July 9, 2017
Psa. 42:1-4 " As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday."
"Schindler (d) gives three reasons why these creatures are so desirous of water; because they were in desert places, where water was wanting; and another, that being heated by destroying and eating serpents, they coveted water to refresh themselves; and the third, when followed by dogs, they betake themselves into the water, and go into that for safety;" From Gill on E Sword Psa. 41:1
House of God / House of the LORD is mentioned many, many times in the Bible. David said, " I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD". Psa. 122:1. Why would David say, He was happy to go to Church. He was glad to go unto the House of the LORD. Answer: Because he needed the LORD! Why does the Word of God gives such an exhortation about public worship of the LORD in Hebrews 10:19-25, because we need the LORD!
Psalms 100:1-5
100:1 The spirit of worship is universal. It is the LORD who has put within man the spirit of worship. It is satan and then sin that robs of the desire to worship God.
100:2 Serve the LORD is equivalent to coming into His Presence, which is worship. And we are to do it with gladness.
100:3 Know that He is our Creator and Redeemer. We don't belong to our self.
100:4 Because of Christ we can enter into His presence. Into the Holy of holies.
100:5 Heb 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
But What does Worship mean to me and you?
I am glad to go to the house of the LORD" because of the help He has promised, Psa 115:13-14 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
- You respect the LORD by the decision you make. By how you conduct your life. Respect is honoring the LORD. 1 Sam. 2:30 "...Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."
- Two things He is saying here: (1) If you respect me, you will honour Me. (2) If you do not respect me, you despise Me. There is a promise and a warning here. If you respect/honour Him, He will bless you. If you disrespect Him, you will not receive His blessing. "Lightly esteemed " means: you respect your sin, disobedience more than the LORD.
- You respect the LORD by the life you live, Hebrews 12:1"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, "
Heb 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." What is the weight the LORD is asking you to lay aside?
I am glad to go to the House of the LORD" because of the revival that I need, Psa 80:18-19 " So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."
- Within the church today, there is a spirit of complacency. Amos said, "At ease in Zion". No sense of urgency. Illustration: A Pastor had got up in years and suffering from altimeters. Forgot everything and living in a nursing home. Got up every day and dressed in his suit and tie. He never forgot he was to go worship his Saviour. There are masses of people that are not suffering from Altimeters who don't remember that much for whatever reason. Every person knows their cause of lack. It is nothing more than leaving your first love, Rev_2:4 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." That is the words of Christ to the Church
- Within our society today, there is a spirit of anti -christ. Our society is against Christ. It has always been against Christ. You have but to read the Bible! John 1:11 "He came unto his own, and his own received him not". Joh 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
- Within the church today there is a spirit of luke warmness, Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. The pretense of walking in fellowship with Him makes the LORD sick. Living in pretense hinders and dulls the mind, Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Rev. 3:17.
- Within our society today there is a spirit of rebellion. In the home, in the church, in government. I listened to President Trump's Speech and he said, Pastors, are to have the freedom to preach and teach what God has put on their hearts. I am not quoting his exact words. But that was the point established. He has done more for religious freedom that any President I know. And at the same time has faced more rebellion in these six months than any that I know of. Rebellion is a sin, 1Sa_15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." You may say, "What Rebellion: It is whatever authority you are rebelling against
I am glad to go to the House of the LORD because of the Forgiveness He has provided, Psa 22:15 " My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death." Among other sufferings, He suffered intense thirst. He said, "I thirst". He who made the rivers cried, "I thirst". He gave me Living Water but for that Water, He had to die!
Song, "I thirst"
One day I came to Him, I was so thirsty
I asked for water, my throat was so dry
He gave me water that I have never dreamed of
But for this water, my Lord had to die
[Chorus]
He said, "I thirst," yet He made the rivers
He said, "I thirst," yet He made the sea
"I thirst," said the King of the Ages
In His great thirst, He brought water to me
Now there's a river that flows as clear as crystal
It comes from God's throne above
And like a river, it wells up inside me
Bringing mercy, and life-giving love
As I threw the limb on the fire that day, the limb was me and the fire was hell and that was my destination. I could find no reason within me for His mercy or His grace. But yet in my great need, He gave me the peace I never dreamed of! But for my salvation, He had to die! Do you realize that He died for you?
I am glad to go to the House of the LORD for the truth that I need. 1Ti 3:15 "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." When you read this in the context of the preceding verses, there is no question he is speaking to the local church and the matter of attendance and worship. He talked about the Pastor, the deacons all these are the offices of the church. 1 Timothy 3:1-13. In verse 14 Paul said, hoping to come shortly. Where was he going to come? To the Church House.
God is going to hold you accountable for the truth. For the truth that is taught and preached in House of the LORD.
Don't get upset at the Preacher because of the Truth. Dear Lord don't get mad at me because of the truth. His Word endures to every generation! The LORD established marriage: that is why He made man and female. You are not to live together without the marriage ceremony! That is according to His word.
We need a turning back to the LORD, Hosea 14: 1-4
We need to see, with the eyes of understanding, the reality of heaven and hell, Luk_9:25 " For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?"
We need to return to loving Christ, Rev_2:4 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
We need a return to faithfulness to our Saviour's expectation for us
We need a return to Church Attendance, Bible Study, and Prayer meeting.
We need a return to obedience to Christ and living for Him
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