Life shaped by worship.

Introduction

Time spent with McElreath. Pictures

Question by Matt Mentzer about Strategic Partners. We need churches in ATL - 404

We are exposed to so much brokenness in the city, we must constantly expose our hearts and minds to beauty."

A life of worship requires growing and reflecting in our knowledge of God.

Simply: Our greatest need in worship is to know God.

Worship is foundational to our lives as Christians.

The more I spend time in the Word and with people the more that I am convinced that spending time speaking of the wonder and greatness of God is worthy of our time.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV 1900)

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

What we do for God’s glory and how we respond to what we learn about God is worship.

It is acknowledging God's presence, expressing our love and devotion to Him and submitting our lives to His Word.

So why do we struggle with worship? We do not struggle with worshipping. We only struggle with our direction.

If we are to come and rightly give God the worship He is due, it is essential that we know Him:

Know His character,

His attributes

Know His acts

His power

Know His promises

His plan of redemption and rescue

Know His commandments, His will—His Word!

Romans 1:21 (KJV 1900)

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:21

When truth is rejected, in time the ability to recognize and to receive truth is impaired (cf. John 3:19–20).

Psalm divided into 2 parts

Wonderful description of God as He has revealed Himself to us in His Word v.1-6

The ramifications of this knowledge upon unbelievers and believers. v.7-12

A wonderful description of God as He has revealed Himself to us in His Word.

Psalm 97:1–6 (KJV 1900)

1 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

3 A fire goeth before him, And burneth up his enemies round about.

4 His lightnings enlightened the world: The earth saw, and trembled.

5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6 The heavens declare his righteousness, And all the people see his glory.

The Lord Reigns

This Psalm answers what was commanded in Psalm 96:10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: The world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: He shall judge the people righteously.

Reign is everywhere and to every generation

Psalm 97:1 (KJV 1900)

1 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

Psalm 146:10 (KJV 1900)

10 The Lord shall reign for ever, Even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.

Worth rejoicing over for all eternity.

Revelation 19:6 (KJV 1900)

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Alleluia - God be praised

Description of our God

Psalm 97:2–3 (KJV 1900)

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

3 A fire goeth before him, And burneth up his enemies round about.

We should think upon the events that the original readers would have thought about

Israel gathered before God at the foot of Mount Sinai where God gave to His people the Ten Commandments

Exodus 19:16–18 (KJV 1900)

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

When all people see the glory of God, how do they respond?

Psalm 97:6 (KJV 1900)

6 The heavens declare his righteousness, And all the people see his glory.

See His glory and declare His righteousness

Some will not respond in worship to God but to self.

Those who are trusting in idols, setting their hope on something other than God—their response will be shame.

Psalm 97:7 (KJV 1900)

7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, That boast themselves of idols: Worship him, all ye gods.

Cat and Dog Theology: A dog says, ‘You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, you must be God.’  A cat says, ‘You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.’

More sophisticated way of saying it. ‘The essence of sin is that man seeks his own in everything, even in God.'”

Nothing can be equal or close to God in the affections of our heart.

Exodus 20:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

We must be careful to guard our own hearts from idols and worship God alone.

Psalm 95:3(KJV 1900)

3 For the Lord is a great God, And a great King above all gods.

What should be our response to our great God.

Psalm 95:6 (KJV 1900)

6 O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

Great value in learning the Romans Road. But this is a wonderful place to start a conversation with unbelievers.

We should help those around us learn the proper response.

Philippians 2:9–10 (KJV 1900)

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Demonstration of the proper response as a Believer

1. We will be glad and rejoice

Psalm 97:8–9 (KJV 1900)

8 Zion heard, and was glad; And the daughters of Judah rejoiced Because of thy judgments, O Lord.

9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods.

In hearing of His judgement we are glad and rejoice

Psalm 97:1 (KJV 1900)

1 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

As we have seen not all Psalms start with praise but they almost always end there

Sometimes those who trouble us rejoice.

Psalm 13:1–4 (KJV 1900)

1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; And those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

But there is a shift when we trust God

Psalm 13:5–6 (KJV 1900)

5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

If our desire is to have worship that honors God and enriches, encourages, and nourishes our souls, our greatest need to stop focusing on ourselves and remember God.

2. We will hate evil

Psalm 97:10 (KJV 1900)

10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Unfortunately, as parents we have seen the effects of prolonged media upon our kids. They cannot enjoy anything else. Thatcher listening to a book with me and me falling asleep.

When we understand truly Who God is, we will love God and hate evil.

A true knowledge of God will stir us to pursue holiness.

One of the ways we are preserved from evil is with by our affections being given to God.

Psalm 97:10–11 (KJV 1900)

10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

11 Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.

Memory of being a teenager and deciding to find gladness in complete surrender. Made my room look like a pastors office / mahogany colored wall paper, clean, sermons on tape. Gladness in a upright heart. Not fleeting happiness by the pursuit of the world.

3. Giving thanks

Psalm 97:12 (KJV 1900)

12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Wanted to race here. Where I see the greatest need in my life. Clearest indicator of a life of worship.

When we understand truly Who God is, we will rejoice and give thanks at every remembrance of His name.

Thankfulness is powerful!

Do you know what’s stronger than lust? Thankfulness.

Genesis 39:8–9 (KJV 1900)

8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

How does this work?

Lust is a form of coveting

Coveting is a form of ingratitude

Thanksgiving is not merely a “nice” Christian character trait. It is a sin-conquering force.

When Paul describes what our being governed by the peace and word of Christ looks like, he doesn’t point to

an absence of problems

amount of hours serving others

list of theology classes completed

amount of money given

He points to thankfulness!

Colossians 3:15–16 (KJV 1900)

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

What does living in the will of God look like?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV 1900

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

What does a life of purity look like?

Ephesians 5:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Conclusion

Our worship will be characterized by joy and humble thanksgiving. The New Testament teaches the same response to God in worship.

1. We will be glad and rejoice

2. We will hate evil

3. Giving thanks

Philippians 4:4–7 (KJV 1900)

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation (gentleness) be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (great reward)