JanMary

Q1. (Colossians 1:15a, 19) The great understanding of Judaism was that God is spirit, not physical. That he is invisible. Any idol that tries to depict him is blasphemous. So what is the significance of the statement that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God"? The significance is that Jesus isn't an imagined copy or an attempt to depict God....He is the visible representation of the invisible. . According to verse 19, to what degree does this image accurately represent God? Jesus is the sum total of the divine perfection, powers and attributes of God the Father. Is Jesus actually God in the flesh, or only a manifestation of God, a kind of holograph? (A holograph might be like Princess Leia in Star Wars sending a message through R2-D2: "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope....") Jesus is God in the flesh. He is the firstborn of all creation, for in Him all things were created in Heaven and on earth, seen and unseen, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities....all exist through Him, by Him, in Him and for Him.

Q5. (Colossians 1:13-14) What are the two qualities mentioned in verse 14 that characterize the "kingdom of his beloved Son"? Redemption; forgiveness What did the idea of redemption mean in the Greek? It means "to buy back" In what way did Christ "redeem" us? With Adam's "fall", Satan was given rightful authority over the earth and it's people. Only a sinless Man could buy us back legally from Satan, and Jesus purchased us when He died on the cross and shed His innocent blood for us. What is the significance of the fact that our sins are forgiven in this kingdom? We now live as aliens in a fallen world. We no longer face judgement or God's wrath; We live as free men/women among a world of people who are enslaved to sin and Satan, though most don't know that they are. That's part of the significance of our forgiveness....we can share christ with them and throw a life line to them to enter the Kingdom of God with us.

Q4. (Colossians 1:12-13) What are the three or four action verbs in verses 12 and 13 that paint a picture of salvation? Has delivered; and drawn us to Himself; Out of darkness ; into the Kingdom of the son of Light. Who performs the action? The Father Who is it performed on? Those who are drawn by the Father to His Son who then become God's holy people In what way were we "qualified/enabled/made meet"? We said "Yes" to His invitation In what way were we "rescued" or "delivered"? We were held captive in the dominion of darkness by Satan, and God plucked us out of satan's hands, and brought us into the Kingdom of His Son where He keeps delivering us from ourselves, from bondages, from sin and woundedness.

Q3. (Colossians 1:12-13) Why does Paul use the terms darkness and light to portray his readers past and future? Before coming into Salvation in Christ, the life is lived in ignorance and absence of God's truth...that Jesus is the Light of the world and in Him is no darkness at all. Why does he remind them where they came from? Paul is building on the previous verses message, that the Christian life is to be lived in Christ....His Spirit living through us more and more as our fleshly desires are crucified more and more....that all power comes from Him, and that our darkened former lives produced only sin. What is "the inheritance of the saints in light" that he mentions? He is our inheritance. We share as equals Christ's inheritance. In verse 13 we find two terms used of governing bodies. How are they contrasted in verse 13? The dominion of darkness which bondage He delivered us out of, by drawing us to Himself, versus the Kingdom of the Son of His love. In what sense are subjects "governed" in each? In the dominion (domination) of darkness the subjects are controlled and kept in chains of bondage and darkness. In the Kingdom of God, the subjects are governed by Jesus, in love.

Q2. (Colossians 1:9-12a) What are the elements of Paul's prayer for the Colossian believers? The 3 main elements are for the believers to come into the full knowledge of God's will, wisdom, purposes and understanding of spiritual things; that they walk worthy of His calling; and that they be strengthened and filled with all power. What are the seven or eight specific results that he prays will be produced in their lives? These he prays will produce lives fully pleasing to God, and that they would desire to please Him in all things, that they bear fruit in every good work, that they will grow in Him and increase in and by God's knowledge with deeper, clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition. That their powerful lives bring glory to Him and that they might exercise every kind of endurance and patient perseverance and forbearance with joy. Which of these are most important in a Christian disciple? Which, do you think are least important. I tried to think which ones don't really matter all that much, and could not find any that are not essential to the Christian life. What happens when some are missing? If power if missing, the disciple is weak and ineffective. If knowledge of His will or the desire to do His will is missing, the life is lived in the flesh, rather than the Spirit. This disciple will be an easy prey for Satan to attack and keep in bondage. The lack of knowledge of God and His powerful Sovereignty, will leave the disciple filled with unbelief and fear. The full prayer will produce a humble, loving, powerful child of God and effective witness to the unbeliever, because their lives show the hand of God in them and they walk in His joy.

Q1. (Colossians 1:5-6) Paul glorifies the gospel, the good news. What words does he use to describe the action of the gospel in verses 5 and 6? He uses "the hope of experiencing what is laid up, reserved and waiting for you in Heaven"; the truth of the Gospel; the Gospel is bearing fruit, growing by its' inherent power". His words point out that the Gospel is alive and life changing, full of the Power of Jesus. Given the temptation the recipients have to adopt another religious philosophy, why do you think he reminds them of the world scope of the gospel's influence? He wants them to know that they are not a little isolated band of believers who can change the Gospel by the whims of false teachers as it suits them, but are a living part of the Body of Christ which was birthed with Jesus' death and Resurrection, and that the Gospel is TRUTH, which must be preserved and continued to be preached around the world. They were not to become ingrown as if they had the freedom to pervert the Gospel to suit the "popular" mode of the day to day false teaching, but must fight for the truth as they'd received it, to be preserved, because "the world" is at stake and depending upon them to spread the good news. What happens in our day when a church becomes embarrassed or unimpressed with the gospel message? How does this affect the church? It becomes stagnant, powerless, miracles cease, love wanes, and often is no more than a "clique" to meet with on Sunday for a "feel good" check mark in the box of church attenders. Each church that deteriorates to this level is like a spot of cancer which can spread, if not to other churches, then to those who come seeking truth, who then leave disappointed or stay to become another part of the sickness and decay. And like the church in Laodicea in Revelations, Jesus is standing outside the church knocking on the door to get inside, as in many of the churches today.

Q4. (5:13-14) What does it tell us about the status of the Lamb that he is worshipped alongside "him who sits on the throne"? He is Almighty God, and to Him is ascribed the blessing and honor and majesty, (glory, splendor) and the power and might and dominion forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities!) Rev.5,13,14. Amplified. The government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (of eternity), Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of Peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over his Kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from the latter time forth, ever forevermore. Is. 9:6,7. He has always existed and will continue to exist as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! All Praise to our Awesome and Majestic, all Powerful God! Thank you Father for sending Your Lamb/Son to purchase my soul from the enemy, that I might spend all of eternity with you, praising You!

Q3. (Revelation 5:5) What has the Lamb done to "triumph" and so become worthy to take the scroll and open its seals? (Hint: See the "for" or "because" clause in 5:9 for the answer.) The first man, Adam, created in God's image, succumbed to the temptation of Satan and fell into sin. The second Man, Jesus, who was perfect and sinless, sacrificed Himself on the cross of Calvary to purchase men/women with His blood unto God from every tribe, language, people and nations, from their fallen state. His triumph gave Him the authority to open the scroll with its' seven seals, because He has the power to execute what is written there.

Q2. (Revelation 5:6) Decode (that is, identify) each of the following symbols that relate to the Lamb: The lamb itself represents .... the perfect, spotless, sinless, Son of God who sacrificied His own blood, shed for the remission of my sins and those of the whole world. Standing after being slain indicates ...The triumphant Resurrection of Jesus on the third day, after His death on the Cross and burial. Horns represent ....Almighty power, Omnipotence. The sevenfold Holy Spirit of God. He has all Authority in Heaven and on earth. Eyes represent ...Omniscience..all knowing, all seeing. The sevenfold Holy Spirit of God. The number seven carries the idea of ...completion. Seven is the number for God...for perfection. To summarize, then, the Lamb has the qualities of being ....God. He left glory in Heaven to come to earth to die and conquer sin, death and the grave, and has now returned in triumph to glory, having opened the way for all believers to spend eternity with Him. He is the perfect representation of God the Father....in human form, now seated at the right hand of the Father. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords...before whom very shortly, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD. Even so, Come Lord Jesus!

Q1. (Revelation 5:5) Why is the Lamb called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" and "the Root of David"? Jesus was fully man and fully God...as a perfect man He died as our sacrificial Lamb, having completed the mission for which He came to earth. Now victorious over sin, death and the grave, He rose triumphant, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, our God and King forever, once again robed in the royal robes of glory He put aside to come to save us....seated on the throne of David. What do these titles signify about him? That He is God, the promised Messiah, King, Creator, Savior. Every prophecy about Messiah was fulfilled in Him. He came to earth to die and to conquer death for those who will receive Him as Savior and Lord. He is our soon coming King, Who will one day crack the sky and call us to rise up to meet Him in the air to be with Him forever. So amazing to belong to Him, to be God's child, His bride, to know that one day soon we'll see His precious face radiant with glory!!!!

Q5. In what way does each celebration of the Lord's Supper anticipate a future Passover meal? (Matthew 26:29; Luke 13:28-29; 14:15; 22:30; Revelation 19:9; 1 Corinthians 11:26) Jesus said at the Last supper, that He would not drink the fruit of the vine again until He drinks it with us in His Father's kingdom....we have the marriage supper of the Lamb to look forward to in Heaven...what an awesome celebration that will be with the overcoming Saints! Each time we celebrate the Lord's Supper, we not only remember all that He has done for us, but is one step closer to that time with Him in eternity! It's the countdown of when we meet our Bridegroom face to face! "Even so Lord, COME QUICKLY" Gives me goosebumps to even think about!!!

Q4. Why is it so important to forgive those who have offended us before partaking of the Lord's Supper? The Lord's supper is in memory of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, that provided His cleansing for all of my sins. It would be dishonoring to the Lord to take Communion, when I refuse to forgive others sins against me. I'm told to examine myself before Communion to "detect my shortcomings and recognizing my own condition"...a reminder to keep a clean slate of others sins as well as my own. In what sense are the Lord's Supper and unforgiveness incompatible? (Consider Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:27; Matthew 6:14-15; 5:23-24; James 5:16.) The Lord's supper is acknowleging His convenant with me that I'm forgiven and delivered from Bondage to sin (and unforgiveness toward others). It's hypocrisy to take Communion while harboring unforgiveness in my heart. This would be a display of self righteousness...."my sins are forgiven, but I'm going to hold yours against you!"

Q3. Why should the words, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28) fill us with sorrow? The sorrow is a solemn and grievous reminder that my sins could only be cleansed by the shedding of the blood of the Son of God.....the reminder of the great cost, and the agony and suffering which were rendered for me. Why should they fill us with joy? There is great joy in knowing that He would rather die than to live without me for eternity. That He loves me enough to pay that enormous price to redeem me. Sin without forgiveness brings despair, hopelessness, brokenness, and damnation. To know that I'm free from all of that brings unspeakable JOY and gladness!!!! Jesus was willing to suffer, "for the joy that was set before Him".....He saw me when He looked into the future and felt joy knowing that I would "choose to be chosen"...HIS. Knowing that His gift was freely given and done with joy, brings me joy.

Q2. Compare the annual Jewish Passover celebration meal in Jesus' day with the Christian's celebration of the Lord's Supper. Where are the similarities? Where are the differences? The Passover meal was a memorial for the ancient Jews of their deliverance from bondage to Pharoah and their enslavement in Egypt, celebrated on the eve of their journey to the Promised land. It was eaten with shod feet, staff in hand, loins girded, in haste. An innocent lamb's blood was shed for each family unit, roasted over fire (symbolic of judgment), completely intact, with none to remain until morning. The roasted lamb, wine and unleavened bread (symbolic of freedom from corruption and sin) were eaten. Preparation included the lambs blood being painted on the wooden doorposts with bunches of hyssop, (cleasing herb) so the angel of death would pass by those inside, sparing them from the judgment God was pouring out upon the false gods of Egypt. (v12), including the death of the first born son and animal of those who'd held them captive for 400 years. The Lord's supper is the New Testament fulfillment of the Passover feast for each believer in Jesus Christ. The Passover was celebrated by every Jew, while the Lord's supper is open only to believers but in every nation, tongue and kindred. While the Passover consisted of roasted lamb, wine and unleavened bread, the Lord's supper consists of unleavened bread and the blood of the grape...Jesus said "I AM the bread of life"....."This is my body broken for you"...."This is my blood of the New Covenant being poured out for many....." He is the innocent and perfect lamb who was slain on Calvary whose shed blood was God's judgment on sin and the breaking of the stronghold of Satan over us. None of His bones were broken (the lamb roasted intact over fire). The Lord's supper provides strength for our journey with Him through life and reminds us that we are cleansed from sin and all unrighteousness because of His shed blood. Passover was celebrated separately by family units. Communion is celebrated in large groups by the "family of God"....body of Christ. Passover and The Lord's supper are solemn and holy, focusing on deliverance and utter dependence upon God for freedom.

Q1. In what way did the lambs on the first Passover protect the families of God's people? (Exodus 12) A yearling lamb without spot or blemish was selected for each family from their flock. It was kept and examined until the 14th day, then killed in the evening. The blood was to be placed on two sides of the door posts and on the lintel above the door posts of the houses where the lamb was cooked and eaten. When the angel of death moved throughout the area, He passed by the blood and the first born sons (& the first born animals) inside were not killed. What is the primary point of comparison between the first Passover lambs and what Christ did for us as our Passover Lamb? The primary comparison is that Jesus is our Passover lamb of sacrifice. When we are "marked" by His blood, we are delivered from bondage from sin, and from the second death which leads to hell for those not cleansed by the blood of Christ. There is much symbolism as well. The lamb was selected on the 10th day and examined each day for defects then killed on the 14th day. Jesus was "examined" by the spiritual leaders of His day in 4 trials. The meat at Passover was to be entirely consumed at the meal, none left until morning. Jesus body was taken down from the cross" before morning" or the beginning of the Sabbath. The killing of the first born of Egypt was a judgment against the false gods of Egypt, to demonstrate their powerlessness. Jesus death was judgment upon all sin. The wilderness Passover was to be celebrated each year at the same time as a memorial forever. Jesus told us to eat the bread and drink the cup (Communion) in remembrance of Him and His death, burial and resurrection until we are with Him in Heaven. The unleavened bread symbolized freedom from corruption. Jesus body was perfect and sinless, He died on the 14th day and said " I am the Bread of Life". The Passover was to be told to future generations "This is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover". Jesus sacrificed His life and shed His blood to cleanse our sin and "Passover" each believer from being Judged. The blood on the wooden doorposts, is a type and shadow of Jesus blood on the Cross. Moses told them to spread the blood with bunches of hyssop, a medicinal, cleansing herb. Jesus was offered wine with bitter gall on a stalk of hyssop, when He cried "I thirst"....then cried "It is finished", and gave up His Spirit. God is a God of great detail, so that no one can say "I didn't understand". Thank you Lord for Your great Sacrifice for me!

Q5. Extra Credit: In what sense have we been set free or relased from slavery to sin? Before I was born again from above, I was chained to "the world, the flesh and the devil", unable to escape and unable to resist the pull to do, say, or think the wrong thing. Sometimes sheer will power helped me, but that wasn't "being set free"...it was the flesh winning a minor skirmish of some sort. When the Lord came to live within me, His shed blood on the cross of Calvary "broke, demolished, removed" all bondage and enslavement to sin. Now I have a choice and the power (when I call upon Him to do so....He never forces His will on us) to resist sin. Why do we need the Holy Spirit to help us keep this freedom? Exposition It's His Holy Spirit Who is the power source. When I rely on my flesh to resist, I will fail because my flesh was not and is not equipped to defeat Satan. It's the Blood which defeated him. When I call upon His power, victory over the temptation comes. I read a Daily Bread devotion years ago which helped me as a new believer "get" this concept. It spoke about a little girl finally understanding this, and she told her Mother, "Now when Satan knocks at the door, I send Jesus to answer!".....that sentence stayed with me, and reminds me if I'm about to rely on "will power" to resist, that it's time to ask Jesus to intervene. He never fails!

Q4. According to the slave-ransom analogy, who is the slave? I was. What is he enslaved by? I was enslaved by the world, the flesh and the devil. Who offers the ransom? My loving Father...God If Satan is involved in the enslaving process, why isn't the ransom paid to him? Because he was a usurper and deceiver. I was God's creation, so He bought back that which belonged to Him in the first place but who was lost. As a new believer 37 years ago, someone explained that concept to me in this way: A boy made a toy sailboat and took it to the stream to set it adrift. The rapid caught it and swept it downstream, out of the boys reach and it was lost. Sometime later, he saw another boy with his sailboat. He told the boy he had made it and would like to have it back. The boy refused saying "Finders keepers losers weepers", but relented when he was offered money as a "ransom" to buy back that which belonged to the boy who made it. Why isn't the slave-ransom analogy spelled out completely in the New Testament? Exposition Because the analogy breaks down at the point of who actually receives the ransom. Satan didn't receive the ransom, he was defeated...declawed...defanged, so to speak, and stripped of his power to control me through Jesus shed blood on the cross. The ransom was paid in advance for my freedom!

Q3. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) How should we disciples apply the principles: "You are not your own, you were bought with a price"? With tremendous joy and gratitude, expressed in extravagant worship and praise to our God who loved us enough to die for our salvation! How should this affect our living? My life is no longer my own, so my will must be surrendered to His will and purposes....to live according to His heart and desires, rather than my own. My attitude is not one of drudgery and slavery to my new master, but one of intimacy and love....I love Him because He first loved me.

Q2. What comparisons do you see between Jesus and the role of the Old Testament type of the Kinsman-Redeemer? This analogy is so beautiful! Boaz is a "type and shadow" of Jesus Who was to come. The Kinsman-Redeemer had to be a blood relative who was in a position to pay the debts and set the one free who was in bondage and unable to do so. Jesus paid the price with His death/blood, and redeemed, ransomed "whosoever will come" from the enslavement to Satan whom the Bible says is our father, until we allow Him to become our "kinsman-Redeemer", Savior. Jesus then becomes our advocate who avenged our captivity to Satan, when He defeated him at Calvary. (Sometimes I forget that Satan IS A DEFEATED FOE....because he shouts with a huge megaphone...but he has no power except that which I allow him because my Redeemer is my new owner!) Boaz redemption brought Ruth and Naomi into his inheritance just as Jesus has done for me...I'm a joint heir with Him. Jesus tells me not to seek revenge, but to forgive...He will deal with any who attack me. What a mighty Savior who left nothing undone for those who choose to receive Him!

Q1. In the New Testament world, what class of humans were freed by payment of a redemption price or a ransom? Those who were held captive as slaves. Why do you think that Jesus, Peter, and Paul used this analogy in this week's theme verses? Slaves were the property of the one who owned them and were unable to gain freedom except through death or being purchased and given freedom by a benevolent benefactor, but this was highly unusual. This was a fitting analogy to explain the redemption of the fallen human race through the blood of the lamb of God, Jesus Christ. (Every human being is born into "slavery" to sin through the lineage of Adam, whose fallen nature we all possess). The only One who could redeem us from that bondage had to be holy, without an iota of sin. A benevolent, loving God, did so, and if one chooses to be set free, the chains of our former owner, Satan, fall to the ground, and we then belong to our God who paid the price of His beloved Son's blood for us. What about the Christian life does it help explain? Exposition What comes to mind, is being born again. I was dead in my sin without the ability to gain freedom from bondage and death. When I chose to receive His precious gift, I received eternal life, which began at that moment, and the chains of enslavement and death were broken. I have a new owner, One Who loves me, has forgiven me, wants what's best for me, never leaves me, and is a perfect Father.

Q5. Which single New Testament passage best sums up for you the lessons of Isaiah 53? Why did you chose this passage? List of NT Allusions to Isaiah 53 These are all great examples of Isaiah 53, but I chose Phil. 2:5-11 because it starts by reminding me that I'm to have the same attitude, purpose and humility which was in Christ Jesus, then tells exactly how He lived this out: He was one with God, possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God, yet He did not grasp after it or try to retain this, but stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity and became a servant/slave that He might become like me, a human being. Further, He abased Himself carrying His obedience to the extreme of death on the cross. Because He stooped so low, God exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every other name, at which every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. In stooping so low as to endure the cross, He raised me up to live with Him in this life and in eternity with Him in the next, cleansed, forgiven, free from all bondage, robed with His righteousness. His love for me is unfathomable! That He would rather die than live without me leaves me forever amazed, knowing I am cherished and in awe of Him!

Q4. The Servant also bears the punishment deserved by sinners. In what sense, if any, did Jesus bear the punishment due you when he died on the cross? Jesus died as God's acceptable sacrifice for my sins, and as the substitute, He suffered all of the punishment I deserved for the sins of a lifetime. He suffered separation from God, so that I will never have to experience that horror. He experienced the trauma of my sins and what they have caused in my life and the lives of others as well as how they've grieved my Heavenly Father. He bore the excruciating physical pain of being beaten nearly to death, the disfigurement of His beautiful face, and the ultimate disgrace and unimaginable agony of being nailed naked to a cross for 6 hours. He suffered emotionally without a word, being spit upon, lied about, being called names such as blasphemer, and fake. He suffered death so that I will not have to suffer the second death after physical death...that of facing judgment, then eternity in hell separated from Him. I will instead be with Him for eternity, all of my sins and faults forgiven, cleansed, forgotten. What an awesome and mighty Savior who stooped so low, that I might be raised up! Thank you more than words can express, my Lord and my God! He came as the suffering servant, but Praise God is coming soon as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords before which EVERY knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!!! Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus, come!

Q3. Isaiah 53 teaches what theologians call "the substitutionary atonement." In what sense does the Servant act as a substitute to bear our sins? Put it in your own words. All have sinned and fallen short of God's "mark" or holiness. In order to have fellowship with a holy God, I must be holy. Jesus died on the cross as the only acceptable sacrifice to forgive and cleanse the world of its' sin, because He alone is perfect and sinless. When I received Him into my heart and life, the Bible says I died with Him, rose with Him, and am now righteous in God's sight, because Jesus' blood washed me clean. In the Old Testament, the substitute for sin was the death of an innocent animal found to be without spot or blemish, but that death only covered the sin and needed to be repeated with every sin committed. Jesus died ONCE for ALL, so He need not die again if I sin, but I'm to confess my sin, repent of it, receive His cleansing and forgiveness and go on with Him, trusting in His substitutionary death for me, which resulted in my eternal life ....which began the moment I was born again.

Q2. Which New Testament parallels to Isaiah 53 convince you that Jesus himself saw his own mission and destiny spelled out in Isaiah 53? All of the references Pastor Wilson listed are parallels. Jesus often told His disciples that His mission was to die, and they couldn't accept that. He spoke in John 6 that "I Myself am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven, as the manna had come to feed the Israelites in the wilderness, and that anyone who eats of this bread, he will live forever, and also the Bread that I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh....and in v54" He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has (possesses now) eternal life, and I will raise him up from the dead on the last day." He was saying that He came to die in order to give anyone who will come, eternal life, and that as we take communion, we are reminded of His death for us. If you aren't convinced, what stands in your way? I'm fully convinced because I've experienced the miracle of being born again and filled with the Holy spirit. I marvel that He chose me, drew me, saved me, loves me unconditionally, uses me in His service and has promised I'll spend eternal life with Him in Heaven. The first touch of His love removed all doubt!

Q1. From how large a group of people does God remove sins in Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12? The whole world In what sense is this a universal sacrifice of salvation? Jesus died once for all....whosoever will come.... In what sense is Jesus' sacrifice wasted on some people? It's in the "whosoever WILL" come. It's wasted on anyone who refuses to receive the free gift of eternal life. So difficult to understand why anyone would not open their arms to Jesus, but choose eternal damnation, apart from God, instead. I'm thankful He gave us free will, and leaves the decision to us, and also that somehow I was drawn to Him, for which I'll praise Him throughout eternity!