From Problem to Praise

In our current environment, it’s easy to forget who God is, what He’s done and what He’s still doing. It’s easy to forget that God is still in control, that nothing takes him by surprise and most importantly, that there’s purpose in everything that happens. We may not see it, we may not like it, we may not understand it, nevertheless, our inability to comprehend does not change the awesomeness of God, nor does it change the plan of God.

When we look at the world around us, it’s easy to get discouraged.

If you look at the numbers

As of May 18th, there have been 240 mass shootings in the United States. In those shootings, 255 people were killed and 980 injured. In some of those cases, of the dead and injured the shooter is included in the numbers.

When we look at the number of unjustified police killings, of which very few are prosecuted, especially when it involves people of color.

When we look at the number of wild fires burning and the loss of life, property and livelihood.

When we look at the over one million deaths from a pandemic that could have been controlled much better and possibly eradicated, if not for the misinformation being spread all over the airwaves from those who should have been educated and following the science but instead chose to spread doubt and uncertainty.

When we see the greed of some, as one percent of families in the United States hold about 40 percent of all wealth, while the bottom 90 percent of families hold less than one-quarter of all wealth. And of that, the average amount of taxes the wealthiest pay is 8.2% with the 25 richest Americans paying just 3.2% in taxes. Now compare that to the 13.3% the average American pays.

When gas prices continue to increase for the consumer, but oil companies are yielding record profits.

With all that going on around us, it’s sometimes easy to forget how good God is. So this morning I’d like to give you a small reminder, I’d like to shift your focus for a moment. For just a little while I’d like to turn your attention from your problem to God’s praise.

Now, for many it’s easier to do things when we can see an example of what we’re supposed to do and how it’s supposed to be done. So turn with me in your Bibles to the 19th division of the Psalm, a Psalm written by King David. King David is going to give us some examples of how we are to praise God. Are you ready?

Reading from the NLT

Ps 19 - 1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. 4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. 5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. 6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. 7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. 9 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

The title of today’s message is “From Problem to Praise”.

Let us pray

There are times, when the things going on around us could very easily push us into a state of depression and hopelessness. With our heads hung low, not in a posture of prayer, but in a position of powerlessness.

But in this Psalm, King David illustrates through God’s creations what praise looks like.

The first thing David points out is, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.”

To observe the heavens and the sky you must first lift up your head. You can’t see the heavens and the skies looking down.

Lift up your head O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. The NLT says open up ancient gates, open up ancient doors and let the King of glory enter. But guess what, the eyes are the gateway to the soul. Open your eyes, lift them up and allow the King of glory to enter in. Let God into your soul. When you allow God to enter your soul, He displaces the darkness.

Look up to the heavens, they proclaim God’s glory.To proclaim is to announce, it’s to declare and they do it everyday.

The skies display his craftsmanship. When we think of craftsmanship we think of how well something is made. Will it hold up with use, how long will it last? To have good craftsmanship means to build something that will last. God’s craftsmanship is on full display every time we look at the sky; and his work is perfect, his work is everlasting.

“Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.” The heavens and skies proclaim and display day after day, it’s endless. Since He created them, the heaven and sky have never failed to exist, even during the flood. They tell anyone who looks up, that there is a God and He is The Creator.

Have you met God? No? Let me introduce you. Look up.

Verse three says, They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.” How many of you have or had parents that could straighten you out with just a look? It didn’t start that way, it took training, it took imposing consequences, then over time you learned to distinguish their moods and attitudes.

When you got married, you had to spend time together and you learned what your spouse was thinking, you could discern if they were happy, sad, or mad just with a look, but that took time.

The heavens and the skies, they have no words, yet when you look at them you instantly see God. They don’t speak, “Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”

When we were in the military, my husband was doing a remote tour in Turkey, and when he would talk to our sons, who were 7 and 9 at the time, he would tell them that when they looked up at the stars, they were seeing the same stars he was seeing. It helped the boys feel their daddy wasn’t so far away.

“God has made a home in the heavens for the sun” God gave everything a home, even the sun, and it stays in its home, doing what it was designed to do. And here’s the thing, the sun shines whether you see it or not.

Sometimes it may be a cloudy day, but the sun is still doing what it was made to do.

It may be night where you are, but the sun is still doing what it was designed to do.

We were made to make God’s praise glorious. When you’re looking at your problem, it’s difficult to give God praise, because your focus is in the wrong place. You’re looking down instead of up. Look up and see the glory of the Lord.

Have you ever considered, what would happen if the sun didn’t shine? I don’t mean you can’t see it because of the clouds. I mean it didn’t shine because it’s light went out. It would be catastrophic and the earth would be a wasteland.

But praise God, every morning, the sun “burst forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.”

Imagine runners about to run a race.

Their feet are in the starting blocks that have been set just for them

Their bodies are relaxed because the body doesn’t perform well when it’s tense

They’re in a position facing forward, toward the finish line

As the official raises the gun to signal the start of the race their heads go down because they don’t need to see the gun go off, they need to hear it.

And then BANG! The starting gun sounds and the runners burst out of the starting blocks. And when they do it right, when they have the correct form, when they get into their stride, it is a sight to behold.

The sun, God’s creation is a sight to behold, as it burst into the sky every morning. We don’t have to think about, or wonder will the sun rise tomorrow? On a cloudy day, we know the sun is still up there shinning.

We know that, “The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.”

What’s your course? Have you taken the time to ask God? Or are you making your plan and asking him to bless it? If you do know what God has called you to do, are you doing it? Why not? What’s stopping you? What obstacles are you allowing to hinder your God given assignment?

Is it fear? God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, and of power and of a sound mind

Is it unbelief? Lord help my unbelief.

Is it people?

Have you let what someone told you as a child make you shrink, or make you strong? You see, some people can allow the opinions of others to determine their capability, but God has given you the ability to do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Is it apathy, do you just not care?

Or is it just down right laziness, which is another word for slothfulness? And that is one of the seven deadly sins.

Get in your prayer closet, ask God what your course is and follow it from now until your sun sets. Because sunset is coming.

And know this, when you ask God what your course is supposed to be, when He answers,

Even though you can’t see the end, God’s instructions are perfect, his decrees are trustworthy. They don’t change, and they don’t need a tweak from you. There are no adjustments that need to be made. In fact, they’re simple if you will just follow them.

His commandments are right and bring joy to your heart. He will never tell you to do something that goes against his character. When you’re doing what’s right, you can have joy. Not happiness because happiness is situational, but you can have joy unspeakable.

His commands are clear and give you insight for living. You don’t have to guess what it is that God wants. If you don’t know, if you don’t understand, ask Him and he will make it clear. Don’t go around an obstacle when he tells you to go through it. You may be clearing the way for someone coming behind you. His commands are distinct, what he gives you is for you and you alone.

Your reverence for him should be pure and last forever. What’s the motive behind what you’re doing? Are you maintaining your reverence, your respect for him at all times? Or do you, “lay your religion down sometimes?” Do you “put it to the side," like a jacket, while you put someone in check, then pick it up and put it back on? Your reverence for God should be always and forever with a pure heart.

His laws are true and each one is fair. God is not a man that he should lie and He is not a respecter of persons. Everyone is precious in his sight. Everyone has value to him. Everyone has gifts and talents given by him.

His laws are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold and sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the honeycomb. When you are His, you will want to follow his laws. His Word will be sweet to your soul.

There’s two parts to the law, not two meanings but two parts. They are a warning to your servant, and a great reward for those who obey them.

God’s instructions are holy. He will never tell you to do something unholy. He tells us to be holy as he is holy and so will his instructions and decrees be.

So because what God does is perfect and trustworthy and right and clear and pure and true and desirable and sweeter than honey and a warning and a great reward and holy; when we walk in his will…

He revives those who may be depressed by doubt

He makes the unskilled wise

He strengthens those who may be discouraged. You’re strengthened because you know God is with you. He will not leave you, to go through, work through, or walk through this life alone. He is with you every step of the way.

He provides a permanent principle for our conduct. God is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost don’t meet periodically to see if they need to change any principles. What was set forth in the beginning is still right today.

David asks a question that is somewhat of a revelation we should all have. “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? I’m sure you’ve heard people say, if they did that to me I would… But the fact of the matter is, we can’t really be sure what we would do in a given situation until we’re faced with that situation. Until we’re given the test, we don’t know what the answer is, we don’t know what our reaction will be.

And so David continues saying, “Cleanse me from these hidden faults.” They’re hidden because we don’t know what they are, but God knows.

David’s request is, “Keep your servant from deliberate sins? Don’t let them control me.” Deliberate sin occurs when we make a conscience decision to do what we know goes against the will and character and law of God.

We deliberately sin when we intentionally do wrong.

We deliberately sin when we decide to do what would not be pleasing to God.

We deliberately sin when we speak things that are not uplifting, encouraging, and not said with the motivation of love.

We deliberately sin, when we make a vow and break it.

We deliberately sin, when we engage in inappropriate relationships.

We deliberately sin when we know we have been given a Great Commission and choose not to fulfil it.

And so we too must ask God to keep us from deliberate sin, to not allow those sins to controls us and then like David we, “…will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.”

We have freedom from the law of guilt and sin through grace by which we are saved. Jesus came and died on a cross to make available that grace.

Pastor Ed told you about grace last week, if you didn’t hear about it go back and take a listen. By the grace of God we are saved.

So, when I think about the Lord, how he saved me, how he raised me, how he filled me with the Holy Ghost, how he healed me to the uttermost. When I think about the Lord, how he picked me up, and turned me around, how he placed my feet on solid ground.

It makes me wanna shout HALLELUJAH, Thank you Jesus, Lord you’re worthy of all the glory and all the honor and all the praise.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and feel the joy of the Lord down in your soul.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and watch your life change for the better.

Oh it’s not that you won’t have problems

It’s not that everything will go your way

It’s not that you’ll always get what you want

It’s that you’ll understand that God is with you through the trial, the problem, the bad situation. It’s that you know when you experience those things, they have been God approved and He is with you in the midst of it all.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and you can join the heavens in proclaiming the glory of God.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and you can marvel at God’s outstanding craftsmanship in the sky’s display.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and you can rejoice in His perfect instructions and trustworthy decrees and right commandments and clear commands and true and fair laws, then you’ll be able to give him pure reverence.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and you can be cleansed of the hidden faults in your heart.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and you can be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and you can with confidence and boldness ask Jesus to come into your heart.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and you can walk into the house of the Lord and not let people make you feel like you’re less than. Because we all have problems and issues. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is no perfect church, there are no perfect people, only a perfect mission to fulfill.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and you won’t ostracize those coming into the Lord’s house for help, for encouragement, for forgiveness, for mercy, for grace, for healing, for love.

Often times when you react negatively to a person, it’s because you see your sin or shortcomings in them and God has shown you yourself using them as a mirror.

Don’t lash out at the mirror that is that person any more than you would break your mirror at home when it’s merely reflecting you.

Don’t put your guilt and shame on them

Don’t take the anger you have for yourself out on them.

Don’t put your insecurities about yourself on someone else.

Don’t take whatever negative thought you may have about yourself and assign it to everyone else. Just because you feel that way about yourself, it doesn’t mean that’s what others think about you.

Shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise and you can rejoice in what and who God says you are.

You can allow God to draw you into his throne of grace and receive the salvation Jesus provided for you over 2,000 years ago.

If you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise long enough to say these words…

Lord, I know I’m a sinner, I need you. I repent of my sins, please forgive me. Jesus, I give you my heart and my life to wash, to change, to renew and revive. I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died for my sins and rose again. I believe that you sit at God’s right hand interceding for me. In your name I pray, amen.

When you shift your focus from your problem to God’s praise, you can walk in the newness of life and like David you can say, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Make up your mind that no matter what’s happening around you, you will focus on praising God, rather than the problems in and around your life.

Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” You’re not out there alone, God is with you and He’s provided a family through the church to walk with you, pray with, cry with you, and rejoice with you.

If you’re trying to take life’s journey alone, don’t. We’ve already prayed a prayer of salvation, the next step is to connect to a local church, so when the trials come there’s someone to hold your hand, someone to pray when you don’t know what to pray, someone to sit with you in silence or someone to cry with you if that’s what you need.

If God has shown you that Love Christian Center is the church home for you, reach out through whatever platform you may be watching and let us know so we can reach out, pray and connect with you. And if you reside in the Douglasville, GA area, meet us at 3500 Hwy 5, Ste 101, at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings, where there’s joy and love waiting for you.