Hymns: RHC 43 God Is Still On the Throne 46 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God 47 Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Psalm 93

1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. 2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

THE LORD IS STILL ON THE THRONE

OUTLINE

(1) KNOW WHO HE IS? (v1-2)

(a) The LORD Who Reigns Supreme (v1a)

(i) His Glory (v1b)

(ii) His Omnipotence (v1c)

(iii) His Readiness to Defend (v1d)

(iv) His Creative Works (v1e)

(v) His Throne Unmoved (v2)

(2) WHAT HE CAN DO FOR YOU! (v3-4)

(a) In Every Assault to His own (v3)

(b) He quells (v4a)

(c) He triumphs (v4b)

(3) WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE? (v5)

(a) Declare His Faithfulness (v5a)

(i) Live by His Word

(b) Dwell in the Beauty of Holiness (v5b)

(ii) Live a Holy Life

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

16th Century Reformation in Germany

Martin Luther (Part 3)
The pope first treated the matter of Martin Luther’s 95 theses lightly, but quickly changed his mind when he found out how serious was the threat to his authority and to the doctrine of the Church. He demanded that Luther should recant, and summoned him to appear in Rome. He also demanded that Frederick the Wise should deliver up this ‘child of the devil’ to the papal legate. In response Frederick suggested that the pope should send a delegate before whom Luther might appear and plead his cause and to this the pope finally agreed. He sent Cardinal Cajetan to Germany and Luther duly appeared before him.

16th Century Reformation in Germany

Martin Luther (Part 3)
The pope first treated the matter of Martin Luther’s 95 theses lightly, but quickly changed his mind when he found out how serious was the threat to his authority and to the doctrine of the Church. He demanded that Luther should recant, and summoned him to appear in Rome. He also demanded that Frederick the Wise should deliver up this ‘child of the devil’ to the papal legate. In response Frederick suggested that the pope should send a delegate before whom Luther might appear and plead his cause and to this the pope finally agreed. He sent Cardinal Cajetan to Germany and Luther duly appeared before him.

Hymns: RHC 324 Trusting Jesus, 242 Blessed Quietness, 334 Sweet Peace, the Gift of God’s Love

Psalm 125
1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. 2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. 3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. 4 Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. 5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

REWARDS OF FAITH

OUTLINE

Quiet Confidence (v1-2)
Deliverance in Trials (v3)
Propensity for Good (v4)
Abiding Peace (v5)

16th Century Reformation in Germany

Martin Luther (Part 2)
Luther’s chief struggle had to do with the phrase ‘ the righteousness of God’. He was convinced that in Romans 1:17 and elsewhere these words referred to the awful holiness of God, and His unchanging hatred of sin and sinners. How could he, Martin Luther, ever achieve the kind of holiness that would turn away the anger of God against him?

He did not yet understand Paul’s words in Romans that the gospel is the saving power of God to everyone who believes in Christ, because it reveals the righteousness of God. This righteousness of God is nothing other than Christ’s perfect obedience to His Father’s will in life and death, ‘even the death of the cross’ – obedience which God counts as belonging to all those in whose place Christ died. Just as the punishment of the believer’s sin was borne by Christ so it is because of Christ’s righteousness that the same believer, though ungodly in himself, is pronounced ‘just’ or righteous in the sight of God. In this way, Paul says, faith receives the righteousness of God: ‘To him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness’ (Romans 4:5).

Acts 28:1-16 (KJV)
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

16th Century Reformation in Germany

– Martin Luther (Part 1)

Martin Luther, the Reformer, belonged to a peasant family in Saxony, Germany, ‘My father, grandfather, all of my ancestors were thorough peasants’, said Luther. His father bore the name of Hans (John), his mother Gretha (Margaret). They lived in Eisleben where Hans Luther earned his livelihood by mining, specially for copper which was abundant in the hills. Their son was born on the 10th November 1483, and as observed by the Roman Catholic Church, he was named after that saint. Half a year after his birth the family moved to Mansfield, about six miles from Eisleben.