Oh Holy Night: Let All Within Us Praise His Holy Name
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Oh Holy Night: Let All Within Us Praise His Holy Name
Oh Holy Night: Let All Within Us Praise His Holy Name
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine A. Definition and Purpose of Worship
Worship is the activity of glorifying God in his presence with our voices and hearts.
I would add to that definition by saying that “Worship is the activity of glorifying God in His presence with our voices and hearts and ACTIONS.”
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
The story of the wiseman has long been a story of one of the earliest recorded events where worship was given to Jesus.
Three points of conversation can be seen in this story concerning worship.
God dependency to God to be able to offer worship.
Not all people who claim to desire worship of Jesus are honest (in fact some actually hate Him.
The biblical emergence of the centrality of Christ in our worship.
Worship to God is given because of Jesus.
Worship to God is given because of Jesus.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
I give thanks to God FOR you … because of the grace of God given TO you.
In other words:
If it wasn’t for the grace of God that was provided through Christ Jesus...
There would not BE a you to be thankful for.
This letter was first written to a NT church in Corinth.
There would never have been a NT church in Corinth if not for the sacrifice made by Jesus!!!!
The same thanksgiving is true of us today.
Because of Jesus
We are here enjoying the salvation that is only possible through Him.
For those of you who have family that lives far off...
How do you get gifts to them at Christmas?
My mother-in-law would send money with instructions on what to buy.
Now with Amazon it is much easier.
God is the source of Grace. This is a gift we all desperately need (and hopefully desire).
There is only one way for us to receive that grace however, and that is through Jesus Christ.
Because of that, like Paul, we should ALWAYS give thank to God.
Certainly we have plenty of reasons to praise God.
But only one is eternal
Our salvation!!!
Worship to God is given through Jesus.
Worship to God is given through Jesus.
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
“Sacrifice of praise”
The concept of sacrificial praise is rooted in the OT.
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
Sacrificial system was certainly well establish in the Mosaic Law and a key part of the worship and customs seen in the OT.
It was primarily given through the levitical Priesthood.
Moving into the NEW COVENANT that we now have with God...
we see that this sacrificial praise is given THROUGH Jesus.
Knowing WHAT this SACRIFICE of PRAISE is and why Jesus is the central focus of it are vitally important in our worship of God.
(Our verse in Hebrews explains this to us very well.)
11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.
Obviously we go “outside the city” figuratively (since Jesus is no longer there)
It means to leave behind the love of this world and worship Him in the Spirit.
Jesus didn’t claim earthly titles (inside the city) but embraced the reproach outside of it
Our sacrifice should emulate that.
after all...
14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Our praise is then rightly given THROUGH Jesus.
given CONTINUALLY
It is given VERBALLY by acknowledge His name
Reverence and AWE of WHO GOD is and WHAT He has done through Christ!!!!
We see that this kind of praise if verbal “Fruit of lips”
This praise is not restricted to only certain dates or occasions
Rather is it offered continually
This praise is offered Through Jesus - “Through Him”.
not only because of Him but through Him.
Jesus is the mediator and vehicle of praise.
Worship is given directly to Jesus.
Worship is given directly to Jesus.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Highly exulted Him
(Beginning with His humble birth) His exultation is seen
His resurrection
His ascension
and glorification
to the right hand of the Father
notice that God HAS ALREADY EXULTED HIM!!!!
(Therefore)
“name that is above every other name”
that name Jesus is more than identification
It refers His position of DIGNITY and HONOR
So it is right and proper that ...
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Not when Jesus returns
Not when we are in Heaven
NOW AND IN ALL CREATION!!!
every knee should bow and every tongue
Jesus Christ is LORD
When we acknowledge and worship Jesus as the exulted Yahweh-God
We are rightly doing what every person will be made to confess one day.
For many that confession will be too late for salvation.
Until then our gospel message to the world:
The Jesus who appeared in humility
Who also died sacrificially
Will one day return in Authority!!!
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Communion
Communion
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.