DCLM SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE 20 JUNE 2021 – PRAISING GOD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS

Deeper Christian Life Ministry – Search The Scripture 20 June 2021 (Lesson 1005)

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Topic: Praising God For His Faithfulness (STS 20 June 2021)

MEMORY VERSE: “Praise ye the LORD, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 106:1).

TEXT: Psalms 100 to 106

MESSAGE:

Praises are comely and pleasant to God. He demands and deserves praises from all His children. The psalmist’s life presents a challenge to contemporary Christians to praise the Lord, exalt and extol His name for His unparallel virtues, attributes, power and providence. Acceptable worship entails offering our hearts to God in praise and appreciation, which should be our initial approach in every acceptable prayer pattern. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4). Believers should praise God for who He is and His faithfulness, compassion, mercies, abundant favours and indeed, all things that pertain to life and godliness. Praise is powerful; it brings down God’s power and presence upon His people. Believers who have received great mercies from God should give testimonies and praise Him even in the congregation as an example and model for other believers. “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).

Question 1: Why should believers always praise God?

PRAISING GOD FOR HIS MANIFOLD GOODNESS AND FAITHFULNESS (Psalms 100:1-5; 101:1; 103:1-22; 104:1-35; 105:1-6; 106:1-3,48; 95:1; 89:1; Isaiah 63:7; 1 Samuel 2:1; Exodus 15:1-11; Judges 5:1-5)

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:2,3). God’s people have an obligation to worship Him because He owns them by creation and redemption. He alone is worthy of worship and believers should give their hearts and lives to worship Him. All other gods are the works of men. The heathen worship the creatures of their own fancy but believers worship God, who has made us in His own image. “We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture”. As His covenant people, we must never forget His goodness or fail to be thankful for His numerous blessings. Our position and privileges in Him should make us “serve the LORD with gladness” in holiness and righteousness. It will be an act of false worship if we praise and give thanks to God without keeping his commandments and living in purity. The psalmist reveals his commitment: “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:2,3). Service to God may attract some challenges and persecutions that have the tendency of robbing one of joy and gladness; yet we must remain joyous and glad at all times. It was this same mind that Paul and Silas had when in prison that they “prayed, and sang praises unto God”. Jehoshaphat also praised God when they approached the battlefront against Moab, mount Seir and Ammon (2 Chronicles 20:21).

Question 2: What should be the attitude and commitment of believers who praise God?

Proper consideration of God’s faithfulness in the past, as well as the present, should move us to praise His hallowed name. There are numerous benefits we receive from God, the faithful Covenant-keeper; namely, one, forgiveness for all our iniquities. When we come to the realisation of how sinful we were before we met Christ, we understand the depth of His forgiveness. Two, healing for our sicknesses. God’s healing covenant is still valid for those who belong to Him. Advancement in technology, medical science and other fields of health should not cancel our faith in His healing power (Exodus 15:26). Three, redemption from destruction. Nothing is more destructive than sin and its deceitful lusts, but through the sacrifice of Christ at the cross, we are redeemed from eternal destruction (Ephesians 1:7). Four, His lovingkindness and tender mercies. The love and favour of God are always bestowed on all His children as proof of His faithfulness. Five, good things for our satisfaction leading to the renewal of our strength like the eagle’s. The faithfulness of the Lord also leads to the execution of “righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed”. Other benefits include, revelation of Himself to those who thirst and draw near to Him; everlasting mercies, grace and willingness to forgive those who repent of their sins and turn to him; pity for those who fear and keep His covenant. The psalmist encouraged his soul to bless and praise the Lord. This serves as a model for present-day worshippers to praise the greatness, faithfulness and majesty of God. “Bless the LORD my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great: thou art clothed with honour and majesty” (Psalm 104:1). God demonstrated His power and greatness all through His creation. He created the light and “stretchest out the heavens like a curtain”. He “Layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariots…” He made the mountains and the great waters and “hast set a bound that they may not pass the earth”. The springs of water are to “give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst” (Psalm 104:11). The vegetation is for the service of man and beasts. The moon, the sun and even darkness were all created for the benefit of humanity. The seas were made for great beasts like the leviathan to play in and the ships. We cannot but proclaim like the psalmist, “O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches” (Psalm 104:24).

Question 3: Mention some of the covenant provisions that God faithfully keeps

God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He demonstrated His love and faithfulness to Israel as a nation in delivering them from Egyptian captivity through the instrumentality of Moses and Aaron with great signs and wonders. “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes” (Psalm 105:37). God is still committed to preserving His faithful children and servants no matter the challenges they face from the pit of hell.

PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO GODLINESS FOR EXPECTATIONS IN PRAYER (Psalms 101:1-8; 102:1-28; Exodus 18:21; Job 11:13-18; Psalm 66:18; Daniel 1:8; 6:4; 1 John 5:14)

“I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart” (Psalm 101:2). The state of one’s heart determines one’s walk with the Lord. Faithfulness is a great virtue that God requires from all His servants. As a king in Israel, David knew the kind of heart a leader should possess if he must rule well. Likewise, many saints in generations past had exemplified this spiritual quality in their service in God’s kingdom. “And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after” (Hebrews 3:5). It was a firm decision of the psalmist to be committed to godliness and faithfulness to the Lord. “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:3). Faithful believers should make it a priority to be committed to godliness and separation from every evil thing. Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, exhorts believers to “abstain from all appearance of evil”. No matter how rampant evil may spread in this end-time, all believers must hold fast to the integrity of their hearts. Job sets us an example in the midst of all the travails he went through and said, “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live” (Job 27:6). As we await the imminent return of the Lord, believers must show godly example at home, workplace, community and church, and remain committed to preaching the undiluted gospel that saves, sanctifies and takes to heaven. The devil uses the entertainment industry, social and electronic media and other platforms to pervert and pollute our society, yet the Bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). Like the psalmist, godly people must guard their hearts and eyes from viewing or being entertained with what God Himself regards as vile. Christian parents must oversee what their children and wards watch in home videos, cable networks and the internet because our faithfulness begins in the home.

Question 4: How can we maintain commitment to godliness in the midst of corruption and perversion?

The psalmist resorted to praying to God in resolving the many challenges and conflicts in his life. “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me…” (Psalm 102:1,2). His prayer typifies Christ’s agony and experience when He was faced with crucifixion at Gethsemane. “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). We, like Christ, may face diverse assaults of the enemy during our Christian pilgrimage, but we should “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). Prayer is scriptural prescription for the solution of all life challenges and difficulties. Believers grappling with challenges of life can resort to prayer because, “[God] will regard the prayer of the destitute and not despise their prayer” (Psalm 102:17). Although, our trials may tarry for some time, we shall triumph at the end if we continue in godliness, faithfulness and prayerfulness (Matthew 24:13).

PROVEN FAITHFULNESS OF GOD DESPITE ISRAEL’S UNFAITHFULNESS (Psalms 105:7-45; 106:1-48; Judges 2:13-18; Exodus 32:9-14; Isaiah 40:28-30; Jeremiah 3:19-22; Ezekiel 20:6-14)

The wonder of God’s patience and mercies are found in His blessed attributes and dealings with mankind, especially His chosen people. Man has been utterly ungrateful, betraying and abusing His precious intentions and privileges. Undeservedly, He has not changed His attitude nor withdrawn His love towards His people. “He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations” (Psalm 105:8). He called and chose Israel as His people. He made a covenant with Abraham with an oath and confirmed same to Isaac and Jacob, promising to be a God to them with provision of Canaan’s rest and unimaginable goodies. He later delivered them from Egypt’s captivity “And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness” (Psalm 105:43). God’s extraordinary dealings with Israel, from the days of the patriarchs, was to make Israel a unique nation and peculiar people, “That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 105:45). But Israel, like the fallen man, failed woefully to keep God’s covenant terms and conditions. They soon deviated from His statutes and went into idol worship, strange marriages, unequal yoke, false worship and lawlessness. “They soon forgat his works; they waiteth not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul” (Psalm 106:13-15). They also copied the idolatrous worship of the heathen, “changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. They forgat God their Saviour, which had done great things in Egypt” (Psalm 106:20,21). Even when they suffered captivity and affliction with severe casualties, God’s mercies still awaited them. “Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies” (Psalm 106:43-45). Backsliding and departure from God have serious spiritual consequences both in life and in eternity. When one yields to sin and abandons His commandments, it grieves Him and sets the stage for loss of divine favour, preservation, presence, power, support, assistance, direction, grace, glory, fellowship and intimacy. It also leads to loss of spiritual focus and forfeiture of entrance into heaven and eternal rewards.

Question 5: What are the possible consequences of grieving God

God almighty is incomparably higher in status, scope of influence and more honourable than any earthly authority. He is the ultimate Judge of every human action and Christ forewarned us to fear Him (Matthew 10:28). Therefore, believers need not fear what anyone anywhere could do in as much as they have the God of heaven for a defence and hope. “When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, He reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (Psalm 105:13-15). This describes God’s awesome power and ability. He never gets weary, faint, slumber or weak (Isaiah 40:28-30). So, Christians can always depend on Him in all circumstances for victory. The Lord has done wonderful things and promised to do more if we continue on His terms and conditions.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

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