Amazing Public Worship
Ps. 89:5
5 ¶ And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. (KJV)
5 Los cielos celebrarán tus maravillas, oh Jehová; tu fidelidad también en la congregación de los santos. (RVG04)
Ps. 107:32
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. (KJV)
32 Exáltenlo en la congregación del pueblo; y alábenlo en la reunión de los ancianos. (RVG04)
Isa. 62:10
10 ¶ Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. (KJV)
10 Pasad, pasad por las puertas; aparejad el camino al pueblo; allanad, allanad la calzada, quitad las piedras, alzad pendón a los pueblos. (RVG04)
I. Open the Gates
Ps. 100:4
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (KJV)
4 Entrad por sus puertas con acción de gracias, por sus atrios con alabanza; dadle gracias, bendecid su nombre. (RVG04)
-it is a privilege to go to the house of God
-it should be a joy
-it should be a routine (good habit)
There are times when we all feel that all is a failure; all has gone wrong.
Let that not keep us from "going through the gates". There is still a God who is worthy to be praised.
Like Job, we must say "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord".
David is another example:
2 Sam. 12:18-20
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? (KJV)
18 Y al séptimo día murió el niño. Y los siervos de David temían hacerle saber que el niño había muerto, diciendo entre sí: Cuando el niño aún vivía, le hablábamos, y no quería oír nuestra voz; ¿cuánto más se afligirá si le decimos que el niño ha muerto? (RVG04)
19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. (KJV)
19 Mas David viendo a sus siervos hablar entre sí, entendió que el niño había muerto; por lo que dijo David a sus siervos: ¿Ha muerto el niño? Y ellos respondieron: Ha muerto. (RVG04)
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. (KJV)
20 Entonces David se levantó de tierra, y se lavó y se ungió, y cambió sus ropas, y entró a la casa de Jehová, y adoró. Y después vino a su casa, y demandó, y le pusieron pan, y comió. (RVG04)
After his great sin with Bath-sheba, a child was born. The child became very ill. David fasted and prayed, but the child died. Nevertheless, he rises and goes to the house of the Lord and WORSHIPS (he goes through the gates)
Don't let the setbacks of life keep you from worshipping.
Yes, that first child died, but the next child born to David was Solomon. You have to press on. Greater victories are ahead.
Worship the Lord in the congregation of the righteous. It is the plan of God.
Ps. 24:7-10
II. Open the Book
People come to God through the revelation of His Word.
The Holy Spirit directs the minister with the message that is needed for the present service.
The way is prepared through prayer, meditation, and study. As it is preached, it is like a map being revealed to the hearers.
III. Build the Highway
There must be a sure foundation for the road to be solid and smooth.
No wishy-washy theories that are unproved nor traditions of man that have no sound basis. Good ,clean, solid, sound doctrine.
Isa. 35:8
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. (KJV)
8 Y habrá allí calzada y camino, y será llamado Camino de Santidad; no pasará inmundo por él, sino que será para ellos; los errantes, aunque fueren torpes, no se extraviarán. (RVG04)
IV. Open the Altars
A. Remove the Stones
The stones must be removed from the highway we are to travel. Any hindrance that would impede our spiritual journey must be taken away.
In Bible times, most altars were made of stones. What a wonderful thought to take what the enemy desired to use to set you back and make of them an altar to glorify the Lord God.
B. Lift up the Banner
Jesus is our banner; He is our victory. We lift Him up in song, sermon, and spiritual praise.
A rendering of "for the people" by Poole is given as "above the people". Surely Christ must be lifted higher and higher and ever be revered above any and all talents and abilities of any man or woman.
Around the altars, we allow God to work in our lives. As we surrender to Him, He removes the uneven, protruding stones from our way. As we lift his name on high, declaring our victory through Him, the sign of victory is all the more evident.
Not everything goes well in this life. But keep on and be faithful to a life of worship in the congregation of the saints. There will be losses and defeats, but many victories will be won that would not have been won otherwise. God honors those who honor His house and His name.
