How important is our worship True worship is

How important is our worship? “True worship is the highest and noblest activity of which man, by the grace of God, is capable. ” John Stott

Psalm 95 l. Psalm 95 is a call to worship the church has used from the 4 th century. l. This Psalm makes it clear that worship is a high and noble activity.

Why do we need Psalm 95? l If you are not a follower of Jesus, this Psalm will be helpful to you. l If you are living a life you know is not pleasing to God, then this Psalm will help you find the reasons/motivation to turn your life around. l If you are already a worshiper, then this Psalm will encourage you to worship more!

Psalm 95 gives us A Call of Worship and A Warning Cry This Call of Worship outlines for us: The Who The How The Why of Worship

Who do we worship? The Who He is our Rock (v. 1 b); the great God, the great king (v. 3); Maker/Creator (v. 6); Shepherd (v. 7) l He is our audience “. . . sing for joy to the LORD. ” l He is above all gods. v. 3 --“For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. ” (See Deut. 32: 16 -17; Ps. 86: 10) l l Evidence: vv. 3 -5 --“hands” stress intimacy in relationship to creation.

How do we worship? The How 6] “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker…” The Action: joyful singing (v. 1); music, song (v. 2); shout/response--give a ringing cry (v. 1 b) l The Appreciation: “…with thanksgiving” (v. 2) l The Attitude/Awe: “. . . bow down in worship, let us kneel…” (v. 6) means surrender, humility, the submission of created to Creator--Ps. 72: 9 Literally: “Come, let us prostrate ourselves, let us bow down, let us kneel” (same definition) l

Why do we worship? The Why 7] “. . . for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. ” He is our God--v. 7 a l He cares for us as our Shepherd--v. 7 b --feeding us --protecting us --laying down His life--“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”--John 10: 11. l

Critical Point: l Our worship is not centered on what we get out of it (edification or inspiration); they are byproducts! l OUR WORSHIP SHOULD BE WHAT WE GIVE TO GOD--vv. 1 -2. l Worship is turning our life over to God - joyfully submitting our life to His care--vv. 6 -7.

Psalm 95 moves from A Call of Worship, to A Warning Cry--vv. 7 b-11 What will keep us from authentic worship and surrender?

1. 2. 3. The immediacy of the warning: Today--v. 7 b The reason for the warning: Hardness --v. 8 a The results if we don’t listen--vv. 8 b-10 7 b] Today, if you hear his voice, l 8] do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, [ Meribah means quarreling. ] as you did that day at Massah [ Massah means testing. ] in the desert, l 9] where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did. 10] For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways. 11] So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest. ” l

Conclusion l What is the New Testament application? (Hebrews 3: 7 -4: 13) l What is the answer to “hardness of heart”? (Hearing the voice of God today--vv. 7 b-8. ) l How do we hear? How can we be more sensitive to His voice? --Submission to our God, King, Maker and Shepherd. --Active worship, appreciation and attitude/awe. --Pay attention to the result of hardness of heart. --Those who are not followers of God--respond today!