CHANGE, CORRECT, CELEBRATE

CHANGE, CORRECT, CELEBRATE

Psalm 115

Sermon in a Sentence: In a world that is constantly changing, God's people must change their focus, correct their worship, and celebrate the God who never changes.

Introduction

Church, if there is one thing we can all agree on, it is this: change is inevitable.

The hymn writer declared:

"Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can stand; Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God's unchanging hand."

Sam Cooke sang,

"It's been a long, a long time coming... but I know a change is gonna come."

One songwriter reminds us that everything changes. The other reminds us that change is coming whether we're ready or not.

Some change excites us. Some change frightens us.

We've watched economies rise and fall. We've watched governments change. We've watched technology change. We've watched values change. We've watched families change. We've watched churches change.

Some people have gained houses while others have lost homes. Some have received promotions while others have lost careers. Some have celebrated births while others have buried loved ones.

Everywhere you look, something is changing.

But while everybody is watching Washington... God is wondering who is watching Him.

While everybody is scrolling social media... God is asking, "Where is your focus?"

While everybody is trying to predict the next election... God is asking, "Who is sitting on the throne of your heart?"

Because church, the greatest danger isn't what's changing around us.

The greatest danger is losing our focus on the God who never changes.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us:

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Malachi declared,

"For I am the Lord, I change not." (Malachi 3:6)

The world changes.

Governments change.

Economies change.

People change.

But our God never changes.

That is why Psalm 115 teaches us how to live in changing times.

It teaches us to...

Change. Correct. Celebrate.

I. CHANGE YOUR FOCUS

Psalm 115:1

"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."

Notice how the Psalm begins.

Not with us.

Not with our plans.

Not with our accomplishments.

Not with our politics.

Not with our problems.

It begins with God.

The first correction God makes is where we place our attention.

Too many believers have become experts on current events but strangers to God's presence.

We know the latest headlines... but don't know the latest word from Heaven.

We know every political commentator... but haven't listened to the Holy Spirit all week.

We have become distracted by what is happening around us instead of devoted to the God who is above us.

Psalm 115 says,

"Not unto us...but unto Your name be the glory."

The Psalmist reminds us that life is not about building our kingdom.

It is about glorifying His Kingdom.

Jesus taught the same principle.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God..." (Matthew 6:33)

Everything changes when your focus changes.

Peter walked on water as long as he looked at Jesus.

The moment he focused on the wind instead of the Savior, he began to sink.

Somebody here isn't sinking because your storm is too big.

You're sinking because your focus is too small.

The first assignment is simple:

Change your focus.

II. CORRECT YOUR WORSHIP

Psalm 115:4-8

The Psalmist paints an almost humorous picture.

"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands."

They have mouths... but they cannot speak.

Eyes... but they cannot see.

Ears... but they cannot hear.

Hands... but they cannot feel.

Feet... but they cannot walk.

In other words...

They look alive...

But they're powerless.

Israel had seen this before.

When Moses stayed too long on Mount Sinai, they demanded another god.

Aaron fashioned a golden calf.

The people danced around what they had made with their own hands.

While they were celebrating the calf...

They forgot the God who had opened the Red Sea.

Exodus 32 teaches us that whenever we lose patience, we often create substitutes.

Church, idols have changed their appearance...

But they haven't disappeared.

Our idols don't always sit on altars.

Sometimes they sit in garages.

Sometimes they hang in closets.

Sometimes they sit in bank accounts.

Sometimes they're careers.

Sometimes they're relationships.

Sometimes they're titles.

Sometimes they're our own image.

Anything that receives the devotion that belongs to God becomes an idol.

Jesus warned us in Matthew 6:21,

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Then Psalm 115:8 gives one of the most frightening verses in Scripture.

"They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them."

You become what you worship.

If you worship money...

Your heart becomes hard.

If you worship popularity...

You'll constantly chase people's approval.

If you worship success...

You'll never feel successful enough.

But if you worship Jesus...

You'll become more like Jesus.

Church...

Don't just change your focus.

Correct your worship.

III. CELEBRATE YOUR GOD

Psalm 115:9-18

After exposing dead idols...

The Psalmist points everyone back to the living God.

Notice how many times he says,

"Trust in the Lord."

Trust Him, Israel.

Trust Him, house of Aaron.

Trust Him, all who fear the Lord.

Why?

Because unlike idols...

The Lord helps.

The Lord shields.

The Lord remembers.

The Lord blesses.

Psalm 115:12 says,

"The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us."

Somebody ought to shout right there.

The Lord remembers us.

When everybody else forgets you...

The Lord remembers.

When people overlook you...

The Lord remembers.

When doors close...

The Lord remembers.

Then verses 17-18 declare,

"The dead praise not the Lord... But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore."

Church...

As long as you've got breath...

You've got a reason to praise.

That's why Psalm 115 harmonizes with Psalm 150:6:

"Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord."

It harmonizes with Psalm 34:1:

"I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

It harmonizes with Psalm 103:1-2:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."

Don't wait until everything changes before you praise Him.

Praise Him because He doesn't change.

Celebrate Him because His mercy endures forever.

Celebrate Him because His truth never fails.

Celebrate Him because His love never quits.

Celebrate Him because He is still God.

Closing

Church, I've discovered something.

You can spend your whole life chasing change...

Or you can spend your life trusting the God who never changes.

The world says celebrate your accomplishments.

The Psalmist says,

"Not unto us...but unto Thy name give glory."

The world says trust your resources.

The Psalmist says,

"Trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield." (Psalm 115:9)

The world says build bigger barns.

The Psalmist says your idols cannot speak, cannot hear, cannot save.

The world says praise yourself.

The Psalmist says,

"We will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore."

So today I leave you with three assignments.

When your world changes...

Change your focus.

When your heart begins to wander...

Correct your worship.

And every morning God wakes you up...

Celebrate your Savior.

Because over two thousand years ago, when humanity had lost its focus and corrupted its worship, God sent His only begotten Son.

Jesus came through forty-two generations.

Born in Bethlehem.

Wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Walked the dusty roads of Galilee.

Opened blinded eyes.

Unstopped deaf ears.

Raised the dead.

Fed the hungry.

Loved the unlovable.

Forgave the unforgivable.

They marched Him from judgment hall to judgment hall.

They nailed Him to an old rugged cross.

He hung there between two thieves.

They stretched Him wide.

Dropped Him low.

He died until the sun refused to shine.

He died until the earth began to tremble.

He died until the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom.

He died for your sins.

He died for my sins.

But early...

Early Sunday morning...

He got up with all power in His hands.

That's why we celebrate.

We don't celebrate a philosophy.

We don't celebrate a religious system.

We celebrate a risen Savior.

Because idols are still in the grave...

But Jesus walked out of His.

And since He lives...

We can face tomorrow.

Since He lives...

We can endure every change.

Since He lives...

We can correct our worship.

Since He lives...

We can celebrate with confidence.

So, FAME Church, as you leave this place, remember these three words:

Change your focus.

Correct your worship.

Celebrate your King.

And let the church say, Amen.