WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Thank you. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.619 Well, we're doing things a little differently this morning, given that this is our one-year 00:00:36.619 --> 00:00:37.140 anniversary. 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:43.179 So we're kind of front-loading the sermon, and we're going to have a time of corporate 00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:47.039 praying or praise and thanksgiving together. 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:51.299 I'll give you a little bit more on how-tos on that at the end of the sermon. 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:59.400 But one year today, a year ago, the first Sunday of October, it was October 6th, I remember 00:00:59.399 --> 00:00:59.659 it. 00:01:00.019 --> 00:01:01.019 We were excited. 00:01:01.579 --> 00:01:05.159 We were anticipating what is God going to do in our midst. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:07.299 It was a lot of fun. 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:08.759 It was a joy. 00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:13.920 And here we are one year later, and we're going to celebrate this morning. 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:20.099 We're going to celebrate by giving God the glory that is due His name. 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:25.859 And so this morning, what I want to impress on you from God's Word is it's not about us. 00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:27.679 It's about Him. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:32.299 It's about His steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:37.459 And so this morning, we wanted to mark our anniversary Sunday as a celebration, a celebration 00:01:37.459 --> 00:01:39.959 of God's love and faithfulness. 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:45.159 This past Monday, I made a purchase. 00:01:46.219 --> 00:01:50.000 I purchased a gas-powered weed whacker. 00:01:51.699 --> 00:01:52.519 It's awesome. 00:01:55.579 --> 00:01:57.899 I started that thing off, and man, it growled. 00:01:59.839 --> 00:02:02.079 Well, I got home, oiled it up, gassed it up. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:08.659 And before I could initially fire that thing up, I had to do what's called priming the engine. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:15.780 And basically what that is, you do a little pump on the side, and it gets gas into the 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:16.360 carburetor. 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:19.960 So gas starts flowing, so it actually fire up. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:22.039 And so you better believe it. 00:02:22.259 --> 00:02:26.740 I pumped that thing up, pulled on the ripcord thing, and man, it growled. 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:27.740 It was awesome. 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:38.680 Now, this morning, my job is to prime our engine of praise and thanksgiving. 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:41.620 And we're going to do that with God's Word. 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:45.300 So if you'd open up your Bibles to Psalm 115. 00:02:46.320 --> 00:02:55.800 Psalm 115 is like premium gasoline for the Christian's heart to give praise to our God. 00:02:57.740 --> 00:02:59.439 So let me read this in its entirety. 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:10.879 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory for the sake of your steadfast 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:13.659 love and your faithfulness. 00:03:13.820 --> 00:03:16.980 Why should the nation say, where is their God? 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:19.240 Our God is in the heavens. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:20.520 He does all that He pleases. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:25.700 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 00:03:25.699 --> 00:03:28.000 They have mouths, but do not speak. 00:03:28.139 --> 00:03:29.379 Eyes, but do not see. 00:03:29.699 --> 00:03:31.219 They have ears, but do not hear. 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:32.659 Noses, but do not smell. 00:03:33.019 --> 00:03:34.659 They have hands, but do not feel. 00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:36.039 Feet, but do not walk. 00:03:36.199 --> 00:03:39.899 And they do not make a sound in their throat. 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:42.259 Those who make them become like them. 00:03:42.359 --> 00:03:43.839 So do all who trust in them. 00:03:45.299 --> 00:03:47.659 O Israel, trust in the Lord. 00:03:48.919 --> 00:03:50.819 He is their help and their shield. 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:53.159 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord. 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:54.679 He is their help and their shield. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:57.900 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord. 00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:00.340 He is their help and their shield. 00:04:01.300 --> 00:04:03.000 The Lord has remembered us. 00:04:03.200 --> 00:04:04.140 He will bless us. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:07.500 He will bless the house of Israel. 00:04:07.659 --> 00:04:08.960 He will bless the house of Aaron. 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:13.040 He will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. 00:04:15.060 --> 00:04:16.960 May the Lord give you increase, you and your children. 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:20.120 May you be blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth. 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:24.540 The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of men. 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:28.500 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence. 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:33.980 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:35.879 And then there's the great hallelujah. 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:37.540 Praise the Lord. 00:04:38.379 --> 00:04:39.040 Praise the Lord. 00:04:40.220 --> 00:04:50.040 And so this morning, I want to prime our engine of praise with several glorious truths about God from Psalm 115. 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:52.319 So let's jump right in. 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:53.760 Psalm 115. 00:04:53.760 --> 00:04:57.500 We see God's steadfast love. 00:04:57.560 --> 00:04:58.260 Not to us, O Lord. 00:04:58.340 --> 00:04:59.060 Not to us. 00:04:59.620 --> 00:05:05.360 But to your name give glory for the sake of your steadfast love. 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:14.280 God's steadfast love is his commitment, his gracious commitment to do our greatest good. 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:16.800 God wants good for us. 00:05:17.520 --> 00:05:21.639 And his unmerited favor towards us wants good for us. 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:25.460 God has purposed to do us good in Christ. 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:32.860 And he's been graciously showing us his kindness and his goodness as a church over this past year. 00:05:33.660 --> 00:05:35.040 Again and again and again. 00:05:35.780 --> 00:05:36.560 God's goodness. 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:39.819 His love demonstrated over and over again. 00:05:40.280 --> 00:05:44.939 And of course the greatest good of all is what God has done for us in Jesus. 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:49.300 He has rescued us in Christ from the wrath to come. 00:05:50.139 --> 00:05:53.879 And he has reconciled us in Christ to himself. 00:05:54.780 --> 00:05:58.620 All as a result of the shed blood of Jesus. 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:01.040 Romans 5.8. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:04.500 But God demonstrates his love towards us. 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:09.620 And that while we are yet sinners, Christ died for us. 00:06:09.700 --> 00:06:11.420 He shed his blood for us. 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:13.379 Our God is a God of steadfast love. 00:06:13.379 --> 00:06:19.360 And what we read here in Psalm 115, it's not just limited to steadfast love. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:23.779 He's a God of steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:26.120 Our God is faithful. 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:30.100 Not only is he committed to our greatest good. 00:06:30.100 --> 00:06:31.860 He has saved us. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:38.240 He will be faithful to see it through all the way to the end. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:41.100 He's faithful to his commitment to us. 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:44.900 Another way you can understand faithfulness is he's reliable. 00:06:46.580 --> 00:06:47.580 He's true. 00:06:48.460 --> 00:06:49.460 He's solid. 00:06:50.760 --> 00:06:51.720 He's solid. 00:06:52.460 --> 00:06:53.600 He's stable and sure. 00:06:54.939 --> 00:07:02.200 In Revelation 19, John the revelator shares a vision with us. 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:04.760 The return of Jesus. 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:13.360 And in verse 11, the heavens open up and there appears a white horse. 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:16.939 And there's someone riding on that white horse. 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:21.980 We all know it's Jesus, but John doesn't name him Jesus. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:29.719 John names him the one riding on the white horse is faithful and true. 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:34.660 Our Savior, our God, is faithful. 00:07:35.940 --> 00:07:39.140 He's faithful, faithful, faithful. 00:07:39.400 --> 00:07:41.820 He's been faithful to us over this last year. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:43.820 He's faithful to us now. 00:07:44.440 --> 00:07:51.660 He will ever be faithful to us all the way until we see him face to face. 00:07:51.660 --> 00:07:59.540 Now, you read a passage like this that God is steadfast love. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:01.200 He is a God of faithfulness. 00:08:01.260 --> 00:08:02.500 And how do you respond? 00:08:03.780 --> 00:08:05.180 It's right there in verse 1 too. 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:07.220 Not to us, O Lord. 00:08:07.960 --> 00:08:08.800 Not to us. 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:13.720 But to your name give glory. 00:08:15.280 --> 00:08:15.700 Glory. 00:08:18.340 --> 00:08:20.140 What is glory? 00:08:20.140 --> 00:08:20.300 Glory. 00:08:21.660 --> 00:08:24.080 Well, in the Bible it has a variety of meanings. 00:08:25.080 --> 00:08:30.620 But at its most basic meaning, glory means weight. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:32.360 Heavy. 00:08:33.540 --> 00:08:34.120 Weightiness. 00:08:34.920 --> 00:08:39.759 And when it's used to acknowledging God's weightiness, it's referring to his importance. 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:45.100 It's referring to his necessity, his value, his worth. 00:08:46.700 --> 00:08:51.000 Our word worship comes from an older English word, worth. 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:52.419 Ship. 00:08:53.839 --> 00:08:55.279 Giving God worth. 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:57.419 Revelation 4.11. 00:08:58.079 --> 00:09:03.679 Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power. 00:09:04.339 --> 00:09:08.699 For you created all things, and by your will they were created and existed. 00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:17.120 In this one verse, God is saying, to God alone be the glory. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:21.140 Exclusive praise to God. 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:27.259 And this morning, we're not gathering to glory in ourselves. 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:29.480 To pat ourselves on the back. 00:09:29.939 --> 00:09:33.860 We're here to give glory to our God. 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:38.620 Because of his steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:44.919 Now, in John 1.14, John says a really interesting thing about Jesus. 00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:47.620 And we beheld his glory. 00:09:48.139 --> 00:09:50.159 Glory as of the only begotten of the Father. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:53.159 Full of grace and truth. 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:58.079 We can understand it as full of steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:06.120 Jesus epitomizes, personifies steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:08.220 Is anybody getting their pump primed? 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:09.620 Anybody want to praise God? 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:12.000 So do I. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:12.900 All right. 00:10:12.980 --> 00:10:13.160 All right. 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:13.320 All right. 00:10:13.400 --> 00:10:13.500 All right. 00:10:15.180 --> 00:10:16.900 We belong to him. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:18.180 We belong to our God. 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:24.440 Now, let me just point some other things out from Psalm 115 before we enter in our time of praise and thanksgiving. 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:28.920 In verses 2 through 8, we read something very interesting. 00:10:29.920 --> 00:10:36.140 What I want you to see is that our God, not only is he a God of steadfast love and faithfulness, our God is alive. 00:10:37.680 --> 00:10:39.060 And he is reigning. 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:43.500 Has anybody asked you a question like this? 00:10:44.280 --> 00:10:45.940 Where's your Jesus now? 00:10:46.880 --> 00:10:48.120 Anybody get anything like that before? 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:50.360 Where's your God now, buddy? 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:52.440 It's a taunt. 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:55.940 And we see that taunt in verse 2 of 115. 00:10:56.580 --> 00:11:01.480 The nations say, those people who don't know God, they say, where's their God? 00:11:02.660 --> 00:11:04.620 And the response is in verse 3. 00:11:05.160 --> 00:11:08.600 Our God is in heaven. 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:18.200 Our God is in heaven. 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:21.440 Do you remember Exodus 3? 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:25.460 Moses is walking through a desert, stumbles across a burning bush. 00:11:25.520 --> 00:11:25.980 Do you remember that? 00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:28.360 God speaks through the burning bush. 00:11:28.920 --> 00:11:31.200 Says, Moses, go deliver my people. 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:34.300 Moses says, of course I'll go, but who's sending me? 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:35.860 Do you remember what God said? 00:11:36.820 --> 00:11:38.879 Tell them I am sent you. 00:11:39.660 --> 00:11:41.320 I am who I am. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:43.800 I am the self-existent one. 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:46.299 I am life. 00:11:47.479 --> 00:11:48.479 I is. 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:49.559 That's what he's saying. 00:11:50.359 --> 00:11:51.899 I am the one. 00:11:53.479 --> 00:11:54.919 God is not dead. 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:57.740 God is alive. 00:11:59.059 --> 00:12:00.079 He is alive. 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:02.699 A few years ago, I got to visit Myanmar. 00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:04.799 Also known as Burma. 00:12:04.979 --> 00:12:08.979 And part of that visit was going to the Shwatagon Pagoda. 00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:12.440 And it's also known as the Golden Pagoda. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:16.820 Because it is a pagoda of, it's 325 feet tall. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:20.240 It kind of governs the skyline around it. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:22.120 And it is gold gilded. 00:12:22.300 --> 00:12:24.720 It is very impressive if you see it. 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:29.659 Part of this Buddhist complex also contained kind of Buddhist relics. 00:12:30.180 --> 00:12:34.060 And so they claim to have hair from the Buddha himself there. 00:12:34.059 --> 00:12:38.239 And of course, multiple statues of Buddha all around. 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.699 Would you look at verse 4? 00:12:41.959 --> 00:12:45.659 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:49.500 Every Buddha there was made with precious things. 00:12:50.239 --> 00:12:51.039 Silver and gold. 00:12:52.439 --> 00:12:55.859 Every Buddha there was made by human hands. 00:12:56.359 --> 00:12:56.959 Every one. 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:00.899 Each Buddha had a mouth, but it couldn't speak. 00:13:00.979 --> 00:13:01.599 Verse 5. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:04.440 Each Buddha had eyes, but they couldn't see. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:05.200 Verse 5. 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:07.700 Each Buddha had ears, but couldn't hear. 00:13:07.800 --> 00:13:08.340 Verse 6. 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:11.600 Each Buddha there had a nose, but they couldn't smell. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.779 They had hands, but they couldn't feel. 00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:15.860 They had feet, but they couldn't walk. 00:13:16.540 --> 00:13:18.840 Their throats made no noise. 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:22.460 No sound of breath coming from them. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:22.940 Do you know why? 00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.759 They were lifeless. 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:33.319 And here I am in this Buddhist complex watching these Burmese people present their children to these Buddhas. 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.480 As though they were alive. 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:40.799 We read in verse 8 those very sobering words. 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:44.000 Those who make them and trust them become like them. 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:45.120 Lifeless. 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:48.419 Ephesians 2, 1-3. 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:50.059 Dead, deceived, damned. 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:53.819 Lifeless idols. 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:57.080 And then we think about our God. 00:13:58.600 --> 00:13:59.280 Jesus. 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:01.600 God in the flesh. 00:14:02.400 --> 00:14:03.720 And we read in New Testament. 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:08.520 His mouth spoke words of eternal life. 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:13.780 His eyes saw the real heart of men and women. 00:14:15.180 --> 00:14:18.020 His ears listened with compassion. 00:14:18.560 --> 00:14:22.180 His nose smelled the stench of self-righteousness. 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:25.439 His hands touched lepers. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:28.479 And then were pierced on a cross. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:31.099 His feet moved towards sinners. 00:14:31.699 --> 00:14:33.059 And then was pierced on the cross. 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:36.719 His throat was full of breath. 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:39.259 And his last breath on the cross was, 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:40.379 It is finished. 00:14:41.459 --> 00:14:41.919 Done! 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:44.899 Three days later. 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:46.839 That first Easter morning. 00:14:47.699 --> 00:14:49.199 Jesus breathed again. 00:14:51.059 --> 00:14:52.339 He's not dead. 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:54.659 He's alive. 00:14:55.439 --> 00:14:57.219 And he saved us. 00:14:57.220 --> 00:15:01.500 We have a God who's alive and who saves. 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:03.779 He was raised from the dead. 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:05.540 And then he ascended into heaven. 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:09.580 And right now he is reigning at the right hand of the Father. 00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:10.379 Here's what he's doing. 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:12.080 He's doing all that he pleases. 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:16.259 And what pleases him is to expand his kingdom 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:20.159 by transforming the hearts of men and women 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:23.439 from every tribe, tongue, and nation, and city 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:25.019 like Kenosha. 00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:28.519 Here we are, 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:30.620 as a church, 00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:35.080 experiencing the present reign of the living God 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:36.059 in our midst. 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:38.759 He's transforming us. 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.240 Our God is alive. 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:44.039 Our God is reigning. 00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:47.480 He does all that he pleases. 00:15:48.180 --> 00:15:51.220 He's not some lifeless idol. 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.659 You getting primed up? 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:59.379 I'll be quick in the rest of Psalm 115. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:01.259 9 through 11, 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:03.080 Our God is our help and shield. 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:05.320 Our help and our shield. 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:07.320 Psalm 46.1, 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:11.220 God is an ever-present help in time. 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:11.879 of trouble. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.879 Anybody in trouble? 00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:15.580 Do you know who's with you? 00:16:16.680 --> 00:16:17.600 Your God. 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.740 Who is your help? 00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:23.480 Psalm 16.8 is one of these verses 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.240 throughout this year 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.580 that have been so dear to me. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:27.419 I have set the Lord always before me 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.960 because he's at my right hand. 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:29.639 He's with me. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:32.259 I will not be shaken. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.480 I will not be shaken. 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:36.460 Isaiah 41.10, 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.399 Do not be afraid. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:37.779 Why? 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.480 I'm with you. 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:39.180 I'm your help. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.000 I'm with you. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:43.519 He's for us. 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:46.500 The God of the universe 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:48.139 with unmatched power 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:49.259 is for you. 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:50.740 He's your help. 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.600 God is our help. 00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:55.120 God is our shield. 00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:58.740 The shield being talked about 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:01.080 is Captain America shield. 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:01.679 You know, 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.980 the little kind of circular shield 00:17:02.980 --> 00:17:04.160 that Captain America carries? 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:05.660 That's the size shield 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.779 that's being talked about here. 00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:11.680 Psalm 3.3, 00:17:11.800 --> 00:17:13.019 But you, O Lord, 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:14.800 are a shield about me. 00:17:15.840 --> 00:17:16.779 My glory, 00:17:17.840 --> 00:17:19.140 the lifter of our head. 00:17:19.840 --> 00:17:21.940 We can take David's Psalm 3 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:23.820 and make it Christ the King's Psalm 3. 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.680 But you, O Lord, 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.060 are a shield about us. 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:29.060 You are our glory, 00:17:29.620 --> 00:17:31.640 the lifter of our head. 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:32.960 You are our protector. 00:17:34.040 --> 00:17:35.180 You go before us 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.200 and you come after us. 00:17:36.280 --> 00:17:37.200 You are with us. 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.360 You are mighty to deliver us. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.480 You are our shield. 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:43.340 God is for us. 00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:45.560 How do you respond to that? 00:17:47.320 --> 00:17:48.580 You trust in Him. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.440 You see the word repeated 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.920 throughout, 00:17:53.320 --> 00:17:54.080 9 through 11? 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:55.820 Trust in the Lord. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.080 Trust in the Lord. 00:17:57.580 --> 00:17:58.540 Trust in the Lord. 00:17:58.539 --> 00:18:00.960 He is our help and shield. 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:04.339 We've been trusting in our Lord. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.720 We will continue to trust in the Lord. 00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.940 He is a God of steadfast love 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.720 and faithfulness. 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:11.180 Isn't that good? 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.559 Verses 12 through 18. 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:17.039 Our God remembers us 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.859 and blesses us. 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:20.500 He hasn't forgotten us. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.680 He remembers us. 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.720 He knows us by name. 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:26.339 He knows the amount of hair 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.819 on your head. 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.299 He's got them numbered. 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.159 He knows you. 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.259 He knows us. 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.939 He will not forget us. 00:18:33.399 --> 00:18:34.899 He shed His blood for us. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.839 We belong to Him. 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.980 You is mine. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.740 You is alive. 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.000 You is holy. 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.740 And He remembers us 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.919 to bless us. 00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.939 To show us His kindness. 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:49.319 To show us His goodness. 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:51.119 We see that shown up 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:51.899 in Ephesians 1. 00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:54.000 He has blessed us in Christ 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.799 with every spiritual blessing 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:57.240 in the heavenly places. 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:59.500 He is for us. 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:01.339 He's for our greatest good 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:02.779 to shine like Jesus 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:04.000 in this dark place. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.439 How do you respond to that? 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.299 Verse 18. 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.299 He's blessed us. 00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:10.579 We bless Him. 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.819 We bless Him. 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.939 We bless Him forever 00:19:14.939 --> 00:19:16.500 and ever. 00:19:17.159 --> 00:19:18.700 We say praise the Lord. 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.500 Hallelujah. 00:19:20.439 --> 00:19:22.200 In light of all that He's done for us, 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.799 certainly we can bless His name. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.500 We see that in Ephesians 1. 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:27.619 Blessed be the God and Father 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:29.259 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.940 who has blessed us 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.400 with every spiritual blessing 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.279 in Christ Jesus. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:37.299 Your engine of praise primed up? 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:41.920 Let me give you a little direction 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:44.119 as we start moving that way. 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:47.579 The ABCs of corporate sharing. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:51.420 A. Let's affirm what God has been doing 00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.680 in each of our lives. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:55.460 How has God been transforming you? 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:57.880 Maybe He saved you this year. 00:19:58.840 --> 00:20:01.440 Maybe He has changed a particular area 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.460 that is a tremendous source of joy. 00:20:03.580 --> 00:20:04.200 Share it with us. 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.519 Maybe it's a passage in Scripture. 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.039 Share it with us. 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:09.500 So A. Affirm what God is doing in your life. 00:20:09.860 --> 00:20:11.400 B. Be brief. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.360 Let's give as many people 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:14.400 an opportunity as we can. 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:17.279 And C. Be Christ-centered. 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:19.279 Not to us, O Lord. 00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:20.000 Not to us. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:23.440 But to your name give glory. 00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:26.220 Our anniversary Sunday 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:30.859 is a day in which we are going to give glory to God 00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:34.200 for His steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:37.359 Our God is a great God. 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:39.940 Let's pray and then we'll move into a time 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:42.140 of corporate praise and thanksgiving. 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:46.200 God in heaven, 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:50.300 we give you praise for all that you've done 00:20:50.300 --> 00:20:52.940 so far in our life together as a church. 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:54.920 And God in heaven, 00:20:55.040 --> 00:20:56.720 we anticipate that you're just going to continue 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.620 to show yourself 00:20:57.620 --> 00:21:00.259 as a God of steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.600 Alive, reigning, 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:04.160 our help, our shield. 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.600 You remember us. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.720 You bless us. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:09.880 So God, I do ask in the name of Jesus 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:11.519 that you would cause your spirit 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:13.079 to fall afresh upon us now. 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:16.059 And that God, as we enter into a season 00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:17.680 of thanksgiving and praise, 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.579 God, would you build us up 00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:22.660 as we dwell on you. 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:25.319 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.019 Amen. 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.160 Amen. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.420 Amen. 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:28.519 Amen. 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:28.620 Amen. 00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:30.620 Amen. 00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:32.620 Amen. 00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:32.660 Amen. 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:32.680 Amen. 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:32.720 Amen.