A Call To Prayer

A Call to Praise Psa. 100

INTRO.: This Psalm is a processional psalm; one used by the Hebrews as they walked in procession into the temple. It is a call to praise God. It called the people into the Presence of God with words of praise.

It is a call to praise God today as well. It speaks to us. Please note: He wants all the earth to praise Him.

I. The God we praise: a recognition of God is a prerequisite for praise: v. 3. Lit. “Jahweh is the Almighty.

A. “It is He Who made us.” He directs and is involved in the affairs of men on the earth.

1. It is not naive to believe He is our Creator.

2. He is our shepherd. Owner and provider. He gives all we need.

3. The heathen neither glorify God nor give thanks to Him. Rom 1:21 “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him,”

4. They see all the good things God provides and yet do not praise Him. They will suffer His wrath.

B. There are those who openly deny His existence:

1. I have not met many professing atheists.

2. Most do not want to believe in God because they would have to change their lives.

3. Belief in God brings with it accountability to God.

C. There are atheists in the Church. Not professing atheists, but practicing atheists nonetheless:

1. They say they belong to God, but act as if they don’t.

2. Like the rich fool who didn’t profess atheism, but didn’t acknowledge any debt to God.

3. Jesus called him a fool because he said in his heart “there is no God.”

II. How to praise God. The procedures of praise. V. 4

A. Enter into His gates and His courts with praise:

1. A Jewish worshiper would not enter the temple or ask God for a favor without a word of praise first.

2. If we are truly grateful to God for His blessings, we will gather with His Church to offer thanks.

3. We come together to worship and praise God and remember what did He for us.

4. How can we say we love Him if we avoid the opportunity to praise Him?

B. Give thanks to Him and bless His Name:

1. Luke 17:15 - the proper response to God’s blessings.

2. ILLUS.: a lady asked for prayer because she had to undergo surgery. When it was over and she was well, she said, “I sure was lucky.” she should have said, “Praise God.”

C. Worship Him with gladness:

1. The root of the word worship is “worth.”

2. To worship God is more than just attending worship. It is essentially sharing with others what He is worth to you.

3. To do good and help others in God’s Name is to worship God. Heb 13:15, 16.

4. “There is no lovelier way to thank God for your sight than to give a helping hand to someone in the dark.” Helen Keller.

III. The reason for praising God is seen in v. 5

A. His goodness:

1. God is good. We sing “Count Your Many Blessings,” knowing they are innumerable.

2. Thank Him for health and wealth and all the little things we take for granted.

3. ILLUS.: One Christian friend who suffered with arthritis would say, “Thank God I am not in pain.” when someone asked “How are you?”

4. “Yet, in the maddening maze of things, and tossed by storm and flood, to one fixed trust my spirit clings, I know that God is good” Whittier

5. In His goodness, He provides both spiritual and material blessings.

B. His enduring love:

1. Not only is God good to us, but when we rebel against Him and take His blessings for granted, He has infinite mercy.

2. Our greatest blessing of His love is the mercy of God as seen on Calvary.

3. He saved us because of His mercy. Tit. 3:5

C. His faithfulness:

1. In this unstable and uncertain world, God alone is dependable.

2. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

3. Praise God, we can believe what He says & anticipate receiving what He has promised.

4. The Christian can take encouragement in knowing, no matter how things go in this life, God will keep His promises.

CONC.: Serve the Lord with gladness. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His Name.

Look forward to the time when we may sing with the redeemed before His throne a great chorus of praise.

The spirit of Heaven is the spirit of praise and he who has the most praise in his heart has the most of Heaven in his life.