Praise God For His Works
Psalm 111
We have already established that the phrase "Praise ye the LORD" is the Hebrew word Hallelujah.
This word appears 25 times in the KJV Bible with 23 of those times in the Psalms.
There is 1 instance in the Book of Judges and 1 instance in the Book of Jeremiah.
One of the biggest problems this world we live in has today is acknowledging the works of God.
This world adds to that sin, with it's objection to the doctrine of salvation by "Grace".
This lost world and all false religion will tell us that there must be some good works performed in order to be saved.
The pure fact is that all moral men and the chiefest of sinners are all saved the exact same way.
They are saved by God's Grace and that "Grace" comes by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Today our Psalm teaches us to praise God for His works.
The works of God began with creation by the design of God!
So, All the works of God from creation to salvation are worthy of our praise!
Grace is the single most important gift of God.
Work means to produce by an action.
When God speaks action takes place!
*****Psa 111:1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
How are we to praise God? With our whole heart!
**1) Our praise of our God, Jehovah, the Triune God must come from the heart. Praise is to never be some outward show or our praise will be in vain.
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Our praise must be carried on in an orderly manner.
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Our praise must be about how God has worked in our lives and not about rituals.
Amo 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
Amo 5:22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
Amo 5:23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
Amo 5:24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
**2) Our praise must be the same no matter where we are located.
The upright are all those who are honest and moral and who have been justified by the Lord.
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
3) Our praise must be the same even in a congregation, whether it be family or just a crowd.
Psa 40:9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
Psa 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
The actions of our own praise should instill others to praise!
Many will join us in our praise and many of those who do not will be convicted because they did not join in.
*****Psa 111:2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
We have mentioned many times the providence of the Lord and how He is in control of the world everyday but we have allowed creation by the design of God to come under attack and not many offering any defence of it.
We must praise God for His works and His works include all creation.
Jer 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Jer 32:18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
Jer 32:19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
When we love our Maker we will delight in His handiwork!
Even the little things that God does are great!
We can read in the Word of God about all the marvelous works that our Maker has done for us but how many of us take the time to just look around us and see the marvelous works that God has done that are in full view.
How many of us set aside time just to view the beauty of God's creation, the visible things.
And then how many of us take to the time to acknowledge the invisible things such as God's love and God's Grace and His loving-kindness.
The works of God are "Great" in size, "Great" in number, and "Great" in excellence!
God works are worthy of being sought out.
There is great pleasure in admiring that mountain range.
There is great pleasure in sitting at the lake fishing or enjoying it's pleasures.
There is great pleasure in viewing the mighty oceans and all the other wonders of God that we can see but we have to seek these things out because they are so numerous.
Even when we take in the night time sky we can only see a small portion of the heavens.
Not only are the works of God pleasurable but God's work is honorable and glorious.
*****Psa 111:3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Honorable means grandeur which means when you see it you marvel at the greatness of what you are witnessing.
Such as being in the midst of an ocean and seeing nothing but the Sea.
Such as seeing a mighty mountain range.
Such as being in an airplane seeing the marvels of the skies while also seeing the checkerboard of the land.
Glorious means magnificence which means you are in awe of God's works.
The beautiful sunset or sunrise.
The snow covered mountains.
The night time sky.
That flowery meadow.
These are the things we can see but those things we cannot see are just as honorable and just as glorious, if not more so, because God can only do things that are right!
Righteousness is the nature of our Perfect and Holy God!
The most honorable and the most glorious work of Our Lord is His Salvation!
The "Grace" of God, by the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
The "Regeneration of God, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier and our Comforter.
The "Eternal Home, the gift of Our Father in Heaven.
None of the other works of God can compare the the honor and glory of His "Salvation"!
God has a plan for every part of His creation and it is all honorable and it is all glorious but His plan of Salvation is just for those who believe Him!
Isa 51:5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
Isa 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
We can be sure that God has never accomplished one wrong thing!
We can be sure that God will never say "well if I done this a little different the outcome would have been better".
God has the perfect plan and His perfect plan will be remembered by all those that have rejected Him.
Luk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes", being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luk 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luk 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
This rich man who's name did not make it into the Lamb's book of life was still remembering the wonderful works of God when he prayed that he would never see his family again. He did not want them to end up in Hell as he had. He is forever looking up to try to see the Heaven that he rejected in his life time.
Even Hell is a honorable and glorious place of torment, a perfect place for those that reject the Lord!
*****Psa 111:4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
It is the statue that becomes a memorial of the dead.
It is the Lord's supper that is our memorial of the death and sufferings of Jesus Christ.
It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our memorial because it is salvation that it is the memorial of all those that have gone on home before us.
Our greatest peace in this life comes when we know we and all our family and friends are saved.
As we study the Word of God we must know that the things God has done are not to be read and then forgotten but the Word of God is also a memorial for us to remember what God will do in the future.
The Bible is not a book of fables as some would have you to believe!
The Bible is written about actual people and actual places at specific in the providence of God.
2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
We will never be able remember everything God has written down for us in His Word but we can be sure God has not forgotten one word of what He has said!
God is so full of grace and compassion that it shows in all His works.
It shows in nature, all His design of the things that we can see.
It shows in spirit, by all His character, of love and goodness and greatness and especially His mercy and remember, we were all created to grow into this image.
It shows in His providence, as He guides this world into the completion of His perfect plan.
It shows in His salvation and redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ.
God's power is divine.
God's wisdom is divine.
God's faithfulness is divine.
God's goodness is divine.
Because God's character is divine!
*****Psa 111:5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
God provides for the needs of those that trust Him in faith!
God not only provides for our being but He also provides for our well being!
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
When we read about the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, we always remember the manna that came from Heaven.
We always remember the water that was provided, but we always seem to forget that in 40 years of travel many other things were needed.
Deu 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Deu 8:4 "Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years".
God will never forget His people nor the needs of His people because God will never forget the covenant He has made.
Isa 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
This covenant is with God's Messiah!
Joh 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
This is the covenant that God can never break, the covenant that God made with Himself!
Gen 17:2 And I will make "my covenant" between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
This covenant extends from Abraham and his seed to the Lord Jesus Christ and through each believer, the seed of the Messiah which will eventually include Israel.
This is God's covenant with Himself and God is ever mindful of His covenant!
And God has shown us all His power to keep His covenants by His own works!
*****Psa 111:6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
The works of the Lord are never hidden from sight to those that seek to know the truth!
Those that are the lost of this world we live in, are blinded by their own eyes!
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
We may not be able to see Jehovah God at this time but we can certainly see the evidence of Him by His works!
There are only two basic types of miracles.
**1) There are the miracles of creation. The results of God's creation are in the laws of nature that surround our existence every day.
God created all matter that is visible to the eye, but also the energy, the order of, the information of, and the complexity of life, both biological and also spiritual.
**2) Then there are the miracles of the providence of God. This is God's absolute control of all the processes He has put in place by His creating power and the timing of the events in all our lives.
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Israel had not only witnessed the miracles of God in Egypt and at the Red Sea but also in His provision for them in their 40 year journey to Canaan Land.
Israel had witnessed as God had given to them the land of Canaan by defeating armies that outnumbered them and taking the great walled cities of that time.
There are many today that question the fact that God ordered the destruction of the Canaanites but simply smile when Nebuchadnezzar, or Alexander, or the Ottoman empire or the Roman rulers are mentioned who brought great destruction to many more people than that of Israel.
God removed Israel from their homeland because of sin and scattered them throughout this world and a great miracle that can be seen today is the return of Israel to that homeland.
It is impossible that a nation could retain its identity without a homeland for more that 2000 years but Israel has done so.
It is also impossible that that same nation could return and establish that same homeland again but Israel has.
God will certainly give Israel the heritage of the heathen!
God's Word means exactly what it says and we are wrong to not take the Word of God as the truth as it is written.
And we must not forget the spiritual message in this passage.
God has also showed all people the power of His works by the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ".
We have witnessed the miracles of Christ, His resurrection from the dead, His redeeming power, His work of Grace, and the results of changed lives.
The power of God's works are brought forth by the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
And the Psalms are just as important to the Church as they are to Israel.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
It is the works of God that teach us truth but it is also the works of God that teach us judgment of God!
*****Psa 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
Psa 111:8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
The works of God are everything that God does on the behalf of all those that believe!
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
God will always be true to His promises, we can depend on that!
God will always be true in His judgment, we can also depend on that!
God began to fulfill His promise to Abraham by the gift of Canaan Land.
God began to fulfill His promise to those Israelites that were saved by expelling the Canaanites because of their unrepented wickedness.
Deu 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: "but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee".
Deu 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Our God does not ever change, it will be because of the wickedness of this world that God will drive out all those that reject Him!
We still have no righteousness in ourselves!
Our righteousness is only in the Lord Jesus Christ!
God has never commanded one thing today and another thing tomorrow, God's commands have always been consitent with His character!
Our problems come when we treat the Word of God as a book of suggestions and not as a book of commandments.
We need only look at the works of God throughout our history to see that this is true.
God means what He says and He also says what He means!
God's purpose, God's commands, God's actions, and God's Word will stand forever.
God will do with His works as He pleases!
The laws of God are all good and they are established by faith!
1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
The Gospel of God is also an everlasting Gospel.
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
It is the everlasting Gospel that will be the last thing that many people will ever hear before they enter into Hell.
God's Word is true even when many simply will not believe.
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
God's commandments are sure!
Salvation is then eternal!
*****Psa 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
God's plan all along was to send redemption to His people!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
This was the same message that was given to the early church.
1Jn 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God
The New Testament Church must be centered on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Salvation, by the Lord Jesus Christ is unchangeable and is everlasting!
Isa 51:8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
This salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ has been God's plan since before creation and God will not alter His plan to suit the modern world!
Psa 89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the dismay of Satan, who has caused confusion in so many, there is still only one way to reach our Father who is in Heaven.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
To not know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah is to worship a false god!
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
There can be no wisdom without the Lord Jesus Christ!
*****Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
The One that the world rejects, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the chief element of true wisdom!
The wisest thing a creature can do is acknowledge it's Creator!
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Only those that are void of understanding cannot realize the truth of God's Word.
That would be children who have not reached the age of accountability and those that are mentally handicapped.
All others are fools and will remain fools that reject the only Savior to this world!
These are the works of God, open and visible for all the world to see.
The praise of God will never cease because those that acknowledge the truth of the Gospel will never cease to praise Him for what He has done!
Until the Lord returns we are to be witnesses of His goodness and not be judges of this world.
1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
It is the Lord who will judge this Earth!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Psalm 111
We have already established that the phrase "Praise ye the LORD" is the Hebrew word Hallelujah.
This word appears 25 times in the KJV Bible with 23 of those times in the Psalms.
There is 1 instance in the Book of Judges and 1 instance in the Book of Jeremiah.
One of the biggest problems this world we live in has today is acknowledging the works of God.
This world adds to that sin, with it's objection to the doctrine of salvation by "Grace".
This lost world and all false religion will tell us that there must be some good works performed in order to be saved.
The pure fact is that all moral men and the chiefest of sinners are all saved the exact same way.
They are saved by God's Grace and that "Grace" comes by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Today our Psalm teaches us to praise God for His works.
The works of God began with creation by the design of God!
So, All the works of God from creation to salvation are worthy of our praise!
Grace is the single most important gift of God.
Work means to produce by an action.
When God speaks action takes place!
*****Psa 111:1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
How are we to praise God? With our whole heart!
**1) Our praise of our God, Jehovah, the Triune God must come from the heart. Praise is to never be some outward show or our praise will be in vain.
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Our praise must be carried on in an orderly manner.
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Our praise must be about how God has worked in our lives and not about rituals.
Amo 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
Amo 5:22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
Amo 5:23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
Amo 5:24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
**2) Our praise must be the same no matter where we are located.
The upright are all those who are honest and moral and who have been justified by the Lord.
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
3) Our praise must be the same even in a congregation, whether it be family or just a crowd.
Psa 40:9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
Psa 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
The actions of our own praise should instill others to praise!
Many will join us in our praise and many of those who do not will be convicted because they did not join in.
*****Psa 111:2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
We have mentioned many times the providence of the Lord and how He is in control of the world everyday but we have allowed creation by the design of God to come under attack and not many offering any defence of it.
We must praise God for His works and His works include all creation.
Jer 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Jer 32:18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
Jer 32:19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
When we love our Maker we will delight in His handiwork!
Even the little things that God does are great!
We can read in the Word of God about all the marvelous works that our Maker has done for us but how many of us take the time to just look around us and see the marvelous works that God has done that are in full view.
How many of us set aside time just to view the beauty of God's creation, the visible things.
And then how many of us take to the time to acknowledge the invisible things such as God's love and God's Grace and His loving-kindness.
The works of God are "Great" in size, "Great" in number, and "Great" in excellence!
God works are worthy of being sought out.
There is great pleasure in admiring that mountain range.
There is great pleasure in sitting at the lake fishing or enjoying it's pleasures.
There is great pleasure in viewing the mighty oceans and all the other wonders of God that we can see but we have to seek these things out because they are so numerous.
Even when we take in the night time sky we can only see a small portion of the heavens.
Not only are the works of God pleasurable but God's work is honorable and glorious.
*****Psa 111:3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Honorable means grandeur which means when you see it you marvel at the greatness of what you are witnessing.
Such as being in the midst of an ocean and seeing nothing but the Sea.
Such as seeing a mighty mountain range.
Such as being in an airplane seeing the marvels of the skies while also seeing the checkerboard of the land.
Glorious means magnificence which means you are in awe of God's works.
The beautiful sunset or sunrise.
The snow covered mountains.
The night time sky.
That flowery meadow.
These are the things we can see but those things we cannot see are just as honorable and just as glorious, if not more so, because God can only do things that are right!
Righteousness is the nature of our Perfect and Holy God!
The most honorable and the most glorious work of Our Lord is His Salvation!
The "Grace" of God, by the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
The "Regeneration of God, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier and our Comforter.
The "Eternal Home, the gift of Our Father in Heaven.
None of the other works of God can compare the the honor and glory of His "Salvation"!
God has a plan for every part of His creation and it is all honorable and it is all glorious but His plan of Salvation is just for those who believe Him!
Isa 51:5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
Isa 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
We can be sure that God has never accomplished one wrong thing!
We can be sure that God will never say "well if I done this a little different the outcome would have been better".
God has the perfect plan and His perfect plan will be remembered by all those that have rejected Him.
Luk 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luk 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luk 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes", being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luk 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luk 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luk 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
This rich man who's name did not make it into the Lamb's book of life was still remembering the wonderful works of God when he prayed that he would never see his family again. He did not want them to end up in Hell as he had. He is forever looking up to try to see the Heaven that he rejected in his life time.
Even Hell is a honorable and glorious place of torment, a perfect place for those that reject the Lord!
*****Psa 111:4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
It is the statue that becomes a memorial of the dead.
It is the Lord's supper that is our memorial of the death and sufferings of Jesus Christ.
It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our memorial because it is salvation that it is the memorial of all those that have gone on home before us.
Our greatest peace in this life comes when we know we and all our family and friends are saved.
As we study the Word of God we must know that the things God has done are not to be read and then forgotten but the Word of God is also a memorial for us to remember what God will do in the future.
The Bible is not a book of fables as some would have you to believe!
The Bible is written about actual people and actual places at specific in the providence of God.
2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
We will never be able remember everything God has written down for us in His Word but we can be sure God has not forgotten one word of what He has said!
God is so full of grace and compassion that it shows in all His works.
It shows in nature, all His design of the things that we can see.
It shows in spirit, by all His character, of love and goodness and greatness and especially His mercy and remember, we were all created to grow into this image.
It shows in His providence, as He guides this world into the completion of His perfect plan.
It shows in His salvation and redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ.
God's power is divine.
God's wisdom is divine.
God's faithfulness is divine.
God's goodness is divine.
Because God's character is divine!
*****Psa 111:5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
God provides for the needs of those that trust Him in faith!
God not only provides for our being but He also provides for our well being!
Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
When we read about the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, we always remember the manna that came from Heaven.
We always remember the water that was provided, but we always seem to forget that in 40 years of travel many other things were needed.
Deu 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Deu 8:4 "Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years".
God will never forget His people nor the needs of His people because God will never forget the covenant He has made.
Isa 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
This covenant is with God's Messiah!
Joh 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
This is the covenant that God can never break, the covenant that God made with Himself!
Gen 17:2 And I will make "my covenant" between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
This covenant extends from Abraham and his seed to the Lord Jesus Christ and through each believer, the seed of the Messiah which will eventually include Israel.
This is God's covenant with Himself and God is ever mindful of His covenant!
And God has shown us all His power to keep His covenants by His own works!
*****Psa 111:6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
The works of the Lord are never hidden from sight to those that seek to know the truth!
Those that are the lost of this world we live in, are blinded by their own eyes!
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
We may not be able to see Jehovah God at this time but we can certainly see the evidence of Him by His works!
There are only two basic types of miracles.
**1) There are the miracles of creation. The results of God's creation are in the laws of nature that surround our existence every day.
God created all matter that is visible to the eye, but also the energy, the order of, the information of, and the complexity of life, both biological and also spiritual.
**2) Then there are the miracles of the providence of God. This is God's absolute control of all the processes He has put in place by His creating power and the timing of the events in all our lives.
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Israel had not only witnessed the miracles of God in Egypt and at the Red Sea but also in His provision for them in their 40 year journey to Canaan Land.
Israel had witnessed as God had given to them the land of Canaan by defeating armies that outnumbered them and taking the great walled cities of that time.
There are many today that question the fact that God ordered the destruction of the Canaanites but simply smile when Nebuchadnezzar, or Alexander, or the Ottoman empire or the Roman rulers are mentioned who brought great destruction to many more people than that of Israel.
God removed Israel from their homeland because of sin and scattered them throughout this world and a great miracle that can be seen today is the return of Israel to that homeland.
It is impossible that a nation could retain its identity without a homeland for more that 2000 years but Israel has done so.
It is also impossible that that same nation could return and establish that same homeland again but Israel has.
God will certainly give Israel the heritage of the heathen!
God's Word means exactly what it says and we are wrong to not take the Word of God as the truth as it is written.
And we must not forget the spiritual message in this passage.
God has also showed all people the power of His works by the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ".
We have witnessed the miracles of Christ, His resurrection from the dead, His redeeming power, His work of Grace, and the results of changed lives.
The power of God's works are brought forth by the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
And the Psalms are just as important to the Church as they are to Israel.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
It is the works of God that teach us truth but it is also the works of God that teach us judgment of God!
*****Psa 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
Psa 111:8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
The works of God are everything that God does on the behalf of all those that believe!
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
God will always be true to His promises, we can depend on that!
God will always be true in His judgment, we can also depend on that!
God began to fulfill His promise to Abraham by the gift of Canaan Land.
God began to fulfill His promise to those Israelites that were saved by expelling the Canaanites because of their unrepented wickedness.
Deu 9:4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: "but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee".
Deu 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Our God does not ever change, it will be because of the wickedness of this world that God will drive out all those that reject Him!
We still have no righteousness in ourselves!
Our righteousness is only in the Lord Jesus Christ!
God has never commanded one thing today and another thing tomorrow, God's commands have always been consitent with His character!
Our problems come when we treat the Word of God as a book of suggestions and not as a book of commandments.
We need only look at the works of God throughout our history to see that this is true.
God means what He says and He also says what He means!
God's purpose, God's commands, God's actions, and God's Word will stand forever.
God will do with His works as He pleases!
The laws of God are all good and they are established by faith!
1Ti 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
The Gospel of God is also an everlasting Gospel.
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
It is the everlasting Gospel that will be the last thing that many people will ever hear before they enter into Hell.
God's Word is true even when many simply will not believe.
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
God's commandments are sure!
Salvation is then eternal!
*****Psa 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
God's plan all along was to send redemption to His people!
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
This was the same message that was given to the early church.
1Jn 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God
The New Testament Church must be centered on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Salvation, by the Lord Jesus Christ is unchangeable and is everlasting!
Isa 51:8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
This salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ has been God's plan since before creation and God will not alter His plan to suit the modern world!
Psa 89:34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the dismay of Satan, who has caused confusion in so many, there is still only one way to reach our Father who is in Heaven.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
To not know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah is to worship a false god!
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
There can be no wisdom without the Lord Jesus Christ!
*****Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
The One that the world rejects, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the chief element of true wisdom!
The wisest thing a creature can do is acknowledge it's Creator!
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Only those that are void of understanding cannot realize the truth of God's Word.
That would be children who have not reached the age of accountability and those that are mentally handicapped.
All others are fools and will remain fools that reject the only Savior to this world!
These are the works of God, open and visible for all the world to see.
The praise of God will never cease because those that acknowledge the truth of the Gospel will never cease to praise Him for what He has done!
Until the Lord returns we are to be witnesses of His goodness and not be judges of this world.
1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
It is the Lord who will judge this Earth!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
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