[0:00] This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alfredo, Georgia. It is our prayer that you will be blessed by the preaching of God's Word.
[0:14] I don't know about you, but we keep on getting younger and younger piano players. I think that's awesome. This church is incredible. If you've got your Bibles, I ask you to take your Bibles and turn with me to Psalms 117.
[0:25] Psalms 117, the shortest chapter in the Bible, so we won't be that long. I promise you'll be out on time. But I'll tell you a little bit about the Canfield family. I don't know if you guys have ever met my little girl named Annie, but when Annie was younger, she used to scowl at people.
[0:40] She would just look at people, and she would not smile at all. She had no smile. She would just scowl at you. You know what I'm saying? Has anyone ever seen that? Hands everywhere, okay? She just scowled. I'm like, where in the world did that girl get that scowl?
[0:52] And I looked in the mirror. I was like, oh, junk, no way. And then I started looking at family photos, and I look at my dad's family. As I look at these family photos, here's nine brothers and sisters and my grandma, and they all just have that same look.
[1:06] They're just, you know, we just got out of a coal mine or something like that. I don't know. Just like life is terrible, and they just, no smile, no joy or anything like that. And I've learned in my life that I have that same demeanor.
[1:17] I often just scowl, and I'm always the jerk, and I'm always this guy, and I bark at stuff. But very rarely, I'm trying to change this, is I need to become a guy of praise.
[1:28] I need to become a guy of praise. And I think in our Christian life, we often have that same problem. In our Christian life, we fail to see what God has done in our life, and we fail to praise Him.
[1:39] And in Psalms 117, He gives us one thing. And tonight, I just want you guys to have one thing when you walk out that door. Praise Him. Praise Him. Praise Him.
[1:49] Praise Him. Praise Him. For He's worthy of praise. Psalms 117, the Bible says this. He says, Praise the Lord, all ye nations. Praise Him, all ye people.
[2:01] For His merciful kindness is great towards us, and the truth of the Lord endureth forever. Praise ye the Lord. Three times in two verses, He says the same phrase over again.
[2:12] Same word. Praise. Praise. Praise. Praise. What do you think He's trying to get at us? He wants us to praise Him, right? Three times in two verses. Praise Him. Praise Him. But I know what you're thinking. So many things happen in our lives, and so many different times, like we have bad things happen.
[2:26] Our job's not going well. Maybe we have a health problem. Maybe we have something that's just horrific in our life, and we just get in that routine where we don't praise God.
[2:37] But three times, He says, Praise Him. Praise Him. Praise the Lord. How are we going to praise Him? Well, He gives us two things in this verse. Two things in verse number two.
[2:48] He gives us two things why we should praise the Lord. Look in verse two. He says this. He says this. For His merciful kindness is great towards us. The first thing you need to remember if you're going to be a person of praise is you're going to have to remember God has been mercifully kind towards you.
[3:08] He has been exceedingly great and merciful towards you. If you have your Bibles, this is what the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians chapter two, verses one. In Ephesians chapter two, verses one, he says this.
[3:18] And you hath quickened. And you hath He quickened who were dead. Now, what does were mean? Does anybody know what were? Is that a future tense, past tense, present tense?
[3:30] What is that? Past tense. He says you were dead in trespasses and sins. Where in times ye, what? Walked. Now, does that a future tense, past tense, or present tense?
[3:41] I don't know English. I married an English major, so I don't have to know English. But I know this. There's future, present, and past. Is that future or present or past? Walked. Which one is it?
[3:52] Past. He says you walked past. In time past where ye walked according to what? The course of this world. According to the prince of the power of the air. The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
[4:03] Among whom also we, what's that word? Had. Our conversation. In times past. In the lust of the flesh. Fulfilling what? The desires of the flesh and the mind.
[4:16] You know what sinful, worldly people do? They fulfill the desires of their flesh and their mind. That's what lost people do.
[4:26] That's what the people that were in the past, the people that were dead in their trespasses and sin. What does he say? And were by nature the children of wrath, even as other. But look at verse 4. Look at verse 4. This is great.
[4:37] This is awesome. But God. Who is what? Rich in what? Mercy. For his great love wherewith he has loved us.
[4:49] Even when we were dead in sin. This is what he did. He quickened us. He quickened us together with Christ. For by grace are you saved. You know what God did in your life?
[4:59] One day. One day. If you're here and born again. There was a. In the past. You were dead in your sins. And you just did as whatever the flesh desired. And whatever your mind wanted. But God came down.
[5:10] And God in his great mercy. And God in his great riches said. Hey. I'm here. I'm going to save you. I'm going to make you alive. I'm going to make you able to serve me. So why do we praise him? Because his merciful kindness is great towards us.
[5:23] Because when we were dead in sins. And we had no other ability other than this. This. What do I want to do? Okay. I want to do this. I'm going to do sin. I'm going to do more sin. What does my want to do? I want to do more sin. I want to do more sin. But God says.
[5:33] Hey. I saved you out of that. I saved you out of that. So how did he save us? How did he go about saving us? What did we have to do in order to get this mercy? Well. If you got your Bibles. This is another thing.
[5:44] He talks about mercy. And Titus chapter 3 verses 4. This is another thing. That God says. That he did. In the believer's life. Why we should praise him. Titus 3 verse 4 says this.
[5:54] But after that kindness. And love of God. Our savior toward man appeared. Not by works of righteousness. Which we have done. But what was it according to?
[6:06] His mercy. It was his mercy that saved us. It was his mercy that saved us. By the washing and regeneration. Of the new and of the Holy Ghost. Do you know what? Why today we.
[6:17] As Vision Baptist Church. Need to be a people of praise. Because that mercy has been great towards us. That mercy has been great towards us. And I think often we forget. What it cost Christ.
[6:30] I think often we just sit down in the seats. And we go on with our life. And we let our circumstances affect us. And we focus on the problems. And we focus on whatever we're going through in life.
[6:40] And we don't focus on this truth right here. We don't focus on what Jesus Christ has done for us. You see the psalmist says. I want you to praise the Lord. I want you to praise the Lord. Because he's been great. And kind.
[6:51] And merciful to you. And this is what he did in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 21. In 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 21. He says this. For he. That means God. Hath made him.
[7:03] Jesus Christ. To be sin. For us. You know what God did? He found. He took Jesus Christ. And he took the sins of the world.
[7:14] And he placed it on Jesus. And Jesus was perfect. He was kind. When he stood before Pilate. Pilate says. I find no fault in him. Even mankind couldn't find any fault in him.
[7:26] There was nothing that he's ever done wrong. But God made him sin. Why? Because he's so merciful to us. He's so merciful to us. So when God made him sin. Why did he do that?
[7:36] So we could be made the righteousness of God in him. That's the mercy you need to think about today. Why aren't you praising? Why aren't you praising the Lord? Why is it when we come to church.
[7:47] We don't have a smile on our face? Why is it that when we. When we go through our life. When we have. Man we have this issue. Or that issue. We're not praising God. Because we're not thinking. On the right things. When Jesus sent out the 70.
[7:59] They came back. And they came back. Jesus. Jesus. We just saved. We just healed a whole bunch of people. And Jesus says. You guys are rejoicing in the wrong thing. You guys aren't praising me for the wrong thing. I didn't give you the power. Just so you could heal things.
[8:10] I want you to rejoice. That your name is now written in the Lamb's book of life. And you'll live forever. So why should church. Why should we praise him? Because he's been good to us. His mercy has been good to us.
[8:20] Do you not see his mercy. And how wonderfully kind he's been to us. Do you not know. That he gave his only begotten son. That whoever out there. Doesn't believe.
[8:31] And they believe in him. They can have life or eternal life. They can have eternal life. Life everlasting. Why aren't you praising him? I'll tell you why you're not praising him. Because you're not thinking about it.
[8:43] You're not thinking about that merciful kindness. You're not thinking about that merciful kindness. And I'm pretty sure if I could go around to each story. And I could see your guys' lives. And see how you guys came to Christ. Man.
[8:54] Why is it? When I first came to the training center. It was a month right after we came. The students. We went to a cabin. Up in Blue Ridge. A person in the church.
[9:05] So graciously donated the cabin. And we went up there. And there was Jeremy Hall there. Mark Tolson. Philip Basham. Natasha Witt at the time. Kelly Perkins at the time.
[9:16] And Mary Angela Simone. Is that how you say it? And. Philip Basham. I'm trying to think. I think David Velke and myself. And Brother Gardner sat us around this circle.
[9:26] And he says. Let's just. Let's begin to testify. It was the first month I've ever been there. I. I grew up in a small town. Didn't have a lot of Christian influence around me. But I started hearing Philip's testimony.
[9:39] And I started hearing Jeremy's testimony. And I started hearing how Mary Angela got saved. When she was witnessing somebody. I'm like. What in the world? God. You are so good. And we started praising him. You know why we don't praise him?
[9:52] You know why we can come to church. And we can sit. Let's sit down here. And look like we just finished. On a big bag of sour skittles. Because we don't think what he's done in our life. We don't.
[10:02] We're not reminded. The junk that we were in. Before we were saved. And what it cost him. On Calvary. On what it cost him on Calvary. To save us. That's the great merciful kindness.
[10:13] That he's talking about. That's why he wants us to praise him. So tonight. Tonight. What are you thinking on? I know you guys. I know. We all have reasons. We all have problems. We all have.
[10:24] We all have big major issues. That causes a lot of grief. And a lot of turmoil. Believe me. I know that. But tonight. You have. You have. The opportunity to praise your God.
[10:36] Because. Outside those circumstances. He came to you. And he saved you. When you were unlovable. And unwannable. He's a great God. Praise him.
[10:47] Praise him. Tonight. Praise him. Because. His merciful kindness. Is great towards you. But that's not the only reason. Why he tells us to praise him. Look in verse 2. He says. For his merciful kindness.
[10:59] Is great towards us. And the second part. This. He says this. And the truth of the Lord. Endureth. Endureth forever. Praise you the Lord. You know.
[11:09] In John chapter 17. Verse 17. When Jesus sits down. He begins to pray to the Father. He says these words. He says. Lord. Sanctify them. Through thy truth. Thy word.
[11:20] God. Your word. Is truth. So when the psalmist sits down. And he writes out. This. This. This. This little small psalms. This little small. He says. His mercy. It's just such a small.
[11:31] But it has so. Great implication. If we just let it. Run our life. You know what I mean. Just think about what God's done for us. And then think about this. He says this. His truth. Endures. Forever.
[11:42] Do you realize it was the truth that saved you? According to James chapter 1 verse 21. He says. Wherefore. Lay apart. All filthiness. And all superfluity of naughtiness.
[11:53] And receive with meekness. The engrafted word. Which. Listen to this last phrase. Which is able to save your soul. You know what God did? He took this book.
[12:03] And he gave it power. Because it's his word. And he says. Whenever you get in this book. It's going to bring fire. Life in your life. It'll. It'll. Waken you up. And that's why he says. Hey.
[12:13] Hey church. Church. Believers. Israel. People. People praise me. Because this word has power. And it endures forever. A couple years ago. I had the opportunity to preach.
[12:24] Or teach. I don't preach. In the training center. We're teaching creations versus evolution. And I used to like. Science. I'm not that smart. But I used to like science. All because of one teacher.
[12:35] Dave Spring. If you ever want to talk to me about him. I could talk to you about Dave Spring. He's a. He's a. He's an energetic passion guy. In biology. And I just. I love biology. And I love. Semi love chemistry.
[12:45] I really like my other teacher. Dan. Dan Weber. He was my football coach too. So. That had another reason. But. When I was. Learning about creation versus evolution. I was thinking stuff. You know why we believe in creation?
[12:59] You really want to know the reason why? You know this world. That we stand on. There's trees out there. The great Grand Canyon. All those great mountains in the Rockies.
[13:11] And all those great mountains in the Appalachian Mountains. And the highest mountain. What is that thing called? In the Himalayas. What's that place called? I don't even know. What's that? What's that? Mount Everest. Mount Everest. All those mountains. You know one day it's all going to disappear.
[13:23] You realize that? One day with a great hot fire. According to Peter. It's going to just melt away. But you know why we believe what we believe. According to creation. Because this world.
[13:34] We can't sit down and study this world. Because it's. It's always changing. And Jesus says. In Matthew chapter 24. Verse 35. This is. Jesus' word. He says this.
[13:45] Heaven and earth shall pass away. That means this stuff down here. So when you. When you take your life. And you just. Study this world. You know what you're going to figure out? One day it's going to. It's going to change.
[13:56] It's going to. It's going to go away. But listen to that last part. But my words. Shall not pass away. You know what I learned. In the creation versus evolution class. This gets me excited.
[14:07] Every time I think about it. These words. Will last. A thousand years from now. Two thousand years from now. Ten thousand years from now. A million years from now. A billion years from now.
[14:19] His word. Will endure. Forever. That is incredible. That is incredible. That's why we praise God. Many men have tried to destroy this book. Many men have tried to.
[14:29] To be critiqued. And try to change it. But you know what God says? My word is going to last forever. Praise me. My word will endure forever. Don't you realize that? It's throughout the entire Bible.
[14:40] In Hebrews chapter 6 verse 18. He says. There's two things I can't do. Which is impossible for God. This is one. He can't lie. He can't lie. And some people say. Well.
[14:50] Well. Jesus said he was coming back. Why is he coming back? Well. 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9. Says this. He says this. The Lord is not slack. concerning his promises. God hasn't forgot his promise. He's going to keep his promise.
[15:02] He's going to come back. One day he will come back. But the reason why he's waiting. Is because he's being so long suffering towards you. I don't want to say idiots. But you. You unrebellious people.
[15:13] He's so long suffering. He wants you to get saved. But that's why he hasn't come back. Because he's such a God of compassion. But he's going to keep his promise. He's going to keep his promise. You guys remember in Genesis. Genesis lays down the foundation of creation.
[15:26] It lays down the foundation of Israel. But in that. He tells the story of Noah. And this is just so awesome. Because whenever you get in the word. And you study the word. You realize that you serve an awesome amazing God.
[15:38] When I got in there. I was reading. You know what God told Noah he was going to do? He told him he was going to destroy. The entire world by a flood. And you know what God did? He did it.
[15:49] He did it. He kept his word. And he said. I'm going to put a rainbow out there. And I'm just going to make you a promise. Just so you know. Every time you look at that rainbow. I want you to remember this. I'm never going to destroy the world with a flood again.
[16:00] And you know what he's done since then? He's done it. He's kept his word. You know what he did in Genesis chapter 12. When he chose this man called Abraham. He said. Abraham. I'm going to bless you. And those that bless you.
[16:12] I'm going to bless them. And those that curse you. I'm going to curse them. And you know what happened? I was reading my Bible in Exodus this week. You know what I heard? There were some midwives. That Pharaoh said. I want you to take those Hebrew children.
[16:24] And whenever they had a Hebrew children. I want you to kill them. And you know what those midwives did? They stink and lied. They said. Those Hebrew women. They are just. Whenever they. After they have a baby. They're just too strong.
[16:34] There's no way we can kill those babies. You know what God did? To those Hebrew women. He found favor. Those Hebrew women. Those little midwives in Egypt.
[16:46] That were taking care of those Hebrew women. Being blessings to those wives. Those Hebrew women. Whenever they had a kid. They got blessed. And you know what happened to that Pharaoh in Egypt?
[16:59] In his town? It got destroyed. Do you know what happened to the next empire that tried to oppress God's people? It got destroyed. And you know what happened to the next empire that tried to hurt his people?
[17:10] It got destroyed. But you know what? His book is alive. And his truth endured forever. And if he says he's going to do something. He's going to do it. You can put your money on that. His truth endures forever.
[17:21] Praise him. Praise him. So today. If you say. Today. If you're not saved. And you read a Bible verse that says. If you shall call upon the name of the Lord. Thou shalt be saved.
[17:31] You know what you can do? You can take it to the bank. Because he doesn't lie. And if he says it. It's going to happen. And his truth endures forever.
[17:42] Praise him. If he gives you a promise out of the scripture. If he says. Go and take the gospel to the world. And just don't worry about it. I'll be with you always. You know what that means? He's going to be with you always. You can take that to the bank.
[17:53] Because his truth endureth forever. Praise him. Praise him. Praise him. For his merciful kindness is great towards you. And his truth endureth forever.
[18:03] But that's not all. Today I want you to praise him. But we're in our missions conference. And this passage isn't done.
[18:16] You see back in Psalms 117 verse 1. He says this. Praise the Lord. Say it with me. These next three words. All ye nations.
[18:30] Praise him. Say these next three words. All ye people. He just doesn't want Vision Baptist Church to praise him. He just doesn't want Atlanta, Georgia to praise him.
[18:45] He just doesn't want Georgia to praise him. He just doesn't want the Bible Belt in the southeast to praise him. He just doesn't want America to praise him. He doesn't want the western hemisphere to praise him.
[18:55] He wants all nations and all people to say. Man you're great. Man you're awesome. Man your truth endures forever. Man your grace and merciful kindness has been great towards us.
[19:07] He wants all people and all nations to say. You are great. That's what our God wants. That's what our God wants. So why do we have a thing called faith promise? Why do we devote an entire week?
[19:19] Why do we put 24 missionaries out of our church? Why do we have. Stephen better watch out. Why do we have so many music leaders that are on the mission field. And go into the mission field. Because I think you guys caught something.
[19:32] I think you guys caught what God wants. And he wants all people and all nations to love him. He wants all people and all nations to love him.
[19:43] So tonight. The application. The stuff is pretty simple. Young man. Young woman. Would you consider. Taking this wonderful gospel message.
[19:54] To the people that aren't praising him. And tell them that there is a great God. And this message. This word right here. It will last forever. Older gentleman.
[20:06] Older lady. Would you take this gospel. And maybe consider whether you should be a missionary. And take this message. The people that don't know about him. And that's never heard.
[20:17] Did you hear that? 75 people. And only the Americans. And two other people. Have only heard the name of Jesus Christ. And God said.
[20:27] I want all people and all nations. To praise me. Does that not break your heart? Does that not break your heart? Do you not see your God? He wants the praise.
[20:38] He wants the praise. And he wants to use this church. And he wants to use you. To go and take this message. This message of mercy. This message of hope. And this truth. The truth that endures forever.
[20:49] He wants to use you. He wants to use you. He wants to use you. Tonight. Praise him. Praise him.
[21:02] And let's see how many other people. We can get to praise him with us. In conclusion. I just want to say some things. I've learned so much. From this church. I mentioned before.
[21:13] That. Before I moved down here. I didn't even give to missions. I would come by. And I would see the missionaries come up. And some of them. Seem very. I don't know. I don't want to be mean. They seem so sad.
[21:24] Like their kids were selling. Neck ties. And before I even moved down here. I didn't even wear. A tie. I swear. I hated ties. I. I. I was.
[21:35] Boasting. On how many times I didn't wear a tie. Until I moved down here. And it was like a requirement. In the training center. You guys ought to thank me. For not requiring that on you. Not putting that burden on you. But there was a missionary.
[21:46] His son was selling ties. And you know. I just felt bad. So I just give him pity money. But I had no. I had no form or idea. Of giving to missions and faith promise. Until I moved down here.
[21:59] But I learned from you guys. I learned from people inside this room. On how to give. I didn't really know. What Christ had done for me. I didn't really realize.
[22:10] What. What all he's said in his word. And I really came down here. To look for it. And it was you guys. That taught me. From this pulpit. Nine years. This platform. Exact platform.
[22:21] I know. I moved it. We moved it. But I learned from you guys. I was never really part of. A group that was committed. To taking the gospel.
[22:31] So all people might praise the Lord. And I want to thank you all. Because. You guys were the instruments. That God used. To change my life. And that's not just trying to blow smoke.
[22:43] This is really my church. I've learned what it is. To be a real Christian. A biblical Christian. Because of your guys' life. And your guys' testimony. And the teaching that's going on here.
[22:54] So tonight. I want to challenge us. I want to challenge us. To do more. Maybe you're here tonight. And you've never put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Can I let you know.
[23:05] That there's enough mercy for you. And that's where the praises start. Putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord. And. Maybe you're here tonight. And you're like. I don't know.
[23:16] And you feel like you don't fit in. You feel like you don't know enough. Can I tell you. Praise starts by knowing him. And if you would just.
[23:28] Just take the time. If you're that person. Say I don't know anything about God. Would you see John Pearson back there. Second row. From the back. On the left side. Would you see brother John Pearson. And get signed up for foundations. Would you please do that.
[23:40] Maybe you're here tonight. And you've never given the faith promise. Would you commit to give. To faith promise. I don't say this. Because I get my cut out of faith promise. I say this.
[23:51] Because I know it works. I've seen God work in my life. And I've seen as I give. I mean. I can't out give God. And it doesn't mean. That I get more money back.
[24:02] It's not that type of investment. But would you commit. To give the faith promise. Maybe you're here tonight. And you're not involved. In the Yokefellow ministry. Can I ask you.
[24:16] To contact Ty Pepperdine. This is practical steps. This is how we're going to cause. All people to praise him. Would you contact. Ty Pepperdine. And get involved.
[24:28] In the Yokefellow ministry. Maybe you're here tonight. And you are a Yokefellow. Would you recommit. Recommit.
[24:39] To become a partner. To those that our church has sent out. That means would you. Would you. Keep our missionaries needs. In front of this church. If you're a Yokefellow. Keep our missionaries needs.
[24:52] In front of this church. Would you call them on the field. Whether Skype. Or telephone. Whatever. Would you just call our missionaries please. Sometimes they go out of this church.
[25:03] And they feel like they've been forgotten. But that shouldn't be said of this church. Because our church heartbeat. Is that we want all people. In all nations to praise him. And so here's some practical stuff.
[25:14] Call them. Send them an email. Facebook message them. Our missionaries. Ought to know that this church. Has not forgotten them. Our missionaries.
[25:24] Ought to know. That there's people back here. That cares. About reaching all nations. And all people. Because that's the heartbeat of our God. Our missionaries need to know.
[25:36] That we care about the praise of God. Vision. Church. Can we just get involved. In what God wants. And that's praising him.
[25:48] Can we commit to that tonight. I know we've had a lot of missions. And I promise. It's not going to stop. It's just something about this church. But God wants the praise. Let's go give it to him.
[26:00] Right now. This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church. In Alfred, Georgia. For more information. Log on to www.visionbaptist.com.
[26:14] Where you can find our service times. Location. Contact information. And more audio and video recordings. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Joseph Sullivan. I've been tänker here. I'll see you next one. Peace. Monat relies.退que俺 all now. Check out the jewelry…