ASSIGNMENTS

1. Daily read over this material and read or sing the song.

2. Place the scripture where you will see it each day.

3. Think of areas where you have not been exalting God and Christ.

4. Write down one way you tried to exalt the Lord each day.

5. Plan to tell the class how you exalted the Lord this week or about a time you should have but didn't.

DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS

MONDAY - VERSES: Exodus 15:2; 2 Samuel 22:47 PRAYER THOUGHT: God, help me to exalt you because you deserve to be exalted above all else.

TUESDAY - VERSES: Nehemiah 9:5; Psalm 21:13; 97:9 PRAYER THOUGHT: Master, help me to exalt your name as the only master worthy of service.

WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Psalm 37:34; 75:10; 92:10 PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, help me to trust you to exalt me when I follow you and obey you in righteousness.

THURSDAY - VERSES: Psalm 46:10; 47:9; 57:5,11 PRAYER THOUGHT: Great Creator of All, help me to know that you will be exalted with or without me or anyone else in the world.

FRIDAY - VERSES: Psalm 89:16; 107:31-34 PRAYER THOUGHT: Great Exalted One, help me to accept your judgment in exalting those you will exalt and humbling those you want humbled.

SATURDAY - VERSES: Proverbs 17:19; Isaiah 2:11,17; 37:23 PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, help me to remember the dangers of exalting myself, and help me wait on you.

F J H L F J H L F J H L

The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted. - Jonathan Edwards

F J H L F J H L F J H L

Success exposes a man to the pressure of people and thus tempts him to hold on to his gains by means of fleshly methods and practices, and to let himself be ruled wholly by the dictatorial demands of incessant expansion. Success can go to my head, and will unless I remember that it is God who accomplishes the work, that He can continue to do so without my help, and that He will be able to make out with other means whenever He cuts me down to size.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 85

EXALTING GOD - 3-23-14 TO 3-29-14

SCRIPTURE - Psalm 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

COMMENT – Humility is a great addition to one's character, but it is only truly meaningful if God is exalted. The exaltation of other people or things is often a sign of poor self-esteem rather than true humility. Remember, Jesus said we are to have one Lord and master and we are to be brethren. When we exalt anything or anyone too highly we show contempt for God's divine order.

SONG - LIFT HIM UP

1) How to reach the masses, men of ev'ry birth? For an answer Jesus gave a key, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth Will draw all men unto me."

Chorus: Lift Him up,(Lift the precious Savior up,) Lift Him up,(Lift the precious Savior up,) Still He speaks from eternity, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth Will draw all men unto me."

2) O the world is hungry for the living bread, Lift the Savior up for them to see, Trust Him, and do not doubt the words that He said, "I'll draw all men unto me."

3) Don't exalt the preacher, don't exalt the pew Preach the gospel simple, full and free, Prove Him and you will find that promise is true, "I'll draw all men unto me."

4) Lift Him up by living as a Christian ought, Let the world in you the Savior see, Then men will gladly follow Him who once taught, "I'll draw all men unto me."

THOUGHTS

KISSING THE HAND TO THE NEGLECT OF GOD

David Lemmons

Two weeks ago, as we left Marshall County for a long drive eastward to Greeneville to see Heather play ball, the most wonderful and amazing sight impressed me anew with the greatness of our God in heaven and His creative genius. What a sight! This huge ball of fire rising in the distance beyond the horizon. How mighty and powerful is a God who can speak and bring into existence not only this powerful burning inferno, which was at that point causing discomfort to my eyes, but millions more.

I thought about one of the questions that had been dealt with in a recent taping of SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES at Murray. The question was something about can we be sure that there is not life on other planets. As I drove along and faced the beauty of the sun before me, I thought about the text in Genesis:

"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that [it was] good" (Genesis 1:14-18).

According to this statement, the light for the day (the sun), and the lights for the night (moon and stars), had but one purpose and that was to give light upon THE EARTH.

How great and loving is our God. How wonderfully has He provided those things which we need to sustain life. When studied scientifically, the facts about the sun are staggering. Notice a few of these facts gleaned from Encyclopedia Britannica:

*** The sun constitutes 99% of our solar system's total mass.

*** The radius of the sun is 109 times that of the earth.

*** Even though the radius of the sun is 109 times that of the earth, its distance from earth is 215 R, so it subtends an angle of only ½ degree in the sky, roughly the same as that of the moon.

*** The next closest star to the earth is 250,000 times farther away, and its relative apparent brightness is reduced by the square of that ratio, or 62 billion times.

*** The temperature of the sun's surface is so high that no solid or liquid can exist there; the constituent materials are predominantly gaseous atoms.

Yes, the facts about that huge burning sphere which astronomers have discovered are beyond most of our abilities to comprehend. However, all of us can see the sun and its benefits to our lives. We can see that it keeps us warm. That it makes us to feel better and more cheerful when its rays are not obscured by the clouds. Perhaps we know of its healing properties for certain wounds and diseases, etc. We know how dependent plants--and thus the existence of much of our own food--is upon the sun.

In fact, a tendency has long existed among mankind to exalt the sun and even to worship it. Job makes a remarkable statement about sun worship in Job 31:26-28: "If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking [in] brightness; 27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: 28 This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above (Job 31:26-28).

This kissing of the hand toward the sun is likely worship to the sun. Job had never done such and he points out that to do so is an iniquity to be punished because it is a denial of the God who created it. The law of Moses required the death penalty for one who would worship the sun (Deut 17:2-7).

As we look around us from time to time and observe the phenomenal works of God's creation we certainly ought not to worship those things that we see, but let those remarkable things cause us to appreciate even more the God who made them. When we consider the tremendous advancements that men have been able to accomplish in all kinds of fields and ventures, let us not exalt man and conclude with the secular humanists that: MAN IS THE MEASURE OF ALL THINGS. Instead, we must be in awe of God's creative power. How that God could create man with a mind so creative and so wonderful and inventive; and bodies with such strength and flexibility and adaptability. When we observe remarkable achievements in athletics and arts and other endeavors may we never "kiss the hand to the neglect of God," rather let us marvel and ponder on the greatness of our God and the wonder of wonders that He would love us so much.

The greatness of God and the wonders of His creation and the love He has shown ought constantly and forever to be the "fertile soil" out of which should grow our very best efforts in His service.

F J H L F J H L F J H L

After Winston Churchill gave a speech, a friend asked, "Winston, aren't you impressed that 10,000 people came to hear you speak?"

Churchill said, "Not really. 100,000 would come to see me hang."

GROW THE CHURCH GOD'S WAY - EXALT JESUS

I. EXALT JESUS' PROPHECIES FULFILLED - LUKE 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

II. EXALT JESUS' VIRGIN BIRTH - Matthew 1:18-23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. (20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

III. EXALT JESUS' PERFECT LIFE - Hebrews 4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

IV. EXALT JESUS' PERFECT LOVE

A. Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {36} As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. {37} Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. {38} For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, {39} Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

B. IT SAVES US.

C. EVERYONE NEEDS IT.

D. IT WILL DRAW OTHERS.

E. IT IS OUR STANDARD AND MODEL.

F. IT CAN UNITE US AND GROW THE CHURCH.

G. HE COMMANDED US TO IMITATE IT.

V. EXALT JESUS' DEATH - JOHN 12:32-33 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (33) This he said, signifying what death he should die.

VI. EXALT JESUS' RESURRECTION - John 11:25-27 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (27) She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

1 Corinthians 15:12-14 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

VII. EXALT JESUS' CHURCH - Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

VIII. EXALT JESUS' NAME

A. Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

B. Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

IX. EXALT JESUS' RETURN

A. IT IS CERTAIN. - 2 Peter 3:3-14 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, {4} And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. {5} For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: {6} Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: {7} But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. {8} But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. {9} The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. {11} Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, {12} Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? {13} Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. {14} Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

B. IT IS FINAL.

C. IT IS UNIVERSAL.

D. MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT READY FOR IT.

E. LIFE IS MEANINGLESS WITHOUT IT.

F. IT IS CLOSER THAN EVER.

CONCLUSION

A. Many will recognize the flagship of humanism in the words "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul." They are from a poem entitled "Invictus" (meaning "unconquered"), by William Ernest Henley, an eighteenth century English poet. Here is the entire poem:

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charted with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul. -- William Henley

Stephen Brown adds, "It is no accident that the life of William Henley ended in suicide." -- Stephen Brown, If God Is In Charge...., p. 5859.

B. Are you exalting the right things in your life?

(Luke 1:52 KJV) "He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree."

(Luke 14:11 KJV) "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

(Luke 18:14 KJV) "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

(Acts 2:33 KJV) "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."

(Acts 5:31 KJV) "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

(Acts 13:17 KJV) "The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it."

(2 Cor 10:5 KJV) "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

(2 Cor 11:7 KJV) "Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?"

(2 Cor 11:20 KJV) "For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face."

(2 Cor 12:7 KJV) "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."

(Phil 2:9 KJV) "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"

(2 Th 2:4 KJV) "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

(1 Pet 5:6 KJV) "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"

(Psalm 34:1-8) "A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. {2} My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. {3} O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. {4} I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. {5} They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. {6} This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. {7} The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. {8} O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:3

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.