Psalm 107
Celebration is worship. The definition of celebration in the dictionary includes words and phrases like: to hold up, to honor, to perform publicly, sacramental, holy day and to demonstrate satisfaction.
What we want you to walk out of here with today is a correct understanding of worship and celebration.
This is how we are going to do that.
We are going to look at a Psalm and the description it provides for why and who should worship God.
We are going to discover together what and who we worship.
Let’s take our sermon notes which include the scripture lesson for this study.
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.” Psalm 107:1-3 Who are these redeemed people?
1. Those who have been in the desert of life.
Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” KJV
Have you ever been in the desert of life? All of us have. If you have been rescued from the desert of life, you ought to be a celebrator of the Living God.
2. Those who have been bound by darkness.
Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” KJV
One of the greatest things God does is bring light to the darkness. He is light. If you have ever seen the light you ought to be a worshipper of the Living God.
3. Those who have experienced depression.
Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” KJV
4. Those who have been in distress.
Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” KJV
Now I want to shift to a time of teaching. We have studied the Word of God now I want you to study yourself.
Here are the two things I want you to embrace as truth this morning. I am borrowing these from a teaching done by Louie Giglio.
Worship is the activity of the human soul. Worship is not what Christians it is what humans do.
What we are and who we worship is not determined by what we say.
1. Worship is the activity of the human soul. Worship is not what Christians do it is what humans do.
Everybody on this earth is a worshipper today. This very morning there are people preparing to practice celebration and worship. Some of them will even go to church but most of them will just go there own way and do their own thing.
Every living person lives a lifestyle of worship.
Video
2. What we are and who we worship is not determined by what we say.
Who we worship is exhibited by the way we live our lives. It is not exhibited by saying how we live it.
Now I want to invite you to discover who and what you worship. You’ve heard the phrase follow the money? We’re going to follow a trail. We’re going to follow a trail of our time, passions, value, things we ascribe worth to, things we give our energy to, our investment with our life......
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24
