Sermon on Psalm 66, Eric A. Snyder,
Fairland Christian Church,
Revised for Farwell Church of Christ
August 19, 2001
D. L. Moody told a story of a man who was asked by his ten-year- old son, "Daddy, why don’t you ever go to church with us? The father replied, "I don’t need to go to church, My faith is established Later that same day to the man drove his horses out of the barn and hitched them to the buggy. As he and his son drove out of the yard, the horses became mired in a mud hole. The man tried in vain to extricate them, whereupon the boy observed "They’re not going anywhere, Daddy. I believe they’re established:’
A woman entered a Hagen-Dazs store on the Kansas City Plaza for an ice-cream cone. broader After making her selection, she turned and found herself face to face with Paul Newman, in town filming the movie Mr. & Mrs. Bridge. He smiled and said hello. Newman’s blue eyes caused her knees to shake. She managed to pay for her cone, then left the shop, heart pounding. When she gained her composure, she realized she didn’t have her snack. She started back into the store to get it and met Newman at the door. "Are you looking for your ice cream?" he asked. She nodded, unable to speak. "You put it in your purse with your change." When was the last time the presence of God quickened our pulse
Where are you this morning? What I mean is ...
Have you come in this morning prepared to meet the almighty.
Have you been expecting and awaiting this moment. Are you spiritually and mentally ready to come into the presence of God?
OT Priests Had to be ceremonially clean perform rituals Before they could go into the presence of God. Because it was a big deal. This morning you don’t need to dip you finger into the blood of a goat. But coming into a place of praise is still a big deal. And you still need to prepare for it
Do you eagerly desire coming to church on Sunday morning. Can you not wait to fellowship with Him. Or do you dread getting out of bed, and getting the kids ready. Do you come prepared to worship.
Have you ever asked yourself these questions about worship
1 .Does It really matter if I come?
2. Why do I come anyway?
3 .Is this really worth It?
4. What is my real reason for going?
5. Why do I not have a Passion for God?
6. Why do I have problems with worship?
Psalm 66 66:1 For the director of music. A song. A psalm. Shout with joy to God, all the earth! 2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! 3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. 4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name." Selah 5 Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf! 6 He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot-- come, let us rejoice in him. 7 He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations-- let not the rebellious rise up against him. Selah 8 Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; 9 he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. 10 For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. 11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. 12 You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. 13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you-- 14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. 15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats. Selah 16 Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. 17 I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; 19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. 20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
Read Psalm 66
PRAYER
In worship,
Nature Praises God 1-7
We abuse the earth, 2 mistakes
1. We think the earth is for our enjoyment.
2. We are the Rulers of the earth.
We are not rulers we are stewards, The earth is the Lords and everything in it.
Nature exists to Praise God Ps 148, Is 61
1. Mountains sing for Joy.
2. 2. Trees, Clap your hands.
Vs 4 "all the earth bows down to you"
People Praise God 8-12
This is our exclusive purpose in life. And if we do not praise him, then all of nature will Before the rocks cry out. Worship is why God Created, Redeemed us and loved us.
Therefore we ought to be a people of worship, a people who are constantly giving Glory to God. For this to happen there are four key attitudes that will help you have a more meaningful worship.
One vital question. How you answer it shows your view of the church
Why do you come to church?
1. Submission I come vs. 13-14
A. We come to his temple / church
Survey, why people come to church: Entertained, expected, good feeling, make friends, fulfill a spiritual / Psychological / physical / emotional need, want to, enjoyment, used to it, part of our lives, obligation, fear, it’s worth it, Important, kids, believe in God, learn, love God, renewal.
Most of these are good reasons to come to church, But many times these are our focus. Our focus ought to be on Worship.
Jesus said "seek first my kingdom... " Matt 6:31
B. We come to Fulfill our promises
1. Love God
2. Our commitment to Worship
do you come to give or do you come to get?
Well a little of each.
There are weeks where you will not get anything from church.
What else would church be for?
What can I give. There are those of you who think that when we are talking about giving in a church, all you see is dollar signs.
That’s not what we’re talking about this morning. How sad of a state are we in when the church becomes a private school for morality.
We need to come before him only to give our worship, our best worship
Isn’t that what Matt 6 means. That when God is at the top of your list. You will be at the top of His.
That you have to empty yourself in order to be refilled.
I didn’t get anything out of that.
That’s because you haven’t poured yourself out for 10 years.
Remember the prostitute. Some of it could have been used. Don’t give it all away.
But Jesus says until you give it all away, you have not given completley
You want to feel the fresh fire again. Pour yourself out again. Your religious clout means nothing to me unless I can embrace all of you
2. Sacrifice I Give vs. 15
A. Fat Animals are worth something.
B. B. What are your fat animals?
C. 1. Tithe Offering
2. Something important to us
Jesus did say that to follow him we might have to be willing to leave houses or land or possessions ...
Signs that we are to immerses in worldly things
A. You can name all the characters on ’As the World Tums" but can’t remember the names of the Twelve Disciples.
B. You can anticipate in advance the outcome of a "The west wingt" episode but can’t remember how the New Testament ends.
C. You can recognize the local TV news reporter on the street but wouldn’t know your next-door neighbor if you saw her standing on the porch.
D. Your cable TV bill is more each month than your contribution to your local church.
3. Surrender, I Give In vs. 17-1
We cry out to Him
1. In Humility, The very nature of worship
2. 2. In Praise.
What’s so awesome about praise?
It is the one thing that we can do for God, that He cannot do for himself Praise is the adoration of God, for his own sake. What’s so amazing about God?
He is Majestic, But He is enriched by our praise.
He is Holy, But He wants us to commune with Him.
His Love is complete, Yet He wants us to acknowledge it.
B. We give up our Sin, our desires, our old life.
This is so important, some of you sitting here this morning are wondering why you can’t worship God and you’ve completely ignored the fact that it’s because you have this sin in your life, Something you have not completely let go of Satan still has a hold of you.
4. Serve I GO Vs 18
A. Service is a Direct manifestation of our worship. When we worship we naturally serve.
B. It is Possible to serve but not worship,
"We’re so caught up trying to be socially relevant, that we forget it all begins with worship"
Tony Campolo
C. Worship comes first
1. Worship is the distinctive that makes the difference to our own lives well as our witness to our family, neighbors, friends and everyone else.
Conc: All of these are good reasons to come to worship. But worship is the one distinctive that makes all the difference to us and the others that we influence.
If you are having a problem Loving God, Chances are it’s because you are having a problem worshiping Him. And we will not completely worship until we learn to Submit, Sacrifice, Surrender, and Serve.
