Let the Lord be Magnified

"Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified." -Psalm 40:16

In Psalm 40, David is reminding himself of the working of God in his life. In verse one he exclaims that God heard his supplications. In verse two he tells of how the Lord provided his salvation & stabilized his life. In verse three the Lord put in his mouth a new song. Then in verse four David breaks out in a true praise and worship time when he testifies of the blessedness of trusting the Lord. By the time that the sweet psalmist of Israel gets to verse number sixteen he is beside himself and encourages all that seek the Lord and love his salvation to magnify the Lord.

Today men, including born again believers, are magnifying a great many things. People magnify their person, problem, position, passion, & prosperity without even thinking of magnifying their "Potentate" who is the Lord of Glory, the lamb of God. We who are saved by the grace of God, sealed by the Spirit of God, & supplied the very Word of God ought to have much for which we can magnify the Lord!

Here are just a few thoughts on the subject "Let the Lord be Magnified".

I. Let the Lord be Magnified with my Tongue

SCRIPTURES:
A. Ps 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
B. Ps 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
C. Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

II. Let the Lord be Magnified in my Troubles

SCRIPTURES:
A. Isa 24:15 Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.
B. Ps 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
C. Ps 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

III. Let the Lord be Magnified in my Triumphs

SCRIPTURES:
A. 2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every
B. 1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In spite of the problems of life, which ALL have by the way (Job 14:1 & Job 5:7), the truth is everyone has much to magnify the name of God about. So let us that seek the Lord rejoice and be glad in Him & let us that love his salvation say, "The LORD be magnified."

How to Raise the Dead

This is my Message for this Sunday, and NO I am NOT charismatic!

Revelation 3:1-6 How to Raise the Dead V. 1

Introduction:

1. In this passage of Scripture we read a letter that was dictated by Christ to the church of Sardis.

2. By way of introduction notice:

1. The Reputation of the Church of Sardis

1) They had the reputation that they were an alive and vibrant church.

2) When another church spoke of Sardis it would speak of a great church doing great things for the glory of God.

3) Ephesus might have said, “Their love for Christ is great.”

4) Pergamos might have proclaimed that "Sardis church solid church standing firmly upon the Word of God.”

5) Thyatira could have wondered and marveled at their great standards of separation from the world.

6) Smyrna might have thought that the believers @ Sardis were a great picture of what a healthy church should be.

7) Philidelphia might have looked upon this church as a great example of Christian service.

8) Laodecea might have thought that Sardis was a great place of vibrance and life.”

9) But the reality of this church was not as advertised.

2. The Reality of the church of Sardis

1) While others looked outwardly upon this church as a church that is vibrant, growing and alive, Christ gave us the reality of this church which was one of decay, & spiritual lifelessness!

2) This is a church whom the reputation does not match the reality.

3) And that startling reality revealed that while the church of Sardis had a good reputation that is was alive and well, in reality it was dead!

4) While others possible would look on the church with admiration, but here the Lord gives the church a condemnation.

3. As pastor of the Salem Baptist church I desire greatly that our church would have the proper testimony in the community which we are placed.

4. But more than just a testimony I would like for our church’s reputation to match the reality.

5. As a Christian I want my testimony to be one which brings honor and glory to Christ. But I want more than just a reputation of one who loves Christ. I want it to be a reality.

¨ Mt 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

6. One thing that I have learned in my Christian life is this: “It matters more what God knows I am, than what others think I am!”

NOTE:

¨ Think of Judas:

Reputation/ Possessor of Eternal Life

Reality/ Only a Professor of Eternal Life)

¨ Think of Annanias & Saphira

Reputation/ Compassionate towards the Saints

Reality/ Only Cared for Self

7. While the church of Sardis had the reputation of being alive and vibrant, in reality it was dead.

8. Like many, the Christian individually and the church collectively at Sardis were in great need of a resurrection.

NOTE:

¨ The church at Sardis needed something more than just activities to restore its life.

¨ This church needed something more than just special music to resuscitate its excitement and joy.

¨ This church needed something more than just preaching to give it life again.

9. What was it that this group of believers needed in order to have a spiritual resurrection?

10. Well in our text we will see to raise the dead.

I. Realize (vs. 1, 2)

1. These believers thought that everything was O.K. but it wasn’t.
2. They and their church was dead.
3. The organism of the church had become merely an organization.
4. This church was dead and didn’t know it!
5. It was continuing on in its activities, but there wasn’t life.
6. They continued on working, but toiling in the flesh and failing at the same time, because Jesus said that there works were not perfect before God.
7. Charles Spurgeon commented on verse two with these words:

“Have you ever read “the Ancient Mariner”? I dare say you thought it one of the strangest imaginations ever put together, especially that part where the old mariner represents the corpses of dead men rising up to man the ship; dead men pulling the rope; dead men at the oars’ dead men steering’ dead men spreading the sails! I thought what a strange idea, and yet I have lived to see that. I have gone into churches where there was a dead man in the pulpit, a dead man reading the scriptures, a dead man singing, a dead man taking the collection, and the pews were filled with the same.”

8. The first step of resurrecting the dead is to realize that there is problem.

¨ In the book of Malachi we see that the nation of Israel did not realize the shape that they were in.

1) Mal 1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

2) Mal 1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

3) Mal 1:7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

4) Mal 2:17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

5) Mal 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

¨ When Samson slept in Delilah’s lap and got up the next morning to fight the Philistines the bible says in Judges 16:20, “And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.”

9. So it is today Christian’s acting and in many cases believing that everything is all right when in actuality everything is all wrong.
10. May God this morning anoint our eyes with eye salve that we may see. Yes see the truth of our condition.

II. Remember (v. 3) “Remember”

¨ Ps 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. Ps 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

Remember God’s Word

Remember God’s Love

Remember God’s Mercy

Remember how you used to serve God

Remember how much you used to love Jesus

Remember how you used to long to be at church.

Remember the joy that you once hade.

Dear Christian let us remember!

III. Resolve (v. 3, 2) strengthen the things which remain.” “hold fast”

¨ Those things that you are doing that is right strengthen them

¨ Those things that you are doing which is wrong resolve to put them away.

IV. Repent (v. 3) “Repent”

¨ Repentance denotes 180 degree turn. It means a change!

Sermon Update

We have updated our preaching site. Hopefully the messages will be a help to you as you listen.

Preaching Update

Our sermon network site had been updated. You may find these sermons @ http://sermon.net/salembaptistchurchcinci .

Update

Today I was able to upload preaching to our sermon network. I hope that these messages will be a blessing to all who hear them! To access our sermon network just click on the title of this update or go to http://sermon.net/salembaptistchurchcinci

"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."
I Peter 3: 8, 9

This morning for my private devotional time with the Lord I was able to begin reading from the end of I Samuel to chapter 12 of II Samuel. While I was reading about the life of David, I noticed something that really convicted my heart. That which convicted my heart was the spirit of David. David was a man who really lived I Peter 3:8, 9.

Notice how David treated those who hated him.

I. When Saul was killed David honored him. (II Samuel 1:13-27)

II. When Abner was killed, David acclaimed him a prince. (II Samuel 3:31-39)

III. When Ishbosheth was killed David put to death his murders. (II Samuel 4:1-12)

Would to God that I could be more like David!

• 1Pe 3:9, "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing..."
• 1Th 5:15 "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."
• I Peter 2:21-23, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"

May God instill in each of our hearts this day a gracious attitude and a Christlike spirit. Our churches, workplaces, homes, and hearts would be better off if it were so.

The Secret Source of Strength

I'm studying for tonight's preaching & prayer meeting. Over the past several weeks I have been preaching in the book of Proverbs. Tonight I will be preaching out of Provers 10:29 on the subject "The Secret Source of Strength". The secret of strength is "the way of the Lord", not vacation, not vindication, NOT WORLDLY AMUSEMENTS. AMEN!!! Proverbs 10:29, "The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity."

Standing ON or Staggering AT the Promises of God

"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"-Romans 4:20

In the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul pens down that Abraham "staggered not at the promise of God". The word stagger (according to Webster's 1828 Dictionary) means, "to cease to stand firm". The Bible here declares that Abraham stood firmly on the promises of God. This man 100 years old according to Romans 4, still believed that God would do what he said he would! What a faith in a God who still can.

Dear Christian, we are living in the last days and all around us we hear that the Lord isn't working like he used to do! Due to the continual berating of people it's easy as believers to begin thinking these things are so. As a pastor and you as well, have to continually remind ourselves that God still can! What are some of the things that God can still do?

I. He Can Still Save the Sinner!

• Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

II. He Can Still Supply for the Believer!

• Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

III. He Can Still Sustain the Church!

• Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

IV. He Still can Send Necessary Workers!

• Lu 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Years ago, Harold Sightler, that great pastor, preached a message called "God Can". The Tabernacle Baptist Church of Greenville South Carolina did great things for God because it was ingrained in them that the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David is the same God that still can work wonders among his people.

In our text, notice the result of standing on the promise of God: "giving glory to God". When we as God's children take God at his Word, it pleases him, and gives him glory! Friend let us "STAND ON, NOT STAGGER AT, THE PROMISES OF GOD".

BIBLE CONFERENCE

Beginning this Sunday our church will be honored to have with us Dr. Ricky Dunsford (Executive Vice President of the Rock of Ages Prison Ministry) for a Bible Conference. The theme for the conference is "SO GREAT SALVATION" from Hebrews 2:3. Bro. Ricky is a tremendous preacher and I know that he will be a blessing to our church. As soon as we can, we will post his preaching on our blog. Please be in prayer for us that the Lord would work in my heart and also in the hearts of the people.

-Ps 85:6 "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"

-Ps 138:7 "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me:..."


On a Personal Note:

Many have inquired on how my wife is doing after surgery. She is doing very well. She is able to walk without any aid, and also able to shower etc. Even though she is still in pain form the surgery she was able to attend the preaching service last Sunday. Thank you for your prayers!

Just a Quick Note

This past week has been a very busy week due to my wife having surgery on her back. I just wanted to write a quick note to thank everyone that prayed for her. She came through the surgery very well and is now on the road to recovery. Right now she is in much pain, and unable to do much, but the Doctor is expecting a full recovery.