Step it up – shut it Down sermon
Psalm 128: 2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.
- Today, I want to share a simple message: “Step it up and Shut it Down!
- Psalm 128 outlines a path for happiness, blessings, wealth, and favor-
- Verse 1: 1 Happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways.
- Verse 2: You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.
- Psalm 128 is described as a “Psalm of Ascents”
- If you want to be blessed, you have to be faithful and willing to work
- Some people have a lot of faith, but could care less about applying themselbes
- Others apply themselves, but could care less about faith in God
- For you and me, in many cases, we simply have to challenge ourselves to “Step it up”!
- Last week, the 15 top academic achievers at the Plymouht Educational Center received high powered laptop computers from janet and Charlie Martin as a reward for their academic avhiebement… (They have “Stepped it up” academically)
- Note: one of the children who last Christmas was in transitional housing with his mother and sisters…
- I have been asking myself, “Why does that little boy choose to study and get good grades?”
- Let me share with you a few thoughts about what it takes to “Eat the fruit of the labor of your hands…”
- The Psalmist is applauding people who worship the Lord and walk in the ways of the Lord
- In other words – “Righteousness”
- What the writer is saying is this – If you are faithful to God, God will cause you to prosper~
- The prosperity and favor of God are not by accident
- The prosperity and favor of God come with a requirement:
- Faith, righteousness, and personal hard work
- Some people have faith, but they do not want to labor
- Other people are bent on trying to, take short cuts and beat the system
- Example:
- People who purchase airplane ticket then start fighting in the air
- Then, there are times when success seems impossible
- In Matthew 19, Jesus reminds his disciples that, “With God, all things are possible”
- Jesus told them that the key was prayer and faith
- Even with prayer and faith we have to learn how to “Step it up”
- This is why church is important
- You and I need to “Step it up Spiritually
- Prayer
- Meditation
- Practice
- Attitude
- Christmas Eve we had a prayer service that lasted 4 hours
- Another side of “Stepping it up “ is somethings need to be shut down
- You can’t have it both ways!As I consider the lingering vestiges of racism, I keep thinking to myself, the nation has to develop the will to simply shut it down…
- I go through my day trying to walk a closer walk with God…
- In my own way, I am trying to step it up to get closer to Jesus..
- My encouragement is that you make a commitment to step it up
- Step it up and shut it !
Questions for Reflection:
- What are your thoughts about this sermon?
Written by Pastor Nick Hood3
Video by Rita White and Jabari Anderson
Additional Prayers Photos and Meditations from Pastor Nick Hood3 at https://nicholashoodiiiministries.wordpress.com/
More about the ministry, mission, and meditations from Pastor Nick Hood3 at www.nicholashoodiiiministries.org and www.puccdetroit.org
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Thank you,
Nick
Nicholas Hood III Ministries 
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