Benediction Service
1 Chronicles 16:8-13 & 23-36
Benediction Service
- Today, we celebrate our final church service here at Living Faith Church
-- Last week, I said this would not be a funeral … and I meant it
- We won’t have a funeral for three simple reasons:
1. Our Savior is alive
2. He is still on His throne
3. He is calling us to go and make disciples
- FACT: God wants us to live lives of praise because of what He has done
- Today’s passage comes right out of His instructions to His people
-- It demonstrates how they should live – and I believe we can apply this today
- Read 1 Chronicles 16:8-13 & 23-36 / Pray
- TRANS: First, we are called to remember what God has done
Point 1 – Remembering what God has done
- Vs 8 – “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done”
- Vs 11 – “Think of the wonderful works He has done…”
- As we go about our day, it’s easy to forget what God has done
- We often become a people of griping and complaining instead of being thankful
- Let’s remember what God has done:
• Creation – He created it for us to enjoy/take care of
• Companionship – He gives us relationships with each other –spouse/family
• Provision – Food, shelter, health … He provides what we need
• Salvation – No greater act…no greater provision than eternal life
• Heaven – Provides a place to dwell with Him forever
- God woke us up this morning to enjoy another day being thankful for life
-- He gave us another day to recall all that He has done – to praise Him
-- APP: Truly, we ought to remember all that He has done for us
- TRANS: Second, we should desire to tell others what He has done
Point 2 – Tell others what He has done
- Vs. 9 – “Sing to Him; sing His praises. Tell everyone about His miracles.”
- Vs 24 – “…Tell everyone about the amazing things He does.”
- Vs 31 – “…Tell all the nations that the Lord is King.”
- These verses really are a challenge to look inward in response to God
- In the life of our church, we’ve seen many great things happen:
• Salvation and baptism of two children
• Re-affirmation/Re-dedication of faith of several
• Provision to move from incredible debt to flourishing (w/ 2 bldg changes)
• Attendance in church (for some who haven’t been in years)
• Community outreaches:
o 2 summer festivals
o Provided school backpacks for 50 children
o Gave dozens food baskets during several holidays
o City-wide witness of 5 living nativity scenes
o Welcomed 100+ families to Trunk or Treat
- Sadly, even in our successes we tend to dwell on the negative
-- Admit it: This is human nature – but it doesn’t mean it’s how we should be
- The world is already filled with enough negativity and sorrow
-- Biblically, we should be different because Christ has made us new
-- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) says, “What this means is those who have become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone, A new life has begun!”
- If we are to see people saved, we must tell people of His goodness;
- If we are to see lives changed, we must tell people of His goodness;
- Best advice: share your testimony of what He has done; not of our failures
- APP: If we won’t … it will drive people from Christ instead of to Him
- TRANS: Third, we should praise Him and look ahead to what He will do
Point 3 – Praise and imagine what else He will do
- This passage gives us two opportunities to be encouraged in everything we do
- First, let’s talk about living a life of praise:
- Vs 23 – “Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.”
- Vs 24 – “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”
- Vs 29 – “Ascribe (assign) to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”
- When we praise, we are showing others why we live joyfully
-- Anyone can go through the motions – but – will you and I walk the walk?
-- APP: Showing the glory of God must be shown by how we live … WHY?
- Vs 25 – “For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.”
- When we live out this verse; we show the glory of God to all we meet
-- We declare His character to everyone we come in contact with
- CHAL: Does our life live out one of praise and adoration because He is worthy?
-- Jesus in Matt 5:16 says it should, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.”
- We are to be living a praise-filled life that others can SEE the glory of God in us
- Second, knowing what He has done, we must imagine what else He will do:
- Vs 34-35, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise. Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.”
- God has allowed us to see His power, His majesty, and His works
- Because of that, we are able to imagine what else He can do
- Consider: Your favorite music song in the whole world
-- Remember when it was released? Remember how it made you feel?
-- Remember waiting for the “next album” to see if it would be just as good?
- The same can be said about how we look forward to what God will do because:
1. His love endures forever
2. He saves us from our sins
3. He gathers and delivers us from the nations
4. He allows us to praise Him and adore all that He is
- Imagining God’s wonders is easy if you have Christ within you
-- Even in the closing of our church – we can celebrate Him
-- APP: Church name: Living Faith … it was founded on idea “living our faith”
- FACT: We MUST celebrate all that He has done!
- This is where our life draws others to Christ … it is living our faith, faithfully!
- TRANS: So, what is our final challenge for Living Faith Church?
Big Idea – 3 things: Remember, tell others, imagine what’s coming next
- This has always been the calling of the people of God
-- To testify, to witness, and to look forward (b/c the old life is gone in Christ)
- Ask everyone to read v36 together: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
- Pray
** Special thanks to Rev Jimmy Dillon for the use of portions of this from a 2013 Thanksgiving message. **
