A Vital Goal For The Next Generation

A Vital Goal for the Next Generation

Psalm 145:1-21

Sermon by Rick Crandall

McClendon Baptist Church - October 3, 2010

*Goals are important in life. A wise man once said, “If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time.” And that is true. On the other hand, Les Brown once said: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.” (1)

*Goals are important in life. And they are important in the Christian life. The Apostle Paul demonstrated this truth for us in Phil 3:12-14. Listen to Paul’s greatest goal from the New Living Translation:

12. I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

13. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

14. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

*Goals are important in the Christian life, and one of the most important goals focuses on the next generation. King David reveals this goal to us in vs. 4, where he tells God: “One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.”

*This goal is the key to our church’s past, and it’s the key to our future.

-This goal is woven into the very DNA of our church.

-It is where we came from, and where we must go.

*It’s our turn to speak to the next generation. But what shall we say?

1. First: We must declare God’s might.

*King David declared God’s might in vs. 1-6:

1. I will extol You, my God, O King (“Extol” just means “exalt,” “lift up high.”); And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.

4. One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.

5. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.

6. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness.

*What will we tell the next generation? -- We must speak of the might of the Lord’s awesome acts! We must declare His greatness!

*People need to understand that Jesus Christ is the Mighty Son of God!

-God’s Word tells us that Jesus is:

-The Almighty -- The Alpha and Omega

-The Author of Life -- The Author of Salvation

-The Bread of Life -- The Creator of all, -- Deliverer

-Emmanuel -- God with us -- Faithful and True -- Firstborn from the Dead

-The Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep

-The great I Am -- The Judge of the living and the dead

-The King Eternal -- The Lamb of God

-The Light of the World -- The Lord of All

-Our Protection, Redemption and Righteousness

-The Resurrection and Life

-Our Rock, -- Our Savior

-The Son of God -- The Way, the Truth and the Life

*We are here today because Jesus is the Mighty God!

-And we must declare His might.

*Listen to the Lord Himself, as He spoke in Job 38:4-13. This paraphrase is from “The Message,” where the Lord asked Job:

4. “Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much!

5. Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that! Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?

6. How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone,

7. While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the angels shouted praise?

8. And who took charge of the ocean when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?

9. That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds, and tucked it in safely at night.

10. Then I made a playpen for it, a strong playpen so it couldn't run loose,

11. And said, 'Stay here, this is your place. Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.'

12. And have you ever ordered Morning, 'Get up!' told Dawn, 'Get to work!'

13. So you could seize Earth like a blanket and shake out the wicked like cockroaches?”

*This is our Mighty God, and His name is Jesus Christ!

*Think about the wonder of His creation.

-Take atoms for example: The actual material of an atom is only 1 trillionth of the volume, with the particles spinning around in little orbits. You think I’m small now. But if you could take me and squeeze out all the space, I would only be one 100 millionth of a cubic inch big!