## How To Know We Have Worshiped #2

## Psalm 22:3

Each evening following the messages on worship, I have challenged all of us to consider the question, 'Have we worshiped God today?'. Tonight I want us to continue to look at how can we know we have worshiped God. Last week we looked at two very important elements of worship: Thanksgiving and Praise. Tonight I want us to move on and look at four additional elements of worship. As we consider each one tonight, let's examine ourselves and our worship and see if we are truly worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth.

I. We Worship God Through Giving.

A. Why People Give their Money to God.

1. Some give out of a sense of duty.

2. Some give out of a sense of fear.

3. Some give only when the mood hits them. 4. Some give out of worship.

B. The Bible teaches We are to give Cheerfully.

(2 Cor 9:6-8) "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. {7} Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. {8} And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"

1. First we see the law of sowing and reaping (v.6).

a. We reap after we sow.

b. We will reap in proportion to how much we sow.

c. We will reap exactly what we sow.

d. Now this is a universal law, but here Paul applies it to our giving.

2. Second, each of us is to give "as he purposes in his heart."

a. That means we should consider and plan on what we will give.

b. It doesn't mean that we cannot give more than we had planned if the need arises and we are led to meet the need.

c. But giving, like other elements of our worship should be done orderly and without confusion.

3. Third, we shouldn't give "grudgingly or of necessity."

a. "Grudgingly" means wishing we could do something else with it.

b. "Of necessity" means we feel we must give.

4. Fourth, remember "God loves a cheerful giver."

a. That word "cheerful" comes from the Greek word {hilaros} from which we get our English word "hilarious."

b. Is that our attitude about giving?

c. If not, perhaps we should revisit the Word of God on this subject.

5. Fifth, remember that "God is able to make all grace abound toward you" so that you will have "all sufficiency in all things."

a. When we give to God, He will take care of all our needs.

b. I have yet to hear one person give testimony that God did not supply their needs when they were giving like God has instructed us to give.

6. We should give to God because giving is an act of worship.

7. When we don't or when we won't give, our worship is incomplete.

II. We Worship God Through Prayer.

A. Prayer is our means of Communicating with God.

B. Everyone should pray when we come to God in worship.

1. First, we must pray for personal forgiveness and cleansing.

2. Second, we pray prayers of thanksgiving and praise.

3. Third, we pray prayers of intercession for others.

C. When someone prays Publicly we must Respond.

1. We must either listen carefully and say "Amen" in agreement or to pray silently.

2. Don't just stand there!

(Luke 11:9) "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

(James 5:16) "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

III. We Worship God Through The Word.

A. As we speak to God through prayer, God speaks to us through His Word.

1. His Word is eternal we can depend on it.

(Psa 119:89) "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."

2. God's Word is spiritual food for our souls.

(Jer 15:16) "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts."

3. God's Word is profitable.

(2 Tim 3:16) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

4. God's Word is a light in a world of darkness.

a. Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path."

b. 2 Peter 1:19 says it is "a light that shines in a dark place."

5. God's Word brings hope.

(Rom 15:4) "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

B. Teaching God's Word is the Paramount, the Summit of Ministry.

1. God's words are vital.

a. My words are not.

b. If I ever stop teaching the Bible fire me!

c. Find some one who will let the Word stand for itself.

2. If you ever leave this church, never go to a church where the Bible is not clearly taught and preached!

3. When we come to worship, ask God to speak personally to us through the message. Take notes and Look up references.

4. We may look forward to some great Sunday dinners, but we eat throughout the week!

5. The same should be true of spiritual nourishment. don't wait till Sunday to open the Book!

6. By the way… the pew Bibles are for visitors… every member should be faithful to bring their Bibles to worship the Lord.

IV. We Worship God Through Obedience.

A. The Greatest Acts of Worship take place when we leave this room.

1. The greatest acts of worship are not singing, lifting our hands, and preaching or anything that takes place on Sunday morning.

2. The greatest acts of worship are acts of simple obedience to God each day of the week.

(Rom 12:1) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

B. It doesn't matter what we do in church if we are disobedient when we leave this place.

Mark Twain encountered a businessman from Boston during his travels that said, "Before I die, I will go to the Holy Land. I'm going to climb Mt. Sinai and from the top shout the Ten Commandments at the top of my voice!" Unimpressed, Twain responded, "I've got a better idea, Why don't you just stay in Boston and keep 'em."

C. Consider God's words to Israel about their insincere worship. Cf Isaiah 1:11-20

We worship God through:

1. Thanksgiving
2. Praise
3. Giving
4. Prayer
5. The Word
6. Our Obedience

Have we worshiped God today?