Acts 2:12-16
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.
Why We Worship the Way We Do
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Because God asked for it.
Psalm 150: 1-6
Praise the LORD, Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
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Because praise is my purpose.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
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For who He is.
Psalm 145:3
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness, no one can fathom.
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For what He’s done.
Luke 19: 37-40 MSG
The whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed…Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control! But he said, “If they keep quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
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Because worship changes everything.
Psalm 18:3 NLT
I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
Ezekiel 46:9 NLT
But when the people come in through the north gateway to worship the LORD during the religious festivals, they must leave by the south gateway. And those who entered through the south gateway must leave by the north gateway. They must never leave by the same gateway they came in, but must always use the opposite gateway.
In Spirit and in Truth
John 4:23 NLT
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who worship him that way.
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Worship based on choice not feeling.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
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Worship with everything I have.
2 Samuel 24:24
“No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
Mark 12:30
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
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Worship expecting God to respond.
James 5:8 NLT
Come close to God and God will come close to you.