Welcome to Reign of Grace. This program is brought to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries, an outreach ministry of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany, Georgia. It is our pleasure and privilege to present to you the gospel message of the sovereign grace and glory of God in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that today's program will be a blessing to you. Thank you for listening. And now for today's program. Welcome to our program. I'm glad you could join us.

And if you'd like to follow along in your Bibles, I'm going to be preaching from the Psalms, specifically Psalm 111. Psalm 111, which is a Psalm of praise, as they all are. Someone said years ago, I can't even remember who it was, but they said that if you want to learn to worship and learn to pray, read the Psalms. And that's a good bit of advice for any of us.

But Psalm 111, and the title of the message is The Great Works of the Lord. And this psalm sort of builds as it starts out and then gets to the climax in verses 9 and 10 and shows the greatest work of all, which is the work of redemption. God the Father sending God the Son into the world. As the book of Galatians chapter 4 tells us in verse 4, in the fullness of the time, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. But let's look at Psalm 111.

It starts out with the way that all worship should start out. And that is praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. That's how worship ought to begin. When you come together to worship, you know, there's so many congregations today that are religious. Many, many of them call themselves Christian. And when they come together, it's not really to praise the Lord, it's to entertain, it's to amuse, it's to make people feel comfortable. And it's not that I don't wanna make people feel comfortable, but I want your comfort to be in the Lord and not in yourself.

Isaiah said that, he said, comfort ye, comfort ye my people. Tell them that their sins are put away, doubly and they are sealed into the kingdom of God. But praise ye the Lord. The word that we use for that or we see in other passages is alleluia or hallelujah. That's what that means. Praise ye the Lord.

And when the Lord taught his disciples to pray in Matthew chapter six in what some people call the Lord's Prayer, but it should be called the model prayer. If you want to see the Lord's Prayer, go to John 17. That's where the Lord himself, the son of God incarnate, in view of his obedience unto death on the cross and his resurrection, that's where he prays to his father. That's the Lord's Prayer, John 17.

I've preached through that on this program several times. But the model prayer he starts out, he said, our God who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. In other words, God has a name above every name. And that's what praise ye the Lord means. It's not just words.

There used to be this program on TV called Praise the Lord, PTL they said it. And it was so ungodly, it really was. Somebody says, you shouldn't say that. My friend, their whole thing was about making money, trying to perform miracles that they couldn't perform, all of that. It's not just P-T-L.

It's praise the Lord. And the Lord here is the Lord God Jehovah, which means the Lord who saves sinners. And how does He save sinners? Well, He saves sinners by the works of His hands through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. And that's how He does it. It's by grace. by grace, the grace of God based upon the blood, the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And that's who the Lord is. You can't just say, praise the Lord and not know who he is. If you don't know who he is, you're not worshiping. Christ, in his high priestly prayer, the Lord's Prayer in John 17, he said, I believe it's in verse three, it may be verse two, you can check me out on that.

But he said, this is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. The only way to know God is through Christ, the Son of God incarnate. Colossians chapter two and verse nine says that in Him, in Christ, God the Son incarnate, God manifest in the flesh, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him.

So praise ye the Lord, the Bible says, the Psalmist says, I will praise the Lord with my whole heart. My whole being. In other words, this is not just surface religion. It's not just skin deep, you see. It goes to the very center, the heart. One guy, I think years ago, I can't remember who this is. As I'm getting old, my memories fail. If I don't write these things down. But he said religion in America is 3,000 miles wide and one inch deep. And I believe that's a correct commentary on a lot of it.

But our worship is in spirit and in truth. God desires a people to worship him in spirit and in truth. Sincerely, truthfully, understand that. If you're worshiping, listen, if you're in a church, an assembly of people who are trying to worship God under the preaching of a lie, a false gospel, lies about God. You're not worshiping God. God brings his people together to worship him in spirit and in truth. And he says with the whole heart, every fiber of your being, your mind, the heart in the Bible, refers to the inner person, the inner person. It's the mind, it's the affection, it's the will, it's the conscience, all of that.

And then he says, in the assembly of the upright. Now upright means a center saved by grace. That's what upright is. It's somebody who does right in the sense, not that they're perfect in themselves or by their works, but they're perfect in Christ, set forth and evidenced by their faith in Him, God-given faith in Him. And he says, and in the congregation, in the assembly. Now let's go on, look at verse two.

The works of the Lord are great. sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Every work that God does is great. Because God is great. Our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases. We can talk about his work of creation. We can talk about his work of providence, governing this world. God, He declares the end from the beginning because He determined it. Whatever God does is right. Whatever God does is wise. And then the ultimate that we're gonna lead up to here is the work of salvation. Salvation is of the Lord.

A lot of people don't understand that. They think salvation is of them. And they show that when they talk about Christ, they talk about Jesus, who came to earth to do what? Well, they say that he came to try to save everybody without exception. But the Bible does not say that. Now, I know that sounds bad to a lot of people and that turns them off, but truth is truth.

Christ himself said that he laid down his life for his sheep. That's who he came to save, his sheep. They're called the elect of God. They're called the church, the true church. Now, not churches popping all around here on this street corner and that street corner, but the true church. The word church, ecclesia, means called out ones. And the true church are the ones who are called out of the world and into the kingdom of God by the gospel. which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, the Jew first, the Greek also, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the justified shall live by faith. So who did Christ come to save? He came to save his sheep. He said it in John 6,

37. He said, all that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. And when did the Father give them to Him? Before the world began. Chose them in Christ and gave them to Christ. Put all the responsibility of their salvation upon Him. And that's a great work. It's the work of God.

So it's not a matter of Christ trying to save you and if you cooperate or choose Him, let Him, then you're safe. No, that's salvation of you. but salvations of the Lord, because God not only provides the ground of salvation, he provides the means of salvation, which is God-given faith, which we don't have by nature.

The prior Psalm here, the one before Psalm 111, Psalm 110, there's a verse there. If you look at verse three of Psalm 110, and here's what it says. It says, thy people, God's people, shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, thou hast the due of thy youth.

When are God's, by nature, we're not willing to come to God. That's why Paul wrote in Romans chapter nine, it's not of him that runneth, nor of him that willeth, but of God that showeth mercy. That's why John wrote in John 1, 12, and 13 that the new birth is not by the works of the flesh, it's not by the will of man, it's not by anything, it's of God. God makes us willing. A man asked me one time, he said, are you trying to say that God brings us to Christ against our will? No, I'm telling you that what God does when he brings one of his sheep to Christ, he changes our will.

And he does it by the power of conviction by the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin and of righteousness and of judgment through the gospel. That's what he does. That's why the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. But the works of the Lord are great. Man's work will fail. Even the successes we have here on this earth will ultimately fail because this earth is gonna be destroyed and made new. This earth is not our home to a believer.

And then look at verse three. It says, his work is honorable. Now what does that mean? And glorious means it glorifies him. His work doesn't glorify me and you. It doesn't give us room to boast, but it gives him room to boast. And it says in verse three, and his righteousness endureth forever. Now his righteousness is the key to salvation.

As I quoted Romans 1, 16 and 17, where Paul wrote, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation, to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and the Greek also. Now a lot of people will stop there and they'll say, see there, our believing is the key. No, no, our believing is the result. The effect, read verse 17, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed. There's the key. There's the foundation.

That's the work of Christ in his obedience unto death as the surety and the substitute and the redeemer and sealer and intercessor of his people. It's the imputed righteousness. That's what Paul wrote about in Romans chapter four when he was using Abraham. to teach this great truth. And he said in verse six that God described the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord imputeth, accounts, charges, reckons righteousness without works.

You see that? So the imputed righteousness of Christ is the only ground of salvation. And it's the source from which all spiritual life and faith and repentance and perseverance come. All of that. So his righteousness endureth forever. Now, if the ground of my salvation is the righteousness of Christ and it is forever, there's absolutely no way that I can lose my salvation.

Christ won't let me lose it. He's the keeper of it. That's why Paul said, I know whom I have believed and I'm persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. 2 Timothy 1.12 And what have I committed unto him? My whole salvation is committed to Christ. None of it's committed to me. Oh, I live out of it and I enjoy it and I strive in it because I want to persevere in the faith. But if Christ did not keep me, I'd fall away in a second. Look at verse four.

It says, he hath made his wonderful works to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. Now I know people have a hard time when they see the sinfulness of this world, wars, murders, all of that, sicknesses. And they say, well, how in the world can God be what we would call a gracious God? He is. But His graciousness is only in Christ. We know that. The Bible says that.

And all of this other stuff is the result of the sinfulness of man. But here's the thing. Out of all of this history of the world, when it comes down to the end of all things, it is God's wonderful works which will be remembered. Man's works will fade away. And it will be attested to that the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. But here's what I want you to know.

His grace and His compassion is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Come to Christ. Somebody might say, well, you said we weren't willing to come to Christ. You're not, but if you are, God has made you so. His people shall be willing in the day of His power. You see, you're not God. And your only hope of salvation is Christ.

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden. I'll give you rest, he said. And he said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Come to Christ. As I've quoted John 6, 37, all that the Father giveth to me, Christ said, shall come to me.

And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. I actually had a man tell me one time, he said, well, why would I come to him if I come to him and I wasn't given to him, he'll reject me. No, if you come to him with your whole heart, in the truth. That's the first evidence that you were given to him before the foundation of the world. And he'll never turn anybody away who comes to him in truth.

Verse five, it says, he hath given meat, some translations say prey, P-R-E-Y, he hath given meat unto them that fear him. Now to fear him is to worship him. To fear him is to believe him. That's not talking about legal fear of punishment or mercenary promise of earned reward. That's an ungodly fear that we all have by nature. Nobody wants to go to hell, and so they might muster up legal obedience, and that's an ungodly fear. But those that fear him worship him. It's a reverence. to God. It's a respect to God. And they fear Him.

He will ever be mindful of His covenant. Now there's the key. Now what covenant is He talking about? He's talking about the covenant of grace. Made before time began, before the world was ever created, between the Father and the Son and the Spirit. It's always been in the mind of God.

It's never been different. but it's a covenant of salvation and redemption and grace where God promises to save his people of his choice by his grace through the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so in verse six, he says, he has showed his people the power of his works that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. In other words, what men and women Try to accumulate here on this er, thinking that it's a blessing when it's not. The heritage of the heathen, what is that? It's eternal life, the new earth, the new heavens. Only God's people are gonna possess it and live in it and enjoy it. The heathen won't. Those who deny God, deny Christ, will not inherit this. They will not enjoy it. They will not possess it. And that's the power of his works. And he says in verse seven, the works of his hands are verity, which means honest and true, and judgment, righteous.

All his commandments are sure, sure and certain. I think about David on his deathbed, King David. He said this, he said, although my, in 2 Samuel 25, I believe it is, He said, although my house be not so with God, my family, my kingdom was a mess, God hath made with me a covenant ordered in all things and sure. And this is all of my salvation and all of my desire. And that's the covenant of grace.

Now, how can it be sure? His commandments be sure. His promises be sure. Well, it's because Christ is the surety of the covenant. If God made me the surety of the covenant, it would fail, because I'm a sinner. If He made you the surety, the best person on earth, it would fail, because we're sinners. But God has made His Son the surety of the covenant.

And all the promises of God in Christ are in him, amen, and sure, 2 Corinthians 1.20. Well, his commandments are sure. Verse eight says, they stand fast forever and ever. They're established. They're set in stone and cannot be changed and are done in truth and uprightness. That's the God of the Bible.

That's why he only saves by grace. The gospel is the gospel of grace and it cannot be anything else. It cannot be grace plus works because our works would corrupt it. It cannot be works plus grace. One cancels out the other. It's all of grace based upon the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's it. There's nothing else for it. Nothing else to do with it. And so look at verse nine.

Here's the greatest work of all. God sent redemption unto his people. Now, what is redemption? Well, that's Christ, the Redeemer, paying the redemptive work, paying the price of their salvation, of their freedom, which was his own blood. He redeemed his people with his own blood. By one offering, the Bible says, he hath perfected forever them who he died for. And so God sent redemption to his people. And that redemption was all in the person and work of the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It says he hath commanded his covenant forever. It'll never change. God has always saved sinners according to the terms of the covenant of grace. And what are the terms of the covenant of grace? The gospel. Salvation conditioned on Christ, who by himself, as God manifest in the flesh, and as the representative surety and substitute and redeemer of his people, fulfilled all those conditions, and listen to this, to secure the salvation and final glory of every sinner for whom he died was buried and arose again. That's the conditions, that's the terms of the covenant. And God has commanded it forever. You know, some preachers tell people that God saved differently in the Old Testament. But He didn't. It was all by grace. The first thing said about Noah was, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

And it says, holy and reverend is his name. Now, all these works, and this work of redemption, this covenant work of redemption and salvation and glory, This sets God's name, his person, his character, his nature, his glory apart from everything, everyone else. Holy and reverend. His name is to be revered. Now that's why I don't like it when people attach the title reverend to a human being. You know the Catholics call the Pope Holy Father. Oh no, God is the Holy Father. I'm not Reverend Parker, I'm pastor or I'm just Bill.

And verse 10 he says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all they that do his commandments, his praise endureth forever. That's the climax right there. All of it. to the praise of the glory of His grace, His wisdom, His power, His goodness, His commandments, His praise endureth forever.

I hope you'll join us next week for another message from God's Word. We are glad you could join us for another edition of Reign of Grace. This program is brought to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries, an outreach ministry of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany, Georgia. To receive a copy of today's program or to learn more about Reign of Grace Media Ministries or Eager Avenue Grace Church, write us at 1102 Eager Drive, Albany, Georgia. Contact us by phone at 229-432-6969 or email us through our website at www.TheLetterRofGrace.com. Thank you again for listening today and may the Lord be with you.