WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.940 Let's turn for a short time this evening to the book of Psalms, Psalm number 50. 00:00:05.299 --> 00:00:10.740 And we'll focus especially on the last verse of the psalm, Psalm 50 and verse 23. 00:00:11.939 --> 00:00:16.339 The one who offers thanksgiving as a sacrifice glorifies me. 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:22.900 To one who orders his way rightly, I will show the salvation of the Lord. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:24.980 This, of course, is the Lord speaking. 00:00:24.980 --> 00:00:34.439 And as we've read through the psalm, you'll have noticed, of course, that the psalm begins with what we call a theophany, a manifestation of God. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:42.519 Although in this instance, it's a description of a theophany or using words that usually are found, like, for example, on Mount Sinai. 00:00:42.620 --> 00:00:51.480 And other times the Lord appeared as a theophany, a powerful demonstration using aspects of the creation itself very often. 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:55.979 And so you find here that this kind of thing is what's described there. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:57.419 God comes. 00:00:57.559 --> 00:01:03.959 He does not keep silence before him is a devouring fire around him as a mighty tempest. 00:01:04.859 --> 00:01:09.140 And then you expect perhaps that there'll be an indication of who that's against. 00:01:09.259 --> 00:01:13.819 And you expect that that would be against his enemies and against the enemies of Israel. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:18.219 That God is coming in judgment to deal with the enemies of Israel. 00:01:18.219 --> 00:01:29.799 And then there's something of a surprise, I think, when you read through the psalm, certainly if we hadn't read it before, something of a surprise that it's actually a summons to his covenant people. 00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:40.939 Because it's against his covenant people that God has come with what's effectively an indictment, a legal case against them. 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:43.980 And he's calling them to judgment. 00:01:43.980 --> 00:01:53.679 He's calling them to meet with himself because he's obviously found things in their practice, in their way of life, in their outlook. 00:01:53.980 --> 00:01:59.420 That is contrary to his will, contrary to what they know he has given them to follow. 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:05.680 And as you find there in verse 7, hear, O my people, I will speak. 00:02:06.340 --> 00:02:09.219 O Israel, I will testify against you. 00:02:09.780 --> 00:02:11.719 I am God, your God. 00:02:11.819 --> 00:02:16.000 And, of course, by the time you reach that, you realize something serious is going on here. 00:02:16.180 --> 00:02:18.240 Because he's calling his covenant people. 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:20.780 His own people are named by him. 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:25.439 He's calling them to be gathered, as it were, before him. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:30.319 He refers to them as those who have made a covenant with him by sacrifice. 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:33.919 But now he's actually saying, I will speak against you. 00:02:33.979 --> 00:02:35.699 I testify against you. 00:02:35.780 --> 00:02:37.240 I have a case against you. 00:02:37.560 --> 00:02:38.919 I have an indictment. 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:44.539 That's something you find in the Old Testament, especially in the prophets. 00:02:44.680 --> 00:02:52.500 You'll find it in Isaiah, Jeremiah, particularly in the book of Micah, which largely is an indictment against Israel. 00:02:52.500 --> 00:03:01.860 And it's the Lord describing the situation by way of a courtroom scene, by way of having his people gathered before him. 00:03:01.879 --> 00:03:02.879 And he is the judge. 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:04.900 He's sitting there presiding over the case. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:07.479 He himself reads the indictment against them. 00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:09.280 And then he calls them to answer. 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:14.840 And as you go through the psalm, you realize why this is the case. 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:21.980 It's so because the Lord's covenant people have religion. 00:03:22.980 --> 00:03:24.460 But that's about it. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:30.580 He really has to testify against them for their mere formality. 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:32.560 They have all items in place. 00:03:33.240 --> 00:03:36.060 You can see there in verse 8, not for your sacrifices. 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:37.039 Do I rebuke you? 00:03:37.460 --> 00:03:40.280 Your burnt offerings are continually before me. 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:43.539 Similar to Isaiah chapter 1 into chapter 2. 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:50.159 The Lord is recounting for them how much they are religious, how much religion they do have. 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:53.899 They have all the elements there of formality in worship. 00:03:54.340 --> 00:04:01.019 But yet he then goes on and specifies what he's found wrong in them. 00:04:02.019 --> 00:04:11.759 He says in verse 16, to the wicked, God says, and I think he's talking here about those specifically within the covenant community of Israel. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:13.979 Well, because that's really what the psalm is elsewhere. 00:04:14.579 --> 00:04:18.620 What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? 00:04:18.980 --> 00:04:20.360 For you hate discipline. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:23.060 And you cast my words behind you. 00:04:23.459 --> 00:04:25.560 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him. 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:28.659 And you keep company with adulterers. 00:04:28.779 --> 00:04:31.120 You give your mouth free reign for evil. 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:32.659 And your tongue frames deceit. 00:04:32.660 --> 00:04:35.500 You sit and speak against your brother. 00:04:35.880 --> 00:04:37.760 You slander your own mother's son. 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:39.960 These things you have done. 00:04:40.380 --> 00:04:42.480 And I have been silent, God is saying. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:45.300 But now matters are coming to a head. 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:47.040 He's coming to rebuke them. 00:04:47.580 --> 00:04:51.500 And lay this charge, he says in verse 21, before you. 00:04:51.500 --> 00:05:08.519 And as so often is the case, God brings to us this account from these times, as indeed you'll find in the New Testament, where he speaks in this way to his covenant people, just to remind us that we need to be more than just outwardly a covenant people. 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:17.099 To remind us that we do have great privileges in being a covenant people, but then we have to demonstrate what that means in practice. 00:05:17.599 --> 00:05:23.319 That is more than just having things in place formally. 00:05:24.139 --> 00:05:31.560 It's actually living the kind of life that God is himself saying is pleasing to him. 00:05:32.419 --> 00:05:38.379 And so as we come to verse 23, where he really summarizes this against Israel, he's assuring them to the one. 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:42.519 The one who offers thanksgiving as a sacrifice glorifies me. 00:05:42.599 --> 00:05:47.039 That's what's absent, you see, because they're not living in thankfulness to God. 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:55.359 But he's saying this one, if you come and if this is the case with you, then he glorifies me. 00:05:56.359 --> 00:06:01.819 And the one who orders his way rightly, I will show the salvation of God. 00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:09.800 So God is focusing on spiritual thanksgiving and a life that glorifies him. 00:06:10.459 --> 00:06:22.600 And if we want something to carry forward into this new year, it might be a bit strange that we're going to this sort of psalm to find something positive, something meaningful, something reassuring indeed. 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:24.000 But that's what it is. 00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:30.360 But it's against the background of what Israel were with their formality and indeed hypocrisy. 00:06:30.460 --> 00:06:34.780 I'm not suggesting at all that that's how it is with yourselves or with ourselves. 00:06:34.779 --> 00:06:43.759 But then we all need to come to these passages of the Bible and realize how terribly easy it is for us to fall into the way of mere formalism. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:50.719 How easy it is for us just to be like others in the world, others who confess to be Christians. 00:06:51.180 --> 00:06:54.980 And really, as far as we can see, all that they're doing is going through the motions. 00:06:55.860 --> 00:06:57.740 They have a certain ritual about them. 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:07.099 And yet there doesn't seem to be, as far as an outward way of life, there doesn't really seem to be a Christian at Christ honoring life there. 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:11.620 That's what we ourselves must strenuously avoid. 00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:22.360 And we are brought back here to the crux of the matter of what we can call thanksgiving and thanksgiving. 00:07:23.019 --> 00:07:24.980 Because the two things go together. 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:28.120 Thanksgiving and thanksgiving. 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:34.040 Because thanksgiving is not just using our lips and praise to God as we've been doing tonight. 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:35.040 It is that, of course. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:44.420 But thanksgiving is also something that should be reflected in how we live to God's glory or seek to live to God's glory day by day. 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:47.040 Let's look at these two issues. 00:07:47.960 --> 00:07:51.000 It divides itself, really, into these two matters. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:56.060 Thanksgiving and then ordering his way rightly or thanksgiving, as we've called it. 00:07:56.460 --> 00:07:57.740 Look at these in turn. 00:07:57.740 --> 00:08:03.500 He says, the one who offers thanksgiving as a sacrifice glorifies me. 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:06.759 And it's significant to use the word offers there. 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:13.379 Because our worship of God is indeed our offering to him. 00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:20.120 And whenever you find the word offer used in this way regarding our worship of God, 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:27.660 the word offer reminds us that when we worship God, we're doing more than just going through the motions, 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:29.959 more than what Israel were doing then. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:36.120 Because when you come with your worship to God, when you come with your praise of God, 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:42.820 your prayers to God, you're listening, you're preaching, whatever aspects of the worship you think of, 00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:47.280 or even if it's just on our own with God, between ourselves and God, 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:58.280 it is in fact a willing, knowledgeable, intellectual, heart-moving engagement that we are involved with. 00:08:59.420 --> 00:09:06.720 When you offer something, you're obviously consciously doing something in bringing whatever it is you're offering. 00:09:06.880 --> 00:09:11.760 If it's in the ordinary sense of an offering, a gift or whatever it is, 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:13.519 you're consciously doing that. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:15.179 You don't just do that unthinkingly. 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:20.419 You don't do that without really thinking deeply about what it means to you, 00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:24.419 what it means if the person accepts it or refuses it. 00:09:24.419 --> 00:09:28.340 All of those issues come into your offering of what it is you're offering. 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:35.080 Even if it's when you're offering to take someone's place to do something for them, 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:40.120 when you're offering to give off your services to the congregation, to the church, 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.600 you're doing that consciously. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:44.500 You're doing that thinking about what it's going to mean. 00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:45.580 You've thought it through. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:52.299 And that's what God is saying to Israel here, to the one who offers thanksgiving. 00:09:53.060 --> 00:09:58.259 Now, I know our life is busy, and I'm speaking to myself as much as to anyone else here, 00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:05.680 but it's something we should be very much aware of as we prepare to come to worship the Lord. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:14.219 Even if it's just for a few moments or whatever long we have, we have to think about it as our offering to God. 00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:19.479 And because it's our offering to God, we have to think about what it is we're doing and how we're doing it, 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:23.239 what it is we're giving to him, why it is we're doing it, what is our purpose. 00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:26.879 This is our offering to God. 00:10:27.239 --> 00:10:31.699 We're really saying to God, please, Lord, receive this from me. 00:10:31.700 --> 00:10:36.320 I have consciously thought about it and your worthiness to receive it. 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:39.240 I've thought of how much I owe you this. 00:10:40.140 --> 00:10:47.320 And all of that comes into our preparation, as well as the actual engagement itself of worship. 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:56.680 It's central to all true worship that we offer to God, our offering, our worship as an offering to him. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:11:00.580 And our praise and thanksgiving is very much a part of that. 00:11:00.580 --> 00:11:04.120 Now, it begins, of course, with offering ourselves to him. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.379 It's pretty meaningless, really. 00:11:06.900 --> 00:11:16.759 And just again, a nominalism or a mere formality to actually just think of coming to offer to God something in which we ourselves are hardly engaged. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:19.000 Remember Romans chapter 12, how it begins? 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:35.940 I beseech you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present, that you offer, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:38.220 And he's taking us to the mind. 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:48.400 He's taking us to the issue of thinking about what we're doing and why we're doing it and the privilege of doing it as against just going through the motions. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:58.500 And when it's an offering of ourselves, then it follows that praise and thanksgiving form part of that. 00:11:58.939 --> 00:12:01.220 We come and offer ourselves to God. 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:03.179 It's virtually impossible to do that. 00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:21.259 In fact, I think it is impossible to do that, to offer yourself consciously to God in his service, in the service of his church, whatever it is we're doing, without really being aware of the fact that you are praising God and giving him the thanks that is due to him for the privilege of this. 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:22.819 And for his worthiness. 00:12:23.739 --> 00:12:26.099 That you're giving him this in respect of that. 00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:28.240 In fact, that's interesting, isn't it? 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:35.300 Hebrews chapter 13 uses the words to do with sacrifice and with offerings. 00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:47.820 You recall there in Hebrews 13 that the writer is saying from verse 15 onwards that he's been speaking about Christ sanctifying himself for his people. 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:51.220 Therefore, let us go out to him, bearing his reproach. 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:53.800 For here we have no lasting city. 00:12:53.799 --> 00:13:05.319 And he continues the language of sacrifice when he says through him, through him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:09.799 That is the fruit of our lips that acknowledge his name. 00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:17.279 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 00:13:17.319 --> 00:13:18.000 You see what he's saying? 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:22.439 We're coming to God and we're offering up our sacrifice of praise to him. 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:24.140 But he doesn't leave it at that. 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:29.620 He's saying don't neglect to do good and share because that too is a sacrificial exercise. 00:13:30.060 --> 00:13:34.440 It's the giving of yourself to God in humble service. 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:45.060 A reminder to us that this really is how we should carry on through the year as we begin each year with reflection on the time that has passed. 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:48.719 Where our lives are going, what we've done, what we've done, what we've not done. 00:13:49.239 --> 00:13:58.759 And it's our privilege tonight to remind ourselves that the one who offers thanksgiving as a sacrifice glorifies God. 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:02.259 He glorifies me, says the Lord. 00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:11.819 And that element of thanksgiving there as an offering, as part of the offering, is something that we're reminded of too, of course, in the New Testament. 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:24.200 Philippians 4, verse 6, don't be overanxious about anything, but with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:41.820 And there's, I think, at least a suggestion there, if not a specific element of teaching there, that if our worship is actually devoid of thanksgiving, or if thanksgiving is at a minimum, then obviously it affects the rest of the sacrifice too. 00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:51.460 It's a bit like the Old Testament sacrifices, all the elements to do with the sacrifice, as God had specifically ordered had to be in place in order to be pleasing to him. 00:14:51.460 --> 00:15:12.720 And here is God reminding us too, that if we're offering our praise to God, if we're coming with our supplication and prayer to God, how much that is part of what we need to do, it has to be accompanied with thanksgiving, with the incense, if you like, of the thanksgiving that ascends to God. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:29.860 And that's why we tend, certainly we were taught in my time in college, taught to try and always begin the main prayer of a service of worship with thanksgiving to God. 00:15:30.660 --> 00:15:37.720 Before you begin to go through to supplication or intercession or whatever, we begin with thanksgiving. 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:45.120 And indeed, in our own private prayers as well, it is always good to try and keep to that pattern. 00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:51.960 Now, there'll be some times when you come before God and your mind is so taken up with something and you plead for God's help, 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:59.600 and you perhaps don't have the element of thanksgiving to begin with that rightly or ideally should be there. 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.500 Well, God understands that. 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:11.399 But nevertheless, we should try and always pattern our prayers so that we begin with thanksgiving to God. 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:17.560 Because, again, you see, that's part of thinking about what worship is and how we're going to worship and why. 00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:19.840 We're coming to God to worship him. 00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:23.300 So we begin to reflect on what have I got from God? 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:26.019 What reasons for thankfulness have I got? 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.379 And, of course, there are many. 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:38.080 So we come before him with our thanksgiving, our offering of thanksgiving, the sacrifice of thanksgiving as pleasing to God. 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:46.200 Now, that's reminding us of something important, that while it is true in worship that we come to receive from God, 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:49.480 and that is itself a vital matter. 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:57.019 We've come here tonight to receive from God, to receive his blessing, to receive his instruction, to receive his guidance. 00:16:57.379 --> 00:17:07.259 But it's not a primary element of worship, because the primary element of worship is coming to give to God, 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:10.359 before we even think of receiving from him. 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:16.079 What a great privilege to receive from him, but we receive from him by firstly giving to him. 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:18.220 We give to him what is his due. 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.799 We give to him ourselves. 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.159 We give to him our praise. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:23.019 We give to him our thanksgiving. 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:30.639 We say to God, please, Lord, when I go to worship, don't let me forget to begin by thanking you. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:35.120 And remind me how much I have to give thanks for. 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:45.640 That's such an important thing that we come to God thinking, you see, a lot of, I don't really like to generalize, 00:17:46.280 --> 00:17:51.140 but when you find a lot of the modern church, to say the more liberal side, certainly, 00:17:51.140 --> 00:18:00.400 you get the impression that it's pretty much about what pleases me, what pleases us as human beings. 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:06.640 The arrangement of however things are done, it has to be in a way that really gratifies my own heart, 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:14.240 gratifies our own desires, fulfills ourselves and our need to actually enjoy ourselves. 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:16.020 Now, please don't get me wrong. 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:18.240 There is an enjoyment element to worship. 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.000 We desire God. 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.859 We love to meet with God. 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.900 We love to have fellowship with God. 00:18:24.639 --> 00:18:28.480 It gives us joy to meet with God, to worship God. 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:33.139 But as we come to give to God firstly and primarily, 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:40.420 it's a matter of what is pleasing to him first, then what's pleasing to ourselves. 00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:47.600 And if it's pleasing to us first, the danger is we won't begin with what's pleasing to him, 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:54.060 that we will arrange it, that we have things, first of all, that please us and it feels good. 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:57.500 And you get that feel good factor and you go by your feelings. 00:18:58.560 --> 00:19:01.580 And you begin to think, well, this is the essence of my worship. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.440 No, it's not. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:09.420 The essence of my worship is, as God sets out in his word, what is it that's pleasing to me? 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:13.340 How does God define worship for us? 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:18.200 What are the main elements of worship and how are they set out in scripture? 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:21.779 Not going to go into that just now, but you know what they are yourselves. 00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:28.480 The singing of his praises, calling upon him in prayer, reading his word, 00:19:29.300 --> 00:19:33.220 having his word expounded and listening to the word preached. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:37.279 And in all of these, we begin first by asking ourselves, 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:39.940 is this pleasing to God? 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.160 Am I doing this the way he himself has set out for me? 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:49.940 And if that is the case, then don't be surprised if it's pleasing to you as well. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:56.900 But if it's not pleasing to God, there's no point in beginning by just thinking, 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.279 well, it feels good to me. 00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:05.279 Who offers thanksgiving as a sacrifice glorifies me. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:13.160 One of the commentators on the book of Psalms, William S. Plummer, says this, 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:17.259 and I looked it up just earlier on for verse 23, 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:19.700 and one of the comments he makes says this. 00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:23.680 It doesn't arise directly necessarily out of the text, but this is what he says. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:30.140 He who would be truly holy must take God's word for his rule of living. 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.680 It's what it would be me saying. 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:35.440 You go by the pattern of God's word as to what's pleasing to him. 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.000 That's what he said. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:40.620 He who would be truly holy must take God's word for his rule of living. 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:43.320 God's son for his savior. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:47.820 God's spirit for his guide, comforter, and sanctifier. 00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:51.440 God's people for his chosen companions. 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:55.660 God's glory for the aim and object of his life. 00:20:56.380 --> 00:21:02.080 And God's love as the great animating principle of his conduct. 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:04.320 That's a mouthful. 00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:07.120 That's a challenge to live up to. 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:09.200 But that's really it, isn't it? 00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:14.420 That's basically what Asaph is saying to us at the end of this psalm. 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:17.840 Take God's word for your rule of living. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:21.339 Take God's son for your savior. 00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:27.519 Not just your idea of what a savior is or my idea or the world's idea or the church's idea. 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.399 The Christ of scripture. 00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:34.879 We're going through 1 Corinthians 15 for our Sunday evening studies. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:42.980 And we've emphasized in that how important it is to realize, of course, what Paul is dealing with are facts. 00:21:44.020 --> 00:21:45.580 The facts of Christ's death. 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:47.220 The facts of Christ's burial. 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:48.620 The fact of his resurrection. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:52.160 The fact of his appearing then following his resurrection. 00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:54.700 To demonstrate that it is no other than himself. 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:58.299 That's not what the modern church wants to hear. 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:03.620 That's what the Bible says is the essence of our worship. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:08.059 What is according to God's own word. 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:10.200 And then God's spirit as his guide. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.980 God's people for his chosen companions. 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:16.740 And God's glory for the aim and object of his life. 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:22.940 And God's love as the great animating principle of his conduct. 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:25.539 So thanksgiving. 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:27.620 And then secondly, thanksgiving. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:32.480 Because he goes on to one who orders his way rightly. 00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:36.559 I will show the salvation of God. 00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:48.740 Now if you check the commentators on this, your comments or books that refer to us, you'll find there are various opinions just exactly how we should take this part of the verse of the text. 00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:49.840 But let's take it this way. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:53.559 I think this is the way that fits best with the psalm as a whole. 00:22:54.179 --> 00:23:03.899 The one who orders his way rightly is really a reference to life in addition to what you do in actual worship. 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:14.660 To order your life rightly is to have those principles that come into your worship actually control or govern the whole of your life. 00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:20.340 He's really saying here, the one who gives thanksgiving as a sacrifice glorifies me. 00:23:20.339 --> 00:23:28.399 But as if he's going, it's really him going on to say, well, glorifying me also is the very crux of your life as a believer. 00:23:29.179 --> 00:23:34.000 You order your life in a way that fits with glorifying God. 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:39.899 And you have everything you need to know how to do that already in his word. 00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:46.900 You know, God has given us his word so that all of these issues are set before us clearly. 00:23:46.900 --> 00:24:05.580 In other words, if we really are sincere as you, I know you are about, as I hope we all are, about our acts of worship and our praise and our thanksgiving, then the pattern of our life along with that or outwith that, if you like, is going to match up with it. 00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:07.319 That's not what is happening in Israel. 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:16.119 They had all of these formal elements of worship in place, but their lifestyle was so very different to what it should have been. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:19.000 It wasn't in accordance with God's own instructions. 00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.599 They hated discipline. 00:24:21.439 --> 00:24:23.159 They cast his words behind them. 00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:32.779 They were actually just not really taking issue at all with such things as thieving or adultery. 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:35.920 Framing deceit with their mouth. 00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:37.200 They weren't bothered about that. 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.619 They just did it. 00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:41.639 Then they went to their sacrifices thinking that was going to be okay. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.720 But this is what he's saying. 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:52.319 Whoever orders his life rightly, I will show the salvation of God. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:25:09.319 In other words, those who would seek to live to the glory of God, to give him thanksgiving, to have a life of thanksgiving, to worship that really sets that as an offering of thanksgiving, a sacrifice to glorify God. 00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:15.939 Their ordering of life will be just as they are in approaching worship, so they are in approaching the rest of life. 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:17.620 Thinking about it. 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:20.680 Setting everything in its place as it should be. 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:24.740 Making choices as far as priorities are concerned. 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:27.580 What comes first, Jesus or myself? 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:36.320 What comes first, my discomforts living as a Christian or the comforts of just living by avoiding some of my responsibilities? 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.059 Choices. 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:44.279 Choices that fit in with what's pleasing to God, what's glorifying to him. 00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:49.399 So we carefully mark out and we organize our choices. 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:52.420 That's an aspect of daily living. 00:25:53.720 --> 00:26:00.079 And it's something in which, again, we seek to have the guidance of God's word for that. 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:04.980 And the inner power of God's spirit working within us. 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:09.139 Because we're not going to choose these things for ourselves, naturally. 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:12.559 Not are we going to choose them for ourselves if we're backslidden. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:15.399 If we've stopped reading our Bibles regularly. 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:20.039 If we've dropped off from prayer and seeking God's face and God's guidance. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:24.279 That's not ordering our way rightly. 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:30.259 But if we're ordering our way rightly, then you have this promise. 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:32.099 I will show. 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.579 This is God speaking, of course. 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:37.039 I will show the salvation of God. 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:43.519 I think that means if we have our life ordered rightly. 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:48.399 So that things are set in a way that would glorify God. 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.279 That would put him first. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:56.059 That would have our life structured and organized in such a way as that would be our priority. 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:57.859 As we all want it to be. 00:26:58.379 --> 00:27:01.839 Then the promise is that if life is lived that way. 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:06.559 Then God will show us the salvation that is his. 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:13.779 In other words, he's really saying he will conduct us into more experience and knowledge of that salvation. 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:15.480 As life goes on. 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:20.860 I will show the salvation of God to him. 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:24.299 Indeed, the language used literally is interesting. 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:32.680 I will show really means he will really delight in. 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:37.820 I will gaze with delight at this. 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:40.600 I will show the salvation of God. 00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:43.620 God himself takes delight in doing this. 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:50.799 And we take delight in turn in receiving from him the guidance, the teaching, the benefits that he gives us through the gospel. 00:27:53.620 --> 00:28:02.160 Worship and the life that is structured and set out to please God, to be, if you like, a delight to God. 00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:05.500 And that's what ends up being a delight to us too. 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:11.759 Because our greatest delight is not in that delight itself. 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:15.740 Our greatest delight is in knowing that God is delighted. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:20.480 Our greatest pleasure is knowing that we are pleasing to God. 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:23.860 And we know that we are pleasing to God. 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:29.100 Even as we heard in prayer, although we confess, of course, very rightly our sins daily to God. 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:33.779 And although we acknowledge before God, Lord, I am nothing like what I should be. 00:28:34.699 --> 00:28:40.779 I should have learned more by now how to control my innermost desires and urges better than I do. 00:28:41.199 --> 00:28:44.559 I should have controlled my tongue better than I did in the last year. 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:47.719 I should have done this and that much better than I did. 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:49.779 I should be a better Christian than I am. 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:52.539 All of that is true of us and true of us all. 00:28:52.539 --> 00:29:07.059 And yet, it is still the case that we are pleasing to God when we come sincerely in the name of Christ to offer our worship to him. 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:13.659 We are given assurance in God's word that our sacrifices are pleasing to God. 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:21.059 Our spiritual sacrifice of worship and praise, they are pleasing to God or made pleasing to him through Jesus Christ. 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:25.679 See, everything that we're doing this evening by way of worship, 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:34.440 when we are in it sincerely and honestly and believingly and wholeheartedly seeking to glorify God, 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:44.420 all of that is actually set before God by the intercession or through the intercession of Christ. 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:48.100 And because he is pleasing to him, 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:56.480 everything we offer sincerely in his name, despite our sinfulness, is pleasing to him too. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:59.840 And we have to believe that. 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:05.519 We can't leave a place of worship like this simply saying, 00:30:05.679 --> 00:30:08.019 well, I am such a terrible sinner. 00:30:08.439 --> 00:30:13.459 I don't understand just how anything I can give to God can be in any way pleasing to him. 00:30:15.179 --> 00:30:17.379 Well, it's understandable that's how we feel. 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:20.519 But that's not how the word of God would have us to conclude. 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:26.599 We are pleasing to him and our offering is pleasing to him because of Jesus. 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:32.240 If Jesus were ever to cease to be pleasing to God, 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:37.419 we would then cease to have confidence that anything we offer will be pleasing to him. 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.779 But that's never going to happen. 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:45.699 So don't beat yourself up by thinking you're such a poor sinner 00:30:45.699 --> 00:30:49.359 that there's hardly any point in you offering anything to God. 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.980 He's hardly likely to accept it anyway. 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.619 You may feel that. 00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:57.099 I may feel like that many times, but it's not true. 00:30:59.459 --> 00:31:01.119 Because of Jesus himself. 00:31:02.199 --> 00:31:03.599 Because of who he is. 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:09.879 Because of his perfect quality of life and his perfect death 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:13.439 and his resurrection from the dead and his intercession above. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:21.940 To the one who orders this way rightly, I will show the salvation of God. 00:31:23.320 --> 00:31:29.680 And it's interesting and significant that the New Testament really affirms and reaffirms these things 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:32.759 many times and in different ways for us. 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:43.160 And especially that the guidance, the further revelation of God through his word of his salvation to us. 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:46.319 Our better understanding of our increase in knowledge. 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:51.599 That's really how 2 Peter, isn't it, finishes. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:32:02.299 It's interesting there too that in such a devastating critique as 2 Peter sets out for those who are dismissing the return of the Lord and so on. 00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:06.019 But this is how he finishes. 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:22.180 What's the alternative? 00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:27.400 Grow in the grace and knowledge. 00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:31.480 Of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:32:32.320 --> 00:32:34.720 Grow in the grace and knowledge. 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:36.200 That's our great privilege. 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:38.460 He roots us in him. 00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.960 Not to be static. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:43.420 Not to be content with what's been or where we are at. 00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:45.380 But grow in the knowledge. 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:51.580 It's the only successful way to counteract the workings of the world. 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.539 Indeed, the workings of our own hearts. 00:32:54.440 --> 00:33:01.700 It's the only way in which to counteract the temptations that come to you just to slag it off a bit in the Christian life. 00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:14.019 Or just to go the way of the nominal Christian and just let things become much more acceptable and easier than they are when you're seeking to please God. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:18.640 And always remember what Jesus said. 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:26.799 Come to me, all you who labor and heavy laden, I will give you rest. 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:31.419 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:34.919 For I am meek and lowly in heart. 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:38.919 And my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:41.079 And you will find rest to your souls. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:46.000 You know, it's a far, far greater burden, Jesus is saying, 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:50.480 to try and please God by your own efforts. 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:59.259 Or to live by a way of legalistic relationship to God's word. 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:05.339 The easier burden is just to take Jesus himself and say, 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:07.200 you're everything I need. 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:12.240 I don't want to take anything from what you've done. 00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.699 And I don't need to. 00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:15.559 And I don't need to add to it. 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:18.619 I'm looking for a perfect savior. 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.679 That's what I have in you. 00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:23.659 I'm looking for a perfect righteousness I needed. 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:25.420 That's what I have in you. 00:34:25.779 --> 00:34:29.119 I'm looking for a perfect ground of my hope for eternity. 00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:31.539 That's what I have in you. 00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:36.099 You alone are all I need. 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:38.659 And so you can say with the psalmist, 00:34:38.819 --> 00:34:41.539 whom do I have in the heavens but you? 00:34:42.739 --> 00:34:45.980 And on earth there is none I desire besides you. 00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.679 My flesh and my heart fail. 00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:51.679 I quoted this at the funeral earlier on today. 00:34:52.119 --> 00:34:54.299 My flesh and my heart fail. 00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:57.759 But God is the strength of my heart. 00:34:58.759 --> 00:35:01.960 And my portion forever. 00:35:01.960 --> 00:35:12.159 You know, isn't it an amazing thing that the likes of me and you can actually say this about God? 00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:16.159 That he is our portion. 00:35:17.300 --> 00:35:18.599 He is our inheritance. 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:22.300 He is everything to us. 00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.220 But he is. 00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:26.940 And that's where we rest. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.280 Our weedy hearts. 00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:31.360 In his sufficiency. 00:35:32.920 --> 00:35:36.880 And as Paul himself combined together these two great issues of peace. 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:40.380 Along with thanksgiving. 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:42.619 So it is for us as well. 00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:44.500 You remember we quoted one of them already. 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:46.059 Let's finish with these two verses. 00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:48.659 In Philippians chapter 4. 00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:53.860 Where he talks there about prayer and supplication. 00:35:53.860 --> 00:35:55.179 With thanksgiving. 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:58.340 Let your request be made known to God. 00:35:59.059 --> 00:36:01.360 And the peace of God. 00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:03.760 Which passes all understanding. 00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:06.500 Will garrison your hearts and minds. 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:08.079 Through Christ Jesus. 00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:09.280 And the following epistle. 00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:11.740 Colossians 3.15. 00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:13.699 He said very similarly. 00:36:14.699 --> 00:36:16.860 Let the peace of Christ. 00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.820 Rule in your hearts. 00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:20.960 To which indeed you are called. 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.760 In one body. 00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:25.140 And be thankful. 00:36:25.140 --> 00:36:26.300 And be thankful. 00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:27.980 Thankfulness. 00:36:28.700 --> 00:36:29.540 And peace. 00:36:30.620 --> 00:36:31.420 They are always. 00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.000 Twinned. 00:36:33.220 --> 00:36:33.960 Married together. 00:36:34.600 --> 00:36:35.960 In the thought of scripture. 00:36:36.160 --> 00:36:36.580 Let's pray. 00:36:38.720 --> 00:36:39.660 Eternal God. 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:40.920 We do give thanks. 00:36:42.040 --> 00:36:42.540 Tonight. 00:36:42.660 --> 00:36:44.000 For all the good things we know. 00:36:44.100 --> 00:36:45.060 We receive from you. 00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:47.059 And sometimes Lord. 00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:49.039 We fail to take account of. 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:51.400 The many acts of kindness. 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:53.860 And goodness that you show to us. 00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:55.559 Forgive us Lord. 00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:56.460 We pray for. 00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:58.179 Our hurriedness in life. 00:36:59.480 --> 00:36:59.739 For a bit. 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:00.739 Forgive us for. 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.940 The many ways in which we. 00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:04.820 Hasten to the things of the world. 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:07.340 Instead of pausing to think on. 00:37:07.719 --> 00:37:09.440 How much we have to give thanks. 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:10.400 To God for. 00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:12.400 We ask oh Lord. 00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:12.860 That you would. 00:37:13.179 --> 00:37:14.300 Continue to guide us. 00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:15.200 In the way through life. 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:17.380 That we may continue to offer. 00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.019 To you. 00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:20.220 Our sacrifice of thanksgiving. 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:22.159 That we may order. 00:37:22.340 --> 00:37:23.260 Our way of rightly. 00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:25.260 So that we may be guided. 00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:26.200 More into. 00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:27.900 Into more of. 00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:29.840 The knowledge and understanding. 00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:31.700 And application of your. 00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:33.320 Salvation to us. 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:35.119 Receive us now we pray. 00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:35.519 And hear. 00:37:36.019 --> 00:37:37.179 The prayers of your people. 00:37:37.659 --> 00:37:39.119 Here and in all other gatherings. 00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:40.199 Of your church tonight. 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:42.219 Where people have addressed you. 00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:43.359 Sincerely in prayer. 00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:44.920 In Jesus name. 00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:45.859 Amen.