BBC Sermon Cast

Having considered some of the characteristics from the beatitudes by which citizens of the kingdom can be recognised, we saw the description of a happy people. As we prepare to celebrate the incarnation, we turn our attention to Psalm 1 to consider the basis for Christians being happy people in the first place. Psalm 1 teaches us that Christians are happy because they:

1. are free from the thinking of sinners (v. 1a)

2. are free from the lifestyle of sin (v. 1b)

3. are free from bitterness and cynicism (v. 1c)

4. know and delight in God (v. 2)

Psalm 93 is a psalm about the unshakeable reign of the King. We learn here that the Lord has proclaimed himself as King, ruling and reigning because he is the Creator of everything. We see three aspects of the Lord’s reign in these verses.

1. Our God Who Reigns Majestically (vv. 1–2)

2. Our God Who Reigns Powerfully (vv. 3–4)

3. Our God Who Reigns Righteously (v. 5)

Though self-preservation is a prominent characteristic of this age, the apostle Paul took his cue from the Lord Jesus and was willing to suffer that others might live. Motivated by the faithfulness of Jesus, he was committed to the dying process of the Christ-centred life with the result that he truly lived. This is God’s call to everyone whom he saves. The rejection of a life stunted by self-preservation requires four things:

1. Be willing to speak up (v. 13)

2. Know that you will be raised up (v. 14)

3. Long for praise to be offered up (v. 15)

4. Learn to look up (vv. 16–18)

We live in a world marked by discord, alienation, conflict, and war, with seemingly little hope that things will change. But Christians know that, because of who God is, things are not always as they appear and, in fact, a new day has dawned. This is Paul’s burden in 2 Corinthians 4:1–6, which we must appreciate and believe today.

Faith in God’s sovereignty does not imply perfect submission to him at all times. Rather, he is a gracious God who invites us into a deeper relationship with him as we strive to grow in trust, faith, and understanding of his sovereign nature.

A major theme in 2 Corinthians is God’s strength revealed in our weakness. The passage before us powerfully makes this point and, in so doing, provides the Christian with wonderful encouragement as we engage in gospel ministry. The passage divides into at least four main points:

1. Powerless Pots (v. 7)

2. Powerful Paradoxes (vv. 8–9)

3. Powerful Perspective (vv. 10–11)

4. Powerful Partnership (v. 12)

Who you are tells you what to do. As we manifest the beautiful attitudes of the beatitudes, we are preservers and revealers to the world. We consider two truths relating to this:

1.⁠ ⁠The Preserving Power of Salt (v. 13)

2.⁠ ⁠The Revealing Power of Light (vv. 14–16)

This passage is rich with encouragement for those discouraged in their evangelism. We are reminded of our responsibility and inability and yet of God’s creative ability to save the lost as he reveals the glory of Jesus Christ to them. It serves as a wonderful tonic to those taking gospel ministry seriously. We will look at this under three main headings:

1. Don’t Lose Heart (vv. 1–2)

2. Don’t Hold Back (vv. 3–4)

3. Don’t Lose Hope (vv. 5–6)

Paul teaches us that all those who, by the Spirit of the Lord, come to see the glory of Christ in the gospel will be transformed by that glory. All those who believe the glorious gospel will be made glorious themselves. Therefore, the Christian is to live with the hope of holiness. This hope is because of three things the Spirit of God provides to the believer: (1) Glorious Regeneration (v. 16); (2) Glorious Liberation (v. 17); and (3) Glorious Transformation (v. 18).

The concept of glory looms large in this passage. The church must appreciate the glory of the gospel, not only intellectually, but also actually. Gospel information is necessary, and so is gospel transformation—being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. The key to all of this is the ministry of the Holy Spirit.