Isaiah chapter 12.
I'll be reading for us just the first three verses.
Behold, God is my salvation.
I will trust and will not be afraid.
For the Lord God is my strength and my song.
And he has become my salvation.
With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Let's pray.
Lord, this morning we come with hearts that are filled up with the testimony of your word.
Encouraged by the reminder of the privilege that we have to worship you together.
To bring our expressions of thanks and praise to you.
A God who is worthy.
Who alone is worthy to be praised.
And we do that this morning.
And we ask that you would help us to be people who are marked by praise.
As we look at this passage today and we see the example.
And the call.
The command.
The exhortation for us to be people who are people of praise.
May that be true of us.
Regardless of the circumstance.
Regardless of the situation in life.
May we be people who are marked out as people of praise.
We ask for your help.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, this past weekend I felt a sense of accomplishment.
I, for the last several months, have needed brakes and rotors on the front of my Honda Civic 2006.
I won't tell you how many months have gone by.
And it's been very clear to me that the little squeaking.
The squeaking went away because I rubbed things down so far that it wasn't there to squeak anymore.
And, you know, there's one of those things where the daunting pressure of doing that kind of task.
And you get the wheels off.
And then you don't know what to do next.
And then you have a car that doesn't work anymore.
You can't move it out of the driveway.
You can't get it out of place.
And so that kind of loomed on my shoulders.
That was kind of a burden to carry.
And I certainly didn't want to pay the money to get brakes and rotors fixed.
And so what does anyone do in the 21st century when we need to figure out how to do something like brakes and rotors?
What do we do?
Yeah, you are good.
In days gone by, we would ask somebody for help.
You know, we would ask a parent.
We would call up a friend.
We would get somebody to come.
But not anymore.
We go to YouTube, right?
So that's what I did.
I went to YouTube.
And you type in the search.
And you get the specifics.
Honda Civic 2006 LX front brake pads and rotors.
Here's how to go.
Well, after looking at several different videos,
I noticed that some of them experienced or had some gaps.
Like, you know, you remove this screw and you take off the rotor.
It should be that simple.
But for some reason, it wasn't coming off.
There must be another step somewhere in the process.
And so instead of going from step A to step E,
I needed B, C, and D in the process.
And some of those videos didn't have that.
Other videos walked little novices like me through the entire process.
And I found out that all you have to do is knock on that rotor,
pound I should say, a couple of times,
to unstick it from the other mechanisms that were there.
Kind of unfreeze it.
And then you could wiggle it out of place.
But, man, I would not have known that from the previous video.
Well, I was able to get the rotors off, put them back on,
get the brake pads in place, put the wheel back on.
And my wife drove it yesterday, and she was able to stop.
So that's a good sign.
And I don't know if you ever noticed this,
but at the end, especially of some of those kinds of YouTube videos,
there's always this little advertisement by the person
who kind of owns that video that says,
hey, if this video is useful for you,
please like this video or add it to your channel.
Have you ever seen that and wondered what in the world is going on?
Well, come to find out this is a good way
for the people who have benefited from this tutorial,
this one-on-one tutorial,
to really say, hey, thank you for making this video available
so that I can save myself some money
and I don't have to inconvenience other people
and have them partner with me in this process.
So thank you for your help.
It's a way to do that.
It's also a way for us to promote this video in the process
so that in the queue when other searches are made,
that this video actually rises to the top
and other people can also benefit
from the value of this video in this little tutorial.
So it serves kind of a dual process,
not only to say thank you personally,
but also for me to promote the video
and essentially acclaim its value
so that others can benefit in the process.
This morning we're looking at this passage in Isaiah chapter 12.
And what really is kind of unexpected about this chapter
is that Isaiah has spent so much time
teeing up the discipline that he's going to bring on Israel
and the judgment that he's going to bring to the nations.
He spent the first nine chapters
trying to raise the awareness of what's going to happen
and then beginning that process in chapter 10.
Now all of a sudden in chapter 12,
he takes an unexpected turn.
From chapters 10 to chapters 35,
Isaiah is going to deal with the discipline of Israel
and the judgment on the nations.
But in chapter 12, and in chapter 25,
and in chapter 26,
he pulls away,
he takes this little departure,
this little detour,
because he wants Israel to understand
where this is all going.
This is all leading to praise of God.
All of this,
the hardship and the difficulty,
the suffering,
the circumstances that they were going to encounter,
and the judgment on the nations
were all for the sake of praise
to the glory of God.
This morning I would ask you,
as we begin this study,
this important question.
Is your life marked by praise?
Is the expression of your life,
the words from your lips,
the posture of your heart,
a posture of thanks and praise?
As we'll see this morning in our passage before us,
Isaiah wants to bring to the forefront of our attention,
you cannot be a people of God
without being a people of praise.
You cannot call yourself
a follower of God
without being
a person that is marked
by thanksgiving.
That
is the significance
of this passage today.
And for those of us,
and I would put myself
in this category
as one who tends to complain,
one who tends to criticize,
one who tends to look
at a glass half empty
instead of half full,
that cannot be
the expression of a life
that is marked
by the sweetness
of the gospel
in the glory of God
in transforming our life.
You will be a person
of praise
if you are a person
of God.
That's what
Isaiah wants us to understand.
That is the thrust
of today's message.
Are you
a person
of praise?
As we look here
in the first three verses,
we see
this rising theme
coming to the surface.
First,
I want you to notice
that the expression,
the ultimate expression
of a people of God
is marked
by praise.
This is
the ultimate expression
of the people
of God.
Notice what it says
in that first phrase.
It says,
you will say
in that day.
Isaiah points
to a day
of awakening.
A day
really of resurgence
and revival
in the hearts
of the people
of Israel.
We'll look briefly
in just a few moments
at kind of the
historical background.
Where was this people
in relationship
to spiritual
vitality?
Isaiah wants
these people
to understand
that it might not
mark their
current position,
their current
posture of life,
but it will be true
of a future people
that God has
created for himself,
a people
who are to be
marked
as a people
of praise.
This Hebrew word
of praise
is translated
thanksgiving
or praise
interchangeably
throughout
the Old Testament.
and one commentator
puts it this way.
He says,
any revival
of religion
which may yet
come to the world
will be marked
by a new
outburst
of thanksgiving.
You want to see
revival in this land?
Do you want to see
a resurgence
of people
captured
by the image
and glory
of Christ?
it will happen
as you
are struck
yourself
with a vision
of God's glory
and you proclaim
it to yourself
and to others
around you
as your life
is again marked
by thanksgiving
and praise.
The words
of this song
are drawn
through the
collection of
scriptures
throughout the
Old Testament
which help us
understand
this doesn't
just mark
a future people
but this is
the people
that God
had called
Israel to be
all along.
They were to be
a people
of praise.
We see it
as the people
are coming out
of the nation
of Egypt
and crossing
through the Red Sea.
The same words
that we find
in this chapter
this morning
are the words
that first
showed up
in those moments
those moments
of rescue
that featured
his glory
that identified
the future hope
that the people
would have
as they would
move into
the promised land
as they would
make God
the central
focus of their
lives.
But Isaiah
is anticipating
a future day.
A future day
when all of this
will really
become
alive
and consuming
for the people
of God.
There will be
a day
of enduring
praise
and thanks.
Many things
would characterize
that day
but the one thing
that would stand
out head and
shoulders above
the rest
the prevailing
theme of their
lives
would be
marked
by Thanksgiving.
A people
marked
by thanks.
I want to
show you
just three ways
in this passage
that the people
are thankful.
What are they
thankful for?
How can we
emulate their
example?
What do we
see here
in these
first three
verses
that help
us
understand
what we
as people
of God
also
need to be
thankful for?
Notice
right here
at the beginning
of verse 1
it says this
I will give
thanks to you
O Lord
for though
you were
angry with me
your anger
turned away.
first of all
they were
thankful for
discipline.
Do you find
yourself being
thankful for
discipline?
Or do you
find yourself
being thankful
that you
escaped
discipline?
Oh man
discipline is
not
something that
we enjoy.
But here are
the people of
Israel looking
back on the
legacy of their
lives and
they understand
God
graciously
intervened.
God stood
in the way
he prevented
them from
going where
they could
go.
He helped
to call
them back
to himself
and in
that way
his grace
showed up
in their
lives.
And for
that
for that
they give
praise
for that
they give
thanks.
They understand
that discipline
had a purpose
and so in
the discipline
they are
grateful.
They praise
in the name
of God.
God was
justly angry
with a
disobedient
and an
unfaithful
people.
We see it
right at the
outset of
Isaiah in
chapter 1.
Turn with me
just for a
second.
Keep your
finger in
chapter 12.
Just by way
of reminder
in Isaiah
chapter 1
what do we
know about
these people
in verse 4?
Here's what
it says.
Ah,
sinful nation
of people
laden
with iniquity
offspring
of evildoers
children
who deal
corruptly
they have
forsaken
the Lord
they have
despised
the Holy
One
of Israel
they are
utterly
estranged
from the
lowest
dregs of
society
to the
upper
classes
of the
palace
sin
had
permeated
this
people
wholesale
rebellion
and turning
away from
God
we see
that over
and over
as an
anthem
through the
first and
second kings
and first and
second chronicles
of people
who had
given themselves
over
to the
vile
practices
of society
of the
nations
surrounding
them
but in
that day
there would
be
something
different
in that
day
there would
be
spiritual
resurgence
but in
this day
it was
marked by
compromise
it was
remarked
by
rebellion
even as
Isaiah
writes this
prophecy
during the
reign of
Uzziah
and Jotham
and Ahaz
and Hezekiah
although
Uzziah and
Jotham
kind of
stand as
those who
were devoted
to God
at least for
a portion
of their
leadership
for some
reason
action had
not taken
place
in and
among the
people
themselves
we find
in second
kings
that Uzziah
did what was
right in the
sight of the
lord
according to
all that his
father Amaziah
had done
except
that the
high places
were not
removed
the people
still
sacrificed
and burned
incense
on the
high places
King Jotham
was just
like his
father
Uzziah
he did
what was
right in
the sight
of the
lord
he did
according
to all
that his
father
Uzziah
had done
however
the high
places
were not
removed
the people
still
sacrificed
and burned
incense
on the
high places
and so
the compromise
that showed
up in
Uzziah
and in
Jotham
took flight
in the
ruling
of Ahaz
this son
and grandson
now shows
the wickedness
and the lack
of training
that were
represented
in his
father
and grandfather
of Ahaz
it says
he walked
in the way
of the kings
of Israel
indeed he made
his sons
to pass
through the fire
according to
the abominations
of the nations
whom the lord
had cast
out from
before the
children of
Israel
and he
sacrificed
and burned
incense
on the
high places
on the
hills
and under
every
green tree
or tree
and during
the writing
of this
prophecy
of Isaiah
God is
giving a
vivid
clear
example
to the
nation
of Judah
what will
happen
when a
people turn
their back
on God
the northern
ten tribes
those tribes
of Israel
that had
split off
from the
kingdom
would experience
the disciplining
hand of God
on their lives
on their nation
as a result
of their
rebellion
and turning
away
from the
God of
Israel
Judah would
be able to
see up
close and
personal
first hand
what happens
when a nation
turns their
back on God
they would
have this
object lesson
play out
right in
front of
them
the empire
of Assyria
was rising
to power
we find
from 2nd
Kings
chapter 15
directly
after
during the
tail end
of Uzziah's
leadership
we find
some things
beginning to
break loose
in the northern
ten tribes
in relationship
to this
rising empire
of Assyria
it says
the king
of Assyria
came against
the land
he demanded
tribute
from the
king
of Israel
who
then depleted
the funds
of all
the wealthy
individuals
who were
living
in the
nation
in order
to turn
back
Assyria
from attacking
them
well that
worked for
a couple
of years
but it
didn't take
long
before that
same king
would come
back
and begin
to conquer
all the
lands
surrounding
those
northern
ten
tribes
decimating
the cities
and taking
the people
captive
to Assyria
Ahaz
and seeing
this rising
threat
says I'm
going to
make a
preemptive
decision
I'm going to
make a
political
decision
to align
myself
with Assyria
so if
they make
it through
Israel
that will
be safe
as a
nation
of Judah
so he
sends
tribute
to the
king
of Assyria
and in
sending
tribute
to the
king
of Assyria
all of
those
nations
who had
been opposed
to Assyria
now begin
to return
and retool
their focus
now it's
going to
come on
to Judah
the kingdoms
of Israel
and Damascus
and even
the Edomites
and the
Philistines
begin to
align
themselves
against
Judah
and now
Ahaz
has a
problem
so what
does he
do
instead of
turning
to the
Lord
and asking
for help
from God
he turns
to human
strength
he sends
more money
to the
king of
Assyria
and Assyria
comes
he gives
assistance
and decimates
Damascus
Ahaz
would meet
him there
the king
of Assyria
and not
only would
enter into
a binding
treaty
with him
but would
now import
a new
dimension
of idolatry
into Judah
he sent
for his
high priest
to come
and to
evaluate
the altar
that Damascus
was using
to offer
tribute to
their gods
and his
encouragement
to this
priest was
make this
same design
and put
it in
the place
of the
bronze
altar
outside
of the
temple
in Jerusalem
move
that bronze
temple
to the
north side
of the
temple
and now
all of the
sacrifices
the burnt
offerings
the sin
offerings
the grain
offerings
and drink
offerings
and peace
offerings
instead of
being offered
to God
on the bronze
altar
was offered
now on
this
idolatrous
Damascus
altar
right outside
the temple
of God
in Jerusalem
he dismantled
the temple
and redecorated
it according
to his own
design
we find
a tribute
to his
leadership
in 2nd
chronicles
it says
he walked
in the way
of the kings
of Israel
and made
molded images
for the
Baals
he burned
incense
in the valley
of the son
of Hinnon
and burned
his children
in the fire
he sacrificed
and burned
incense
on the high
places
on the hills
under every
green tree
in every
single city
of Judah
he made
high places
to burn
incense
to other
gods
and it
was
to Ahaz
that the
prophet Isaiah
gives
the promise
of Emmanuel
unbelievable
mercy
it was
to this
wicked
king
who led
Israel
to wholesale
rejection
of God
that the
promise
of Messiah
comes
a promise
of future
deliverance
comes
what do you
do
when a people
reject you
what do you
do
when a people
turn their
back on you
I'll tell you
what this
person would
do
if he was
in control
he would
extinguish
those wretched
people
but not
God
God would
purify his
people
not
extinguish
them
God would
refine his
people
not
destroy
them
God would
restore his
people for
himself
a people
of praise
that's
why
Israel
can
rejoice
in the
disciplining
hand of
God
because
they know
what they
deserve
they deserve
judgment
they deserve
destruction
they deserve
annihilation
but instead
they get
restoration
they are
restored back
to relationship
with God
and the
reminder
of what
they
deserved
in light
of what
they
actually
received
continues
to help
them
give
praise
as a
people
of praise
understanding
the
disciplining
hand of
God
which now
leads us
to the
second
point
in our
study
not only
thankful
for discipline
but also
thankful
for the
accompanying
comfort
the
disciplining
hand
leads to
the
comfort
of God
the goal
of discipline
is always
comfort
we find
that here
again
in verse
one
it says
for though
you were
angry
with me
your anger
turned away
that you
might
comfort
me
the purpose
of discipline
in your
life
the purpose
of discipline
in my
life
is to
lead us
to comfort
to lead
us
to
recognizing
that God
is all
sufficient
for all
things
the focus
of correction
is always
to the
point
of
refreshment
that can
only be
found
in God
as we
find from
second
Corinthians
chapter
one
three
Paul
recounts
this
he says
blessed
be the
God
and
father
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
father
of
mercy
and
God
of
all
comfort
who
comforts
us
in all
our
affliction
that is
the God
that we
serve
the God
of comfort
and thus
the God
who is
worthy
of your
praise
today
it is
our
impulse
to run
to
comfort
when we
feel
pain
the world
offers many
formulas
to console
or to
ease
our
pain
friendships
medication
activities
entertainment
vacation
anything
to escape
the immediate
effects
of difficulty
and suffering
but there is
only one
comfort that
satisfies
the comfort
that is only
found
in God
and when
we experience
his comfort
even
in the midst
of pain
it leads
to joy
that expresses
itself
in thanks
that
is the
message
of Isaiah
run
to God
the God
of all
comfort
run
to him
is that
the common
expression
of your
life
expression
of thanks
is that
where you
find yourself
running
to
not just
periodically
but
continually
as someone
who
recognizes
the amazing
privilege
of being
called
after
his
name
and being
ministered
to
directly
and
personally
by
the God
of comfort
if it is
if you
recognize
those things
it will
lead you
to praise
it will
mark
your life
it will
make you
a thankful
person
as you
come to
appreciate
all that
God has
done
for you
but all
of this
now moves
to
the
pinnacle
that we
find here
in verse
3
what is
that
verse 2
behold
God
is
my
salvation
I
will
trust
and will
not
be
afraid
for
the
Lord
God
is
my
strength
and
my
song
and
he
has
become
my
salvation
Isaiah
says
if you
are
people
of
God
you
will
be
thankful
for
salvation
thankful
for
salvation
in
verse 2
we find
this
grammatical
expression
that lacks
a verb
so that
literally
it's
behold
God
salvation
of
me
thus
God
is
salvation
not
just
that
God
saves
or
that
God
rescues
as
though
he
were
one
of
many
answers
to
life's
problems
but
that
God
is
salvation
rescue
and
deliverance
and
help
will
not
come
any
other
way
since
God
is
salvation
it
cannot
come
independently
of
him
it
is
only
as
you
look
to
God
that
you
can
look
to
salvation
attention
is
directed
to
God
who
is
the
epitome
of
salvation
God's
salvation
is
not
an
abstract
philosophical
concept
it
has
a
relational
dimension
he
is
salvation
for
me
not
salvation
just
generally
but
it
is
salvation
for
you
salvation
that
you
can
experience
personally
independently
as
God
ministers
his
saving
hand
directly
to
you
one
commentator
puts
it
this
way
one
should
not
read
into
this
statement
a
New
Testament
perspective
about
God
saving
his
people
from
their
sins
though
Christ's
death
on the
cross
or
even
the
theological
idea
of
substitutionary
atonement
from
Isaiah
53
the
praise
simply
claims
that
God
is
a
source
or
the
source
of
salvation
that
delivers
people
from
anything
that
might
destroy
them
now
this
is
significant
because
if
God
saves
not
just
for
a
future
date
but
saves
you
for
the
moment
it
means
that
God
has
shown
up
to
rescue
you
in
every
dimension
of
life
to
give
you
meaning
and
purpose
regardless
of
where
you
find
yourself
he
redeems
your
work
those
empty
tasks
you
find
yourself
doing
mechanically
God
gives
mean
to
those
things
and
rescues
you
in
your
work
God
redeems
your
friendships
he
gives
you
purpose
of
being
mutually
encouraged
and
strengthened
not
just
sucking
people
dry
he
redeems
your
marriage
and
he
even
uses
it
as
an
illustration
of
Christ
in
his
church
may
we
not
corrupt
and
pollute
the
illustration
of
Christ
in
his
church
by
destroying
our
marriages
he
redeems
us
from
personal
life
struggles
and
uses
them
to
make
you
trust
him
more
and
to
empower
your
testimony
students
he
even
redeems
your
homework
as you
learn
that the
fear of
the
Lord
is the
beginning
of
wisdom
you
learn
that
the
source
of
help
comes
from
him
even
something
as
routine
as
homework
has
a
spiritual
orientation
a
life
that is
oriented
towards
God
is a
life
that is
experiencing
perpetual
rescue
salvation
that
comes
from
him
and
that
leads
us
to
expressions
of
joy
and
thanks
as
you
understand
that
every
moment
of
life
can
be
redeemed
can
be
delivered
can
have
purpose
and
meaning
that
God
can
give
you
confidence
that
God
can
give
you
security
and
peace
of
mind
and
hope
and
a
clear
conscience
regardless
of what
happens
in
life
and
as
Isaiah
looks at
that
future
day
when
the
God
of
salvation
is
recognized
for
who
he
is
he
understands
it
will
be
a
time
that
is
marked
by
praise
and
thanksgiving
and
what
begins
as
a
personal
position
of
praise
we
see
in
verse
one
and
two
I
will
give
thanks
to
you
are
not
angry
with
me
and
in
verse
two
behold
God
is
my
salvation
I
will
trust
and
will
not
be
afraid
now
spills
over
and
now
includes
an
accompanying
chorus
of
individuals
who are
all
joining
along
in
this
succession
of
praise
notice
in
verse
three
with
joy
you
and that
is
the
plural
corporate
nature
of
this
body
of
followers
you
all
will
draw
water
from
the
wells
of
salvation
and you
all
will
say
in
that
day
give
thanks
to
the
Lord
call
upon
his
name
make
known
his
deeds
among
people
proclaim
that
his
name
is
exalted
now
grows
this
praise
from
individual
praise
to a
corporate
nature
that flows
through the
rest of
this
passage
and now
the whole
body
is caught
up
with this
expression
of praise
this chorus
this anthem
of praise
now
rises
to a
crescendo
and now
the people
are actually
part of this
process
of
commending
praise
to one
another
as now
we turn
to this
next point
in verses
4 to 6
not only
will the
people of
God be
marked
with praise
but the
ultimate
testimony
to the
earth
to the
nations
will be a
testimony
that is
marked
by thanks
and praise
let me read
for us
in verses
4 to 6
and you
will say
in that
day
speaking
of this
company
give thanks
to the
Lord
call upon
his name
make known
his deeds
among the
peoples
proclaim
that his
name
is exalted
sing
praises
to the
Lord
for he
has done
gloriously
let this
be made
known
in all
the earth
shout
and sing
for joy
oh
inhabitants
of Zion
for great
in your
midst
is the
holy
one
of
Israel
again
in
that
day
this
people
will be
marked
as a
people
of
praise
this
expression
of praise
that begins
personally
now
is unbridled
and begins
to affect
the entire
community
and this
community
spurs one
another
on
and instructs
one another
to be about
the praising
process
give thanks
to the
Lord
call upon
his name
both are
commands
interjected
between
this chorus
of individuals
we find
in these
remaining
verses
four ways
that this
body
of followers
of God
recognizes
the worthiness
of God
and celebrates
his name
stands
as an
example
for us
how can
we be
about
being a
testimony
to the
lands
to the
nations
about the
greatness
of our
God
how can
our
gospel
be marked
by thanks
how can
it be
potent
and powerful
because
of the
praise
that we
give
our
Lord
first
in verse
four
it says
make
known
his
deeds
make
known
his
deeds
we
find
that
this is
a people
that has
learned
how to
talk
about
all that
God
has done
they have
learned to
give him
credit for
the successes
in their
lives
they have
learned
to
help
others
understand
that the
fruitfulness
and the
victories
that they've
experienced
are victories
that have
come from
one source
the
source of
salvation
the God
to whom
they look
let all
that you do
be directed
to him
they say
to one
another
it stands
as an
example
to us
what gets
in the way
of us
declaring
the deeds
of God
what gets
in the way
of you
making
the greatness
of God
understood
maybe
because we
follow the
world's
strategies
maybe
because we
work out
our own
solutions
maybe
because we
let impatience
get the best
of us
we take
matters into
our own
hands
we pray
little
we seek
wisdom
little
we seem
to only
look to
God
when things
are out
of our
control
then and
only then
do we
call for
help
and so
we
celebrate
our own
successes
we feature
our own
abilities
but those
who come
to terms
with God
the God
of salvation
and look
to him
for rescue
those are
the ones
who can
declare
the deeds
of God
to the
world
are you
one
who
makes
the deeds
of God
understood
secondly
they make
known
his name
also there
in verse
four
give thanks
to the
Lord
call
upon
his name
those
who
represent
God
faithfully
point
to the
one
who
saves
they're
not
quiet
about
the
name
of
God
he's
not
an
anonymous
God
he's
not
one
among
many
he
is
the
one
true
God
and as
the
psalmist
says
in
Psalm
145
he says
I
will
exalt
you
my
God
the
King
I
will
praise
your
name
forever
and
ever
and
throughout
the
book
of
Isaiah
there
is
a
great
emphasis
on
the
name
of
God
we
saw
that
at
the
beginning
we'll
continue
to see
it
go
until
the
very
end
the
emphasis
on
the
holy
one
of
Israel
the
emphasis
on
the
almighty
God
and
those
two
aspects
of
God
working
together
to call
a people
to
himself
restoring
a people
that
represents
him
faithfully
it's
the
exclusivity
of
the
name
that
leads
to
joy
swords
are
beaten
into
plowshares
nations
will not
lift up
sword
against
a nation
the
wolf
will
lay
with
the
lamb
find
that
in
chapter
11
the
calf
and
lion
will
lay
down
together
a
young
child
will
lead
them
but
not
because
of
anything
that
is
happening
outside
of
the
name
of
God
the
might
and
the
strength
of
God
that
comes
to
bear
on
his
people
we
find
again
here
in
verse
five
we
find
make
known
his
glory
make
known
his
glory
not
only
his
deeds
and
his
name
but
also
his
glory
there
is
no
gospel
without
glory
there
is
no
good
news
aside
from
lifting
up
the
value
and
worthiness
of
your
God
notice
how
God's
glory
is
proclaimed
in
verse
five
what
does
it
say
it
says
sing
praises
to
the
Lord
for
he
has
done
gloriously
songs
were
central
to
Israel's
worship
these
were
the
expressions
of
praise
that
flowed
from
the
deepest
parts
of
their
being
you
have
been
called
to
praise
as
people
like
Israel
we
are
called
to
praise
the
king
we've
looked
at
first
Peter
chapter
two
you
are
a
chosen
generation
a
royal
priesthood
a
holy
nation
a
peculiar
people
who
are
called
to
proclaim
the
praises
of
him
who
called
you
out
of
darkness
into
his
marvelous
light
we
have
been
called
to
praise
and
to
glorify
the
Lord
and
in
our
praise
the
nations
will
be
affected
Christ
says
in
Matthew
chapter
5
16
he
says
let
your
light
shine
before
others
so
that
they
may
see
your
good
works
and
do
what
and
give
glory
to
your
father
who
is
in
heaven
in
first
Peter
chapter
two
it
says
have
your
conduct
honorable
among
the
Gentiles
that
when
they
speak
against
you
as
evildoers
they
may
by
your
good
works
which
they
observe
glorify
God
in
the
day
of
visitation
and
in
2nd
Corinthians
chapter
4
verses
3
and
4
it
says
even
if our
gospel
is
veiled
it
is
veiled
to
those
who
are
lost
whose
minds
the
God
of
this
age
is
blinded
who
do
not
believe
lest
the
light
of
the
gospel
of
the
glory
of
Christ
should
be
revealed
to
them
the
gospel
is
about
the
glory
of
God
his
worthiness
his
supremacy
are you
praising
and thanking
God
for his
glory
does it
show up
in your
conversations
in the
world around
you
does your
gospel
message
expound
on the
glory
of Christ
and finally
we see
in verse
6
we make
known
his
greatness
shout
and sing
for joy
oh
inhabitants
of Zion
for great
in your
midst
is the
holy
one
of
Israel
he is
mighty
in spite
of the
power
of the
nations
their
dominating
strength
their
seemingly
unstoppable
nature
their
ruthless
practices
their
hating
being
hated
among
by their
enemies
and in
spite of
the
rebellion
of Israel
we find
that God
intervenes
and rescues
he is a
God of
strength
he is a
God of
might
how great
is your
God
this morning
how great
is he
in your
midst
how great
is your
God
in the
setting
in which
he has
placed
you
if I
asked your
co-workers
or fellow
students
or
neighbors
to describe
for me
your
God
how great
is your
God
how does
his greatness
show up
in your
conversation
with others
there was
no mistake
in the minds
of the people
of Jerusalem
on the day
of Pentecost
the greatness
of God
was on display
they say
in Acts
chapter 2
verse 11
in describing
their own
personal experiences
it says
we heard them
telling in our
own tongues
the mighty
works
of God
that
is the
gospel
the greatness
and worthiness
and value
and treasure
of your
God
how great
is your
God
this morning
well I don't
know about
you but
liking
a YouTube
video is
not my
style
but I
but I come
to realize
that
that liking
this video
not only
benefits
them in
terms of
popularity
but I've
come to
understand
that liking
that video
on YouTube
actually is a
benefit to them
financially
did you know
that
as you subscribe
to their channel
as you like
their posts
it raises
them in
popularity
and advertisers
then begin
to get
attracted
to this
video
and then
the rest
of the
world
can experience
and enjoy
the benefit
of that
video
well
it pales
in comparison
but I
found in
my own
heart
and life
that not
only is it
not my
style to
give thanks
for a
YouTube
video by
liking it
it does
not tend
to be my
style in
thanking God
for his
goodness when
it shows up
in my
life
and so
I don't
commend his
worthiness
to others
and by
doing so
I
don't give
the opportunity
for him
to be
valued
in the
minds
of others
I leave
the gospel
obscure
I leave
the gospel
concealed
because I
don't choose
to thank
the goodness
of God
the glory
of God
the deeds
of God
the might
of God
it's just
not my
style
but it
should be
God's
people
will be
marked
by praise
let's pray
Lord this
morning as
we close
this service
we understand
how dreadfully
short we
come
to the
standard
being a
people
that is
so
permeated
so
saturated
by praise
that it
flows out
in every
conversation
not only
in expressing
the goodness
of God
for us
not only
magnifying
you
and praising
you for
your work
to us
but in
commending
you to
others
making
your
worthiness
praise
put on
central
the
spotlight
giving
others
the opportunity
to join
in the
chorus
of praise
to be
able to
experience
the benefits
of being
partnered
and in
fellowship
with God
oh God
please forgive
us
forgive us
as a
people
for not
being marked
as people
of thanks
help us
this week
to make
it our
aim
to change
that
at least
a little
so that we
can come
back next
week and
say
listen to
the
opportunities
I've had
to give
thanks to
God
and then
to join
in the
chorus
of thanks
with others
who are
also a
part of
that process
so that
we can
gather
a community
a city
a nation
to be
worshippers
of our
great God
we pray
in Jesus
name
amen