Col 3:16+17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
	Today is a day of celebration across this country. Celebration for something that happened more than 200 years ago. It is a celebration of the birth of a country, the likes of which had never been seen on such a great scale. There is joy and respect filling this land, yet all of those festivities will pale and utterly fade away in comparison to what we are joined to as a fellowship.
	Today is a celebration day, the likes of which has never been fully appreciated and of which all of eternity will be filled. Today we celebrate Christ! Everyday, to be exact, we celebrate Christ for the new birth of life that surges within us. We gather together as the people of God, His Church, without spot or wrinkle in Christ. Our hearts are uplifted, not be sentimental ideas and teachings of the good old days, but by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit Who so fills us that we have to rejoice in the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ. To some, it may be simply another Sunday ritual, but to the redeemed of the Lord, it is a moment in which we seek after bringing joy, and adoration and worship to our God because we love Him. As we read in Ps 107:1-2 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,...
	We are called upon to praise the Lord because of His excellent greatness throughout all of creation. We, who are the called of God, in whom the redemptive power of God is actively at work should be more and more focussing our hearts and beings and praise upon our wonderful and majestic God. His works are wonderful to consider and His Word is like honey that sweetens and nourishes us every moment of the day. As we draw together before Him, there should be evident that which is held in Isa 35:8-10 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
	Everything other than that which is for the praise and glory of God should be left outside, not tucked neatly in to our minds and hearts to be thought on as we sit together. No, the world has enough of our time and our energy throughout the week. This is a place of sanctuary. I am not talking about this room, I am talking about our collective heart before God, this morning and every time that we are before the throne of God as His People. He deserves the best that we have to bring before Him in a sacrifice and celebration of Love. As we consider Christ, we should allow the Holy Spirit the freedom to remove all worldly traces and concerns from us in order to present ourselves as living sacrifices unto our glorious God. 
	There is much more reason for this presence before God, freed of earthly attachments, than any other aspect that we may consider. God has done a tremendous work to bring us before Him in Christ. Isa 44:22-23 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
	All of creation will be the witnesses of how effectively God has made known His Being of Love in this realm. In redeemed fallen mankind unto Himself, the Great Creator has opened His Heart unto all of the universe. The redeemed have been set free from the law of sin and dead, and now operate without encumbrance in the Grace of God. There has been a tremendous crashing upward all of the universe as mankind, God’s creation, has now, in Christ, been brought in to the very family of God. That which had once been at odds with God, been violently opposed to God has now been loved, by Christ, into the very heart of God. Once of the natural realm, we are now made to part of the spiritual realm, transcending the abyss unto God by the lifeblood of Jesus Christ. For that, we should be, and will be eternally rejoicing before our God of Salvation. Isa 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
	Sorrow and mourning shall flee away. Why is there any that is cast down this morning? The Lord is Alive! Why is there any that is worried for tomorrow? Tomorrow, and each day after that belongs to the Lord God Almighty. Why is there any who frets about the ways of the realm? He has overcome the world in triumph. Rejoice in Him! Praise Him! Set your hearts and minds on Him for He lives, and He rules, and He overrules! Let us praise our God for He is worthy of our praises. Let us celebrate with our whole hearts the victory that Christ has wrought! Let our voices join those of the ages as recorded in Rev 5:9-14 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.