My husband and I have attended quite a few sporting events because we enjoy the team spirit and the roar of the crowd when the goal is reached!  I love observing the coaches who tenaciously guide their players with planned disciplined tactics that pull each member of the team together to reach the goal!  I also love watching the cheerleaders on the sidelines doing all they can to encourage the players working for a win.  Even the loyal spectators are influenced by all that is going on around them shouts and applause as they watch, hoping for a win!  Of course, the shouts of praise are loudest when their team scores!

“Now turn to page 66 in your hymn book of Psalms today”, for the songwriter is taking time out from all that has happened and is happening in their world at present to simply pause with applause to God for all He has done, is doing, and will do in their lives! 

The Psalmists are the cheerleaders in our lives who encourage our walk and lead us to Truth. God’s Word is God and is His message of Truth.  His Word, was relayed through His prophets and called out leaders first.  Then the Word “made flesh” was Jesus who spoke directly to God and said what God told Him to say and do.  Later, Jesus trained disciples would spread the Good News.  Now, it is up to us for all who believe are called to tell of God’s salvation.

God’s Son, our Coach/Advocate, Jesus Christ gave His life in payment for our sins but not before giving us a specific game plan for life!  “To live is Christ”, shouts the words of Paul, no matter what the circumstances, for it is Christ alone who is the way to God! (See Philippians 1) Our Counselor, God’s Holy Spirit, comes to live in the innermost depths of our being to give us power from God to trust and obey with the end goal of eternal Life!  I love it!  Don’t you?!  We cannot lose with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit!

Therefore, let us pause for applause to Almighty God right now!  And when you see His glory at work throughout this day that He has made for us; pause again to give Him all the honor and praise due Him who is Life!  Yes! and Amen!

Psalm 66, The Message

^1-4 All together now—applause for God!
    Sing songs to the tune of his glory,
    set glory to the rhythms of his praise.
Say of God, “We’ve never seen anything like him!”
    When your enemies see you in action,
    they slink off like scolded dogs.
The whole earth falls to its knees—
    it worships you, sings to you,
    can’t stop enjoying your name and fame.

^5-6 Take a good look at God’s wonders—
    they’ll take your breath away.
He converted sea to dry land;
    travelers crossed the river on foot.
    Now isn’t that cause for a song?

⁷ Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps
    his eye on the godless nations.
Rebels don’t dare
    raise a finger against him.

^8-12 Bless our God, O peoples!
    Give him a thunderous welcome!
Didn’t he set us on the road to life?
    Didn’t he keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first,
    passed us like silver through refining fires,
Brought us into hardscrabble country,
    pushed us to our very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out,
    took us to hell and back;
Finally he brought us
    to this well-watered place.

^13-15 I’m bringing my prizes and presents to your house.
    I’m doing what I said I’d do,
What I solemnly swore I’d do
    that day when I was in so much trouble:
The choicest cuts of meat
    for the sacrificial meal;
Even the fragrance
    of roasted lamb is like a meal!
Or make it an ox
    garnished with goat meat!

^16-20 All believers, come here and listen,
    let me tell you what God did for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,
    my tongue shaped the sounds of music.
If I had been cozy with evil,
    the Lord would never have listened.
But he most surely did listen,
    he came on the double when he heard my prayer.
Blessed be God: he didn’t turn a deaf ear,
    he stayed with me, loyal in his love.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God works continually for our benefit as He declares His glory of sovereignty in and over all He has created.

Our response:  Shouts of praises and unending hallelujahs with unlimited rounds of applause for God alone deserves all our praise!

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving my soul, cleansing my heart, renewing my mind and restoring the joy of you in me and me in you, again this morning.  May all I think, say, and do, by your power working in me, give you glory all day long and into the night!

In Jesus Name, Amen