1 Corinthians 14:26 An Early Church Service of Worship “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”

The Thesis of Psalm 66 The L ORD is worthy of universal praise because of His mighty works of deliverance in the past and because He is ever faithful to deliver His praying people from distress at all times.

Themes of Psalm 66 1.God directly causes trials in order to refine His people’s character (vv ). 2.Believers should not neglect public praise and thanksgiving when God has done a work of grace (vv ). 3.God will answer His servants if their praise and prayer come from a pure heart (vv ). 4.God is faithful to show “loyal love” to His chosen (v. 20).

2 Corinthians 8:12; 9:7 “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Point #13—HPBC Statement of Faith Paul’s epistles stress “grace giving”: cheerfully and sacrificially contributing to the needs of the saints according to how the Lord has prospered us (2 Corinthians 8-9). Under this present dispensation of the Church, we ought to consider the OT tithe as the starting point of our giving; however, the elders should not compel members to contribute funds they do not have (2 Corinthians 8:12). Nevertheless, we must keep in mind that everything we have belongs to God; therefore, we should use it all to bring Him glory.

Psalm 22:11, 25 “Be not far from me, for trouble [distress] is near; for there is none to help.” “My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay my (“My” – NKJV) vows before those who fear Him.”

Numbers 30:2 and Exodus 20:7 “If a man makes a vow to the L ORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” “You shall not take the name of the L ORD your God in vain, for the L ORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

Matthew 5:37 Jesus here corrects the Jewish perversion that made oath-taking less than serious business: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Romans 13:8 “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

Personal Involvement in Worship (Lev. 1:1-6) The L ORD told Moses to speak to the children of Israel about their manner of worship: 1)You shall bring your costly offering to the right place (to the L ORD at the tabernacle). 2)You shall choose a male without blemish. 3)You shall identify yourself with the offering. 4)You shall kill, skin, and cut in pieces your offering.

Psalm 22:22-23 “I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. “You who fear the L ORD, praise Him. All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him. And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel.”

Sin Short-Circuits the Power of Prayer “The only thing that deactivates the energy of prayer is the corrosion of cherished iniquity.” The Apostle James wrote: “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (4:2-3).

The Reality of Answered Prayer: 1 John 5:14-15 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Hesed: God’s Unfailing Love Hesed involves God’s faithfulness to forgive, to show compassion toward, and to deliver His covenant people. To receive these benefits, the individual or nation must turn to the L ORD. “This righteous repentance will not be Israel’s doing... It will be because God’s sure love will find a way.”