Thanksgiving: A Life That Worships God, Ps. 100

 

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thanksgiving is a heartful recognition and expression of who God is and what He has done.

Worship is simply thanksgiving in action.

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5:14

Worship is exercising our spiritual lives

  • Surrendered

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1

Worship is exercising our spiritual lives

  • Spiritual

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 

John 4:23-24

Worship is exercising our spiritual lives

  • Sacrificial

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Hebrews 13:15

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.

Psalm 100, ESV

1. Worship is _our_ responsibility.

“Responsibility”- Obligation to behave correctly in respect.

“All the earth”

“All generations”

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job 1:20-21

 

Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshipped.

2 Samuel 12:20

2. Worship expresses a _Joyful_ attitude.

“make a joyful noise”, “gladness”, “thanksgiving”, “thanks”, and “praise”.

3. Worship focuses attention on the _LORD_.

“LORD”, “He”, “His”.

When our complete focus is on God, His goodness overflows and we can’t keep it in  – that’s worship.

 

4. Worship is expressed through _action_.

  • “_Shout_” (V1)- a bold affirmation of your complete _confidence_ in God.
  • “_Serve_” (V2)- a humble _submission_ to the will of God.
  • “_Come_” (V2)- a gracious _invitation_ to enter into presence of God. 

Thanksgiving is because of who God is and what He has done. 

++And worship is acknowledging that understanding of God.

(V3)- 

1. What God has done.

  • _Produces us_- “made us”
  • _Protects us_- “we are His people”
  • _Provides for us_- “sheep of His pasture”

2. Who God is 

  • _God_ (V3)
  • _Good_ (V5)