Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Three Cups of the Lord

Theme: The Blessings of Being Under the Blood

“In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; He pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.

As for me, I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.

(Psalms 75:8-9) “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

(John.

6:37-40)

Our Righteousness Is In Christ Alone

Today’s passage of Scripture is set in a Psalm that has the characteristics of a Hymn of Thanksgiving.

Several passages of Scripture in Psalm 74 were prayers of Asaph.

This particular song of Asaph, Psalm 75 is a song of deliverance, of triumph and a Psalm of faith.

It is a song for the saints and a Hymn that proclaims the wonderful deeds of God.

The opening verse of Psalm 75 says, “We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.”

(Psalm 75:1)

I would propose to you that the blessings of being under the blood of Christ are many.

By coming under His blood we are found righteous.

His bloodshed paved the way for us to miss the wrath of God, purchased our salvation, and enables us to enjoy the blessings of God.

The Bible tells us to partake in the Lord’s Supper, “Communion,” “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

(1 Corinthians.

11:16) Biblically this is one very good way of showing our appreciation through obedience to the Word and telling others who observe us of Jesus’ sacrificial death upon the Cross.

The Word “Cup” Is Often Used In the Bible

The word “cup” is often used figuratively in the Bible for that which is portioned out and of which one is to partake.

Thus, it can mean God’s Judgments, His wrath or afflictions.

(Psalms 11:6; 75:8; Revelations 14:10) Jesus used this term regarding His sufferings.

(Matthew 26:39) He also used the term cup in reference to what some of his saints would suffer.

(Matthew 20:22) In the Old Testament the cup had also been applied to the blessedness and joy of the children of God, and the full provision made for their needs.

(Psalms 16:5; 23:5; 116:13)

Dr. Dewight Jones claims there are some 32 cups mentioned in the Word of God.

I would like for us consider three of them today.

1.)

The Cup of Wrath, 2.) The Cup of Salvation, and 3.) The Cup of Blessing.

Just what are the blessings of being under the blood of Christ?

Just what are the wonderful deeds done by Christ out of love for His Father and for us?

Before we can fully enjoy those blessings we must remember just what the blood of Christ redeemed us from.

Just what was the source that caused Jesus Christ to willfully lay down His life?

The Cup Of Wrath

There is a “cup of wrath” and we must recognize this truth as we come and take communion together as a Body of Christ.

The beloved John gives us this insight, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

(John 3:36)

“Wrath” (orge) here is “referring to divine judgment to be inflicted upon the unrighteous.”

This wrath of God is not an uncontrolled, unthinking, or a violent reaction.

It is a deep, sometimes permanent, thoughtful, controlled righteous anger that is good and deals justly with all who reject Christ.

This anger of God is aroused for several reasons.

1.) Romans 2:5 says “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.”

Unsaved people allow their hearts to become hardened and unrepentant.

Thus they spurn God’s love – rejecting His truths. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 tells us “He will punish those who do not… obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord.”

2.) Romans 1:18 says “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…” Paul’s epistle also tells us that, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to Him…” (Romans 1:21) Those who under the wrath of God, have by choice chosen to transgress God’s law.

3.) Ephesians 5:6 says “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”

God’s wrath (orge) here is a “decisive anger, a deliberate anger that arises from His very nature of holiness.”

This wrath is on the “disobedient” (apeitheia) -- those unbelievers who willfully walk in unbelief and are not persuadable.

They have an obstinate rejection of the will of God for their lives.

They live in defiance.

The Book of Ephesians also tells us this, “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person… has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians.

5:6) Ephesians 5:7 says clearly “Therefore do not be partners with them.”

God Is Holy And Righteous

God’s wrath is clear and active.

He is holy, righteous and pure as well as loving, gracious and merciful.

He executes justice as well as love.

He shows wrath and anger as well as compassion.

His wrath is both present and future.

Romans 1:18 tells us clearly that God’s wrath is present and active in this life.

Our introductory Scripture to this first division of the message was John 3:36 and it is best translated in the New American Standard Bible as “…the wrath of God abides on him.”….

In its proper context “the wrath of God ‘abides’ (meno) means to continue to live in, or rather sin remains upon.

More accurately, they remain in their sin.

God punishes the disobedient in this life most often by giving them over to uncleanness, to vile affections, to a reprobate mind.

Romans 1:24 says “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts…” Romans 1:28 says, “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done.”….

These two truths are set after the introductory verse Romans 1:18, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…”

People who are under this cup from God are like the burglar Walter B. Knight wrote about.

They know it’s wrong but they are bound by their sin, needing to be set free by Christ.

In Saint Paul, Minnesota, a thief broke into a U.S.O.

and stole $23.50.

He left a note to Mrs. Margaret Wood, the director, which read, “I am sorry I stole this.

There is a day when I will pay for my sin!”

I remember before I came to Christ, there were sins I would commit.

I hated it when I did it, but I was bound to it.

The Cup Of Salvation

There is undisputable fact.

There is a judicial judgment of God here and now as well for the future.

There is a cup of wrath for those who choose not surrender to the Lordship of Christ.

Another Biblical fact is that the Lord has a “Cup of Salvation.”

Psalm 116:13 says “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.”

The opening verse to Psalm 116 says, “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.”(v.1)

Many have placed Psalm 116 right up there with Psalm 23 and it appears to be in with a series of psalms that have a special place in the Passover liturgy.

It seems to be fourth in what some call a Paschal Hallel {halal}, meaning praise, which was sung or read on Passover Day.

It appears to some that Psalms 113-114 were read or sung before the meal and Psalms 115-118 were read or sung after the festive meal.

Several believe these psalms were sung by the Lord and the disciples on the night of the betrayal (Matthew 26:30) just before their departure for the Mt. of Olives.

Something else must be noted about Psalm 116.

It has all the appearance of being a personal song, in which the believing soul may be reminded of God’s love and power to deliver the man that calls upon the Name of the Lord.

Therefore, to fully enjoy the communion service one must personally be worshiping the Lord in spirit and truth.

We do not know for sure who wrote this psalm, but we know that he fully understood that the “…Lord [had] delivered [his] soul from death, [his] eyes from tears and [his] feet from stumbling…” This appreciative believer wrote “How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people”.

(Psalm 116:12-14)

Examination Before Communion

The illuminated child of God knows who delivered his soul from eternal damnation, he knows who sees his tears and can keep his feet from slipping.

That is why he takes time to examine himself before partaking in Communion.

He ask the probing question, “Am I living in a way that is worthy of the gospel I claim before my Lord and in the eyes of others?”

The born again Christian has the same assurance in his heart as the writer of Psalms 116.