An Ugly Praise

Ugly Praise

Genesis 37:18-28

“Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, ‘Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!” — Genesis 37:18-20 (NKJV)

Introduction

My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends. There’s a kind of praise we love to talk about—the kind that makes you lift your hands and dance your dance. The praise that feels good and sounds sweet. That’s pretty praise. May I submit to us this afternoon my brothers and sisters that when things are going well in our lives. When thing in our lives are on the up and up in other words they’re running smooth. When our bank accounts are at a positive balance and our bills are not in default. When our physical bodies are in good health. When all is peachy in our personal and professional relationships. That’s when it is easy to offer up praise to God because that’s what pretty praise is easy.

But I came to preach today about another kind of praise. A praise that don’t look pretty. A praise that sometimes comes through tears, betrayal, heartbreak, and pain. My brothers and sisters it’s very hard to offer praise to God in the difficulties of life. It’s difficult to praise Him when things are not moving so well in our lives. It’s tough to give God praise when our lives are on the downward path in other words, they’re on the rough side. How can I praise when the bank balance is on overdraft. How can I praise Him when the bills are two months pass due. How can I praise God when my physical body is racked with pain. How can I offer up praise unto God when all my relationships are in turbulent conditions. My Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends may I submit to us this afternoon that in these very unattractive situations that offering praise to God is Hard.

How in the world can we give God the glory and the praise He so rightfully deserves in the ugliness of lives trials and tribulations. But my brothers and sisters can I tell you that this is where God is looking for our sacrifice of praise. We have to be willing to give Him praise in these unattractive areas of live because God is able to take our Ugly Praise and make it beautiful. So, if you are here today you’re about to get a face lift because God is about to turn your ugly circumstance into His beautiful purpose. All that’s required of you is to give Him an “Ugly Praise!”

Somebody shout, “Ugly Praise!”

Because sometimes the praise that pushes you into purpose is the praise that comes from an ugly place. Joseph, in Genesis 37, teaches us that sometimes your journey to destiny goes through ugly praise. So, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the real preacher Jesus Christ I would like to live us with a few things revealed to us within this passage of scripture that require an “Ugly Praise” and the first is this.

1. Ugly Praise Comes When You’re Hated for Your Favor

Text: Genesis 37:18-20

“And when they saw him from a distance, even before he came close to them, they plotted to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Look, here comes this dreamer. 20 Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits (cisterns, underground water storage); then we will say [to our father], ‘A wild animal killed and devoured him’; and we shall see what will become of his dreams!”

They hated Joseph not because he did anything wrong, but because he was favored. Joseph had a coat of many colors—a visible sign of his father’s love. Joseph had dreams that revealed his divine purpose.

Sometimes the hatred against you isn’t about you—it’s about the favor you carry. Ugly praise is praising God even when people can’t stand your favor.

(Psalm 5:12) “For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor).”

(Proverbs 16:7) “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Tell somebody: “My favor is worth the fight!”

2. Ugly Praise Shows Up When You’re Stripped and Thrown Away

Text: Genesis 37:23-24

“Now when Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his tunic, the [distinctive] multicolored tunic which he was wearing; 24 then they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty; there was no water in it.”

It’s one thing for strangers to hurt you—but it hits different when it’s family. They stripped Joseph of his coat—the symbol of his father’s love. They threw him in a pit—a place of darkness and despair. Yet they could strip Joseph’s coat, but not his calling. Ugly praise is praising God when you’ve been stripped of what you thought defined you.

(Isaiah 61:3) “To grant to those who mourn in Zion the following: To give them a turban instead of dust [on their heads, a sign of mourning], The oil of joy instead of mourning, The garment [expressive] of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God], The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

(Job 23:10) “But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].”

Somebody shout, “I’m still chosen!”

3. Ugly Praise Knows God Is Working Even When It Looks Like You’re Sold Out

Text: Genesis 37:26-28

“Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood (murder)? 27 Come, let us [instead] sell him to these Ishmaelites [and [a]Midianites] and not lay our hands on him, because he is our brother and our flesh.” So his brothers listened to him and agreed. 28 Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] traders were passing by the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And so, they took Joseph [as a captive] into Egypt.”

Joseph’s own flesh and blood sold him for silver. Betrayal so deep it could crush a person’s spirit. But look how God works in the ugly:

Joseph was sold—but not killed.

Joseph was carried away—but carried toward destiny.

Ugly praise is praising God because the very thing meant to destroy you is pushing you into purpose.

(Romans 8:28) “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”

(Genesis 50:20) “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are this day]..”

Tell your neighbor: “It’s ugly… but it’s working!”

Conclusion

My brothers and my sisters, my beloved Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends—

I came to tell somebody: don’t you despise your ugly praise. Because ugly praise has power. Ugly praise has purpose. Ugly praise is the seedbed of your destiny!

Joseph went from the pit to Potiphar’s house…

From Potiphar’s house to the prison…

From the prison to the palace…

He started with betrayal but ended in blessing.

He started with hate but ended in honor.

He started stripped but ended clothed in royal robes!

So praise Him in the pit.

Praise Him in the dark.

Praise Him when they lie.

Praise Him when they plot.

Because your ugly praise today is producing a beautiful future tomorrow!

Shout it until the devil gets nervous: “My ugly praise is paving the way for my beautiful purpose!”

Because eyes have not seen…

Ears have not heard…

Neither has it entered into the heart of man…

The things that God has prepared…

For them that love Him!

So give Him praise right here, right now—

Ugly, tear-streaked, pain-soaked, betrayed-but-still-believing praise—

Because God is about to make your ugly praise look beautiful!

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!

Somebody shout “Ugly Praise!”

Amen!