How to find Gladness in Serving God! Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

Today, our sermon is about serving the Lord! Finding Joy and Gladness in being a Christian and faithfully Serving God.

How can we serve God acceptably?

Serving God: Acceptably or Unacceptably

Serving : God or serving Satan. Right or Wrong Godly or Ungodly Good or Bad Scripturally - unscripturally God’s way Man’s way

John 5:39-47

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Search the Scriptures And believe them!

# 1 .Some want to serve God their way Big problem: God’s ways are not man’s ways. Isa. 55:8-9 Jerm . 10:23 Prov. 14:12 King Saul. I Sam. 15:22-23

#2 . Some want to serve God by doing what others do John 12:42,43 Give us a King…that we might be Like the other nations round about Us. I Sam. 8:6 2 John 9 Rev. 22:18,19

#3 . Some want to serve God by changing God’s Word. Prov. 30:5-6 Matt. 15:9 I Pet. 4:11 Let’s add instrumental music to Our worship…Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 Let’s eat the Lord’s Supper on Sat. night. Acts 20:7

#4 .Some want to serve God acceptably ..His way! John 9:4 Acts 17:11

Our worship and service must be in spirit and in truth! John 4:23-24

Unacceptable I Cor. 13:1 …1. If one could speak with the tongues of men If one could speak with the tongues of angels And have not charity (love) he would be as a sounding brass, or A tinkling cymbal. UNACCEPTABLE SERVICE!

Unacceptable I Cor. 13:2 ..1. If a person had the gift of prophecy… ..speaking or foretelling for God… 2. If a person understood all mysteries 3. If a person had all knowledge, 4. If a person had faith, so much so that he could remove mountains, and have not charity, (love) he would Accomplish nothing. Unacceptable service

I Cor. 13:3 1. If a person were to bestow, give, all His goods to feed the poor…a great Work…tending and serving the poor… 2. And, if a person gave his body to be burned, physically die, and not have Charity (love) it profiteth him nothing. Unacceptable service!

Examples of people who served God acceptably 1. Abel…He was righteous. Heb. 11:4 2. Enoch – He pleased God. Heb. 11:5 2. Noah-Heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb. 11:7 3. Abraham . Heb.11:.left ..obeyed God. 4. Paul “I have “..2 Tim. 4:7,8 5. Peter 2 Pet. 1:3 6. Sara ..She judged God faithful. Heb. 11:11 7. Lydia - Acts 16:14 She attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

People who were not acceptable 1. Cain…killed his brother. Gen. 4:8; I John 3:12 who was of that wicked one and slew his brother. Why? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. 2. Achan..went to battle..but what he did caused him to be rejected. Joshua 7:20 3. Judas. An appointee of Jesus…yet, Betrayed the Lord. Matt. 27:3-5 4. The word of God is so important; John 12:48

There is joy and gladness in serving God right! Psalms 122:1

How about you? Are you serving God? Are you happy, joyful and full of Gladness by ‘looking unto Jesus” Heb. 12:1-2 and serving the One who died for you? Rom. 5:8,9

Is it possible to serve God acceptably? Yes, even in 2013!

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say, Rejoice! God is so good…let us serve Him !