Five Steps to God Consciousness
Psalm 63:1-7
Intro: The reason many Christians fall into sin, backslide, get cold on God, get out of church, get out of God’s will, etc. is they simply failed to maintain a healthy consciousness of God.
- Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Psalm 139:1-12
- 1 ¶ « To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. » O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
- 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
- 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
- 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
- 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
- 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
- 7 ¶ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
- 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
- 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
- 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
- 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
- 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Many Christians live in such a way that they seem to forget that God is there.
He sees all; He hears all; He knows everything.
I. An Aspiration for God – vs. 1
Starts with an acceptance of God as YOUR God.
Stop looking for another god.
Quit looking for a god that better suits you and accommodates your life.
Stop looking for a permissive god; a god that lets you do whatever you want.
Stop looking for a better god, or a more convenient god.
- Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Don’t waste your time avoiding the one true God and make Him YOUR God.
Stop running from the one true God and allow Him to become you Lord and Savior.
Once you make Him your God, you will realize what an awesome God He is.
- You will seek Him early.
- Your soul will thirst for Him; Your flesh will long for him.
- You can’t desire something you’ve never tasted.
- You can’t crave something you’ve never eaten.
- You can’t want something you’ve never experienced.
II. An Anticipation for God – vs. 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
Sporting events sell out and fill up because people anticipate the power and the glory of their team.
If they knew their team would lose, they wouldn’t want to witness it.
They go hoping to see their team win and dominate the other team.
They love the expectation of victory.
David loved the anticipation of witnessing God’s power and glory in the sanctuary.
We can witness God’s power and God’s glory in the sanctuary through:
- The Presence of God
- The Preaching of God’s Word
- The People of God (trophies of God’s grace)
- The Promises of God
- The Purpose of God
III. An Appreciation for God – vs. 3, 7
- 3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
- 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
When a man says something is better than life, he has a healthy level of appreciation for it.
When you and I ever grasp the significance of the fact that we have been recipients of God’s LOVINGKINDNESS, it will change our lives.
Why would David say that God’s lovingkindness is better than life? (Psalm 63:3)
- Life is the result of the actions of two people; God’s lovingkindness is all because of Him.
- Life is unpredictable; God’s lovingkindness is unchanging.
- Life is a series of man’s choices; God’s lovingkindness is God’s choice.
- Life is sometimes disappointing; God’s lovingkindness has never disappointed.
- Life is temporary; God’s lovingkindness is eternal.
David recognized the importance of God in his life.
Notice verse 7 – “Because thou hast been my help…”
- Psalms 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
IV. An Adoration of God – vs. 4, 5
- 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
- 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
Thus will I bless thee – BLESS: To cause to kneel; to adore; to praise
While I live – some people’s blessing and worship isn’t any different than it would be if they were dead!
ILLUSTRATION: My brother-in-law texted me yesterday during the 4th quarter of the Georgia – Alabama game and asked me why God’s people can’t raise their hands in the 4th quarter???
I told him that of course, football was far more important than eternity!
I will lift up my hands in thy name!
- 1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
My mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips!
V. An Awareness of God – vs. 6
1.We will remember Him.
- John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
2. We will mediate on Him.
- Psalms 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
- Psalms 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.