Sunday January 31, 2021 PM

It's good to see everybody coming back for our music night. Thank you to Lisa and Brian for all the extra efforts that went in to organize this for.

Us.

Thank you very much. Well, let's get started with a word of prayer and then Jay will lead us in a hymn. Father, I thank you so much for bringing us together again tonight. We thank you for the gift of music.

We thank you for the joy that you give to us, that we get to express in singing and making melody in our hearts to you and joining our voices together and our talents together to show how glorious and praiseworthy you are.

We thank you that you have made us for a culture of praise and that we get to do that tonight. We pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Good evening.

If you would, turn to your hymnals and your hymnals to page 213. We'll sing Because He Lives and we're going to sing all three verses.

The Ark of God, Reverence, and the Danger of Presumption

Remain standing for scripture reading. Second Samuel chapter six is our scripture reading for tonight. So if you have your Bible, please turn there. Second Samuel chapter six, you're reading verses one through 23, which just happens to be the entire chapter.

So Second Samuel chapter six. David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, 30 ,000. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baal Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts, who sits enthroned on the cherubim.

And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of.

God.

And Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the Lord with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it for this oxen stumbled.

The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah and God struck him down there because of his error. And he died there beside the ark of God. And David was angry because the Lord had burst forth against Uzzah.

And that place is called Perez Uzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, How can the ark of the Lord come to me? So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David, but David took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom, the Gittite.

And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom, the Gittite, three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. And it was told King David, The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God.

So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal.

And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michael, the daughter of Saul, looked out the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it.

And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts and distributed among all the people the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat and a cake of raisins to each one.

Then all the people departed, each to his house. And David returned to bless his household. But Michael, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, How the king of Israel has honored himself today, uncovering himself before the eyes of his servants, his female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself.

And David said to Michael, It was before the Lord who chose me above your father and above all his house to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord. And I will make Mary before the Lord.

I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor. And Michael, the daughter of Saul, had no child to the day of her death.

This is the word of the Lord. Would you pray with me? Lord, may we learn from this passage of scripture tonight that there is a right way and a wrong way to worship you. Lord, may we not do worship according to what seems most convenient, but Lord, may we humble ourselves before you and worship you mightily with a whole heart because you are worthy.

Lord, as we gather tonight, as we sing and make melody in our hearts, may our worship rise before your throne as a sweet smelling savor before you tonight. Lord, may you be exalted not only in the words of our lips, but in the attitude of our hearts May you be glorified, may Christ be exalted, may your name be praised from the rising of the sun until its setting, from this time forth and forever, for you are worthy.

And we give you praise and honor and glory and blessing in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen. You may be seated.

The Bible, Memorization, and Enduring Trials

I'd like to share a couple of hymns, a second song.

We sang a hymn many years ago that goes along with our Sunday night study about the Bible, about the word of God. And this hymn's name is Heavenly Teaching. It was written by Ann Steele, and it's set to a familiar tune called Kingsville.

You'll pick it up pretty fast, but there's three verses. It's on the back of your order of service. So if you'll reference that if you need it. Mercy's endless glory, may the wretched son, a fair tree of knowledge, grows and yields a gracious.

Feast.

Some nature knows. Compel the great and peace to nicely. 70 pages.

In early 2020, the Lord led me to memorize this passage. And memorizing it is actually the easy part. Applying and obeying it is the harder part, as you will see. The passage is James 1, 1 through 12.

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

But let him ask in faith with no doubting. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. So let not that man think that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Let the lowly brother glory in his exultation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as the flower of the field, he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass, its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes.

So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1, 1 through 12.

We're going to take one or two hymn requests. If there's a hymn someone would like to sing tonight as a congregation, feel free to share that with us. Yes, sir, it is. That's on page 554. I'll fly away.

First one. Victory in Jesus, 473. If you didn't hear that, this is the song they played when Brother Norm was baptized and proclaiming Christ as his Savior. Victory in Jesus. I live with a motto that I try to live by.

I have a motto that I try to live by, that preachers should preach and singers should sing and never the twain should meet. But I want to tell you right quick. Sometime in the late 1900s, 1970, 1980, long in there, Joel Hemphill and Bill Gaither wrote similar songs.

They didn't do this together. But I ran across these in our catalog not long ago, and both of these men were seeing what we're seeing in spades today in our society, what the situation is. But they saw the same solution.

So I put these two songs together for Paula to sing, and I think you'll get the point.

I don't usually have trouble with microphones.

You said, I need one.

Good News in a Troubled World

I picked up the morning paper. It was filled with tragic things. I sat down to watch the news. There were more depressing scenes. Seems like all this world over, only trouble can be found. Only looking up to heaven keeps us all from looking down.

All around us, hearts are breaking. You can hear it in the songs. Someone went and left somebody. Someone did somebody wrong. There's a better way of living with a future bright ahead. Just listen to the gospel, and here's what it says.

Here's a little good news. God is still in control. Has the power still in business? Changing lives and saving souls. Here's a little good news. Let it ease your troubled mind. Jesus' church is getting ready, and it's almost leaving time.

I just feel like something good is about to happen. I just feel like something good is on the way. He's promised that he'll all... What?

Sing it.

I thought he was at another key. When God's people humble themselves and call on Jesus, and they look to heaven above for their... I feel like something good is about to happen. And brother, it could be that very day.

Yes, I've noticed all the bad news in the paper. And it seems like things get bleaker every day. But for this child of God, it makes no difference. For me, it's going to get better either way. Well, I have never been so thrilled about tomorrow.

Sunshine's always breaking through my skies of gray. And I just feel like something good is about to happen. And brother, this could be that very day. Well, isn't that good news? God is still in control.

Has the power still in business? Changing lives and saving souls. Isn't that good news? Let it ease your troubled mind. Jesus' church is getting ready. And it's almost leaving time. Jesus' church is getting ready.

And it's almost leaving time. This next song is something that I think people are beginning to fear a little bit. It's about death. It was written by a man who was about to die. He didn't have any fear.

But what I'm seeing in our life now is that people are thinking more about that. But most people don't know what to think about it. When I was a little girl, you weren't supposed to talk about death. Nobody answered your questions.

So one day I asked my mother, after our grandmother's funeral, I said, what is it like to die, Mama? Mama knew everything. She said it was just like stepping from one room into another. So I spent the next few days stepping from the living room to the kitchen.

From the kitchen into the living room, into the bedroom, you know. So I would know what it was like to die. But since then, death's never had any fear in my heart. It can't be there. J .K .S. wrote this song when he knew he was dying.

Death, Heaven, and Fearlessness in Christ

Because death ain't no big deal. Someday when I take my final breath. And the dark looks down at me and says, you're dead. The truth is gonna finally be revealed. Oh, I know I'm gonna find that death ain't no big deal.

Well, he'll reach down and gently close my eyes. And I'll be watching from the other side. I'll be laughing about how scared I thought I'd feel. Oh, I'm gonna find that death ain't no big deal. My soul is gonna be just like a bird set free.

I'll sail right past the moon up to the stars. And I know I'll be amazed when I get to heaven's gate. Cause I knew my way home by heart. A light will shine much brighter than the sun. And I'll be right back where I started from.

Ain't no way to say how good I'll feel. Oh, I tell you children, death ain't no big deal. Well, my soul is gonna be just like a bird set free. I'll sail right past the moon up to the stars. And I know I'll be amazed when I get to heaven's gate.

Cause I knew my way home by heart. A light will shine much brighter than the sun. And I'll be right back where I started from Ain't no way to say how good I'll feel. Oh, I tell you children, death ain't no big deal.

And at my maker's feet, I'm gonna yield. Oh, I thank you Lord, death ain't no big deal.

And I listened to it, and I said, that sounds more like a military band to me. And so I did an arrangement for Onward Christian Soldiers. So if you'll stand, let's sing all four verses. Hard rock style.

The cross of Jesus going on before He's against the foe Forward into battle See his banner The cross of Jesus going At the sign of triumph Satan's host of three Christian soldiers On to victory. At the shout of praise Christen this pure voice says The cross of Jesus.

The saints have choices In the triumph song This through countless ages. So sing.

Tag kids! If you'll come on up here, we're going to quote the Great Commission. Alright? Come on up here and y 'all can stand up here on the steps and then we'll go through the Great Commission together.

We're so glad to see Laurie and Jeff here tonight and just so grateful for them being back. And Laurie has been sick and absent from TAG, and so I've been pinch hitting. And so we've been learning the Great Commission, and that's been part of the schedule all along.

We've been learning about missionaries, and so here it goes. Matthew 28, 18 through 20. You guys ready? Yeah. Okay, we don't have the barnets here, but we'll split. Okay, you ready? The Great Commission.

Matthew 28, 18 through 20. Jesus said All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Amen.

Alright, thank you guys. Good job.

Glorifying the Lord Together

Psalm 34. Psalm 34 says, Glorify the Lord with me, let's exalt his name together. Often we have to purposefully, intentionally set our mind on things above, not on things of the earth. We've all gone through trials and sorrows in different ways and different kinds this past year.

One of the ways that we've been setting our mind on things above is, specifically, is through this song. It has just been radiating and it's helped us. So I pray that these words will just bring you comfort and peace and hope.

Should nothing of our efforts stand, no legacy survive. Let us raise the house in vain, its builders strive. To you who boast tomorrow's gain, tell me what is your lust that vanishes with the dawn. All glory be to Christ.

All glory be to Christ, our King. All glory be to Christ. His will be done, his kingdom come. On earth as it is above, is himself our daily bread. Praise him, the Lord of love. Satisfy the thirsty with thine kindness yet.

All glory be to Christ. All glory be to Christ, our King. All glory be to Christ. On the day that our sinner's slain is making all things new. Be holy, our steadfast love. All glory be to Christ, our King.

All glory be to Christ, our King.

And let's sing the doxology together as we dismiss. Praise God.