Friday, February 24, 2012

Worship Works: His Sacrifice, My Praise

Sermon Text: Hebrews 13: 15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of Praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Are you tired of coming to church to just fill the square? Have you decided you want something to happen when you worship? You must remember that it’s His sacrifice and your praise that makes it work. When you are going through things worship isn’t usually the first thing on your mind. You are usually trying to figure out how to solve the problem. You come to church carrying a lot of issues and sometimes don’t praise because you are trying to deal with your issues. You forget that because of His sacrifice you are holy no matter what you may have done. Stop trying to worship through the guilt you are feeling; worship through Christ.
Hebrews 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
Once we digest that we are now ready to worship in three ways: Personal, Public, and for our Problems.

Point 1: Personal

a) W/o guilt. (Romans 8: 1) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”

One of the most difficult things to do is worship when you are feeling guilty. Many of us would worship if we could get pass what we were feeling. Stop allowing the devil to condemn you. Your salvation says you can stand up and praise Him. Your salvation alone gives you the right to worship. Nothing else you want could ever measure up to it. Stop waiting to worship when something happens. Worship through Jesus. Stop having contingency worship.
b) W/consistency (vs. 15) “…let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise”

Continually worship because Jesus has saved you. Your personal life should never hinder my praise.

Point 2: Public
(Heb 13: 2) “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
(a) Hurry up. (Psalm 122: 1 KJV) “I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord “

How can you come late to the Lord’s house to worship Him? You are not late to work. You make plans to ensure you are on time for everything else that you decide to do. There should be no difference when it comes to worshipping the Lord.

(b) Heart. (Psalm 86: 12 KJV) “I will praise thee, O Lord my God with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.”

Perhaps you don’t mind being late because your heart isn’t in it.

(c) Happy. (2 Timothy 2:3 ) “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

James told us how to do it in James 1: 2- “count it all joy…”, and in James 5: 13 “is any happy let him sing praise songs…”. Worshipping is a happy time. Do not allow Satan to come in and steal your joy. The moment you allow him to make you unhappy you have given him tremendous power.

(d) Honor. (Rev 5: 13) “to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever! “

We come to honor God and celebrate Him. When you worship, talk to God like you know Him. You cannot come into God’s house and not worship Him. You come to get into His presence.

Point 3: Problem
(Psalms 73:17)(a) W/full assurance the psalmist said in Psalms 73 he life was in torment. He could not understand why he was doing so poorly and sinners were doing so well. It didn’t make sense to him until he came to the sanctuary. Psalm 73: 17 till I entered the sanctuary then I understood their final destiny.

The writer is trying understand why the people who aren’t living right seem to be doing well and those who are living correctly have situations that seem to be falling apart. When you have problems you will not have full assurance that God will handle them until you make it into His presence- on time, not preoccupied with your issues.

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