Sermon Central
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Worship The Lord Series
Contributed by Joseph Marshall on Dec 4, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: Many of the Psalms are psalms of worship. Worship is something that has little appeal to the overly practical man. God only accepts worship in spirit & in truth. Therefore we must be instructed on how to worship in a way that pleases God.
Part of this Psalm was written in response to the bringing home of the ark after it had been captured by the Philistines. David was so pleased and this is how he responded.
• Worship to God is not merely what you do in church but how you respond to the circumstances that take place in your life.
I. WHAT WORSHIP IS
A. It is giving something to God He desires (v. 1)
B. God has need of nothing – yet desires something (Ps 50:8-14).
II. WHAT WE ARE TO GIVE
A. Glory
1. The glory of something will go somewhere – we are commanded to give it to God.
2. Why: due unto his name. I am giving back what belongs to Him.
3. Else we steal by:
a) Taking it for ourselves:
(1) Good children.
(2) Material wealth.
(3) Abilities or talents.
(4) Spiritual success.
b) Giving it to others: focus only on the means of blessing, not the source.
(1) ILL. Somebody gives you a gift in time of need (your heart adores only the channel & not the source).
c) Attributing to “chance” or “fate”
(1) The world speaks of “luck” – we say of providence.
(2) The world talks of ‘Mother nature’ – we talk of Father God.
B. Strength
1. How can we give “strength” to God? By ascribing it to Him.
• Same Heb. word: Deu 32:3, "Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God."
2. This is primarily directed at the mighty (v. 1) – who might ascribe strength to themselves.
3. David (mighty) ascribed His strength to God:
a) Ps 27:1
b) When having prepared all the materials for the temple: “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.” (1 Chr 29:11)
4. This is how the Lord taught His disciples to pray: “For thine is the kingdom, the power & glory.”
5. This is how Jude worshipped (Jude 1:25).
6. This is how those in heaven worship (Rev 4:11, 5:11-12, 7:11-12, 19:1).
III. HOW WE ARE TO GIVE IT – “In the beauty of holiness”
A. Holiness is beautiful to God.
1. Beautiful = decoration, adorning.
2. 2 Chron 20:21 – the choir-led army was to praise the beauty of holiness.
3. We are to decorate (adorn) ourselves with holiness.
B. Worship is not just word of the mouth (rituals).
1. If I was immoral and came adoring my wife verbally, would she be pleased?
2. If I am not separated from sin & the world & I come ‘worshipping’ – God is not pleased.
3. But when I come adorned with holiness – that is beautiful to God & He accepts my worship.
