Formed by the LORD and for him

This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. (Isaiah 43:21) 1/ A people formed **by** the LORD. 2/ A people formed **for** the LORD. 3/ A people that shall shew forth his praise. ~~~~~~ This sermon was preached at Bells Yew Green Chapel. ~~~~~~ **Sermon summary:** The sermon centers on Isaiah 43:21, emphasizing that God has formed His people not by chance but through sovereign, purposeful design, both in history and in individual lives. It unfolds three interconnected truths: **First,** God forms His people through patient, often painful providences, as seen in the lives of Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David, demonstrating that His timing and methods are always for ultimate good. **Second,** These people are formed not for themselves or for any earthly purpose, but exclusively for God's own glory and eternal possession, reflecting a relationship where believers are His inheritance and He is theirs. **Third,** The ultimate purpose of this divine formation is that His people will continually glorify and proclaim His praise, both in trials and triumphs, as their transformed lives bear witness to His grace, as exemplified by Job, Paul, and countless others who, in suffering, magnify God's faithfulness. The message is one of profound comfort and calling: God's work in us is not only certain but deeply personal, designed to reflect His character and draw others to Him.