The Awesome Works of God and the Response of Man

If you have your Bibles, you can turn to Psalm 66. That's where we're going to be today. It says this.

Shepherd's joy to God all the Earth sing the glory of his name. Give him glory of praise. Say to God how awesome are your Deeds so great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you? All the Earth worships you and sings praises to you. They sing praises to your name, Shayla. Come and see what God has done. He is awesome in his deeds to are the children of man. Turn the sea into dry land. They passed through the river on foot. There's we rejoice in him who rules by his might forever whose eyes keep watch on the nation's let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Bless our god. Oh people's let the sounds of his praise be heard who's kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip for you. Oh god of tested us. You've tried us a silver you brought us into the night. You laid a crushing burden on our backs. You let men ride over our heads went through fire and through water yet. You have brought us to a place of abundance. I will come into your house with burnt offerings. I will perform my vows to you. That was my lips honored and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat and animals with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams. I will make an offering of bulls and goats sayla. Coming here all who fear the lord and I will tell you what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouse and High Praise was on my tongue if I cherished iniquity in my heart. The Lord would not have listened but truly God has listened. He is attended to the voice of my prayer.

Maya in this morning my my point this sermon. Is to show that joy in the Lord's Works will overflow In Praise of him, which will Point others to him and when we point others to him, they will see his greatest work Jesus Christ on the cross. That is my aim this morning that when we see God's works it gives us joy, and it causes us to praise him so that others may see the cross of Jesus Christ and come to faith in him and understand what he did for them. Before we get there. We need to build some Foundation about the calling of a Christian to have joy in their life.

A follower of Christ is called by God to be marked by joy. We see this in the very first verse of the song that we just read. It says shout for joy to God. The people of God are called to have a joy that is full of people of God are called to have a joy that is sustaining as a joy that is always present because the joy that were called to have is not based on circumstances and it's not based on situations. It's not based on things going. Well for us is a joy that is rooted in something else entirely something all together greater and much more wonderful.

You see the world experiences a type of joy. But it is merely a shadow of that which is available in Jesus Christ because the world's version of joy is Holy circumstantial. The world's version of joy is I have joy because I got a raise at work. I have joy because things are going well at home. I have joy because I beat that difficult level in my favorite video game that I've been trying to beat forever. Or for the men in here during this season. I have joy cuz I shot a 10-point buck.

I don't know what that Joy is like so if you do that wouldn't bring me joy of it. The world's definition of joy is that it's an emotion as it is something that is fleeting is in a motion that must always be sought but never consistently obtained because it is dependent on things going well for you. It is dependent on your circumstances.

We all know that the nature of situations in circumstances is that they are by Nature fleeting. And so the world's Joy is fleeting. And it leads to I got a raise at work yesterday. But today my boss is a real jerk. Things are going really well at home yesterday. But today my spouse is a bit difficult. I beat that level yesterday. I'm stuck on a new one today. Or like Ryan not knowing the joys of a 10-point buck yet.

Over the follower of Jesus. The joy that we are called to have is not based on circumstances is not based on things going well for us, but rather is based on the unchanging revealed character of the almighty God of the universe it is is it joy that is rooted in the knowledge and understanding of him and the astonishing reality that this Creator God is God of the entire universe has a kind countenance towards us when your joy is rooted in God who does not change based on circumstance who is not moved by afflictions or difficulties to remain steadfast in every single season and every single storm you acquire a joy that cannot be shaken.

It doesn't mean that we are always going to appear. Joyful. It's not as though sunshine and Rainbows are always going to be pouring out of us. But what it does mean is that in all of life. We are sustained and we are undergirded by a joy. That is never lost. even in the toughest of moments the perfect picture of this is found in 2nd Corinthians, 6:10. Paul in this part of 2nd Corinthians is talking about partnering with Christ in the work of proclaiming the gospel and he's recognizing the hardships that come with that including immense difficulties Paul list some things that he's dealing with these dealing with Hunger. He's dealing with persecution. He's dealing with sleeplessness. He's dealing with emotional heaviness. And in the midst of these Paul list some characteristics that are true of him facing persecution. Me and my counterparts with me and yet we are sorrowful yet always rejoicing In the midst of sleeplessness and emotional trials and heaviness in hunger. I am sorrowful yet. I am always rejoicing

Logan Paul say that Paul can't say that because he understands that Joy is more than an emotion in the state of being for the follower of Christ that through the grace of God in the gift of Jesus Christ. We are sustained by joy that comes from him. It is a gift so that in the midst of our deepest Soros and suffering we can have joy in Jesus.

Paul was a man who was acquainted with Sorrel Paul was a man who was acquainted with suffering in Romans 9 verse two to three. I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart for My Kinsman according to the flesh. Paul saying I'm overwhelmed. I'm overwhelmed with anguish that my fellow Jews are perishing apart from Christ because they're not recognized him as their Savior and yet I am still able to Rejoice. I have this joy that never leaves me. Because he has a joy that goes deeper than circumstance has a joy that goes deeper than a motion. He has a joy that is a hedge of protection around his very soul that comes from Jesus. The reality is for followers of Christ. We we have something that the world desperately needs. We we have a joy that is wholly unknown to men and women apart from Christ. The world doesn't have this kind of Joyce. There is no joy in the midst of sorrow in the world. There is no joy in the midst of suffering and that makes for a shallow existence. The world needs this joy that is impossible to subdue that is impossible to defeat. It is our call to help them see where this Joy comes from before we can do that. We have to have that Joy ourselves.

John Piper says this my wife is laughing because every day at home. I was like John Piper K. John Piper. You only said I think she's sick of his name John Piper. The whole Christian message from beginning to end is good news of great joy.

And I want to support that idea this morning on a dig into that I do this morning with a brief summary of some texts. And then we'll dig into Psalm 66 and we're going to end with just a very a couple of very practical takeaways for us this morning. The idea that the whole Christian message from beginning to end is good news of great. Joy, is that true what when the angel announced the birth of Jesus publicly for the first time, what did the angel say? Luke chapter 2 verse 10 and the angel said to them fear not behold I bring you good news of great joy, that will be for all the people. In the very first public Declaration of Jesus's birth. This is the proclamation that this news the angel was receipt was giving is good news. That is a great joy and a great joy is going to be for all of the people and this was Illustrated in who the angel brought this news to We talked about this before he he declared to Shepherds in a field. Should I bring you good news of great joy that is for all people and it is so significant that he's a clear diet to shepherds in the field because Shepherds in a field. We're in Jewish culture the outcast Shepherds were the Forgotten ones of society those who were thought of by the rest of Jewish culture as unclean unable to come before the presence of God and the angel of the Lord brings this message to Simon says, I have good news of great. Joy for all people and I think he brought it to the Shepherds so that no one could say all I'm disqualified. It doesn't count for me. I'm too far gone to receive this good news and have it become great. Joy for me. Is a proclamation of the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven through Jesus and the announcement is most notably marked by what it will bring people. It will bring joy.

little later on in Matthew 13 Jesus is telling a parable about the kingdom of heaven and what it's like. He says in Matthew 13:44 says the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field with a man found and covered up. Then in his Joy, he goes and sells all the way has and buys that field. Who's man comes across this field and sees this treasure hidden and he recognizes it is so valuable that he is willing to sell everything he has in order to obtain it and not just willing to do it. But in his Joy he wants to go and sell everything he has so that he can obtain the treasure in that field. He sees it as it is so much more valuable in a break so much more joy than all of his Earthly possessions and he is willing to lose them all to gain it.

Christian Life Is Mark by joy that comes from God Romans? 15 13 Paul is prices May the god of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that the power of the Holy Spirit by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in Hope Jose may he fill you with joy that you will abound in Hope one of the roles of the Holy Spirit In Our Lives to fill followers of Christ with joy when Paul lists the fruit of the spirit in Galatians, 5:22 holistic Joy second right behind love and we know how important love is pulse is the fruit of the spirit is love and joy and peace and patience your goodness and faithfulness.

Isaiah when he was prophesying about the new heavens and the new Earth, which going to be established upon the second coming of Jesus Christ, he prophesize about them and Isaiah 65 verse 17 and 18. Look what he says. Just for behold. I create new heavens and a new Earth in the former things shall not be remembered or come into mine but be glad and rejoice forever. And that which I create the hold I create Jerusalem to be a joy. And her people to be a gladness.

Isaiah's Prophecies of God's people are going to Rejoice forever because of the new Heaven and a new Earth that he has created and he has created them specifically to be a joy for his people and they will have gladness and of course the famous verse in Revelation 21:4. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and Death Shall be no more neither shall there be morning nor crying or pain anymore for the former things have passed away. He says that the coming of Jesus Christ and full establishment of the kingdom of God, what will people be left with she's going to take away suffering is going to take away pain is going to take Play Crying people will be left with joy. Joyce marks the life of a follower of Christ from now into eternity.

And it is in the vein of joy that the psalmist write Psalm 66.

Psalm 66 focuses on one aspect of God's relationship with his people that contributes to this great joy that we can have in him just tell him that it's calling for praise because of God's awesome Deeds.

The message of Psalm 66 is basically that the only proper response to the works of God is praise and that the song begins with this this Universal call to all inhabitants of the earth to call the answer for to answer the call. And then it Narrows down to God's people and then finally it ends with a focus on the individual relationship of the psalmist with his God.

Let's look at it together. And I think we will see the main point of what I want us to see this morning that when we have joy in the works of God. We will praise him and it will Point people to his greatest work the cross of Jesus Christ.

The psalmist begins with an exhortation to praise for all people in verse 1 and 2 he calls upon the whole earth to praise the Lord. He says shout for joy to God all the Earth sing the glory of his name give to him glorious praise appealing to all the inhabitants of the earth to give glory to God out of their abundant joy in him and if we look at verse 3, we see where that Joy comes from. It is a knowledge of his works. You just say to God how awesome are your Deeds

And we have to keep in mind is that this is a call to the whole Earth? To give glory to God. This doesn't mean that the whole earth response to this call. We know for the majority of the Earth. The opposite is true. People do not respond to this call to give glory to God to praise him because of his Works to recognize it all good things come from him, but it doesn't make it any less right that this call should go out because God is still God and he is still worthy of all praise. Even if there is no one who is willing to praise him.

The song is this calling all people to what should happen. God is due Glory because of his awesome works. If only we could see them and recognize them. And it's almost gives three reasons for why the inhabitants of the earth should praise God. First 5 verse 7 says come and see what God has done. He is awesome in his deeds toward the Children of Men. Who rules by is my forever whose eyes keep watch on the nation's let not the rebellious exalt themselves. The reason one that gives is God's awesome. Deeds towards the children of man. Is this idea of a common Grace that the weather you were a follower of Christ or not? You are under God's common Grace if you wake up in the morning and you take a breath. That is God's grace. If you have a food, that is God's grace. If you have a shelter, that is God's grace. All human beings are under this common Grace from the Lord who sustains us daily and because of that he is due phrase.

Reason to that the psalmist gives his cuz he watches the nation's the Lord is over all the nations nations rise and Nations fall leadership changes hands God is God is consistent and all of it. He is over all of it. In the last reason he gives is he does not let the rebellious exalt themselves there are times and there are seasons when it seems like the rebellious or exalting against God, but ultimately God is just and he will not allow it to happen and his Justice will rain is over these three reasons the song that says all the people of the earth should praise God.

And then he brings it down a level. He says he calls God's Own people. Those of you who know God specifically you worship him as well. Verse 8-9 says bless our God old people's but the sound of his praise be heard. He was kept our soul among the living and is not let our feet slip.

18 habits of the Earth are called upon to praise God by the Samus then how much more how much more should is people who know him? Give him Praises due to his name. And again, the praise that he calls for is based on God's works this time of monks. God people the first reason he gives Is The Exodus? This is very Jewish context but he refers to the Exodus in the crossing of the Red Sea inverse 660 turn the sea into dry land they passed through the river on foot there. Did we rejoice in him? Just look at what God has done. He brought us out of Egypt. Because it's with cross the Red Sea on dry land. He is worthy of praise for the

second reason he gives is God's faithfulness in testing his people. Verse 10 and 12 pieces for you all got a tested us you've tried us as silver is tried you brought us into the net you made a crushing burden on our backs. You let men ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water that you have brought us out to a place of abundance. How interesting God God's people are praising God for the hardships that they faced. Songs to sing praise God that he sustains you through hardships.

He brought them through. He's the one who has kept our soul among. The living is not let our feet slip cuz they recognized it in hardships is often when they experience the steadfastness of God in hardships is when we often experience the grace of God to a level that we don't when things are going really well for us.

And the third reason the psalm is gives the Praises because of God's Abundant Blessings. Angie says yet. You've brought us out. You took it through trials and tribulations and yet you have brought us out and you have brought us to a place of abundance needs of course referring to the promised land there.

So the song missed calls on all inhabitants of the earth to praise God and then he calls on the people of God to praise him. And then finally he Narrows his Focus to his own personal relationship with the Lord. In his own response to the Lord's deeds in his life. And didn't we see two principles for our own lives that I want to end with? And their two principles that are dependent on having joy in the Lord.

You know, it's one thing to praise the Lord in corporate gatherings. We are called to gather with one another and do exactly that we are called to gather together and praise the Lord in these corporate Gatherings and it's beautiful and it is an immensely important part of the body of Christ but is not the clearest indication of the joy that we have in Christ as we can get caught up in the moment where we can get caught up in the emotion of a song in the power of lyrics to the power of boys singing together. The energy of God's people gathering around his word together that can spark and motion in our hearts. The greatest indication of our joy of the Lord is our individual walk with him up from an hour on Sunday morning. That is the greatest indication of our joy in the Lord. We can come here and praise him and everyone else. What if we leave here and that's about the only time we spend with him in all of our week? Then do we really have joy in him? Do we really find joy in him if we don't spend time with him? I find it hard to enjoy my wife. I don't spend time with her.

If nothing more than what the world has if that's us we have a type of Joy that's built on a motion that our hearts are stirred at church. Not a joy rooted in the Lord not a joy rooted in his unchanging nature. So two ways to know if our joy is truly rooted in the Lord from Psalm 66 and there's more there's a lot more we can talk about but specifically to from the song this morning. The first one is this. Our Daily Commitment to the Lord Our walk with him. In Psalm 66 verse 1315 the psalmist says I will come into your house with burnt offerings. I will perform my vows to you. That was my lips are turned in my mouth promise when I was in trouble. I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat and animals with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams. I will make an offering of bulls and goats.

What is happening here is the song mrs. Is responding to the great works of Lord of the Lord with joy and he's his responses showing through his desire to give an offering to the Lord message. Join. You got to want to come and bring an offering to you and brothers and sisters. We are called to praise God in our joy with all the inhabitants of the earth. We are called to praise God and rejoicing amongst his people who we are also called to give an offering to the Lord just like the song that says in that offering is not a bolt is not a goat. It is our very lives. We are to give ourselves everyday every moment as an offering to the Lord in the more that we do that it shows the joy that we have in him because if we are willing to give everything it means I'm not looking for Joy anywhere else. I know it's in you want me to give you all that. I have the depth to which we offer ourselves to the Lord reveals the death of the joy that we have in him.

Matthew 19 verse 27 to 29 Such an interesting interaction between Peter and Jesus.

This is right after the meeting of the Rich Young Ruler when he came to Jesus as what do I have to do?

And you didn't like Jesus's answer. 300 give away everything

and after this happened Peter replies to Jesus. He says Lord see we have left everything and followed you. What time will we have?

Jesus said to them truly I say to you in the New World when the son of man will sit on his glorious Throne you who have followed me will also sit on 12 Thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for my namesake. Will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

What is Jesus saying there is like the man who who sold everything to buy that treasure in the field out of his Joy. What Jesus is basically saying to Peter's Peter? Guess what for those who have done this for my namesake? You haven't actually sacrificed anything. It feels like it now but you haven't because what you were going to gain and so much more than what you're giving away. If you could just understand that. Joy is found in me to be willing to give everything away from my namesake. The joy that you're going to find is so much further Beyond it'll feel like you didn't give anything away.

That's what Jesus is saying to Peter here. Don't feel like we've lost anything. It'll feel like we have gained everything.

The extent of our offering to him will reflect the joy that we have in him. And in the promises of our life with him.

in the last thing that are Joy will reflect or we will see is exactly what the psalmist does here. an invitation to come and see and hear with the Lord Has Done in our lives. Verse 16 to 20 the psalmist out of his Joy is writing this. She says come in here come and see me coming here. And I will tell you what you've done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth and high praises on my tongue by Cherish iniquity in my heart. The Lord would not have listened but truly God has listened to his tenant to the voice of my prayer blessed be God because he is not rejoice. He has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love for me. The song This is sitting there is that hey everybody come and see what God has done in my life. Who is Joy in the Lord that leads us to that the joy of what God has done for us for our soul will overflow in a call to other people to come and see and hear you got a experiences to cuz this is amazing. We will rejoice in the works by glorifying his name to others and when other people see that kind of joy. We will see the father through us when we can have that kind of driving and you got to see what God did in my life. I was this and now I'm this. Can you believe it through no power of my own and you can have this to Jesus died for you Jesus died for you. He came to take your sin because you are stuck in Rebellion you are stuck in since you cannot possibly have a relationship with God and Jesus came so that you could have relationship. And you can have joy a bun enjoyed it never ends. It is always the same thing you can ever have in this life. You have to trust in the Lord Jesus and accept what he has done for you recognize you are a sinner. in need of his grace

You know how that work at the cross to cover you.

And it's not all sunshine and rainbows. This is not a message that when you come to Faith in Jesus Christ, your life gets easier often times it gets harder, but we had that Joy the sustains Us in the midst of it if we're just willing to lay our lives down and trust in the Lord and what he calls us to.

The reality is for those of us who have joined Jesus Our Praise of God will ultimately point to God's greatest work the cross of Jesus Christ That Others May see the others may hear when our lives are a joyful offering to him when our joy overflows and speaking about him others will see and hear week. We talked about what we're in all of don't we? We talk about what we love we talk about what we're excited about.

Do you have joy in the Lord? Is it overflow from you? We can't help talking about it. You can't help inviting others to come and see it. This is the kind of joy that God calls us to have In the midst of Sorrow, the midst of difficulties in the midst of everything that we face. This isn't in ignorance to the situations we go through this is knowing that under them. There is always the consistency that we have in the Lord. And we will yet Praise Him. Let's pray.

Heavenly father. I thank you so much for Jesus.

Father I thank you for what he has done on our behalf.

Father I thank you for the message that the angel sent to the Shepherds when he declared that this is good news of great. Joy, he brought it to the outcasts. He brought it to those who thought they could never be good enough and they can but the reality is that through Christ you make us right with you. This is good news of great. Joy for all people because all people have the opportunity to say. Yes. I trust in you I trust in the work of the Cross and what you've done on my behalf. I know I can never make myself right with you.

I know that I have sinned. It's not just that I've made mistakes at the core. I am a sinner.

because of that

what I deserve is hell, but what you have bought for me is eternity with you. Has the greatest message? the greatest news ever Father I pray for those of us who who know that we have relations with you that we would just be overflowed with joy, it would it would permeate from us that others with cs and go with the you have got to remember when I first came to Faith and just seen Joseph in the church singing to you and seeing the Joy on his face. And what does he have that I don't have I don't get it. So father I pray that we would have that kind of joy that would cause us to go come see hear what you've done.

And you would Open the Eyes of those who don't know you. To be able to comprehend the greatness of your work.

In all the Earth would praise you.

Pray this in Jesus name. He-Man