Worshipping and Giving Thanks to God

Last week, we looked at the life of the believer when they are filled with the Spirit. A believer that is walking with the Lord, uses their time wisely, making sure that they are reaching those around them for Christ. This week, we are going to go deeper into what it looks like when we sing to the Lord with our heart. We need to understand that just coming in and singing on Sunday mornings isn’t what this text is talking about. As believers, we should have a worshipful attitude every day. One thing I want to point out this morning, is that our definition of worship and what worship truly is, is two different things. In our culture, we have defined the what happens when we sing on Sunday morning as worship. While singing is definitely an aspect of worship, we look to music as the only means. We also put a burden on the musicians and the person leading the music that is unrealistic. We expect them to usher in the Holy Spirit and if we don’t fill the Spirit, it is because they have done a poor job leading. The truth is that all the person leading the music can do, is to facilitate. If you are not worshipping, it is not their fault or the fault of the music. If it is the style of music that dictates whether or not we worship, we are worshipping the wrong thing. We need to worship the one thing that doesn’t change, God Almighty Himself.

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

· True worship involves both inward and outward expressions.

o Because of who God is, it should cause us to worship.

o God’s creation speaks of His nature.

§ The moon, stars, trees, and etc.

o Luke 19:36 – 40 – “36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

o God doesn’t need us, we need God!

o What we give to God, because He has given to us first.

o 1 Chronicles 29:10-22 – “10 Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. 14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 15 For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. 16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. 18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. 19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.” 20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the Lord and to the king. 21 And they offered sacrifices to the Lord, and on the next day offered burnt offerings to the Lord, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 And they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great gladness.”

o David gave these things willingly, not out of obligation.

o David worshipped God in humility. He recognized that he wouldn’t have anything if it were not for God giving it to him.

o We are to approach God in humility and worship Him willingly.

· True worship begins with the heart.

o You can have the greatest voice that anyone has ever heard, but if it is just a performance, it is in vain.

o Going through the motions does not mean that you are worshipping.

o Worship is not an act.

o There is nothing wrong with being in a routine when it comes to a set time, but let us never reach a point where the only reason we worship God is because it is what we are supposed to do.

o Malachi 1:6-14 – “6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord's table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 13 But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

o It wasn’t that the people weren’t giving offerings, they were giving God what was left over.

o What they were giving God wouldn’t even be acceptable to their governors, yet they gave it to God.

o God takes no pleasure in our worship when it is not from a genuineheart.

o God would rather someone shut the doors on the temple rather than offering being given wrongly and out of routine.

o The people were bored with having to worship God.

o Do we get bored worshipping God?

· True worship does not depend on our circumstances.

o Praise God that He doesn’t change just because something happens in our life.

o We don’t worship God only during the good times.

o Psalm 57:1-11 – “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!”

o Worship is a lifestyle.

o David was able to worship God in the midst of trouble because of who God is, not because of the circumstances.

o When we can’t allow our circumstances to dictate whether or not we worship God.

o Worship doesn’t just take place on Sunday mornings.

o We should worship God each and every day.

We should be so thankful that we serve a God that isn’t limited to worship just one day a week. God is with us and He hears us each and every day. My prayer is that we would humble ourselves before God and worship Him in Spirit and truth. It is so easy to just get into a routine and we end up going through the motions. Let it never be so when it comes to worshipping God. Let us worship Him daily and when we gather on Sundays, let us worship Him together. Don’t allow any excuses to hinder you from worshipping God. God is concerned about a genuine heart and He wants us to give Him our all.