purpose “that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.” (Exodus 4:5)  Even so, we are taught through these miraculous signs of our Lord God’s sovereign power over the matters of our lives.

Outlines in Psalms

Psalm 74 can be divided into three divisions:
              I.  The Complaint of a Troubled Heart (Psalm 74:1-11)
             II.  The Turning Point of a Confident Faith (Psalm 74:12-17)
            III.  The Cry of a Trusting Heart (Psalm 74:18-23)

Under the second division, we find great truth concerning who our Lord God is and what our Lord God does, con-cerning His character and His conduct.

Meditations in Exodus

This meditation is a companion to a previous mediation: What Is His Name? - Exodus 3:13-15 (Part 1)      

Exodus 3:13 reads, “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”

In Exodus 3:9-10 the Lord God expressed his call upon Moses to send Moses as His instrument of deliverance for His people Israel.  In verse 11 Moses responded with an expression of humility and hopelessness concerning his ability to fulfill the Lord’s call – “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”  In answer, the Lord God responded with His promise to be with Moses and to enable Moses in fulfilling His call – “And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.”

Yet in Exodus 3:13 Moses presents another question unto the Lord God.  This question did not concern Moses’ inability, but now concerned the Lord God’s nature and ability.  Indeed, Moses indicated that the children of Israel would ask concerning the name and nature of this God of their fathers who had sent Moses unto them – “What is his name?”  In verse 12 the Lord had promised to be with Moses and enable Him.  So then, who is this Lord God who will be with His servants and His people – “What is his name?”  In verse 10 the Lord had placed His call upon Moses to send Him unto His people.  So then, who is this Lord God who calls and sends His servants unto His people to lead them and help them – “What is his name?”  In verse 8 the Lord had pronounced His purpose to deliver His people from their affliction and to bless them with abundance.  So then, who is this Lord God who will help and deliver His servants and His people in their affliction – “What is his name?”  In verse 4 the Lord had proclaimed His personal recognition of His people’s sufferings and sorrows.  So then, who is this Lord God who personally knows the sorrows of His servants and His people – “What is his name?”  Yea, what is the name and the nature of this Lord God, the Lord our God?

Already in the first part of the meditation (see above), we have considered three truths, that the Lord our God is the Self-Existing One, the Eternal One, and the Unchanging One.  In this second part of the meditation, let us consider three further truths.

Outlines in Psalms

“To the chief musician, to Jeduthun [praising, celebrating], A Psalm of Asaph.”

  I.  The Cry of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 77:1-3)
 II.  The Complaint of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 77:4-9)
III.  The Confession of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 77:10a)
IV.  The Commitment of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 77:10b-12)
 V.  The Confidence of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 77:13-15)
VI.  The Comfort of the Lord’s Servant (Psalm 77:16-20)

Weekly Sermon

In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul gave testimony, saying, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Brethren, how seriously do we take our Lord’s commission to preach the gospel of Christ to the lost world around us?  How ready and committed are we to preach the gospel at any given opportunity?  How much confidence do we have in the gospel to convict and save the lost?  How faithful are we in our gospel witness from day to day?  In Romans 1:14-16 the apostle Paul delivered a testimony under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit concerning his own faithful service in gospel witness.  Thereby the apostle is presented as an example for our faithfulness in gospel witness.  Even so, by that example we are taught three truths concerning this matter.

Outlines in Psalms

This outline is a companion to a previous outline:   Our Heart Is Not Turned Back - Psalm 44:9-26

  I.  The Record of Past History (vs. 1-3)
       II.  The Response of Confident Faith (vs. 4-8)
            III.  The Reality of Present Tribulation (vs. 9-16)
      IV.  The Refusal to Forsake the Lord (vs. 17-22)
 V.  The Request of a Troubled Soul (vs. 23-26)