We're just saying, it is so sweet to trust in Jesus. And I want to point out one line from that hymn. Actually, two lines from the third stanza. We're saying, yes, it is so sweet to trust in Jesus. Just from sin and self to cease. Now this explains an important truth from the scriptures to us. Because here's the mistake that our human hearts want to make. Because even in God's word, we're told that God's law is written on our hearts. It is on our consciousnesses. We were created in God's image, so we already know something about God's law. So that even societies that don't know the God's Word, they still know it is wrong to murder. That is just an example. And so we know something about what we should do to follow God's law. Our human nature causes us to want to do these things in order to be accepted by God. So even as we read through the scriptures, oh I should not murder, I should not lie. Jesus says that if you hate another person, you've murdered them in your heart, so even I should not hate. And so we want to add to this list of things. Okay, I must not hate, I must not lie, I must not murder. We keep adding to that list. I don't do this, I should do this, in order to be accepted by God. That is not what the Bible teaches. In fact, Paul addresses this issue. He says, to do this is to put yourself back into slavery to the law. You're a slave of the law, and Jesus has come to set you free. What did we think? It's so sweet to trust in Jesus just from sin and self to cease. Where does sin stop? Where does Serving our own self, stop. It's not with a list. It's not with don't do this, don't do this, do this, do this. It is trusting in Jesus. Our righteousness. is in faith in Jesus Christ alone. Because our righteousness cannot be our own righteousness. The only righteousness we can depend upon is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus. That is where freedom justification, sanctification. That is where that is all found in trusting in Jesus. Yesterday we began in the Psalm 9. And we made it as far as the title of the psalm. And in introduction. This morning I want us to focus on verse 1 and 2. So we'll again read verse 1 and 2. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. I will thank you, my Lord, in all my heart. I will give you all your riches. I will rejoice and praise you. I will sing your praises. You will cry because of me. Amen. has created you. And it is our duty as God's creation to praise the Lord. And we should perform that duty as a privilege. It is not a burden to praise the Lord who has created us and is sovereign over the universe. David sets a very strong tone in this psalm. declaring four times that he would praise God for God's greatness. He says, I will praise you oh Lord with all my heart. I will tell of your wonders. These wonders David is talking about is God's amazing intervention into human history. according to God's will and God's sovereign decree. And David builds more intensity. And he says, I will be glad, and I will rejoice in you, Lord. Listen, children. All true joy is found in God. Think about that for a minute. Think about what David is saying. All true joy is found in God. We live in a world that thinks that is crazy. We live in a world that will tell you that joy is found in success. We live in a world that will lie to you and tell you that joy is found in money. Do everything that you can to find money. They'll tell you, lie, cheat, steal, it doesn't matter, just do whatever you can, you find money, because that is where you will find joy. These are lies from hell. And they will lead you astray and they won't care for a minute to do so. They will tell you, success in school is the way to joy. Do whatever it takes. Cheat if you have to. Just get the highest marks. But it is God who has created us. God created us and He created us with a purpose. That purpose is to love God and enjoy God forever. God Himself is the supreme reward. There's no reward. There's no success. There is no joy. that you will find greater than that you will find in God himself. To be reconciled in relationship with God. That is the ultimate or the best reward or success that a human being can have. Man was created in fellowship with God. Adam in the garden was created in fellowship, in right relationship with God. And Adam sinned. Adam broke that relationship. And Adam as the head of the human race broke the relationship with between the human race, all of them, not himself alone, but the entire human race and God. And God would have been right and just to condemn our entire human race to hell. And yet, by grace, God made a way to restore the relationship By faith in Jesus Christ. It is by faith in Jesus Christ alone that the relationship is restored. There's nothing more as a human being that you need than that. It does not matter how smart you are. It does not matter how much education I'll see you. I'll see. You could become a very educated person, go on to secondary, go on to university, get your master's degree, get your doctorate. Become a very wealthy businessman or businesswoman. Even become president of Kenya. You could be very successful based on the standards of this world. And continue your whole life as an enemy of God. Even live a very long life. 80 years, 90 years, maybe 100. Then you die. You stand in judgment before God. And you're found guilty. An enemy of God. Where he sends you to hell for all eternity where you bear his wrath. Hell is described as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Think of the worst thing that could happen to you here on earth. The worst. Maybe it's extreme poverty your entire life, maybe it is you go to prison, you're beaten, you're persecuted, whatever the worst thing you can think of, Now multiply that times 100, times 1000, even I don't know. But hell is far worse than anything you could ever imagine here on earth. And if you're not reconciled to God, that is where each of you will go. After a day in hell, will it matter? You were so successful here on earth. And that's after only one day. What about after 10,000 years? What about after one million years? What after one billion years? It is eternity. You must be reconciled to God. And Jesus is the way, the truth. and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Everyone stand. We close this in prayer. Let's bow down and pray. Father Almighty Creator, we want to thank you for this beautiful day. Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for the grace that you've bestowed upon us today, Father. We pray and thank you for all our surroundings, all our circumstances, and we glorify your name, Father. Through the hard times you're passing through, Father, you're with us, Father. Through the good times you're passing with us, you're going through, you're there with us, Father. We pray that, Father, you may guide us, you may lead us. We don't have any other shepherd. We just pray that you may give us the trust, the hope, and the belief so that we may end up one day being your children and glorifying your name. I pray this trusting and believing in Jesus' name. Amen. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below. Praise Him above you, heavenly hosts. Thank you. Have a great day.