Sunday Morning Podcast November 24, 2019. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: HEBREWS 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.
A Banquet of Bounty! The sacrifices of praise! How thankful we are, for all His blessings! The holiday we celebrate at this time, reminds us of what the Lord does for us, always. We have such profound reasons for thankfulness for all God has done for us. For this life, and the next. The spirit of the age, is in opposition to this bounty of thanks! But it is a thankfulness, joy, and praise that gives us our spiritual strength. “…….;for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 There is no strength found in the criticism of the world,.for the necessary godly judgments that serves as the needed recognition of where we are spiritually before God. The spirit of the world is in opposition to God and faith. God’s Spirit will give us understanding if we are in connection to God, or in separation from Him. Jesus’s empty tomb daily reminds us of not only the cross, but triumphantly of “A Banquet of Bounty!” For the story does not end at the cross, but of an empty tomb that daily reminds us of the resurrection, with the stone rolled away! But is it then easier to criticize the world, than to praise God? Isn’t it sad then, if we let our criticisms of the world overshadow the praise for the joy of the Lord, ….which is our strength?? A Banquet of Bounty….is where our strength is!
A Banquet of Bounty! “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 The ultimate meaning or purpose of this for our life, is so God would be glorified! Not in the brokenhearted initial requirement, but more that we have the joyful garment of praise for Him, as the antidote for heaviness! The garment of praise is set before us, as from this Banquet of Bounty! The sacrifices of praise brings us joy in thankfulness. God has given us this bounty! No matter what comes against us, we can be thankful! God tells us we can be joyful in praise! Are we careful in how we “put together” ourselves together spiritually, as we do in the physical sense? I.E. getting ourselves dressed for the physical daily routines? Different garments for different situations. Spiritual discernment, judgement, wisdom, of the mercy that God gives us, …with also the garment of praise! Or has the garment of praise collected dust, like perhaps some literal garment in your closet because of lack of wearing it? God wants us include to put on this One thing! The garment of praise! “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; ” James 1:2 Not easy, so God exhorts us to do it! God wants us to put on praise! We must make the decision to put on praise! It might not be easy everyday at work, etc. but at church it should be easy, and a necessity for us to then keep doing! “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10 Prove it! Show it! Try! See if you can prove God wrong! Prove that He does have blessings of joy, with the spirit of heaviness. God gives Joy! The Banquet of Bounty!
The Banquet of Bounty! The garment of praise always compliments the wearer, when the soul is right with God, …when the soul is submitted wholly! Words of anything less (i.e. lukewarmness; “So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelations 3:16 kjv), God will spew out your words of anything less. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30 How can we expect to reap a “Banquet of Bounty,” with anything less, than our best? How could we, without giving our everything? Somewhere in our life when after we are connected and committed, we will be clothed in the garment of praise! Then a miracle of joy while in the “night” of great loss! Even in the midst of our oppositions and enemies! “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Psalms 23:5 “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. Hebrews 13:15
The Banquet of Bounty!