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READ:

1 Corinthians 10:31

³¹ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

EXHORTATION:

The chief purpose for which God’s people should live is God’s glory. It is also the chief rule by which they decide what they should do. They should do only that which will honour God.

To act for the glory of God is to act so that His glory is acknowledged, admired and accomplished. Whatever is done to advance the glory of God is right; and whatever is done without the purpose of His glory is wrong.

The rule that we must glorify God extends to everything in our lives, not just in the activities of the church. Not only on the Lord’s Day, but every day we ought to exalt His name. Even as we eat and drink daily, we must glorify God. In other words, the honour of God must be our constant passion in life.

In order to glorify God in all aspects of our life, we must be preoccupied with His glory. We must be wholly dedicated to His glory at all times. A fascination with His glory is paramount in every Christian’s life. Hence, we are commanded, “whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

If we should seek to honour God in so small matters as eating and drinking, how it ought to be our singular motive behind all our actions, endevaours and relationship. Whatsoever we do must tend to His glory.

It must also be noted that when we are asked to do all things for God’s glory, we are not asked to help to add to His glory. Nothing we do add to His glory. He is “the King of glory” (Ps. 24:7-10). “His glory is great” (Ps. 21:5). “The LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens” (Ps. 113:4). “Great is the glory of the LORD” (Ps. 138:5). Our duty is simply to yield ourselves to be vessels of His glory.

We must declare and live for His glory. Like David, who avowed himself to the praise of His glory, let us also joyfully say, “I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works” (Ps. 145:5).

Let us also live to exalt His glory. Nothing in our conduct should obstruct God’s glory from being reflected in us. In everything we do and say, no matter how insignificant, the world should be able to see that we are God’s people committed to His glory.

Sermon Text: Psalm 46
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 2nd July 2023

(If you are asked to explain the Gospel briefly, do you know what to say? Learn from the article below, and be ready to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who ask of you). 

The Gospel points sinners to the God-sent Saviour, Jesus Christ. His name, “Jesus”, denotes that “he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt 1:21). During His public ministry, Jesus declared, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). The Gospel is the message of God’s kingdom. It is conveyed with the great authority of God, the Almighty King. It is the message of His love and grace for the salvation of sinners. To neglect the Gospel message is to defy the only living and true God, and His gracious message of salvation.

That we repent of our sins

In Luke 13, Jesus warned twice, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). Some may even question whether such a statement should be considered “Gospel” (or “Good News”). However, when we consider it as a warning from our gracious Saviour, we will know it is good news. Jesus asserted to all His hearers, “repent ye” (Mark 1:15b). Likewise, the apostles declared, “now (God) commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30b). 

Repentance involves: (i) one’s acknowledgment that he is a sinner; (ii) one’s confession of his sins; (iii) one’s admission of his guilt that he deserves God’s just wrath of eternal damnation in hell; and (iv) one’s pleading for God’s mercy and gracious provision of His forgiveness. Repentance is not a mere feeling of remorse about our sins, but a turning away from our sins to Christ. 

True salvation occurs when we, in desperation, turn from sin to Christ with a willingness to have Him save and lead our lives. On our own, we are rendered helpless and doomed by our sins. So, when we are convicted of our sins and damnation, and are called by the Gospel, we must quickly repent and turn to Christ for salvation.

That we believe in Christ for salvation

Jesus not only said, “repent ye”, but also to “believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15c). The Gospel is all about Jesus Christ and what He has done for our salvation on the cross of Calvary. The Gospel is depicted 11 times in the New Testament as “the gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16; 15:19, 29; 1 Cor. 9:12, 18; 2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Cor. 9:13; 2 Cor. 10:14; Gal. 1:7; Phil. 1:27; 1 Thess. 3:2). 

Let us take note of the apostle Paul’s presentation of the Gospel in 1 Cor 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand, by which also ye are saved… how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”. 

The Bible commands and promises: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31); and “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). 

Only Jesus Christ did act to deliver us from our sins and judgment. As Paul testified in Ephesians 5:2, “… Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Therefore, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

That we who are saved might live godly lives

Scripture says Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Our Lord Jesus, who died and rose again to redeem us, liberates us from the power of sin, world and Satan, that we may serve Him in righteousness. Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:18). 

As we follow Christ daily in confident trust, He will guide us away from our sins by His Word to do all His good pleasure (“good works” – Tit.2:14). Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). He also promised, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 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 10:27-29). 

All who are truly saved will turn from sin to Christ, so He may take control of their lives. They do not trust in themselves. They will not follow their own thoughts and ambitions, which are fleshly and worldly. Instead, they give themselves to know and do what the Lord has willed concerning them. They will yield their lives to Christ to worship and serve Him. Instead of sin, Christ’s good pleasure will characterise all saved lives.

READ:

Proverbs 16:25

²⁵ There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

EXHORTATION:

This verse has been mentioned once before in Proverbs 14:12. Since it is being repeated, we stand alerted twice to its warning. Hence, it is of utmost importance that we pay attention to its admonition.

We are warned here concerning the delusive and seductive nature of our self-will. Alas, even a destructive way may seem right unto a man if he simply follows his passion and self-will, which have been darkened by sin. If a man’s thoughts and feelings are not guided by the wisdom of God’s Word, what is harmful may seem right to him, being warped by his mind that is predisposed to sin and disobedience. Without the light of God’s Word, our minds are prone to choose the destructive ways of sin.

Under the influence of sin, man’s conscience loses its power to discern and to make right judgment. It “seemeth right” to him, but only in its appearance. Things are not what they seem. On the surface, the path would appear easy, pleasant and quite safe. Many may be walking along that same road, but without the wisdom of God’s Word. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:13b, “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”. Fashions of the world further fuel the follies of a generation misguided by their sin-plagued conscience. As Proverbs 30:12 says, “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” Let us be wary of the social conscience of our times, which is often misshaped and misled by man’s sinful passions. It is utterly perilous to think that our ways are the best and most desirable. Our perverted minds and passions will lead us astray, like a moth that is attracted to the flame.

Even when we render our service to God, we cannot follow our thoughts blindly. Oftentimes, by the very act which we think will please God, we actually provoke Him to anger. In Isaiah 29:13, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men”.

Man without God is prejudiced, confused, ignorant and self-deceiving; he walks inexorably to a ruinous end. So let us examine our ways and be sure to follow Christ who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

READ:

Hebrews 13:7b

^7b Whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

EXHORTATION:

After instructing Christians to remember those who have the rule over them and have taught them God’s Word, the writer of Hebrews exhorted them to follow the faith of their faithful teachers. What could have been intended by the word “faith”?

Firstly, “faith” is the trust that one’s heart places in Christ and His Word. It is by such faith that we are saved. Ephesians 2:8 says, “by grace are ye saved through faith”. Secondly, “faith” can be a reference to the truths of God that we ought to believe. Thus, we are exhorted in Jude 1:3 to “contend for the faith”. Thirdly, “faith” also signifies fidelity or faithfulness. In Titus 2:10, the Greek word for “faith” (pisitis) is translated as “fidelity”. So the word “faith” here could encompass all of those Scriptural thoughts attached to it; it therefore indicates the leaders’ dependence upon and faithfulness unto God and His Word.

We are instructed to “follow” the faith and faithfulness of those godly men who have preached the Word of God unto us. The Greek word for “follow” (miméomai) literally means “imitate”. We ought to follow in the footsteps of faithful preachers who have taught God’s Word unto us. We must speak words of faith and perform deeds of faith as they have done.

We are also told to follow their faith, “considering the end of their conversation”. The word “consider” actually means “to look at again and again” or “to observe carefully”. The word “end” (ekbasis) means “a going out” or “an egress”; hence it refers to one’s going out from life or exiting from the world. It could be a reference to their death, when they are finally delivered from all their toil and suffering, which they have endured in living a life of faith and faithfulness.

We are here also reminded of how Paul has described his anticipation of the end of his life and ministry. He wrote, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Paul made Timothy aware of the anticipated end of his journey on earth, that he might be encouraged to live faithfully and make full proof of his ministry (2 Timothy 4:5).

READ:

Hebrews 13:7a

^7a Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God.

EXHORTATION:

This is an exhortation that is intended to guard our hearts against wandering away from the divine truths which God has given to us through men who faithfully serve Him among His people. It would be tragic if we forget God’s faithful servants who give us His truth and instead follow after those who teach contrary to the truth of God’s Word. This is why the apostle Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29-32, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Human nature is very unpredictable. How many congregations have forgotten and neglected the labour and teachings of the faithful pastors who had laboured among them. Such forgetfulness is akin to sinful ingratitude. It is very much like the situation mentioned in Ecclesiastes 9:15 – “Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city: yet no man remembered that same poor man.”

In order to protect Christians and churches from departing from faithful teachings of godly leaders, they are exhorted to “remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God”. The word “remember” denotes thankful recollection of the leaders and their preaching. It is an exhortation to treasure up their instructions in the heart, and call to mind their exhortations, counsels and warnings.

The leaders whom we ought to cherish are those “who have spoken unto you the word of God”. The men whom God has graciously called to rule the church are gifted by Him to expound and enforce the Scriptures. Every pastor must rule the church by carrying out the ministry of the Word with faithfulness and authority. The apostle Paul advised Titus, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:15). The tireless labour of faithful preachers must not only be appreciated, but also heeded.

READ:

Hebrews 13:6

⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

EXHORTATION:

Oh, how we need to cast off our despondency. At times, the pressing needs of life can fill our hearts with overwhelming anxiety and perplexity. We should not allow our hearts to drown in despair. We ought to teach ourselves to wait upon the Lord, who is our Help.

Let us first acknowledge that we are poor and helpless creatures. Let us humbly and sincerely confess our destitution without the Lord’s help. The youths and the elderly alike need the Lord’s help. Even the wealthiest, the wisest, or the mightiest cannot stand alone. There will be times when man becomes acutely conscious of his need for help.

It was David’s practice to confess his need before the Lord and seek His help. Consider the following confessions of David in the book of Psalms:

“But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God” (Psalm 40:17).

“But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high” (Psalm 69:29).

“But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying” (Psalm 70:5).

“Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy” (Psalm 86:1).

“For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me” (Psalm 109:22).

In times of our need, let us also joyfully and boldly confess that the Lord is our Help. Every Christian ought to be able to testify of his cheerful confidence in the Lord, even when he faces perplexing situations of need and anxiety. Admitting that he has a need and confessing that the Lord will help are sure ways to cast off one’s anxiety.

He is all-sufficient. The treasures of His grace are inexhaustible. He is able to help us in all our needs. It is impossible and inconceivable that the infinite resources of our Divine Helper should ever fail. Let us therefore triumphantly confess that the Lord, our Helper, is greater than our needs, our troubles and our foes. He will help and sustain us.

READ:

2 Peter 1:5

⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.

EXHORTATION:

The apostle Peter had just mentioned in the previous verse that God has granted to believers exceeding great and precious promises, that they may escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. In fact, through God’s promises given to the believers, they are empowered to attain many more spiritual advantages than being delivered from the lustful snares of this corrupt world. All the potential for greater spiritual attainments and excellence is provided for every Christian in God’s exceeding great and precious promises. The supply is abundant, but it needs to be appropriated by believers.

So, Peter exhorts us to show greater enthusiasm by “giving all diligence” in our spiritual pursuits. The apostle calls us to greater earnestness and activity. The responsibility of believers to pursue spiritual excellence is stressed in those words. Being thankful for His great promises is not enough. Spiritual heights and glories in a Christian life are to be pursued with utmost labour. Idleness, negligence, disengagement and suchlike are not for those who appreciate God’s great promises.

We ought to show diligence, first of all, in getting our own individual lives aligned with spiritual realities. Before we can make any real impact in others’ lives for God’s glory, we must make progress in our own personal lives. We need to pay attention and make every effort by trusting in His gracious promises to cultivate all the wonderful spiritual qualities and abilities that the Lord expects of us. In order to do that, we must trust in God’s gracious provisions that He has promised. We must not give in to lethargy, discouragement, disappointments or frustrations. Trusting in God’s wonderful promises, we must thrust forward to make spiritual progress in our own lives. Others may discourage us, circumstances may attempt to deter us, but we must give all diligence to progress in our quest for spiritual excellence. This is why God has graciously given us His “exceeding great and precious promises”.

Now, our faith in God’s promises must lead us to virtue. The word “virtue” refers to spiritual and moral excellence that would bring praise to our God. The more we strive to glorify God, the more we need to know His will to perform it. So, let us strive by faith unto virtue and knowledge.

READ:

Hebrews 13:5b

^5b For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

EXHORTATION:

Herein we have a reminder of God’s promise of His presence and tender care for all His people. The word “for” connects it to the earlier portion of this passage, which exhorts Christians to avoid a covetous life and to live in contentment. This divine promise is mentioned to encourage us to live contentedly with what we have in our peculiar circumstances. This promise of the Lord is intended to instil in us courage to live contentedly. These assuring words of the Lord are spoken to every child of God. The word “thee”, being singular, addresses every individual child of God. None of His children will be without God’s presence and provision.

This promise of God to every child of His is not just for certain occasions only, but it is for all times. The Lord said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” The word “never” tells us that no time is excluded. Even in hard times, He will remain with His child as his faithful God to help and guide him. This promise covers every circumstance and every moment in the life of a child of God. Be it in times of plenty or scarcity, the Lord shall be with His child. Dear child of God, are you going through times of great need or difficulty? Is your heart filled with anxiety? You should now say to your heart, “God, who has promised me that He will never leave me, is with me now. He will not abandon me in this hour of need. Oh, praise the Lord, who is my great companion and help!”

This promise also goes with His children wherever the Lord would lead them. To every one of them, wherever His providence would lead him, He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” When the Lord spoke to Joshua to strengthen him to lead the people of Israel into the land of the Canaanites to conquer it, He promised that His presence would be with him. The Lord promised Joshua, saying, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9). The Lord, who had been with all His servants wherever He sent them, will also be with each of us who trust Him and go where He leads.

When God is with us, we have all the good that we can ever have in our life. What comfort and confidence this promise brings to His children as they go through all sorts of difficulties, troubles, weaknesses, losses, desertions, strange places, and dangers!

READ:

Hebrews 13:5a

^5a Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have.

EXHORTATION:

Christians must be careful to avoid covetousness in life. It is a pernicious sin. The prophet Habakkuk said, “Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil” (Habakkuk 2:9)! In other words, one who lives covetously to secure a life of ease, which is seemingly free from troubles, will only invite greater troubles to his house.

In exposing its maliciousness, the Scriptures warn Christians against living with a covetous spirit. Consider some of the following Scriptural depictions of covetousness:

• Covetousness or “love of money” is “the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10a).
• Covetousness is an ensnaring sin. 1 Timothy 6:9a says, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare”.
• Covetousness leads to “many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:9b).
• Covetousness is an afflicting sin. Covetous people have “pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10c). No wonder the apostle James says, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you” (James 5:1)!
• Covetous people “have erred from the faith” (1 Timothy 6:10b).
• Covetousness deceives the hearer of God’s Word into pursuing wealth at the expense of God’s wisdom, which will thereby “choke the word, and he [the hearer] becometh unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22; cf. Ezekiel 33:31).
• Covetousness interferes with a life of contentment and godliness (1 Timothy 6:6-9).
• Covetousness holds down people from entering the kingdom of God. In Mark 10:23, Jesus said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:5).
• Covetousness brings God’s wrath upon people (Ephesians 5:6). Thus Proverbs 11:4 reminds us, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.”

Let us therefore be content with whatever the Lord has given us, and do not covet the luxuries and riches of this world.