For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5
When was the last time you shouted for joy?
When you picture a real celebration, what do you picture?
In a religious sense, 'shout' looks like praise bursting forth in loud noises. It is extra special when it seems to break out of nowhere.
Augustine said, the Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot.
Do you remember seeing newsreels of dancing in the streets at the end of the Second World War? Or the fall of the Berlin wall?
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.
2 For the LORD Most High is awesome,
the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.[b]
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted. Psalm 47
Worship is each one of us coming together in the presence of God. The service of worship is to focus on who God is. It is not about our striving to come close to God. Worship shows people who God is.
Our worship shows that we are serious and it encourages us to reach out to others. You become like what you worship.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us and we are his. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
There is a difference between hearing something and acknowledging it. There is an element of practicing that feels like you're going through the motions. However, when we practice what we know, it will become habit.
There is an acknowledging of people as well. Who is it that we might acknowledge for how they've sown into our life?
Acknowledging is the beginning step that eventually gets us to the point of overflowing with praise for God's goodness.
In a culture that is often critical and negative, it is helpful to focus on who God is and what He IS doing. When we practice, what we know of God, it helps us to expect more of Him.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.
The password to be in God's presence is to give Him thanks.
Jesus said "I am the good shepherd and I lay myself down for my sheep." Jesus invites us into His care. God is a God who is good and who comforts us when things aren't good.
You can listen to the audio version of this sermon at
http://www.calvaryunited.com/10121/blogentry/entry_id/268755/Oct_9_2011___Thanks_Givings