From the Pit to the Praise: Rescued, Redeemed, and Ready to Shout!

Date: Sunday, 16 March 2025

Scriptures to Read and Ponder

Main Passage

• Psalm 40:1–3 (NIV)

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feeth on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

Key Scriptures from the Sermon

• Genesis 3:23–24 – The expulsion from Eden and the beginning of our separation from God

• Ecclesiastes 3:11 – God has set eternity in our hearts

• Exodus 3:7–8 – God sees, hears, and rescues His people

• Ephesians 2:1–5 – We were dead in sin, but made alive in Christ

• Romans 7:24 – The cry: “Who will rescue me?”

• 1 Peter 2:4–7 – Jesus as the precious cornerstone

• Matthew 13:33 – The Kingdom of God as yeast that works through the dough

• Acts 4:19–20 – “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Sermon Recap

I. Introduction: The Journey of Psalm 40

• The Psalm maps out a spiritual journey:

• A cry from the heart

• A rescue by God

• A new song of praise

II. The Cry of the Human Heart

• Deep within every human is a longing for restored fellowship with God

• Genesis shows us what we lost in Eden—intimacy with God

• That loss created a “cry” in every heart, a yearning for peace, connection, purpose

• Ecclesiastes 3:11 teaches us God placed eternity in our hearts

• Saint Augustine: “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You”

III. God Hears the Cry

• Psalm 40 and Exodus 3 show us God hears, sees, and responds

• He is not indifferent—He comes down to rescue

• The cry of bondage is met with divine concern and action

IV. The Rescue

• God lifts us out of the slimy pit and sets us on solid ground

• The pit is symbolic of sin, despair, and spiritual powerlessness

• The Gospel is not self-help—it’s divine help

• We are not saved by a “what” or a “how,” but by a Who—Jesus Christ

• Ephesians 2:4–5 reminds us: “It is by grace you have been saved”

V. The Firm Foundation: Jesus the Cornerstone

• Christ is the rock upon which our lives are built

• When rescued, we are not left in the pit—we are given stability, identity, and security in Jesus

• 1 Peter 2:4–7 – Jesus is the chosen and precious Cornerstone

VI. The New Song

• Deliverance results in praise

• God puts a new song in our hearts—a personal testimony of His goodness

• The song is not only for us—it testifies to others

• Psalm 40:3 – “Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him”

VII. Our Lives as Witnesses

• Like yeast in dough (Matthew 13:33), our changed lives have influence

• Even in silence, our transformed lives preach

• Acts 4:20 – “We cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard”

Memorable Quotes

• “Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it’s a gift for the guilty.” — Max Lucado

• “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” — Saint Augustine

• “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song.” — Joan Walsh Anglund

• “This isn’t about self-help; it’s about God’s help.”

• “Christianity doesn’t offer you a what or a how—it offers you a Who.”

Questions for Discussion

1. What is the “cry” of your heart right now? Can you identify an area where you long for God’s rescue?

2. Have you ever felt like you were in a ‘slimy pit’? What did God’s rescue look like in that season?

3. How has God given you a new song? How has your story changed because of Jesus?

4. In what ways does your life reflect the stability of standing on the Rock, Jesus Christ?

5. Who in your life might “see and fear” because of your testimony? How can you be a visible sign of God’s grace?

6. What does it look like to “preach the Gospel especially when you’re not preaching the Gospel”?

7. How does your story encourage others to trust in the Lord?

Prayer Points

1. Thanksgiving:

• Thank God for hearing your cry and responding with love and mercy

• Thank Him for rescuing you from the pit and giving you a firm place to stand

2. Personal Renewal:

• Pray for a new song to arise in your heart

• Ask God to restore areas of restlessness and to anchor you in Jesus the Rock

3. Transformation & Witness:

• Pray that your life would reflect the Gospel clearly and powerfully to others

• Ask God to use your testimony to help others trust in Him

4. Intercession for Others:

• Cry out on behalf of family and friends still “in the pit”

• Ask God to hear their cries and send rescue

5. Confidence & Boldness:

• Pray for the courage to speak of what you have “seen and heard”

• Ask for the Holy Spirit to empower you to be a living witness

Sermon: From the Pit to the Praise!- Rescued, Redeemed, and Ready to Shout!