1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,480 As we approach the holiday season, we are, we are on a 2 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,320 journey, journey along the pathway. 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,320 We've called the pathway to praise. 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,360 And over the next several weeks we are going to look at what the 5 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:20,000 Bible says concerning giving praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,480 And how do we do that? What does it entail? 7 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,600 And last week we told you that we are, we are a Kingdom of 8 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,760 priests. That's Revelation chapter 1 as 9 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,920 well as first Peter chapter 2. In fact, Peter calls us a a 10 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:38,360 royal priesthood. And as priests, we are in the 11 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:43,520 process of offering sacrifices to our God because that's what 12 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,080 priests do. And the church as a priesthood 13 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:51,760 of believers have specifically three different sacrifices that 14 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,120 they offer on a regular basis. If you're with us on Wednesday 15 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,640 night, you, you know what those sacrifices are because we talked 16 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,440 about how pleasing they are to the Lord. 17 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:08,280 The first sacrifice is the sacrifice of of self or my 18 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,800 person. Romans 12 tells us that we are 19 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:16,840 to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, for that is 20 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,600 the only logical form of worship that we will ever have. 21 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,600 And so as priests we offer our ourselves up to God as living 22 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,680 sacrifices. But not only do we offer up the 23 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:33,760 sacrifice of self, but we also offer up the sacrifice of 24 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:39,480 substance or our purse. The Bible says in Hebrews 25 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:44,400 chapter 13 verse #16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, 26 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:49,320 for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 27 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,680 And then there's the third sacrifice, and that's a 28 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,520 sacrifice of, of song. Whether it's a sacrifice of 29 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:03,000 self, substance or song, or person, purse or praise, it's 30 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,280 all costly. Hebrews 13 verse #15 Through 31 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:12,120 Him, then let us continually OfferUp a sacrifice of praise to 32 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,680 God. That is the fruit of lips that 33 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:22,040 give thanks to His name. All three of those sacrifices 34 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:29,080 are costly, but they are compensated greatly by God. 35 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:34,560 And so as we begin to journey down this pathway of praise, we 36 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:40,240 recognize that it is a sacrifice that truly pleases our God. 37 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,280 And so in our journey we began last week by looking at the 38 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:48,200 privilege of praise. What is the privilege behind 39 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,080 praising God? As we continue down this pathway 40 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,640 of praise, we move from the privilege of praise to the 41 00:02:55,640 --> 00:03:01,480 prophet of praise. There is great profit in 42 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,800 praising God. And so many times we we miss 43 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:12,000 this aspect of praise. For the Bible says in Psalm 92 44 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:20,160 verse #1 these words it is good to give thanks to the Lord, and 45 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:25,160 to sing praises to your name almost high, to declare your 46 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,000 loving kindness in the morning and your faithfulness by night, 47 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,880 with the 10 stringed lute, and with the harp, with sounding 48 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:37,720 music upon the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me 49 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:44,560 glad by what You have done. I will sing for joy at the works 50 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:51,800 of your hands. The psalmist says it is good to 51 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:58,760 give thanks unto the Lord. He would also say in Psalm one, 52 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:07,040 O 7 these words verse #1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is 53 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,760 good, for his loving kindness is everlasting. 54 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:16,399 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from 55 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:23,560 the hand of the adversary. OO Give thanks to the Lord, for 56 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:29,640 he is good. Psalm 147 says it this way. 57 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:36,880 Psalm 147 verse #1 Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing 58 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:42,400 praises to our God, for it is pleasing, and praise is 59 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,400 becoming. There's something about praise 60 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:54,480 that is good, and because it's good, it brings profit to those 61 00:04:55,040 --> 00:05:00,480 who give praise to God. This morning I want to show you 62 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:05,480 why it's good to give praise to God because the benefits are 63 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:10,080 insurmountable. It's good to give praise to God 64 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:20,320 #1 because the person of God is good, the person of God is good. 65 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:29,640 Psalm 1/19/68 God is good. Whenever you give thanks to the 66 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,600 Lord, it is good because the person of God is good. 67 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:36,720 And so when you give thanks to the Lord, the prophet is, is 68 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:42,880 that you begin to understand the magnitude of the person of God 69 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,440 himself. So the Bible says that God 70 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:52,760 himself is good. Listen to Psalm 118 verse #1 71 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,640 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, For his loving kindness 72 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,880 is everlasting. Oh, let Israel say his loving 73 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,480 kindness is everlasting. And let the House of Aaron say 74 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:06,720 his loving kindness is everlasting. 75 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:12,280 Oh, let those who fear the Lord say his loving kindness is 76 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:15,440 everlasting. And then the psalmist concludes 77 00:06:15,840 --> 00:06:20,440 Psalm 18 with these words, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is 78 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:26,240 good and his loving kindness is everlasting. 79 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:34,440 The psalmist was saying Psalm 25 verse #8 good and upright is the 80 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:39,040 Lord. In Psalm 145 verse #9 the Bible 81 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:46,560 says the Lord is good to all, and then it says in Psalm 32 82 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:54,120 verse #9 For I will wait on your name, for it is good. 83 00:06:55,120 --> 00:07:05,120 Psalm 34 verse #8 those or excuse me, taste and see that 84 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:10,760 the Lord is good. The Bible says in Romans chapter 85 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:16,640 2 that it's the goodness of God that leads man to repentance. 86 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:20,680 The goodness of God leads man to repentance. 87 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,680 Why? Because man is destined for 88 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,560 hell. But because of God's grace and 89 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,240 God's goodness, man can be saved. 90 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,040 So the Bible says it's the goodness of God that leads man 91 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,000 to repentance. As you recall, way back in the 92 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:42,400 book of Exodus, the 33rd chapter, Moses asked God to see 93 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,200 his glory. I want to see your splendor. 94 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,280 I want to see your majesty. God says I can't let you see the 95 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,320 fullness of my majesty because I have to kill you if you do, 96 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:55,080 because you'll be incinerated. But I will let all my goodness 97 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,440 pass before you. In other words, the glory of the 98 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,600 Lord is defined by the goodness of God. 99 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:05,280 It talks about his patience, his loving kindness, his 100 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:09,480 forgiveness, His mercy, as he would hide Moses in the cleft of 101 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,760 the rock and pass by him, and he could see the afterglow of the 102 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:18,280 glory of God, and God would proclaim to him all of his 103 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:23,640 goodness, and Moses would fall down and worship the Lord. 104 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:30,040 It's good to give thanks to the Lord, because the person of God 105 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,799 is good. And when you realize how good he 106 00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:40,919 is, the prophet that you receive is insurmountable because you 107 00:08:40,919 --> 00:08:44,240 begin to understand the character and nature of your God 108 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:51,480 #2 Not only is a person of God good, but the Providence of God 109 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,960 is good. The Providence of God is good. 110 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,640 The Providence is that is defined by the hand of God 111 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:07,520 moving in and among his people. It's the hand of God that that 112 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:11,400 moves mountains, is the hand of God that moves kings. 113 00:09:11,560 --> 00:09:15,480 It's the hand of God that that moves husbands and wives. 114 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:20,160 It's it's the out working of God in the daily aspect of everyone 115 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:25,080 of our lives. God's Providence is always at 116 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:29,800 work. God's Providence is never, never 117 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:34,200 not working. God is working in and among your 118 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,520 life, your marriage, your workplace, even as we speak 119 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,640 today through the people and circumstances that you face to 120 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:45,200 bring about your greater good. That's what the Bible says. 121 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:50,160 We know that all things work together for good to those who 122 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,800 love God and are called according to His purpose. 123 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:59,760 That means even sinful things. The Bible didn't say all things 124 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,480 except that which is sin works together for good. 125 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,480 It says that all things work together for good to those who 126 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,400 love God and are called according to His purposes. 127 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:12,560 Why? Because God is bigger than your 128 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:16,240 sin. Your sin is never so great that 129 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:21,720 it that it gets God by surprise. Your sin is never so big that 130 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,440 God can't handle what's going on in your life. 131 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:30,640 So God will say all things were together for good to those who 132 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:34,960 love God in a called according to his purpose because God is at 133 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,880 work in the lives of his people. You know the story of Joseph, 134 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,880 you meant it for evil, but but God meant it for good. 135 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,280 Why? Because the Providence of God 136 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:48,240 was working in my being sold to the Ishmaelites, being thrown 137 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:53,040 into a pit, being lied to by Potiphar's wife, being thrown 138 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:55,480 into jail. God used all those negative 139 00:10:55,480 --> 00:11:00,400 circumstances to bring about good for Joseph that he might 140 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,640 save two nations, both Egypt and Israel. 141 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:08,560 But so many times we can't see the the working of God amidst 142 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:10,360 all of our conflict and affliction. 143 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:15,560 But God is working. God's Providence is always 144 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,400 sound. That's why the Bible says in 145 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:23,440 Psalm 1/19/68 God is good and doest good. 146 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:26,800 Only a good God can do that which is good. 147 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,480 And that's why the psalmist was going to say it was good for me 148 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,640 to have been afflicted, that I might learn your decrees. 149 00:11:35,560 --> 00:11:39,520 So in, in in the goodness of God, he allowed the affliction 150 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,080 to come my way that I might learn the decrees of God. 151 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:44,800 Why? Because in the Providence of 152 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:48,800 God, he is working all things out after the counsel of his 153 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,960 will. That's why the Providence of God 154 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:58,160 is good, because the person of God is good. 155 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:03,320 And if I know that, OK, the prophet to me is that I know 156 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:08,800 that God is intricately involved in every aspect of my life, 157 00:12:09,680 --> 00:12:12,520 through all the negative and all the positive, through all the 158 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:17,560 evil and through all the good, God is involved in molding and 159 00:12:17,560 --> 00:12:22,560 shaping my life that I might be just like him because God wants 160 00:12:22,560 --> 00:12:25,120 me to be like him. He wants me to be Christ like. 161 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:30,000 So the Providence of God is good because the person of God is 162 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,240 good. And if both of those are good, 163 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:36,920 then #3 the proclamation about God then is good. 164 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:42,320 That's why the Angel said, we bring you good news of great 165 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:46,080 joy. The good news is the gospel. 166 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:52,600 And when you proclaim the good news about a good God and His 167 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,680 Providence, it brings profit to your life because you're doing 168 00:12:56,680 --> 00:13:01,360 what God's called you to do, to proclaim the message of the 169 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:05,480 Lord. Listen to the words of Isaiah 170 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:11,080 chapter 40 verse #9 get yourself up on a high mountain. 171 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,440 Oh, Zion, bearer of good news here. 172 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,320 Zion is representative of the people of Israel. 173 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,640 If you are reading through the Old Testament, Zion has 174 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:24,280 mentioned some 152 different times, it refers either to a 175 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:32,040 place Mount Zion, or to a people Israel, or to the the property 176 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,560 that Israel has, Mount Zion itself. 177 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,800 And it refers to very different aspects of the things relate to 178 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:40,720 Israel. But here it refers to the 179 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,040 people. Oh Zion, my people bear bearer 180 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,560 of good news, lift up your voice mightily. 181 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,400 Oh Jerusalem, bearer of good news, lift it up. 182 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:55,640 Do not fear, say to the cities of God or the cities of Judah, 183 00:13:55,720 --> 00:14:02,400 here is your God, you're a bearer of good news. 184 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:07,360 The Bible then says in Isaiah 52 verse #7 which Paul quotes in 185 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:12,280 Romans chapter 10, How lovely. On the mountains are the feet of 186 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:18,440 him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good 187 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:22,800 news of happiness, who announces salvation and says his eye on 188 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:27,160 your God reigns. How? 189 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:33,680 How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news? 190 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:38,880 Listen, if you want beautiful feet, you don't need a pedicure. 191 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:44,600 You just need to proclaim the gospel that makes your feet 192 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:49,320 beautiful. Save your money on your pedicure 193 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:54,080 and make sure you're that money is used to proclaim the gospel 194 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:58,120 because that's what makes the feet of those who bring good 195 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:00,680 news beautiful. Why? 196 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,240 Because you're bringing the people that which they need to 197 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:08,680 hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 198 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:14,040 So the person of God is good, The Providence of God is good. 199 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:23,840 The proclamation about God is good and the promises of God are 200 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:28,160 good. Back in Joshua chapter 23, 201 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:37,320 listen to what Joshua says. Joshua chapter 23 as he 202 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:41,200 concludes his ministry of leading Israel to the promised 203 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,200 land. He says the verse #14 Now 204 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:48,040 behold, today I'm going the way of all the earth, and you know 205 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:53,200 in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of 206 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,960 all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning 207 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:01,760 you has failed. All had been fulfilled for you. 208 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:12,760 Not one of them has failed. What a testimony here Joshua is 209 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:17,360 going to weigh of all the earth he's about to depart into the 210 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:21,440 presence of the living God, and he wants to assure the people of 211 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:28,680 Israel that not one good word that God has spoken has failed 212 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,840 them. Earlier he would say in verse 213 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:39,280 #45 chapter 21, not one of the good promises which the Lord had 214 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,120 made to the House of Israel failed. 215 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:49,560 All came to pass. That's just such a remarkable 216 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:54,280 statement that Israel would know that what God has said to you 217 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:59,320 has come to be. So we trust the promises of God 218 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:00,880 because it's the good word of God. 219 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:05,119 The promises of God are good. If the person of God is good, 220 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,960 then the promises he make, he makes are good as well. 221 00:17:10,079 --> 00:17:16,800 The promise of forgiveness, the promise of of his mercy, the 222 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,520 promise of his love, the promise of His grace. 223 00:17:21,599 --> 00:17:26,599 All of God's promises are true, even the promises that are in 224 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:29,760 the negative, that if you don't do this, this will happen. 225 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:32,440 Why? Because God is faithful and true 226 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:36,000 to His word. And so God, when he makes a 227 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:43,720 promise, he fulfills that promise because he is true to 228 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:49,360 His Word. Psalm 8411 says no good thing 229 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:54,640 will the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. 230 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:58,520 Talk about the prophet of praise. 231 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:03,280 No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who walk 232 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:07,000 uprightly. That's very, very important. 233 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:14,160 A lot of you know, know about my testimony and, and the my, my 234 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:18,200 first wife died after after 4 1/2 years of marriage of cancer. 235 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,200 After she died, I, I, I went to the Lord and prayed. 236 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:26,600 Psalm 8411. Lord, the Bible says no good 237 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:30,000 thing will the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. 238 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:37,560 And the Bible also says that God is good and he does good. 239 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:44,160 So Lord, you are good, you do good, and no good thing does the 240 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,360 Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. 241 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:50,880 The Bible also says, if I present my body as a living 242 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:55,720 sacrifice, it is good and acceptable unto God. 243 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:03,520 And the Bible also says that he who finds a wife finds a good 244 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,560 thing. So, Lord, because you withhold 245 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:11,240 no good thing from those who walk uprightly, and I desire to 246 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,960 present my body as a living sacrifice to you, which is good 247 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:19,320 and acceptable, and you are a good God who does good, I would 248 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:23,720 ask that you bring a good thing to me. 249 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:29,320 And the Lord brought Lori to me. It was no longer than a week 250 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:35,840 after that that she knocked on my office door and she and her 251 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:41,240 boyfriend were at the door. Little did the boyfriend know, 252 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,840 his days were short. You know what I'm saying? 253 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:50,160 But the Lord brought her to me because I believe that when you 254 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:54,840 wait on God, He will always bring to you that which you 255 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:57,680 need. We, we spend all of our energy 256 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:02,280 searching for that which we think is good. 257 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,160 And if you're single, you search for a wife. 258 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,800 Why? You search for a husband, the 259 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:19,040 Bible says seek after God, then say seek a husband, search God, 260 00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:24,000 seek after God, be consumed with God and watch what God does. 261 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,760 No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk 262 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:30,680 uprightly. Focus on your walk with the 263 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:35,280 Lord, focus on honoring him. Because those who honor me, God 264 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:40,200 says I will honor for Samuel 2:30 So honor the Lord and watch 265 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:44,360 and see how the Lord honors you. But we spend all of our energy 266 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:48,560 seeking that which we think we need instead of searching after 267 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,080 the God we need to worship and adore. 268 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:57,480 And the promises of God are very, very good. 269 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:04,640 God always keeps His word. And so the person of God is 270 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:07,440 good, the Providence of God is good, the proclamation about God 271 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,640 is good, the promises of God are good. 272 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:13,480 Oh, by the way, the property of God is good. 273 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,640 Did you know that? If you're still in Joshua 274 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:22,800 chapter 23, it says this in verse #15 It should come about 275 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:26,080 that just as all the good words which the Lord your God spoke to 276 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:32,200 you have come upon you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the 277 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,600 threats until He has destroyed you from off the good land which 278 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:41,600 the Lord your God has given you. Notice he calls it the good land 279 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:48,120 that God has given you. It says in verse 16, when you 280 00:21:48,120 --> 00:21:50,480 transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which He 281 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,640 commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, 282 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,440 then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you will 283 00:21:56,440 --> 00:22:04,520 perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you. 284 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:14,640 Which land did God give Israel? He gave them His land. 285 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:24,560 Leviticus 25 verse #23 The land God says is mine. 286 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:30,040 As he talks about the promised land, He says the land is mine. 287 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,880 OK, now we know that God owns the earth. 288 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:36,920 He created the earth. Everything about the earth is 289 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:40,520 his right. But never does God say America 290 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:47,440 is mine, Canada is mine, China is mine, Russia is mine. 291 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:52,000 Never says that. But it does says say that the 292 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,240 promised land, the land of Israel, is mine. 293 00:22:56,160 --> 00:23:01,400 That's why there are 38 different descriptions of that 294 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:06,000 land in the Old Testament, to make sure there is no mistake. 295 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:13,480 Which land is God's in? The land he gave to Israel from 296 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:18,960 the river Nile to the great river, the Euphrates, God says 297 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:23,960 is my land. That's the good land that I've 298 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,640 given to Israel. Why? 299 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:31,760 Because if the person of God is good, then his Providence is 300 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,800 good. When you proclaim Him, that's 301 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,400 good. His promises are good. 302 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:44,800 Therefore his property, that which he owns, is good. 303 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:47,360 You see, everything about God is good. 304 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:49,920 That's why. That's why the rabbi came to him 305 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,480 and called him good teacher that. 306 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,000 That's why in John 10 he's called the Good Shepherd, 307 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:01,560 because everything about God is good, and therefore we, we are 308 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:05,760 the benefactors of his goodness, because no good thing does the 309 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:07,920 Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. 310 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,160 So therefore we begin to understand the Providence of 311 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:14,960 God, the promises of God, the property of God, the person of 312 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,920 God, the proclamation about God. We begin to understand all those 313 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:23,120 things and say, wow, God's in charge, God's working. 314 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:29,280 Look what God has done. That's the prophet of praise. 315 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:34,920 And as you journey down the pathway of praise, you begin to 316 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:39,520 recognize all the benefits that come your way when you praise 317 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,560 the name of God. How about this? 318 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:52,240 The precepts of God are good. The precepts of God are good. 319 00:24:53,400 --> 00:25:01,480 Book of Nehemiah 9th chapter in Chapter 9 is one of the three 320 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:05,920 national prayers recorded in the Old Testament. 321 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:10,040 Ezra 9, Daniel 9, and Nehemiah Chapter 9. 322 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:17,800 It's a prayer of praise to God. It's a prayer of praise about 323 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:24,600 God and His creation, about God and His choice of Abraham, about 324 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,320 God and His care and compassion for His people, Israel. 325 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:34,800 In fact, it's a prayer about the commandments he gave to Israel. 326 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:41,520 Listen to what is said. Nehemiah 913 Then you came down 327 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,680 on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. 328 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,920 You gave them just ordinances and two laws. 329 00:25:51,920 --> 00:26:01,880 Good statutes and commandments, the precepts of God are good. 330 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:05,400 The statutes of God, the commands of God, they're all 331 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:07,520 good. That's right. 332 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,640 John would say in first John 5 verse #3 that God's commands are 333 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:13,040 not burdensome. They can't be. 334 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:17,120 Why? Because a good God has given 335 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:21,800 good commands. In fact, in Psalm 111 verse #10 336 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:27,480 it says those who do them have a good understanding. 337 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,720 So those who obey the commands of God have a good 338 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:32,880 understanding. Why? 339 00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:35,160 Because the precepts he gave are good. 340 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:41,200 And only a good God can give good precepts, good commands, 341 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:46,040 good statutes. And so when you obey the the 342 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:52,040 statutes of God, it's to your benefit because you gain good 343 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:57,480 understanding. This is the prophet of praise. 344 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:04,560 To praise him for he is good. Give thanks to the Lord, for he 345 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:08,280 is good. And so the person of God is 346 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:12,960 good, the Providence of God is good, the proclamation about God 347 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:17,480 is good, the promises of God are good, the property of God is 348 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:26,240 good, the precepts of God are good, the power of God is good. 349 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:32,880 The Bible says in Psalm 62 verse #10 the power belongs to God. 350 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:39,800 So if the person of God is good, then the power of God is good 351 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:44,040 because it comes from a good God. 352 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:50,840 The Bible says the Romans 116 that the gospel is the power of 353 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:56,200 God unto salvation. In First Corinthians one verse 354 00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:07,000 #18 the cross is the power of God to those who believe in 355 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,080 Psalm 62. Power belongs to God in Psalm 356 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:13,680 77. Psalm 77. 357 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,080 I shall remember the deeds of the Lord surely. 358 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:19,480 I remember your wonders of old. I will meditate on all your work 359 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,840 and muse on your deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. 360 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,920 What God is great, like our God. You are the God who works 361 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,240 wonders. You have made known your 362 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:34,120 strength among the peoples. You have by your power redeemed 363 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:39,880 your people, the sons of Jacob, the sons of Joseph. 364 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:45,080 Listen to the words of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 365 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:50,400 4 when he says this. At the end of the period, a very 366 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:54,040 specific time in which Nebuchadnezzar had been for 367 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:58,240 seven years crawling on his hands and knees, I, 368 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:01,680 Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason 369 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:05,080 returned to me. And I blessed and praised the 370 00:29:05,080 --> 00:29:10,320 Most High, and honored him who lives forever for his dominion 371 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:13,280 and his everlasting dominion. His Kingdom endures from 372 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:16,640 generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth 373 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:20,400 are Canada's nothing. But He does according to His 374 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,160 will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the 375 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:27,600 earth, and no one can ward off his hand or say to him, What 376 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:31,840 have you done? Verse 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar 377 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:37,360 praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are 378 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:45,640 true in his ways just, and he is able to humble those who walk in 379 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:52,400 pride because the person of God is good, then the power of God 380 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:58,040 is good and God always is demonstrating his power, whether 381 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:01,760 it's through the gospel that's preached or how he moves that 382 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:06,560 his Providence to orchestrate and rearrange all kinds of 383 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:09,160 things in your life. God's in charge of all that. 384 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:14,320 That's why the power of God is good. 385 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:22,040 Next, the purposes of God are good. 386 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:29,600 Book of Numbers 23rd chapter verse #19 God is not a man that 387 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,120 he should lie nor a son of man that he should repent. 388 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:42,320 Has he said and will he not do it, or has he spoken and will he 389 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:50,080 not make it good? No one can ward off the hand of 390 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:53,440 God. God has a purpose. 391 00:30:54,600 --> 00:31:01,680 He fulfills that purpose. Isaiah chapter 46 Remember the 392 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:04,640 former things long past, where I am God and there is no other. 393 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:06,400 I am God and there is no one like me. 394 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:09,920 Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times 395 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:13,600 things which have not been done. Saying My purpose will be 396 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:21,520 established and I will accomplish all my good pleasure 397 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:26,520 calling the bird of prey from the East, the man of my purpose 398 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:29,960 from a far country. Truly I've spoken, truly I will 399 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:31,880 bring it to pass. I've planned it. 400 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:39,360 Surely I will do it. That that just speaks loudly 401 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:45,240 about about the purposes of God. God speaks to fulfill his 402 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:48,280 purpose. God does what he does because 403 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:51,320 the ultimate purpose is that he will be glorified and honored. 404 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,280 God has a purpose behind his providential working. 405 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:59,040 God has a purpose behind the power that he enacts. 406 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:03,960 God has a purpose behind the proclamation that is given that 407 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:07,760 others might hear the gospel. God has a purpose behind all the 408 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:11,560 promises that he gives. And it's all about the glory of 409 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:15,320 God, that somehow he might be put on display, that he might be 410 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:20,960 seen through his people. God will receive the glory 411 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:24,240 because His purpose is that he be magnified. 412 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:28,240 And that's why everything is moving to that great crescendo 413 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,280 toward the end where every knee will bow and every tongue will 414 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:36,480 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the 415 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:41,280 Father. The purposes of God are good. 416 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:49,640 How about this? The provisions of God are good. 417 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:57,440 The provisions of God are good over in the the book of 418 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:01,160 Nehemiah. Nehemiah chapter 2. 419 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:04,800 By the way, Nehemiah chapter 1 begins with the prayer. 420 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:09,200 Nehemiah ends with the prayer. There are 12 prayers in the book 421 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:12,600 of Nehemiah. The book of Nehemiah is about 422 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:18,040 leadership can't lead unless you're a prayer warrior. 423 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:25,440 Fathers can't lead their children or their wives unless 424 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:29,160 they're men of prayer. They can't lead in the 425 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:34,080 workplace, in the church, on their team, no matter where 426 00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:36,720 they're at, unless they're people of prayer. 427 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:40,800 That's why the these 12 prayers are recorded in the book of 428 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,160 Nehemiah, as Nehemiah exemplifies great leadership 429 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:48,680 among the people of Israel. In chapter 1, Nehemiah begins to 430 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:53,440 pray. He's concerned about the nation. 431 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:58,200 He has heard about the destruction of Jerusalem and all 432 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:01,120 that's taking place, and he is burdened greatly. 433 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:07,800 So he prays for four months. Most of us can't pray for 4 434 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:11,760 minutes, but he prays for four months. 435 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:20,440 And in the Providence of God, as he's before the King, his 436 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:27,120 countenance is sad, which is not a good thing because if that's 437 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:31,800 the case, the king would take offense and recognize that you 438 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:34,400 were sad because you were in his presence and you'd need to be 439 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:40,159 demoted or you'd be killed. But something unique happens in 440 00:34:40,159 --> 00:34:47,159 chapter 2 of Nehemiah, because the queen appears with the king. 441 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,360 Only time in the book of Nehemiah that the queen appears 442 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:53,760 with the king. She appears there with him in 443 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:56,360 the province of God. To soften the hardness of the 444 00:34:56,360 --> 00:35:01,040 King's heart. God places people in certain 445 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:06,800 positions for his purposes. There are no accidents in your 446 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:09,200 life. They're just divine 447 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:13,120 appointments. You don't have a car accident. 448 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:16,640 You have a car appointment, right? 449 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,800 No one dies by accident. They die because there's an 450 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:24,920 appointed time for man to die. Everything is about a divine 451 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:30,000 appointment. So the queen is with the king. 452 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:34,480 God in his Providence allowed that to happen. 453 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:38,520 And the king begins to ask the question, Nehemiah, what is 454 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:41,320 wrong? Why are you so sad? 455 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:46,520 Why are you downcast? And Nehemiah begins to explain 456 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:52,760 to him all that's taken place. The king said to me, the queen 457 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:55,720 sitting beside him. Chapter 2 verse #6 How? 458 00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:58,360 How long will your journey be? And when you will return? 459 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:02,240 Because he says, I want to go back to, to Jerusalem. 460 00:36:03,240 --> 00:36:05,200 So the king asked him, how long will it take you? 461 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,120 And it pleased the king to send me. 462 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:14,240 And I gave him a definite time. And I said to the king, If it 463 00:36:14,240 --> 00:36:18,160 pleases the king, that letters be given me for the governors of 464 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:22,280 the provinces beyond the river, but they may allow me to pass 465 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:27,880 through until I come to Judah. And the letter to Asaph, the 466 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:31,360 keeper of the King's forest, that he may give me timber to 467 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:36,960 make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, 468 00:36:37,560 --> 00:36:41,560 for the wall of the city, and for the house to which I will 469 00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:46,640 go. And the king granted them to me 470 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:54,000 because think carefully. The good hand of my God was on 471 00:36:54,000 --> 00:37:00,160 me. Nehemiah gives credit to the 472 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:04,800 good hand of my God that was upon me. 473 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:10,200 God, God was going to provide, He provided a, a Commission for 474 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:14,000 me to go back. He provided letters so that I 475 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:17,120 could get through those who might be my enemies. 476 00:37:18,920 --> 00:37:27,240 He provided wood so we can build the, the, the, the necessary 477 00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:31,640 elements around the city. God was good. 478 00:37:31,640 --> 00:37:36,240 He provided everything, but he also provided an army to protect 479 00:37:36,240 --> 00:37:37,440 him. Verse 9. 480 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:40,360 Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the river 481 00:37:40,720 --> 00:37:42,400 and gave them the King's letters. 482 00:37:42,520 --> 00:37:47,480 Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and 483 00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:52,160 horsemen. God provided everything Nehemiah 484 00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:56,360 needed to go back to build the walls around the city of 485 00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:58,600 Jerusalem. Why? 486 00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:04,200 Because all the provisions of God are good. 487 00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:12,320 God will provide all of your needs according to his riches in 488 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:18,040 Christ Jesus. But God is the provider, and 489 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:23,800 when you when you begin to pray to him and seek his face and ask 490 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:28,960 the Lord to do a great and mighty work, which God did you 491 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:35,200 able to give him all the credit, because God in his good hand was 492 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:40,400 upon you. The Bible says that in James 493 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:48,520 chapter one that every good thing given and every perfect 494 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:56,120 gift comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no 495 00:38:56,120 --> 00:39:02,720 variation or shifting shadow. Every good gift, every perfect 496 00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:10,480 thing comes down from God above. God doesn't give bad gifts, 497 00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:15,560 doesn't do that. He gives only good gifts. 498 00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:20,040 You'll embark on the Christmas season and you probably receive 499 00:39:20,040 --> 00:39:23,320 a lot of bad gifts. Gifts that you don't want to 500 00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:26,720 have, gifts that you don't need. God doesn't give you anything 501 00:39:26,720 --> 00:39:32,560 you don't need. God only gives you good gifts. 502 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:38,440 Why? Because the provision of God is 503 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:40,760 good. How about this? 504 00:39:41,840 --> 00:39:47,000 The plan of God is good, is it not? 505 00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:53,720 A verse specifically given to Israel, which by way of 506 00:39:53,720 --> 00:39:57,840 secondary application we can apply to us, but it was 507 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:03,400 specifically given to Israel as God would reassure them? 508 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:07,920 Of his plan for the life. And he said in Jeremiah 29, I 509 00:40:07,920 --> 00:40:12,400 know the plans I have for you, plans for prosperity and not for 510 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:15,440 calamity, plans to give you a future. 511 00:40:16,720 --> 00:40:22,160 And the hope that was specifically given to Israel so 512 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:25,520 that they would know that the plan of God that would take them 513 00:40:25,720 --> 00:40:32,440 through 70 years of captivity would end up being such a 514 00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:36,680 perfect plan for them because it would be for their prosperity. 515 00:40:38,240 --> 00:40:45,240 The plan of God is always good. Sometimes we we find ourselves 516 00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:51,080 in the midst of that plan and we wonder where God is and we ask 517 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:55,800 him, what are you doing? But but God has a purpose behind 518 00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:59,480 the plan, like he has a purpose behind us Providence, like he 519 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:02,440 has a purpose behind his promises, like he has a purpose 520 00:41:02,440 --> 00:41:05,560 behind his proclamation. God has a purpose for 521 00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:09,600 everything. And in his plan He is 522 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:13,080 orchestrating all things for his glory. 523 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:18,240 And lastly, the paradise of God is good. 524 00:41:19,800 --> 00:41:24,840 That's where we're going. We're going to glory, Christ 525 00:41:24,840 --> 00:41:28,080 said to the thief on the cross. Today you will be with me in 526 00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:33,560 paradise. Paradise in, in the in in 527 00:41:33,560 --> 00:41:37,920 paradise. Revelation 2 verse #7 is, is the 528 00:41:37,920 --> 00:41:41,400 tree of life in the tree of life? 529 00:41:41,400 --> 00:41:44,000 Is that what you partake of throughout all eternity? 530 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:50,680 Because it's a life giving tree. It's the eternal tree, and 531 00:41:50,680 --> 00:41:58,440 therefore paradise only comes from a good God whose presence 532 00:41:58,440 --> 00:42:05,040 dwells in that place. It is good to give thanks to the 533 00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:09,880 Lord because the prophet that it brings is insurmountable. 534 00:42:11,680 --> 00:42:17,520 As you journey this week down the pathway of praise, don't 535 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:21,800 forget the privileges of praise, and certainly don't forget the 536 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:25,720 prophet of praise. Let's pray together. 537 00:42:26,360 --> 00:42:31,080 Lord, thank you for today. Thank you that we can spend a 538 00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:35,760 brief moment in your word. So so many things to be said 539 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:42,120 about each of these principles. So many things to to meditate 540 00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:49,240 upon our prayer Father, is that we would be a people of praise 541 00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:53,520 for the Bible says that the people I have formed for myself, 542 00:42:53,520 --> 00:42:58,480 they will declare my praise. And those of us who know you as 543 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:02,560 Lord and Savior have been formed by you and you're still working 544 00:43:02,560 --> 00:43:06,920 in and through our lives. And one of the ways you work is 545 00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:09,040 that we would declare your praises. 546 00:43:10,680 --> 00:43:17,240 May we be those people this week and for the rest of our lives 547 00:43:17,240 --> 00:43:20,960 until you come again, as you know surely will in Jesus name, 548 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:21,640 Amen.