Sermon for 6/24/2007
Psalm 100 especially verse 2
Serve the Lord with Gladness
Introduction:
The problem here is that we come into worship in the spirit of Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, or perhaps Telly Monster in Sesame Street: "O-o-h, I love you and worship you, but things are pretty bad, and they may get worse...."
WBTU:
A. Read Psalm 100
B. This morning we want to focus our attention on Vs. 2 this little phrase “Worship the Lord with gladness.” When we hear the word worship it is generally applied to what we do here on Sunday’s by having worship services. Vs. 4 talks about entering his gates and giving thanks in his courts. In the Old Testament this meant going to worship in the temple or tabernacle.
C. This word worship is translated differently in other translations. Most translations use the word “serve” here. “Serve the Lord with gladness.” Look at NKJ.
D. When we use the word “serve” it takes on a different meaning. This verse reminds me of how slaves used to sing at their work on the plantations.
E. Glad service is what God asks for here.
Thesis: This morning let’s talk about glad service.
For instances:
I. It is all too rare.
A. Look at the faces of those who profess to serve God.
1. Those who are really serious about their faith are somber, grave, and gloomy. The King James Version says that deacons and their wives are to be grave. The New International translates it more correctly as people worthy of respect.
2. A little boy had just become a Christian and sat on a bench next to an old man who looked somber, grave and gloomy. The little boy said to the man, “Sir, do you need to get saved?” The man said abruptly, “I’ll tell you I’ve been a deacon in this church for over 30 years and then Chairman of the Deacons for 15 years.” The little boy responded, “Sir, it don’t matter what you’ve done, Jesus loves you and He’ll still save you!”
3. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., member of the US Supreme Court of over 30 years. Justice Holmes explained his choice of a career by saying: “I might have entered the ministry if certain preachers I knew had not looked and acted like undertakers.”
4. If we are really serious about our faith, then we will look someone just died all of the time. I don’t believe that is how Jesus was. I like the picture of Jesus with the children!
B. Read their writings.
1. So many focus on the negative. Now, I am not of the thought that everything has to be positive. Must preach the whole word and will of God! However, as Christians, we have more positive than negative. In eternity everything is going to be positive.
2. In the past I have cancelled certain subscriptions because they were all negative. I might get some good thoughts out of this so I read it and every time I lay it down depressed, angry, and upset.
3. The story is told of two farmers. One was a pessimist, the other an optimist. The optimist would say, “Wonderful sunshine.” The pessimist would respond, “Yes, but I’m afraid it’s going to scorch the crops.” The optimist would say, “Fine rain.” The pessimist would respond, “yes, but I’m afraid we’re going to have a flood.” One day the optimist said to the pessimist, “Have you seen my new bird dog? He’s the finest money can buy.” The pessimist said, “You mean that mutt I saw penned up behind your house. Didn’t look like much to me.” The two went hunting with the dog the next day. They shot some ducks. The ducks landed in the pond. The optimist ordered his dog to get the ducks. The dog obediently responded and instead of swimming in the water the dog walked on top of the water, retrieved the ducks, and walked back on top of the water with the ducks. The optimist turned to his friend and said, “Now, what do you think of that?” The pessimist replied, “Hmm, he can’t swim can he?”
C. Listen to their teachings.
1. No humor! No ability to take themselves lightly!
2. They talk as if God were a tyrannical Taskmaster, and not our loving Father. Give an inaccurate picture of who God is!
D. Observe how they worship.
1. How dull and uninspiring! Like we are attending a funeral!
2. No beauty or brightness! Everything must be somber!
3. Reminds me of the story of the small child who was in a church service and he was having a grand time of smiling, cuing and laughing at everyone. Finally, his mother whispered to him, “Stop grinning! You’re in a church!” With that, she gave him a belt on his hind side and as the tears rolled down his cheeks added, “That’s better,” and returned to her prayers.
4. In Colorado a church went before the county board of commissioners and the church was applying for permission to build a new building. They were outgrowing their facilities. As a part of their presentation, the church showed children worshipping the Lord as only children can do in their children’s church. They were dancing and singing and jumping around to the music. After their presentation, one of the commissioners said, “I believe that you are a cult! I am the son of a preacher and we would have never worshipped the Lord like those children! This is disgraceful!” And so the commissioners denied them permission to build their new building. It is being fought in court right now!
5. We leave the service depressed instead of encouraged!
E. Ask our own consciences.
1. Is it right to be burdened with many cares all of the time?
2. Now there is a time in our worship where it should generally be serious and somber. That is our communion time! Beyond this, there are times of serious reflection and times of encouragement!
F. Why is this gladness so rare?
1. With some there is a sense of sin and inward struggle against temptations. Much failing and transgression. But through Jesus, doesn’t God forgive and forget? Conviction is good but hopeless if not washed away through Christ!
2. For some the presence of earthly sorrow. There are seasons of distress and grief! But their whole life! With some afraid to ask how are you? Everything is suffering and sorrow!
3. Misunderstandings of the Bible! Must work our way to heaven! The Pharisees never really had joy! Any fun was wrong among the Puritans! We have freedom in Jesus Christ!
II. Gladness in the Lord is most reasonable.
A. We serve the Lord. Psalm 100:5. How is the Lord described?
1. Good- Only those who personally know God can understand His goodness. The unsaved person is continually focuses on the evil in the world and asks, "How could God allow it?" The Christian sees the personal aspects of His goodness.
2. Loving-(1 John 4:10) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
3. Faithful- Our God is a covenant-keeping God. He is not fickle or faithless; he doesn’t change his mind. (2 Tim 2:13) if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
B. The service itself.
1. In the temple they had to sacrifice animals for part of their service. That is No longer necessary!
2. We are to be a living sacrifice! (Eph 2:10 NIV) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
3. In the movie "Chariots of Fire", Eric Little told his sister, "When I run, I feel His pleasure." Likewise, when we use the capabilities God has given us to do the things He’s called us to do and when we do those things seeking His glory, we feel His pleasure. This makes us feel good!
C. The reward.
1. (Heb 13:16 NIV) And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
2. (Eph 6:8 NIV) you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
3. (Mat 25:21 NIV) ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
III. It is effective.
A. In regular work.
1. (1 Cor 10:31 NIV) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
2. My grandfather taught me that any task can be fun.
3. My friend Jimmy on way home from school.
B. In the service of the Lord
1. In Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, the older son had no joy in his service, and see how harsh and unloving he became!
2. (Luke 15:29 NIV) But he answered his father, ’Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. (Luke 15:30 NIV) But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
3. It should get sweeter as the days go by and that sweetness should spill out from the Lord onto others. God is love.
IV. It ought to be gladness
A. The Prodigal Son in Luke 15. (Luke 15:31 NIV) "’My son,’ the father said, ’you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. (Luke 15:32 NIV) But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’"
B. The father was surprised at such an attitude in his son. Should have been different. (Isa 35:10) Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
C. If it was wrong for the older brother, who never sinned, how much more wrong for us who have sinned, and yet have been freely forgiven!
Conclusion:
Be joyful always.
The joy of the Lord is my strength
He heals the broken hearted and they cry no more.
He gives me living water and I thirst no more.
