The LORD's Day August 26, 2007

Oh That Men Would Praise the LORD

Psalm 135.1-3

Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men Psalm 107.8 KJV

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to His name, for that is pleasant.


The LORD deserves all the praise, honor and glory. It is sad that He is not given it by man. In Psalm 107 a cry goes up from the Psalmist that men would praise the LORD. He is speaking to men. Man has received many many blessings from the LORD. So few acknowledge where they come from. So few realize that it is from God that all blessings flow and that He is to be praised.

What is even more tragic is that the church is often guilty of this- not praising the LORD. I hear pastors praised and am told about churches that are spectacular. I hear about music programs or other ministries. I am with the Psalmist, “Oh that men would praise the LORD ” When God is genuinely praised I am thrilled. When the attention goes to Him my heart is stirred. My spirit is troubled when anyone else gets what belongs to the LORD alone- praise and glory.

Now I am not advocating a pumped up type of thing-with more noise and not much heart- God knows we have enough of that

The call here is for genuine praise to come from the people God has created. He has been good to us. There is much to praise Him for. So why this lack?

First, we are often distracted. Our lives are so busy that we seldom give God the praise He deserves. We forget. We enjoy the blessings but forget where they came from. We mean to but we never get to. It has not become a priority or a lifestyle.

The Psalmist here is talking about a way of life for God’s people.

He tells us to praise the LORD. Then he tells us something very interesting.

He says it is pleasant. It is there same Hebrew word used in Psalm 133 where we are told it is good and pleasant for brothers to dwell in unity. Two weeks ago we looked a that Psalm and if you remember we spoke of the rich meaning of that word.

Pleasant = delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable, lovely, beautiful (physical), singing, sweetly sounding, musical


1. It is Delightful Thing to the LORD when We Praise Him.

We bring delight to the heart of God when we praise Him the way we ought to. We are giving back blessings. We are offering the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips.

We talk about so many things...

You and me we use so very many clumsy words.
The noise of what we often say is not worth being heard.
When the Father’s Wisdom wanted to communicate His love,
He spoke it in one final perfect Word.

He spoke the Incarnation and then so was born the Son.
His final word was Jesus, He needed no other one.
Spoke flesh and blood so He could bleed and make a way Divine.
And so was born the baby who would die to make it mine. -Michael Card

The LORD God Almighty is the One Who deserves our praise
Let your soul boast in Him

I believe that too often we are looking for the delight in worship for ourselves. It is a delightful thing for us to sit in God’s Presence and give Him praise. But the focus of our worship ought to be the LORD. It is for His glory. We come to praise Him. We come to bring Him delight.

That begins with lives lived for His Glory, lips used to thank Him and build each other up, offering ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice. (Romans 12.1-3) This is our spiritual worship. We should seek to bring Him delight from our lives, the way we live as well as the words of our mouth and even the meditations of our heart. (Psalm 19.14)

The LORD doesn’t need our praise but He desires it. It is a delight to Him.


2. It is Lovely Thing to Praise Him.

I still get choked up at weddings. When our national anthem or another anthem about America plays it touches me deeply. When I think of loveliness of things- the innocency of a child among them my heart is touched.

But my heart is deeply moved whenever I think of Jesus. He died for me and for the whole world. Thoughts about my LORD are lovely.

We join with all nature... mortals join the mighty chorus... When we praise the LORD it is a lovely thing. I was visiting a church one time with a friend who is a pastor. We were worshiping the LORD and there was a young lady across from us in her teens. He pointed her out to me. She quietly had her hands raised to heaven and the expression on her face was one of love for her LORD. It was a lovely thing to behold.
It is a lovely thing when the creature returns praise to its Maker. The birds are beating us out on this frequently but we ought to be leading the way


3. It is a beautiful thing to praise the LORD.

Psalm 27.4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in his temple. The LORD is beautiful. When His people recognize that there is a connection like nothing else on earth.

We know the LORD looks down from heaven to the earth. We are told about this in Genesis 5.-8. We know from this passage that God was grieved in His Heart. We know from the Psalms that is a good thing to praise the LORD and how beautiful it must be as He sees all the wars and sin taking place He can see hands lifted up to heaven praising Him

The LORD can be praised through the gifts He has given to us. It is a beautiful thing when talents He has given are used for His kingdom and His glory. Whether art or music, cooking or helps. When God’s people give back to Him it is a form of worship and honor to their Creator.

David sang Psalms to the LORD. Obviously the LORD had blessed him with the gift of poetry and he chose to use it and when He did the LORD used a little shepherd boy to write Psalms that would bless God’s people for 3,000 years. He continues to use what He breathed through David. David was always careful to give the glory to God. He took great care and concern for the name of the LORD. We see it when Saul, who for a time was David’s enemy, was killed. David did not rejoice. Rather he led the people of Israel in a lament. That lament contained instructions concerning the cities of the Philistines and the news of Saul death reaching there. He called Saul’s Israel’s glory and he didn’t want the enemies of God rejoicing over his death. David was more concerned about God’s glory than his own comfort (II Samuel 2.17-20)


4. It is sweet sounding music.

It is interesting that the LORD chose music as a vehicle to communicate with Him. We are called upon to sing to Him. When we are moved by His Spirit spontaneous praise erupts from within our souls. Then sings my soul Inside this word pleasant is the idea of sweet sounding music. These are love songs to Jesus.

There are many ways to praise the LORD as we said, but there is nothing quite like singing to Him with sweet sounding music. Perhaps here among us today there are some the LORD wants to use to write music to Him. He continues today to give music to the church to sing back to Him in praise and worship.

We are to sing together and we are to sing in our hearts. (Colossians 3.16)
We have been in the Psalms for a year now, taking our time going through them. We’ll finish in a few weeks. The last Psalm speaks about giving God praise through music. Psalm 150 caps off this worship and praise section of God’s Word with calling on us to praise God with instruments. It calls us to let everything that has breath praise the LORD

Again I think we will be overwhelmed to say the least when we get to heaven and participate in the worship there. We read Revelation 4 a few weeks ago but let me read it to you again along with chapter 5. What an awesome scene We will join in it one day soon.

Right now here on the earth our worship to the LORD as feeble as it is is sweet sounding music to our King and God He loves to hear us call upon His Name

As we think of worship in those terms we move from it being a chore to it being something we desire to do for the LORD because He is good and because of how good He is has been to us and all the wonderful things He has done for us.

Think about it. Hasn’t He done marvelous things for you? He has surpassed our wildest dreams in many ways. This morning you are with God’s people in the house of God Jesus does extraordinary things for us

There are things the LORD has done that are simply beyond our power to do, be difficult to do. Think of the miracles He has brought in your life Eloise’s words about being alive. Hallelujah What a Savior

Delightful, Lovely Beautiful and sweet sounding are the things our worship of the LORD is to Him. Let’s praise throughout eternity !
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The LORD’s Day
August 26, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Oh That Men Would Praise the LORD Psalm135.1-3

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
Prayer in the Parsonage Backyard-6pm


This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 141-143

Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study -7:30pm at the parsonage
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am in the church basement
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children) The LORD’s Supper
Spanish Service- 4pm


In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be there until October. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter undergoing treatment for leukemia. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Thanks Godfor answers to prayer for her. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab and hopefully coming home soon. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, facing surgery on her back. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisitohas a severe infection and is in grave condition. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s (who is recovering from a heart attack) daughter, Kelly, finished chemotherapy this past week and will have an MRI in a few days. Please remember this whole family in prayer.. Jeannie Rocarro recovering from surgery. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s family who has been through so much grief this summer... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems, now in rehab. Lucy Mancini under Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. MRI results came back showing minimal damage. Mary Butler, Pastor’s family’s former neighbor from Bellmore and dear family friend, recovering from surgery removing a tumor in the colon as well as removal of gall bladder and appendix. Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire. He has burns over 20% of his body and is Nassau County Medical Center. He had surgery this past week. Judy Mucci is in the hospital. The cancer has spread to her spinal fluid. She has been placed in Hospice and has been given two to six months to live. Please remember her and Dr. And Mrs. Mucci this week in your prayers.

The LORD's Day August 19, 2007

The Lord Does Whatever Pleases Him

Psalm 135.1-7

Ever have the feeling of wondering why God did something? Here’s one I have heard- if He knew man was going to sin, why did He create us- look at all the pain and suffering it has produced Thoughts like that are not wise to think. We are trying to put ourselves on the level of God’s thinking. That is utterly impossible.

This verse is sometimes difficult to accept: The LORD does whatever pleases Him.
to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, to move, to bend down

does- accomplishes


We don’t have difficulty accepting it when we prayed and what we hoped for in the answer turns out to be yes. God answers prayer. But what we pray for doesn’t always happen. Sometimes the answer is “no.” Some times it is, “wait.” The LORD does whatever pleases Him.

How do we react when He doesn’t answer the way we thought He would? How do accept it? We can whine and cry and fuss. We did that at times when we were little children and immature believers and felt we had to have our own way. We forgot or were in the process of learning that The LORD does whatever pleases Him.

God has given us brains to think with. He wants us to work through these things both in our hearts and in our minds. He created us with intelligence and working through all of this is part of our spiritual growth.

What should we do when we encounter spiritual disappointment? When we prayed for something to happen and it didn’t? When things happen we don’t understand...

We must...

1. Consider the Character of God

The LORD does whatever pleases Him. Think about Who He is- The LORD.

The Existing One - Who was and is and is to come.

the LORD is good- vs. 3 The Psalms are among other things personal experiences of the Psalmists...
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9.9

For the LORD is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face. 11.7


The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 18.2

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Psalm 23.1

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 27.1

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. Psalm 28.7

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34.8

The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. 116.5

The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; Psalm 121.5

The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all He has made. 145.13

The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth 145.18

The LORD is not sitting on His throne waiting to turn down your prayer requests. Some may look at Him that way but that is because they don’t know Him very well.
God’s character is compassion and mercy, pity and concern.

In fact He is so good He will not do something that is out of His Will- whatever pleases Him. We think of someone who does whatever he pleases as being spoiled and self consumed. What pleases the LORD is holy, goodness purity. All of His purposes line up with righteousness because they are righteous.

He cares about us so much that He will not give us an answer prayer that would hurt us or end up not being as good as we thought it would be. How often we pray and we only have partial knowledge of the thing we are praying for. The LORD knows everything and He sees everything and He knows the future.

The bottom line is that God will do what He wants and it up to us to submit to it. Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer (Isaiah 53.10... KJV Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief) This is the same word used in this verse in Psalm 135. We all have out Gethsemanes (place of crushing), times of severe pressure, times of going through suffering. We want to avoid pain but many times it is the LORD’s will to bring us through it not around it.

In all these things God is working them together for our good because He is good. He loves us. God is love. Consider the character of God.


2. Remember the Ways Of God

Beyond our finding out


I hate it when these verses are disregarded:
Isaiah 55.8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. I don’t like it when people think they know what is going on in another person’s life and they claim to know what God is thinking. I have learned to steer clear of people like that. I don’t like what it does to the flock or individual sheep. Spiritual busybodies are arrogant. They upset the flock of God. Paul tells the church at Thessalonica and Timothy that he needed to lead the people of his day away from that activity. (II Thessalonians 3.11, I Timothy 5.13)

It is so important for us to hear and hide these verses about God doing whatever He pleases in our hearts. There are times when we simply need to trust the LORD. His ways are beyond our finding out (Romans 11.33). They are unsearchable and they are cannot be comprehended or His paths traced out. We guess at the whys which is not wise. The LORD is working all things together for your good. He is going to bring you into His goodness and display His glory.

3. Think about the love of the LORD

No matter what happens conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel and remember that God loves you.

When I graduated from High School I decided to work a year before going to college. My mother came to me about a month before with a decision my dad and she had made. She said, “I want you to give me ten dollars a week for living here.” I protested. This was my house I lived with my parents for almost 18 years now I am going to have to pay? I submitted and I am so glad I did. They were teaching me responsibility. It hurt at first. I know they loved me too much to let me be irresponsible. They were acting sovereignly.

God moves along His plan in our lives. Sometimes we feel bad. We must be careful. Oswald Chambers wrote that self pity is a sin. When we feel bad for ourselves we can move in our thoughts to: “God is dealing too harshly with me and making my life too difficult. When we find sympathizers we are off the good path. They are abundant when I bellyache. God help us here. We are soldiers of the cross not members of the country club Jesus suffered and so will we If we do not go through discipline at times I doubt whether you are a true child of God. All true children are disciplined. You know when you are in a store and a child is acting up you think, “If that were my kid...” But the truth he isn’t and there is little you can do about it. If you tried to discipline him you would end up in trouble- big trouble. When you are disciplined God is treating you as true children and that is what you are
4. Trust in the promises of God

He is faithful to all of them The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. 145.13

The promises Jesus made of the kingdom of God coming to the twelve appeared they weren’t going to be fulfilled when He died but they were because He rose again

We spend a great deal of mental energy trying to figure out how God will fulfill His promises. We even spend a great deal of energy on the when’s- it happened the first time and it is happening again I Peter 1.10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. The prophets received the Word of God concerning the coming of Jesus the first time. They wanted to know when. Jesus promised He would come again. People are still trying and figure out when.

As with this promise, as with all His promises when we have to wait we must trust. What He said He will do He is faithful to all his promises... wait

God is sovereign in doing what pleases Him as well as when it pleases Him. His Spirit moves as He wills. How much better our lives would be if we lived that way and according to the truths we are sharing this morning. So much frustration takes place today because we think we know best or we wonder why God has not done something when we have been praying and calling on His name. It is because He does whatever pleases him when He is ready.

5. Rest in the Arms of God

Sometimes you can see clearly. Sometimes our vision is clouded. We can not see things clearly. He will carry us in those times. I like that verse to that song, “He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on...” Rest His Arms.

When you can’t see your hand in front of your face. Sometimes our visibility is zero.
We cannot see anything up ahead. Grief and depression are like that. Depression often brings about thoughts of doom and gloom and feelings like everything is going down the drain. Sometimes a person reaches that point after they have tried everything and it has not turned out the way they wanted... Elijah.

When you can’t trace His Hand you can always trust His heart (Spurgeon)

The LORD does whatever pleases Him.
__________________

The LORD’s Day
August 19, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
The LORD Does Whatever Pleases Him Psalm 135.1-7

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.


This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 138-140

Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study -7:30pm at the parsonage
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am in the church basement
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm
Prayer in the Parsonage Backyard-6pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People

Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be there until October. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). He is due home at Thanksgiving. Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter undergoing treatment for leukemia. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, undergoing treatment for pain management on her back. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito undergoing chemotherapy and has a severe infection. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s (who is recovering from a heart attack) daughter, Kelly, finished chemotherapy this week. Please remember this whole family in prayer.. Jeannie Rocarro recovering from surgery. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s family who has been through so much grief this summer... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems, now in rehab. Lucy Mancini under Neurologist’s and Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. MRI results will be made known this week. Mary Butler, Pastor’s family’s former neighbor from Bellmore and dear family friend, recovering from surgery removing a tumor in the colon as well as removal of gall bladder and appendix. Stephen Huges, brother of a Good Shepherd Nursery School Mom, their parents home in Hewlett was destroyed in a fire. He has burns over 20% of his body and is Nassau County Medical Center.

If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.

Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
The LORD Does Whatever Pleases Him

Psalm 135.1-7

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 111706-5436
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God.
_______________________________________________

Additional Reflections on the Message:
The Manifold Grace of God - Living Water pg.76

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. - Romans 8:26

I have discovered through the years that many of my prayers were completely out of the will of God. There were things I was almost insisting that God do, but in His love and goodness to me, He didn't do them. Today I am as thankful for the prayers that God did not answer as I am for the prayers that God did answer.

- Chuck Smith

The LORD's Day August 12, 2007

The Goodness and Pleasantness of Love Among God’s People

Psalm 133

I love the way the Psalmists (particularly in the Psalms of Ascents) tie in the topography of Israel with spiritual truths. Last week “as the mountains surround Jerusalem”. This morning: “as if the dew of Mount Hermon were falling on Mount Zion”.

He is speaking of the wonder of the love of Jesus between His followers. (John 13)

Good= agreeable (to the senses ex/ Taste and see that the LORD is good), pleasant (to the higher nature), valuable, right (ethical), appropriate, beneficial

Pleasant= delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable, beautiful (physical), singing, sweetly sounding, musical

Now the two mountains the Psalmist speaks about here are very different.

Mount Hermon- towers above everything in northern Israel, and above the whole country for that matter at 9,230 feet. So if you head up from the Dead Sea (the lowest point on the surface of the earth where it is 80+ degrees you can, in a few hours be in a blinding snow storm on top of the roof top of Israel.

There is lush green vegetation from the sparkling waterfalls flowing into inviting pools at its base. There is some kind of snow at the peak almost all year round.

Mount Zion- is located in Jerusalem’s southwest corner. Its name means “fortress mount”. Jerusalem is mostly dry and built of limestone. Pools are in the city but they are from underground springs. There is no body of water in the vicinity.

Yet they share some common things: Mt. Hermon is where Jesus was transfigured. Mount Zion is looked at as representing Israel’s hopes in her Messiah.

The weather conditions of Mt Hermon on Mount Zion bring thoughts of a number of things as they illustrate the goodness and pleasantness of brothers dwelling together in unity.

1. It is Good and Pleasant because that is what it is in its essence.

The dew of Mount Hermon falling on Mount Zion What a site that would be When God’s people love one another it is site to behold Art Alexander upstate NY Billy Lawton with Vivian Carpenter: “That’s beautiful!”


Good= agreeable (to the senses), pleasant (to the higher nature), valuable, right (ethical), appropriate, beneficial

Pleasant= delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable, beautiful (physical), singing, sweetly sounding, musical

It is an intrinsic good. It is just simply good and pleasant when Gods people love
one another. It is not a matter of “what is this good for?...” It is good.

We don’t have to look further than this but we will in moment. But let’s dwell here for a few seconds.

Some things are valuable based on time and conditions. Barry Bond’s baseball cards will go up in value as time goes on. The ball he hit this week breaking Hank Aaron’s record is already valued at about ½ million dollars. It went from about 7 dollars to $500,000 with a swing of the bat. Hank Aaron’s cards are not what they were once were. The fact that Barry Bonds surpassed Aaron this week as all time home run king makes this so. But the pleasantness goodness of brothers dwelling together in unity have no bearing on circumstances. It is a good thing whatever the circumstances are. Those are the things of eternal value. The books that stand the test of time are the greatest books. LORD of the Rings, The Pilgrim’s Progress, My Utmost for His Highest and so on are the books worth reading over and over again. The popular books of the day are wood, hay and stubble for the most part. The ones that stand the test of time have great value.

The dwelling of brothers in unity have great value. It is touching on an eternal quality of the LORD.

2. It is Good and Pleasant to the LORD.

When brother dwell together in unity, when God’s people love each other, it pleases Him. In Zephaniah 3.17 The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing. There is rejoicing in the heart of God when His people are one in mind and spirit. This is Jesus’s prayer, (John 17.20-23) I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in you. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. 22I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one: 23I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.

It pleases the LORD when there is harmony and peace between His people. When the Family of God is at peace with each other there the desire of Christ for His Church is coming about.


3. It is Good and Pleasant because much of Satan’s work is short circuited when it happens. II Corinthians 2.11

There are a number of things the enemy seeks to do. I think often we put more emphasis on his lesser strengths and ignore some of the more destructive ones.

One thing the enemy tries to do is sow discord among God’s people. That is how sin began and that is something he continues to work at. He has even done it regarding spiritual gifts. I have seen and you have too how gossip aids him in this work. It separates close friends.

Another tactic of the enemy is right alone the lines of the first and that is to puff God’s people up so that some will think they are superior to each other. I can tell you on the basis of God’s Word that if you have those feelings they are dead wrong It is sin Its base is pride. I have seen him use that too. He has suggested people with a certain gift are spiritually superior to others who do not have it. He has gotten people with certain personal convictions or even preferences to impose them on others by making them feel less of a Christian for not agreeing with them. This was a sin of the Pharisees.

Ah but when brothers dwell together... there is harmony and a forgiving attitude... there is the concern of the glory of God and His Name. There is humility.

Satan is out to kill, steal and destroy. The LORD is working to bring life and restoration to souls.

Pray for the LORD to frustrate the plans of the devil and then join the LORD in the answer by seeking to obey this Psalm.

4. It is Good and Pleasant for what it produces

The fruit of the Spirit is love. Brothers (sisters) dwelling together in unity is love being expressed.

As we said in the Bible Studies this past week, we think often about how love works among us but we do not think often enough about how our Father in heaven looks down upon us and is blessed or grieved in the behavior He sees from His children.

Do we think about things being delightful, beautiful and lovely to the LORD? Or are we thinking about what we need and that only? When we move from being served to be servants we are thinking about how we can please Him.

You know when you love someone you like to do things that make them happy. You desire to see them blessed in their hearts. Our love for Jesus ought to produce this desire in us. I am so blessed when I hear of things like Mary pouring the perfume on Jesus. Did you catch Jesus’ words lately, “She has done a beautiful thing to Me.” To Jesus this was precious. It was an excellent thing. It was magnificent. He admired what she did. It surpassed everything done to Him.
It was genuine. It came from the heart.

I love these selfless acts, not programmed but so spontaneous
*The AIDS Orphanage where Theresa worked in Nairobi.
*Dr. Aileen Coleman in Jordan working with the medical needs of the shepherds.
*Pastor Henry Wilk buried with his prayer journal. Kathleen his daughter...


5. It is Good and Pleasant for Brothers to dwell together in unity because that is what they were created to do.

Adam and Eve were in the Garden. They were naked and not ashamed. There was innocency and complete openness with each other. Ever since the fall of man, our relationships have been tarnished. First thing Adam did was blame Eve. Then one of their sons killed the other son. It has gotten worse from then on. The world has never been at peace since that first sin.

The only way to redeem bad relationships is to have them cleansed by God and washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. He turns the hearts of people in love toward each other.

We were created to love God and love one another. Jesus said that is what the whole of the law and the prophets pointed to. This what heaven will be. The LORD looks down from His throne. He is looking for love from us and love towards each other. One day all things will be renewed to the way they were before sin came and ate up the human race and its relationships.

Pray until you have these words of Jesus working in and flowing from your life...

You have heard that it has been said, You shall love thy neighbor, and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5.43-45

Pray that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and that the fruit of the Spirit
which is love is coming forth from your life to every person in your life,
even your enemies

Start with your brothers and sisters in Christ and let the LORD move you out from there.

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The LORD’s Day
August 12, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
The Goodness and Pleasantness of Love Among God’s People Psalm 133

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 135-137

Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study -7:30pm at the parsonage
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am in the church basement
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be there until October. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter undergoing treatment for leukemia. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. They have begun the process of fitting her for the prosthesis. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, undergoing treatment for pain management on her back. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito undergoing chemotherapy- thank God for answrs to prayer this week . Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s (who is recovering from a heart attack) daughter, Kelly, undergoing chemotherapy. Please remember this whole family in prayer.. Iola’s results of blood work were good. Jeannie Rocarro recovering from surgery. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s family who has been through so much grief this summer... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems, now in rehab. Lucy Mancini under doctor’s and Orthopedic Specialist’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident. The Cat Scan came back normal - thank the LORD . She is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow. Mary Butler, Pastor’s family’s former neighbor from Bellmore and dear family friend, recovering from surgery removing a tumor in the colon as well as removal of gall bladder and appendix.

If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.


Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
The Goodness and Pleasantness of Love Among God’s People

Psalm 133

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God

The LORD's Day August 5, 2007

As The Mountains Surround Jerusalem

Psalm 125

It is impossible for us to fully grasp how much God loves us. His love is higher than the heavens, reaching to the sky

This past week I had someone ask me about a portion of scripture I had directed them to read. They said, “It seems to have contradictions.” This concept of us knowing how much God loves us falls into that category. It is way beyond our ability to comprehend and yet Paul, the apostle, prays for the Ephesian Church:
I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3.17-19)
So while it beyond us Paul prays we might grasp it. His prayer is that God’s love may become our own in possession and understanding.

God gave us His Word to help us understand His love for us. This Psalm illustrates a facet of the magnitude of the love of God for us.

He uses a very common well known picture, one that all Jews in Old Testament times would grasp. At least once a year the people of Israel would make their way to Jerusalem for one of the feasts. To this day they end their Passover Seder with the words, “Next year in Jerusalem.” So the picture and layout of Jerusalem was embedded in their minds. They knew it well, second only to their own hometown.

Psalm 125 is part of the collection of the “Psalms of the Goings Up” or “The Psalms of Ascents”, sung as the people would journey to Jerusalem to worship the LORD and as they approached entering the temple once they arrived. The picture of the mountains surrounding Jerusalem was on their minds. They would see them in the distance and they had to climb over some of them to get there and once there The Temple Mount, Mount Moriah was among many other mountains including the Mount of Olives, Ophel and Mt. Scopus.


1. Jerusalem as surrounded by mountains on every side, so the LORD surrounds us

The mountains encompass, encircle, envelop Jerusalem. It is an incredible situation. Jerusalem is a city surrounded by mountains. You cannot get to it without having climb over some mountain

One of the ways to come to the city is to come over the Mount of Olives from the little village of Bethany like Jesus did on Psalm Sunday. As you come over Mount Olivet, you expect to see more mountains and instead you see the city of Jerusalem. It is built in the mountains, on a mountain.

The LORD surrounds us. He has us enveloped in His Presence and Love. The blessings of following Jesus are beyond our ability to count. As we look at them they are just continue. One of these blessings is the promise and reality of His Presence with us.

I am sure you have had people tell you, “I’ll be there for you. You can depend on me. If you need anything just let me know.” Then when you go to test those words, not willingly, but to take them up eventually on what they said, you find they are no where to be found or they express regret at the inability to come to your aid. I am finding out it is much better to do something than to promise one day you will. Better to be there and encourage the person than to promise to be there only to let them down.

This is not the way it is with Jesus. What He promised He will do. He has promised to be with His followers right up to the end of the age. He will be and is. As the mountains surround Jerusalem so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forevermore.

He is before us, leading.

He is behind us, protecting.

He is on our side, companionship.

He is above the earth, all powerful, all knowing, eternal, exalted.

Underneath are His Everlasting Arms.

I like to think that as they sang these songs on the way to Jerusalem each time they went they would from time to time give examples of personal experiences after each Psalm. They would tell of their lives and how God’s Word proved true in it.

Last Sunday we spoke of how if the LORD had not been on our side we would have been swept away. If it had not been for Him surrounding us we would have been destroyed.


2. In some valleys you cannot see the mountains but they are still there.

This is true in Jerusalem as well as in life

One evening when I was there a number of years ago a friend and I climbed among ruins. There were stairs that led way down several levels. We were just outside the southern wall of the old city of Jerusalem. Even though the sun had not set, we were close to darkness at times. It was quite an experience.

To think that 2,000 years before worshipers, walking up the steps leading into the temple were reciting this verse we are looking at this morning is wonderful. They were admiring the view while we were down in some ruins from their time and before and after unable to see the mountains. Even though the LORD has us surrounded there will be times when as we sing often “though the darkness hides Him...” When darkness seems to hide His face I rest on His unchanging grace Don’t base your life on experiences, base it on the unchangeable unalterable Word of the Living Eternal God

I believe one of the reasons that we are told by David that the LORD will be with us in the Valley of the Shadow of Death is that there are times in that valley when it may be difficult to see Him. This is particularly true if it has been a person we have been praying for to be healed. Don’t say to a person who lost a loved one, “God did heal him.” That may be your view but I have not found it to be theirs. That goes with any mystery God allows to come- let Job’s comforters be your example.How much better to keep our mouths shut and just be there.

Other valleys such as loneliness, depression, illness, stress may obstruct our ability for a time to see that the LORD is surrounding us but He is both now and forevermore.


3. The mountains surrounding Jerusalem raise the issue of protection.

Psalm 121.1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Since the mountains were all around the city it was easy to begin to trust in them. It is easy but very wrong to trust in our situations. That is probably why every time we do God disciplines us by changing it

Why are you afraid? The LORD is with you. He is your Help. He is the Maker of heaven and earth. He watches over you. He will be with you now and forevermore.

We must be careful as the LORD blesses us as we walk with Him not to turn our hearts to trusting in natural things like the mountains surrounding Jerusalem. The people could looks at them and have the feeling of safety and security. They could look out and say, “I’ll sleep well tonight. The mountains surround the city, the walls the surround the city and there are watchmen on the wall. I’m safe.” The LORD corrects all of this. Unless the LORD watches over the city , the watchman watches in vain. Look at the hills- your help comes from the LORD

Spiritual protection comes from Him not some natural fortification or the strength of an army He will watch over your life and your soul.

4. Sometimes with Mountains as well as with the LORD we just need to enjoy the view and His Presence.

This is tough stuff. This is difficult. With cell phones and Blackberries and e-mail and all we can be going every moment except when we are sleeping This is not good. The LORD sometimes I believe just wants us to enjoy His Presence in our lives. Be still and know (experience, perceive, become acquainted with ) that He is God

Go back to the Garden. Go back to Genesis. Adam and the LORD walked in the Garden in the cool of the day. They had fellowship. They spent time there together. This was before the earth was populated of course.

Now we must break away. Jesus did it and we can too. Stop and give thanks to the LORD for His blessings. Don’t look for everything to be perfect. On this earth it never will be But God’s fingerprints are all over. His handiwork is here and His Presence He has told us we would have now and forevermore

I have been to the White Mountains many times. I have been to the Sierra Madre Mountains on a number of occasions. I lived on the front range of the Colorado Rockies for three years. There were times when I just would stare at the mountains, enjoying the view In New Hampshire recently I spent nearly a day doing that. When visiting Colorado years back I was asked on the other side of Pike’s Peak on the way to Cripple Creek if I had ever been there before as I took pictures. I said yes I lived here for 3 years but I was just enjoying the view.

When I lived in Colorado I would drive up into the mountains just to for sightseeing. One time I drove all the way to Aspen. I came back in the dark. Up there on the Continental Divide where fall is winter, I just took in the beautiful sites God has given us. It is the same with His Presence. We can take a whole day doing nothing but sitting with the LORD. We can do it anywhere because He is everywhere We can do anything because He is there. On the beach, in the yard, in our home just stop once in a while and enjoy his Presence

God had the people come to the feasts in Jerusalem. It was not a drudgery it was an enjoyable journey. Our lives can be a crescendo of glory with our walk with God. Our lives can be a journey of joy. We are marching to Zion, the beautiful City of God.

5. He has promised that His Presence would always be there.
Now and forevermore You have said that a lot. We need to hear it a lot because we can easily forget it. God will take care of you. He is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

We are surrounded on every side. Sometimes when we go through the valleys our consciousness of His Presence is diminished but He is still there. Our trust should be in Him alone Enjoy His Presence. Get lost in the wonder of His love and grace .

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The LORD’s Day
August 5, 2007
We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Receiving the LORD’s Supper
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
As the Mountains Surround Jerusalem Psalm 125

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 130-134 (The Psalms of Ascents)
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am in the church basement
Wednesday Bible Study -7:30pm at the parsonage
Thursday Bible Study 10:30am in the church basement
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq- He will be there until October. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. in Iraq with the Marines (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton. Pastor’s nephews’ and niece’s cousin Kim’s husband, Jay, in Iraq. Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter undergoing treatment for leukemia. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Pray for Eloise Brooks in Sunrise Manor undergoing rehab. They have begun the process of fitting her for the prosthesis. Remember Jean Louis as both he and Eloise are on dialysis. Grace Martin, Edie Raevis’ daughter, seeing a surgeon. Edie’s daughter’s mother-in-law, Millie Espisito undergoing chemotherapy. Reginald Mooney, friend of Terri and John Garry, with a tumor in his kidney. Please remember Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson’s (who is recovering from a heart attack) daughter, Kelly, undergoing chemotherapy. Please remember this whole family in prayer. She had an additional surgery for the chemo port this week and has been had a rough time with side effects. Iola’s results of blood work were good. Jeannie Rocarro recovering from surgery. Pastor Jerry Bonfiglio’s father passed away this week Please remember this family who has been through so much grief this past month... Leah May’s cousin, Joan, respiratory problems. Lucy Mancini under doctor’s care and physical therapy for pain and injuries resulting from the accident.

If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see John or Terri Garry.
Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
As the Mountains Surround Jerusalem

Psalm 125

Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God