Trinity Bible Church

Prayer

We praise you O LORD. Truly, all Your works are wonderful. Give us eyes and hearts to see and know Your works. Help us to see Your works every day. Help us to respond to You and Your works in the right way. We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1917. Music: “Lowden,” Carl H. Lowden, 1915. Lowden originally wrote the music—to different words—for a Children’s Day service. Two years later, he came across the music in his files, and asked Chisholm if he could write lyrics for it. The result has been translated into more than 15 languages.

LIVING FOR JESUS
Click here for tune.

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Refrain

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Refrain

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

The Psalms make up the church’s ancient hymnbook. In the Psalms we have a wide variety of subjects and approaches. Our hymnbooks, today, and the songs we sing should follow the patterns and principles seen in the Psalms. One of the great themes in the Psalms, and in this Psalm in particular, is the great works of God in history and for all His people. Accordingly, in a sufficient number of our songs we should be proclaiming the great works of God—we should be describing the works that God has done. A disparity that often arises in worship in song (public and private) is that we sing disproportionately more songs about what I do for God, and how I feel about God than we sing about God’s great works. Think about the last songs you have sung in worship (both public and private)—have you been including songs that describe the great works of God?

Dad’s Study

General observations:
Psalms 111-113 all begin with Hallelujah. Hallelujah means Praise God!

Psalms 111 and 112 form a kind of unit. In the Hebrew they are both acrostics—they each have 22 lines and the first letter in each line follows the Hebrew alphabet. Psalm 111 describes God and His works while Psalm 112 describes the man of God. It is interesting to note that the two Psalms share identical or similar phrases—we are to be like our Heavenly Father.

Today’s theme: The Works of God
In today’s devotion we will focus on the “works of God.” Go through the Psalm and note how many times the word “work” or “works” appears. [Dads have your family find these places]

“Work” or “works” appears in verses 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. “Redemption” in verse 9 is also a work of God. So we see that the Works of God is an important theme.

Two Kinds of works
When we consider the works of God, we can divide them into two categories: the general works of God and the redemptive works of God (there is, of course, overlap).

Under the general works of God we can consider God’s works of creation and His general works in history (providence). Discuss what some of these works are. [You could include God’s specific acts of creation in the 6 days of creation, and you can include what God does in history (providence)—causing the sun to shine, bringing rain, causing the planets to orbit around the sun, and so on.]

Under the redemptive works of God we include what God has done to redeem His people. Discuss some of God’s redemptive works. [These would include the deliverance of God's people from Egypt under Moses, making a covenant with them on Mt. Sinai, and the greatest redemptive act, bringing the Lord Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of His people.]

How should we respond to God in light of His works? Go through the Psalm and note the responses of the Psalmist and discuss how you can do the same.

Responses of the Psalmist include:
• Praise (v1)
• Giving thanks in the community of the people of God (v1)
• Studying the works of God (v2)
• Remembering his works (v4)
• Holy fear (v10)
• Doing what God wants us to do (v10)

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

If you have discussed the points for discussion above, you have already been putting the truth of this Psalm into practice.

We will close with a final application.

In the Thought Provoker you were asked to think about the last songs you have sung in worship (both public and private)—have you been including songs that describe the great works of God? If you have, Great! If not, start singing more songs that describe God’s great works! In addition to singing, meditate on and speak of the great works of God!

Pastor Stanisa Surbatovich

Catechism

Question 53

Q. Which is required in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment requires the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to every one in their various positions and relationships as superiors (Eph. 5:21, 22; 6:1, 5; Rom. 13:1), inferiors (Eph. 6:9), or equals (Rom. 12:10).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

“Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.” Psalm 79:9.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1917. Music: “Lowden,” Carl H. Lowden, 1915. Lowden originally wrote the music—to different words—for a Children’s Day service. Two years later, he came across the music in his files, and asked Chisholm if he could write lyrics for it. The result has been translated into more than 15 languages.

LIVING FOR JESUS
Click here for tune.

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Refrain

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Refrain

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

There are many who have struggles in the Christian life because they have unrealistic expectations. There are those who think the Christian life is without trial or hardship, and then when it arises it causes them to doubt and shakes their faith. There are those who think the evidence of true salvation is sinlessness, then when that remnant of indwelling sin in the flesh rises up against them they lose all assurance of salvation. It is important that our expectations in the Christian life be based on the Word of God, otherwise we may deceive ourselves and cause ourselves to stumble. We see today in the life of Naaman how unrealistic expectations almost cause him to stumble and fall.

Dad’s Study

Naaman, the valiant warrior who has brought victory to the king of Aram listens to the counsel of a little girl. This is a special little girl and a good example to us. She is a slave, a captive child taken from Israel, yet she seeks the well being of her master as a servant should. Her service is honoring to God. It is important to note that Naaman and the king both heeded her counsel. They both believed her words and took action on them. What a sharp contrast is the king of Israel who despaired at Ben-hadad’s letter and did not know what to do. He was right in that man can not cure leprosy, but he had no faith in God nor did he believe in the prophet of God. Elisha sends a mild rebuke for his unbelief and instructs him to send Naaman to him.

One cannot help but draw a parallel between Naaman who is afflicted with the disease of leprosy and mankind afflicted with the disease of sin. In Elishaís cure we see the simplicity of the Gospel. Elisha tells him to go and dip himself in the Jordan. Like many who seek God in the flesh he has expectations of some performance of a sign in his presence and he shuns the simplicity of the cure. He receives wise counsel from his servants who reason with him that had Elisha presented him with some grand quest to perform he would have done so; how much more should he not try the simple. For the second time Naaman proves himself to be a wise man who heeds wise counsel. He submits himself to the Word of God, and in obedient faith he is made clean.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Be like Naaman and listen to wise counsel that is brought to you from God’s Word. The slave girl, the prophet and the servants all gave Naaman counsel and instruction that was in accord with the Word of God. In simple faith he trusted and obeyed, was cleansed and believed in God (verse 15). Likewise, you too should listen to the counsel and instruction from those who know the Lord and speak the truth of His Word to you. In simple faith, trust God’s Word, obey God’s Word, repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be cleansed from your sin.

Catechism

Question 53

Q. Which is required in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment requires the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to every one in their various positions and relationships as superiors (Eph. 5:21, 22; 6:1, 5; Rom. 13:1), inferiors (Eph. 6:9), or equals (Rom. 12:10).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation (Psalm 68:4-5). Amen!

Today’s Hymn

Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1917. Music: “Lowden,” Carl H. Lowden, 1915. Lowden originally wrote the music—to different words—for a Children’s Day service. Two years later, he came across the music in his files, and asked Chisholm if he could write lyrics for it. The result has been translated into more than 15 languages.

LIVING FOR JESUS
Click here for tune.

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Refrain

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Refrain

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

There are many unscrupulous people who are quick to take advantage of helpless orphans and widows. From its inception our nation has taken on its God-given role of protecting the helpless. President Abraham Lincoln expressed it well in his Second Inaugural Address,

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan…”.

As we will see in today’s chapter this charity has its roots in almighty God.

Dad’s Study

This chapter introduces a tragic story of an unnamed widow who was left in debt with two boys. Verse 1 gives a short legacy of her husband. He was a Godly man that feared the Lord. Apparently he was a prophet who served with Elijah. He was also a man that died in debt leaving his family in absolute poverty. We don’t know the reason for the debt but we do know a little about the heart of his creditor. Unable to collect the deceased father’s debt he was coming to take his sons as slaves (v. 1).

When the prophet Elijah arrived she had nothing in her cupboards except a pot of olive oil. The prophet told her to go to her neighbors and borrow as many empty containers as were available. If that didnít sound strange enough he further told her to return and start pouring her oil into the empty pots. What might sound foolish to us was a glorious opportunity to this poor widow. Read carefully verse 5. What does it tell you about this mother’s faith? From His gracious and merciful hand God miraculously poured out much blessing as this widow filled jar after jar with oil until there were no more jars. The Bible does not say how much oil God made but we do know it was just enough to sell the oil and pay her debt.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

Here are a few practical and encouraging truths we can learn from this familiar encounter:

1. Observe the folly of excessive indebtedness.
Indebtedness makes you a slave to your creditor. God saved me while attending law school. Upon graduation I wanted to vocationally serve the Lord. There was one major hurdle. My education indebtedness was so great I had to serve my debt before I could serve my Lord. Excessive indebtedness presumes on tomorrow. This prophet didn’t know he would die and strap his poor family with his debts. The average credit card debt in America is $8,650. When you add to this a car payment and other debts, many professing Christians are not free to pick up their cross and follow Christ. Remember when you buy before you can afford, the Master Card receives the glory. When you wait for God to meet your need the Master is glorified.

2. Observe God’s faithful care of this widow.
God is merciful in caring for the widows and orphans (Ex. 22:22; Deut. 10:18; 24:29). One of the central ministries of the New Testament was to care for the widows (Acts 6:1). James describes pure religion as visiting the orphans and widows (James 1:27). Are there single widows and single moms in your church? Are you aware of any unique needs they might have? Are you willing to go to them like Elijah with a heart of loving care willing to meet their needs?

3. Observe the widows faith.
God promises to meet the needs of those who seek first His kingdom and righteousness. This widow knew her God. She knew He was faithful and powerful. She knew that little in the hands of God was sufficient for her needs. This widow trusted God in the face of her neighbors ridicule and questioning. She didn’t hesitate to do that which God directed her. Here is an example to us all to go to the Word. Discover God’s directions for you and faithfully caring them out. Do not fear man fear God! This is the pathway to blessing.

Catechism

Question 53

Q. Which is required in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment requires the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to every one in their various positions and relationships as superiors (Eph. 5:21, 22; 6:1, 5; Rom. 13:1), inferiors (Eph. 6:9), or equals (Rom. 12:10).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” (Psalm 73:26-28)

[Dads, it may be appropriate to change the word "whoring" in verse 27 to "unfaithful," or at least give a good explanation of it as breaking the covenant.]

Today’s Hymn

Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1917. Music: “Lowden,” Carl H. Lowden, 1915. Lowden originally wrote the music—to different words—for a Children’s Day service. Two years later, he came across the music in his files, and asked Chisholm if he could write lyrics for it. The result has been translated into more than 15 languages.

LIVING FOR JESUS
Click here for tune.

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Refrain

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Refrain

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

What is the duty which God requires of man?

The duty which God requires of man is obedience to His revealed will.

At the age of 36, I have begun to learn the Shorter Catechism (actually, A Modern Revision for Baptists Today). And though I should be working on the first five questions, I have peeked ahead. Referring to the chapter for today, namely verses 1-3, does God really care that we worship him as revealed in the Bible?

Dad’s Study

In verses 2 and 3 we find that King Jehoram was an evil king in the sight of God. This was in spite of the fact that he put away the idols that his father and mother (Ahab and Jezebel) and brother (Ahaziah) had worshiped. But, if Jehoram put away the idols and worshiped Jehovah, why was he still deemed evil?

The answer is found in verse 3 and I Kings 12:28-31. Jehoram “cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam”, the first king of the separate kingdom of Israel. And what was this sin? In I Kings 12:28-31 these sins are listed as: casting images of the true God (a clear violation of the 2nd Commandment, Exodus 20:4); establishing alternate centers of worship to Jerusalem; and consecrating non-Levites as priests and temple workers. In spite of worshiping God by the proper name, Jehoram still did not worship God as he prescribed, where he prescribed, with a full heart for God.

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

God is very interested in how He is worshiped. After all, we constantly read of how God desires us to worship Him and how the worship of God should be our greatest desire. First and foremost we must worship “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21). Next, we must worship God in the manner He describes. The great confessions of faith define the elements as: not tied to a specific place (John 4:21), prayer (Psalm 95:1-7); reading of scriptures (Acts 15:21); preaching and hearing the word of God (2 Tim. 4:2); singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19); and administration of the ordinances (or sacraments) of baptism and The Lord’s Supper (Matt. 28:19-20 and 1Cor. 11:26).

Though our whole lives should be worship of God (I Cor. 10:31), we must be very careful about calling anything else “worshipping God” when we draw together for collective worship of God as a church or family.

Greg Bailey – Greenville, SC

Catechism

Question 53

Q. Which is required in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment requires the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to every one in their various positions and relationships as superiors (Eph. 5:21, 22; 6:1, 5; Rom. 13:1), inferiors (Eph. 6:9), or equals (Rom. 12:10).

Popularity: 1% [?]

Prayer

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength (Psalm 96:5-7). Creator of heaven and earth, may the idols of this world be crushed under the power of Thy Word. May your true Gospel echo throughout the lands bringing forgiveness and eternal life to many that are groping after Thee in darkness.

Today’s Hymn

Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1917. Music: “Lowden,” Carl H. Lowden, 1915. Lowden originally wrote the music—to different words—for a Children’s Day service. Two years later, he came across the music in his files, and asked Chisholm if he could write lyrics for it. The result has been translated into more than 15 languages.

LIVING FOR JESUS
Click here for tune.

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Refrain

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Refrain

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

Refrain

Thought Provoker

I am writing today from Powell, Wyoming, a remote part of the United States. In fact, in our local drug store there are T-shirts for sale that read, End of the world – 10 miles, Powell, Wyoming – 13 miles. We do have a McDonald’s and a couple of stoplights in the midst of a lot of mountains and wildlife. The entire population of Wyoming is only 450,000 people! There are many families in our community that have never been to a large city. When families in our church return from their trips to the big city, the reaction is always the same, first shock, followed by, I’m glad I don’t live there! Last October I boarded a plane in Cody, Wyoming, and got off another in Chicago. I was immediately confronted by a vast city, teeming with life. The mountains were not capped with snow, rather nameplates like The Sears Tower. Prairies of cement were everywhere. I could not help but ingest the dirty air, gross billboards, religious idolatry, and cars, cars, and more cars. Perhaps in a small way this was what it was like when the Apostle Paul entered the city of Athens in the 17th chapter of Acts.

Athens was a great city in Paul’s day. He made a brief stop in this city on his way to Corinth. As he entered the city he saw great pagan temples of the Acropolis crowned by the Parthenon (click for picture) as well as theaters, marketplaces, and more temples.

Discuss:
• What did Paul observe in this city (verses 16-18)?

• What was his heartfelt response to what he saw (verses 16-18)?

The idolatry and darkness of this vast city provoked Paul to open his mouth and preach. He could not remain a mere tourist. He went to the synagogues, the market places, and wherever there were people, and preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of the philosophers heard him and took him to Areopagus (Mars Hill) for some of the intellectuals to hear about his teaching. This was a court of judges who had the final authority over the affairs of Athens. What would he tell them?

Dad’s Study

May we see from Paul’s message on Mars Hill a wonderful example of how to preach the Gospel of our Lord.

• Introduction.
He took a familiar reference point and used it as an introduction to preach the Gospel (verses 22-23). He did not come into Athens denouncing and attacking, rather he came to proclaim to them the unknown God. Our Lord used the same introduction when He met the woman at the well and asked her to give him a drink of water, knowing that He was about to declare to her the living water that springs forth into everlasting life. It is Biblical to find a familiar reference point from which to draw the listeners’ attention to the Gospel.

• Identifies the Creator.
Because these Athenians were worshipping false gods, Paul identifies the greatness of the true God as the Creator, and the Giver of life (verses 24-25). Today, people are just as idolatrous as they were during Paul’s day. Before you proclaim Christ, you need to identify who God is. What is the image that most unbelievers have of God? Failure to identify God is to call people to be reconciled with the God of their own imaginations. God is the Creator! Therefore, we are morally responsible to Him!

• Identifies the Ruler.
Paul declared God to be the sovereign God who rules over all of His creation. He carves out the nations. He takes down the nations. He raises up the rulers. He brings their kingdoms down. He determines where people live and how long they live there (verses 26-27). It is important for the lost to know that God is Lord. He rules all things according to His perfect plan and power.

• Inability of Man.
Due to the spiritual blindness caused by sin, the history of mankind has been one of groping its way in darkness, trying to find God (verses 27-28). Although He is near, they could not feel their way to God (Eph. 5:8; 1 Pet. 2:9; 2 Cor. 4:6). This is why mankind needs God’s grace. This demonstrates the importance of the new birth. God can bring sight to blind eyes and spiritual life to dead bodies!

• Ignorance Not an Excuse.
In time past God, in His providence and long-suffering, did not come down and bring judgment immediately on the nations, however, He let them walk in their sinful ignorance of Him. But now, God commands men everywhere to repent (verse 30). What a different message than the one commonly preached today. People are told to ask Jesus into their hearts or believe in Jesus. The message of repentance has been lost. It is important that you preach that people not only believe in Christ, but by His grace, sorrow over their disobedience and turn from their wicked ways (Luke 13:3).

• Inescapable Judgment.
There are consequences for rejecting the Gospel of grace. A day has already been fixed by God in which God will judge the whole world (verse 31). That Judge will be the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who was raised from the dead (John 5:27; Matt. 26:25). Paul never held back the full Gospel. He preached the grace of God and the wrath of God. He preached heaven and He preached hell! It is important to warn all unbelieving sinners of the impeding wrath that is coming!

• Irrefutable Fact of the Resurrection.
Whenever Paul preached the Gospel he preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. This is the fact on which Christianity rests. This is the guarantee of the validity that all that has been preached is true!

• Indifference and Belief.
What was the response to such preaching? Some mocked, some delayed, and some believed like Dionysius the Areopagite (verses 32-34).

Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

Truth in Practice

We have witnessed God planting a church in Athens, although we never hear anything about it again. However, we see a powerful God shaking lose His elect from the chains of darkness. Have each within your family received this Gospel? May God give you the same urgent desire to proclaim the Gospel of grace as you see the lost all around you. May you be faithful to declare the same Gospel preached by Paul unto the glory of God.

Catechism

Question 53

Q. Which is required in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment requires the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to every one in their various positions and relationships as superiors (Eph. 5:21, 22; 6:1, 5; Rom. 13:1), inferiors (Eph. 6:9), or equals (Rom. 12:10).

Popularity: 1% [?]