This devotion is a monthly ministry of the Pee Dee Baptist Association, comprised of 32 Southern Baptist Churches in Dillon and Marlboro Counties. For more information, call 843-774-8062. Featured this month is Rev. James Smith, the pastor of East Dillon Baptist Church in Dillon.

What Should You Bring
To Worship?
Text: Psalm 100
Psalm 100 is a Psalm which speaks of the Millennial Kingdom, Jesus’ thousand year reign on earth. This Psalm describes what worship will be like during the time Jesus reigns in glory and power upon this earth. That glorious time is not yet, but we the Redeemed are in the Family of God and we are commanded to gather and worship Him in His church.
• “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25)
With this in mind “What Should We Bring to Worship?” when we assemble as the Family of God? Psalm 100 tells us exactly what all of us, The Redeemed should bring to worship.
I. We Are to Bring The Right Spirit
Ps.100:1-2 – “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”
What is the right spirit?
A. The Right Spirit is A Shouting Spirit
In verse 1 we’re told to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” Think on this moment and let’s see what God commands here.
• “Joyful noise” in Hebrew this read “joyful shout.” This “shout” is “unto the Lord” and it’s alright to use your “outside voice” He’s our creator, our redeemer, our defender, and our sustainer! Not saying to copycat the emotions and gestures of others, but if you’re SAVED there’s a shout of some kind within.
• And notice- its to be “joyful.” Meaning gleefully, gladly, merrily!
The right spirit is a shouting spirit! Genuine praise is always vocal, visible and public, unashamed. God gets no glory when we hold it in!
“Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, …” (Ps.35:27)
“O clap your hands, all ye people: shout unto God with the voice of triumph” (Ps.47:1)
B. The Right Spirit is A Serving Spirit
Verse 2a says “Serve the Lord with gladness:” “Serve” means “to be in bondage to” this speaks of un-refusing obedient and it pictures one who is “to be at ones beckon call.”
As Redeemed we’re the Lord’s Property- “…ye are bought with a price…” (1 Cor.6:20). Therefore we are to gladly do what He commands without question of hesitation. We are to “serve the Lord with gladness…” – “Gladness” in Hebrew is translated “mirth” a word unfamiliar to us which means “with gladness or gaiety accompanied with laughter.” We are to be so filled with love for our Redeemer that regardless of what He asks of us, we’re tickled beyond control to obey and serve!
“Gladness” also pictures a “wide-eyed, ear to ear grinning child on Christmas morn!” Our gladness to serve Hi affects the whole body- mouths fly open, eyes get wide, faces light up, hearts are lifted, soul’s rejoice, bodies, arms, and belly all shake with glee!
The Right Spirit is A Shouting Spirit, A Serving Spirit, and:
C. The Right Spirit is A Singing Spirit
Verse 2b says “…come before His presence with singing”
“Singing” – this little word refers to “a ringing cry, a shout of joy” Individual singing is not a Talent Search; it’s a time of personal worship and adoration of our Creator and Redeemer! Congregational singing is not a means of giving a Church Service length, your pastor will take care of that, it’s a time for the Redeemed as a whole to worship the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer!
So often many stand silent, giving excuses of “can’t sing, not an emotional person, I’m bashful.” Let me share with you why ALL REDEEMED should sing.
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” (Ps.40:1-3)
This Psalm shares what He did for us when He Saved Us! Says He put “a new song in my mouth” meaning that if there was an old life style song, He Replaced It, and if there was no song, He Gave Us One!
What Should We Bring to Worship?
1. We Are to Bring the Right Spirit
II. We Are to Bring The Right Submission
Ps.100:3- “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
What does this mean?
A. We Are to Submit to The Person of God
Version 3 says “know ye that the Lord he is God… “The word “know” means to make a distinction. We are to distinctly realize that the Lord, that He and He alone is God! Do you have this nailed down in your life?
Who is your God? You may ask “How can I know who my God is?” The answer is simple. What do you give the most of your time, talents, and treasures to? Whatever your answer is, That’s Your God!
Have you made the right distinction and acknowledge the Lord Jesus as the God of your life?
B. We Are to Submit to The Purpose of God
In verse 3 we’re reminded that we are what we are because He has “made us?” The word “made: here means “to take something and fashion something new out of it.” This is exactly what God has done with each one of us who are saved! He took our old sinful clay and formed a new creature out of it by His power! 1 Cor.15.10 says: “I am what I am by the grace of God…”
God’s purpose for saving us and changing us:
• Is Not just to redeem us from hell;
• Is Not so we can feel good from time to time
• Is Not so we can look down on unsaved,
• He saved and changed us so that we might serve Him by shining His light to others, and by sharing His love in the Gospel with others.
God saves and changes us so others may look at us and not see us but see Jesus, His Son!
C. We Are to Submit to The Promise of God
In verse 3 there’s a phrase we’re familiar with, but so often we rush by it. Verse 3 reminds us that “we are His people and the sheep of his pasture.” Here we’re reminded that we belong to Him and as a shepherd cares for the welfare of his sheep, so does our God and Savior look after us with infinite care!
• David understood this, read Psalm 23:1-6
• Shepherds provide, Place to dwell, Protection from enemies and harm, Provisions for well-being, and all that is needed by the sheep.
Our God and Savior promises to supply is with all our needs according to His riches, let us take Him at His Word and trust Him!
What Should We Bring to Worship?
I. We Are to Bring the Right Spirit
II. We Are to Bring the Right Submission
III. We Are to Bring the Right Sacrifice
Ps. 100:4-5 – “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
In the days of The Tabernacle and The Temple the priest was to enter the Holy Of Holies with the sacrifice and it had to be the proper, the right sacrifice, if it wasn’t it mean death for the priest.
Now, as far as blood scarifies, we no longer bring that anymore, Jesus has paid the ultimate sacrifice as The Lamb of God. But bringing the Right Sacrifice to Worship is important.
Let me say this: many saints have death in them because of their lack of sacrificing unto the Lord. Romans 12:1 says – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
When we get complacent with our commitment to Christ, His Church, and His Commandments, the spiritual thirst, hunger, and drive begins to draw up and die. Many things we should sacrifice unto our Lord but three vital areas are Our Time, Our Talents, and Our Treasures.
When we fail to sacrifice these areas we slowly drift into a backslidden condition, still saved but fellowship is broken, joy is missing, excitement grows dim.
Our text brings to our attention the importance of being in fellowship because then we’re able to bring the sacrifices Psalm 100 reminds us in verse 4 that we are “enter in His gates…” this is an invitation, we’re invited to come into His presence, and when we come we are to come “with thanksgiving” and “with praise.”
A. We Are to Enter with Thanksgiving and Praise for His Goodness
Verse 5 – “For the LORD is good;…” He is good meaning He is pleasant, beautiful, delightful, joyful, precious and righteous!
B. We Are to Enter with Thanksgiving and Praise for His Grace
Verse 5b – “his mercy is everlasting;…” “Mercy” means not getting what we deserve, friends that is GRACE! If that doesn’t pull thanksgiving and praise out of us, it’s not in us!
C. We Are to Enter with Thanksgiving and Praise for His Guarantee
Verse 5c – “his truth endureth to all generations.” Simply put, while the years pile up, not one single promise of God’s Word has failed or will fail!!!
Hebrews 6:18 tells us that God cannot lie, so what He has promised in His Word will be as good 10,000 years from now as it was the day He promised it!
What Should You Bring to Worship? Don’t forget it Sunday Morning and Evening and Wednesday!