Sermons and Articles | Ken Puls |
Gathered Worship in the House of GodResponding to Gathered WorshipWith Joy and Praise
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When we gather as the church for worship, we come as sinners in need of forgiveness and grace. We respond with confession and repentance. We come in need of rescue and redemption. We respond with faith and hope in the promise of the gospel. But though we come as sinful and needy people, we always have reason for joy and praise. Worship beckons us, in the midst of our needs and struggles, to look to Christ. We rightly respond to worship when we find our joy and delight in Him. We are called as God's people to be glad and rejoice in Him.
God is preparing us to be a people who will rejoice in Him for eternity.
The call to rejoice is repeated in the New Testament. Paul tells the church at Thessalonica:
He writes to the church at Philippi:
Why do we need these exhortations to be joyful? Why the repetition and reminders? It is because we are so prone to lose sight. It is easy to become overwhelmed with circumstances. It is easy to become weighed down with trials. It is easy to lose heart, lose focus and forget what we know to be true in Christ. This is why worship is so crucial. It is one of the reasons why God designed worship and the gathering of church the way He has. Worship redirects us to Christ. It reorients us to His promises. It reminds us of the glory of His gospel and the certainty of His Word. Paul was "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Corinthians 6:10). Though he faced severe trials, he understood the riches that were his in Christ. He knew the reward that was his in knowing and serving Christ. Peter reminds us that in Christ is inexpressible joy.
We have a Savior who suffered and died, who rose again and now intercedes for us. He alone is our source of lasting joy. Even on days when all seems well, we are still great sinners in need of a Savior. And on days when the weight of our sin threatens us with despair, we can look up and find our joy, knowing we have a great Savior who is "able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (Hebrews 7:25). No matter our circumstances, we can always look to Jesus who never changes. Trusting and resting in Him, we always have reason for joy and praise.
©2015 Ken Puls
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