the climb journey towards holiness “easter blessings” psalm 134 “easter blessings” psalm 134

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““Easter Blessings” Easter Blessings” Psalm 134Psalm 134

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,

who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the

holy place and bless the Lord!May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!

Psalm 134

• “to speak well of”

In a bent knee proposal:In a bent knee proposal: “The man is offering himself

wholeheartedly to the woman, without reservations, elevating her to

an exalted position in their relationship, and offering her the choice to determine

the course of their relationship.”

In the Hebrew “to bless” can mean:

• “to kneel”

“Come” or “Behold” is the equivalent of God saying,

“Ahem!” or “Attention, please!”

Focus on giants—you stumble

Focus on God—giants tumble

Max Lucado

“God gets down on his knees among us; gets on our level and shares himself with us.

He does not reside afar off and send us diplomatic messages, he kneels among us.

That posture is characteristic of God. The discovery and realization of this is what

defines what we know of God as good news—God shares himself generously and graciously.”

Eugene Peterson

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

Psalm 134: an invitation to bless (worship)

Psalm 134: a command to bless (worship)

“For why do people lift their hands when they pray? Is it not that their hearts may be raised at the same time to God?” John Calvin

Easter morning - unbelief

Not believing in the resurrection takes as much faith

as believing in it

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance,

and if true, is of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

C. S. Lewis

Easter evening - hopeless

If Easter is true, it changes everything!

God exists or doesn't exist. Everyone must decide.

If you believe in God and he exists, you go to heaven. Infinite benefit.

If you don't believe in God and he exists, you don't go to heaven. Infinite loss.

If you believe in God and he doesn't exist, you gain nothing and lose nothing.

Blaise Pascal

The ClimbThe ClimbJourney towards holinessJourney towards holiness

““Easter Blessings” Easter Blessings” Psalm 134Psalm 134