What characteristics about our Saviour bring you the most comfort? It varies depending on the season doesn’t it. Today we consider a few psalms that speak of the central character traits of our great God. Be blessed as you read and pray.
Psalms 98: Make a Joyful Noise to the LORD A Psalm.
1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvellous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Psalms 99: The LORD Our God Is Holy
1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!
4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them.
7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.
8 O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!
Psalms 100: His Steadfast Love Endures Forever A Psalm for giving thanks.
1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalms 101: I Will Walk with Integrity A Psalm of David.
1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.
2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;
3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.
5 Whoever slanders his neighbour secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.
6 I will look with favour on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.
7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.
8 Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.
Psalms 102: Do Not Hide Your Face from Me A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD.
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you!
2 Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!
3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.
6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
7 I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
11 My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.
13 You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favour her; the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
15 Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
16 For the LORD builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
17 he regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
19 that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
23 He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.
24 "O my God," I say, "take me not away in the midst of my days--- you whose years endure throughout all generations!"
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.
Things to think about…
1. Psalm 98 says sing a new song to the Lord. Often when this is done in a church setting it can be more difficult rather than joyful because of the effort required in learning new songs. But the purpose of singing a new song is that the Lord has revealed a new thing about Himself to you and you want to sing about it. In this case it is an aspect of His salvation, vs 2. May Christ reveal a new thing about His salvation to you today and as a result, put a new song in your heart. Remember Jesus at His triumphal entrance said if the people would not cry out, the very stones would do so, Lk 19:40. Here we read “let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together”, vs 8. Creation shouts out His praise, meditate on His greatest to the point where you can do the same.
2. Psalm 99 exalts the Lord’s holiness. How is this displayed? Through His awesome works and how He leads His people. He led the children of Israel by a pillar of cloud, but more than this, He forgave their sin and avenged them of their wrongdoings. God is holy and this holiness means that He will not tolerate sin and rebellion in His people. This should bring us to a place of profound worship and praise. What has He forgiven you for in this last week?
3. We are called to make a joyful noise to the Lord, Psalm 100. Why? Because His steadfast love endures forever. This stands in contrast to noises of complaint, or rebellion which cause division in the body or our families. Make a joyful noise because of His forgiveness and grace. Tell others about these qualities in the way you live before those who do not know Him.
4. I can hear David’s passion in Psalm 101. He sings of God’s steadfast love and justice. But he also says that he will destroy the slanderer and will not endure the arrogant or the proud. I think we are all with him on this. Let’s continue to kill those things that kill peace, unity and truth within the body. David was so motivated by this he wrote a song about his desire.
5. Ever felt like God is not answering your prayers? You cry out day and night and yet…nothing. But you still trust in the Lord. You value His word and you love His people. You love His body the church. This is how the writer of Psalm 102 felt. The Lord was not answering his prayers, yet he trusted in the Lord regardless of the outward circumstances. He still held onto the fact that the Lord loves His people, He loves Zion and He will do what is right even when it seems like He does not answer. Look at the promise, Ps 102:28. God’s name will be lifted up via our offspring. The Lord will raise up our children and a new generation to praise Him. Even when it seems our prayers remain unanswered.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “temple and the River of Life” – Reading Ezekiel 47:1-12.
1. Have you ever thought about the Millennium and the Millennial temple. Water is described here as flowing out of the temple and filling the Dead Sea and brimming with life. What do you make of the is picture? When and how will it happen?
2. The only way to experience Jesus as the River of Life and be sustained by the Tree of Life is to deal with sin. Discuss the different situation where the Tree and or the Water of life are seen in the scriptures, eg, Gen 3, Ezek 47, John 4, Rev 22.
3. In the John 7 Jesus is at the temple and shouts out “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" John 7:37, 38? What is the significance of the place where Jesus said this, as well as the feast that is before celebrated. What relevance has it for us?
4. Pray for each other and the outreach of the gospel.
Prayer Points
1. Carols service 18th December – Family fun Day afternoon/evening 3pm-7pm.
2. Christmas Day Service 25th Dec – on a Sunday this year – service will start at 9:00am.
3. Pray for the leadership of our country.
4. Pray for the people of Iran and Ukraine.
5. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor to start Jan 2023 and the finances to support them.
6. Health of Ross Goltz
7. More young families and youth into the church.
8. Ministry leaders within the church.
9. Our One for Israel ministry.
10. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
11. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. More visitors on Sunday – pray they remain engaged with the church.
2. Our AGM and discussion moving forward with respect to the Youth and young adults pastor position.
3. The faithful service of Ross Goltz for 9 years as CBC’s treasurer!
4. Worship on Sunday – thankyou and Ben. Dan and Melinda on Words and Hannah on sound. Thankyou. Bec, Fiona and Maddison in café. Thankyou for those who welcomed at the door.
5. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Family fun day/Carols night 3-7pm 18th Dec – Book it in.
2. Christmas Day service – 9am Dec 25th.
3. Remember to check your duty rosters.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
