OBCI Sunday Morning Worship Service

Novvember 7, 2021

Rev. Teofilito Rufon 's Sermon:

AN IMPERATIVE ORDER FROM ABOVE

- Imperative - authoritative command

* Text: Psalm 100:1-5

I. WE ARE COMMANDED TO SHOUT

* Psalm 100:1- Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

- “make a joyful noise all ye lands”

- “SHOUT FOR JOY!”

• Today, news is bad:

⁃ Job loss and unemployment

⁃ Gasoline price fluctuations

⁃ Things have gotten so bad because of pandemic

• Question: How do you SHOUT FOR JOY when the world seems to be crumbling in around you?

• Whether or not we feel in the thanksgiving mood, the command is CLEAR and BOLD: “Make a joyful
noise!” or “SHOUT FOR JOY!”.

• SHOUT FOR JOY:

⁃ That God is unchangeable,

⁃ That God is unshakable,

⁃ That God is unstoppable,

⁃ That in God nothing is impossible.

• SHOUT FOR JOY:

⁃ That God is mighty and strong,

⁃ That God is faithful and true,

⁃ That God still fights for His people today.

 • SHOUT FOR JOY:

⁃ That God is our refuge,

⁃ That God is our hope in every storm,

⁃ That God guards our ways,

⁃ That God is the most powerful force we can have surrounding us.

• SHOUT FOR JOY:

⁃ That God is giving and gracious,

⁃ That God is compassionate and merciful,

⁃ That God’s promises are powerful.

II. WE ARE COMMANDED TO SERVE

* Psalm 100:2- Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

- “serve the Lord with gladness”

• We are created to serve God.

* Ephesians 2:10- For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them.

• “What you are is God’s gift to you; what you do is your gift to God." (Old Danish proverb)

• God doesn’t want you serving Him only because you are supposed to. He wants you serving Him
because you LOVE HIM.

• Serving God is not meant to be a form of drudgery but a delight.

• Serving God is not a burden but a privilege.

• Privilege - a benefit not enjoyed by all.

• Serving God is not an obligation but a great opportunity.

• Opportunity - a chance to do something.

• Today is an opportunity to serve God. Don’t waste it. Don’t be among those who will say, “If only I
had a chance."

• Serve God NOW. Tomorrow might be too late.

III. WE ARE COMMANDED TO SING

* Psalm 100:2- (aforesaid)

- “come before His presence with singing”

- When we sing, we’re doing what God asks of us.

- When we sing, we are spiritually strengthened for TRIAL.

* Acts 16:24-25

24- Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in
the stocks.

25- And at midnight Paul snd Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

- The Bible says, even in suffering, SING!

- The Bible says, worry less, sing more!

* Psalm 42:8- Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, snd in the night his song
shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

- “and in the night his song shall be with me”

• Meaning:

⁃ When I lose my health - His songs shall be with me.

⁃ When my heart is broken - His songs shall be with me.

⁃ When I lose a loved one - His songs shall be with me.

⁃ When friends and loved ones desert me - His songs shall be with me.

⁃ When my business fails - His songs shall be with me.

⁃ When my dreams shatter - His songs shall be with me.

⁃ When my plans fail - His songs shall be with me.

⁃ When everything else in my life fails - His songs shall be with me.

IV. WE ARE COMMANDED TO SUBMIT

* Psalm 100:3- Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselve; we are
his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

- SUBMISSION involves:

• Admitting and accepting the fact that He’s God, and we are not.

• Admitting and accepting that God saved us; we cannot save ourselves.
 • Admitting and accepting that God is the creator; we are His creation.

• Admitting and accepting that God is the Father; we are His children.

• A slave never dictates to a master.

• If Jesus is Lord of your life, you are going to do what He tells you to do.

• When Jesus becomes your Lord, He should have complete control over:

⁃ Your relationships

⁃ Your money

⁃ Your possessions

⁃ Your career

⁃ Your family

⁃ Your time

⁃ Your mind

⁃ Your body

⁃ Your everything

• Famous quote: “Ye call me master and obey me not; If I condemn you, BLAME ME NOT!”

V. WE ARE COMMANDED TO SACRIFICE

* Psalm 100:4- Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto
him, and bless his name.

- “enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with PRAISE”

* Hebrews 13:15- By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit
of our lips giving thanks to his name.

“let us offer the SACRIFICE of PRAISE”

• A “sacrifice” is an offering to God- the giving of our best to the one whom we love and serve.

• “Praise is one kind of offering we bring to God, giving Him the best of our heart and soul."

• Meaning of “Sacrifice of Praise”:

⁃ The greatest sacrifice is when you don’t get what you want, but still you are able to say, “Praise the
Lord!"
 ⁃ The ultimate sacrifice of praise is not how loudly you praise the Lord in happy times, but how
deeply you worship God in difficult times.

• A “sacrifice of praise” is:

~ worshiping God in spite of pain,

~ thanking God during trials,

~ trusting God when tempted,

~ surrendering to God while suffering,

~ loving God no matter what.