Thanks-Giving Sermon #1

A Sacrifice Of Worship

Text: Psalm 100

Introduction

At the very core of thanksgiving is the action of sacrifice.

Heb. 13:15 “15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

Romans 12:1 “1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

1Peter 2:5 “5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

As the children of Israel had sacrifices of different types looking forward to Jesus’ first coming, we as believers today lift of varies types of thanksgiving sacrifices to our loving Savior because He did come and has promised He will return to receive us unto Himself; looking back to Him and looking forward for Him!

What is a sacrifice?

Natural expression of thanks in response to blessings, protection, or love. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, gratitude is not a tool used to manipulate the will of God. It is never coerced or fabricated in one’s mind; rather, gratitude is a joyful commitment of one’s personality to God. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Gratitude. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 900). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

In the NT, the object of thanksgiving is the love of God expressed in the redemptive-work of Christ.

I want to begin this series by unpacking this Psalm of which gives us the answers: Who, How and Why should we worship.

1) The Foundation Of Worship

One of the basic reasons why your worship would be lacking is a lack of taking the time to learn about the God Jesus has brought you back too.

Gaining knowledge of God TAKE TIME.

A lack of knowledge = a weak worship

Individuals = families = church body = worship

God never promised His power upon a Facebook/YouTube worship!

The power is present with the assembling of God’s people.

That being said, He has blessed us with a social media means for the unforeseen circumstances, but never to be a means to replace the GATHERING OF BELIEVERS!

So, what should we learn about God that would motivate us to incorporate worship into our lives?

He is GOD

Exodus 3:14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

He is our CREATOR

John 1:3 “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Psalm 139:13 “For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.”

He is our SHEPHERD

John 10:11-14 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

He is GOOD

Gen. 1:4 “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”

Psalm 145:9 “The Lord is good to all: And his tender mercies are over all his works.”

Romans 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

His MERCY is ETERNAL

Lam. 3:22-23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

His TRUTH is ETERNAL and for ALL

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Psalm 119:160 “Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

2) Following Through Of Worship

VERSES 1, 2, 4

A. (v1) Worship is made by you!

Something unique happens to the person who trusts Jesus as their Savior; they now have a TRUE CENTER to their life.

This is the fundamental problem in our world.

Exploring Psalms 89–150, Volume Two: An Expository Commentary Psalm 100:1

Think of the spokes of a wheel radiating from a common hub. The closer any point might be to the center on any of the spokes, the closer that point will be to any other as it draws near the center. The farther away such points are from the hub, the farther those points will be from each other. What is wrong with the world today is that it has no center.

This is what makes it possible for

In other words, if worship is going to be an action in your life toward God, it will have to come from you.

What does that entail?

Worship can’t be made out of nothing.

Illustration: Buildings, paintings, sculptors, etc. can’t be made without proper materials.

I am speaking of the extreme value of POINT #1.

God has given you everything you need to create worship.

(v4) You are the one who must walk through His gates.

“Gates” = speaks to the O.T. temple gates which led to the temple mount; the place of giving thanks for those who lived before the time of Jesus.

It wasn’t the priests that drug or guilted each person to enter the temple gates. It was each person’s own fear and love for Jehovah.

What makes our love for God so real?

To establish an ever growing love (verb) toward God, you must daily establish the history and future promises of God’s love for you in your heart.

Illustration: Why do you today continue to pay tribute by some of your methods toward your parents? You were impacted positively by them (or)

We no longer enter the temple gates, but we must enter the corporate worship of God’s people.

Many have lost the value of corporate worship!!!

Many run from corporate commitment.

Some: “Let’s just float around.”

God’s design = family worship & corporate worship (NO REPLACEMENTS)

This also speaks to the future Heavenly gates every believer will walk through one day!!!

As Christ has given you everything needed to faithfully walk through the gates of worship today, He will also properly prepare you to walk through those gates of eternal worship in Heaven.

You might ask, “Why is the sacrifice of WORSHIP such a big deal down here? Because it will be the only thing we will be doing UP THERE!!!

Conclusion

Worship can not be experienced or practiced by the unbeliever! Worship is reserved for only the believers.

Worshiping God is a far better and more pleasant than worshiping yourself!

Worshiping yourself leaves you lacking. While worship God leaves you satisfied.

Once you receive Jesus, you will understand the overwhelming joy of WORSHIP!