SHOW FORTH HIS PRAISE “…ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). In Colossians 1:12, the Apostle Paul “(Gave) thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son,” “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Romans 8:29). When “Fools because of their transgressions, and because of their iniquities, (were) afflicted… (God) sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalm 107:17, 20). When men “… (knew) not, neither will they understand; they (walked) on in darkness…” (Psalm 82:5), nevertheless, the prophetic word was that, “The people that walked in darkness have seen light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). And the light was in the Word that God sent to heal and deliver men from their destructions; for “In (the Word) was life; and the life was the light… That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:4, 9). ”And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Men knew not, neither will they understand; for that the darkness blinded their eyes, and by that, they journeyed in darkness: but “…For (that) purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), that He might deliver men from the power of darkness. So saith He, “…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). And now we know that the Son of God is come, and hath defeated the power of darkness, and hath called us out of that darkness into His marvellous light, and hath given us to have the light of life, making us also to be in this world, as He is in heaven, meaning, God hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, making us the ambassadors for Christ to represent the Lord of Light in the world, and thus commissioned us to bear forth fruit unto His glory, saying to us, “Let your light so shineth before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Though, “…by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation…” (Romans 5:18): but ye are a chosen generation, a peculiar people bought with a price, “O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:1-2). Men were held captive by the power of darkness, and were made to “…sit in darkness and in the shadow of death…” (Psalm 107:10): but God sent Light into the world; the domain of the darkness, “And the light shineth in the darkness; [and prevailed over the darkness,] and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5). That’s, the sent Light came and defeated the darkness that held men under the shadow of death, that He might “…deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subjected to bondage” (Hebrews 2:15), “Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8), for “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder” (Psalm 107:14). He paid dearly to set us loosed from the chains of death; He suffered for our sins, and the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, He died in our place, that we should escape the condemnation, for He “…was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3) “And it shall be a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that (He hath done) unto (us)…” [They will hear] “The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for His mercy endureth forever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD…” (Jeremiah 33:9, 11). A great man of God once said that, “the deeper things of God seem simpler to men,” why? Because, deep Spiritual truths sound in the ears of men as, just something at somewhere, if not, why will a Christian ever worry? If a Christian could only perceive exactly what it means to be born of God: what at all in this world will he worry about? How could he that is called in “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for (him)” (1 Peter 1:4) be anxiously coveting hard after an earthly inheritance, and is eager to reach any extent to secure a corruptible treasure? “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved…” (2 Peter 3:11). A Pastor shared the gospel with a sinner, and fruitfully, the sinner gave her life to Christ, and the Pastor was innerly overjoyed that a soul was won into the Kingdom of heaven: but to the soul, yes, she’s given her life to Christ: nevertheless, she’s got a most important thing craving for, and thus said to the Pastor, “Pastor,…you pray for me; there is this man that proposed to me yesterday, in fact, I want God to push him quickly to come and marry me immediately, after which I will bring Him thanks…” What a shock to the Pastor! The Pastor thus enquired of her, “woman, you mean, God sent His only begotten Son into this world for your sake, and was wounded for your transgressions, bruised for your iniquities, put Him to grief, and made His soul an offering for your sin, died, buried, and arose from the dead, that you through faith in His Name should not perish, but have eternal life: and I just led you to Christ, that you should escape hell, and that is not enough for you to give Him thanks: but that He should give you your fleshly desire, to consume upon your lust, then will He deserve your thanksgiving? I’m sorry woman, my time is short with the ungrateful.” The Pastor was somehow unhappy about people who have no value for permanent spiritual realities: save temporal fleshly satisfactions; a woman who until then, would have gone to hell; had she died even a minute before, but somehow graciously received the good news which is the power to save her soul, and that meaneth very little to her: but a marriage which is only necessary as long as she remains in her earthly body, is the most important for her. Likewise a man that went to a Church, and it was a time to praise God for His goodness, but the Pastor knowing to prepare their hearts and minds to consciously participate fully in the praises, began to say, “today is a day that the LORD hath made, so let us rejoice, and be glad, we are to praise God, for He’s been good to us all: or is there any among you, that God has not been good to?” Surprisingly to the Pastor, at the back, there lifted up a hand, the Pastor was puzzled: but called for, and a man came forward. “What’s wrong Gentleman, did you hear what I said” asked the Pastor, “yes Pastor,” answered the man. “Alright, tell us, what’s your own case?” inquired the Pastor, “Pastor, my business is seriously collapsing, and God have done naught about it” complained the man. But, the Pastor wisdomatically demanded his answers to questions such as; “are you aware that you are somebody aside of your business? And that it is you that owns that business; do you know that, without your life, the business is in vain? Tell me, how do you know that you have a business, is it not because you are yet living, do you know how you opened your eyes from your sleep this morning? If you saw not today, will there have been any memory of that business in your mind? Are you not grateful, that you even have a mind to think of a business? Oh ye men of carnality, until when will ye wake up; to value your souls than material things, Which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men? (Colossians 2:22), Go back to your seat; think beyond that business, and know that, God is worthy of your praise: not because your business is going on well; but that He has given you to see today.” And the man walked back to his seat, face down, but enlightened. The man was focusing on his business, insomuch that, he was ignorant, that, God had to allow him to wake up first, before he could pursue his temporal business. But as for me, I’ve realized that, I would have gone to hell, if not that God sent Jesus to be the way to heaven: yet still will I have perished out of ignorance, had it not been that I heard of the gospel of salvation, and now, the gospel has come to me; and I have believed, and the consequence thereat is, that, I’m delivered from death to life eternal: to life eternal? Wow! Meaning, I am justified from condemnation, and that there is therefore no condemnation for me? My goodness! What else will I need to praise Him, if He hath truly delivered my soul from destruction? “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:1-4). Who “…hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities... [For] As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:10, 12). “He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion… He sent redemption unto His people…” (Psalm 111:4, 9); “And He brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness” (Psalm 105:43). The idea of this message is that, we that are saved by the LORD our God, and are gathered from among the heathen, must give thanks unto His holy Name, and triumph in His praise, let us say continually, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 106:48). For we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world…;” (Ephesians 1:4) that we should show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness; Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, into His marvellous light; who hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, the Kingdom of Light. You are saved by God; and you are positioned to praise Him of what He hath done for you, therefore, to the saved, all that must needs to be done is to praise ceaselessly His kindness to you, even, bringing you into His marvelous light, and that becomes your life; the life that is filled with the praises of God, thus, you dwell in the joy of the Lord; for whenever you consider His love to you, you are filled up with an unspeakable joy, ever rejoicing in the Lord, being overwhelmed by joy and walking in joy; expressing joy all the time. Thus, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD all ye lands. 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. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:1-5). “O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth forever. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalm 117:-2). “Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the Name of the LORD; praise Him, O ye servants of the LORD. Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God, Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto His Name; for it is pleasant. For the LORD hath chosen (the saints) unto himself, and (the Church) for His peculiar treasure. For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods” (Psalm 135:1-5). We praise the LORD for what He hath done, and so I asked myself, how possibly can I cease to praise Him? Knowing what His grace is doing in my life, I should always declare that, “Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have my being” (Psalm 146:1-2). O LORD God, because thou hast protected me and the family, and hath lifted up our eyes to see victory over the enemy, and hath put your Word in my heart, and on my lips to speak forth light over the darkness, “…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. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works… All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. (We) shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.” (Psalm 145:1-5, 10-13). The LORD God inhabits the praises of His people; He taketh a great pleasure, whenever His saints; the people He hath purchased with the precious blood of the Lamb, lift up their voices to offer praises for His kindness towards them, He hears them from His holy heaven, and favours them exceedingly and abundantly, even because, the people that He hath created, hath acknowledged that He is worthy of their praise, as the Psalmist foretold that, “This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD” (Psalm 102:18). Therefore, to the redeemed of the Lord, praises to God is comely, enthusiastically, a great pleasure, and even a must; for he that is born of God, have no reason at all not to praise God. When you praise God, you acknowledge His goodness and appreciate His kindness, you give Him thanks for His gracious blessedness, even towards you. There are many things that you might be able to do for yourselves, also there are some things that others may do for: but above all, there are basic important things that, even all the wisdom and the knowledge of men, including everything of men, could not do for you, save God. Yeah, you might be very rich, and wealthy, you might have so many subjects responding to your call, and carrying all your instructions for you, you might due to your position wish a thing, and get many to implement it for you, but that will only continue as long as you continue: when you are to leave, none of the possessions can save you; for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. For example, the Lord Jesus spake a parable, “…saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:16-21). I want you to notice something that must give you a clear understand that, there is nothing that a man acquire outside God that can save him, therefore, if you wake up from your bed, do not be deceived to trust in your possession or your position, for none count, if God require your soul: and this also must enlighten you on how merciful God is, even to them that deny His existence, and yet breathes. Notice that, the man being described as a rich man, probably might have servants, and he thinking in himself to build greater barns will definitely employ workers, that’s, the man had riches, subjects, and influence, therefore, the man could have done as he wished, even as his subjects would have given him hand in many things. But because he trusted in his possessions, and acknowledged not God in his thinking, God taught him that, he is, but a creature. Yes, the man labored to acquire his possessions, but, the life by which he acquired those riches, was from God, and God was very justice that, He took not his possession, but the soul that He gave to him, and the man was nothing, even though, all his possessions were intact: but what was the necessity of those riches to the dead, and where were all his subjects, and his influence, when God asked for his soul? Tell me, “…what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Is it not so sad, that a man wakes up in the morning, and gives his time to every thing minus God, and yet, none of those things taketh him anywhere at the end of his lifetime? “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3). When will men come to know, that, anything without God, that takes your time is against your soul? And that there is nothing in this life outside God, that is necessary beyond this life? “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Therefore, if you wake up my dear, to see today, being counted among the living, see beyond anything; and give praise to God, at least, because, there’s yet breath in you. If I promise to marry you, and you fail to wake up on the wedding day: yes, I said I love you very much, even more than anybody else, but that becomes a thing of the past: if you are able to go, then we go with you, so, if we are going with you, remember it is because you can go. And the one, who gives you the ability to go, is the one who has given you to see the day, and that could be none, but the God of mercy: “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD” (Psalm 107:43). Hence, those who are living in the hope of eternal life, through faith in His grace must adopt a lifestyle called, the life of His praise, for they must dwell forever in His praise. The saints of God in this wise are called, the trees of His praise. Wow! My goodness! Praising God should be the normal lifestyle of His people; for we are chosen to show forth the praises of Him, who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Finally brethren, walk in the consciousness of His praise, and forever keep His praises on your lips, for “The LORD is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people. Let (us) praise (His) great and (wonderful) Name; for it is holy” (Psalm 99:2-3), “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house [Oh God]: they will be still praising thee” (Psalm 84:4), “Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders” (Psalm 107:32). Oh LORD God Almighty; the Great I AM, if all men will weary in praises unto your holy Name, for me, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and my soul knoweth right well” (Psalm 139: 14). “I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude” (Psalm 109:30). “…I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation” (Psalm 111:1). Yet, not only will I forever praise you, but I will stand tall in the Name of Jesus; and teach all men to praise your Majesty, for “I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth” (Psalm 108:3-5). This I say then to the Church, we are called to show forth His praise in all the earth, so, be ye positioned to lift up your voice in an everlasting praise, for the LORD our God is worthy of our praise. If you want to receive Christ into your spirit, kindly pray thus: “O LORD GOD, I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, YOUR WORD SAYS, “…WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED” I ASK JESUS TO COME INTO MY HEART TO BE THE LORD OF MY LIFE. I RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE INTO MY SPIRIT, I DECLARE I AM SAVED; I AM BORN AGAIN; I AM A CHILD OF GOD; I NOW HAVE CHRIST DWELLING IN ME, AND GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD! I NOW WALK IN THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF MY NEW LIFE. HALLELUJAH!”
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:44:10 +0000
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