WORSHIPPING THE HOLY GOD

Purpose: to inspire the congregation to more effective worship so we can all please God with our worship.

Introduction:

    1. In Revelation 4 and 5 we have a beautiful picture of heaven. God is seated in the center on a throne. Christ is pictured as a lamb who has been slain. Throughout this heavenly scene, all those present are worshipping God--calling out Holy, Holy, Holy. They sing to the Lamb that He is worthy. A majestic scene of honor and glory to God in the highest.

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    2. God has taught us that the earth also needs to be a place where He is honored. Each week we gather to join the sun, moon, stars, and all the heavenly host, and all Christians on earth in this blessed privilege of honoring God.

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    3. Are all attempts at worship equally good? How can we make our worship better? Not by adding to what God has revealed for us to do. I Cor. 11:23. Not by entertaining ourselves. Not by trying to copy those around us.

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    4. If you want to express your love to your wife or sweetheart, you find out what pleases her and then do it. What kind of flowers does she like? What restaurant does she prefer? What kind of entertainment does she like? What does she like you to wear? You clean the car and plan the evening according to what she likes. Why? Because she is the one you want to honor. Should we do less for God? If He has told us how he wants us to honor Him, should we try to do it some other way?

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    5. So we must understand better what will please God and work harder at doing that.
Subject Sentence: Four words can help us worship to please God.

Body:
  1. Proclaim

    1. I Cor. 11:26--proclaim the Lord’s death.
    2. The Jews built a beautiful temple to proclaim to all around how much they loved their God.
    3. I Peter 2:5 says each of us is a stone in the new temple of God--and so we are a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
    4. Each time we meet, we proclaim to all who know we are here and to all who come to observe that we believe in God and Christ and that we want others to know of our faith.
    5. Some have paid with their lives for this proclamation.

  2. Adore

    1. Rev. 4--Holy, holy, holy
    2. Heb. 13:15--praise
    3. Matt. 6:9--hallowed
    4. Songs we sing--prayers we pray

  3. Communicate

    1. John 4:24--spirit to spirit--with the spirit
    2. I Cor 14:15--spirit and understanding--with the mind
    3. Eph. 5:19--with the heart--with the feelings
    4. Phil 4:6--let your requests
    5. 4 levels--send a message

  4. Edify

    1. I Cor. 14:26--let all things be done to edify
    2. Heb. 10:24-25--let us provoke
    3. Primarily to help others--unselfish
Conclusion:
    1. We must worship God in the right way. We should not add to what God has told us about how to worship Him. We should not make changes in His basic plan. We can learn to do better what we do and we should not make law of our traditions.
    2. P--A--C--E----keep the pace
    3. What is the lesson here for you?

      1. All of us to enter into to our worship with more focus--to offer sacrifices to our holy God.
      2. Prepare for worship--live close to God all the time; serve him all week; come refreshed and ready in mind and heart.
      3. Teach our children at home about how to worship--study songs, pray.
      4. Those who plan and lead worship should do their work to help us.

    4. Give worship a high priority. We must do it well.