WORSHIP FOR GOD’S PLEASURE
New Liberty Christian Church, Veedersburg , IN , 6-6-10, Rich McQuinn, Pastor
TEXT: I Thess 5:15-20, Revelation 4:11, Psalm 149:1
I Thessalonians 5:15----Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16----Be joyful always. 17----pray continually.18----give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for your life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 19----Do not put out the Spirits fire, 20----Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
Revelation 4:11----You are worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being.
Psalm 149:1----Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song. Praise Him in the assembly of the Saints.
I dreamed of a city called Glory, so bright and so fair. When I entered the gates I cried HOLY. The Angels all met me there. They carried me form mansions to mansion. Oh the sights I saw. Then I said I want to see Jesus, the one who died for me. Then I bowed on my knees and cried Holy, I cried Holy, Thou art Holy. I clapped my hands and sang Glory, glory to the Son of God.
As I entered the gates of that city, my loved ones all knew me well. They took me down streets of Heaven, oh the scenes, too many to tell. I saw Abraham, Jacob and Isaac; I talked with Mark and Timothy. I said to Timothy, I want to see Jesus because He is the ONE who died for me. I bowed on my knees and cried Holy, Holy, Holy, My God is Holy. I clapped my hands and sang GLORY!
INTRODUCTION:
If the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is going to grow, it must first know how to worship Him. This is the church that Jesus gave His life for. Do not treat these words lightly. The church is the Bride of Christ. He will not treat it lightly.
Our text tells us that each leader in the church MUST lead in the right direction of worship. That WE must be praising Him in our worship and our worship must be right.
I do not care what church label you call yourself---Methodist, Baptist, Assembly of God, Catholic, Jew, Presbyterian or nothing. I care that your worship the man who died for your sins.
It is He that is worthy of our praise! Worship must begin with Him present. Do you invite Him to be with you as your praise Him?
Let me give you a wake up call. We are asleep at the wheel. We do not praise today like we did even 30 years ago. When you stay at home, turn on the tube, or go to sports centers, roll your sleeves up and work around the house, it is hard for any one of us to truly praise the Almighty God. He is worthy of our Praise.
In our churches across the world we are having worship wars over music. Who leads the music, what kind of music, traditional or jived up today’s juice? Some church members will condemn you to hell if you do not sing the right songs or play the piano. Others will condemn you if you do not read the REAL King James Version. You will go to hell. And on and on we go. Anything to separate us from the true worship of God Almighty.
We have so much division going on, even within our own churches. You see all the time the printed times of services in the local church. They may read 9:00 Traditional Worship service begins. 10:30 Contemporary Worship begins.
Contemporary is usually a band up front, words displayed on the wall, standing up singing with hands raised in praise. The music is much louder.
Now who is to say that either of them is right or wrong? I can’t. I was brought up Traditional. I understand it, use it and promote it. I also understand the newer versions of songs. Singing from the heart in both styles is the best to honor the Living God.
Today, I want you to look at yourself. Down Deep! When was the last time you really worshipped the Living Lord. What songs did you give to Him in Praise? What scripture did you read out loud?
It does not matter as long as you and your heart get to the place where true Worship begins. Please do not take the attitude that you can GO to worship without really worshipping HIM. You have to worship Him even before you get to your worship centers.
I am going to give you three areas today that you have to have!
I. THE REAL NEED FOR TRUE WORSHIP
Just a few short years after the church began, in the 8th century the church voiced their opinion on the proper way to worship. They even got into fights over it. In the 16th century the church was divided over the worship service.
You and I both know of churches that are filled to the brim with people who come TO the worship service. It does not mean that they worship while they are there. Churches are filled with music, giant size screens, great sounding choirs, even parking attendants. There are others who have just a one room place to worship with their peers.
It does not matter as long as YOU worship Him!
Listen to me please, and listen well! The loss of God is the service of worship is killing us, our faith, our witness and our outreach into the community we serve. We are building these great services around our pleasure and our convenience. We have it all backwards. It is for His pleasure, not ours. It is for His glory and not ours. We have a million things to do and we try to crowd our worship service in one hour on Sunday morning. That is for us, not Him. It is not for our satisfaction but for His.
The more the worshippers gripe about their service, the more they find more wrong, the more you will not find the satisfaction you need in everyday life. The more the griping the more dissatisfied you will be.
You know perfectly well, of all of the excuses why you do not attend a worship service. You might say it is too long, too short, no music, too much music, didn’t like the sermon, the Pastor is not friendly. You are just being suckered into the place where satan wants you to be. A place of no true joy or complete assurance of your salvation.
If you are not growing in Christ----and you know exactly where you are---then you are dying. Growing or dying—which is it for you? If you are not planning on growing and doing what you can to grow then simply said—you are planning on your Christian faith dying.
Your human body needs food. AMEN! You can not grow unless you have the appetite to eat and then eat what is good for you. If you do not eat, you die. Do you get what I am saying?
Some of you do not have the appetite to eat in the form of worship. Wake up! Don’t you see what is happening? Christianity is not a take it or leave it deal here. We are commanded by the Bible, Gods word to Worship Him. Even the 10 Commandments tell us to Worship Him. Exodus 20 tells us to worship Him ONLY. Not Buddha, Mohammad or 100 other gods.
Don’t look to go where you have it made, the service lasts an hour, you are in and out, you have done your weekly duty, and after all you get entertained besides. What a worship service. Short sweet and you are entertained besides. But----did YOU worship?
II. THE CHARACTER OF WORSHIP
Look up Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge all of you my brothers in view of the mercy of God, that you present yourselves as a living sacrifice to God Almighty who is Holy and pleasing. This is your spiritual act of worship.
Worship is praying, reading, studying your Bible and other worth wild articles.
Worship is reflection, fellowshipping, listening, being quiet, singing and rejoicing.
In Hebrews 10:25, Psalms 111:1, Hebrews 12:28-29 they all draw our attention to the human body to worship God Almighty with friends and neighbors.
The New Testament tells us that the early church worshipped on Sunday mornings. It is called the Lords Day? What about those who have to work on Sunday and can not worship. Are they shipped off to hell because they can not make the service? God isn’t complaining if you chose to worship on Saturday night instead of Sunday morning, nor Wednesday night. Just so long as you worship HIM.
In the 60’s you would never see jeans in the church service, nor any shorts, or belly buttons. You would never see men addressing the Lords Table in nothing less than their best. But clothes do not make the heart worship. You can worship naked if you want…………as long as you are by yourself or with your mate. The purpose is worship.
Remember this is not about us, per se, it is about HIM. Worship Him. If you don’t, you die spiritually. I know what I am talking about here.
III. EVANGELISM IN WORSHIP
I am not apposed to many things churches use to lure folks in to hear the gospel being preached. I am for it. Just be sincere for the Lord. Make your service enjoyable, interesting and exciting. Listen to the needs of your congregation as to what they need and want.
The worship service is a time of self, getting as close to God as you can get and telling Him how much you appreciate Him and how much you love HIM.
Of course we construct the service for the lost souls, the weak, the starving for the Word of God, for those who need the fellowship. The real purpose is to worship the King of Kings.
Psalms teaches us that we are children of God that need to be taught on how to worship Him gladly. II Timothy tells us to worship from our hearts. Paul tells us to worship in decently and in order.
It has to begin with you. As long as you are alive, this is your moment in time to worship the Living God. I know you can worship on Tuesday by yourself. You do not need a formal worship service or a church building. I know you can worship in the car or sitting on the throne, in a fishing boat or during a foot ball game, but are you singing out loud, are you rejoicing, are you praying?
The worship service has to be designed to fit the people of your community, but not with the sacrifice of true worship.
Praise to the Lord
The Almighty
The King of creation.
O my soul, praise Him
For He is my health and salvation.
All you who hear,
Now let His temple draw near,
Join me in glad adoration
Praise to the Lord
O let all that is in me adore Him.
All that has life or breath,
Come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again!
Gladly for you
We adore HIM!
AMEN and AMEN
