PORTERVILLE POST | The Right News at the Right Time

| 12 Expressions of the Redeemed - Part 2
The Right Word^© - Sep 15, 2024
with Brother Scott : scott@portervillepost.com

† Acts 13:22 … [God] raised up…David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after (according to) mine own heart (thoughts or feelings), which shall fulfil all my will.

† Psalm 63:1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. [A psalm of David—"a man after God’s heart."]

I surmise that we have alive in America today two generations of men and women of all ages that profess to be followers of Jesus that have not been taught much at all about living each day as one redeemed from sin and its bondage; that would be Christians alive today that have been born in the last eighty years or so.

WHY DO I BELIEVE THAT ? Because Many Believers Have No Fear of God

Why do I believe that? Because many believers have no fear of God (no alarm bells ringing at how they still live yet will face His judgment seat or reverence of Him as the all mighty and eternal God), do not have an sincere and ongoing appreciation for what Jesus has done, and therefore continue in their sinful ways with no thought of repentance and change, [most] do not know (or care) about their call to be holy, and are rarely (if ever) grateful to God in attitude, words, and works.

This is a dual failure that can be leveled against those in Christian “ministry” and shared equally by the “laity” themselves. If we do not have available to ourselves genuine God-called preachers and teachers then with our brains and bibles we are to spiritually self-educate and learn, yet a majority do not.

When repentance is mentioned, many would quietly object and say, “Well, what have I to repent about?” (this indicates the presence of self-righteousness and pride, arrogance, spiritual ignorance, and only a distant acquaintance with God). In the same fashion, when it is suggested that many are not often-enough (if ever) thankful to God, the inner thought arises in many that says, “Well, what has God done for me lately? I can’t think of anything.”

Our study theme is about having the everyday mind and heart-attitude of love, respect, and appreciation for God and what He has done, is every-day doing, and promises of God yet to be fulfilled for your and my lives. As we move into today’s second look at David’s psalm in 1 Chronicles 16, let me rehearse just a few things that we should be ever-mindful of, of which (at least for me) we should be regularly thankful for out-loud to God.

† John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned. . .

† Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

† 1 Corinthians 4:6 [being prideful] 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

† Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. 20 He that is our God is the God of salvation (Heb. “yeshua”: being saved, deliverance, assistance, victory, prosperity, saving health); and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

† Psalm 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (acts of good): 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases [of sin and selfishness]; 4 Who redeemeth (buys back) thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things. . .

If You've Wondered About Why I Say That As redeemed ones we have daily reasons to express our gratitude before God

If you have wondered about why I say that as redeemed ones we have daily reasons to express our gratitude before God—passages like I have just read are a good place to reflect on each morning. From King David’s psalm of thanksgiving on the very day the ark of God moved into the national heart of their country Jerusalem (aka City of David)—it was a day of great joy in that it represented to the people the resident-presence-of-God and His blessing upon the nation. The ark of God’s Presence was always there in the nation’s capital, the physical heart of Israel, and daily celebrated in the hearts of those that loved the God of Israel. In like terms, when you and I were born again, this same thing happened; by His Spirit, God moved into our hearts and (if for no other reason than that—that He is living within each of us) we should be daily motivated to rejoice before Him in the various ways David speaks of in 1 Chronicles 16.

† 1 Chronicles 16:7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. 8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known (make seen, instruct, acknowledge) his deeds (exploits and opportunities) among the people. 9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. 10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

As we just read, David wrote, “Make know His deeds among the people”. In a single word of that which we practice in our meetings, we are to testify in our gatherings and to others in our lives about the goodness of God; and not just for something great that happened this last week that we appreciate but for such things as our peace and joy, for His mercy and grace given to us, what our past and present readings of His Word has helped us about, what He’s done for someone else, and for the fulfilled and yet anticipated promises of God in our future.

† Psalm 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. . . 22: 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

† 1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

† Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized. . .

What is the good of “making known His deeds among the people” when the opportunity is given or to anyone that will listen?
(1st) Others sitting here among us need to be reminded, and others “out there” that our lives’ path crosses need to know that there is a living God and He is involved in the lives of those what have turned to Him.
(2nd) If done sincerely, when you testify in the form of a compliment, gratitude or praise of another (especially to others) doesn’t it give you pleasure in honoring someone about something he or she is or has done or become? It lifts your heart.
(3rd) When we brag on God, when we boast of Him about what He has done for us or someone else, when we give God the credit for good things that happen to us or answers to prayer, when we praise God for another’s help, for courage to not give up, and so many other things that He is behind—we glorify Him; and God notices that and does not forget.

† Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared (moral reverence) the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Here in our meetings each week you are given the chance to “make His deeds known”, and many of you do. But what about other places: like at school, work, with a neighbor or a store clerk or when unexpectedly prompted by the Holy Spirit to say something when you are not invited to by a man or woman—how can you make known the deeds of your God? When you are inspired to or when an opportunity seems to present itself, or for times when no one directly asks such as, “So, why are you usually so positive?” or “How’s it going?” How can you testify about our God and to His glory? You can broach the subject by saying, “Have I told you [Can I tell you] about my blessing?” or “Oh, God is so good…, or “You seem to be a little down today. When I feel that way I…” or my personal favorite: “Can I give you a life tip? If you want to live forever then live for Jesus!” and see where that leads.

We are called to “make know His deeds” and that means to testify about God: His mercy, favor, love and forgiveness, His power and promises for our own lives and what He can do for others. Don’t be shy or embarrassed but outspoken and full of joy over the One that covers your life. In doing so fulfills the second half of verse 16:9 and verse 24, which urges us to talk about the splendor of His acts:

† 1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. 9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. . . 24 Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. 25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.

And so, of the twelve expressions of the redeemed, at least three shows up in one way or another as “testifying” (make known, talk ye, and declare his marvelous works); three out of twelve is 25% of how we should be often expressing our love and thankfulness before God when among others as we can. Brothers and sisters, let us not forget (on the one hand), or fail to mention to others on the other hand, that we belong to God and that He is wonderful!

What also does David instruct us to do? He informs us of something that he was very good at—singing unto the Lord

What also does David instruct us to do? He informs us of something that he was very good at—singing unto the Lord. There are 150 chapters in the book we call Psalms and they are all the words of David and others that were put to music—they are “songs” although (admittedly) some of them are like C&W songs (whining, complaining, boohooing, woe is me).

† 1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. 9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him. . . 23 Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

† Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

† Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing (putting in mind for) one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace (gratitude) in your hearts to the Lord.

† 1 Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

† Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. . . 100: 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

About half of our meeting time shared each week involves these two expressions of our being redeemed: “We make known”; we gather in testimony to God’s goodness, we greet each other as eternal brothers and sisters, the children of God, and speak up to thank the Lord for what He is and for what He has done for us. We make known and we sing unto Him: Singing heart-lifting praise choruses that get our minds off last week and other things, singing some of the great old hymns of praise and our salvation, and a time of singing words of worship to our eternal God and our wonderful Savior Jesus.

And for me, these things are not just for in our meetings but are throughout my week what happens in my life.

As one of my favorite daily songs goes: “Praise God from whom all blessing flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen."

I urge you, too, to daily give thanks, make Him known when possible, and sing unto Him.

I have the hope of and you can also of getting your name in His Book of Remembrance!

† Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.