2020/It Ain't Over Yet (Sermon)_transcript.txt

[1.00 --> 11.22]  We're going to continue our worship by reading together from Psalm 148 and then spending some time in that text.
[11.32 --> 17.34]  If you have a Bible handy, I would invite you to open that up to Psalm 148 or on your phone or device
[17.34 --> 24.30]  and have that in front of you as we will look pretty closely at a few verses going through that psalm.
[24.30 --> 31.46]  With Psalm 148 open before us, let me pray before I read.
[34.60 --> 43.16]  Lord God, we come to your word and we cry out saying, speak to us today.
[44.28 --> 48.26]  Speak to our hearts with the beauty of your glory.
[48.26 --> 55.40]  Make much of yourself in our midst through your word that our hearts might sing.
[56.70 --> 62.10]  May we join with all of creation and all the angels in singing your praises today.
[62.30 --> 66.10]  In Christ Jesus alone we pray. Amen.
[69.08 --> 72.10]  This is Psalm 148.
[72.10 --> 75.56]  Praise the Lord.
[76.24 --> 77.90]  Praise the Lord from the heavens.
[78.22 --> 80.24]  Praise him from the heights above.
[81.18 --> 82.80]  Praise him, all his angels.
[83.06 --> 85.12]  Praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
[85.66 --> 87.32]  Praise him, sun and moon.
[88.04 --> 89.92]  Praise him, all you shining stars.
[90.60 --> 95.16]  Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
[95.58 --> 100.20]  Let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created.
[100.20 --> 103.90]  He set them in place forever and ever.
[104.34 --> 106.94]  He gave a decree that will never pass away.
[108.00 --> 112.62]  Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
[113.24 --> 118.38]  lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,
[118.80 --> 122.28]  you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
[122.72 --> 126.06]  wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
[126.48 --> 128.40]  kings of the earth and all nations,
[128.40 --> 135.14]  you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maiden, old men and children.
[136.14 --> 143.14]  Let them praise the name of the Lord for his name alone is exalted.
[144.36 --> 147.54]  His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
[147.54 --> 151.50]  He has raised up for his people a horn.
[152.50 --> 158.70]  The praise of all his saints of Israel, the people close to his heart.
[159.56 --> 161.28]  Praise the Lord.
[162.04 --> 163.40]  This is the word of the Lord.
[163.40 --> 173.16]  In many ways, I love the Sunday after Christmas.
[174.04 --> 180.66]  Quickly, the rest of our culture and society sort of moves on to the next thing, right?
[181.04 --> 185.14]  Immediately after Christmas, Boxing Day appears for a blip,
[185.26 --> 186.66]  although it used to be Boxing Day.
[186.66 --> 188.86]  Now it's Boxing Week, it seems.
[190.06 --> 195.66]  But even quickly after that, we move into New Year's Eve celebrations and the like.
[195.74 --> 200.24]  People leave Christmas behind almost as fast as it appears after Thanksgiving.
[201.82 --> 206.74]  Or maybe Halloween, depending on your order of life together.
[206.74 --> 215.42]  I have a friend back home in Ontario who makes much every week or every year on Boxing Day
[215.42 --> 220.14]  of taking the Christmas tree out, bringing it to the back 40, and burning it as quickly as he can.
[220.98 --> 223.08]  Christmas comes and it leaves.
[223.96 --> 225.22]  But not in the church.
[226.46 --> 231.98]  Technically speaking, if we follow the liturgical calendar, the common lectionary,
[231.98 --> 236.82]  Christmas lasts for the two Sundays that follow December 25,
[237.12 --> 239.62]  whatever that happens to be in that calendar year.
[239.72 --> 241.98]  And so this year, that's through January 3rd.
[242.98 --> 248.62]  Now Christmas works out to a roughly two-week season that follows the season of Advent.
[248.92 --> 254.46]  As Mike was saying earlier, Advent is that season full of expectation and longing and waiting.
[254.92 --> 257.68]  And then you have Christmas, which lasts for about two weeks,
[257.68 --> 261.04]  and that's followed by the season of Epiphany, right?
[261.04 --> 265.14]  It's the season of the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles.
[265.18 --> 268.92]  And that traditionally starts with the visit of the Magi, right?
[268.98 --> 271.90]  Epiphany means to reveal or to display.
[272.74 --> 278.66]  My point is, theologically or liturgically, it's still Christmas around here.
[279.88 --> 288.16]  And that means that we can be extra intentional in our marveling at the majesty of the incarnation, right?
[288.16 --> 293.50]  To be still amazed at the beauty of Emmanuel, God with us.
[295.20 --> 302.04]  If you joined us for our Christmas Day service, the last words that I spoke in that service are,
[302.22 --> 308.28]  in fact, the last words that we heard and have been hearing from the angels spoken to the shepherds,
[308.38 --> 311.04]  our Emmanuel kids' memory work all month long.
[311.04 --> 315.40]  And the last song that we sang was glory to God, right?
[315.44 --> 318.88]  We sang the song of the angels at the birth of Jesus.
[319.10 --> 326.48]  This morning, using Psalm 148, we're going to continue singing praise.
[326.48 --> 330.64]  Now, if you read along with me there, you saw it on the screen.
[330.78 --> 335.38]  Psalm 148 is pretty simple in its main theme, right?
[335.42 --> 339.58]  It's easy enough to see if you just look quickly at the verses.
[339.84 --> 345.36]  Ten times you get the imperative, you get the command to praise the Lord in the text.
[345.44 --> 347.36]  In Hebrew, that's hallelujah.
[348.18 --> 349.30]  Sounds familiar, right?
[349.30 --> 352.12]  Most of us know the word hallelujah, right?
[352.28 --> 356.92]  And then in addition to that, there are two more instances of incomplete verbs,
[356.98 --> 360.20]  of future tense verbs that will say they will praise the name of the Lord.
[360.52 --> 363.66]  Now, obviously, this psalm then is a call to praise.
[363.82 --> 364.86]  It's a command to sing.
[364.94 --> 365.86]  It's a call to worship.
[366.02 --> 372.90]  And so as we go through Psalm 148, we're going to see three distinct things.
[372.90 --> 381.96]  First, we will see that all creation is and will praise the Lord God for who he is, right?
[382.06 --> 386.62]  And as a result of that, we are commanded to do so.
[387.76 --> 394.70]  At the crown of creation then, number two, humanity has a special call to praise the Lord.
[394.70 --> 405.20]  But the jewel in that crown, that's God's chosen people, his church, have an extra special call to worship God.
[405.88 --> 414.14]  And then finally, we will land with this ladder, this call to worship God is made truly and obediently possible
[414.14 --> 418.98]  because God will raise up a horn for his people.
[418.98 --> 425.70]  And a horn that we know is not a trumpet, but it is Jesus.
[426.94 --> 428.36]  And so let's start with the first.
[429.32 --> 433.38]  That all creation is called to praise God.
[434.40 --> 438.26]  Now look at the whole text, and this is why I wanted you to have it in front of you.
[438.50 --> 447.98]  There is a clear and sporadic structure, or clear and specific structure, to the whole of the text here.
[447.98 --> 451.60]  There are four verses and then a chorus that begins with,
[452.04 --> 454.48]  let them praise the name of the Lord for two verses.
[454.88 --> 459.02]  And then there are another section of six verses and a chorus that begins,
[459.20 --> 460.86]  let them praise the name of the Lord.
[461.48 --> 467.86]  Now in each major section, you get every day of the creation story.
[469.04 --> 474.00]  I want to suggest to you this morning that the psalmist has in mind,
[474.00 --> 481.56]  when he writes this call to praise, he has in mind the story of creation from Genesis 1.
[482.22 --> 484.44]  Now there's some pretty clear parallels here, and let me show you.
[484.48 --> 488.06]  If you have Bibles in front of you, you can quickly jump to Genesis 1.
[488.44 --> 490.38]  That's the very first chapter in the Bible.
[490.52 --> 492.40]  It's the story of God creating the world.
[493.12 --> 496.10]  If you don't have a Bible, or if you want to just see the connections explicitly,
[496.10 --> 499.58]  we've put together a graphic to help us see that,
[499.66 --> 503.50]  and that will appear on your screens right now, or in a second or so,
[504.30 --> 505.26]  and we can see it.
[506.14 --> 507.72]  Genesis 1 begins,
[507.72 --> 512.28]  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
[513.00 --> 517.14]  Now the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep,
[517.20 --> 520.46]  and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
[521.38 --> 522.54]  And God said,
[522.90 --> 525.28]  Let there be light, and there was light.
[525.72 --> 529.28]  And God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
[529.74 --> 533.40]  God called the light day, and the darkness he called night.
[533.80 --> 537.14]  And there was evening, and there was morning, the first day.
[538.54 --> 545.54]  Now that story of creation starts with a sort of nebulous unknown of chaos churning, right?
[545.56 --> 547.52]  It's formless and empty.
[547.52 --> 552.94]  There's a darkness that is over the deep, and the Spirit of God is over the waters.
[553.62 --> 555.28]  Now I don't know exactly what that is.
[555.32 --> 557.04]  I don't think anyone really does.
[557.32 --> 563.34]  But into that formless and void chaos, God speaks, and creation is born.
[564.52 --> 567.66]  Now verse 1 of Psalm 148 says,
[567.72 --> 570.52]  Praise Him from the heavens, or sky.
[570.98 --> 574.78]  Praise Him in the heights above, or another way to translate that is high places.
[575.18 --> 580.54]  The Spirit of God is hovering over whatever that is in the heights above.
[581.38 --> 587.66]  And in this story, you even get prehistory, still created, but prehistory being called to praise God.
[588.22 --> 588.86]  The psalm says,
[588.86 --> 590.66]  Praise Him, all His angels.
[591.40 --> 596.18]  But the point is that everything that is not God is created, even the angels,
[596.18 --> 601.86]  and everything that is not God is called to worship or praise God.
[603.58 --> 606.78]  Now in the Genesis story, on day two, you read,
[606.78 --> 611.74]  Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.
[612.54 --> 618.52]  So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it.
[618.88 --> 619.64]  And it was so.
[620.38 --> 624.84]  God called the expanse sky, and there was evening, and there was morning the second day.
[625.54 --> 628.48]  So you have water above and water below.
[628.48 --> 631.86]  And verse 4 of Psalm 148 says,
[632.24 --> 636.32]  Praise Him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the skies.
[637.26 --> 643.66]  Now waters above the skies is sometimes called the firmament in ancient Near Eastern cosmogony.
[644.00 --> 648.78]  And it's what comes crashing down in the flood story of Genesis 6 through 9.
[649.08 --> 652.72]  And in Genesis 7, verse 11, it says,
[652.90 --> 654.88]  The floodgates of the heavens opened.
[655.16 --> 656.56]  That's what we're talking about here.
[656.56 --> 664.66]  Thomas LeBlanc said that the ancients thought there was an ethereal and lofty ocean
[664.66 --> 667.86]  in which the worlds floated like ships on a sea.
[668.22 --> 669.76]  This is what crashes down.
[669.84 --> 673.52]  And this too is what is called to worship God.
[674.58 --> 677.26]  And then day three, right, in the Genesis story,
[677.32 --> 679.94]  the waters are gathered and you get dry ground.
[680.02 --> 682.30]  And that ground is populated with vegetation.
[683.44 --> 684.74]  Verse 7 of our psalm says,
[684.74 --> 686.26]  Praise the Lord from the earth.
[686.26 --> 686.98]  And verse 9,
[687.54 --> 691.12]  You mountains and hills, all fruit trees and cedars.
[691.72 --> 694.32]  Right down through the days of creation we can go.
[694.44 --> 697.38]  Day four is the creation of the sun and the moon and the stars,
[697.54 --> 700.14]  which we read in verse 3 of Psalm 148.
[700.26 --> 701.84]  Praise Him, sun and moon.
[702.00 --> 703.94]  Praise Him, all you shining stars.
[704.90 --> 707.76]  Day five, the oceans and the skies are filled.
[708.46 --> 709.10]  And we read,
[709.20 --> 712.92]  Praise Him, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths.
[712.92 --> 716.16]  And on day five, the skies are filled with flying creatures.
[716.16 --> 724.66]  And in verse 10, the flying birds are invited into this chorus of universal praise of Lord.
[725.82 --> 732.06]  On day six, God starts with wild animals and livestock and all creatures that move along the ground.
[732.06 --> 734.62]  And Psalm 148 verse 10 says,
[734.62 --> 739.58]  Wild animals and all cattle, small creatures, right, are all commanded to praise the Lord.
[740.06 --> 743.52]  And then day six ends with God creating humanity.
[743.52 --> 745.56]  And the Lord said,
[745.56 --> 748.64]  Let us make humanity in our image, in our likeness,
[748.74 --> 752.62]  so that they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds in the sky
[752.62 --> 754.62]  and over the livestock and all the wild animals
[754.62 --> 756.90]  and over all the creatures that move along the ground.
[757.32 --> 761.70]  So God created mankind in His own image.
[761.80 --> 765.84]  In the image of God, He created them male and female.
[766.02 --> 766.86]  He created them.
[766.86 --> 773.70]  All humanity, every station, every nation, every age, every gender,
[774.10 --> 777.36]  are called into the song of praise to the Lord.
[777.74 --> 778.34]  In verse 11,
[778.78 --> 780.78]  Kings of the earth and all nations,
[781.20 --> 783.34]  you princes and all rulers on earth,
[783.46 --> 786.48]  young men and women, elderly and children.
[787.30 --> 791.76]  Right, over the scope of the whole of Psalm 148
[791.76 --> 796.50]  is every bit of creation and history and prehistory
[796.50 --> 801.02]  called together into the hymn of praise to the Lord.
[802.64 --> 807.52]  I love how theologian D.A. Carson puts it.
[808.08 --> 808.66]  He says,
[809.66 --> 813.12]  The denizens of the earth's oceans,
[814.00 --> 817.18]  the varied precipitation that waters the ground,
[817.74 --> 820.12]  the fury of unleashed storms,
[820.12 --> 823.26]  the majesty and beauty of mountains and hills,
[823.42 --> 826.42]  the spectacular diversity and color and beauty
[826.42 --> 828.30]  of the earth's flora and fauna,
[828.62 --> 832.14]  the scarcely imaginable array of the earth's births,
[832.14 --> 835.70]  all attest mutely but powerfully
[835.70 --> 838.56]  to the goodness and greatness of God.
[839.54 --> 841.04]  As part of that creation,
[841.46 --> 844.64]  human beings in all their diversity of their ranks
[844.64 --> 845.88]  and stations in life
[845.88 --> 848.68]  join this universal chorus of praise,
[848.68 --> 851.42]  not simply because he is bigger than we are,
[851.68 --> 854.38]  but because no matter how highly we envisage,
[854.58 --> 855.98]  his glory is splendor,
[856.24 --> 857.74]  it is higher yet,
[857.90 --> 860.24]  higher than anything and everything
[860.24 --> 862.10]  in all of creation.
[864.62 --> 867.90]  All creation is and will
[867.90 --> 870.62]  praise the Lord for who he is,
[870.62 --> 874.18]  and thus we are commanded to do so.
[874.18 --> 879.80]  Now these words from Carson
[879.80 --> 882.76]  also introduce our second point.
[883.40 --> 884.46]  As Carson said,
[884.86 --> 886.02]  As part of that creation,
[886.18 --> 887.82]  human beings in all their diversity
[887.82 --> 889.80]  and of their ranks of stations in life
[889.80 --> 892.06]  join this universal chorus of praise.
[892.48 --> 894.32]  Or, as I'm putting it today,
[894.74 --> 896.12]  the crown of creation,
[896.38 --> 896.78]  humanity,
[897.04 --> 900.22]  has a special call to praise the Lord,
[900.22 --> 901.82]  but the jewel in that crown,
[901.96 --> 903.02]  God's chosen people,
[903.10 --> 903.62]  his church,
[903.82 --> 905.84]  have an extra special call.
[906.18 --> 907.10]  So the first part of that.
[907.64 --> 911.56]  All humanity is called to praise God,
[912.24 --> 914.62]  just as the rest of creation
[914.62 --> 917.62]  is in its own way already doing.
[918.22 --> 918.38]  All right?
[918.44 --> 920.28]  Let them praise the name of the Lord
[920.28 --> 922.14]  for he alone is exalted.
[922.60 --> 924.46]  His splendor is above the earth
[924.46 --> 925.32]  and the heavens.
[925.32 --> 927.26]  Now first of all,
[927.90 --> 930.64]  notice that God is praised
[930.64 --> 933.74]  not because of what he has done,
[934.54 --> 935.60]  at least not yet,
[936.08 --> 937.94]  as a reason to praise him.
[938.16 --> 939.74]  That becomes one, of course,
[940.20 --> 941.64]  but in the first place,
[941.76 --> 943.60]  God is praised precisely
[943.60 --> 946.38]  because he is praiseworthy.
[947.08 --> 947.20]  Right?
[947.30 --> 948.84]  God is good and worthy
[948.84 --> 950.24]  of all honor and praise
[950.24 --> 951.50]  and majesty and power,
[951.74 --> 953.58]  even if he never created.
[953.58 --> 956.92]  Even if God never did a thing,
[957.28 --> 959.14]  God would be worthy of your worship.
[960.14 --> 960.62]  Now, of course,
[960.68 --> 962.02]  if God never did a thing,
[962.12 --> 963.74]  there would be no you to worship,
[964.34 --> 966.50]  but God would still be God
[966.50 --> 967.66]  and that's enough
[967.66 --> 971.68]  for him to be worthy of our worship.
[973.00 --> 974.50]  And also see carefully
[974.50 --> 977.86]  that God doesn't need your worship,
[978.50 --> 980.00]  but he does command it.
[981.08 --> 981.22]  Right?
[981.22 --> 982.44]  And not just in the sense
[982.44 --> 984.08]  of the imperative,
[984.46 --> 986.26]  of the you must worship,
[986.40 --> 987.40]  but he commands it
[987.40 --> 988.90]  also in the sense
[988.90 --> 990.56]  of beautiful,
[990.82 --> 991.40]  in the sense
[991.40 --> 993.88]  of his majesty
[993.88 --> 996.36]  captivates your heart
[996.36 --> 997.50]  and your imagination.
[997.92 --> 1000.06]  He captures your attention.
[1002.26 --> 1004.50]  When a person is,
[1004.84 --> 1006.08]  when it's said of a person
[1006.08 --> 1008.04]  that they command a room,
[1008.04 --> 1011.36]  that means that everyone's attention
[1011.36 --> 1013.62]  is fixated on them.
[1014.06 --> 1014.28]  Right?
[1014.32 --> 1016.04]  That they are drawn to that person.
[1017.32 --> 1018.48]  Now, in a similar way,
[1018.60 --> 1021.94]  our praises are drawn to God.
[1022.08 --> 1024.18]  We are drawn to God.
[1024.72 --> 1026.62]  Not only by virtue of being created
[1026.62 --> 1028.08]  in his image,
[1028.14 --> 1029.92]  though that no doubt helps
[1029.92 --> 1031.82]  because God has thus made us
[1031.82 --> 1033.74]  like himself and for himself,
[1033.88 --> 1035.88]  but we are also drawn to God,
[1035.88 --> 1037.18]  like all of creation,
[1037.18 --> 1039.78]  to sing the glory of his name
[1039.78 --> 1040.94]  and his nature.
[1041.64 --> 1043.50]  And this is true of all humanity,
[1043.66 --> 1045.74]  whether we believe in God or not.
[1046.38 --> 1046.60]  Right?
[1046.66 --> 1049.80]  Our hearts hunger and thirst for him.
[1050.88 --> 1051.94]  We long for him
[1051.94 --> 1053.66]  even if we don't admit
[1053.66 --> 1055.62]  or even if we don't know
[1055.62 --> 1056.98]  that we do,
[1057.08 --> 1058.42]  even if we can't put words
[1058.42 --> 1059.40]  to that longing.
[1060.30 --> 1061.42]  And this is why so many people
[1061.42 --> 1063.78]  try to fill that longing,
[1064.04 --> 1065.14]  that emptiness
[1065.14 --> 1067.14]  in their lives
[1067.14 --> 1068.60]  with things or people
[1068.60 --> 1069.74]  or money or power
[1069.74 --> 1071.70]  or drinks or drugs
[1071.70 --> 1072.76]  or whatever.
[1073.02 --> 1074.46]  It's because our hearts
[1074.46 --> 1076.38]  were made to worship.
[1076.88 --> 1079.32]  We are made to love our creator
[1079.32 --> 1082.12]  and the misplaced affection
[1082.12 --> 1083.68]  of our hearts
[1083.68 --> 1084.90]  is working out
[1084.90 --> 1086.08]  that sort of normative
[1086.08 --> 1087.60]  creational desire
[1087.60 --> 1089.10]  and it's being directed
[1089.10 --> 1090.32]  in the wrong way.
[1091.42 --> 1095.12]  The whole of humanity
[1095.12 --> 1100.06]  is called to worship God.
[1101.00 --> 1102.88]  The crown of creation,
[1103.46 --> 1103.88]  humanity,
[1104.12 --> 1105.08]  has a special call
[1105.08 --> 1105.94]  to worship God.
[1106.20 --> 1108.26]  But the jewel in that crown,
[1108.42 --> 1109.46]  God's chosen people,
[1109.54 --> 1110.04]  his church,
[1110.44 --> 1111.20]  you and me,
[1111.28 --> 1111.90]  all of us
[1111.90 --> 1113.32]  who by grace through faith
[1113.32 --> 1114.40]  believe in him,
[1114.64 --> 1116.80]  we have an extra special call
[1116.80 --> 1118.68]  to worship him.
[1119.58 --> 1119.84]  Right?
[1119.84 --> 1121.22]  If all creation sings
[1121.22 --> 1122.32]  and will sing
[1122.32 --> 1123.10]  and is commanded
[1123.10 --> 1124.24]  to sing the glories
[1124.24 --> 1124.86]  of the Lord,
[1125.12 --> 1126.32]  how much more so
[1126.32 --> 1127.24]  will you
[1127.24 --> 1128.82]  who know something
[1128.82 --> 1129.92]  of this God,
[1130.86 --> 1131.84]  how much more so
[1131.84 --> 1133.20]  will you be called
[1133.20 --> 1134.72]  to worship?
[1135.62 --> 1136.44]  And not just that
[1136.44 --> 1137.66]  and not just here,
[1137.76 --> 1137.96]  right,
[1138.00 --> 1138.54]  in church,
[1138.62 --> 1139.76]  whether you're in the building
[1139.76 --> 1140.70]  or you're at home,
[1140.76 --> 1141.78]  which is more likely,
[1141.96 --> 1142.10]  right,
[1142.10 --> 1143.48]  not just even on Sunday
[1143.48 --> 1145.48]  when it's relatively safe
[1145.48 --> 1146.20]  and expected
[1146.20 --> 1147.20]  and kind of normal
[1147.20 --> 1147.80]  to do it,
[1148.04 --> 1148.20]  right,
[1148.20 --> 1148.94]  if all creation
[1148.94 --> 1150.18]  is commanded to sing
[1150.18 --> 1151.08]  and does sing
[1151.08 --> 1152.68]  in response to who God is,
[1152.82 --> 1154.16]  how much more so
[1154.16 --> 1155.44]  is your whole life
[1155.44 --> 1156.46]  meant to be
[1156.46 --> 1157.44]  a hymn of praise
[1157.44 --> 1158.04]  to God
[1158.04 --> 1159.56]  who has created you
[1159.56 --> 1160.90]  and who has redeemed you?
[1161.64 --> 1161.84]  Right?
[1161.90 --> 1162.52]  Your work
[1162.52 --> 1164.18]  is a song of praise.
[1164.28 --> 1164.92]  Your play
[1164.92 --> 1166.72]  is a song of praise.
[1166.82 --> 1167.56]  Your hobbies
[1167.56 --> 1169.16]  are a song of praise.
[1169.40 --> 1170.06]  Your crafting,
[1170.26 --> 1170.90]  your puzzling,
[1171.00 --> 1171.54]  your reading,
[1171.92 --> 1172.44]  your gaming,
[1172.68 --> 1173.80]  your D&D
[1173.80 --> 1175.30]  or your CODing,
[1175.56 --> 1176.82]  everything you do
[1176.82 --> 1178.56]  is in praise to God
[1178.56 --> 1181.28]  or it ought to be.
[1184.10 --> 1185.08]  And as we continue
[1185.08 --> 1186.88]  the song of Christmas
[1186.88 --> 1188.26]  this year,
[1188.76 --> 1190.92]  as you see God
[1190.92 --> 1192.80]  come down in Jesus
[1192.80 --> 1194.46]  in answer to prayer
[1194.46 --> 1195.50]  and provision
[1195.50 --> 1196.58]  in response
[1196.58 --> 1197.66]  to that expectation
[1197.66 --> 1198.38]  and longing
[1198.38 --> 1199.76]  that filled the Advent season,
[1200.12 --> 1201.70]  are you worshiping God
[1201.70 --> 1202.60]  in all that you do?
[1203.80 --> 1204.40]  Or are you holding
[1204.40 --> 1205.12]  something back?
[1205.94 --> 1207.12]  Or are you misplacing,
[1207.64 --> 1208.36]  misdirecting
[1208.36 --> 1209.68]  your affections?
[1210.10 --> 1210.96]  Does every aspect
[1210.96 --> 1212.02]  of your life,
[1212.10 --> 1213.30]  does every square inch
[1213.30 --> 1214.42]  of your being
[1214.42 --> 1215.66]  belong to God?
[1216.56 --> 1217.70]  Because in reality,
[1218.24 --> 1219.12]  every micron,
[1219.62 --> 1220.28]  every atom
[1220.28 --> 1222.18]  and subatomic particle,
[1222.64 --> 1223.62]  every bit of matter
[1223.62 --> 1224.72]  and antimatter,
[1225.08 --> 1226.58]  all of it does.
[1228.64 --> 1229.94]  Make this season
[1229.94 --> 1232.30]  about praising the Creator.
[1232.30 --> 1234.44]  And not just here
[1234.44 --> 1235.14]  on Sunday
[1235.14 --> 1235.92]  when it's expected
[1235.92 --> 1236.52]  and safe,
[1236.96 --> 1238.04]  but everywhere
[1238.04 --> 1239.96]  and in every way.
[1241.88 --> 1243.34]  And let me be really clear
[1243.34 --> 1246.50]  because I get it.
[1248.26 --> 1249.54]  Lots of us are tired
[1249.54 --> 1250.84]  right now.
[1252.36 --> 1253.80]  Lots of us have had enough
[1253.80 --> 1256.78]  and we just can't
[1256.78 --> 1258.44]  do it anymore.
[1259.86 --> 1261.14]  There's a weariness
[1261.14 --> 1263.40]  that seeps
[1263.40 --> 1264.74]  into our bones
[1264.74 --> 1266.00]  right now.
[1267.76 --> 1268.56]  And it makes
[1268.56 --> 1269.34]  the normal parts
[1269.34 --> 1270.12]  of life hard,
[1270.94 --> 1272.08]  let alone
[1272.08 --> 1272.70]  the extraordinary
[1272.70 --> 1273.66]  parts of life.
[1273.66 --> 1277.18]  And right now
[1277.18 --> 1278.10]  we may not just
[1278.10 --> 1279.56]  feel like
[1279.56 --> 1280.80]  we can worship.
[1282.10 --> 1283.24]  There may not be
[1283.24 --> 1283.84]  a song
[1283.84 --> 1284.44]  that we want
[1284.44 --> 1284.98]  to sing
[1284.98 --> 1287.30]  and we can't
[1287.30 --> 1287.78]  do it.
[1290.88 --> 1291.88]  And God has made
[1291.88 --> 1292.84]  provision for that
[1292.84 --> 1295.28]  because this worship
[1295.28 --> 1296.26]  that we are called
[1296.26 --> 1296.60]  to,
[1297.54 --> 1299.30]  this call
[1299.30 --> 1300.24]  that is extended
[1300.24 --> 1301.70]  to all of humanity
[1301.70 --> 1302.32]  right,
[1302.50 --> 1303.76]  is interrupted,
[1304.04 --> 1304.98]  is muted,
[1305.32 --> 1306.62]  is cut short
[1306.62 --> 1308.26]  because of sin
[1308.26 --> 1309.18]  and because of
[1309.18 --> 1310.02]  the realities
[1310.02 --> 1311.22]  we face in the world.
[1311.32 --> 1312.28]  And apart from God
[1312.28 --> 1313.36]  acting in us
[1313.36 --> 1313.82]  and through us
[1313.82 --> 1314.26]  and for us,
[1314.36 --> 1315.88]  we can't do it
[1315.88 --> 1316.52]  right now.
[1318.16 --> 1319.30]  But that's
[1319.30 --> 1321.68]  God's point
[1321.68 --> 1322.74]  in this psalm.
[1323.66 --> 1323.84]  Right?
[1323.92 --> 1324.88]  This call
[1324.88 --> 1325.66]  to worship
[1325.66 --> 1326.26]  right,
[1326.32 --> 1327.12]  is truly
[1327.12 --> 1329.04]  and obediently
[1329.04 --> 1329.86]  possible
[1329.86 --> 1331.12]  in our lives
[1331.12 --> 1332.44]  only because
[1332.44 --> 1333.36]  God
[1333.36 --> 1334.78]  will raise up
[1334.78 --> 1335.58]  a horn
[1335.58 --> 1336.72]  for his people.
[1337.72 --> 1338.34]  A horn
[1338.34 --> 1339.36]  whom we know
[1339.36 --> 1340.04]  to be
[1340.04 --> 1341.06]  Jesus.
[1342.68 --> 1343.50]  The priest
[1343.50 --> 1344.42]  Zachariah
[1344.42 --> 1345.60]  at the circumcision
[1345.60 --> 1346.56]  and naming day
[1346.56 --> 1347.38]  of his son
[1347.38 --> 1347.80]  John,
[1347.88 --> 1348.40]  who we know
[1348.40 --> 1349.10]  will become
[1349.10 --> 1349.86]  John the Baptist,
[1350.46 --> 1350.64]  right,
[1350.72 --> 1351.38]  this priest
[1351.38 --> 1352.22]  Zachariah
[1352.22 --> 1353.18]  on that day
[1353.18 --> 1354.48]  says of Jesus
[1354.48 --> 1355.70]  who is not yet born,
[1355.70 --> 1356.70]  the Lord
[1356.70 --> 1357.84]  has raised up
[1357.84 --> 1358.64]  a horn
[1358.64 --> 1359.64]  of salvation
[1359.64 --> 1360.38]  for us.
[1361.44 --> 1361.62]  Right?
[1361.66 --> 1362.06]  Already
[1362.06 --> 1363.30]  this is being
[1363.30 --> 1363.78]  connected
[1363.78 --> 1364.62]  and revealed
[1364.62 --> 1365.68]  as Jesus.
[1365.84 --> 1366.32]  This horn
[1366.32 --> 1367.02]  of salvation
[1367.02 --> 1368.28]  who will make
[1368.28 --> 1368.96]  worship
[1368.96 --> 1369.82]  possible.
[1370.26 --> 1370.48]  Right?
[1370.52 --> 1371.52]  The unimaginably
[1371.52 --> 1372.34]  great God
[1372.34 --> 1373.40]  has not only
[1373.40 --> 1374.14]  called out
[1374.14 --> 1374.92]  of his own
[1374.92 --> 1375.48]  people
[1375.48 --> 1376.54]  to worship
[1376.54 --> 1376.94]  them
[1376.94 --> 1377.98]  but has raised
[1377.98 --> 1378.90]  up for us
[1378.90 --> 1379.60]  a horn,
[1379.98 --> 1380.12]  right,
[1380.16 --> 1380.78]  a symbol
[1380.78 --> 1381.46]  of a king,
[1381.76 --> 1381.90]  right,
[1381.96 --> 1382.62]  for the praise
[1382.62 --> 1383.58]  of all his saints.
[1384.32 --> 1384.50]  Right?
[1384.52 --> 1384.84]  And living
[1384.84 --> 1385.66]  on this side
[1385.66 --> 1386.24]  of Jesus'
[1386.60 --> 1386.98]  Christmas,
[1387.20 --> 1387.84]  on this side
[1387.84 --> 1388.56]  of the incarnation,
[1389.12 --> 1390.02]  living on this side
[1390.02 --> 1390.96]  of Easter
[1390.96 --> 1391.74]  after Jesus'
[1392.04 --> 1392.96]  life and death
[1392.96 --> 1393.70]  and resurrection,
[1394.04 --> 1394.72]  we know
[1394.72 --> 1395.44]  that the ultimate
[1395.44 --> 1396.48]  king in the line
[1396.48 --> 1397.04]  of David
[1397.04 --> 1398.58]  really is him,
[1398.70 --> 1400.04]  really is Jesus
[1400.04 --> 1401.70]  and so our praise
[1401.70 --> 1403.12]  joins the rest
[1403.12 --> 1403.86]  of the universe
[1403.86 --> 1404.74]  with particular
[1404.74 --> 1405.38]  intensity
[1405.38 --> 1406.48]  and particular
[1406.48 --> 1406.96]  gratitude
[1406.96 --> 1408.16]  because we
[1408.16 --> 1409.36]  know him,
[1409.52 --> 1410.78]  we know Jesus
[1410.78 --> 1412.16]  who lived the life
[1412.16 --> 1413.34]  I should have lived,
[1413.34 --> 1415.06]  Jesus who died
[1415.06 --> 1415.70]  the death
[1415.70 --> 1416.92]  that I deserved
[1416.92 --> 1417.68]  and Jesus
[1417.68 --> 1418.88]  who three days
[1418.88 --> 1419.80]  later was raised
[1419.80 --> 1421.08]  victorious over sin
[1421.08 --> 1421.58]  and death
[1421.58 --> 1423.02]  and now in his grace
[1423.02 --> 1424.00]  by faith
[1424.00 --> 1424.96]  grants me
[1424.96 --> 1425.86]  his righteousness
[1425.86 --> 1427.44]  even as my sin
[1427.44 --> 1428.52]  is put over
[1428.52 --> 1429.26]  to him.
[1429.48 --> 1430.20]  This Jesus
[1430.20 --> 1431.20]  grants us
[1431.20 --> 1432.26]  the victory
[1432.26 --> 1433.58]  of God.
[1435.64 --> 1436.82]  That's why we can
[1436.82 --> 1437.16]  worship
[1437.16 --> 1439.94]  even when we are
[1439.94 --> 1440.42]  tired,
[1440.42 --> 1441.70]  even when we are
[1441.70 --> 1442.54]  at our wits end,
[1442.66 --> 1444.14]  even when it feels
[1444.14 --> 1445.16]  like our life
[1445.16 --> 1446.34]  is crumbling
[1446.34 --> 1449.46]  because he has
[1449.46 --> 1450.88]  made a way.
[1452.18 --> 1453.48]  He has made it
[1453.48 --> 1453.98]  possible
[1453.98 --> 1455.92]  to praise the Lord
[1455.92 --> 1458.14]  and that
[1458.14 --> 1459.86]  makes me
[1459.86 --> 1461.24]  want to sing.
[1462.36 --> 1463.10]  Not only
[1463.10 --> 1464.86]  are your songs
[1464.86 --> 1466.10]  a song of praise
[1466.10 --> 1466.72]  to the Lord
[1466.72 --> 1467.52]  our God
[1467.52 --> 1468.14]  in Jesus
[1468.14 --> 1469.28]  but your life
[1469.28 --> 1470.46]  is a song
[1470.46 --> 1471.60]  and all creation
[1471.60 --> 1472.88]  is a song
[1472.88 --> 1473.64]  to the glory
[1473.64 --> 1474.52]  of God
[1474.52 --> 1475.22]  and so then
[1475.22 --> 1475.92]  let's sing
[1475.92 --> 1476.66]  with the angels
[1476.66 --> 1477.58]  of Luke 2.
[1477.74 --> 1478.44]  Let's sing
[1478.44 --> 1479.16]  with the angels
[1479.16 --> 1480.38]  of Revelation 4
[1480.38 --> 1481.20]  and 5.
[1481.32 --> 1481.82]  Let's sing
[1481.82 --> 1482.70]  with the great cloud
[1482.70 --> 1483.20]  of witnesses
[1483.20 --> 1483.98]  who have gone on
[1483.98 --> 1484.52]  before us
[1484.52 --> 1485.80]  in praise of Jesus
[1485.80 --> 1487.24]  who are urging us
[1487.24 --> 1488.88]  to fix our eyes
[1488.88 --> 1489.44]  on him
[1489.44 --> 1491.26]  even as we
[1491.26 --> 1492.36]  persevere
[1492.36 --> 1493.24]  in the race
[1493.24 --> 1494.28]  marked out for us.
[1494.60 --> 1495.38]  Let's sing
[1495.38 --> 1497.80]  because you were
[1497.80 --> 1498.34]  created
[1498.34 --> 1500.20]  to worship.
[1501.64 --> 1502.26]  Praise
[1502.26 --> 1502.98]  the Lord.
[1504.26 --> 1504.76]  Hallelujah.
[1506.64 --> 1507.06]  Amen.
[1508.22 --> 1508.56]  Amen.
[1508.56 --> 1508.70]  Amen.
[1509.16 --> 1510.10]  Let's pray together.
[1515.90 --> 1517.30]  Lord Jesus
[1517.30 --> 1520.54]  may we see you
[1520.54 --> 1522.00]  most clearly
[1522.00 --> 1523.56]  today.
[1523.56 --> 1527.02]  may we love you
[1527.02 --> 1527.94]  with all our
[1527.94 --> 1528.32]  hearts
[1528.32 --> 1529.22]  affections
[1529.22 --> 1530.12]  and may we
[1530.12 --> 1530.88]  worship you
[1530.88 --> 1532.30]  with the song
[1532.30 --> 1533.60]  of our lives
[1533.60 --> 1535.62]  here in this place
[1535.62 --> 1536.24]  with word
[1536.24 --> 1537.02]  and music
[1537.02 --> 1538.04]  singing
[1538.04 --> 1538.86]  and dancing
[1538.86 --> 1540.48]  but also
[1540.48 --> 1541.34]  in the day
[1541.34 --> 1541.80]  to day
[1541.80 --> 1542.58]  of every day
[1542.58 --> 1545.24]  may we worship
[1545.24 --> 1546.00]  you.
[1547.60 --> 1548.40]  God we know
[1548.40 --> 1549.04]  that the truth
[1549.04 --> 1550.28]  of your movement
[1550.28 --> 1551.00]  in history
[1551.00 --> 1551.90]  is that the
[1551.90 --> 1553.22]  whole universe
[1553.22 --> 1554.78]  all of creation
[1554.78 --> 1555.86]  is singing
[1555.86 --> 1556.86]  and will sing
[1556.86 --> 1557.58]  your praises
[1557.58 --> 1558.94]  and so may we
[1558.94 --> 1560.64]  join our lives
[1560.64 --> 1561.74]  with that
[1561.74 --> 1562.62]  song
[1562.62 --> 1563.54]  today.
[1565.16 --> 1566.32]  Raise us up
[1566.32 --> 1567.90]  a mighty army
[1567.90 --> 1569.34]  to sing
[1569.34 --> 1570.64]  praise
[1570.64 --> 1571.58]  to you.
[1573.16 --> 1574.46]  All creatures
[1574.46 --> 1575.42]  of our
[1575.42 --> 1576.02]  God
[1576.02 --> 1577.22]  and King
[1577.22 --> 1579.20]  we praise
[1579.20 --> 1580.28]  him.
[1581.12 --> 1581.42]  Amen.
[1581.42 --> 1581.56]  Amen.
[1581.56 --> 1581.58]  Amen.
[1581.58 --> 1581.60]  Amen.