THANKSGIVING – IT’S AN ACT OF WORSHIP PSALM 116: 12- 14
We must understand that, as the people of God, personal and corporate thanksgiving and praise are as much a part of worship as anything else that we might identify as a worship expression. What then is worship? The answer all depends upon the object of our worship. In essence, worship means, “ascribing to someone or to something the exclusive supremacy of our commitment, love, passion and life.”
I’ve known people to make that kind of a “life commitment” to other people, money, material things, themselves and I’ve also witnessed those who have made that same commitment to God. It is easy to say, “God is first in my life” but it requires a very different set of dynamics to “live that way”.
How do we worship God? Some will tell you that it is through music, song, prayer and meditation. Others will be equally vocal that worship of God involves the raising of hands, tears, laughter and an ecstatic expression on one’s face.
- True worship of God is expressed by the measure of the depth of our relationship with God.
Worship is not about our practices and habits. It is not about music and emotion – worship of God is first and foremost
- a renewal, a revival, a surrender of a transformed people who exist for one purpose only and that is
- to bring glory to God!
We were created to bring glory and honor to God. REVELATION 4: 11
A.W. Tozer declared that “worship is the missing jewel in the
- The Psalmist encourages us to worship – PSALM 95: 6
- Jesus commands us to worship MATTHEW 4: 10b
You see genuine worship and praise in any Church rises or falls depending upon our attitude toward and our relationship with God because these things always reflect in our character and habits.
What do we talk about when we get together with other Christians? When we are with friends who are not committed believers, do we steer the conversation toward our first love? What is our first love?
Let’s catch the passion in PSALM 34: 2 – 4
Magnify – KJV or glorify NIV isn’t an attempt to make God big – He is already big and glorious but what it means is “take Him seriously –
- “take His Word seriously - live to please Him – speak to honor Him.
- “let His greatness and love and holiness overwhelm our lives until we live and walk in awe of His holy presence.”
Please play close attention.
- If I am not worshipping God before I come into the Church, the chances are slim that I will begin to worship when I begin to sing songs that I may or may not even like!
- You see - worship is a lifestyle – adoration – praise – submission – honor – it is all a lifestyle.
- Worship isn’t something that can be turned on and off with a guitar or a keyboard
Someone once wrote, “I think that some people have developed a spiritual addiction to feelings - a touchy, feely religious experience.” They continued by highlighting some of the things that I have observed over the years.
- Whose sermons make them feel better?
- Whose “worship music” blesses their soul?
- What instruments are necessary into order to sing P& W songs?
- What order of service must we have and on it goes, ad nauseum.
I am have become virtually convinced that God is not as concerned over “WOW” worship music as people are. He is not impressed by anything that we do. He longs to have His people truly return His love – that’s worship!
I have been in many services both in this and my former Church when during the music I would pray, “God, it’s not coming together. We’re missing it. Please God come in and disrupt what is happening by Your presence.” And all along I felt that prayer was a prayer that God would honor, but in reality God was saying to me, “Laurie you don’t need this and you don’t need that and you don’t need emotion to come from outside stimuli
- “I am here – acknowledge My presence
- “bow before Me – submit to me
- “tell Me that you love Me – show Me that you love Me
- “let Me do what I want – as I want
- “worship Me in spirit and in truth” JOHN 4: 23
It may shock you, but bear with me for a moment - God does not need us - He can do very well without us! He is holy and non-dependent upon anyone or anything!
- He is God and He doesn’t need our praise and worship to make Him feel better.
- Yes, He enjoys it – He even asks for it – He longs to see and hear His redeemed children expressing their love to Him but don’t think for a moment that He can’t make it if His children don’t worship Him.
- Catch this, however. LUKE 19: 39, 40
Our relationship with God during the days of the week will unquestionably determine the quality of our worship on Sunday. I’ve been on both sides of the door.
- Days when I have not walked as closely as I should have.
- Days when I have walked in close fellowship with God and I didn’t have to come to Church to be “led in worship” - I entered the door with God’s presence rich and full on my life.
Centuries ago, Elijah met the prophets of Baal on
Elijah faced the prophets of Baal without a doubt or a question. He had been walking so closely with God in those days prior to his showdown with the prophets of Baal that he was in instant communication with God.
- Elijah’s daily life prepared him to meet with God in spectacular settings – settings in which God was worshiped and honored.
The Psalmist from experience wrote. PSALM 66: 18
Emotion can be worked up but real worship of God cannot be experienced if our lives are not in a right relationship with Him. When we corporately gather in the Church and if we sincerely have come to meet with God we will not permit anything to side-track us.
When we come together as the Body of Christ to meet with God then something is going to happen.
- Some people are hand raisers – others weepers
- still others like to shout HALLELUJAH.
- When we come into personal, daily contact with God, we are changed – motivated – humbled.
When we daily meet with God, our lives will be consumed with Him and we will live in, walk in, and breathe in a spirit of worship and of adoration and obedience!
When it came his turn to prove the validity of his God, Elijah commanded that 12 jugs of water be poured over the sacrifice, the wood and the altar – so much was poured on that we read – “the water ran down the altar and even filled the trench.” He began to pray and then without any surprise on Elijah’s part we have this record. I. KINGS 18: 38
- I can almost imagine Elijah turning to the crowd and saying, “see – now do you believe it – my God is a wet-wood fire lighter!”
Thanksgiving – worship – praise – we can do two of them without having a close relationship with God but not three.
- A Christian not living close to God can offer thanks.
- A Christian not living close to God can offer praise BUT only a Christian who is “walking in the light as God is in the light” –
- only that kind of a believer can worship - everyone else just thinks they are!
Go ahead and raise your hands and sing and praise but make sure that when you do it that you do it for Him and not because it is expected of you. Doing this because everyone else is doing it – borders on hypocrisy!
I’m very much afraid that in our freedoms that we often take God too casually – we have become too familiar with God. We don’t honor Him any more by using KJV language that we do by using contemporary. People are too familiar with God –
- He is God – the creator – He is the Holy One –
- the Awesome One wrapped in glory and majesty.
Please take your Bibles and turn to PSALM 95: 1 - 6
- That surely puts things into the proper perspective, doesn’t it?
For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Listen carefully to these words REVELATION 19: 5 – 7a ISAIAH 6: 3 REVELATION 4: 8
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
Early in the morning, our songs shall rise to Thee
Only Thou art holy, thee is none beside Thee
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
What can I give back to God for the blessings He's poured out on me?
- I'll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!
- I'll pray in the name of God;
- I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and
- I'll do it together with his people………..
Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name
He has done great things, He has done great things
He has done great things, bless His Holy Name
Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name
