“THE CALLING AND MAKING OF JOYFUL WORSHIPERS”

Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 

2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 

3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 

5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. 

What is this call to serve the Lord with gladness? (V1-2, 4)

We come together in gathered worship to “serve the Lord.”

At the same time, we “serve the Lord” as we live every moment of our lives for his glory.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing 

that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the 

 Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

There is no sacred/secular divide for the Christ-follower. All of life is sacred.

 “With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of  

rivers of oil? Shall I give myfirstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my 

body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and 

what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8)

Worship is more than participation in worship gatherings, but it’s not less than that.

How does God make us glad? (V3, 5)

The goal of gathered worship is that every person would be able to fix their eyes on the glory of God and the gospel.

This text urges us to think of God as Creator: He made us. We are his.

This text urges us to think of God as Redeemer: We are his people, his sheep.

Gathered worship is, first and foremost, for God. Gathered worship is because of God.

We’re here because we have known Him, and we’re here to know Him more through his Word.

V5 explains everything we read not only in the OT, but the NT, and not only the NT, but it’s the story of God’s dealings with his people down to the present. God wants this life of rejoicing to impact the whole world. (V1)

Thanks Matt!

“RESPONDING TO THE OTHERNESS OF GOD”

Psalm 99

1 The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 

2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 

3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! 

4 The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 

5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! 

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them. 

7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them. 

8 O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 

9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! 

What sets God apart?

He is sovereign! (Psalm 99:1-2)

He is just! (Psalm 99:4)

He is accessible! (Psalm 99:6-8)

How should we respond?

Trust Jesus as sovereign. (Psalm 99:3)

Trust Jesus for salvation. (Psalm 99:5)

Trust Jesus for sanctification. (Psalm 99:9)

Thanks Jim!

Overcoming Fear and Worry

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

When we ought to be enjoying victorious, abundant lives…what happens? Fear creeps in and grips us cold. Many of us lose priceless opportunities because of this boa constrictor of fear.

When fear dominates, there is no room for Christ, Who can comfort us.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Worry is the noxious first cousin to fear. Fear and worry will do to you what grit does to machinery — shut you down. But God gives us the victory with His power, His love, and the gift of a sound mind. The Holy Spirit is your Bodyguard. He walks with you. The man who can kneel before God can stand before any man.

ACTION POINT:

Jesus has you in His sight. You are in God’s right hand. Write that down and post it in a place where you can meditate on it throughout the day. Now ask yourself, “Knowing this, can anything this week change those truths?”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Without Even Saying A Word

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go.” Psalm 32:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I was talking to my son one day, and he reminded me of something that happened when he was a little boy. He said, “Dad, I was sitting in church, and you looked at me, and I knew I was going to get a whipping when I got home.”

If you’re married, you know how your spouse can give you that look that says, “Whatever you’re talking about — stop!” That’s the intimate relationship that people who know one another well establish. You’re to have such an intimate relationship with God that He can just look at you and your heart is touched.

ACTION POINT:

Throughout the day today, think of the eye of the Lord upon you...allow this to direct your steps and give you courage.

 LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

God’s Plan of Restoration for Your Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.” Job 33:28

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

On the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied Jesus — three times! In spite of Peter’s lack of loyalty, Jesus extended an invitation of mercy to him and said, “Come and dine.”

There on the shores of the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and prepared a table of restoration. Can you imagine what was going through Peter’s mind? Guilt and gladness, fear and fascination, wonder and worship — a kaleidoscope of emotions! He could not believe that he was being invited to the table of the One he had deserted just days before. And not only was he being invited but restored!

The depth of Jesus’ covenant love is not exhausted when we sin. There is forgiveness and restoration.

ACTION POINT:

Read this account of restoration in John 21:4-19. Rejoice over God’s plan of restoration for your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Working Together In Unity

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

How powerful it is when we work together in unity! 

I was reading about how Canadian geese always fly in a "V" formation. Have you ever wondered why? Because the lead goose is moving the wind resistance for the rest of them. So while he is flapping real hard, the rest of them are cruising. After awhile, the lead goose gets tired and he falls back and the next goose moves up.

Do you know what scientists have discovered in the wind tunnel experiments? That geese flying in a "V" formation can fly 72% farther than one goose could fly by himself. Now who taught them to do that? God did.

ACTION POINT:

What are you trying to do by yourself that could be more efficiently accomplished when the task is shared?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

A Challenge for Fathers

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders." Proverbs 31:23

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Once a year we celebrate fathers. Maybe you are one. Let me give you a challenge. 

One father said, "If I had it to do all over again, I'd love my wife more in front of my children. I'd laugh with my children more. I'd listen more, even to the youngest child. I'd be more honest about my own weaknesses and stop pretending perfection. I would pray differently for my children. I would be more encouraging and bestow more praise. And finally, if I had it to do all over again, I would use every ordinary thing that happened in every ordinary day to point them to God."

Praise God for the impact of godly fathers in our lives!

ACTION POINT:

If there's going to be music in marriage, the dad has to be the leader of the band. Celebrate the dad in your life today!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers