Lakeview Christian Center

Praying Psalm 96

Sing a New Song

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day” (Psalm 96:1-2)

-God to bless this morning’s time of worship with His presence
-Those reluctant to worship expressively would be freed to celebrate God
-Anthem of salvation (v. 2) & exploring the “glories of Calvary” through song
-God to give us a “new song” – a fresh understanding, experience, & appreciation of who He is & what He has done
-Our corporate worship to display the greatness of God & the magnitude of grace

Declare His Glory Among the Nations

“Declare His glory among the nations; His marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods” (Psalm 96:3-4)

-God to use us in spreading a passion for His name to the remotest parts of the earth
-God to bless Sovereign Grace’s efforts to extend the church to the most unreached people
…1,569 unreached people groups in the world
…6,747 least reached groups (fewer than 2% evangelical)
-The Lord “to be feared above all gods” (v. 4) in nations presently trapped in idolatry
-Young & old in our church to sense a burden for local & global missions
-All in our church to experience the joy of declaring God’s glory among the nations

“Rising Generation”

The Pivot Ministry

“Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob” (Psalm 24:6)

-Producing present and future pillars in the church
-Young people to gain an other-worldly and eternal perspective
-Amplified passion for God and saturation in his Word
-Growing love for the church and sacrificial service for the Kingdom
-Both visitors and “wandering” Pivoters to be drawn to this weekend’s meeting

Youth Camp ’08: “SOAR”

“…they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles…” (Isaiah 40:31)

-Youth to gain an increased vision of God’s greatness
-Renewal of love for God, hunger for the Word, and commitment to righteous living
-Spirit to grant conviction of sin and godly repentance
-Experience of joy in the presence of God during corporate worship
-God to save the lost teenagers on the trip

“Spiritual Warfare: Fighting the Flesh”

The Enemy Within

“…your desires are at war within you…” (James 4:1)

-People who know ourselves rightly and guard ourselves accordingly (1 Cor. 10:12)
-Humility to pursue correction & accountability when we sin
-Freedom from the chains of lust, anger, bitterness, fear of man, and drug addiction that burden and immobilize many
-A holy church that hates sin biblically, battles the flesh faithfully, and loves Christ richly

Mortification by Vivification

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13)

Killing sin by bringing to life…
-Purity of mind instead of lust, pornography, and sexual immorality
-Genuine love for others instead of selfishness, jealousy, and fear of man
-Self-control instead of over-indulgence, greed, and carelessness
-Patience instead of anxiety, idolatry, and unbelief
-Gratitude instead of complaining, strife, and anger
“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8)

Quenching the passions of the flesh by the greater delight in God
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2)

Spiritual Warfare: The Battle of Thoughts

Battling the Attack on Truth

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God…” (2 Cor. 10:5a)

Defending truth in an age of….

-Marginalizing the clarity of Scripture and the knowability of God
-Belittlingly the preaching the Word and the proclamation of the Gospel
-Man-centeredness and the denial of God’s sovereignty
-Confusion about the Gospel and the work of Christ
-Emphasizing personal spirituality at the expense of the local church
-Muddling gender roles and the attack on Biblical manhood/womanhood

Battling our Functional Theology

“…and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5b)

Fighting thoughts that….

-Temporary pleasures of sin are more satisfying than the joy of Christ
-Current situations of difficulty are outside the realm of God’s sovereignty
-Past records of sin are beyond the reach of grace
-Our “common sense” and worldly wisdom are above the authority of God’s Word
-Another’s sin against me is greater than my sin before God
-Hidden sin will go away when I am ready to deal with it
-My husband/wife/child/friend will never change/repent/believe/come home/be healed