Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ August 6, 2006
“Growing to Serve”
“God’s Praise” Part 5 of 5
Welcome to Celebration Sunday!
Dwight Nelson recently told a true story about the pastor of his church. He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc.
The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and pulled it until the tree bent down, he could them reach up and get the kitten.
That’s what he did, all the while checking his progress in the car. He then figured if he went just a little further, the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he moved the car a little further forward, the rope broke.
The tree went “boing” and the kitten instantly sailed through the air – out of sight.
The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they’d seen a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, “Lord, I just commit this kitten to your keeping”, and went on about his business.
A few days later he was at the grocery store and met one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food. The woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, “Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?”
She replied, ‘You wouldn’t believe this,” and then told him how her little girl had been begging for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the child had begged again, so the Mom finally told her little girl, “Well, if God gives you a cat, I’ll let you keep it.”
She told the pastor, “I watched my child go out in the yard, get down on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you wouldn’t believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed right in front of her.”
· Welcome to a special day here at Cross Creek... a day we have waited for, prayed about, talked about...
· A special day we have worked hard in preparing for... we’ve combined our services... packed out!
· A day when people gave, not out of a grudge or under pressure but give out of gratitude.
· David’s Prayer right after the people gave...
1 Chronicles 29:10-13 Then David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly: "O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. 12 Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength. 13 "O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!
Prayer and Special Building Fund Offering Received
Special Song - “He Gave”
· At this time Pastor Barry will lead us in prayer... Then the children will come & dump in their banks!
· Children returns downstairs & ushers receive special building fund offering!
1 Chronicles 29:14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
· David was now old and looked upon himself as near the end of his life... His heart was enlarged w/ praise
· It sure is sweet seeing God’s children finishing well... found full of faith in the Living God!
· David adores the Lord and publicly ascribes Him praise, thanks for the offering the people gave.
· V14 we see His heart... in humility he asks, “who am I... & people to offer so willingly...?”
We Celebrate by Giving... (1 Chronicles 29:17-22)
1. Willingly – In Integrity (Idea of singleness of heart, complete & undivided)
17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
· David was overwhelmed in seeing the willing response of the people... their sincerity / simplicity
· There was almost a spontaneous response from the people to give from their hearts – generosity
· God loves a cheerful giver... God sees the heart... given with pure motives, in integrity.
· When the people gave toward the temple it was an offering equivalent to $400 million!
· The people had a heart attitude to give as unto the Lord... their hearts were genuine & undiluted
2. Continually – In Loyalty (Stable, ready, prepared)
18 O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.
· David addressed the God of our fathers... a God in covenant with His people... a Promise Keeper!
· Have you read our sign this morning? “God is a Promise Keeper”
· There is over 8800 promises in God’s Word – He can be counted on to fulfill each and everyone!
· Be loyal to the Lord, don’t lose your convictions or your love for Jesus... give of yourself continual
Proverbs 10:24 What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.
· Great consequences depend upon what is innermost (heart) and what is uppermost (God)
· Your heart is command central for all operations of human life... your innermost being
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
3. Unswervingly – In Devotion (faithful, peaceful, complete heart)
19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."
· Asked God to give his son Solomon a perfect, fully dedicated heart toward God and His plan.
· Faithfulness to God’s Word and the tasks God has called him to do – to build the temple.
· When all the activity begins... stay devoted, unswervingly “on target”, focused, not distracted
· What good is it building a temple or a church building w/o obedience to God’s Word???
· Wholehearted, unswerving devotion to use your time, talents & treasures for God
4. Worshipfully – In Praise
20 Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.
· The people joined with David in their adoration of the Lord... they ALL praised the Lord!
· They bowed low in reverent praise & worship in what God was doing among them!
Psalms 100:2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
John 4:23-24 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
· Worship & praise is good for the soul... lifting our hearts to God & sends the Devil fleeing
· Notice the people also honored David as their king... David was an instrument in the hands of God
· Clay in the Potters hand... honoring him actually honored God... Godly leadership is vital.
Neat how praise & worship renews our spirits... make a joyful noise unto the Lord... even pigs do that when they’re eating! Some of you are prison singers... always behind a few bars and never having the right key! You have a voice that should be cultivated... it should be plowed under!
5. Sacrificially – In Abundance
21 The next day they made sacrifices to the LORD and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.
· The people gave financially then the next day they offered abundant sacrifices
· An enormous number of animals were sacrificed (3000) – they gave, they sacrificed to the Lord
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
· God calls each of us to offer all of me in abundance to the Lord – a “living sacrifice” in worship!
6. Joyfully – In God’s Presence
22 They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD that day...
· The people showed a generous gratitude to God and feasted together before Him.
· They ate and drank together in fellowship... they celebrated in the presence of God with great joy.
· Joy is the byproduct of obedience. Joy is the fruit of right relations with God.
· God’s very presence dwells within us – Why are we downcast? God goes with us in everything!
· Let’s take a journey... Paint a picture of the joys being home w/ Jesus in heaven... can you see it?
· This day is our day of celebration before the Lord... for your willing giving in the presence of God!
· Maybe next week you can give... maybe next month... give joyfully... God is here!
After attending church one Sunday morning, a little boy knelt at his bedside that night and prayed, “Dear God, we had a good time at church today—but I wish you had been there!”
Always remember...
See the Invisible – Dream the Incredible – Do the Impossible
Deuteronomy 16:10-11a 10 Then you must celebrate the Festival of Harvest to honor the LORD your God. Bring him a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings you have received from him. 11 It is a time to celebrate before the LORD your God at the place he chooses for his name to be honored. Celebrate with your whole family...
· The festival of Harvest was a celebration of God’s rich provisions for His people.
· They gave a freewill (voluntary) offering in proportion to God’s blessings to them.
· Generous giving followed by generous sharing in a “covered dish” celebration!
Join us... for a Celebration Picnic & Activities! Under the Twin Pavilions at Mary’s Place!
Be sure to pick up your Cross Creek Newsletter!
Big Thank You – Jenn Reese & Jason Davenport for bringing Cross Creek Newsletter together in 1 week!
Big Thank You – All those who labored hard building the Twin Pavilions in 4 weeks!
· Enjoy God’s creation on Cross Creek’s 10 acre plot of earth the Lord has blessed us with!
· I encourage you to walk the paths up behind and beyond “The Rock Center”!
· Many lives have been eternally touched... Catch the vision of what God’s up to here at Cross Creek!
Announcement of offering amount!
Psalms 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Psalms 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Closing prayer of worship / thankfulness / Dedication / blessing on food & facilities at “Mary’s Place”!