Joyful Noises

"Joyful Noises"

¨ Text: Psalm 98:4

¨ Introduction:

¨ When we think of making a joyful noise unto the Lord, I believe singing or playing a musical instrument in a God honoring way would be the first thought to come to mind.

¨ After all in the Psalms we are instructed over and over again to make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

¨ In Ephesians 5:19, we are told to, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual sons, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;"

¨ However, I believe that as a Christian that there are other noises that we can make that are joyful unto the Lord besides singing and playing musical instruments.

¨ I would like us to look at some of them.

¨ GIVING CHEERFULLY

¨ How do we know that giving cheerfully is making a joyful noise unto the Lord, because the Bible tells us so in 2 Cor. 9:7 - "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

¨ So, we know that God loves a cheerful giver.

¨ We must remember that giving is a matter of the heart - " Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;..."

¨ The more that we love the Lord the more we will give to the work of the Lord.

¨ Some people are nothing but old skin flints because they have a stingy heart.

¨ The principle of giving is to get you have to give.

¨ Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

¨ 2 Cor. 9:6 - "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

¨ Well, you are probably saying to yourselves right about now, :"For the Lord to love me I have to give a lot of money."

¨ The Lord is not saying this because the Lord tells us we are to give according to our income.

¨ As the Bible tells us in Deut. 16:17, "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee."

¨ Remember, money is not the only source of giving.

¨ We can give out time, our talents and other resources.

¨ Our giving may be just giving words of encouragement to another brother or sister in Christ who may be going through a similar trial that you once experienced.

¨ Dropping a card or note in the mail telling them that you are praying for them is a joyful noise unto the Lord.

¨ We can give thanks to God.

¨ The Bible instructs in 1 Thess. 5:18 to, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

¨ So, we are to give God thanks for everything.

¨ How many of us really do this?

¨ Do we just give God thanks for the big stuff or when things seem to be going our ways.

¨ Do we give God thanks when we are going through a trial or a period of testing because we know it is His will.

¨ The main point to remember, no matter what type of giving you do in order for this giving to be a joyful noise unto the Lord it must be done cheerfully.

¨ You may be scratching your head and saying where is any noise or sound associated with giving.

¨ The Bible says in Matthew 15:18, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile man."

¨ So, when we are giving either cheerfully or grudgingly the heart will communicate this through the mouth.

¨ The noise in this case coming forth from the mouth will be either words of joy or ones of complaining.

¨ i.e., What kind of noise do you make when the pastor preaches on the importance of being a mission giving church.

¨ Do you jump up and shout "Preach it!"

¨ Or do you mumble under your breath, "Will you get off the mission giving kick."

¨ When approached to pray about helping out in one of the ministries like being an usher or being a nursery worker is your response-

¨ One of thanks that the Lord is directing me into an area where He can use me.

¨ Or is your response - "I love to but I am extremely busy."