The Looks Of Love Series

1. Counting at Church

A little boy asked his father what was the highest number he had ever counted. Replying that he didn't know, the father asked his son his highest number. It was 973.

"Why did you stop there?" wondered the father.

"Because church was over."

2. It is a shame that we can make a worship service a boring exercise

3. “Worship” means “worthship” – ascribing worth to something;

a. In Hebrew it is bowing down; humbling ourselves; recognizing sovereignty; expressing reverence

b. In Greek it is the picture of a dog licking the master’s hand – love; loyalty; gratitude

4. Psalm 95

5. In worshiping and loving God we:

I. Look Up

A. It is the Direction of God -- 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4.4-6

1. Above – up to Jerusalem and the temple

2. God comes from above to below as at Sinai

3. Yeshua (Jesus) ascended back to the Father

B. It Shows the Distinctions of God

1. His Prominence – Psalm 95.1-3

a. Opportunity to give glory to God – Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. Psalm 29.2

b. Worship is not performance for people – honoring One greater than all of the gods of old

Francois Fenelon was the court clergy for King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century. One Sunday when the king and his attendants arrived at the chapel for the regular service, no one else was there but the preacher. King Louis demanded, "What does this mean?" Fenelon replied, "I had published that you would not come to church today, in order that your Majesty might see who serves God in truth and who flatters the king."

2. His Plans – 95.4-5

a. Creation

b. Actions

3. His Presence – 95.2,6,7

a. Creates awe – Isaiah 6.1-5

b. Establishes Joy – Acts 2.47

c. Expressions of Joy – Singing; Dancing; Instruments; Clapping of Hands

d. These are not in conflict – A few years ago I was in Florida for my High School Reunion. Some of my classmates were members of a charismatic congregation and invited me to attend services with them. I agreed to go because it was early enough that I could then go to services at my former “home church” (a conservative, non-charismatic church) and visit with others I knew.

Here is what I observed – the Charismatic congregation was very happy. They had a lively service. Very few people brought a bible and the sermon was lite on scripture. The Conservative congregation was bible-centered. Nearly everyone had a bible, the sermon was filled with scripture BUT, the people did not appear to be very happy. My conclusion was – if we could merge the two we would have a dynamic church – bible + emotion!

e. I heard about a man who visited a conservative church and reported that a man had a heart-attack during services. The ushers carried out 5 men before they found the right one.

II. Look Out –

A. “OUR God”

1. Sh’ma – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Deuteronomy 6.4

2. Model Prayer – OUR Father, who art in heaven

3. Interesting – on the cross Yeshua (Jesus) said, “My God, my God. . . “ quoting Psalm 22 – there is a personal aspect to our relationship with God and, the God of Yeshua was not everyone else’s God at the crucifixion

B. Worship Impacts People – praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2.47

1. Actions produced disciples

2. [Shark story

Peter Michelmore in October 1987 Reader’s Digest: Normally the flight from Nassau to Miami took Walter Wyatt, Jr., only sixty-five minutes. But on December 5, 1986, he attempted it after thieves had looted the navigational equipment in his Beechcraft. With only a compass and a hand-held radio, Walter flew into skies blackened by storm clouds.

When his compass began to gyrate, Walter concluded he was headed in the wrong direction. He flew his plane below the clouds, hoping to spot something, but soon he knew he was lost. He put out a mayday call, which brought a Coast Guard Falcon search plane to lead him to an emergency landing strip only six miles away.

Suddenly Wyatt’s right engine coughed its last and died. The fuel tank had run dry. Around 8 p.m. Wyatt could do little more than glide the plane into the water. Wyatt survived the crash, but his plane disappeared quickly, leaving him bobbing on the water in a leaky life vest.