This is a joyful church. I’m an old-fashioned Southern Baptist, and I don’t mind saying it. I’m excited about being here. You all better buckle up your seatbelts. I’ll let you know when it’s twelve o’clock.

I want you to know something, I consider this a five-star church. You don’t find many of those anymore. A five-star church is one that worships on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. It has Sunday School and disciple training. That tells me a church loves Jesus. It tells me a church loves preaching. It tells me a church cares about raising young people in the Lord and reaching its community. You can’t do better than that.

I believe in winning the lost, and I believe one of the best ways to do it is through a strong Sunday School. When you win someone to Christ, you already have a place to disciple them. You don’t dip them and drop them, you bring them into the life of the church, where they can grow.

I want you to meet my sweet wife, Peggy. She’s the best wife I’ve got, and I’m thankful the Lord brought us together. Some of you ladies ought to let her tell you the testimony of how we met. She was raised in Mississippi. I was raised in the desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico, about twelve hundred miles apart. How does God bring two people together like that? Only the Lord can do that.

She felt called to be a pastor’s wife, and God had called me to preach. I preached my first sermon when I was fourteen years old.

In 2006, Peggy and I walked through something no parents should ever have to face. Tonight, she’s going to give her testimony about the year our middle daughter and our youngest daughter took their journey to heaven just three weeks apart. You’ll want to hear that. I’m going to preach tonight on God’s grace being sufficient. No matter what you go through, deep loss, unanswered questions, or long nights of pain, God’s grace will carry you through.

I want you to open your Bible with me to Psalm 40. David wrote this psalm, and in the first three verses he gives thanks to God for some powerful blessings. I know this isn’t Thanksgiving Sunday, but early in this year, believers need to be reminded of what we have in Jesus.

David says he waited patiently for the Lord, and the Lord heard his cry. God lifted him out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, and set his feet on a rock. That’s a picture of salvation. If you know Jesus, you’re not standing on sinking ground, you’re standing on a firm foundation.

David also says God put a new song in his mouth. Every believer has a song to sing. It may not come out on key, but it ought to be in your heart. When you wake up in the morning, don’t say, “Oh me.” Say, “Good morning, Lord.” Let God speak to you before the world does.

I want to say this clearly, the most important place in this church building is this altar. This is where people meet God. This is where salvation happens. This is where broken lives find a new start. The invitation is the most important moment of the service. It’s not the time to check your watch or think about lunch. It’s the time to listen to the Holy Spirit and respond in obedience and humility.
 
David reminds us of three blessings every believer should be thankful for, not just one day a year, but all year long.

Salvation comes through Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. Every other religious leader is still in the grave, but Jesus rose again. He conquered sin, death, and the grave. David knew God had forgiven him, even after terrible sin. God removed his sin as far as the east is from the west.

No matter what you’ve done, no matter how deep or hidden your sin may feel, God can forgive, cleanse, and restore you. We’ve been redeemed. We’ve been transformed. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. There’s a lot of living between salvation and heaven, and it ought to be lived with joy.

We have a privilege lost people don’t have; we can come to God in the name of Jesus. God answers prayer. Call unto Me and I will answer thee. A praying church is a powerful church. Revival won’t come through programs or politics; it comes when God’s people get serious about prayer.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. A merry heart does good like medicine. I’ve been through heart attacks, surgeries, and hospital rooms, and I can tell you, joy matters. The joy we have in Christ is real, and the world needs to see it lived out in us.

Victory is ours through Him.
If you need to be saved, recommit your life, or answer God’s call, don’t put it off.
Today is the day.
Let the Lord lead.

This article is based on a sermon delivered by Pastor Sid West and has been adapted for written format.