Bunbury
Sun am
14/08/2011
“Appreciating God”
Intro: *** One night some months back now I was standing outside the church building waiting to go home after doing some work. It was a warm night, a gentle breeze was blowing & in the quiet I could hear a multitude of birds chirping as they were settling down at dusk for the evening. The entire colony of birds was sending out a melody as they settled into the treetop lodgings for the night. As I was listening to all this & enjoying the entire scene I began to thank God for the simple experience ..... not what you’d call majestic but a simple experience of God’s creation speaking about the wonder of The Creator who has limitless imagination & creative power. I found myself doing what we need to remember to do on a regular basis – Appreciating God!
God designed creation to do just what it did to me that night – inspire / awe / stir us.
God designed creation in such a way as to point to the greater wonder of an all wise creator.
Here’s the thought this morning – How often do you take time to appreciate God?
We get so used to the idea that I have to read my Bible, pray, witness, pay my tithes & come to church – all of which are true & necessary.
But like Jesus said of Mary …… how often do we choose that good part & spend time simply appreciating God?
That night wasn’t by any means an earth shaking event but it certainly was an occasion where I found myself giving thanks & praise to God for His goodness.
We need to remember that primary reason for our creation is that we might enjoy God & give Him the praise He is worthy of.
T/m I want to speak about ‘Appreciating God’.
Text: Psalms 19:1 (NKJV) 1The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
# 1. When creation just can’t shut up!
A. Think about this – creation itself declares the glory of God!
a. And the truth is that creation just can’t keep quite – even if it wants to.
*** I remember when we were in Victoria falls in 2008 – it was an incredible experience! When we arrived at the grand old colonial built Victoria Falls hotel we could hear a thundering roar. It didn’t take long for us to work out that what we were hearing were the thunder of the falls themselves. As we looked out over the gorge that the Zambezi River flowed into we could see a cloud that hung permanently over the falls area displaying brilliant rainbows.
What was happening right b/4 our eyes was exactly what the Bible says will happen on an ongoing basis. Creation itself was declaring the wonder of the God of creation. It was one of those sights that you couldn’t help being impressed w/!
i. Creation was doing it’s job here & advertising the God who created it.
*** On a routine flight from Los Vegas to Phoenix early one morning just as the sun was rising we approached the Grand Canyon. Our pilot only had to deviate slightly so that we could see the entire Canyon from the air. We flew the entire length of the canyon & drank in the splendour of the sun rising filling the gorge w/ a multitude of shades that couldn’t have been made more brilliant if you’d tried to paint them.
*** On another occasion we were just outside Gaborone, Botswana staying at a game park over night. Our friends had taken us there as a kind of treat & an occasion not to forget our time in Botswana b/4 we left. It was mid afternoon when the animals began wandering into the dam which was right next to our chalet. I was really dazzled by a full grown Rhinoceros & her calf that came trotting down to the dam not more than about 10-15 metres from where I was standing. As we watched the variety of animals that were roaming freely in the game park I couldn’t help thinking what an incredible God our God is!
*** On yet another occasion I was standing on the shore of the island just outside Nuku’alofa, Tonga. The ocean was like a sheet of glass. The ocean itself was filled w/ brilliantly coloured sea life. As the sun set over the ocean it created a magnificent backdrop of colour that filled the evening sky. W/ the coconut trees in the foreground & boats anchored in the harbour it was a natural postcard. I couldn’t stop taking photos that early evening b/c I was struck by the majesty of the God who put this whole scene together that I was now soaking up.
ii. You see these were not just travel scenes but occasions when creation was doing exactly what it was created to do – praising God!
Romans 1:20 ( NKJV ) 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
*** We were driving through some of the most beautiful sub tropical rainforest in the world w/ another Christian man one day. He surprised me when he said to me that this world seemed quite dull to him.
iii. If it was it’s not b/c God created a dull world but b/c he h/s had b/co dull.
iv. God never intended creation to be dull ……. But sin has caused man to b/co dull so that our interests are trivial & the things that impress us are trivial.
v. For many life has b/co a trivial pursuit! And as Jesus said b/c of the dullness that sin brings we now a people that …..
Matthew 13:15 ( NKJV ) 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, …….
b. The truth is that God is everywhere!
i. I don’t mean that he’s in everything ..... that’s an ancient heathen religion known as pantheism where it was believed that God was in everything – literally a part of creation i/s.
ii. But He is everywhere for you & I to drink Him in & enjoy the experience not just of creation but of God the creator!
B. Here’s the incredible anomaly – creation can’t shut up but we can’t speak up!
a. Creation just can’t keep quiet about its maker.
i. Look at your text again ……
Vs 1. 1The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
ii. I like the way that The Message Translation puts this verse when it says …..
Vs 1. 1God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
iii. Listen to how it continues in the next verse …
Vs 2. 2Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.
iv. Follow the Psalm for the next several verses & they all point towards the majesty of god as the creator of all things.
b. Yet here is the astounding anomaly – man, the masterpiece of God’s creation doesn’t speak!
i. More than any other creature of God’s creative power – Man has been given the ability / power to praise / worship & adore God for His creative work.
ii. But the tragedy is that He doesn’t!
iii. Think about this! Church is not just a time where we come together to go through the routine / format of a church service – left your hands now, praise now, sing now, give now …..etc.
iv. It’s a time when we take time out / pause from our busy lives to reflect upon / adore & pour out our true appreciation for the full array of God’s goodness.
v. But the truth is churches are full of disinterested / bored people who are doing little more than fulfilling their duty!
vi. What a tragic place we’ve come to …. Just as Romans says …..
Romans 1:21 ( NKJV ) 21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
vii. That’s a frightening place for anyone to come to!
# 2. The reflection of God.
A. Think about this – creation is a dull mirror of the real glory of God.
a. Remember that creation as we see it & know it is in a fallen state.
i. Sin has done it’s terrible work on creation & marred it significantly from the original work of glory it once was.
ii. It’s almost as though sin has painted an ugly graffiti across the face of creation that is only going to be removed when God does His restoring work – which He will!
Revelation 21:1 ( NKJV ) 1Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
iii. So at its very best creation is only a dull reflection of the glory of the God who created it!
iv. But nonetheless what a reflection it continues to be!
B. So if this is a dull reflection – imagine how glorious God Himself must be!
a. The only hint we have is that of those who are already in God’s presence.
i. Think about how they respond to being in the glorious presence of the creator of the universe.
ii. Now ….. remember that heaven, among other spiritual beings, is already populated by men & women just like us except for the fact that they are now glorified.
iii. What are they experiencing in the presence of God?
Revelation 4:8-11 ( NKJV ) 8The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” 9Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
iv. Think about that! The natural response to these creatures being in the presence of God & the Lamb is to continually worship Him!
v. But get the picture here …… the 24 elders every time there is another chorus of praise from the living creatures fall down b/4 him.
vi. Here are living beings that are so overcome w/ their appreciation of God that they can’t help falling down & worshipping Him!
vii. How about you?
b. Let’s look at another scene where worship overtook the entire scene when God arrived.
i. To view this scene we have to go all the way back into the book of Isaiah.
ii. The prophet him/s ….. a Godly man who has b/co the messenger of God to God’s people is ushered into the very presence of God.
Isaiah 6:1-5 ( NKJV ) 1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” 4And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”
iii. What happens when he comes into God’s presence?
iv. Firstly he sees him/s for the first time in perspective – no longer the holy man of God but rather sinful flesh that has been undeservedly ushered into the presence of a majestic God!!!
v. And that’s what we are – sinful flesh that has been given the promise of an eternal home w/ an everlasting God.
*** When I was in Bangalore, India I remember driving past a slum each night on my way to church. It was a pitiful sight to behold as I saw from the road houses made out of pieces of tin, wood, cloth, cardboard & anything else that served as a shelter from the elements. I never went in so I can’t be sure but I don’t think any of the homes had electricity or running water. There were open sewer & waste water drains running through the midst of these housing settlements. They were desperately poverty stricken – that I could tell merely by their appearance.
Imagine that! People being born in this setting, raising families, eating their meals marrying their children & burying their dead in this environment. It was little wonder that the people looked so forlorn.
vi. It was from the slum of a sinful world that Isaiah was suddenly transported into the everlasting palaces of heaven that caused him to see what He was really like in the light of a holy God.
c. We are given a hint of how glorious God must be as we read about Moses.
i. The Bible tells us that he catches a glimpse of the place where God has just been …… Moses saw God’s back!
ii. Forget about seeing bigfoot – Moses saw the back of God – but how did it affect him?
Exodus 34:30 ( NKJV ) 30So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
iii. Now get the point here …. All Moses saw was God’s back & he looked like he’d been eating Energiser batteries!
# 3. Appreciating God.
A. Here’s a question for you – when was the last time you appreciated God?
a. How often do we come to church not out of a sense of obligation / responsibility but simply b/c you want to express your appreciation to God?
i. How often do you pause from your busy life & the schedule of demands that are constantly drawing your attention just to communicate to God that you love & appreciate Him?
ii. Our text says …..
Vs 1. 1The heavens declare the glory of God;……
iii. And we know that all of creation continues to do this day after day but the question ….. how often do you take time to declare the glory of God?
iv. We fill our lives w/ such insignificant / trivial things ….. & so many of the things that life is filled w/ are a part of the daily grind of just making life work.
v. But the real concern that I have is that we would forget & allow to be crowded out the one really impt thing in life that we need to do – take time to appreciate God!
b. The danger that each of us are faced w/ as believers is that we would b/co a modern day Martha.
Luke 10:38-42 ( NKJV ) 38Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
i. Think about this! Jesus came to Martha’s house but she was too busy cooking lunch & taking care of the dishes to take time to enjoy the experience of having God at her house!!!
Vs 1. 1The heavens declare the glory of God;……
ii. But how often do you make the same declaration about God?
B. Genuine appreciation results in praise, worship & thanksgiving.
a. When people genuinely appreciate God they just can’t keep quite about Him!
i. The title of this Psalm says that it was written by David although there is some dispute about whether or not he actually wrote it.
ii. But one thing we do know is that David did spend his time writing many Psalms which were an outpouring of his love & appreciation of God.
Psalms 22:22 ( NKJV ) 22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
Psalms 145:6 ( NKJV ) 6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness.
Psalms 145:4 ( NKJV ) 4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.
Psalms 26:7 ( NKJV ) 7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.
Psalms 95:2 ( NKJV ) 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
iii. What flows out of these Psalms was what was in the heart of the writer ….. a deep appreciation for God.
iv. As you consider everything God has created & done for you personally …… what flows out of you?
v. Let us be a people who have a deep appreciation for God – let it be heard in our words, seen in our deeds & experienced in our spirit!
