This message from Psalm 8:1-9 was delivered by Pastor Rod Harris at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 10, 2013.
Intro:
Worship – is the duty and the privilege of the church. Worship is as natural for man as breathing. It has been suggested that worship is the very law of man’s being. As a creature of God it is the very expression of his being to love, honor and serve his Creator. Everyone worships someone or some thing, whether it is the one true God or an idol of their own making. It is universally accepted within the church that he must worship. It is understood that it is good and necessary for us to gather, as a body, for a public expression of our love and devotion to our God. The question comes in determining what should be done in that gathering. Or to put it another way – what constitutes true worship?
“Worship wars” have raged in the church for a number of years now. Contemporary versus traditional. Choruses versus hymns. Whether preaching should be eliminated and replaced by something more appropriate for today’s society. What about pageantry, drama and dance? Should we return to a liturgical structure? Is it more “worshipful” to be formal or informal? Should prayers be read or should they be spontaneous? It seems to me that during such discussions people tend to major on minors! While straining gnats we swallow camels. Before we can argue specifics about what is or is not appropriate for worship we need to define worship. What does it mean to worship in a biblical sense? What is the aim of worship? Who or what is to be the focus of our worship? Why are we worshiping? For some insight into this matter let’s turn again to the Psalms.
Text: Psalm 8:1-9
The Psalter is the hymnbook of the people of God.
These words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, were given to be sung back to God.
In the Psalms we find expressions of the hearts of men and women of God.
And in Psalm 8 we find an expression of true worship.
In Psalm 8 we discover that:
Thesis: Genuine worship celebrates the greatness of God and gratefully acknowledges man’s place in God’s universe.
This seems to be a revelation for some, but mark it down – worship is to be God-centered.
Worship is first and foremost about God.
We gather here for the worship of God.
We do not gather to feel better about ourselves.
We do not come in order to receive – we come to give.
The point of worship is not for me to have an “experience.”
It really does not matter if I leave the service “pleased.”
All that matter is – “is God pleased by what took place?”
That is a radical thought to many in our day!
Don Whitney, professor of spiritual formations at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, defined worship as, “our focus on and our response to God.”
There are two key elements to that definition.
First – God is to be the focus of our worship.
Our minds, our thoughts, our words, our prayers, the message – is to be focus on Him.
Everything we do is to be directed toward Him – if it is an act of worship.
Second – once we are focused on Him – worship our natural response to who He is.
Worship is not, cannot be, “worked up” or created.
It is the natural response to seeing God as He is.
You don’t have to be “told” what to do in worship.
Thomas’ response to the risen Lord – he didn’t touch him, “My Lord and my God.”
The 4 living creatures and the 24 elders in the book of Revelation.
Thus Whitney concludes – lot of focus – lot of worship. Little focus, little worship.
Look at this picture of genuine worship in Psalm 8.
- Genuine worship begins with an acknowledgement of the greatness of God. (8:1-2)
- Genuine worship readily acknowledges the insignificance of man in the grand scheme of things. (8:3-4)
- Genuine worship stands in awe of the grace of God extended to man. (8:5-8)