Declaring God’s Worth
Psa 18:3
A little boy pulls on the preacher’s hand to get his attention. Then says, “I’m going to give you money when I grow up.”
The preacher says, “Thank you very much but why do you want to give me money when you grow up?”
The little boy replies, “My dad says that you are the “poorest” preacher we have ever had.”
GOOD FOR NOTHING
Two boys were trying to outdo each
other. The first said, “My dad is a doctor. I can be sick for nothing!”
“Big deal!” the second shot back, “My dad is a preacher. I can be good for nothing!”
We place value on almost everything.
How valuable is worship to you ?
Did you know that worship is about value ? Worship demonstrates the value that we place upon God !
The frequency of our worship, the passion of our worship, the nature of our worship declares the value that we place upon the Lord. If our worship is infrequent, and inconsistent, if our worship is cold, and complacent, if our worship is fruitless, and faithless.....then the value that we place upon God is too low !
JOKE:* Did you hear about the 911 call from the church ? The caller on the line reported that there was someone who was not breathing at the church ! When the EMT’S responded, they brought our four people before they found the right one !
Does that describe the condition of your worship ? Does that describe your relationship with God ? Worship which is breathing is alive, vibrant, moving.............and it is all determined by the worth that we place upon God !
Look at our scripture this morning..........Psalms 18
1. I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
2. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
When David thought about the Lord......he said he is worthy of my praise........it is only natural that I worship him. When he reminisced about all that God had done in his life........he is worthy...........called him out of a field full of shepherds, and sat him upon a throne.........kept him secure from his enemies........forgave him of his sins which were numerous........he is worthy !
Psa 42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Is God worthy of your worship ?
Has he done anything for you that makes him worthy of your worship ? Has he blessed you ? Has he saved you ? Is he worthy of your worship ? Then why don’t you do it ?
If we place great value, worth upon God, then our worship will be more sincere....we will be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit in our worship, and God will be honored in our worship.
Let me explain.......our word “worship” comes from a old English word “worschipe” or “worth-ship”..and literally means “to declare the worth”. Worship is expressing value.......when we worship God, and how we worship God declares, expresses God’s worth to us ! This morning I want us to look at three things concerning worship, as we finish out this series on “The Word On Worship”
1. Determining God’s Worth.
Why is God worthy of our worship ?
a. Because of his character.
Job 33:12 ......I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
2 Sa 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee according to all that we have heard with our ears.
Deu. 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Psa 86:10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
Psa 118:28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
b. Because of his creation.
Rev. 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Psa 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that aare in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
c. Because of his compassion.
We see God’s worth in the beginning in his creation....but we further see his worth after the creation. One of the most moving scenes in all the word of God is after the fall of man. It is God who comes walking through the garden calling the name of Adam......he is the one who takes the iniative.....he is the one who takes the first step towards reconciliation.
Psa. 78:38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity and destroyed them not: yea many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psa 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psa 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
d. Because of his Cross.
John 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha;
Rev. 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue and people, and nation.
Rev 5:12 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
2. Demonstrating God’s Worth
Having determined his worth...how do we demonstrate his worth ?
a. by our profession.
This is the first and vital step towards demonstrating that God is worthy. We must possess, and profess faith in him.
b. by our participation.
We show God..we demonstrate his worth to us when we obey him by participating in the things that please him. When we assemble together as a church, it is pleasing to him if we worship.....it pleases him, praises him.....honors him that you are here.....that his people have gathered together to worship him.
But our participation in the assembly should not be the end of our worship....but rather the beginning.......we praise him through our activity. When we leave from this place......we are to be actively serving him !
c. by our posture.
The Hebrew word for worship itself tells us what our posture should be towards the Lord. It means to “fall prostrate or to bow down”.
Psa 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
d. by our praise.
Joke: “Lutheran Church”
We don’t praise the Lord in the Lutheran Church......yes we do.....it’s on page 17
Psa 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
1 Ch 29:13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
Psa 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
Glad means “to make joy” or “to brighten up” Rejoice means “to jump for joy”
Psa 22:25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
Psa 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.
Psa 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
e. by our presents
1 Ch 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness
Psa 96:8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Mal 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering.
f. by our prayers
Psa 55:17 Evening, and morning and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
1 Ti 2:8 I will therefore that men, pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
3. Declaring God’s Worth
We should not only demonstrate God’s worth in our public and private worship, but we should declare God’s worth to others.
Psa 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
Psa 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Psa 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
Psa 145:4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
How do we declare his worth ?
a. in our lives
b. in our love
c. in our legacy
d. by our lips
