Built by God

Introduction

➟ ➟ ➟ Psalm 145 is David’s last psalm in the book of Psalms.

As you think about David, what would you expect him to do?

Knowing his life, his love for God, and the # of blessings he received, it would be natural to think of how he would praise God. That’s exactly what he does.

Psalm 145 is a stellar praise psalm. It is a summary of all David had learned about God during a lifetime of service.

Note how he opens the psalm:

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.1 - God is his king.

Here is Israel’s king exalting the king of the universe.

God is David’s king & He is your king.

He made you. He rules over you - whether you acknowledge it or not.

Note the three statements in 145.1-2:

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.1b - (I will) bless your name.

David will worship God, i.e., he will acknowledge God for who he is.

David will focus his mind on God’s holiness, justice, righteousness, mercy, awesomeness, and majesty.

Note how he’s not, on this occasion, focused on what he can get from God. Although that is part of worship, how often do we focus just on what God has done for us?

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.2a - I will bless you every day.

Not just on the Sabbath … but every day.

Each day of the week - every moment of our life is an opportunity for praise.

➟ ➟ ➟ 1.2b - I will praise your name forever and ever.

David had faith that he’d be praising God thru all eternity.

Imagine, in a few short years, we’ll all be standing beside the throne - along with all the redeemed saints from all time before.

➟ ➟ ➟ This month, we are focusing on how our church family has been built on Jesus.

Last week, we talked about how we our family has been built for the glory of God.

➟ ➟ ➟ We looked at Romans 15 - focusing on how we have been charged to live in harmony, glorifying God with one voice.

The effect of that is seen in 15.6 - together, we with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This church and every local COC has been built for the glory of God.

➟ ➟ ➟ Now today, we talk about how our church has been built by God.

I know we’re not together in person today, but I want you to think of this family & the people that make it up.

Each one is part of the great building of believers God is constructing.

Each person is valuable, has a place, and is part of something that is dynamic, growing, and always changing.

When you think of this church family & what it means to you personally, how can you not be filled with praise?

When you think of how God is moving in this church & setting it up for growth and a larger impact in this family, how can you not be filled with praise?

When you think of all God has done for us this year:

In midst of a pandemic

In midst of economic uncertainty

In midst of not meeting for almost 6 months

In midst of times of great fear and anxiety across the land

How can you not be filled with praise?

Our God is so good. He is so great!

He is our sustainer. Provider. Past. Present. Future.

For a few brief moments today we’ll look at the remainder of this psalm. In doing so, we’ll answer the question: What should we praise God for?

10.4 - what are the things about God we should be proclaiming to our kids/grandkids?

We have a job to do - telling the young about the greatness of God.

So we’ll do 4 things in this lesson:

5-7 - His greatness

8.8-13a - His grace

8.13b-16 - His faithfulness

8.17-20 - His righteousness

Psalm 145.4b-7 - Praise for God’s Greatness

Did you note how David focuses on God’s works?

➟ ➟ ➟ 4b - mighty acts.

➟ ➟ ➟ 5 - splendor / glorious majesty

➟ ➟ ➟ 6 - awe inspiring acts

We could talk about God’s greatness in nature.

But what about His saving power?

Think of His delivering of Israel from slavery in Egypt.

Think of how He delivered us from sin by the cross.

➟ ➟ ➟ And when we think of our salvation, look at v. 7: Think about God’s great goodness and righteousness.

Psalm 145.8-13a - Praise for God’s Grace

Note how David focuses on:

➟ ➟ ➟ Grace/compassion

➟ ➟ ➟ Slowness to anger

greatness in love.

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.9-10 - The Lord is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made. All you have made will thank you, Lord; the faithful will bless you.

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.11 - Note the 2nd part of this section where David focuses on God’s kingdom.

God’s goodness is His rule over us, because we cannot rule ourselves.

We need to remind ourselves of this and the sooner we realize this fact the better we’ll be.

Psalm 145.13b-16 - Praise for God’s Faithfulness

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.13b-14 - He helps the inadequate.

When we fall, he lifts us up.

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.15-16 - He provides us with our needs.

When we are weak, he restores us.

When we are hungry, he provides food. Look at how He lives to satisfy us with good things.

Psalm 145.17-20 - Praise for God’s Righteousness

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.17 - He is the source of morality. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all his acts.

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.18 - He is near to us.

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.18b-19 - He answers prayer.

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.19-20 - Throughout our entire life - God shows Himself to be a good, caring, saving, and persevering God.

The Lord guards all those who love him.

Psalm 145.21 - David’s Last Will & Testament

It has been said that these are the last words of David in the Bible.

➟ ➟ ➟ 145.21 - My mouth will declare the Lord’s praise; let every living thing bless his holy name forever and ever.

James Boice: “They are his last will and testament.”

This is his legacy for future generations. Go back & look at 145.4a.

What is our legacy of praise? What are some things we can tell our kids / grandkids about the hand of God among us?

What God Has and Is Building for Us

Let’s think back over the last 20 years and God’s work among His people inside this congregation.

Where has God been leading us? Who are the people He has brought us to facilitate the advancement of His kingdom? What are the tools and resources He has provided? What are the opportunities He has graciously given?

Look back through the years and see God’s hand.

First thing, is an active, caring, servant minded leadership team.

Visionary elders … who are always looking ahead and committed to doing what is best for this congregation.

A commitment to prepare & mentor those who are younger in life for the role of leadership as they age and mature.

Shepherds and preachers dedicated to the Scripture … truly seeking to understand what the text says … and learning how to mold our lives and the daily work of this congregation around that.

A group of leaders, who are committed to leading us beyond traditionalism and reactionary thinking, challenging us to think seriously about our faith and practices… and willing set the example in changing their perspectives as they grow in deeper knowledge of God’s word.

We would not be where we are or who we are today without God’s provision of the faithful leadership team he had provided us over the last two decades.

When you look at it, I don’t want you to see it as something we’ve produced … I want you to give praise to God for supplying us with the people he has in order to make that possible.

Second thing, is the blessing of young upwardly mobile families with children.

One of the things I’ve missed most during the pandemic is seeing all the kids in Bible class and inside the auditorium before/after worship. I really noticed it the other day when we were meeting at the Bellbrook school.

Our young families bring so much to the congregation. They fill it with life, fresh ideas, and a sense of optimism.

There’s an expectation of a greater, more blessed future.

And I want you to see God’s hand in this. God’s working through providence to bring us so many to this place. Right now … at this time … all for the purpose of building our own spiritual strength, but also for the advancement of His kingdom locally.

One of the best impressions any congregation can make on a person looking for a church … is the presence of young families with children.

We need to praise God for this blessing and never take it for granted.

Third thing, is the blessing of monetary resources.

Many of us have been blessed with overwhelming abundance, which has allowed our congregation to go far above and even beyond what many can do.

If a need has come up, a ministry or initiative we want to try, or further developing / expanding our work in Colombia … we’ve done it with no worries. The money is just there … because of your generosity and sacrificial hearts.

Over the last 10 years especially, the congregation was able to save a large amount of money to prepare for what we’re doing now as we move into the new building.

Now again, we’re thinking of the hand of God in all of this … not our own accomplishments … and I want you to see this morning how he has blessed each one of us bountifully with the financial resources we have to not only continue doing what we’re doing … but do more than we ever have.

Everything we’ve received financially is by the hand of God … and for that we give Him praise.

Fourth thing, is the blessing of a large number of members between the age of 50-70 whose children are grown up … and now have the time to serve and work inside the congregation in very powerful / effective ways.

The wisdom and experience you’ve gained through life … the spiritual maturity you bring … the quality of teaching you provide … truly make the difference for the congregation.

This is something we must not take for granted.

I could go on and on listing out these blessings in further detail … but I want you to see and come to the place where God is praised for what He is doing here.

I want you to see how, through God’s providence, we’ve all been brought together, each from our own varied places around the country where we grew up, each from our own backgrounds and experiences, each with our differing levels of spiritual maturity, to this place … right here … right now … for the purpose of doing God’s work more effectively and passionately than we ever have before.

As Mordecai told Esther in Esther 4.14, may we come to see that God has brought us all together right now for such a time as this.

A time where this group of people will make its mark on this congregation for generations to come because it is moving in faith and trust in God right now.

And oh how He will bless us, brothers and sisters of Cornerstone … when we all recognize … this is our time. God has brought us together right now to do His work … take the legacy we bring with us from Kettering Church of Christ … and build on it … taking things to the next level.

I want you to see how God not only has blessed us … but is blessing us right now. Our best days aren’t in the past … they’re ahead of us. They begin right now.

We need to focus on that .... not ourselves … not our fears of what the change of a new facility will bring … not the sadness of missing the comfort of the way we romanticize the way things used to be … but choose to focus on the extravagant, immense, and incredible blessing God is giving us right now.

God is calling us to faith. God is calling us to embrace growth. God is calling us to stretch our thinking and maybe do some things in ways we’ve never done them before.

Let’s rise up and go to work. Let’s move in faith.

Let’s do this … so that 25 years from now our children and grandchildren can look back and find inspiration from our acts of faith … so that they too will rise up and be effective servants in the kingdom.

➟ ➟ ➟ Truly our work is being built by God. Let’s embrace it. Let’s go to work.

➟ ➟ ➟ Can we help you find the Lord? All things are ready.