Category: Loyalty
Subject: Loyalty
Who Is This King of Glory?
In Psalm 24, David testified to the glory of the Lord — the earth and all that is in it belonging to Him. In verses 7-10 he proclaimed:
“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory” (Psalms 24:7-10).
In establishing that the earth belongs to God, and His is the “King of glory”, the question is who will be accepted by Him? Who will have a place of honor in the kingdom of the King of glory? This question was actually answered by David earlier in the Psalm, which in turn gives us a clear understanding of God’s values. “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully” (Psalms 24:3-4).
God requires loyalty and purity from those who He will allow to approach and serve Him. His own righteousness requires the same from us. We are to be holy, because He is holy! (cf. Leviticus 11:44-45).
Sermon: One Another
An examination of both the Lord’s words, and Paul’s writings, showing how Christians are to treat one another.
Sermon: Are You a Friend TO Jesus?
In order to be a friend of Jesus, like Abraham, you need to be friendly. I.e. – You need to be a friend TO Jesus. Things like sacrifice, loyalty and faith. Are YOU a friend TO Jesus?
Sermon: You have left your first love
Sermon by Brantley Gallman.
The Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:2-ff) is accused by the Lord, “You have left your first love.” This phrase is discussed in this lesson.
Lovingkindness (Hesed)
Lesson 7 of 9, Fall 2016 Gospel Meeting. Speaker: Jeremiah Cox.
The Old Testament Hebrew word “Hesed,” translated in Psalm 36:7 as “Lovingkindness” describes a wonderful concept regarding a righteous man’s interaction, both with God and with his fellow man.
In the News: “Stand by You”
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is not the same as it used to be. Nowadays it serves as a way for current pop stars to sing snippets of their latest songs. It’s good advertising, I suppose, but kind of awkward to see the artist standing on a float that has nothing to do with his or her song, obviously lip synching for 35 or 40 seconds.
This morning Debbie had the parade on, and since the football game hadn’t started, I was watching. A young singer, Rachel Platten, was singing a portion of her song, “Stand by You.” Here is a portion of the lyrics:
Even if we’re breaking down, we can find a way to break through
Even if we can’t find heaven, I’ll walk through Hell with you
Love, you’re not alone, cause I’m gonna stand by you
Even if we can’t find heaven, I’m gonna stand by you
Excessive Loyalty
Loyalty is a good thing. A very good thing. Consider the beautiful expression of Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi, “But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me’” (Ruth 1:16-17).
Loyalty to God must be absolute. Divided loyalties are unacceptable. There is no way to be excessively loyal to Him. As Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”
Loyalty: An Inner Beauty
One of the most beautiful passages in all of scripture, illustrating the exalted virtue of loyalty, is found in Ruth’s statement of love for her mother-in-law Naomi.
“But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, {or to} turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people {shall be} my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if {anything but} death parts you and me.'” Ruth 1:16-17
Certain aspects of this relationship between a woman and her daughter-in-law strike me as especially notable.
Podcast: The Beauty of Loyalty
Podcast Number 58
Using the declaration of Ruth’s love and loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi, recorded in Ruth 1:16-17, we are able to recognize the importance and beauty of such an attribute for the Christian.
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