Church is Essential

Psalm 22:22–31 KJV 1900

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; All ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; And fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither hath he hid his face from him; But when he cried unto him, he heard. My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: They shall praise the Lord that seek him: Your heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord’s: And he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: And none can keep alive his own soul. A seed shall serve him; It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness Unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker

A Local Minister is driving down the road and becomes distracted, as he looks up, he discovers he has drifted into the opposing lane of traffic. He swerves to get back in the right lane and loses control of his car and ends up in a ditch. A man following a short distance behind him stops to see if he is okay. The minister says, “Oh I am fine, The angel of the Lord is with me.” To which the man replies, “You better let him ride with me, Your about to kill him.”

Introduction

Ever since the world went on COVID-19 lock-down in March of 2020 and stay-at-home orders were issued, the terms “essential” and “non-essential” have loomed large in our discourse. Businesses and services deemed “essential” were kept open: supermarkets, hardware stores, gas stations, pet stores, laundromats, and so forth. Many others, deemed “non-essential,” were ordered closed until further notice: gyms, movie theaters, casinos, retail stores, sports stadiums, and concert venues. Churches fell in this latter category.

Churches continue to suffer from this non-essential mentality. But this mentality is not the product of COVID or the government lock-downs. It is a mentality that either actively or inactively has permeated the minds of many. Every day I meet people who say, “I can be a good Christian and not go to church.”

We gave congregation members a Christmas Present, this book “Rediscover Church” and on Wednesday Night we are using it as the basis of our Bible Study. In my message this morning we will look at a passage of Scripture that explores the essential nature of church and conclude with a Biblical promise regarding worship.

Psalm 22, 23 and 24 are Messianic Psalms. Psalm 22 presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd, Psalm 23 presents Jesus as the Great Shepherd and Psalm 24 presents Jesus as the Chief Shepherd. Today we will look at Psalm 22.

Almost 1000 years before the Crucifixion of Jesus, David in Psalm 22 writes what the authors of the four gospels and and the book of Hebrews recognize as Prophetic of Good Friday. At least 6 prophecies are contained in this Psalm that were fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus. Here are two for example.

Psalm 22:16 KJV 1900

For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet.

Verse 16 speaks of his being nailed to the cross.

Psalm 22:18 KJV 1900

They part my garments among them, And cast lots upon my vesture.

Verse 18 includes the details found in John 19:24

John 19:24 KJV 1900

They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Psalm 22 is a Psalm of Lament, but unlike most Lament Psalm it takes a shift in tone in verses 22-31. It is in this part of the Psalm that we will focus this morning. The Psalm turns its focus from Lament to Praise. It is here that we find an argument for the Essential nature of church. I believe that a church that is essential will be characterized by 3 distinct identifying factors found in our passage. Lets look at them together.

Body

A Church that is Essential is a Proclaiming Church

Psalm 22:22 KJV 1900

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

We begin by proclaiming Christ in the Church. It is not just the Pastor who proclaims Christ death, burial and resurrection. But it is each one of you. As you sing the hymns, as you give the offering, as you listen to the sermon, as you respond to the invitation you are proclaiming Jesus to others.

Colossians 1:28 KJV 1900

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Iron sharpens Iron the scripture says and we sharpen each other as we gather in worship and fellowship. We become better by this process. Jesus was our example he came to worship at the synagogue, as was his habit. Look at the scripture he quoted Luke, it is found in Isa 61.

Isaiah 61:1 KJV 1900

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

The disciples followed his example and the New Testament Church did what we must do today.

Acts 5:42 (KJV 1900)

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

II. A Church that is Essential is a Praising Church

Psalm 22:22 KJV 1900

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

Psalm 22:25 KJV 1900

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

Psalm 22:26 KJV 1900

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: They shall praise the Lord that seek him: Your heart shall live for ever.

Following this example the New Testament Church offers the Sacrifice of Praise

Hebrews 13:15 KJV 1900

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.

Because of who we are we have every reason to praise God! 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9 KJV 1900

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

III. A Church that is Essential is a Participating Church

Psalm 22:25–31 KJV 1900

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: They shall praise the Lord that seek him: Your heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord’s: And he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: And none can keep alive his own soul. A seed shall serve him; It shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness Unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

The Essential Church participates by

Giving - 1 Corinthians 16:1

1 Corinthians 16:1 KJV 1900

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV 1900

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:26 KJV 1900

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

Greek = Katagello ( Means to Proclaim or Preach)

Serve -

Romans 14:18 KJV 1900

For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Declare -

1 John 1:3 KJV 1900

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Ever since the world went on COVID-19 lock-down in March of 2020 and stay-at-home orders were issued, the terms “essential” and “non-essential” have loomed large in our discourse.

Psalm 22 is a cornerstone chapter on Worship. As we have seen it begins with a lament pointing at the crucifixion of Jesus and ends with Praise and Worship. Our worship provides a place of meeting with God - a place for us to encounter His very presence and embrace His invitation to join Him in His work. Look at the Promise of God in Psalm 22:3

Psalm 22:3 (KJV 1900)

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Holy - Sacred, set apart, spiritually pure, deserving deep respect and awe

Inhabit - to live in.

Enthroned - place on a throne and exalted.

Our God does indeed deserve our deep respect, awe and worship. And he has promised His holy presence as we worship. Simply put, our worship expression creates a place for us to encounter and experience God.

Are you experiencing God in your worship? Will you enter in today? If so you will receive God’s Promise he will inhabit your worship and church will be essential to you.

Let us pray. Dear Father, thank you for loving us. for making a way for us to know You. God open our eyes so we can see your greatness. Give us hunger for Your Word and a desire to give you our worship as long as we live. In Jesus Name, Amen.