1 Kings 18:20-39 One Plus God Equals Victory

Have you ever been in a spiritual battle where you thought that you were on the losing side? Well, you’re not alone. The Bible is full of stories of God’s people and their struggle with spiritual battles. Often they thought that God had abandoned them, when in reality he was always with them. One example is the story of Elijah. He often thought that he was alone, especially when he was running away from the evil Queen Jezebel, who wanted to kill him.

 

Before this, there was the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, which we heard in the reading from 1 Kings 18:20-39 earlier in this morning’s service. It shows what can happen when one’s calling from God conflicts with strong-willed people or influential people who are used to having their own way. This story has frequently drawn the comment, “One person with God is always a majority.” This story is a story about God and his promise to never leave us alone.

If anyone could answer by fire, it should have been Baal, the storm god. His worshippers believed that he controlled lightning, but when they prayed to Baal, he didn’t answer.  According to their customs of Baal worship, the dancing, shouting, and self-mutilation were meant to arouse Baal from death, from sleep, or call him back from a journey. The phrase, “He is busy” was a euphemism for either going hunting or going to the restroom.

The fire from heaven dramatically revealed the power of God-the true God of the storm-who responded to a humble servant praying for Him to be known. The people fell on their faces, prostrate, in acknowledgement that Elijah’s God was real. Those who see God as He truly is will fall before Him in humility and reverence. God is real and is only known in a direct encounter with him. He is greater than all of our idols who can’t deliver as God does.  

The followers of Baal could not evoke a miracle, and our modern, worldly “gods” such as money, power or sex can’t help us when times are tough. During these times God is not busy or off travelling or taking a nap. His love is changeless and constant. There will be times when he leads us through difficult situations when his joys aren’t evident, but we are always close to him, and he is always close to us.

Elijah soaked the altar, the offering and the wood with water in order to remove any chance of spontaneous combustion or any claim that he cheated once the offering was consumed with fire. God didn’t need the water. He could answer Elijah’s prayer without it. The prayer of Elijah does not centre on the activities of the followers of Baal. The prophet highlights the character of God and his relationship with God.  When God answers a prayer, he answers completely so there could never be any doubt. The prayer was able to put Elijah and the people in a place to look to God and not themselves.

God wants us to study, pray and witness by our lives and our actions, but we can’t make people believe or change. Only God can do that. He doesn’t need our manipulation to get us to move toward the truth or do the jobs he sends us to do.  

Some scholars argued that Israel’s enemies like the Canaanites or the prophets of Baal were evil and deserved their fate. When Baal was defeated, it marked an end to the judgment of Israel. God doesn’t punish us for sin. He chastens us in the hope that we will repent and turn to him.

In ancient times, each tribe or clan had a god, and each region had a god. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel (or Jacob) was unique in that He was identified with multiple persons, not a shrine, locale or particular clan. The people realized that the fire was a special work of God since it consumed everything, even the stones.

The core message of this passage is that the war against Baal and his prophets represents a rejection of anything that separates people from God. It is a message for us to choose wisely, especially in light of the available facts. The absolute God deserves our unconditional obedience. Elijah wanted Israel to choose who was God-the Lord or Baal-and then serve God wholeheartedly. Rather than decide by his message, Elijah sought a visible sign from heaven.

We have a similar choice today. God wants us to serve him instead of serving man. Jesus even said in Luke 16: 13, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” We can’t be indecisive or neutral. Indecisiveness and neutrality in matters of faith are sins. God turns our hearts back to him. He reaches out to us and invites us to come home. Elijah’s call to choose sides rings into our hearts today. There is no place in the Word of God for the middle of the road position.

God wants us to look at our own spiritual lives and determine who or what the object of our worship is. We make that determination by measuring our lives against the principles and tests of God’s Word. There are two tests for us to consider:

1.      Are we really saved? Have we put our trust in Christ by faith? We can’t experience real life and the power of Christ if we are not children of God by faith.

2.      De we experience God’s power in our lives in transformed living? In particular:

 

                   a.      Are we growing and changing?

b.      Are there marks of Christ-like change taking place in our lives?

c.       Are we learning to control our tempers and tongues?

d.      Are we ministering to others? 

What keeps us from being wholehearted followers of God? Regardless of the reason Christians will eventually reach a point where they have to push back against society. To paraphrase Elijah’s words, “If Jesus Christ be God, follow him. If anyone else or anything else be God, follow him!” Christians have to make up their minds.

For many people, God doesn’t exist. They are more concerned about the daily concerns of life. They think that only they can solve their daily problems. They have made gods of themselves. Because they have not chosen for God, they have chosen against God. Their powerless Gods are laughable. Worshipping an idol does not mean that God is not real.

The people wanted a sign that Yahweh was the true God. Similarly, the Pharisees wanted a sign that Jesus was the Messiah. People still want signs today, but Jesus doesn’t work that way. Jesus argued that reason follows to support and confirm.

Elijah was a man of great faith. He saw increased challenges as opportunities for God to do his work, and he believed God for the supernatural. We can also believe that God can do miracles. He might not do every miraculous thing we ask him to do, but he does extraordinary work in and through everyone who believes in him in faith. Prayer is not to convince God. It is to confess before God our faith in him.  

The title of servant reveals Elijah’s function as a prophet and his status before a holy and righteous God. Elijah’s request was twofold:

1.      That people know Yahweh is God, the Creator and Redeemer. When God’s people pray for God’s glory and honour, they are praying for the same thing-that the world will recognize God as God.

2.      That the people would turn back to the Lord. Their hearts needed to be as aflame with the power of God as Elijah’s altar.

Religion that tells people that they have to do something to earn salvation is false. We can’t do anything to earn salvation. It is a free gift if we believe in Christ, who paid the price for our sins on the cross. Elijah is an amazing example of what happens when believers pray with authority, when they come to God and ask him to do something that glorifies him. God wants us to come boldly into his presence, and we can do so because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We can be confident that God will do what he wants to do and what he says he will do.

 Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2103, pp. 468-479)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Dilday, R. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 9: 1,2, Kings (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987; pp. 193-198)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

5.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)

6.      Dr. Charles Stanley, “Building Muscles of Faith.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org

7.      Joni Eareckson Tada, “Dry Wastelands.” Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org

8.      Pritchard, Ray: Fire and Rain: The Wild-Hearted Faith of Elijah (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group; 2007, pp. 105-118)

9.      Roger Nam, “Commentary on 1 Kings 18:20-21 (22-29), 30-39.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1712

10.  “The Ineffectual Prayers of the Baal Priests (1 Kings 18:23-29).” Retrieved from https://bible.org/seriespage/12-inneffectual-prayers-baal-priests-1-kings1823-29

11.   Dennis Bratcher, “A God You Can Trust: Reflections on 1 Kings 18:20-39.” Retrieved from http://www.crivoice.org/1king18.html

12.  Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “’If The Lord is God, Follow Him’: Elijah and the Prophets of Baal.” Retrieved from http://journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20130527JJ.shtml

13.  “Lectionary Scripture Notes, Proper 4, OT 9, Pentecost 2.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionaryscripturenotes.com/proper-4-ordinary-time-9-pentecost-2-cycle-c-2016

14.  Butch Odom, “Proper 4/Ordinary 9 2016-1 Kings 18:20-21.” Retrieved from comment-reply@wordpress.com

15.  David Coffin, “Response to the Call.” Retrieved from http://www.sermonsuite.com/printer.php?i=788040702

 

Romans 5:1-5 The Holy Links in our Spiritual Lives-Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Today, I’m going to do something a little different in my message. In addition to speaking about a particular passage, I’m also going to touch on one of the key doctrines of Christianity-the Trinity. After all, today is Trinity Sunday. The concept is the Trinity is not mentioned specifically in the Bible, but it is there. The Trinity is one of the most difficult concepts to preach on, and that’s why many ministers take Trinity Sunday off!

Romans 5:5 begins a section of Scripture that scholars consider an exposition of God’s love for humankind. John 3:16 expanded and expounded upon God’s love. Paul refers to God’s glory, wrath, love and grace. God’s plan of salvation is a reflection and extension of his attributes.

Paul’s Letter to the Romans begins with the desperate condition of lost humanity and ends triumphantly with the benefits of being reconciled to God. Just as it begins and ends with “Through our Lord Jesus Christ,” so, too, is Christ first and last in the life of the believer.

God gives peace to us who have faith, even when we face life’s challenges. He pours out love and gives us hope until the day when we share in his fullness. God’s peace comes to us through Christ, and in Christ we have the constant assurance of God’s grace. The Holy Spirit is the means by which we experience God’s love.

Some people believe that they can earn their way out of sin debt to God. The problem with that belief is that people can never know how much is enough. If we trust in religion to save us, we will be in a constant state of fear because our debt will solve the mystery of our eternal destiny. Our fate might be eternal suffering. The only way to get relief from this fear is to receive God’s grace through faith. If we do, we will be at peace. We will also have the assurance that we will be with Jesus when he returns and remodels the world.

We can have confidence that Christ will set things right one day. We have been renewed and we are becoming more like Jesus. We can anticipate his return without unpleasant circumstances to distract us. This does not mean that our present lives will be free from suffering. Being faithful in a world that is full of suffering is difficult and making sense out of it is, as Jesus says in John’s Gospel, “too much for you know, but when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to complete truth. That truth involves persevering with faith because of the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel reveals God’s love and justice, both of which begin and end with faith. When we are saved through faith and by God’s grace, we receive God’s righteousness and become children of God because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We are made wholly acceptable to God. God’s love touches every part of our lives. It reaches out to everyone, and it is beyond comprehension. It’s like a buried treasure that we have found. God has given us the realities of peace, grace and love.

God’s love sounds regularly in our hearts, but it is seldom heard. It’s often buried under personal ambitions, cares, problems, daily routines and the general busyness of life. When we stop focusing on ourselves and our own problems and focus instead on God, our problems fade away. 

God gives us everything we need for inner peace. He opened the way for us to be in his family. It’s as if we entered a castle and were escorted into the royal presence as honoured guests instead of being treated as outsiders. Jesus continually offers his peace so we can experience inner peace. The Holy Sprit cultivates the fruit of peace in our lives.

The word “peace” does not mean a lack of negative experience or a euphoric feeling. It closely resembles the Hebrew word “shalom”, which describes a blessed and prosperous community, not an inner, psychological or emotional peace. Paul has that inner wholeness in mind. Peace must be in the hearts of the people for there to be outward, objective peace in the church and in our lives.

God gives peace to people who have faith. That peace comes to us through Jesus, who gives us the constant assurance of grace. The Holy Spirit provides the means by which we experience God’s love. We have a good, peaceful relationship with God because of what he did for us in Christ. The Holy Spirit assures us that we enjoy divine favour and access into God’s presence. Because of God’s grace, we will share his glory on Judgment Day. God promises his children that they will be one day clothed with Christ’s glory. The term “rejoice” means “to boast, in the sense of jubilation, exultant rejoicing-to shout about it!”

Christians are justified by faith and declared worthy by God. Consequently, they have peace with God and don’t have to fear God’s judgment. When people are justified, they have access by faith to the grace of God in which all Christians stand. In the New Testament, the term “access” refers to the believer’s access to God through Christ. 

It is quite natural to glory or exult in what is positive, but not in sufferings and tribulations. In the Greek language, perseverance means “to abide under or stay under pressure.” Suffering teaches believers to stay faithful under pressure, like squeezing olives in a press to extract oil. This pressure results from the conflict of two truths: faith and its enduring benefits versus a fallen world under Satan’s influence.

When we suffer we can rise above our sufferings to see the whole promise of God and the structure he is creating in our lives. God’s grace is sufficient for every situation we will face. Pressure is mandated by God and his love. When the Holy Spirit enters our lives, he opens our eyes to the wonder of his love and shows us that from now on our lives will be covered by his love and that all circumstances (both good and bad) will be related to God’s loving purposes.

Learning to stay calm under pressure produces character. The trials of life refine a Christian’s character and faith. Paul is speaking of sterling character, character without impurities. One writer calls it “tried integrity”-the maturity of a veteran who is complete, or lacking nothing, as opposed to the immaturity of a raw recruit. Christians can rejoice in future glory and present trials and sufferings because they are changed and have become more Christ-like. They have received God’s love and strength because when they were converted the Holy Spirit poured God’s love into their hearts. 

 

When we abide in Christ we are so saturated in Jesus that when God looks at us he sees his own Son and wraps us in his love for Jesus’ sake. Real joy is found in God’s presence, with Jesus, secure and loved forever and ever. God’s love never changes., and Jesus holds us close forever, no matter what our circumstances are. Joy is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit.

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1549-1550)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Anne Graham Lotz, “God is Love.” Retrieved from angelmin.info@angelministries.org

4.      Dr. Ed Young, “See with Perspective.” Retrieved from ministry@winningwalk.org

5.      Dr. Ed Young, “Have Faith in Grace.” Retrieved from ministry@winningwalk.org

6.      Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

7.      Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, Trinity Sunday (C).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

8.      “Am I Pleasing to God?” Retrieved from www.abidingabove.org

9.      Rick Ezell, “Experiencing God’s Love.” Retrieved from rickezell@greerfbc.org

10.  Bayless Conley, “Inwardly Compelled.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

11.  Anne Graham Lotz, “The Focus of Our Faith.” Retrieved from angelmin.info@angelministries.org

12.  Dr. Charles Stanley, “Peace with God.” Retrieved from www.intouch.org

13.  Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, Trinity Sunday (C).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

14.  Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010, pp. 110-114

15.  Edwina Gateley, “Deeper Than the Darkness.” Retrieved from http://journeywithjesus.net

16.  David Kalas, “This is Where You Come In.” Retrieved from www.sermonsuite.com/printer.php?i=788040700

17.  Preaching Magazine, March/April 2016 (Nashville, TN: Salem Publishing Inc.; p. 51)

 

James 4:1-10 How to Get What You Really Want and Need

The passage from James 4:1-10 attacks worldliness. In particular, it attacks those who have divided Christianity because of selfish ambition. These people are enemies of God. Quarrels and fights are caused by selfish ambition.

Some scholars have translated the phrase “among you” as “in you.” They insist that this verse describes not a struggle between people but a struggle within people. These two ideas; however, can be seen as connected because external conflict is often a symptom of internal conflict. People who are not at peace with themselves are not likely to be at peace with others.

Instead of fighting each other, Christians must ask God for what they are looking for. Without prayer, we won’t receive God’s blessing. Bringing our requests to God purifies them, and in the process our sinful desires are removed. James points out two problems in prayer life; a lack of prayer and praying with the wrong motives. Believers do not receive when they do not ask of if they ask with selfish motives.

James uses marital language to rebuke those who have let their love for the world replace their love for Christ. Their unfaithful behavior has placed their relationship with God in such jeopardy that they are called adulterers and adulteresses. Friendship with the world destroys a person’s fellowship with God.

We can’t please God and man at the same time. If we are friends with the world, we are enemies of God. The expectations of people who don’t believe in Jesus can’t be satisfied as long as their hearts are set on the things of the world instead of the things of God. God is a jealous God because he wants us to serve him and him alone. God will extend his grace to those who are humble before him. He will judge everyone else.  

Sometimes our prayers aren’t answered because we are praying the wrong prayer. For example, when we ask God to deliver us from a problem we see, the problem we see is often a symptom of a deeper problem or the cause of the problem. We have to learn to pray the right prayer. That is, we have to pray for truth, because as John 8:32 says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…”

Sometimes we don’t pray until we have nowhere else to go. The reason is because admitting to God that we have nowhere else to turn is humiliating. It goes against the idea that we can solve our problems by ourselves. There are some things that we can’t fix, but God can fix anything.

Sometimes when we want something, we take the initiative to get it. Often that involves scheming, stealing or even killing. James describes this as the human solution to the problem of wanting, which in turn leads to more and more fighting. For example, it is difficult to understand how murder was taking place within the church when James wrote. One possibility is that the rich were taking the poor to court and basically stripping them of all they owned. With no resources for food and other necessities, death was the inevitable result.

Pride destroys us. It prevents us from seeing others as God sees them. It holds us back from laying down our rights in order to reach out to those who cross our paths. It erodes the humble spirit God wants to see in us and in our relationships. God’s biggest goal is to destroy our pride. He calls us to live lives that are humble, confident and sacrificial. When we realize that we need God, he will pour out his graced on us. He will forgive us, help us and change our inner lives. Christ’s transformation within us frees us from living for ourselves. Asking for things in Christ’s name means two things. First, our requests must match God’s will. Second, God wants us to glorify him instead of ourselves.

Whenever we face a problem, we must remember that Jesus left footprints in the sand for us to follow. Whatever Satan tempts us with isn’t really what we’re looking for.  Whatever he offers may appear to meet a need or solve a problem at the time, but he will just take us further away from God. Following Christ keeps us close to God’s heart.  

The consistent message of the New Testament is that God’s grace is available for his people’s deepest needs. The same grace that brings a believer into fellowship with God can sustain that fellowship in spite of the pressures of the world. The only way for us to receive this grace is to walk humbly with God. There are three ways for us to walk humbly with God. First, we must resist the devil through our conduct, pure heart and nature, repentance and pure joy. Second, we must empty ourselves of self and sin and fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit. Third, we must speak the written Word of God. Before we can speak the word of God, we must spend time with God and read the Bible. As we spend time with God, we will gain wisdom and strength and understanding. More important, our ability to use the resources God has given us will increase.

The cure for conflict is the grace of God. The good news is that God gives even more grace when the pressure increases, especially to the humble. God is especially responsive to the prayers of those who humbly request the right things for the right reasons.

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1776-1777)

2.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

3.      Anne Graham Lotz, “Don’t Tolerate Temptation.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org

4.      “Distractions.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

5.      Pastor Greg Laurie, “The Root of the Problem.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org

6.      Richard Innes, “The Path to Deliverance and Freedom.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org

7.      Dr. Harold Sala, “Why Pray if You Can Fix It?” Retrieved from info@guidelines.org

8.      Cedar, P.A. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 34: James/1&2 Peter/Jude (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1984, pp. 77-84)

9.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

10.  Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles, 2005)

11.  Steve Arterburn, “Fellowship with God.” Retrieved from www.newlife.com

12.  Mary Southerland, “The Spiritual Concern.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

13.  “How to Act Like an MVP.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

14.  Dr. Charles Stanley, “Asking in the Name of Jesus?”. Retrieved from www.intouch.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James 4:1-10 How to Chase the Devil Away

Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, “We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from family values. But we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding experience in Christ.”

“If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to church, let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time so they can't gain that experience in Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do, angels. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day.”

“How shall we do this?” shouted the evil angels.

“Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent unnumbered schemes to occupy their minds,” he answered. “Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, then borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work and the husbands to work 6 or 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work.

“Overstimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to keep the TV, the DVD, and their CD's going constantly in their homes. Tempt them to spend more time on their computers, especially watching internet pornography.

“Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering, free products, services and false hopes.

“When they meet for fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Christ. Soon they will be working in their own strength.”

Ladies and gentlemen, this is how Satan works. He and his angels do everything they can to keep us from having a relationship with Jesus. They sneak into the cracks and openings in our lives just like insects come into our houses through cracks and open windows. They use subtle tactics to gain control over us.

Do you want to know how to defeat evil? The answer is simple-faith. If we have faith in Christ we will have strength to resist the devil as the apostle James commands us. Christ gained victory over the devil when he died for us on the cross, and if we believe in Christ we will also gain a victory over the devil.

 Bibliography

1.      Paul Estabrooks, “Distractions.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

 

Psalm 104:25-35 Worship God the Creator

How many of you have seen the movie Saving Private Ryan?

It’s a war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. The film is about U.S. Army Ranger Captain John H. Miller (who was played by Tom Hanks) and his squad as they search for Private First Class John Francis Ryan (who was played by Matt Damon). Private Ryan was the last surviving brother of four servicemen. Captain Miller lost several of his men in their search to find him. After finding him, Captain Miller himself was mortally wounded. As he laid dying, he told Private Ryan, “Earn this.”

Years later Private Ryan stood in front of Captain Miller’s grave and said, “Every day I think about what you told me that day on the bridge. I tried to live my life the best I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that, at least in your eyes, I’ve earned what all of you have done for me.” He turned to his wife and said, “tell me I have led a good life.... tell me I’m a good man.”

Private Ryan asked the same question many of us ask ourselves: “Have I done enough with this one and only life God has given me?” On our own we can’t answer that question, but with Jesus’ help the answer is clear. He died for us so that we don’t have to do anything. By his grace we can live lives that are satisfied with good things, as the writer of Psalm 104 tells us. The question then becomes “Is the work of Jesus enough to make me satisfied and significant?”, and the answer is always a resounding “Yes!”  

All of God’s creation is subject to his authority, including the biggest sea creatures. All of creation must praise him. In return, he takes pleasure in everything he has created. They depend on him, and in return he is generous to them. They can rely on him. We are part of God’s creation, so we can also depend on him.

God gives life. He makes the world new again and again. Creation is God’s and it exists for him. He cares and provides for creation, and in return everything he has created gathers in what God gives them and returns a portion to him. This is what the term “tithing” means-giving back to God a portion of what he has given us. God’s spirit has touched all of us in amazing ways, and we must share what we have been given with others.

It’s almost impossible for us to understand creation. Even our best scientists have to regularly revise their theories to try to explain creation-and God puts all of his wisdom at their service and ours. What God has created is awesome beyond our ability to understand it.

All of creation is supposed to show the majesty of God, including Jesus. He was the shekinah, or the visible sign of the invisible God. According to the Old Testament, the shekinah was a radiant cloud or a brilliant light within a cloud that showed the immediate presence of God. That same cloud led the Israelites by day in the desert. That same cloud also appeared at Jesus’ baptism and his transfiguration.

On the other hand, sinners and the unchurched are those who reject God’s rule and rebel against him. They are a blemish on the world, and God will remove that blemish in due time. The purpose of Psalm 104 is to foster hatred of sin. Its purpose is not to foster hatred against sinners. On the contrary, we are to love them. For example, Pope Francis’ recent statements to the Roman Catholic Church about how homosexuality and divorce are to be treated show compassion and love instead of hatred.  

Our prayerful response to God’s love is to worship him and care for creation, but unfortunately our modern world has selfishly neglected to care for creation. The only way to prevent an ecological disaster is for humanity to treat God’s creation with respect. For example, I recently found out that one of our former rectors is currently in Malaysia working to save the elephant population.

Those who bless and praise God want to see the day when sinful men have been removed from the earth and the curse of sin removed. Throughout the Old Testament there are stories of how God used creation itself to destroy evil and rebuild the world. The prime example is the story of the Great Flood. There is a destructive power in nature. Just look at hurricanes and their destructive power, or the wildfire currently burning in northern Alberta. God’s world contains forces that are beyond our wildest dreams, so we would be wise to respect both the forces of nature and the forces of God. We can’t challenge God’s truth and justice, because they are both swift and just. God wields his power with love and compassion.

If we take time to develop the habit of seeing God in our lives, we will be able to withstand the most trying times in our lives. For example, many of you know the personal situation I’m currently dealing with, especially regarding the sale of my mother’s house. I have been developing the habit of seeing God in my life, and it helps me to persevere when the situation is tough. When the Holy Spirit breathes new life into us, we can expect that it will be consistent with the character of Christ even though we might not be able to anticipate everything it will mean.

Our Christian life with God is like a song that is ready to be written. He loves to hear our praise. He will put a song in our hearts that will be the sweetest melody that we can enjoy for the rest of our lives. Just like the angels sang “Glory to God” at Christ’s birth, we are to give God glory in every circumstance in our lives. We don’t have to be a great singer to sing praise to God as long as we praise him every day. We can praise him when we do our household chores or serve others behind the scenes. When we show that Jesus is in our lives and reflect his character to those around us, we will make God happy.

Bibliography

1.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.

2.      Dr. R.C. Sproul, “Witnessing His Glory.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

3.      Williams, D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 14: Psalms 73-150 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989: pp. 239-242)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

5.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)

6.      “Sing to Me.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com

7.      Carol A. Solovitz, “God Pause for Tues., June 3, 2014.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu

8.      Ron Moore, “Beyond the Last Note.” Retrieved from www.ronmore.org

9.      Ron Moore, “Significant in Christ.” Retrieved from www.ronmoore.org

10.  Joni Eareckson Tada, “What Makes God Happy?” Retrieved from communications@joniandfriends.org

11.  Alan Brehm, “The Waking Dreamer.” Retrieved from http://thewakingdreamer.blogspot.ca/2010/06/breath-of-god-acts-21-21-ps.html

12.  Matthew Stith, “Commentary on Psalm 104:24-34,35b.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=320