Sermon Notes for Sunday Service on 3 Dec 2023 by Ps Justin
Introduction
God is our Creator; He is our Father; He is our King. Therefore we praise Him.
Message
Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; he will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. - Psalm 149:1-5
In the old testament, worship is done this way. But it is not just about the music, the singing, the dancing. In the new testament, we will worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). You can worship God anywhere; you don’t need to go to any special place. Worshiping in truth means being aligned with the will of God. God makes all grace to be upon us; there is unlimited favour with us. It is by the grace of God that we can do the things we do.
Sing to Him a “new song” of faith, joy and salvation.
God looks at our hearts. He loves all his children.
Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; - Deuteronomy 7:9
As God is so faithful and remembers us, can we also remember those who have not heard about Christ? Recognise the importance of salvation and the spiritual and physical needs of our loved ones and the body of Christ. Communicate the priceless spiritual knowledge of faith, joy and salvation. Be full of faith in Him for you have seen the unfailing love of God in your lives.
Sing to Him a “new song” of praise in giving, tithing and offering.
Two things bring us away from God - pride, and money. Tithing in the old testament refers to one-tenth of what we have. God does not need our ten percent. What He wants is our heart. Giving our ten percent demonstrates our commitment and generosity. If we are generous, blessings will flow into our lives. Our vats will overflow with wine.
Tithing is a form of worship in which we show God respect (Proverbs 3:9-10; Matthew 19:21). Honour God with our possessions and first fruit. Don’t neglect tithing. How does God want His church to be financed? Tithing and offering are consistently mentioned in the bible. It is not “your” money. The truth is that God owns everything. Tithes and offerings are a way of honouring him and acknowledging the one who gives everything to us. Realise that God owns everything, including ourselves (Psalm 24:1). Don’t be so arrogant to think that you own everything you have.
Be willing and cheerful in giving, consistently and generously (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). Those who sow bountifully, will reap bountifully. Those who sow sparingly, will reap sparingly. You reap what you sow. Think about the widow with the two copper coins. She gave away her whole livelihood. It is not about how much you have given, but about how much you have left after you have given. God wants our heart.
Closing
Seek first the kingdom of God. Remove your love of money. Sing to Him a “new song” of faith, joy and salvation. Sing to Him a “new song” of praise in giving, tithing and offering.
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