Thursday, January 5, 2017

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "New Praises For The Lord", 1/8/2017

NEW PRAISES FOR THE LORD

Psalms 96:1-6, 10-13

WRITE NEW SONGS OF PRAISE
V:1-2. "O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day."
A. This is an exuberant hymn of Yahweh's kingship. It is a victory celebration.
    1. The word "O sing" is the Hebrew word "shiyr" which denotes strolling while
        singing, perhaps with musical instruments. It is a victory dance.
    2. We are commanded to sing a new song to the Lord, one that had not been
         heard before.
        a. When David brought the Ark into Jerusalem, he danced and celebrated
            with joy.  1 Ch 15:27-29
        b. Because of David's dance all Israel danced with Him in celebrating
            the salvation of the Lord.
    3. Everyone, around the world is commanded to join in the praise.
    4. Praise is contagious.
        a. Praise is infectious.
        b. Praise unifies the hearts of believers in Love.

B.  The object of our praise is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, because of His
      death on the cross and His resurrection.
    1. We  celebrate His  victory over death and our release from the torment
        of sin.
    2. We are celebrating Jesus atoning blood that paid the price for our sins.
    3. Jesus provides us with new life in Him, worthy of new songs of praise.
C. A song less faith celebrates, defeat and death.
    1. When we don't celebrate the Lord, we are ignoring His Work on the cross
        for us.   
    2. Our new songs of praise looks toward our eternal, glorious life with Christ.

GLORIFY GOD IN THE PRESENCE OF UNBELIEVERS
V:3. " Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people."
 A. We are surrounded by unbelievers. They need to hear our praise and worship
       of the Lord.
     1. When we give God   praise for what He has done, others are introduced to
         the wonders of the Lord.
     2. We are commanded to teach the Gospel of Jesus everywhere we go baptizing
          in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
     3. The preached Word of God has the power to change unbelievers into believers.
     4. It is our job to tell people what God has done for us.
     5. We should point to God's glory in creation.
     6. Unbelievers may not recognize the glory of God in creation until it is pointed out
         to them in our praise.



REVERENCE THE LORD BECAUSE HE IS GREAT
V:4.-5. " For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens."
A. There is a comparison between the Lord and idol gods.
     1. The Lord is great.
         a. The greatness of the Lord can be realized by observing His creation.
         b. Nature proclaims God's glory and His power.
     2. Idols are nothing.
         a. The Hebrew word for "idol" is "eliyl" which means things that are nothing.
         b. The Apostle Paul said the same thing in 1 Cor 8:4
         c. Idols gods are the evil imagination of man and the rejection of the Lord's
             commands.
         d. The worship of idol gods is man's outward rebellion against the sovereign Lord.
B. There nothing greater than the Lord.
     1. God spoke and everything we can see and know came into being.
     2. We are commanded to praise God for His greatness.
     3. We are subject to Him whether we praise Him or don't praise Him.
     4. If you want God to pay attention to your needs, you should give Him your
         undivided praise.
        a. God inhabits the praise of His people.   Psalms 22:3
        b. Any good that happens in your life, comes from God, the sole provider.
     5. We should praise God because He is God.
         a. We should praise God before unbelievers so that they have a witness to
             the goodness of God.
         b. We should praise God before believers to encourage their praise.
         c. We should honor God with our praise in His sanctuary.
C. Since idols are nothing, then nothing can come from nothing.
     1. The Lord created the heavens for His Glory.
     2. God created us to glorify Him.
         

HONOR THE LORD IN HIS SANCTUARY
V:6. " Honor and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary."
A. It is the duty of the believer to praise God in His sanctuary
     so that others can join in.
   1. There is strength in numbers who come together with one purpose; to praise
       and honor the Lord.   Psalms 133:1
   2. David said, " How good it is for brethren to dwell together in unity".  Psalms 133:1
B. We cannot find anyone we can trust like the Lord.
   1. We can't find anyone who can make every thing work out for our good like
        the Lord.
   2. We can't find anyone who knows us so intimately that He counts the hairs on our
       head like the Lord.
   3. Believers ought to honor the Lord at all times in all situations.
   4. We dwell in the sanctuary of the Lord when we consider His Word in our hearts.

PROCLAIM THE AUTHORITY AND JUDGMENT  OF THE LORD
V:10. " Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously."
A. It is our testimony about the power and authority of the Lord that gets the
     attention of unbelievers around us.
   1. Those who don't know the Lord don't consider His works in creation that is
       before them.
   2. Those who don't know the Lord don't know that He is in control of everything
       that happens.
   3. Those who don't know the Lord may not know that there is a heaven and there is
       a hell that we are headed toward according to our beliefs.
   4. How will the world know that there is salvation in Jesus Christ if we keep our
       mouths shut?
B. Jesus command us to proclaim the Gospel  to all we come in contact with. 
     Matthew 28:19
   1. Believers have to continuously point to the glory of God so others can see
       what we see.
   2. It is the proclamation of the Word that draws unbelievers to Christ.
   3. We have the power through the Word of God to change the lives of those around
       us. 

THE UNIVERSE REJOICES IN THE LORD
V:11-12 " Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice."
A.  The whole world rejoices because of our testimony about the goodness of the Lord.
     1. The whole world benefits from our testimony about the power and authority of the
         Lord over the universe.
     2. Even those who claim that there is no God have to consider the possibility
         that there is a God when they hear our testimony.
     3. An atheist has to talk about God to defend his position that there is no God.
     4. When an atheist hear us glorifying God and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord,
          he is forced to develop his defense that there is no God.
  B. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
     1. The world need to hear believers glorifying God and see believers acting according
         to His Word.
     2. It is the continuous prayers of the Church that blesses the world.
     3. It is the rejoicing of the church that lifts the hearts of the unsaved.






THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS
V:13. " Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth."
A. How will the world know the truth about Jesus Christ unless they hear it from
     believers?
    1. You have to first know Jesus to know that He is coming back to judge the world.
    2. Our job is to lift up Jesus so the world can see Him.
    3. Jesus said, If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.
B. It is the giving of the Holy Spirit to believers that will convict the world of their
     sins.
    1. John 16:7-11 states:
        "7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, 
        the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
        8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and 
        righteousness and judgment:
        9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;
       10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see  
            me no longer;
       11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands 
        condemned."
  2. John chapter 16 highlight the importance  of the testimony of believers to the
      world.
  3. The praise, worship and honoring of the Lord begin in the hearts of believers.

BLESS THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD IN ALL TIMES


Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Toll way
Houston, Texas 77040

For more lessons, follow me on facebook and visit my blogs
www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com




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