Journal for Christ: Humble Exaltation

March 4, 2018

Worship: Holy by Matt Redman

What heart could hold the weight of Your love
And know the heights of Your great worth
What eyes could look on Your glorious face
Shining like the sun 2X

[Chorus]
You are holy, holy, holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are holy, holy, holy
Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are

Your name alone has power to raise us
Your light will shine when all else fades
Our eyes will look on Your glorious face
Shining like the sun
Who is like You, God?

[Chorus]
Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are

Who shall we say You are
You're the living God
Who shall we say You are
You're the great I am
The highest name of all
You are all You say You are

[Chorus]2X

And You shall come again in glory
To judge the living and the dead
All eyes now look on Your glorious face
Shining like the sun
Who is like You, God?
You're holy
Only You are holy

You are holy, holy, holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are holy, holy, holy
Jesus, You are (6X)

Writer/s: JASON INGRAM, JONAS MYRIN, MATT REDMAN
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Spirit Music Group, ESSENTIAL MUSIC PUBLISHING, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Lyrics: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?lyrics=23559

Video: https://youtu.be/nQ8MFn4yikA

Note: This is a very Christ-exalting song. However, there may be a “Oneness doctrine” that might be inferred from the song because of its exclusion of the Father and the Holy Spirit in the lyrics and the line in the song which says, Who is like You, God?.” Matt Redman does not come from a Oneness denominational background such as the United Pentecostals. Therefore, I don’t believe that was his intention in writing the song. To avoid such an inference, I would change the lyrics to say, “Who is like You, Lord?”

Witness:

The other night at work, an undefined feeling of anxiousness began to well up inside of me. At first, I thought it was because things felt out of control and disorganized in my life. I thought,

“If I could just get things like my finances under control or If I could just plan my time better, then I wouldn’t feel this anxiety. If I could just be assured of the future. If I could do something concerning my wife, children’s problems, and finances. If I just had more faith to trust and to know all will work out in the end.”

As I continued to mull over this feeling it dawned on me that God was the source of my anxiety. Now before you pick up stones to throw at me, let me explain. God is sovereign. He brings all things to pass for a purpose. God was allowing this anxiety to gnaw at me to reveal to me that I am not in control.

HE IS IN CONTROL!!!

WORD:

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing I ask of the Lord,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

NIV (84)

Ps 27:4-6

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—

the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

delighting in the Lord’s perfections

and meditating in his Temple.

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

he will hide me in his sanctuary.

He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

6 Then I will hold my head high

above my enemies who surround me.

At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

singing and praising the Lord with music.

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

KJV

Ps 27:4-6

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up

above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

ESV

1. Presence – David earnestly desired to personally experience God’s presence – v. 4

2. Protection – Which led to experiencing God’s protection – vs. 5

3. Promotion – And experiencing exaltation – v. 6

4. Praise – And culminating in God’s praise – v. 6

Building upon the presence and protection David spoke of in verses 4-5 is the promotion David expected to come from such protection. I hesitate to use the word “promotion” because it usually refers to a position earned through hard work and effort (though it could also come through favoritism or nepotism). That is not the case here. Before I delve into the details of verse 6, I want to make that clear. For this “promotion” or “exaltation" is wholly because of God's grace. It comes from seeking and dwelling in God’s presence. Because of the battle we face every day - the conflict between our flesh and our spirit – we must examine our motives when it comes to our Christian walk. Our desire for the bountiful blessings of the Triune God in our life can quickly become a blasphemous grab for position and power and prestige.

Consider these examples:

· Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." Mark 10:35-40 NIV

· When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! Acts 8:18-21 NIV

· "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." Luke 20:46-47 NIV

Such desires come from a distorted view of God’s sovereignty and one’s own self-importance.

The antidote to these distortions is:

· Done Humility - Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10 NIV (see also 1 Peter 5:5-6)

· Deflect Praise - "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matt 5:14-16 NIV

· Do for Others - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil 2:3-4 NIV