Let’s Have A Praise Explosion
Psalm 100:1-5
Introduction
The story is told of two farmers. One was a pessimist, the other an optimist. The optimist would say, "Wonderful sunshine." The pessimist would respond, "Yes, but I’m afraid it’s going to scorch the crops."
The optimist would say, "Fine rain." The pessimist would respond, "Yes, but I’m afraid we’re going to have a flood."
One day the optimist said to the pessimist, "Have you seen my new bird dog? He’s the finest money can buy." The pessimist said, "You mean that mutt I saw penned up behind your house? Didn’t look like much to me."
The two went hunting with the dog the next day. They shot some ducks. The ducks landed in the pond. The optimist ordered his dog to get the ducks. The dog obediently responded and instead of swimming in the water the dog walked on top of the water, retrieved the ducks, and walked back on top of the water with the ducks.
The optimist turned to his friend and said, "Now, what do you think of that?" The pessimist replied, "Hmm, he can’t swim, can he?"
Thanksgiving reminds us to choose a life of giving praise and thanksgiving to God. The Apostle Paul gives this instruction in I Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
** Truly Thankful Hearts Automatically Break Out In Praise
- When your heart is filled with thanks – you will worship and praise God.
I. The Foundation Of Worship
Vs. 3
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. (Ps. 100:3)
* People Come To Church Looking For What’s In It For Them
- can cater to that – but thinking is all wrong.
- It’s Not About What We Get – But What We Bring
* It Is God Focus – Not Us focus
"It’s All About Him" –Object of Worship Is God Himself
* Worship Is About Bringing God His Worth.
** When I Consider Who God Is - Leads Me to Worship
1. He Is My God
* Know - Acknowledge
- Acknowledge that the Lord is God
_ He Is God And We Are Not
* Object Of Our Worship – Sovereign God Of The Universe
– Worthy of Worship
2. He Is My Master
* Because He is God — He is The Master - I am the slave.
* Sovereign Lordship.-
– Worship - involves bowing our knee to His Lordship
* Living Under His Lordship = Worship
– Go to church all you want and sing all hymns and choruses you want
- If not living under His Lordship – you are not worshipping
3. He Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23
- He cares for you – watches over you - fends for you
- provides for you - guides you - picks you up when you fall
He Is My Shepherd
Illustrate: - Thanksgiving '74 - Alone at Alloway Hall.
- Eating Baloney Sandwich. "It’s Just Me And You, God."
Illustrate: Point of Grace Song
When the going gets tough
When the ride's too rough
When you’re just not sure enough
Jesus will still be there
His love will never change
Sure as the steady rain
Jesus will still be there
When no one else is true
He'll still be loving you
When it looks like you’ve lost it all
And you haven’t got a prayer
Jesus will still be there
* When all others fail you – when everyone else is gone - He’ll still be there
- The Shepherd will never abandon His sheep.
II. The Gratitude Of Worship
Vs. 5
For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations. (Ps. 100:5)
* Worship flows out of Gratitude.
* We Have Much To Be Thankful For
- Vs. 5 helps us understand why our hearts can be filled with thanksgiving and explode into worship.
1. He Is Good
- One of Satan’s Strategies – get us to question God’s goodness
- Unless settle fact God is Good – you’ll whine through the tough times
– You’ll never have a Thankful Heart and therefore never truly worship.
– Worship flows out of Thanksgiving.
* Our God Is Good
2. He Is Merciful
- When you fail – feel unworthy – He is Merciful
* Devil Beats Up On You
World Beats Up On You
But God Shows Mercy
Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning ;
Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
3. He Is Faithful
For the LORD is good, and His love is eternal;
His faithfulness endures through all generations. (HCSB)
* God Is Faithful To His Word - Word Is Truth
* Love and faithfulness of many - often conditional
- God absolutely faithful to His Word
- In age of rapid change - subjective opinion - changing values.
— God’s Word is Dependable Foundation – Give Him Thanks
* God’s Character Is Faithfulness
If we are faithless , He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim. 2:13)
* No Matter What – He Will Be Faithful
** Wonder – "God, when the chips are down – when I really need you. Are you going to be there?"
Illustrate: Aug. 1992 Barcelona Olympics in Spain. Derek Redman of Great Britain off to a good start in the 400-metre race. Running in race of his life. The finish line was in sight and he strained with all he had to reach it first.
- Suddenly - felt stab of pain in right leg. – Fell face first on the track with torn hamstring.
- race over for Derek as all runners passed him. But he determined to finish.
- Hopping forward - tears streamed down his face.
- Suddenly - man broke through security onto the track. It was Derek’s father. (Show Slide) Derek buried his head in his father’s shoulder and they limped together toward the finish line.
– Then in the crowd - one by one the crowd began to rise to their feet - they began to cheer and to cry as they watched Derek and his faithful father cross the finish line together.
* When you fall down in the race of life, your Heavenly Father rises from the grandstand of heaven – breaks through the crowd, comes to your side, puts His loving arms around you and carries you across the finish line because He is Faithful till every last one of His children crosses the finish line.
* Your God is Faithful - You have Reason to be thankful - to explode in Worship
III. The Heart Of Worship
Vs. 4
1. It’s Public
Gates = gates of city and gates of Temple
* Right to Praise God and Be Thankful in Our Public Lives.
- Do people know to whom we belong.
- Do our lives reflect thanks and praise to our God
- Do we exude praise and thankfulness to others?
* We Demonstrate Thanksgiving and Truly Worship When It Is Demonstrated In Daily Life.
- If Christ is not displayed in our lives, if our faith does not make you different from the unbelievers around you - Something is Wrong.
* We Worship God When Christ Makes A Difference In Our Public Lives.
2. It’s Personal
* Genuine and Affectionate. - Not just mental assent - or doctrine.
* Real Worship Comes From The Heart Of Those Who Have Heartfelt Affection and Thanksgiving toward God.
3. It’s Privileged
- From the Gates - To The Courts – To The Very Presence Of God
* Genuine Thanksgiving Takes Us Into The Very Presence Of God.
- Privileged place for those with Thankful Hearts - many never get there
- Can’t be there without Thankful Heart.
* If You Know God And Experience His Presence and Your Heart Is Filled With Thanksgiving, You Can’t Not Worship.
* Worship Is The Overflow Of What’s In Your Heart
IV. The Expression Of Worship
Vs 1-2
1. Shout
Make a Joyful shout - noise (KJV)
lit. "to shout in triumph" or "to applaud."
* As a celebrity or president is cheered at his appearing
-- so we should cheer for our God.
* SPORTS FANS UNDERSTAND
- excitement builds as the fans await the team to take the field.
- When the players appear, the fans shout and cheer
** GET ALL EXCITED – Thankful Heart Explodes Into Worship
* Praise God - When I got up this morning, God was there on the side of bed waiting for me.
- there all day long. In every situation - God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was there
* I can shout for joy - make joyful noise.
- what has happened to the Christian’s joy?
*Joy is Natural Outflow Of A Thankful Heart - explodes into Worship - Shouts of Joy
2. Serve
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. (Worship) (Rom. 12:1)
* Service Is The Worship Expression Of A Thankful Heart
*Your Service Is Worship
- Hear King’s Kid verse – Take A Cup of Cold Water – Clean Out The Pew Racks
- Play the Piano – Cook An Alpha Meal ---- You Are Worshipping God
3. Sing
* Emotional Response to God
** Music Doesn’t Create Worship
- Worship Comes From The Heart and is expressed in Song
Conclusion
* A Thankful Heart - Leads To A Worshipping Spirit.
- without it you can’t truly worship
* Thankfulness - Leads To Worship
* Looking all week for something that would illustrate how Thankfulness Explodes In To Genuine Worship.
– 2 Women Associated with our church – Had problem with Contractor who did their kitchen floor. One of them contacted Mike Holmes of the TV show "Holmes on Homes" He actually came and re-did their entire Kitchen. – Let’s take a look at their expression when they finally got to see the final product. (SEE VIDEO CLIP) – Brief Closing Comments and Sing.
