A COVENANT WITH GOD
PART 6
THE CHURCH COVENANT
“To sustain the worship of the church”
Date: July 21, 2002
Place: Allendale Baptist Church
Text: Psalms 139:1-24
Introduction
I heard this statistics several weeks ago that frightened me. Of those surveyed who said they are born again Christians, those who said they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, 70% of those said they have never experienced the presence of God. That is one of the saddest things I have ever heard.
That made me wonder what are people doing when they come to church. Each Sunday morning we have a call to worship, called to enter into a time of worship. A time that we are called into the presence of God. But some of us this morning and every Sunday morning we would be found as liars before God. We sing songs like “His name is wonderful”; “To God be the glory”; “Oh how I love Jesus” and “All hail the power of Jesus name”. Not to mention at the close of the service when we sing, “Just as I am” or “Have thine own way Lord.” Singing songs out of a book and not meaning a word of what we say to a God who is always listening.
In the 139th psalm the writer reminds us of a Holy God who knows, understands, comprehends and is acquainted with us (Verses 1-6). Then he reminds us we cannot get away from His presence (Verses 7-12). Then he goes on to speak of a God that is all powerful (Verses 19-24). The writer expresses his thoughts of worship in this passage of scripture.
Three very meaningful truths are shown to us in these verses relating to worship…
I. He sees God in Worship. – Before we can truly worship God we must come to understand His presence in our lives. It is not just a Sunday morning thing to worship God. David says, “I cannot get away from the presence of God.” Romans 8: 37-39 tells us there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. (And I believe that means His presence also.)
When he sees God in worship, he can
II. Praise God in his worship – Verse 14 he says I will praise you. When you understand who God is and who you are in Christ, praise will show up in your life. One of the statements I use a lot is “Don’t be inhibited when your inhabited. Some one asked me when I talk about being open to worship God, lifting up our hands or at the least shouting amen above a whisper do I worry about the church becoming charismatic? I tell them no but I do worry about the church growing cold. Adrian Rogers says “Its easier to cool down a zealot then it is to warm up a corpse. My dear friend don’t tip your cup over but if it’s overflowing, let it run out.
Then David says that isn’t enough, there’s got to be more. There must be a…
III. Searching of God in our worship – In light of David recognizing God’s presence, praises Him in his worship, he invites God to continue to search his heart to root out any unrighteousness. “Search me, O God and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me.” David desires to be what God wants him to be, to live the life God wants him to live. Some say this last verse, “and lead me in the way everlasting”, he is expressing his desire and expectation of eternal life. But I also believe he is expressing his desire to live the abundant life.
Would you be willing to ask God to search you today?
This does not mean, God pat me down like a police officer would do. Ask God to go to the deepest part of your person and draw out the things He does not want to be there. Sin, Self- Righteousness… What ever it is that is keeping you from truly worshipping God…
