Preparing To Rejoice In Him // February 18, 2018

PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR WORSHIP ON FEBRUARY 18, 2018

REFLECTION

“Corporate worship is designed to move the meditation of your heart from self-centered complaint to God-glorifying praise. Every day of your life you will find reasons to complain and every day of your life you will have reasons to be thankful. These two themes, complaint and gratitude, pull at the heart of each of us. They form fundamentally different ways of viewing the world because they are rooted in fundamentally different ways of viewing yourself. What is your default language? Do you find it easier to complain than to give thanks?

This is where corporate worship helps profoundly. The regular gathering of God’s people for worship serves to shift your meditation from complaint to gratitude by reminding you of who you really are and confronting you with the beautiful and faithful mercy of God toward you.” – Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies

“We all know that the opposite of planning is not a wonderful flow of deep, spontaneous experiences in prayer. The opposite of planning is the same old rut. If you don’t plan a vacation, you will probably stay home and watch TV. The natural, unplanned flow of spiritual life sinks to the lowest ebb of vitality.” – John Piper

WORSHIP IN SONG :: The Heart Of Worship

When the music fades all is stripped away and I simply come
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless Your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself is not what You have required
You search much deeper within through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You all about You Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You all about You Jesus

King of endless worth no one could express how much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor all I have is Yours, ev’ry single breath

GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP :: Hebrews 13:15-16

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. [16] Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV)

CONFESSION OF FAITH :: Heidelberg Catechism, Questions 86-87

Q. 86. Since we have been delivered from our misery by grace through Christ without any merit of our own, why then should we do good works?

A. Because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, is also restoring us by his Spirit into his image, so that with our whole lives we may show that we are thankful to God for his benefits, so that he may be praised through us, so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ.

Q. 87. Can those be saved who do not turn to God from their ungrateful and unrepentant ways?

A. By no means. Scripture tells us that no unchaste person, no idolater, adulterer, thief, no covetous person, no drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like will inherit the kingdom of God.

GOD’S WORD PREACHED :: Philippians 2:14-18

[14] Do all things without grumbling or disputing, [15] that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, [16] holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. [17] Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. [18] Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (ESV)