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?

Outlines in Psalms

This outline is a companion to three previous outlines:
                                   O Lord, Thou Hast Searched Me, and Known Me - Psalm 139   
                                   Such Knowledge Is Too Wonderful for Me - Psalm 139:1-6     
                                   Whither Shall I Flee from Thy Presence - Psalm 139:7-12     

1.  The Lord our God sovereignly possessed me from my conception.

Psalm 139:13 – “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.”

2.  The Lord our God wonderfully created me for His glory.

Psalm 139:14 – “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

3.  The Lord our God completely knew my substance from my beginning.

Psalm 139:15-16a – “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect.”

4.  The Lord our God personally predetermined all of my personal characteristics.

Psalm 139:16b – “And in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

5.  The Lord our God abundantly cares for me throughout my daily walk.

Psalm 139:17-18a – “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand.”

6.  The Lord our God continually remains present with me (as one of His own).

Psalm 139:18b – “When I awake, I am still with thee.”

Posted in Outlines in Psalms, Sovereignty of the Lord, The Creator God, Knowledge of the Lord, Lovingkindness of the Lord

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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.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous a sermon:  Blessed Be the Most High God - Genesis 14:19-20    

In Daniel 4 God’s Word records a letter that King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, sent forth unto all the people of his kingdom.  In this letter King Nebuchadnezzar gave report concerning the manner in which the most high God chastened him for the pride of his heart.  Even so, in Daniel 4:1-3 Nebuchadnezzar introduced this report, saying, “Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.  How great are his signs!  And how mighty are his wonders!  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.”

Weekly Sermon

Genesis 14:18-20 reads, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.  And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.  And he gave him tithes of all.”

In Genesis 13 we find that Abram and Lot had both become rich in flocks of sheep and herds of cattle.  Yet this created a problem; the land was not able to support both sets of flocks and herds.  Thus a strife arose “between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle.” (Genesis 13:7)  In order to solve this strife, Abram offered for Lot to separate himself in whatever direction he would choose and then for himself to go in the opposite direction.  Even so, we read of Lot’s choice in Genesis 13:10-13 – “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.  Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.  Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.  But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” 

Yet eventually Lot moved himself and his family into that wicked city of Sodom.  Now, over time Sodom, Gomorrah, and the other two cities of the plain entered into conflict with Chedorlaomer king of Elam and the four kings that were confederate with him.  Thus we read in Genesis 14:10-12, “And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.  And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.  And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”

When Abram received news of this matter, he gathered a force in order to deliver Lot from captivity.  Indeed, the Lord granted Abram a great victory.  Even so, we read in Genesis 14:13-16, “And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.  And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.  And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.  And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.” 

Then in Genesis 14:17-20 the account continues, “And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.  And he [Melchizedek] blessed him [Abram], and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.  And he [Abram] gave him [Melchizedek] tithes of all.”

Now, in Genesis 14:18-20 the Lord our God is called “the most high God” three times.  In Genesis 14:19 Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, described Abram as being “of the most high God.”  Abram was a servant of the most high God.  In like manner, we believers are also the people of the most high God.  He is our eternal Savior, and we are His chosen ones.  He is our heavenly Father, and we are His dear children.  He is our Lord, and we are His servants.  He is the most high God, and we are His peculiar people.  In 1 Peter 2:9-10 God’s Word declares, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”  Again in 2 Corinthians 6:16 God’s Word declares, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?  For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  Yet again in 1 John 3:1 God’s Word declares, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”  Indeed, we are the people, the children, the servants of the most high God.  So then, what can we learn from Genesis 14:19-20 concerning this relationship?

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.”

  I.  The Commitment of the Lord’s Servant. (Psalm 146:1-2)
 II.  The Counsel of the Lord’s Servant. (Psalm 146:3-4)
III.  The Consequence of Trusting the Lord. (Psalm 146:5)
IV.  The Cause for Trusting the Lord. (Psalm 146:6-10)

“Praise ye the LORD.”

Proverbs for Life

Proverbs 22:2 presents the truth, saying, “The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.” 

Among the sixty-six books of the Bible, the book of the Proverbs reveals God’s wisdom for our daily living.  This book of the Bible speaks concerning many aspects of our lives.  It speaks concerning our relationship with the Lord, concerning our relationship to God’s truth, concerning our relationship to righteous living, concerning our relationship with others, concerning the relationships within our families, concerning our relationship with friends, concerning our practice of verbal communication, concerning our viewpoint of money and material things, concerning our diligence in work and labor, etc.

In Proverbs 22:2 we find a truth concerning our relationship with the Lord our God.  In fact, this verse reveals one aspect of the Lord’s place in our lives.  Now, this verse does not speak concerning the place that the Lord ought to have in our lives.  It does not speak concerning the place that we ought to grant unto the Lord our God in our lives.  Rather, this verse speaks concerning the place that the Lord our God has in our lives regardless of our submission unto Him.  It speaks concerning the place that the Lord has in our lives as THE Lord God, whether we are righteously obedient unto Him or rebelliously wicked before Him. 

Yea, overall the book of the Proverbs reveals four basic truths concerning the Lord’s place in our lives.

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.

Outlines in Psalms

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.”

Psalm 11:1a – “In the LORD put I my trust.”
(Note:  The two questions of this psalm are significant for the flow of thought in this psalm.)

  I.  The challenge against the Lord’s trusting servant. (Psalm 11:1b)
 II.  The conflict for the Lord’s trusting servant. (Psalm 11:2)
III.  The concern of the Lord’s trusting servant. (Psalm 11:3)
IV.  The confidence of the Lord’s trusting servant. (Psalm 11:4-7)

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

This outline is a companion to two previous outlines:  And Forget Not All His Benefits - Psalm 103:1-5     
                                                                                    Bless the Lord, O My Soul - Psalm 103:1-2, 20-22    

Psalm 103:1 – “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”

  I.  Bless the Lord because He bestows spiritual benefits.
 II.  Bless the Lord because He executeth righteousness and justice.
III.  Bless the Lord because He is abundantly merciful and gracious.
IV.  Bless the Lord because He is everlastingly faithful.
 V.  Bless the Lord because He is the sovereign Ruler.