1-25-98..................... God's Diet....................... Neh. 8

by Ronald E. George Jr.

Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play and to play at their worship. As a result, their meanings and values are distorted. Their relationships disintegrate faster than they can keep them in repair, and their lifestyles resemble a cast of characters in search of a plot.

An evangelical leader recently remarked, "The United States has turned away from God. It mocks God. It worships a twentieth century Baal -- incarnated in sensuality, material goods, and immorality of every kind."

Another spokesman described American society as "depraved, decadent and demoralized."

Purpose: To invite the listeners to worship the Lord and be changed by Him.

Scripture Text: Neh. 8:1-12

Nehe 8:1 (KJS) And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that [was] before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the street that [was] before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people [were attentive] unto the book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place. 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day [is] holy; neither be ye grieved. 12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

Worship can be compared to a dinner. We Have come to worship Him.

The Appetizers:

1. Worship Him by gathering together. Who is He to me? He is worth my time! Young and old alike gather to worship.

Hebr 10:25 (KJS) 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.

In Suberbowl 1998 300 million will watch in 17 different languages. 1.5 million will be paid for 30 seconds of commercial time. Tickets will cost 275 dollars a piece.

The Main Course:

2. Worship Him by Hearing the Word of God: Who is He to me? He is worth my attention! I will listen to what the Lord has to say to me. He has something worth listening to .

To worship is:

To quicken the conscience by the holiness of God.

To feed the mind with the truth of God.

To purge the imagination with the beauty of God.

To open the heart to the love of God.

To devote the will to the Purpose of God. -- William Temple

3. Worship Him by Responding to what He has said. Who is He to me? He is worthy of my whole life, therefore I will give my life to Him. I will respond by being obedient to the desires he has in my life. I will stand up for him, raise my hands to him, answer him, bow my head to him, worship him, and repent to Him. I will give to Him my whole life in humility.

The first sermon preached each Sunday is not by the minister, but by you! You preach a message of good cheer when you say "good morning" to those you meet as you are parking, or in the hallway and classrooms. You preach a message of "welcome!" when you slide over in the pew instead of forcing others to squeeze in front of you. You preach a message of hope and joy when you sing enthusiastically during the service. You preach a message of respect when you listen attentively while the special music is presented. You preach a message about faith when you give your tithes and offerings. If your message is positive and consistent, then the message given from the pulpit will be much better received!

The Dessert.

4. Worship Him by Getting up, going to God's dinner, and going out. Who is He to me? He lives within me. get up, eat God's diet, enjoy God for that is our strength. Don't forget to give some of it to others.

A vital part of worship is giving. We are to respond to the needs of the church and God's people in a loving, sacrificial manner. Leslie B. Flynn illustrated this kind of personal giving in his book Worship. He wrote, "A man was packing a shipment of food contributed by a school for the poor people of Appalachia. He was separating beans from powdered milk, and canned vegetables from canned meats. Reaching into a box filled with various cans, he pulled out a little brown paper sack. Apparently one of the pupils had brought something different from the items on the suggested list. Out of the paper bag fell a peanut butter sandwich, an apple, and a cookie. Crayoned in large letters was a little girl's name, 'Christy -- Room 104'. She had given up her lunch for some hungry person."