South Church Proclaim Sermon Audio

Do you ever ask God for help? Well, you probably do every day. You see, we all need help from God. We all need to be rescued, redeemed, and delivered. We are a desperate people. You may need God to deliver you from your divorce, your adultery, your gossiping mouth, your lustful mind, or your boring life. My friend, please read Psalm 31, and find some help. Notice that God delivers us through our redeemer, Jesus Christ: our fortress, refuge, rock, foundation, savior, and helper. Have you gone to God for help, through his son? Jesus Christ blazes the trail to God for us. Go to Jesus. Walk with Jesus. And, find help through Jesus, today.

We are continually chasing happiness. All of our lives revolves around our recreation. We are entertained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We've got phones, tablets, iPods, iPads, televisions, cable, satellite dish, direct tv ... you name it. But, are we really satisfied? Or a better, deeper question is this: Do we have lasting joy? I don't think we do. So, how do we find lasting joy? Well, read and meditate on David's musings in Psalm 30. Notice how David finds his joy in eternal, enduring things: rescue, salvation, strength, God's glory, and deep gladness. What about you? Have you found a joy that will last forever? If not, go to Jesus Christ. Fill your heart with his living water. Trust me, it really satisfies ...

Doesn't it feel good to finish a project? What a joy it is to celebrate a job well done! This is true spiritually, as well. Our redeemer, Jesus Christ, finished his work of salvation for us, on the cross. It is done! Our salvation is secure. But, we still have work to to do. Not the work of trying to save ourselves... No, we are to work out our sanctification (not our justification) with fear and trembling. We are to fight, wrestle, and mortify our sin. What about you? Are you fighting? Are you making war against the world, flesh, and the devil? Are you battling for holiness, and resting in your free justification, by faith in Christ alone? Friend, find eternal rest in Jesus today. Flee to Christ for his life-changing, sin-saving, and empowering grace.

Are you content? Are you satisfied with your lot in life? Most people are not. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are craving. We are longing for the "good old days" or our future "blessing." But, we a not content with our life, today. What about you? Is Jesus enough? Does Jesus satisfy your every longing? Or, are you still craving something (or someone) else? Think it through ...

How do we get the blessing of God? It seems like all of us want the "blessed life." Just look at social media. She is relaxing on the beach, drink in hand, watching the sunset, with freshly painted toe nails, and the caption reads "#blessed." In fact, we all want the blessings that God gives, but many of us do not really want God himself. Take a look in Numbers 6 at the blessing of God. God blesses those that he keeps, protects, illumines, looks after, and gives abiding peace. Does this describe your life? Are you resting in the blessings of the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, run to Jesus with the empty hands of faith today. Receive Christ's mercy and grace, and follow him with wholehearted devotion. Give him everything. You will be glad, in the end!

Everybody says that they are searching for God. However, few are actually finding God. So, it's great to search, and not so great to find. Curious ... isn't it. But, is it really up to us? Do we find God? Or, does God find us? Take a look at Psalm 25. David vividly describes the narrow path to God? What is the path to God? Well, it is the path of trust, truth, love, humility, pardon, affliction, and redemption. All of these paths are completed in Jesus Christ. We go to God, by his Son, through his Holy Spirit. What about you? Are you humbly coming to God in humility, repentance, and faith?

Do you like to celebrate? It seems like every week, in America, we are celebrating something. Right? Halloween flows into Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving quickly flows into Christmas. And then, next thing you know, it New Year's Eve! Sometimes we forget the reason for the season. But, it is good for us to celebrate; especially, in our walk with God. You see, God has always called his people to remember. We are to remember God's faithfulness and provision in the past, so that we trust him in the present, and with our uncertain future. What about you? Do you take time to remember what God has done? Do you celebrate his goodness today? And, can you trust him with your unfolding future? Read Leviticus 23, and notice all the ways that God reminds his people to remember, and celebrate.

We all have a problem. It is called sin. We are separated from our holy, awesome God. We do what we should not do. And, we don't do what we should do (see Romans 7). So, how do we solve our sin problem? Well, we don't. In fact, we can't. But, God can. And, God has. How does God deal with our sins? Read Leviticus 16. Notice how God provides a sacrifice (an offering) to satisfy his wrath toward our sin. And, remember, friend, that Jesus is God's last, perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sin. Jesus is God's final, approved offering. Jesus is the "scapegoat" that "removes" our sins from us. So, go to Jesus and find forgiveness today. Go to Jesus and find righteousness today. He will provide you what you need for salvation and cleansing.

Wise people live with intention. They know God's redemptive path, and they walk accordingly. As John Calvin said, "They know God and they know themselves." What is more, wise people study their hearts, guard their hearts, and cultivate their hearts. Solomon says it this way: "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." So, friend, what about you? Do you pursue wisdom? Do you walk in the paths of the righteous? Is Jesus Christ producing springs of living water in and through your life?

How does God reveal himself to us? Well, here are few ways. Read and meditate on Psalm 19 for a few minutes. Notice that the psalmist sees God in nature, in scripture, in his sin, and in God's son. What about you? How does God reveal himself to you?

What kind of worship does God want from us? Take a look in Exodus 32 and notice what God's people do when Moses tarries on Mount Sinai. While Moses is away, the people create an idol, worship it, and carouse with one another. This infuriates God. What should they have done next? Well, they should have exposed the idol, confronted the idol, and replaced the idol. Instead they shift the blame and self-justify their sin. However, notice what Moses says in verse 30. Moses steps in, as their substitute, to make atonement, for their sin. Sound like anyone you know? Thank God that, in Jesus Christ, God has paid our penalty for our sin. Worship God, through Jesus Christ, today. Worship him in spirit and in truth. Flee from your idols to Jesus. Do it now.

How do we worship God? Do we worship him in any way that we like? Or, does God desire a certain type of worship? Well, read Exodus 20, and think it over. It appears that God is very specific about his desires, laws, and regulations for our worship. The first four commandments give us some helpful guidance. We are to worship God supremely, worship God exclusively, magnify God's name, and rest in Jesus Christ finished work alone. What about you? Are you glorifying God with your worship? Or, is it just about your preferences, comfort, and tastes? Meditate on Exodus, pray for guidance, and find refuge in Jesus Christ, our redeemer, savior, and friend.

How do we trust God? The scriptures remind us continually that "the righteous will live by faith." Just read Romans and notice Paul's focus on faith in Jesus Christ, for our salvation. In addition, the Reformers and Puritans championed "Sola Fide": redemption by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. You see, we trust the finished work of Jesus as our atonement and cleansing for our sin. Look to the cross, and rely on that completed, perfect work of redemption. Trust Jesus for the imputation of his pardoning righteousness for you. But, what about you? Do you trust God wholeheartedly? Do you trust God exclusively? Do you trust him exhaustively?

Our God rescues his people. When we call out to God, he hears our cry, and he helps us. Has that been your experience? Do you cry our to God for help? Has God ever fought for you? Has God ever helped you escape from your enemies of sin, Satan, the flesh, and the world? Maybe, you should thank him. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. Respond to God's salvation with praise.

God calls us to follow him. In 2020, we have noticed God's call in the lives of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. We clearly see that God uses broken, weak people to accomplish his redemptive mission. Only God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick. Read about Moses' call in Exodus 3. God calls Moses from the burning bush. Despite the wonder of it all, Moses doubts God's character, goodness, and plan. Then, Moses doubts his own abilities. What about you? Has God called you? How do you doubt your doubts? How have you see God use you in his gospel mission, despite your flaws, sins, and failings.

There are 3 paths in the spiritual life: 1) sin, 2) self-righteousness, and 3) the gospel. Which path are you walking on? In Psalm 1, the writer contrasts the path of sin with the path of true righteousness (not the path of self-salvation). The righteousness we need is imputed to us from Jesus Christ. We are not righteous, through our own efforts. Only Jesus has lived the righteous life. We have not. But, when we are united to Christ (by faith), his perfect record is transferred to us. Hallelujah, what a savior! Are you in union with Jesus Christ?