Bible readings:
Psalm 120, Psalm 134, Ephesians 1:1-14
Sermon: Bless and be blessed
- Behold, bless ye (plural) the LORD, all ye servants(plural) of the LORD,
Which by night stand in the house of the LORD. - Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless the LORD. - The LORD that made heaven and earth
Bless thee (singular) out of Zion.
I Psalm 134 – A lovely dialogue between the pilgrims and the priests
II Applying Psalm 134 to the NT church
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;.
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Ephesians 1
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, …
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance
13 … in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
awq