The Joy of Worship (Singing)

The Joy of Worship

Nehemiah 12:27-47

INTRODUCTION

Ill- Some of the best worship times in my life.

Super Summer OK 2003ish - Charlie Hall (Into marvelous light i’m running)

Falls Creek mid 2000’s - Joel Engel up on the hill after worship.

Songs of worship have an emotional impact on our life.

It’s the reason ever generation has different songs that they go back to.

I also go back a little further - My teenage years, Bill Green leading worship Thursday night at Falls Creek, “Saved, Saved, Saved.”

What comes after repentance? Forgiveness leads to worship.

Nehemiah 12:27–31 ESV

27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. 28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; 29 also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall. 31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.

Nehemiah 12:43–47 ESV

43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. 44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. 45 And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

6 Characteristics of Great Worship

1- Holiness (27-30)

Nehemiah 12:30 ESV

30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.

Purified- through ritual. Because of sin.

This happened through sacrifice.

Then they were set apart to be used for a holy purpose.

We have been purified by the blood of the Lamb of God.

Hebrews 10:11–14 ESV

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

We have the privilege to come into the presence of the Almighty God. How can we not worship?

Isaiah 6:1–3 ESV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

The reason for our holiness should cause us to worship.

Not just sing songs.

Worship our Savior.

2- Thankfulness (31-42)

Nehemiah 12:31 ESV

31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.

Nehemiah 12:38 ESV

38 The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall,

2 Choirs with the purpose of giving thanks.

Shows the corporate side of thanksgiving.

Worship flows through a heart of thankfulness.

Count your blessings. Name them one by one.

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Worship can take the weight of life off your shoulders when it is done with thanksgiving.

3- Sacrifice (43)

Nehemiah 12:43 ESV

43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

There was a cost and yet it was joyful.

Pain in the offering.

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name When the sun's shining down on me When the world's "all as it should be" Blessed be You name

And blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name

Worship is more than what happens in a worship service. We must continually sacrifice self for service of him.

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

4- Faithful Leaders (44)

Nehemiah 12:44 ESV

44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered.

Great leaders of worship should be celebrated.

5- Tradition (46)

Nehemiah 12:46 ESV

46 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Rooted in the past but new.

They had not been worshiping like this in 70 years. They didn’t have a way to write music.

Words were same but music was different.

It was grounded on truth because the words are most important.

Music gives emotion, words give it power.

ILL- Use of secular music to teach scriptural truth.

We Gather Together early 1600’s

1 We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;

He chastens and hastens his will to make known;

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.

Sing praises to his name; he forgets not his own.

There has to be a balance between tradition and singing a new song.

Psalm 98:1 ESV

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

God is still working so we still have new things to sing about.

Remember, those who did not grow up in church do not have the same connection to the emotional part of the hymns.

But the new songs must be as grounded in God’s Word as the hymns.

Just because it’s old doesn’t make it good either.

Just give me a mansion over the hill top. — I'm satisfied with just a cottage below, A little silver and a little gold; But in that city where the ransomed will shine, I want a gold one that's silver-lined.

Most self-centered view of heaven ever.

6- Giving (47)

Nehemiah 12:47 ESV

47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

Giving is an act of worship and a way to preserve worship.

Giving is an act of surrender.

Worship is an act of surrender.

If you worship only when you feel like or when you like the songs you have forgotten the purpose of worship.

If it is about what you like, you are only worshiping yourself.

We surrender all our wants and desires and humble ourselves to worship.

Why do we pass a plate during worship? Most people give online or through bill-pay. It is a weekly reminder that giving is part of our worship.

Give the way the works best for you, but remember it is an act of worship. it is surrender.

CONCLUSION

If you can only sing songs, and not worship, it is probably because you have never surrendered yourself to God.

Salvation is surrender. - give up your way and surrender to His will.

Is life about you or about God?

Surrender your life to him.

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.