sf967 - Worship - You Were Created For Gods Pleasure (Psalm 149 1-5)
Psalm 149:1-5
Introduction
God has created all things for His pleasure.
Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."
God has saved us according to His good pleasure.
Ephesians 1:5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will
God works in us to do His good pleasure
Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
God takes pleasure in His people (149:4)
God did not need to create you, but He chose to create you for His own enjoyment. You exist for His benefit, His glory, His purpose, and His delight.
Bringing enjoyment to God, living for His pleasure, is the first purpose of life. (Warren, 63)
1A. The Essence of Genuine Worship
1B. Worship is all about God!
God is both the object and subject of our worship. Worship is all about God. Therefore, His glory is to be the primary goal of our worship.
Bringing pleasure to God is the essence of genuine worship!
Psalm 147:11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.
2B. Worship is more than music
Every part of a church service is an act of worship.
Ø Scripture reading, prayer, singing, confession, preaching, commitment, the ordinances, are all acts of worship.
Worship predates music
Ø Music is not mentioned in the Bible until Jubal in Genesis 4:21
Ø Adam worshipped God before that.
The is no biblical musical style
Ø God created all music
Ø There is no such thing as Christian music; there are only Christian lyrics.
Ø Your preference in music says more about you than about God.
3B. Worship is not for your benefit
Our goal in worship is to bring pleasure and glory to God not ourselves.
Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the LORD said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
Isaiah 29:13 (NIV) The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
4B. Worship involves every part of your life
Worship is not limited to one hour on Sunday mornings.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
How can we worship Him everyday?
Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
“Work becomes worship when you dedicate it to God and perform it with an awareness of His presence.” (Warren, 67)
2A. The Exercise of Genuine Worship
Hebrews 12:28 (NIV) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe
1B. Genuine worship is doctrinal
John 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
To worship in truth means to worship the God revealed in the Bible, not the God or our own making!
Mechanics, forms, and styles have their place, but the substance of worship must be centered on God--the biblical God. (Tom Ascol)
2B. Genuine worship is emotional – All your heart and soul
To worship in spirit refers not to the Holy Spirit but to man’s spirit!
Ø It is your spirit responding to God’s Spirit!
You are to love God with all your heart and soul
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
Ø The best style of worship is the one that most authentically represents your love for God.
3B. Genuine worship is thoughtful – All your mind
Mindless worship is meaningless worship.
Be specific and purposeful in your worship, avoid just repeating words – vain repetitions.
4B. Genuine worship is practical – it costs!
2 Samuel 24:24 Then the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
Worship will cost you, everything!
Romans 12:1 (NKJ) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.
You cannot exalt God and yourself at the same time! (Warren, 105)
Application
Whom are you worshipping?
Who is the object and subject of your worship?
Who do you strive to please in worship?
Who receives the glory in your worship?
Psalm 149:1-5
1A. The ___________________ of Genuine Worship
1B. Worship is all about _____________________!
Bringing pleasure to God is the essence of genuine worship!
Psalm 147:11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.
2B. Worship is more than _______________________
Every part of a church service is an act of worship.
Worship predates music
Ø Music is not mentioned in the Bible until Jubal in Genesis 4:21
The is no biblical musical style
3B. Worship is not for ____________________ benefit (Isaiah 29:13)
4B. Worship involves every part of your ___________
Worship is not limited to one hour on Sunday mornings.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
How can we worship Him everyday?
Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
2A. The Exercise of Genuine Worship (Hebrews 12:28)
1B. Genuine worship is _________________________
John 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
To worship in truth means to worship the God revealed in the Bible, not the God or our own making!
2B. Genuine worship is _________________________ - All your heart and soul
To worship in spirit refers not to the Holy Spirit but to man’s spirit!
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
3B. Genuine worship is _________________________ – All your mind
Mindless worship is meaningless worship.
4B. Genuine worship is _________________________ – it costs!
2 Samuel 24:24 Then the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
Worship will cost you, everything! (Romans 12:1)