"Let’s Have Church”

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. 11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”

Mike Purkey penned a song called, “Let’s Have Church” a few years ago, the lyrics are: “Well, David say to clap our hands and shout with a loud voice. Every time we come to church, we have to make a choice, We can sit there in our seats, we can act like we're asleep, Or, we can stand and praise The Kings of Kings. Crank up the music, let's have church, Well, let's forget about ourselves and put Jesus first. Well, let's clap our hands and testify, about His mighty works, Crank up the music, let's have church.”

“Well, in those old camp meeting days when I just a child, The music would start playing, we would step out in the aisle We would drink that living water, until it quenched our thirst, Crank up the music, let's have church. Crank up the music, let's have church, Well, let's forget about ourselves and put Jesus first.”

“Well, let's clap our hands and testify, about His mighty works, Crank up the music, let's have church. I'm tired of hearing people scream, at a football game, And, they come to church and they act real quiet, while I praise Jesus name. Well, if you feel the way I do, Why don't you get out of your seat, And let the spirit move you, from your head down to your feet.”

“Crank up the music, let's have church, Well, let's forget about ourselves and put Jesus first. Well, let's clap our hands and testify, about His mighty works, Crank up the music, let's have church.”

Introduction: Psalm 34, allows us to experience a Church Service. This Alphabet psalm includes a testimony, a hymn of praise and a sermon. David assures us that we always have reason to bless God, whatever may be our present condition; our mercies are great and multiplied, and our sufferings less than we deserve. So, he invites all to taste the goodness of the LORD. If we do, we will find that God delivers his people from every danger, and because of that, they are bound to bless and praise him. Though we may sometimes be in fear, God will not suffer us to fall. God know how to brighten up the countenance of the downhearted. None of those who fear him and wait upon his mercy will be disappointed at his throne of grace. If his angels are our guard, yea, if the God of angels be with us, we need not fear what men or devils can do against us.

David was ‘on the run’ from king Saul. Mistakenly thinking that he might find refuge with the Philistines, he only escaped from their clutches of Abimelech by pretending to be mad. After this narrow escape, he hid in a cave of Adullam. Knowing that David was in this place, his family came to encourage him. By the time they arrived, A company of some four hundred men in overwhelming circumstances had joined his band. (1 Samuel 22:1-2). Here we have a cave full of mistreated, depressed, discouraged, and desperate fugitives trying to deal with the setbacks of life. David’s response to their pitiful situation is a combination of thanksgiving, personal witness, evangelism, and wisdom teaching.