Sermon Central
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Why Should We Worship? Series
Contributed by Darrell Stetler Ii on Feb 8, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Why should we worship God? Just about everyone knows we SHOULD worship. . . but the Bible, throughout its pages, gives us reasons and benefits of worshipping God. *HANDOUT INCLUDED*
WHY SHOULD WE WORSHIP GOD?
Our theme verse for this series, "Worship - Giving God What He Deserves" is Ps 29:2 "Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."
Here’s the question for you today:
Why should we worship God?
One obvious reason is that God wants us to – He deserves it!
But there are a number of other correct answers. Can you think of any?
Let’s take some time to look at some of the reasons the Bible gives us about why we should worship God.
1. WORSHIP MAKES ROOM FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
Ps 22:3 But You [are] holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
Another translation translates this as “inhabiting the praises of Israel”. . .
If you want God’s presence to be obvious in your home, make it an atmosphere of praise!
If you want God’s presence to be obvious in our church, let’s not hold anything back when we’re praising Him!
2. WORSHIP HELPS US WIN BATTLES.
2Ch 20:19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.
2Ch 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy [endures] forever."
2Ch 20:22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
Ac 16:25 ¶ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
What battles are you facing? Anybody face something that you can’t handle this week? Have you tried praising God? Have you praised God until he “ambushed” your enemies?
When we start worshiping God, it’s amazing what starts happening.
I saw this on a choir tour once with the God’s Bible School choir. We were at a church in Ohio. The person that was leading the halftime prayer meeting for the choir in the back room, said, “Let’s not pray for the second half. Let’s praise God, and worship him.” During that time, as we simply worshiped God, God began to work in the main auditorium. People who had been hardened to the gospel for years began to come forward and pray, asking to be saved. It was one of the most amazing services I’ve ever been in – and it all happened because we chose to praise God from our hearts!
3. IF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON DOES IT, WORSHIP IS BEAUTIFUL TO GOD.
Ps 33:1 ¶ Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! [For] praise from the upright is beautiful.
Ps 119:7 ¶ I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments
Ps 147:1 ¶ Praise the LORD! For [it is] good to sing praises to our God; For [it is] pleasant, [and] praise is beautiful.
God wants your life to be consistent with your praise. You may not feel that you are an extremely talented singer, but if you’re an upright person, God looks at you and says, “Wow! That’s beautiful!”
One songwriter put it like this:
“That’s His favorite song of all, it’s the song of the redeemed.
When lost sinners now made clean lift their voices loud and strong.
When those purchased by His blood lift to him a song of love,
Nothing more He’d rather hear, none so pleasing to his ear,
As His favorite song of all!”
(Carol Cymbala? "Favorite Song of All" recorded by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.)
4. IT’S A WITNESS TO UNBELIEVERS.
Ps 40:3 He has put a new song in my mouth-Praise to our God; Many will see [it] and fear, And will trust in the LORD.
Ps 108:3 I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
Ps 109:30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
Heb 2:12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."
I wanted to touch on this, because it is one of the reasons that the Bible gives for worshiping, but I won’t stay here. I will come back to it in the last message of this series.
5. IT’S A WITNESS TO OUR CHILDREN.
Ps 78:4 We will not hide [them] from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
