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Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand. (Psalm 95:1-7 ESV)
Check out “Whoever Believes….”
Thanksgiving is a time to Give thanks.
Psalm 100
Always Remember to Be Thankful (#7)
A Psalm for giving thanks.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
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.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100 ESV)
Review previous posts for Psalm 100:
The Lord is good.
Always Remember to Be Thankful (#6)
Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD. This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 5.
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:5 ESV)
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; (Psalm 136:1-3 ESV)
… the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 ESV)
Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. (Psalm 119:90 ESV)
… giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:20 ESV)
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Coming into His presence.
Always Remember to Be Thankful (#5)
Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD. This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 4.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4 ESV)
We read, in the Old Testament, about people going to the temple to worship and give thanks to God. The crowds would gather in the courts that surrounded the temple for a time of worship and giving thanks to the LORD.
Things are different for us today. As New Testament believers, Jesus is our great high priest.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)
We are able to come before the throne of grace with confidence knowing that God hears our prayers and praises. We are able to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” every time we pray, regardless of our location and regardless of the time of day.
The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7 ESV)
We can personally praise God and thank God for everything He has done for us or we can gather with other believers and we can praise God and give thanks to God corporately
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16 ESV)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4 ESV)
We will look at Psalm 100 verse 5 in a future post.
Check out “Whoever Believes….”
Lessons from the book of James (#11)
James, one of the writers of the Bible, asks the question, “Who is wise and understanding among you?”
Would you like to know if you are wise and understanding?
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13-18 ESV)
Using James 3:14-15, I created a chart to help you answer this question.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Check out “Whoever Believes….”
Taming the Tongue
Lessons from the book of James (#10)
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1) (Note: Most of us take on the role of a teacher in various ways throughout our lives. Most of us teach Biblical principles to others on numerous occasions. We would be hard pressed to say that we never teach anyone.)
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:5-6 ESV)
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. … but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:6 & 8 ESV)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:29-30 ESV)
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 ESV)
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. (Proverbs 15:1-2 ESV)
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6 ESV)
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. (Proverbs 25:11 ESV)
A simple conclusion: On our own, no one is qualified to teach anyone or anything. We need the power of the Holy Spirit working in us to be the teacher that God wants us to be. Here are some prayers that we all need to pray:
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 ESV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 ESV)
Check out “Whoever Believes….”
For us to be truly thankful, we need to be growing in our knowledge of God.
We need to “Know that the LORD, He is God!”
Always Remember to Be Thankful (#4)
Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD. This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 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. (Psalm 100:3 ESV)
We learn to know God better by studying Scripture. Listed below are a few of the facts that scripture teaches us about God.
There is … one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV)
For there is one God, …(1 Timothy 2:5 ESV)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. …(Genesis chapters 1 & 2 ESV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. (Genesis 1:27-28 ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17 ESV)
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1 ESV)
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:1-6)
We will look at Psalm 100 verse 4 in a future post.
Check out “Whoever Believes….”
Always Remember to Be Thankful (#3)
Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD. This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 2.
Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (Psalm 100:2 ESV)
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. (Psalm 100:2 NIV0
We serve the LORD with our worship. Scripture tells us to serve with gladness.
When we worship we should do it:
Our service to the Lord should be done joyfully and rendered freely.
We serve the LORD with our worship. We also serve the LORD by serving others. We should look for ways to willingly, cheerfully, happily, and joyfully serve others during this holiday season, and throughout the year.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:35-40)
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
We will look at Psalm 100 verse 3 in a future post.
Check out “Whoever Believes….”
Always Remember to Be Thankful (#2)
Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD.
This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 1.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! (Psalm 100:1 ESV)
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 100:1 NIV)
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 100:1 NASB)
Psalm 95:1-2 reinforces the idea of enthusiastically and joyfully praising and thanking God for all He has done for us.
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! (Psalm 95:1-2 ESV)
Psalm 150:3-6 also encourages us to “Make a joyful noise to the LORD”.
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:3-6 ESV)
Wow! I guess some of us have some things to think about.
We will look at Psalm 100 verse 2 in a future post.
Check out “Whoever Believes….”
