Come Home to Celebration

Jan 2, 2015 Come Home to Celebration by Rick Warren “Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him… his name is the LORD.” Psalm 68:4 (ESV) Do you want to get back to God? You first have to get fed up, then own up to your sin, and then offer up your life in sacrifice. Finally, you celebrate. In the story of the prodigal son, it’s important to notice the father’s response:“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him …. The father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate’” (Luke 15:20a, 22 NIV). The prodigal’s father is like your heavenly father. No matter what you’ve done, when you come home to God, he wraps you in his love. He gives you his best and says, “All is forgiven! Go get the robe. Go get the shoes. Let’s have a feast! My child has returned to me.” You come home to celebration, not condemnation. And God wants you to join him in celebration as you give him your praise. You celebrate your transformation by simply saying, “Thank you, God. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your goodness. I lift up my praise!” The Bible says in Psalm 68:4, “Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him … his name is the LORD” (ESV). For your own transformation, you need to start singing at church. You need to celebrate what God has done in your life and thank him through song. Some of you might call yourself “prison singers” — you’re always behind a few bars and you never have the right key! But the Bible doesn’t say to make your singing pretty; it says make it joyful. You can do that! Anybody can make a joyful noise. Sing your praise to God — not just for who he is but also for the transformation he’s made in your life! Talk It Over Based on your experience with your earthly father, what do you expect of God when you mess up? What keeps you from expressing your praise to God through singing? What does it mean to make a joyful noise? PS...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqLxtfkMILA Just do it! TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.” (I Chronicles 28:20, ESV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Fear not. That is the message David had for his son, Solomon. For many years, David wanted to build a temple for the Lord. But God told Him that specific job belonged to his son, Solomon. Solomon was young and inexperienced, and even though he knew he had a mandate from God, he was intimidated by the prospect of building a great house of worship, one that would be a dwelling place for the Most High. You can probably understand his apprehension. But his father David had some good advice for him. He told his son, “Forget your fear. God is bigger than your problems. He is bigger than the temple you are going to build. He is bigger than any adversity that you might face. So just get busy and do your part and God will do the rest.” Perhaps as this new year approaches, you have some changes that need to be made. Maybe you need a renovation in your marriage, finances, health, or emotions. Whatever your individual needs may be, notice the words of David, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.” A PRAYER FOR TODAY God, I’m excited to see what You have planned for me this year. Whatever I face, I will not be intimidated. I will begin this year by seeing myself as You do — happy, healthy, and prosperous. Thank you for the gift of another year. In Jesus’ name, Amen.