“SURELY GOD IS MY SALVATION” (Outline)
December 19, 2010 -
Advent 4 -
ISAIAH 12:1-6
INTRO: Jesus did many miracles to reveal his divine power. Jesus also proclaimed the word of God to reveal his divine, miraculous power. At times the people of Jesus’ day paid too much attention to Jesus’ miracles and ignored Jesus’ powerful words. The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 is a good example. After the crowd was filled with food twelve basketfuls of crumbs were gathered. Many people followed Jesus because they wanted a “Bread King”. Jesus reminded the many following him that he was the true Bread that came from heaven. Because of this truth many in the crowd left. Jesus addressed his close disciples next. Would they also like to leave? Listen to Peter’s response and confession. "Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God’" (JOHN 6:68,69). God still provides us with “the words of eternal life” today. We gather around God’s living and active word to be able to confess with Peter: “We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God". God’s powerful word works the miracle of faith in our hearts to cause us to know, to believe, and to confess the truth of God expressed by Isaiah in our text today:
“SURELY GOD IS MY SALVATION”
I. God brings comfort. II. Salvation means joy.
I. GOD BRINGS COMFORT.
A. Isaiah 11 speaks of the Savior who will come from the family of Jesse. Jesse was David’s father.
B. Isaiah 12 is a short chapter. It is a hymn of praise and rejoicing for God’s promises in chapter 11.
1. Verse 1a. God’s people and the nations would praise the LORD God almighty – some day.
2. Verse 1b. God’s people understood that their wickedness and sin deserved God’s anger.
3. God has turned away his anger. Sins are forgiven. The people are comforted. Rejoice.
C. Verse 2a. The miracle and comfort of forgiveness comes only from the LORD God Almighty.
1. Those trusting God will not be afraid. God has become the eternal salvation for mortal man.
2. Verse 2b. God’s mercy becomes mans’ comfort. God becomes mans’ strength and song.
D. “Surely God is my salvation…my strength and my song”. How simple that truth of God sounds. Yet, not everyone would agree. All people do not hold to the truths of Scripture. At times we do not even fear, love, and trust in God above all things. Why not? Why do we turn away? Why are we so easily distracted by earthly attractions? Very simply, we are born with a sinful nature. We start out this life as the very enemies of God. Our Christian nature is in a constant battle with our sinful nature. "The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one" (PSALM 14:2,3). As sinners from birth until death our clear thinking concerning Christ can be clouded.
E. All too often our earthly thinking is the very opposite of the mind of God. We are rebellious, sinful, and wicked. We do not deserve forgiveness. We cannot buy eternity. In spite of all this our gracious God is forgiving. We will sin again and again and again. Our God still forgives us again and again and again. This is a mysterious miracle of God’s comfort for sinners. "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy" (MICAH 7:18). We like to get even, revenge. God loves to show mercy!
F. As believers we are blessed to know, believe, and confess: “Surely God is my salvation”. God’s simple truth brings us great comfort for our lives and souls. God wants us to have and know his mercy. God gives us this gift in the form of the Baby at Bethlehem, Jesus our Savior. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 CORINTHIANS 1:3,4). God’s comfort for us is meant to comfort others. God’s eternal words of forgiveness, life, and salvation are the comforting words we bring to others in troubled times.
“SURELY GOD IS MY SALVATION”
Our God of all creation brings us comfort by his forgiveness.
II. SALVATION MEANS JOY.
A. Verse 2. One can hear the joy of knowing that God guarantees the future for every believer.
B. Verse 3. One wants to remember the importance of water in the wilderness area of Israel.
1. Water was scarce. Wells were important. Not every well produced water.
2. Drawing water was usually a chore done by the woman. Though a chore it was also a joy.
3. The joy of the chore was in the fact that there was water in the well. God’s word is water.
C. Verse 4. “In that day” is an unspecified time in the future. Sooner and later would be thankfulness.
1. The thankfulness of God’s people would result in praise among all nations (= unbelievers).
2. Verse 5,6. Sing, shout aloud, and sing for joy because the LORD has done glorious things.
D. Isaiah proclaimed the good news of God’s salvation (Isaiah 11). This chapter (Isaiah 12) reminds us of every believer’s reaction. As believers we find great joy during this Christmas season. Christ the Savior, our Savior is born! This is not only our joy in December but also the joy of our lives day after day after day. But we know that the world and the busyness of this life try to rob us of the joy of this season. "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (EPHESIANS 5:19,20). With music in our hearts we speak praise with our lips and live joy in our lives.
E. It is absolutely, positively the most important thing in our lives to hear, read, and study God’s word. In God’s word we are able to draw salvation from this well of living water. No matter how often we hear the message of God it never, ever grows old. Our gracious and loving God freely gives us our greatest and most complete joy on this side of heaven – the gift of his Son, Jesus. "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 JOHN 5:12,13). These believers had the Son. They also had life. John still writes to confirm their knowledge. Hear and learn.
F. Our world grows more wicked with each passing day. We are also a part of this wicked, wicked world. As believers in the Christ we are the shining lights in this sin-darkened world. Our joy in Christ changes our outlook and also our very attitude on this earth. Prayerfully, others may notice. Prayerfully, others may even ask why we have joy and hope and peace. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 PETER 3:15). Christ is my Savior – and yours.
CONC: Our world is filled with countless millions who would rather sit in the darkness of unbelief and sin rather than the light of life. It is truly a miracle of faith that God has called us, any of us, out of that darkness to see the glory of God in the face of Christ. This is God’s greatest miracle that he makes our hearts believe and our lips confess: “SURELY GOD IS MY SALVATION”. This is our comfort. This is our joy. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (MATT. 5:16). May the world around us always see in us the light of Christ, the comfort of God, and the joy of salvation in order to praise our heavenly Father. All of this will happen as we live in the confession: “SURELY GOD IS MY SALVATION”! Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
ADVENT 4 readings: I
SAIAH 7:10-14;
ROMANS 1:1-7;
MATTHEW 1:18-25; (
PSALM 24)
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