Glad to be in Church

I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord

How did you come to church today? Before you respond with a quick, "In a car" or "I drove" or something like that, I'd like you to think about that question on a little deeper level.

Going to church is something we do about three times a week. Most of you like me have gone most of your life to church.

Tony Payne wrote recently in a book titled, "How Do You Walk Into Church"

I suppose it must have happened upwards of 2000 times by now.

I exit the car, usually with a wife and various kids in tow, and amble in the front door, tossing off a quick greeting to whomever is handing out the folded sheets of paper that in church-speak are called ‘bulletins’.

After a quick scan of the seating situation—who has already parked themselves where, who I might want to avoid and so on—I choose a spot not too near the front and sidle into the chosen row, smiling feebly at the person sitting on the other side of the seat that I’ve politely left vacant between us.

And there it is. I’ve walked into church.

Not exactly a taxing or impressive feat, …

But things are rarely as simple as they seem.

No, things are rarely that simple. Many of the mundane and repetitive tasks that fill our lives have outsized importance: Walking into your home at the end of a long day’s work, saying goodnight to your children, participating in family devotions—these are little things but significant things, just like walking into church. After all,

How you walk into church will be determined by what you think church is, and what you think you’re doing there.

If you think church is a bit like going to the movies, you might walk in expecting to be entertained or inspired.

If you think church is an opportunity for personal devotion and worship, you’ll probably walk in not wanting to interact too much with anyone else.

If you think church is something you have to do in order to ‘do the right thing’ or stay on God’s good side, you’ll walk in with a determination to do what needs to be done (and then leave as soon as possible).

This Psalm of David is a Pilgrim Song probably to be sung as the people of Israel walked into Jerusalem from their long journey to gather together for one of their holy feasts. Can you imagine it taking days or weeks to get to church and then getting there and say you were glad when you heard it was time to go to the house of the Lord?

Sometimes its hard for us to go the fifteen or twenty minutes to church and feel glad about it. Now my intent this morning is not to scold or guilt. I want to challenge us, God is here we often sense God's presence in our services. But I as your pastor know that there is so much more God wants to do for us. Our attitude and actions prior to and upon coming into the house of the Lord can affect not only our worship, but the worship of others.

This Psalm tells us that David was glad, happy, excited, enthusiastic, joyful when they told him it was time to go to the house of the Lord.

Now I know we don't go by feelings but I want to ask us this morning, how did you feel when you knew it was church time?

Now David knew how to worship God. He knew what it was to win a victory by God's power and see the enemy flee away. He knew what it was to have Goliath fall at his feet. He knew what it was to have to go somewhere else to visit the Ark of the Covenant. He knew what it was to bring God's presence back. He knew what it was for the instruments to play, and God's presence to be so near. No wonder he would write something like this.

He knew when he went to church or the house of the Lord that there would be a few things;

Worship - Worship is so important in our walk with God and our attendance at church. Did you know there are right ways and wrong ways to worship?

There were severe consequences of false worship.

Cain’s sacrifice was rejected by God because it was false worship (Genesis 4:5). Three thousand people died in one day because of the false worship of the golden calf fashioned by Aaron (Exodus 32). The kingdom of Israel was divided because of the idolatry and false worship of the nation (1 Kings 11:31-33). The fall of Jerusalem was directly attributable to the apostasy and false worship of the nation (Jeremiah 1:16; 16:11; 22:9). Misdirected worship was the cause of untold hardship and suffering in the Old Testament. In the first chapter of Romans, Paul wrote that God was justified in condemning man because he worshiped in error: For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen (Romans 1:25). Satan fell from heaven because he sought worship for himself rather than submission to his Creator. Satan today seeks those who will worship and serve him (cf. Matt. 4:9). The Bible indicates there are some rules to worship and while we may not suffer so much in our focus of worship, sometimes we suffer from sloppy worship. David was glad to go to church because he knew there would be wonderful worship.

Song leader had prayed and sought God for the songs to sing in order to lift the service

It is said of Lucas Shrout as the music teacher for Penn View Bible School that he told those "preacher boys" that he as the music director, worship leader or song leader could make or break their service.

Special singer came prepared and ready to sing the glory down (Often no doubt David was the one.) Heart was lifted by the words of music and song Testifiers lifted up Christ and what he had done for them or others Prayer was going to be uplifting and answerable. (Some prayers are spoken in vain because they aren't even answerable - James talks about this, they ask for their own lust or they ask amiss)

Sometimes prayer time is more about health reports than actual prayer - Sometime I may spend more time on it, but not one time in the Lord's Prayer is health mentioned, have you ever thought about that? It is never wrong to pray about your health or someone's health or healing as Jesus healed, but prayer should be worshipful not wish list giving!!! If you look at Old Testament worship is was not slap happy, thrown together spontaneous worship. I know God works and I've seen God work in the spur of the moment, but I've far more often seen Him work in the thought about, prayed about, planned out worship. The person who got alone with God and found God's will for their part in the service. Brother Cravens at Heart for the Shepherd Seminar said at their church they have a policy, every participant in the service is to lift the service higher than the last person. Wow if everyone did that and tried to do that willingly and joyfully as David said church might be a different story. There is no need for church to be a drudgery, humdrum, dull thing. We are worshipping the God of the Ages. We are celebrating the atoning work of Jesus Christ, the salvation from Sin, so much to worship and so little time to express it.

Encouragement

The people came not just to get but to give (It was a safe place, one could share their struggles and problems and not worry about being judged they knew they were loved) The minister had a WORD from God (This is so important and a huge responsibility on my shoulders. Fellowship

They came in unity and expressed love for each one there They left refreshed and glad they had come to church I've been in some churches that felt more like a social club than a gathering of believers, I'm thankful God has blessed us with people here who are not like that. We are more like family, the family of God

How did you walk into church this morning? No matter how you came, we are all human and will all have those days, but my prayer this morning is that you will leave, glad that you came, with an expectation to come back, because God has met us here.

Let us stand this morning….

I don't know about you but…

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God. You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here, It's because we're a family and these are so near; When one has a heartache, we all share the tears, And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear. I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God. From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King, No longer an outcast, a new song I sing; From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong, I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong! I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God

Clipped from: http://www.hymnlyrics.org/newlyrics_f/family_of_god.php