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How do you hear from God? — Part #3 (Hearing God as we worship?)
Last session we looked into the question: What is worship to God all about?
— In this session, we ask: Does God require our worship?

SEE Psalm 100:1-5 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!  (2)  Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!  (3)  Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  (4)  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!  (5)  For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

— Our theme of these studies is to examine how we hear from God.

Q1/ — How can you hear from God without entering into His presence? (Even reading His word requires His Holy Spirit to help us understand the truth therein.)

Do we expect God to MESSAGE us, or call our CELL PHONE?
– Does He even desire a long-distance relationship?

God’s Word tells us to: (7) “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:7-8)

— God desires us to draw near in a loving relationship. He wants us to freely come into His presence. That is why Jesus came to die for each of us to pay the penalty of sin, so we can be made pure, pure enough to be in God’s Holy presence.

— And we should want to be in God’s presence.

Q2/ — In Vs.8 What is the great benefit of desiring God’s presence with us? (SEE underlined portion.)

Q3/ — Can you think of any reasons people would not want to be in God’s presence?
— Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding. Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence? (Psalm 139:6-7)

Now, back to Psalm 100 as it teaches us about entering into God’s presence… (Fill in the blanks.)

(Vs.2-4) _________ ______ LORD with gladness! Come into his presence _______ __________!  (3)  Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  (4)  _________ _______ __________ with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

— First, we see that the main purpose of worship is to minister to the Lord, not for Him to minister to you.

— Secondly, the psalmist teaches us to know who we are praising in our worship, and who we are…

(SEE Vs.3) Know that the LORD, ____ ___ ______! It is ____ ______ ________ us…

Our worship of our Creator should be from a mind that wants to praise and thank Him.

Q4/– How can a song glorify (exalt) God? – (Does the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” glorify God?)

— So there is more to song-worship than a pleasant and joyful tune.

With that in mind, look at the thoughts contained in a VERY, VERY OLD HYMN…

— This is to point out that worship is not about what is contemporary and ‘cool’.

— It’s about the words therein that enable our hearts to reach up to God with adoration and praise.

After we examine Martin Luther’s Hymn, we’ll enter our prayer time.

(You will need to understand that these lyrics were written 500 yrs. Ago)

The old-english wording can be confusing. — I am sure we can benefit by exploring this further.

A mighty fortress is our God – author Martin Luther

— The lines of this song are numbered for further discussion.

Verse #1

1. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.
2. Our Helper, He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
3. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe.
4. His craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate,
   On earth is not his equal.

*1 I found 15 references to God as our fortress in the Bible – SEE: Psalm 91:2 as an example.

*2 I was a bit confused as to what was meant by mortal ills. – Can you think of two differing interpretations?
SEE: Romans 13:14 & Deuteronomy 31:16-18

*3 Who is our ancient foe? – 1^st Peter 5:8 — In our nations and in the world, have those attacks ceased?

*4 On earth is not his equal. – Is there any human power that can stand against this foe?

Verse #2

5.  Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing.
6.  Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He,
The Lord of Hosts His name, from age to age the same.
And He must win the battle.

*5 Were not the right Man on our side – This phrase is a bridge of thought between the understanding that Satan is superior to our human warfare, and that we need someone SPECIAL to battle for us. (WHO?)

*6 The author anticipates the question from #5 and is glad to answer and lead our thoughts to Christ.
— What three truths can you find about Jesus in lines of #6?

Verse #3

7.  And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us.
8.  We will not fear for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.
9.  The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him,
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

*7 “this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us” – What struggles and dangers did they face in Martin Luther’s time, as he penned this hymn? SEE Life of Bro. Henry of Zütphen or Sir Patrick Hamilton.

*8 We will not fear – His truth to triumph through us. – SEE: 1^st Peter 5:8-11 To find the answer to how we should respond to the prowling demons is found here…

*9 Do you know what the “One little word shall fell him” is?

Verse #4

10.  That word above all earthly pow’rs, no thanks to them, abideth.
11.  The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth.
12.  Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also
The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still
His kingdom is forever.

*10 “no thanks to them, abideth.” – Can you think of ways Satan tried to eliminate Jesus?

*11 The Spirit and the gifts are ours – What is this referring to? SEE: 1^st Corinthians 12:1-11

*12 Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also – What do you understand when you read or sing this?

Final questions for this discussion — Do you think that these lyrics are inspired? (Why?)