Introduction:
Whenever it comes to Jesus the Christ, it seems to be a gray area for many. It seems to be an area of discomfort, but when it comes to God there’s more of a relaxed atmosphere.
Whenever there is a conversation about God, the atmosphere is somewhat pleasant or neutral, but when the name of Jesus is mentioned, the tables turn and the synergy of the environment changes. It seems to put individuals on the defense.
It’s all right to talk about the goodness of God, but when it comes to the goodness of Jesus Christ, the conversation takes a turn. Stopping with that note that brings me to my first of two points.
Development:
First Point: True Praise Comes From Within
When I read this scripture, I couldn’t help but think about King David. David is communing with God. He is communing with God in his own heart.
He is talking out loud to God, he singing out loud to God, and he is shouting out loud to God. David is no fool, he’s not drunk from wine and he’s not high from taking drugs. David was not worried about who saw him in his praise or evne who heard him.
Just like the songwriter wrote, “I thought I wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody But I, Couldn’t Keep It To Myself What The Lord Has Done For Me.”
When it comes to praise, it starts from the inside and works it way to the outside. When we praise it is heart felt joy from the heart. It is something that cannot be contained. That’s why the scripture says, “Bless the Lord, Oh my soul. And all that is within me bless His holy name.”
It is the soul that is to be used or exerted when blessing God, and all that is within us.
In order for us to be able to give God praise we first must be gracious for what He has done for us. We live in an ungrateful world because people cannot even say a simple thank-you when you do them a favor.
Even when you give someone a break when driving, you didn’t have to do it but you did. They will just drive off like what just happened was norm. The least the driver could have done was to give a hand wave telling you thank-you. We live my brothers and my sisters in an ungrateful and thankless world.
They feel that the world owes them something. Well the world doesn’t owe us anything nor is it going to give us anything.
My parents taught me that when someone does something for you, you always say thank-you. When someone gives you something, even if you don’t want it, take it with a smile and still say thank-you. One thing I have learned in this life is that people don’t have to do anything for you and most of them won’t.
I think about all the trouble that he had gotten himself into and he could still find the reason to praise God.
David is pumping himself up for praise. Now I know you probably are wondering how in world can David be pumping himself up for praise? I’m glad you asked because that brings me to my second and final point.
Second Point: Don’t Forget Where He’s Brought You From
In the religious realm, it seems to be a contagious disease that is going around. It’s a disease that causes the saints of God to forget what the Lord has done for them. I call it “Spiritual Alzheimer’s Disease.”
This is a disease that is very contagious. It causes one to soon forget how God has delivered them out of a situation. It caused them to forget to say thank-you to God for all He has done.
It causes one not to acknowledge the one (who is God) that set them free. It causes one to take credit for delivering themselves.
It causes one to brag about what he or she has done in their lives. It causes one to think that they are more than what they truly are.
This disease is a dangerous disease because this disease causes one to attempt to steal the praises away from the one who truly deservers it which is God.
Don’t make the mistake that Moses made. He attempted to steal a portion of God’s glory by putting himself on the same level as God. Because of his disobedience, he was not able to go into the Promised Land. Moses could see it, but he could not cross over into it.
The Psalmist says in verse 2, “Bless the Lord Oh my soul, and forget not all of His benefits.”
When I read that scripture, the Holy Spirit brought back to memory a song called, “I Shall Never Forget What He’s Done Fro Me, I Shall Never Forget How He Set Me Free. I Shall Never Forget How He Brought Me Out I Shall Never Forget Forever.”
I can get happy right here. I shall never forget my benefits. This is what David was saying. He was saying how in the world can I forget what God has done for me after all the mess that I have done.
I don’t know about you but I can’t help but say Lord thank you. I can’t forget because:
1. God woke me up this morning and started me on my way.
2. God watched over my wife and me while we slept and slumbered last night.
3. God allowed me to have a reasonable portion of health and strength.
4. God regulates my mind so that when the storms of life start raging, I can still stand.
5. God forgives me when I mess up. He has forgiven all of us for our trespasses. It is a continued act; he is still forgiving, as we are still sinning and repenting. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
6. God heals us when we are sick.
7. God protects us from our enemies.
8. God has given us Salvation.
Conclusion:
Just before I take my seat, I just want to say, God has been good to all of us. We are never to forget what he has done for us.
I can’t help but remember where my salvation took place. It took place on that Old Rugged Cross. Jesus took that walk down the Road of Golgotha. As he walked to the Hill of the Skull better known as Cavalry, He kept His mind on the saints of the past, as well oas the saints of the future.
He never lost focus of what His divine purpose was. He let them hang Him on that old rugged cross. They hung Him high and stretched Him wide.
He gave up the ghost on that old rugged cross. The soldiers just knew it was over, the King just knew it was over. They put Him in that old barred tomb.
The angles in heaven were in a state of morning. Heaven was grieving for the Son of God. Grieving went on all Friday night, All Saturday morning, all Saturday afternoon, all Saturday night, The grieving went on Sunday morning.
But all of a sudden, the angels in heaven stopped their grieving, they picked up their instruments, they began playing their instruments, they began singing, and they began shouting.
Early Sunday morning, Jesus got up from the grave with all powewr in His hands.
Amen! Amen!
