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READ:

1 Corinthians 15:58a

^58a Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

EXHORTATION:

This earnest exhortation of Paul unto all believers was based on their thankfulness to God for the hope of victory over death and grave through the Lord Jesus Christ. He had just proclaimed in v. 57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”. Our glorious hope of victory over death gives us the impetus to serve the Lord with perseverance and fervency.

When we serve the Lord, we do not do what we want to do, but the work that the Lord has given unto us. The believers’ work is the work that the Lord has given unto them. It is not doing what we feel like doing, but what the Lord wants us to do. We are not to do as or when we like. As Paul pointed out in Hebrews 13:21, our desire and prayer ought to be that the Lord will “make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

We are also exhorted concerning the manner in which we ought to carry out the Lord’s work. Firstly, we must be “steadfast” in the work of the Lord. The Greek word used here by the apostle suggests being steady and settled in our hearts to fulfil all that the Lord has bidden us to do. We must always be faithful in the service of the Lord.

Secondly, we must be “unmoveable” in the work of the Lord. Nothing should shake us from our commitment to serve the Lord with diligence. We must be firm and unshakeable in faith and devotion to the Lord as we persist in doing all the will of God.

Thirdly, we must be “always abounding in the work of the Lord”. We should not be disinterested or lethargic in doing all that God has commanded us to do. We must serve the Lord with fervour and zeal. Thoroughness and excellence must characterise our work for the Lord. We must be eager to know all His will and do all of them with total resolve. We must also eagerly embrace and seek out opportunities for doing His good will. We must esteem it as our privilege – not our hardship – to do the work of the Lord. Let us set no limit to our exertions. Let us not measure our attainments by those of others. Let us not sit down in sloth and carelessness, but press on to serve Him more and more.

READ:

Luke 1:78

⁷⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.

EXHORTATION:

These words were part of the prophecy of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptiser. The prediction includes the ministries of both the forerunner (namely John the Baptiser) and the Messiah (namely Jesus Christ). Both of their missions were to proclaim God’s mercy to sinners.

The phrase “the tender mercy of our God” denotes God’s infinitely gentle and gracious consideration of poor creatures like us, who are lost in our sins, without any hope of escape. It depicts the deep-seated affections of God to wretched creatures like us.

God has not merely pitied us from heaven, but has also sent us relief through Jesus Christ. It is God’s tender mercy that sent Jesus to bear our sins and rescue us from all the perils of our souls. By God’s mercy, Christ has “visited us” as “the dayspring from on high”. The great visit of God’s mercy to us is the incarnation of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The word “dayspring” depicts the morning light, the aurora, the rising of the sun. The beautiful imagery here is derived from the magnificence of a spectacular sunrise. Christ’s condescension is called “the dayspring from on high” visiting us. The light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shines forth from heaven. God is its author and through His mercy, it shines on men.

The advent of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, being here pictured as a sunrise, was a favourite metaphor with the prophets. We see it in such prophecies as those of Isaiah and Malachi. “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:2-3). A similar prophecy was pronounced in Malachi 4:2 – “unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings”.

The proclamation of the Gospel to any individual is a visit of God’s mercy. The “visits” of God are like the dayspring, because they end our darkness. Our night is ended once and for all when we behold God visiting us in Christ Jesus. Christ’s coming into the world is as the morning light. He is the Light “which lighteth every man” (John 1:9). Christ’s coming is as the dayspring because He brings us hope of greater glory yet to come.

READ:

Luke 1:47

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

EXHORTATION:

Mary, in her song of praise, called God “my Saviour”. Thus, she acknowledged the reality of sin that had held her in the shackles of guilt and dread. She was like all other sinners in great need of a saviour. Now God has graciously provided a Saviour – through her – for herself and for all sinners who would come to Him in repentance and faith. Her joyful spirit that moved her to sing praises to God is an indication of how greatly she valued the gift of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

More than being a mother to Christ, she rejoiced in that He would be born as her Saviour. He was Mary’s Saviour, as He would die to deliver her from eternal death and thereby to give her eternal life. She sought to take no glory in being chosen to be the mother of the Saviour. She was too overwhelmed with joy that her God has come to be her Saviour!

Mary’s joy was a deep-seated elation. She exclaimed, “my spirit hath rejoiced”. It was no superficial, transient pleasure, but a joy lodged deeply within her. It filled her soul. She could not have experienced any greater gladness than the joy of having a great Saviour!

Mary’s joy was the joy of a sinner who had found her salvation. The greatest joy that can fill the heart of a sinner is that God has become his Saviour. Like Mary, all of us must exult in that a mighty divine Saviour has come for us. Her song of joy in the divine Saviour is the grandest and purest joy which all the saints of God in all ages have experienced. David attested, “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation” (Psalm 35:9). Isaiah exulted, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2). The prophet Zechariah proclaimed, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9).

Praise flowing out of a saved sinner is indeed wonderful. The joy of a once ruined soul that is now restored, coupled with thanksgiving and song unto God, is most heavenly. Like that of Mary’s, his joy is not about his own glory, but about God who has saved him. Acceptable worship before the Lord is that of a sinner who has found his salvation and joy in his God.

Sermon Text: Psalm 95:1–11
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 1st December 2024

READ:

Luke 1:46

⁴⁶ And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord.

EXHORTATION:

Mary was paying a visit to her cousin Elisabeth. During their meeting, she erupted in a song, magnifying the Lord. The first line of this song states the purpose of her song – “My soul doth magnify the Lord”. Hence, this song has come to be known as “Mary’s Magnificat”.

Both Mary and Elisabeth were two humble ladies who loved their God wholeheartedly. Their devotion to God was evident in their salutations and conversation. Their hearts were filled with great joy and thanksgiving to the Lord for the blessings of the babies that their wombs were carrying. The hallowed presence of the Spirit of God was also with them. Their hearts and minds were wondrously aroused to exalt the Lord. Mary burst forth with sacred praise; she sang unto the Lord with gladness. How wonderful it will be if our conversations with other Christians also culminate in the praise of our God!

Mary testified of her personal joy and gratitude to the Lord. “My soul”, declared Mary, “doth magnify the Lord”. Certainly, her unique delight was that the Saviour would be born of her. Though the Saviour was not yet born, she believed by faith what the Lord had revealed to her concerning His birth. The Lord’s angel had declared to her, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS” (Luke 1:30, 31). It was also told to her that “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). She responded to that wonderful revelation that she would bring forth the Holy Child by saying, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). By faith, she yielded to the Lord’s will without any hesitation.

Mary could have given in to anxiety about the many problems that would arise if she were to be found with a child. Such fear could have made her unwilling to yield to God’s will. However, she rejoiced that the Lord had chosen her to be His handmaiden to bring forth the Saviour to the world. Her faith in the Lord was submissive and yielding. Like Mary, every humble and submissive soul will rejoice in the worship of the Lord. True and joyful worship flows out of believing and obedient souls.

Chosen to Bear Spiritual Fruit

Jesus’ words in John 15:16 proclaim to all genuine Christians, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

Jesus emphasises to His disciples that their calling was not initiated by them, but by Him. He chose them first, underscoring that salvation and service are rooted in God’s gracious choosing. According to Jesus, our relationship with God is entirely based on His initiative, not human choice or merit. God chose us even before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). Our salvation is an act of God’s grace, flowing from His eternal will, in which He graciously and purposefully chooses individuals to belong to Him.

As John later would write, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This foundational truth humbles us, dispelling any sense of spiritual pride and reminding us that our relationship with God is a result of His loving choice, not our own merit. Knowing that God has chosen us also brings assurance. If He has initiated our salvation, we can trust that He will sustain it. This gives believers confidence that, despite our weaknesses, His hold on us is secure and eternal.

Beyond salvation, Jesus chose His followers for a purpose: to “go and bring forth fruit”. The “fruit” here includes manifested qualities of the transformed lives of Christians, such as love, joy, patience. Paul lists these qualities in Galatians 5:22-23, as “the fruit of the Spirit”. Even more, “fruit” also includes those who respond to the evangelistic efforts of His followers. When we share the Gospel, and others respond in faith, they become part of the spiritual “fruit” that remains eternally, a testimony to God’s work in the world! 

Jesus further encourages His followers by promising that He will provide whatever they ask of the Father in His name. This assurance is given to those who submit to God’s will and are committed to bearing fruit in service to Him. The promise of answered prayer is both a blessing and a reinforcement that God will equip His chosen ones for the mission He has given them. We are not left to our own resources; rather, God supplies all that we need for fruitful ministry, including strength, wisdom, and provision. 

As chosen vessels, we are empowered to bear lasting fruit through His Spirit. Each step we take in service, prayer, and obedience brings glory to God, and confirms our calling as His chosen people, equipped to make a lasting impact for His Kingdom. 

Christians are Called to be Benevolent

God’s Word in Hebrews 13:16 encourages all Christians, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

God calls His people to live lives marked by kindness and generosity, underscoring the importance of selfless acts as a way to reflect His character. Through these acts, we become a living testimony of His goodness. The verse reminds us that the good we do and the love we share are not only beneficial to others, but are also sacrifices that bring joy to God.

The first command, “to do good”, emphasises our duty to reflect God’s kindness practically. Scripture is filled with reminders of God’s goodness, such as in Psalm 145:9, which declares, “The LORD is good to all”. As His children, we are called to mirror this goodness in our own lives. Good deeds pleasing to God include sharing the Gospel with others, praying for those in need, providing practical help to the poor, offering service within the church, and simply showing compassion and patience in our daily interactions. By doing good, we let God’s light shine through us, drawing others to Him.

The second command, “to communicate forget not”, calls believers to a spirit of generous fellowship. The Greek word for “communicate” here is koinonia, which means “fellowship” or “sharing”. This goes beyond merely offering material support; it involves being aware of the needs of others and extending support, encouragement, and love. We are called to a life of intentional sharing, opening our hands to bless those around us, just as Christ gave Himself for us.

The verse also describes these acts as “sacrifices”. True Christian generosity often requires sacrificing our time, energy, and resources. Just as Old Testament sacrifices involved offerings to God, these sacrificial acts of kindness are offerings of our lives, demonstrating our love for Him. Sacrifices involve giving up something valuable to us, and through these acts, we worship God by honouring His care for all people. This perspective transforms our charitable acts from mere duties to expressions of gratitude and worship.

Such acts of charity mirror God’s ultimate act of love and sacrifice in giving His Son for us. When we show generosity, we embody the love He displayed on the cross, making our kindness an extension of His love to the world. In doing so, we honour the sacrifice of Christ and participate in His mission to meet human needs, reflecting God’s compassion and grace.

READ:

John 10:30

³⁰ I and my Father are one.

EXHORTATION:

Christ here proclaims His oneness with the Father. Some have argued that these words of Christ are only with reference to the mutual interest of the Father and Christ concerning the protection of the redeemed people. Their reason for such an insistence is that Jesus was instructing the people that He would give them eternal life and that they would never perish. However, they have failed to take into consideration that Christ had also spoken of His and the Father’s great power to protect His people. Now consider Jesus’ actual words: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29). Concerning the protection that both of them would give His people, Christ has said that “neither shall any man pluck them out of my (i.e. Christ’s) hand” (v. 28) nor the “Father’s hand” (v. 29). Both are depicted as omnipotent, and as the unconquerable defence of the redeemed. The common objective of the Father and Christ concerning the protection of the redeemed is based on their omnipotence.

Furthermore, we also note that immediately after Jesus had declared His oneness with the Father, the Jews took up stones to mete out punishment to Him for what they deemed to be blasphemy, for they understood Him as affirming His equality with God (John 10:31, 33). They said to Him, “… we stone thee … for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” The Jews had no doubt that Jesus was affirming that He was God. Jesus did not deny their perception of His words concerning His oneness with the Father. Christ soon made yet another assertion of His equality with the Father – “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him” (vv. 37-38).

Here Christ is claiming absolute equality with the Father. All of the divine perfections of the Father are also found in Christ, the First and Second Persons of the Godhead respectively. Not one aspect of Christ’s divine nature dimmed in its perfect splendour and majesty. Christ is not the Father but the Son. Yet, in the glorious mystery of the Triune Godhead, the Father and the Son are one in essence, nature and purpose! They are one in all that are essential to the Godhead, and yet two distinct Persons.

READ:

Isaiah 45:22

²² Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

EXHORTATION:

The LORD appeals to the Jews and to the far-flung heathen world to turn to Him. In verse 20, He said, “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.” The idols which they had made as their gods were simply unable to save them from their troubles and condemnation.

All should acknowledge the LORD alone as their Saviour, and turn to Him. In verse 21, the LORD said, “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” The idols were incapable of offering justice and salvation to those who prayed unto them. So, the LORD challenged them to put their heads together and take counsel to show Him proof as to whether there was any like unto Him who had always been a just and great Saviour to them. He demonstrated His justice by declaring the chastening of Israel (which had indulged in wickedness) by way of sending them into captivity. He then proved that He was a great Saviour by foretelling that He would raise Cyrus, a great king, who would free them and send them back to the land of Israel. This, He not only predicted, but also fulfilled (cf. Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-4; Ezra 1:1-2).

Having shown His plans of justice and deliverance for Israel, the LORD, “invited” the people of the world to look unto Him so that they too may be saved from their sins and condemnation. The LORD still beckons all the peoples of the world, saying, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” The Hebrew word for “look” denotes the act of turning round in order to look in a different direction. The LORD’s message is that all should turn from their “idols” unto Him. Even those who profess to be Christians must make sure that they are steadfastly looking unto the LORD, their Saviour. Otherwise, like the Israelites who went after the idols of the heathen around them, they too would wander away from Him. Let us look steadfastly unto the LORD with faith and obedience, for there is no other Saviour who is just, gracious and faithful to forgive and sanctify us. The LORD alone is the Saviour. The LORD alone can accomplish the great work of our salvation.

READ:

Isaiah 45:6b

^6b I am the LORD, and there is none else.

EXHORTATION:

Through the prophet Isaiah, the LORD declares Himself as the Supreme Sovereign who has no match or equal anywhere. He is the undisputed King. Even the new mighty king Cyrus of Persia, who would crush and conquer the might of great Babylon, would serve the LORD. Irrespective of his exploits and subjugation of the world’s powerful kings and princes, Cyrus would be under the LORD’s dominion (cf. Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-4). Cyrus would act just as God commanded him. The sway that the LORD would have over Cyrus and all his political and military activities, provides irrefutable proof of the LORD’s total domination and incomparable might and glory. The LORD would use Cyrus as His instrument to accomplish His purposes concerning the Jews and the city of Jerusalem. Hence, the LORD’s assertion, “I am the LORD”, denotes His sovereignty as incontestable and never-diminishing. This statement is not a mere identification of His name, but a revelation of His greatness and sovereignty. As it is written in Psalm 95:3, “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” To all God’s servants, the name “the LORD” (or Jehovah) means that He is the Almighty God. So the psalmist said, “For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods” (Psalm 135:5). The assertion, “I am the LORD”, means that the LORD God is sovereign above all and all else are under His feet.

The assertion, “I am the LORD”, also affirms His self-existence and unchanging nature. In Isaiah 44:6, God, who is “the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts”, declares: “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” In Malachi 3:6, the LORD affirms, “For I am the LORD, I change not”. His unchanging commitment to His people is often avowed by the declaration, “I am the LORD your God” (cf. Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 18:2, 4; Deuteronomy 29:6; Ezekiel 20:5, 7, 19, 20).

The proclamation, “I am the LORD”, also refutes all ideas of the existence of other gods, hence His unequivocal statement: “there is none else.” In Isaiah 45 and 46, the LORD has iterated seven times that there is none else besides Him (Isaiah 45:5, 6, 14, 18, 21, 22; 46:9), as a warning to the Jews of Isaiah’s day who went after the idols of the surrounding heathen nations. The name “the LORD” (or Jehovah) must evoke in us faith, love, reverence, submission, worship, obedience and allegiance to Him. We must flee all forms of idolatry and yield only to the LORD.

READ:

Isaiah 45:6a

^6a That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me.

EXHORTATION:

The LORD had just declared through Isaiah that He would raise a heathen king, Cyrus, who would let the Jews (being in captivity for seventy years) return to Jerusalem to rebuild it (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-4). Cyrus was not yet even born when the LORD foretold (through Isaiah) about his rise to great power and wealth, and also how he would authorise the return of the Jews and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It was about 150 years before Cyrus was born that those prophecies concerning him were declared by Isaiah.

Those prophecies about Cyrus were of a peculiar nature, as the LORD would use a heathen king to accomplish His purposes concerning His people, Israel. Ezra 1:1-2 records, “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, ... the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” Thus we see God’s sovereign power over all men – even over His powerful enemies – clearly demonstrated here. No man is beyond the control of our great God.

Having declared what He would accomplish through Cyrus, the LORD mentioned as one of His purposes for using a heathen king – “That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me.” People from the east (“from the rising of the sun”) and the west shall know that there is no other God except the LORD God of Israel, who has revealed Himself in His Word. Through God’s acts of chastisement, restoration and renewal of Israel, as well as through all that had happened and will happen to present-day Israel (including its wars, catastrophes and final restoration), the world would know that the LORD God of Israel alone is God and there is none else. Though the LORD was not universally acknowledged in Cyrus’ day, He will be eventually (cf. Philippians 2:10-11). Seven times in Isaiah 45 and 46, the LORD declared that “there is none beside me” (Isaiah 45:5, 6, 14, 18, 21, 22; 46:9), to drive home the point that He alone is God while all else are fictitious deities. In a world filled with idolatry and polytheism, it is truly amazing that the LORD says that the world would know that He alone is God. Let us preach the Gospel, that more and more people may know the LORD as the only God.