Worship From the World
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Have you ever been around someone that was so excited about something that it made you excited for the same thing.
Even if it seemed weird and bizarre to you. But when they talk about what they love, you know that it is nothing short of passion.
As a car guy or girl about cars and they will speak for hours about it.
Ask a person who builds model trains and you will learn more than you ever cared to know.
Ask my wife about baking and she will tell you her favorite things.
For some it is stamps. Others it is sports. And let’s not even get into politics.
What would happen if someone asked you about Jesus?
Would you have the same passion to fill the day with your devotion and love for Jesus?
We were made to worship with passion and love for God, but sometimes we have more passion for worldly things that for the One truly worthy of our worship!
Transition to the Text: Turn with me to Psalm 67 where we learn about what true worship of God looks like.
In this Psalm, the Psalmist (which is the name we give for the person who writes Psalms. You might know that David wrote a lot of Psalms and they are noted as a “Psalm of David.”
This Psalm is anonymous, but still gives us a beautiful picture of the power of Worship.
As we read this passage we learn about true worship and it’s response.
Introduce Big Idea: True worship honors God and calls others to join in the celebration.
Introduce Big Idea: True worship honors God and calls others to join in the celebration.
Read:
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Repeat Big Idea: True worship honors God and calls others to join in the celebration.
Repeat Big Idea: True worship honors God and calls others to join in the celebration.
But before we get moving on our worship we have to get one thing straight.
Main Point #1 - Our Praise is to God for His purpose. (Psalm 67:1-2)
Main Point #1 - Our Praise is to God for His purpose. (Psalm 67:1-2)
Explanation: The Psalmist begins this Psalm with a plea for God’s grace and mercy to be revealed in the worship of His people. It is an acknowledgement that what we do is all for God. And it would be really pointless, if this worship that we bring didn’t magnify God above all else including ourselves. And then, in magnifying God, our hope and prayer is that He, in grace will respond to the worshippers.
In the Bible, the idea of God “being gracious” is closely tied to forgiveness of the sin that separates people from God. We are saved by grace through faith so that God would accept our worship is an act of grace.
This idea of asking God to “Make His face shine upon us,” is part of the Aaronic blessing.
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
The worshipper certainly desires forgiveness, but the worship isn’t about appeasing a wrathful God, but our worship hopes to recognize the personal relationship that we have with God through our worshiop. Yes, we want to please God, but we also wants to feel the presence of God in our assembly.
Then in verse 2, the Psalmist gives one more reason that we want God’s blessing; so that others might join in as well.
2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
The way in which God interacts with his people tells the world about His grace and mercy and goodness. Our worship should call others to join in that they too might come and have a relationship with God.
Illustration: Let me be the first to say, I’m sad that we can’t gather together as the North Hills family in our worship center space. But at the same time, I can’t help but appreciate the opportunity we have to share our worship with the World. If you were to come to North Hills on a Sunday Morning outside of a worldwide pandemic, our worship would be much different than what you see here. This is actually one of the reasons we’ve chosen to record in our regular worship space (even though I’ve read article after article saying we shouldn’t).
Even though we’re online, we still have a single minded focus to worship the God of the Universe. And our prayer is still that “He would be gracious to us and make His face shine upon us.”
But also, we want the world to see our worship and through that worship see the One who is worthy of our worship and be invited to join in. Whether you are in Vallejo. I know I have some family in Maryland and Delaware joining in. But maybe from the ends of the earth as well.
We want God’s way to be known in all the earth, His saving power among all the nations.
Application: And this really begs the questions, why do we do what we do when we come together to worship God? Is it for us? What we like? Is it because we like the music or we like the pastor’s preaching? how does our worship magnify God and call people to worship Him?
How does our worship show the way of our God on the earth and His salvation among the nations? Hopefully it does.
How do we as individuals and as a church display the glory of God in our worship?
Main Point #2 - People praise from an overflow of joy and gladness (Psalm 67:3-5).
Main Point #2 - People praise from an overflow of joy and gladness (Psalm 67:3-5).
Explanation: Now we have 3 stanzas beginning with “Let”
“Let the peoples praise you”....and in case you were wondering, the Psalmist clarifies, “Let all the people’s praise you!”
“Let the nations be glad and sing for joy” because God is a just judge and an able guide
ant then he repeats vs 3, “Let the peoples praise you”....and in case you were wondering, the Psalmist clarifies, “Let all the people’s praise you!”
You might be tempted to think “Let” is asking God’s permission. That’s not what’s happening. “Let” is a soft command, somewhere between a strong suggestion and an outright “Thou shalt” command.
But this shows that to worship God is open to all who hear. But these stanzas speak to something even greater. We don’t worship out of obligation or even to get something from God.
We praise and sing because we’re full of joy. I mean we should be full of joy. Knowing what Jesus has done for us.
In spite of our sin, Jesus died for us because He loves us.
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
There is joy in Jesus that the Psalm could only dream of. And it was proclaimed to Shepherds:
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
and the Apostle John echos this in:
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Jesus’ sacrifice is one that brings great joy because it is the answer to the Psalmist’ plea for grace and mercy and yes even that God would make His face shine upon us. Never did His face shine brighter than in the face of Jesus.
Illustration: What makes you happy? What makes you sing for joy? For me it’s the delivery person bringing a new package. A book I’ve been waiting to read or this last week, we had water filter’s for our refrigerators delivered. Every day the delivery person shows up, it’s like Christmas. These are the things they don’t tell you about how awesome it is to be an adult.
But do we have the same excitement and joy for our worship to the God who saved us through Jesus?
When we wake up are we excited for the day? Do we praise Him in reading His word and prayer. Do we praise Him in song? When we get in the car, do we turn on some Christian music, or do we listen to the news…which sadly doesn’t often produce praise. (Not that there is anything wrong with staying on top of current events, but balance is key).
Application:There is nothing that should bring more joy to our lives and evoke more worship than knowing what God has done for us.
Don’t be a “What has God done for me lately?” kinda Christian. The greatest act of love was Jesus’ sacrifice.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Main Point #3 - God Will Respond (Psalm 67:6-7).
Main Point #3 - God Will Respond (Psalm 67:6-7).
Explanation: Up until this point, the emphasis has been on the worshippers leading up to a great climax asking the question, what will God do? Will He accept this worship. Will He be gracious? Will He make His face shine upon us? Will the nations worship? Will His saving power be made known among all the nations?
We are left in somewhat of suspense as to if God will respond to His people. Knowing that from the end of the events Old Testament to the beginning of the events of the New Testament, there was 400 years of silence. God is always at work, but the questions then was, Would He respond and how would He respond?
I’m so glad we don’t have to wait very long for God’s response.
The Psalmist seems to hit this crescendo in vs. 6 seeming to shot with joy! YES YES! God has responded!
6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
So yes, that thing about the God’s saving power being made known among the nations? Yep, the earth has yielded it’s increase! This reminds us of agricultural language that Jesus plays into speaking of the Harvesting of God’s people from the nations. Yes, there will be a harvest from ever tongue tribe and nation.
And yes, God will bless us so that His name will continue to be made great among the nations. Yes God will respond with blessing.
Now, you might feel like vs 7 takes a left turn at the end. We were talking about praising and singing and joy and blessing....now we’re talking about fearing God.
Again, we have a phrase that begins with Let...
Let all the ends of the earth fear Him!
While there is a degree that we should fear God and the consequences of our sin, that’s not what is being depicted here. The context suggests that in God’s accomplished work among His people, the continued response is awe inspired reverence. The king has responded and we rightfully hold Him in the high esteem due His majesty.
So no, He’s not your buddy, He’s your Lord and Savior. That means something.
But more than that the fear of god means that the ends of the earth will hold God and His word in reverence, which is a disposition of true faith (ESV Study Bible).
Illustration: The only thing I can think to even compare this to is people waiting outside an event for a rockstar to show their face. And when they do, people scream and shout and even faint. Just to be in their precense. And Yes, this is a comparison that fails mightily when we think of the God of the universe. but just imagine if that God of the universe jumped over the barrier found you and threw His arms around you. That’s who our God is.
Application: This whole Psalm has been building to the response of God. While we know that God is always here and He doesn’t “Show up.” There is a very real sense in that God makes His presence felt and known. Perhaps you have felt it in the midst of worship. (I call it the funny feels). And while our worship shouldn’t be dependent upon Him making His presence known (make His face shine upon us), it’s amazing when He does. (In fact it would be dangerous for us to measure our worship by our feelings.) We must worship even when we don’t feel like it.
But someday our faith will become sight and we will see Jesus in His return and our worship will be perfected. Even all the nations will recognize that He is God.
Even the Jews:
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
And this praise and worship will come from all nations!
Summation: Our worship leads to God’s response when our hearts are right.
Our praise is to God for His Purpose. It’s not about you and what you get.
True praise come from an overflow of joy and praise.
God responds to the true worshipper.
Response: How has your worship been this week?
Response: How has your worship been this week?
COVID-19 - Challenge:
Spend time in personal worship this week. Read a Psalm a day. Spend some time singing along to your favorite Christian songs. Worship through listening to good preaching.
And for now, invite your family into that time. Later on, perhaps we can invite others in our personal worship.
And of course, continue to invite people to join you in worshipping online.
Conclusion:
What are we as Christians called to do? Simply come so that we can be forgiven and not spend eternity in Hell?
Well that is certainly part of it, but if that’s your motivation, you fall way short of what God is truly offering.
God is offering Himself and His presence truly for us to enjoy the relationship that we have with Him.
I love the first question in the Westminster Catechism.
The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition The Larger Catechism
Quest. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
Ans. Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him for ever.b
While there is reverence and awe with respect to God, there is nothing more amazing than knowing that God is offering a personal, never ending relationship with Him. But so many people miss this amazing truth!
There is a story in the Bible where Jesus is explaining the true way to worship.
Jesus got into a discussion about the proper way to worship God. And really it came down the who is excluded from worshipping God. She was a Samaritan and by Jewish law, the Samaritan's were excluded from worshipping God.
And in a sense, her question, is “Am I excluded?” While she is off base in her theology, because at that time, the only way to worship God properly was through the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus comforts Her in saying that this is changing.
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”
26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
God responds to the true worshipper who worships in Spirit and in Truth.
Spirit in that it is a personal relationship with God.
And truth, in the way that God has commanded....not how we feel.
And when the world sees our worship, it should draw in those who see us that they may be included in Spirit and in Truth!
Have you been drawn into the worship of God through our online services here at North Hills? We’d love to hear from you, please fill out our online connection card in the video description. We’d love to pray for you and help you as you begin your journey following Jesus.
Let’s pray.