The word “worship” comes from an old English word “worthship”, meaning that God is worthy; He deserves our praise. Worship is our response to all God is and says and does. When we really believe God deserves our worship, nothing will keep us away from church. Church worship is a matter of priorities. Worship has been described as “the most urgent, the most glorious action that can take place in human life. We ought to worship God in our own houses, but that is not enough; we must go into the house of the Lord.
In worship we learn to respond to the ups and downs of life. We discover that faith means trusting in God even when life doesn’t make much sense. We understand that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Some folk think that church is a place to be entertained if it’s enjoyable, they’ll come …but at the end of the “show”, the only applause that matters comes from God.
Why is David glad when he’s told, “Let’s go to the house of God” (vs 1)? He knows that he will find his true spiritual family there. He knows that He will learn more about how life really works; he knows he’ll gain strength for the days ahead. Nothing’s going to keep him from worship. How can we know a person’s priorities? By what that person does willingly, voluntarily.
Worship is not described here as an individual act. We do not live in isolation—we are part of something larger. Faith isn’t purely internal; it has to be lived in community. My body ought to be available to the Body of Christ! “There are two things we cannot do alone—one is to be married and the other is to be a Christian.”
There are many ways to worship God when we gather in His house; some may clap their hands, some may pat their feet. Somebody else may get up and dance, my grandmother used to say that if I couldn’t say nothing, I would just raise my hand. But you ought to show some sign.
In ancient Israel, Jerusalem was the exclusive place to worship. Jerusalem is described in vs 3 as “a city that is compacted together”. In Jerusalem the twelve tribes of Israel came together in unity.
Without worship, something is missing; we are incomplete, unfinished. We find direction and purpose for our journey when we come to the house of the Lord.
Some of us who e We ought to worship God in our own houses, but that is not enough; we must go into the house of the Lord. Some of us who even attend church regularly don’t have any enthusiasm when we come to the house of the Lord. We find our desire to go to church dropping off a bit. You ought not to want to miss the service. If you miss one week, then you want to miss two. You miss two week then you want to miss 4. Then you miss so many than you are ashamed to come back. I wonder how strong is your desire to be in the house of the Lord?
There are many folk who look and find excuses for not attending service. Things that wouldn’t keep us from going to work—keep us from going to church. Things that wouldn’t keep us from going to a movie or a ballgame keep us from going to church.
The truth of the matter is that if we are looking for a reason to stay home, we will find it. Satan will see to it because he certainly doesn’t want us in the house of the Lord.
Whatever excuse you have for not coming to church, whether you don’t like the Pastor, whether someone has hurt our feelings, whether Sis. So in-so gets on your nerves, it doesn’s excuse us in God’s eyes. When you don’t come to church, that means that you are disobeying God. Hebrews 10:25 “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as some do…”
Sometimes when we do come to church we ought to change our attitudes. Sometimes we are here in body and not here in spirit. In other words, we are here and or not here.
We ought to have a spirit of worship, a heart and a mind opened to the Holy Spirit. A heart set on worshiping an awesome God. For he said they that worship me, must worship me in spirit and in truth.
The church is the body of Christ. This is God’s time. Sometimes we leave the church and say that I didn’t get anything out of that service. The question ought to be did God get anything out of that. I hate to tell you that worship is not about you. But we come to worship that God will get the glory. You have to put something in to get something out.
You can stand in front of a candy machine or a soda machine all day long, but if you don’t put nothing in, you won’t get anything out. Sometimes we come to church and we leave with nothing, because we didn’t put anything in the service. We were too mean to say amen. We were too ungrateful to clap our hands, we were too unthankful to pat our feet. But I dare you to come to church with a spirit of worship. I dare you to forget about yourself and concentrate on him and worship him. You will leave rejoicing, saying that there is a reality in serving a true and living God.
We ought to be glad to come to church because church is a place of God’s praises. The Book of Revelation 4:10, “the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever…”
Here is a picture of the church in a great time of worship that lasts forever. We ought not to wait until we get to Heaven to join together to worship the Lord.
The Bible hays a lot to say about worship and praise. Psalm 34:3 says “O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 111:1, “Praise the Lord, I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.” Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times, his praises shall continually be in my mouth.”
So often we don’t get much out of worship because we are far away from God in our spirit. Sometimes we get just like the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus rebuked in Matthew 15:8, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”
I wonder are you worshipping and praising him today, or you just occupying a space. It’s time to give God our all in worship.
We should be glad to come to the house of the Lord because it’s a place of God’s presence. Maybe you didn’t realize it but God is here right now. He says in Matthew, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Isn’t it great that God shows up for our worship? He’s right here right now. He’s watching you. He knows that when praises go up, blessings will come down. He desires our worship and he wants to be here to receive it.
He is here to answer our prayers. He is here to encourage us. He is here to guide us. He is here to bless us. He is here to strengthen us. He is here to bestow His power upon us. Aren’t you glad that you are here, because God is here.
We should be glad because the church is the place of God’s people. This is where the family of God meets to fellowship and support one another. This is the place where the friends of Jesus meet.
The church should be a place where we encourage one another. Where we lift up one another in prayer. This is a place where brothers and sisters can come and love one another. We are a family. We are one body with many members. We are going to spend all eternity together, so we ought to start right now.
The closest relationship we have should be with God’s people. Friends don’t treat you like they used to when you become a part of the family of God.
We should be glad because the church is the place of God’s peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. If you can’t find peace in God’s house than where can you find peace. It is each of our responsibility that peace is maintained. Ephesians 4:31,32, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, will all malice, VS32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
You ought to be glad to come to church because there is power in his word. Singing is all right, but there is power in his word. Praying is good, but there is power in his word. I want you to know this morning that when you come to church there is a word from the Lord.
I’m glad that it’s a powerful word.
I’m glad that it’s a saving word.
I’m glad that it’s an delivering word.
Yes, and I’m glad it’s an eternal word.
I’m glad that it’s an everlasting word.
I’m glad that it’s an unchanging word.
Somebody here this morning needs to understand that God deserves our best.
You ought not to drop sick praise on God.
You ought not to drop bad attitudes on God.
You ought not to drop sorry praise on God.
God deserves our best. Our praise must be our best. Every time we enter into the house of the Lord, we should give Him our best. Every time we read a scripture, we should give Him our best. Every time we pray a prayer, we should give him our best. Every time we play the instrument we should give him our best. Every time we give an offering, it should be our best.
We give our best, because one day he gave his best. The bible says that he gave his only begotten son. ON a hill called Calvary. The bible says that he hung there from the sixth to the ninth hour and cried that it is finished. It is finished. I’ve given my life. It is finished. I’ve give my blood. It is finished I’ve paid the price. It is finished, whosoever believes in me should not perish but they shall have everlasting life.
I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna give God my best. I’m gonna give him the best of my time. I’m going to give him the best of my talents. I’m gonna give him the best of my praise. He’s worthy to be praised.
