"Surely God Is My Salvation"

“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.