When God Became My Song

Most of you know this already, but I am Most of you know this already, but I am not not not John Piper. My name is Marshall Segal and I'm the My name is Marshall Segal and I'm the president CEO of Desiring God and I've president CEO of Desiring God and I've president CEO of Desiring God and I've been a part of Desiring God as a been a part of Desiring God as a been a part of Desiring God as a ministry for ministry for ministry for 14 years now. Been able to serve and 14 years now. Been able to serve and 14 years now. Been able to serve and travel and minister with Pastor John and travel and minister with Pastor John and travel and minister with Pastor John and the rest of our team. the rest of our team. the rest of our team. It's an amazing joy It's an amazing joy It's an amazing joy to be a part of a ministry that changed to be a part of a ministry that changed to be a part of a ministry that changed my life my life my life 20 years ago. 20 years ago. 20 years ago. I'll come back to that I'll come back to that I'll come back to that in a little bit. But before I do that, in a little bit. But before I do that, in a little bit. But before I do that, as I prayed about tonight and thought as I prayed about tonight and thought as I prayed about tonight and thought about the theme for this night, why we about the theme for this night, why we about the theme for this night, why we sing. sing. sing. That's what we're here for. That's what we're here for. That's what we're here for. I couldn't help but think about my local I couldn't help but think about my local I couldn't help but think about my local church, Cities Church back in St. Paul, church, Cities Church back in St. Paul, church, Cities Church back in St. Paul, Minnesota. That's where we Minnesota. That's where we Minnesota. That's where we live. I work full-time at Desiring God, live. I work full-time at Desiring God, live. I work full-time at Desiring God, but I'm one of eight pastors, elders at but I'm one of eight pastors, elders at but I'm one of eight pastors, elders at Cities Church. I'm a non-vocational Cities Church. I'm a non-vocational Cities Church. I'm a non-vocational elder there. elder there. elder there. And I won't get into all the details of And I won't get into all the details of And I won't get into all the details of our last couple of months, but back in our last couple of months, but back in our last couple of months, but back in January we had a group of very angry January we had a group of very angry January we had a group of very angry protesters that protesters that protesters that broke in and disrupted our service on a broke in and disrupted our service on a broke in and disrupted our service on a Sunday morning.

Sunday morning. Sunday morning. It was a terrible scene. It was a terrible scene. It was a terrible scene. Some of you might have seen it Some of you might have seen it Some of you might have seen it on the news. They yelled and they on the news. They yelled and they on the news. They yelled and they chanted until the police came and we had chanted until the police came and we had chanted until the police came and we had to send to send to send everybody home everybody home everybody home that morning. And the pastors, we that morning. And the pastors, we that morning. And the pastors, we huddled up before we left the building, huddled up before we left the building, huddled up before we left the building, we made the decision we made the decision we made the decision which felt like a hard decision at the which felt like a hard decision at the which felt like a hard decision at the time. time. time. We made the decision that we were going We made the decision that we were going We made the decision that we were going to gather again that evening and we were to gather again that evening and we were to gather again that evening and we were going to finish the service that we'd going to finish the service that we'd going to finish the service that we'd started. started. started. We don't typically have an evening We don't typically have an evening We don't typically have an evening service. service. service. And I will never forget that night And I will never forget that night And I will never forget that night together. I'll remember a lot of things. I'll I'll remember a lot of things. I'll remember the sermon that Pastor Jonathan remember the sermon that Pastor Jonathan remember the sermon that Pastor Jonathan gave from John 13. I'll remember the gave from John 13. I'll remember the gave from John 13. I'll remember the prayer that Pastor David prayed. I'll prayer that Pastor David prayed. I'll prayer that Pastor David prayed. I'll remember the the hugs and the tears remember the the hugs and the tears remember the the hugs and the tears before and during and after. But what I'll remember most But what I'll remember most is the singing. is the singing. is the singing. Cities Church, we had never sang Cities Church, we had never sang Cities Church, we had never sang like we sang that night.

like we sang that night. like we sang that night. It was loud. It was loud. It was loud. And it was heavy. And it was heavy. And it was heavy. It was earnest. It was earnest. It was earnest. It was serious. It was serious. It was serious. And it was unshakably And it was unshakably And it was unshakably happy. And as I thought about that night again And as I thought about that night again this week preparing for today, I asked, this week preparing for today, I asked, this week preparing for today, I asked, "Why did we do that?" "Why did we do that?" "Why did we do that?" After that it happened with all the After that it happened with all the After that it happened with all the stress and uncertainty of what had just stress and uncertainty of what had just stress and uncertainty of what had just happened, what might happen the next happened, what might happen the next happened, what might happen the next Sunday, and the Sunday after that, and Sunday, and the Sunday after that, and Sunday, and the Sunday after that, and the Sunday after that, why would we the Sunday after that, why would we the Sunday after that, why would we sing? Well, you know. Well, you know. At least most of you. At least most of you. At least most of you. That's why you're here tonight. That's why you're here tonight. That's why you're here tonight. We sang that night to say to God, "We We sang that night to say to God, "We We sang that night to say to God, "We trust you. trust you. trust you. Even now, even after all of that, we Even now, even after all of that, we Even now, even after all of that, we trust you. trust you. trust you. And we're going to follow you and obey And we're going to follow you and obey And we're going to follow you and obey you you you no matter what it costs.

no matter what it costs. no matter what it costs. No matter what inconvenience or No matter what inconvenience or No matter what inconvenience or opposition comes." And we sang And we sang because we wanted to say to him, because we wanted to say to him, because we wanted to say to him, "We love you. "We love you. "We love you. With all of our heart and soul and mind With all of our heart and soul and mind With all of our heart and soul and mind and strength, we love you. and strength, we love you. and strength, we love you. You are our treasure in the field, and You are our treasure in the field, and You are our treasure in the field, and you are our treasure now you are our treasure now you are our treasure now in this valley in this valley in this valley that you've given to us. That's why we sing, right? We could just That's why we sing, right? We could just get together every week and we could get together every week and we could get together every week and we could just say that we believe in Jesus and just say that we believe in Jesus and just say that we believe in Jesus and that we'll obey him. We could just spend that we'll obey him. We could just spend that we'll obey him. We could just spend this whole night tonight. We could just this whole night tonight. We could just this whole night tonight. We could just recite Bible verses and and and read recite Bible verses and and and read recite Bible verses and and and read creeds together. We could just say it. creeds together. We could just say it. creeds together. We could just say it. But if you know him as Lord and Savior, But if you know him as Lord and Savior, But if you know him as Lord and Savior, if you know this Jesus that we're if you know this Jesus that we're if you know this Jesus that we're singing about and singing to tonight, if singing about and singing to tonight, if singing about and singing to tonight, if you know him, if you really know him, you know him, if you really know him, you know him, if you really know him, it's not enough to just say it.

it's not enough to just say it. it's not enough to just say it. We have to sing. We see this all over the Bible. We see We see this all over the Bible. We see it in verses like Isaiah 12:2. it in verses like Isaiah 12:2. it in verses like Isaiah 12:2. I thought this would be such a great I thought this would be such a great I thought this would be such a great place to anchor our time of worship place to anchor our time of worship place to anchor our time of worship tonight. Isaiah 12:2, it says, "Behold, tonight. Isaiah 12:2, it says, "Behold, tonight. Isaiah 12:2, it says, "Behold, God is my salvation. God is my salvation. God is my salvation. I will trust and will not be afraid, for I will trust and will not be afraid, for I will trust and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength the Lord God is my strength the Lord God is my strength and my song. and my song. and my song. And he has become And he has become And he has become my salvation. The Lord is my strength my salvation. The Lord is my strength my salvation. The Lord is my strength and my song and he has become my and my song and he has become my and my song and he has become my salvation." Why do we sing? I see four salvation." Why do we sing? I see four salvation." Why do we sing? I see four big reasons in just that one sentence. big reasons in just that one sentence. big reasons in just that one sentence. First, because God is our salvation. First, because God is our salvation. First, because God is our salvation. He saved us. I was dead in my trespasses in sins and I was dead in my trespasses in sins and unbelief and he pulled me out of the unbelief and he pulled me out of the unbelief and he pulled me out of the pit. He sent his son to die for me.

pit. He sent his son to die for me. pit. He sent his son to die for me. He saved me from sin and death and the He saved me from sin and death and the He saved me from sin and death and the hell that I deserved. He bore hell that I deserved. He bore hell that I deserved. He bore on the cross our sins against him. Are you battling guilt or shame Are you battling guilt or shame or persistent temptation right now? or persistent temptation right now? or persistent temptation right now? We have a savior. We have a savior. We have a savior. We sing because he saved us. Second, we We sing because he saved us. Second, we We sing because he saved us. Second, we sing because he's Lord. I will trust, it sing because he's Lord. I will trust, it sing because he's Lord. I will trust, it says, and will not be afraid, for the says, and will not be afraid, for the says, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength. This This Lord God is my strength. This This Lord God is my strength. This This savior that we sing about, he is Lord. savior that we sing about, he is Lord. savior that we sing about, he is Lord. He saved us and he rules over us. All of He saved us and he rules over us. All of He saved us and he rules over us. All of our allegiance is to him and any other our allegiance is to him and any other our allegiance is to him and any other allegiance that we have in this life to allegiance that we have in this life to allegiance that we have in this life to espouse, to children, to a church, to a espouse, to children, to a church, to a espouse, to children, to a church, to a workplace, any other allegiance we have, workplace, any other allegiance we have, workplace, any other allegiance we have, we have for his sake, we have for his sake, we have for his sake, for his glory. for his glory. for his glory. We sing because he's savior and we sing We sing because he's savior and we sing We sing because he's savior and we sing because he's Lord. We sing to say again because he's Lord. We sing to say again because he's Lord. We sing to say again and again, we belong to you.

Third, he's our strength. I will trust Third, he's our strength. I will trust and will not be afraid, for the Lord God and will not be afraid, for the Lord God and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength. He doesn't just save us is my strength. He doesn't just save us is my strength. He doesn't just save us and then leave us behind. No, he saves and then leave us behind. No, he saves and then leave us behind. No, he saves us and then he stays with us us and then he stays with us us and then he stays with us and helps us. and helps us. and helps us. He never leaves us or forsakes us and he He never leaves us or forsakes us and he He never leaves us or forsakes us and he makes sure minute by minute of every makes sure minute by minute of every makes sure minute by minute of every single day that we have absolutely single day that we have absolutely single day that we have absolutely everything that we need. Even when we everything that we need. Even when we everything that we need. Even when we feel like we don't have what we we need, feel like we don't have what we we need, feel like we don't have what we we need, we have what we need because he's our we have what we need because he's our we have what we need because he's our strength. strength. strength. And he works in us by his almighty And he works in us by his almighty And he works in us by his almighty strength, by his spirit that's that strength, by his spirit that's that strength, by his spirit that's that lives within us. He works in us lives within us. He works in us lives within us. He works in us everything that he asks us to do or say everything that he asks us to do or say everything that he asks us to do or say or sacrifice. or sacrifice. or sacrifice. Are you feeling weak tonight? Are you feeling weak tonight? Are you feeling weak tonight? If you'll trust him, If you'll trust him, If you'll trust him, he will be your strength. he will be your strength. he will be your strength. You don't have to give up. And fourth, we sing because he's our And fourth, we sing because he's our song. The Lord God is my strength song. The Lord God is my strength song. The Lord God is my strength and my song.

and my song. and my song. And he's become my And he's become my And he's become my He's not just our forgiveness He's not just our forgiveness He's not just our forgiveness and our direction and our direction and our direction and our help, and our help, and our help, but he's also our song. but he's also our song. but he's also our song. Our joy. We found more joy in him than Our joy. We found more joy in him than Our joy. We found more joy in him than we found in anything else we found in anything else we found in anything else combined. combined. combined. I hope that's true for you. And if you haven't experienced Jesus And if you haven't experienced Jesus that way, if you haven't experienced that way, if you haven't experienced that way, if you haven't experienced that kind of joy in him, I have good that kind of joy in him, I have good that kind of joy in him, I have good news for you tonight. I'm so glad that news for you tonight. I'm so glad that news for you tonight. I'm so glad that you're here you're here you're here to sit under the word and to sing with to sit under the word and to sing with to sit under the word and to sing with us. Psalm 16:11, in your presence, in us. Psalm 16:11, in your presence, in us. Psalm 16:11, in your presence, in his presence, is fullness of joy. his presence, is fullness of joy. his presence, is fullness of joy. And at his right hand are pleasures And at his right hand are pleasures And at his right hand are pleasures forevermore. And when he says in his presence, And when he says in his presence, in your presence, there's fullness of in your presence, there's fullness of in your presence, there's fullness of joy. He's not just talking about joys joy. He's not just talking about joys joy. He's not just talking about joys that are that are that are around him around him around him or before him.

or before him. or before him. No, this fullness and this foreverness No, this fullness and this foreverness No, this fullness and this foreverness is the joy that we find is the joy that we find is the joy that we find in him. in him. in him. Psalm 43:4, I will go to the altar of Psalm 43:4, I will go to the altar of Psalm 43:4, I will go to the altar of God, to God, God, to God, God, to God, my exceeding joy. my exceeding joy. my exceeding joy. He He He is the joy. is the joy. is the joy. He is the pleasure. His presence is He is the pleasure. His presence is He is the pleasure. His presence is paradise, and it would be so even if paradise, and it would be so even if paradise, and it would be so even if everything else that we ever loved and everything else that we ever loved and everything else that we ever loved and wanted was taken away from us. wanted was taken away from us. wanted was taken away from us. That's what the Apostle Paul says in That's what the Apostle Paul says in That's what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3, whatever gain I had, I Philippians 3, whatever gain I had, I Philippians 3, whatever gain I had, I count it as loss for the sake of Christ. count it as loss for the sake of Christ. count it as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss Indeed, I count everything as loss Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth, joy, because of the surpassing worth, joy, because of the surpassing worth, joy, of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all his sake I have suffered the loss of all his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in things and count them as rubbish in things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain order that I may gain order that I may gain Christ Christ Christ and be found in him.

and be found in him. and be found in him. So, So, So, is he your song is he your song is he your song tonight? I [snorts] remember when Jesus became my I [snorts] remember when Jesus became my song and I'll end here. song and I'll end here. song and I'll end here. I said I'd come back to how Desiring God I said I'd come back to how Desiring God I said I'd come back to how Desiring God changed my life. It really was a It was changed my life. It really was a It was changed my life. It really was a It was a page a page a page in a book. in a book. in a book. It was a sentence. It was a sentence. It was a sentence. I had grown up in a Christian home with I had grown up in a Christian home with I had grown up in a Christian home with loving parents and had been a Christian loving parents and had been a Christian loving parents and had been a Christian myself for a number of years by the time myself for a number of years by the time myself for a number of years by the time I went to college. I went to college. I went to college. I was reading my Bible most days, I was reading my Bible most days, I was reading my Bible most days, spending time in the Bible and prayer. spending time in the Bible and prayer. spending time in the Bible and prayer. While I was at school there at Wake While I was at school there at Wake While I was at school there at Wake Forest, I was part of a a faithful Bible Forest, I was part of a a faithful Bible Forest, I was part of a a faithful Bible preaching church and part of community preaching church and part of community preaching church and part of community called Young Life that was reaching out called Young Life that was reaching out called Young Life that was reaching out to high school students. I was doing to high school students. I was doing to high school students. I was doing ministry, evangelizing, discipling high ministry, evangelizing, discipling high ministry, evangelizing, discipling high school students in those years. school students in those years. school students in those years. And then in a moment, And then in a moment, And then in a moment, in a sentence, I remember where I was. in a sentence, I remember where I was. in a sentence, I remember where I was. God suddenly flooded all of that, God suddenly flooded all of that, God suddenly flooded all of that, everything that I had known and felt everything that I had known and felt everything that I had known and felt about Jesus, he flooded all of that about Jesus, he flooded all of that about Jesus, he flooded all of that with new meaning and color.

But to get there, God had to confront me But to get there, God had to confront me first. first. first. When I first read these sentences, they When I first read these sentences, they When I first read these sentences, they tackled me where I sat and they have tackled me where I sat and they have tackled me where I sat and they have never let me go to this day. never let me go to this day. never let me go to this day. Here are the key sentences. Here are the key sentences. Here are the key sentences. It says, "Christ did not die to forgive It says, "Christ did not die to forgive It says, "Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything sinners who go on treasuring anything sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God." Read it again. "Christ did not die to Read it again. "Christ did not die to forgive sinners forgive sinners forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above who go on treasuring anything above who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. seeing and savoring God. seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven And people who would be happy in heaven And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there if Christ were not there if Christ were not there will not be there. This is the sentence. The gospel is not This is the sentence. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven. a way to get people to heaven. a way to get people to heaven. It [snorts] is a way to get people to It [snorts] is a way to get people to It [snorts] is a way to get people to God.

It's John Piper, It's John Piper, God is the gospel, God is the gospel, God is the gospel, page 47. The gospel is a way to get people to The gospel is a way to get people to God. The gospel is a way to get me God. The gospel is a way to get me God. The gospel is a way to get me to God. to God. to God. It was the kind of discovery that was It was the kind of discovery that was It was the kind of discovery that was both devastating and thrilling. both devastating and thrilling. both devastating and thrilling. It's devastating because you realize It's devastating because you realize It's devastating because you realize just how much you've missed for so long. But also thrilling because you've But also thrilling because you've stumbled into this land that you've stumbled into this land that you've stumbled into this land that you've never seen before. never seen before. never seen before. This ocean that you've never sailed This ocean that you've never sailed This ocean that you've never sailed before. This amazing meal that you've before. This amazing meal that you've before. This amazing meal that you've never tasted never tasted never tasted before. before. before. The God we're about to see here in The God we're about to see here in The God we're about to see here in Ephesians 1, Ephesians 1, Ephesians 1, the God that we're singing about and to the God that we're singing about and to the God that we're singing about and to tonight, tonight, tonight, this God is not just the only way to this God is not just the only way to this God is not just the only way to heaven. heaven. heaven. He is what makes heaven worth wanting.

He is what makes heaven worth wanting. He is what makes heaven worth wanting. He is the great meal. He is the great meal. He is the great meal. He is the wild and awesome ocean. He is the wild and awesome ocean. He is the wild and awesome ocean. He is the treasure hidden in the field He is the treasure hidden in the field He is the treasure hidden in the field and the pearl of great price. He is our and the pearl of great price. He is our and the pearl of great price. He is our savior, our Lord, our strength, savior, our Lord, our strength, savior, our Lord, our strength, and he is our song. and he is our song. and he is our song. Pray with me. Oh great God, as a deer pants for Oh great God, as a deer pants for flowing streams, We long, we ache, not just for We long, we ache, not just for deliverance deliverance deliverance from sin, from sin, from sin, from sickness, from sickness, from sickness, from conflict. from conflict. from conflict. We don't just long for forgiveness, we We don't just long for forgiveness, we We don't just long for forgiveness, we don't just long for healing, or for don't just long for healing, or for don't just long for healing, or for provision, or for relief, or provision, or for relief, or provision, or for relief, or reconciliation. We want all those reconciliation. We want all those reconciliation. We want all those things, and you're a good father, and things, and you're a good father, and things, and you're a good father, and you graciously give them. But no, we're you graciously give them. But no, we're you graciously give them. But no, we're praying for all those things, but more praying for all those things, but more praying for all those things, but more than all those things, we're praying for than all those things, we're praying for than all those things, we're praying for you.

you. you. We want you, Jesus. We want you, Jesus. We want you, Jesus. Our souls thirst for God, for the living Our souls thirst for God, for the living Our souls thirst for God, for the living God. God. God. Not just for the good and perfect gifts Not just for the good and perfect gifts Not just for the good and perfect gifts that you give, that you give, that you give, but for the perfect and satisfying gift but for the perfect and satisfying gift but for the perfect and satisfying gift that you that you that you are. We have a thousand reasons to sing We have a thousand reasons to sing tonight. tonight. tonight. And by the end of the night, I trust And by the end of the night, I trust And by the end of the night, I trust that we'll have even that we'll have even that we'll have even more. more. more. And so we pray our great song, would you And so we pray our great song, would you And so we pray our great song, would you come now come now come now through your word, and would you speak? through your word, and would you speak? through your word, and would you speak? Open up the fountain of your glory for Open up the fountain of your glory for Open up the fountain of your glory for us, your mercy, your wisdom, your power, us, your mercy, your wisdom, your power, us, your mercy, your wisdom, your power, your joy. your joy. your joy. For we pray this in Jesus' name. For we pray this in Jesus' name. For we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.