ARE YOU HAPPY TO WORSHIP TODAY?

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.  Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.  Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:  Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.  

For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.  Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.  For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.  Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good” (Psa. 122:1-9).

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Though the ancient temple does not stand, our attitude and demeanor in worship should never change.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:2, 3).

David discusses four important characteristics about congregational worship.

I. THANKSGIVING

The psalmist views the assembly as a place of thanksgiving. We should be thankful that God has given us the ability to get up, enter these doors, and sit in these pews.

“Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.”  ”I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people” (Psa. 35:18).

Thrones of Judgment “For there are set thrones of judgment.” “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments” (Psa. 119:7).

“Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face” (Psa. 89:14). “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them” (Rev. 20:4).

The Throne of Kingship “the thrones of the house of David.” “Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness” (Prov. 25:5).

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom” (Heb. 1:8).

II. PRAYER

The psalmist felt that prayer was a major component in assembly worship.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18).

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil 4:6).

“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints” (Rev. 5:18).

Prayers Can Be Hindered “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Pet. 3:7).

2. Prayers Can Be Hypocritical “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matt. 6:5).

III. PROSPERITY

Worship is, and always will be prosperous to those who are engaged in it! As long as it is scriptural worship!!!!

“they shall prosper that love thee “they shall prosper that love thee.  Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.”

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psa. 1:3).

“And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it” (Jer. 33:9).

IV. PEACE

What do you find in assembly worship? PEACE!

“For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.  Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.”

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn. 14:27).

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you” (Jn. 20:19).