Singing through the Storm

Psalm 71:20-24

Introduction:

Testimony provided by Susan Kaiser

Its amazing to see how God works in the middle of troubling situations. That’s what he has done for Susan, and he will do it for you.

You know God will allow us to see troubles in our life, but if we stay faithful to God, he will be faithful to deliver us from those troubles.

Psalm 71 helps us understand exactly what Susan was talking about. Look at it with me.

(Read Scripture)

How many of you watched Hee-Haw when you were growing up? Some of you younger ones will probably not know anything about the show, but it was a variety show of songs and sketch comedy that was set to a country hillbilly theme.

One of the songs that was written by Buck Owens who was on the show was Gloom, Despair, and Agony on me.

Gloom, despair, and agony on me

Deep, dark depression, excessive misery

If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all

Gloom, despair, and agony on me

How many times you feel just like that? That the world is caving in around you. Every where you turn it seems trouble is waiting right there.

You know, sometimes we bring trouble onto ourselves, and sometimes trouble finds us. But it is during those times of trouble that we can either find strength in Christ, or turn away from him.

Think about what we see in this scripture.

20 – God will allow us to see trouble in our lives.

· Some of us have seen a lot of trouble, lots of pain and problems.

· God said you would see it. We live in a sin cursed world. When it all seems to be falling in on you, that is just the world we live in.

· What trouble are you facing?

· We may think, God why did you bring me this way? We go through such times that we may be able to live for the Lord again.

· I believe the Lord will allow those he loves to endure some hard problems in life, to make them realize that they have wandered away from him.

· If we would just turn back to Jesus, friend he will pick you up out of the depths of the situation.

21 – Though we may go through troubles, if we are trusting in God, he will restore us to a greater position.

· I think about the man, who may have seen some dark times in his life, and how God brought him out, made him a husband and father, placed in him in a church and allowed him to preach the word of God.

· That is what is so great about Jesus, friend he will take your broken situation, and comfort you.

· Not on one side, but all sides.

· The outside and the inside.

· Don’t think that it is over for you, God can bring you back, and he can bring you beyond where you ever dreamed.

22-23 – What you need to do if God has done this in your life? Praise the Lord.

· What did the Psalmist tell us to do, he told us to sing. Sing unto the Lord. Sing when you have been brought through the worst of pains. Sing to Jesus when he has seen you through the storm.

· How many of you know this song?

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Sweetest name I know ,

Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

· Do you know the story behind that song? Luther Bridges was 26 year old minister, preaching in Kentucky. In 1910, he was preaching a revival service in another town and his wife and children were staying with her parents in another town while he was away. In the middle of the week of revival meeting, Bridgers received word that disaster has struck. Fire had broken out in his in-laws home and his wife and three young sons were trapped inside. They had burned to death.

· He was shocked, disbelieving what had happened, but when he saw the four caskets, reality sunk in. As he began to deal with the tragedy, he began to examining what he still had to hold onto. His answer was Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

There's within my heart a melody Jesus whispers sweet and low: Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still, in all of life's ebb and flow.

All my life was wrecked by sin and strife, discord filled my heart with pain; Jesus swept across the broken strings, stirred the slumbering chords again.

Though sometimes he leads through waters deep, trials fall across the way, though sometimes the path seems rough and steep, see his footprints all the way.

· Friend, that is how we ought to see our walk with Christ, that in the midst of the terrible, we will praise and we will sing, that we sing how Jesus has saved us.

24 – We need tell people about the righteousness of God instead of talking about our problems.

· Now let me ask you, what do your conversations sound like? Can you say, that your conversation is a conversation of righteousness?

· So many are not focusing on the Lord, they are focused on the problem.

· What we need to do, is in the middle of our problems, in the middle of our peril, we just need to sing and praise Jesus and for his righteousness.

· You see when you turn your bad over to Jesus, and give it to him, then you can sing, you can speak of the righteousness of the Lord.

· And people just can’t understand that. They can’t understand how you are give God glory, even though you are in one of the worst situations of your life.

· I’m going to tell you, those who are bringing those troubles are going to understand how you have joy. Its because you gave that problem to Jesus.

Conclusion

· Are you here today, with a problem that has defeated you, destroyed your life, and brought you to the point of death?

· Let me tell you, the Lord will give you life again, he will raise you up, if you just say, its in your hands lord.

· And when you give it to Jesus, really give it to him. And friend you will be able to sing.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Sweetest Name I know

Fills my every longing

Keeps me singing as I go