EXALTING CHRIST IN OUR HOMES, CHURCH AND LIVES

John 12:32

Psalm 34:3

Part 1

Introduction: In the next few weeks, I want to deal with this subject of exalting Christ. You and I can never lift Christ too high in our lives. As I was typing these words, I am reminded of an illustration of this that I heard E. V. Hill say in one of his messages. E. V. Hill had an older lady in his church that was born in the 1800's. Since no one knows how old she is or really when she was born she is called 1800. When a preacher starts to preach in his church she will say loudly "LIFT HIM UP". If the man were mediocre, she would say "LIFT HIM UP AND THINGS WILL HAPPEN." Well things would happen, she would say, "I told you that if you lift him up, things would happen." In these next few weeks, I want to talk about two thoughts.

1. Why should we exalt the Lord Jesus in our homes, church and lives?

2. What could happen when we exalt the Lord Jesus in our homes, church and lives?

I don’t have everything there is on this subject but when I am done, we will benefit from studying, meditating upon and living this study.

Kim Butts gives this description of the average church in this country. “The Church of Jesus Christ in much of the world is suffering from apathy, complacency and spiritual weakness. Programs have replaced passion. Entertainment has pre-empted the Holy Spirit. The works of the flesh have crept into our lives rather than the working of God’s power! Because the Bride of Christ has yet to realize, recognize, or acknowledge His presence in her midst, she continues to be disobedient and dysfunctional in preparing for her Bridegroom’s return.”

That description could describe us if we don’t exalt Christ. I want to challenge you to do two things as we go through this study.

1. Take James 1:22-24 to heart.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

2. Pray that prayer that I have mentioned over and over again. “Lord, speak to me today, I am willing to obey.”

If I understand this subject correctly, this could lead to a real revival in our homes, church and lives. We could make a difference in someone’s life because we exalted the Lord Jesus.

Our nation, and indeed, this entire planet, is in terrible turmoil. This is not a time to be shy, or to make excuses! This is a time to take action and to be bold in sharing our faith! We have been on the defensive too long; it is past time to go on the offensive.

I. WHY SHOULD WE EXALT THE LORD JESUS IN OUR HOMES, CHURCH, AND LIVES?

I have thirty-seven Bible reasons why we should exalt the Lord Jesus in our homes, church and our lives. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself. We will let the Bible speak for itself on this subject. We will not be able to review all of them tonight though.

1. Because the LORD is great. Psalm 96:4

“For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.”

2. Because He has redeemed us

Psalm 71:23

“My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.”

C. Because He is the Rock. Deuteronomy 32:4

“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

1^st Samuel 2:2

“There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”

2^nd Samuel 22:2

“And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer”

Psalm 18:2

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

D. Because He is our fortress and our loving God.

Psalm 59:17

“Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.”

E. He does not reject our prayers or withhold His love from us. Psalm 66:20

“Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.”

6. Because He daily bears our burdens.

Psalm 68:19

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.”

Psalm 103:2

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”

Psalm 116:12

“What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”

1^st Peter 5:7

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

7. Because He is faithful. Deuteronomy 7:9

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations”

1^st Corinthians 1:9

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.’

8. Because He chose us in Himself before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.

Ephesians 1:4

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love”

Deuteronomy 7:6

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”

J. Because He has freely given us His glorious grace in Jesus. Ephesians 1:6

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

K. Because in Him we have redemption through the blood of Christ, and the forgiveness of our sins in accordance with the riches of His grace.

Ephesians 1:7

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”

I found that the word “grace” is found one hundred and fifty-nine times in the Bible. What is grace? Divine grace is the free and undeserved love and favor of God towards man as a sinner, especially as exhibited in the plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. It is only by the free grace of god that we embrace the offers of mercy, and appropriate to ourselves the blessings graciously purchased by redeeming blood.

The "GRACE OF GOD," spontaneous, unmerited, self-directed, and almighty, is the source of the whole scheme of redemption.

The law of Bible study called the law of first mention says that the first time something is mentioned in the Bible, so then it is the key to the rest of the Bible. So when is first time grace is mentioned in the Bible?

Genesis 6:8

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

Spurgeon gave this thought about Noah finding grace. What a blessed “but” was that. In the midst of wrath the Lord remembered mercy. Even as in punishing sin he remembers Christ and all those who are of his family. The distinction made was the fruit of grace. It is not said that Noah deserved preservation, but Noah found grace.

Let me give four truths of the sixty-one of my life before I was saved.

I was a child of the devil.

I was a Christ-rejecter.

I was a Christ-hater and a hater of those belonging to Christ.

I was under the power of Satan.

Because of the time, I cannot give you all of the two hundred and fifteen truths that came about the day I was saved that shows the riches of His grace but a few may whet your appetite.

I am a son of God.

I belong to Jesus Christ.

I am a child of light

I am complete in Christ.

I am beloved of God.

Conclusion: I will stop here today. Next week, we are continue down the road of why we should exalt Christ in our homes, church and lives. As I trying to finish this, a passage of scripture came to mind to end this. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”