THINK" SERIES: PART 13 - "WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE"

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things". (Philippians 4:8)

For something to be considered  “praiseworthy”, it follows logic that the object of praise, approval, giving value to, or even some sort of adulation or adoration – must be “worthy of all praise”.

The only Being in this world, where this can possibly fit, is Almighty God, the King of Heaven and Earth. Seeing that the word “praiseworthy” is actually a combination of words used by Paul here, in Philippians 4:8,  that is – “praise” with the preposition “towards or upon”, it only follows that all our praise; all our gratitude; all our worship; all our thoughts need to be directed in this vertical relationship we have with our Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name. 

Praise-worthiness explicitly implies a high view of God. It is said by many that what we think about God, at the highest level possible, determines our conduct, attitude, and respect or reverence for and to Him.  If we have a high view of God, the humbler and more surrendered to His Sovereign Will we are.  Conversely, a low view shows the carnal nature of mankind, where God is just an afterthought, even to so-called self-professed Christians. One of the best examples in life and in Scripture can be found in Isaiah Chapter 6. Read this amazing passage of the greatest of all Old Testament prophets – Isaiah, as he is allowed into the very Presence of the Holiest Being in the World – God the Father.  

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." (Isaiah 6:1-5)

 This incredible passage reveals the indescribable scene in Heaven when Isaiah realizes where he is. In verse 5, the prophet said “Woe is me! For I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell amidst a people of unclean lips. For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts”.

The vast majority of us will not have a similar experience on this side of Heaven. However we have the Holy Spirit, if we are born again, Who testifies to the same. But what Isaiah did can be best described as a realization of his own spiritual and moral poverty, and then the Highest View of God possible! 

It is an amazing passage to read, be fired up about, and then praise God that:

1. He draws us into His Presence when He saves us
2. He lets us into the Kingdom – past, present, and eternity. This means that we are now joint heirs with Christ from Eternity Past to Eternity Future
3. We will be tainted by this world, just like Isaiah in verse 5, while we are still in these corrupt times. We are saints who sometimes sin, but the Lord has cleansed us with the righteous fire from the altar of Heaven.
4. The end of verse 5 shows the awesome reverence, adoration, worship...and more that Isaiah had for the good Lord. He acknowledged Who he had just seen.

Acknowledging and being in complete AWE of The Lord of Host, the King of the Universe, led Isaiah to volunteer to serve the Lord of his own free will! All God had to say was, “Whom shall We send”? Our Father is so gracious that even in this generous state, which no living human eyes could ever see, He left it up to the mere mortal Isaiah to willingly serve.

While the greatest worship towards God are things we know about- prayer, praise, reverence, abiding in His Word – a willing heart like Isaiah’s to serve, rounds that up very nicely. 

There are 305 references to the word “praise” in the most literal of Bible translations. The Bible tells us the Lord INHABITS the praise of His people (Psalm 22:3). The meaning of this phrase exhibits the living embodiment of “Praise-worthy”.

That is, because of our high view of God Who knows each and every heart, when we praise, adore and worship Him with our lives -whether it is on Sunday mornings, Sunday or Wednesday in a corporate setting or 24/7/365 in our own daily lives, we have created a pure atmosphere where He can be present and active. 

This is, verifiably, a most significant habit to develop, as an attribute of our Faith. When we have a discipline of awareness of "Praise-worthiness," it can have a tremendous impact on the spiritual and emotional aspect of our lives. Removing the focus from what may, or may not be the deficits in our lives and looking up to the One Who deserves all praise, honor and glory will:

-  Remove self-pity from our thinking.

-  Remove any discontent we have with our current situation and replace it with an attitude of gratitude.

-  Rejoice in what is of prime importance. Our Lord, Savior and Creator is to Whom all praise belongs, so let us then, readjust our entire mindset towards this goalpost, because it is here, to which all praise belongs.

Father, in Jesus' Strong Name, thank You for giving us this direction in Your Holy Word that we may realize what is truly important and that is - keeping our eyes on You, our mind stayed on You and our worship as a lifestyle that will remain free from the stain of the world, the more we focus on Your Goodness, Glory and Power. Thank You for changing us, transforming us, and rescuing us, by the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the King of all Kings, in His Name we pray, amen.

THE SUFFERING ON THE CROSS....FROM PSALM 22

Psalm 22 is a stark prophetic message written about 1000 years before the actual Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ, on what we now call Good Friday.

It describes in detail what the Messiah suffered in the Body, on the Cross, and what His thoughts were at that pivotal time in all History! 

As we read this, let us therefore keep in mind, not just the fact that it was prophesied 1000 years before it happened, but that Almighty God, the Great Father of Heaven, had this great plan for the Redemption of All Mankind,  way before the first man walked the face of planet Earth. Jesus, the One Son of God, fulfilled that plan and created the narrow path for our own Salvation, on that great and glorious day, called Good Friday. Amen

PSALM 22 (NKJV)

1   My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Why are You so far from helping Me,

And from the words of My groaning?

2   O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;

And in the night season, and am not silent.

3   But You are holy,

Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

4   Our fathers trusted in You;

They trusted, and You delivered them.

5   They cried to You, and were delivered;

They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

6   But I am a worm, and no man;

A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7   All those who see Me ridicule Me;

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8  “ He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him;

Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

9    But You are He who took Me out of the womb;

You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.

10  I was cast upon You from birth.

From My mother’s womb

You have been My God.

11   Be not far from Me,

For trouble is near;

For there is none to help.

12   Many bulls have surrounded Me;

Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.

13   They gape at Me with their mouths,

Like a raging and roaring lion.

14   I am poured out like water,

And all My bones are out of joint;

My heart is like wax;

It has melted within Me.

15   My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

And My tongue clings to My jaws;

You have brought Me to the dust of death.

16   For dogs have surrounded Me;

The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.

They pierced My hands and My feet;

17   I can count all My bones.

They look and stare at Me.

18   They divide My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.

19   But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me;

O My Strength, hasten to help Me!

20   Deliver Me from the sword,

My precious life from the power of the dog.

21   Save Me from the lion’s mouth

And from the horns of the wild oxen!

You have answered Me.

22   I will declare Your name to My brethren;

In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

23   You who fear the Lord, praise Him!

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!

24   For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;

Nor has He hidden His face from Him;

But when He cried to Him, He heard.

25   My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;

I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.

26   The poor shall eat and be satisfied;

Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.

Let your heart live forever!

27   All the ends of the world

Shall remember and turn to the Lord,

And all the families of the nations

Shall worship before You.

28   For the kingdom is the Lord’s,

And He rules over the nations.

29   All the prosperous of the earth

Shall eat and worship;

All those who go down to the dust

Shall bow before Him,

Even he who cannot keep himself alive.

30   A posterity shall serve Him.

It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,

31   They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,

That He has done this.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

CHRIST AND THE CROSS

The account of Good Friday is more than the Redemption of Mankind. It contrasts the fallen depraved nature of humankind with beauty, stark accuracy and the Promise of God’s Word - The Bible.

TEXTS USED: VARIOUS....(INCLUDING):

Isaiah 53 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

53 Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He grew up before Him like a tender [a]shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should [b]be attracted to Him.
3 He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of [c]sorrows and acquainted with [d]grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely our [e]griefs He Himself bore,
And our [f]sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
[g]Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was [h]pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our [i]well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us allTo [j]fall on Him.

CLICK HERE FOR REST OF THIS PASSAGE

New American Standard Bible (NASB)Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman FoundationCLICK HERE FOR REST OF THE PASSAGE

GOOD FRIDAY: PSALM 22 (PROPHESIED)...MATTHEW 27 (FULFILLED)

The Cross is the most popular jewelry item in the world. In the west, even secular people use them, for some reason or another.  Even bad biker gangs have insignia in the form of a cross celebrating- God knows what. To those living in the Roman Empire, 2000 years ago, the Cross was NO ‘fasthion statement”. It was a brutal instrument of torture, mayhem, and death which the Romans inflicted on their enemies, far and wide.

The most famous Person to be executed on the Cross was, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Were it not for Him, no one would know what crucifixion was, outside of a history class. Also, no one would know that it was the Sin of ALL mankind there – Jewish and Roman (or Gentile) which precipitated the Sacrifice of the God’s Son as the Propitiation (Satisfactory) payment for our sins

Almost 1000 years before Christ (BC) was nailed to the Cross by evil men on Good Friday, the very same words He would utter on there were prophesied and written down by King David, the poet/prophet/king of Israel.  It was not just the immortal statements uttered by Christ which came from Psalm 22,  but what actually took place from the point of view of God Who became a man – the Lord Jesus! It is a vantage point which believers, who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God Who moved the pen of David to write this, will immediately recognize. Jesus is literally describing what He physically experiences in this psalm, in graphic detail! it should make us cringe. It was our vile sin which caused this to occur.

Therefore, the vivid, heartbreaking, painful and incredibly horrific events are now presented, as remembrance – without comment – from prophetic Messianic Psalm 22 (written around 940 BC) in BLUE along with the actual fulfillment of these prophesies, from Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke in RED (of events from 33 AD).

PSALM 22:

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? - verse 1a

MATTHEW 27

About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? - verse 46

PSALM 22:

6 But I am a worm and not a man,  a reproach of men and despised by the people.

7 All who see me sneer at me;  they separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,

8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him because He delights in him.”

MATTHEW 27:

41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

JESUS DESCRIBES WHAT IT FEELS LIKE FROM THE CROSS HERE:

PSALM 22:

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it is melted within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws;

And You lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me; they pierced my hands and my feet.***

17 I can count all my bones. they look, they stare at me; 

18 They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

MATTHEW 27:

35 When they had crucified him,*** they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

MARK 15

24  And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

LUKE 24:

34  Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Jesus then completed the Work which the Father had given Him to do: It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit (John 19:30b)

(Image Credits Here)