Worshipping and Praising God as Adonai Genesis 15; Romans 14:7-9; Philippians 2:1-11 Romans 14:7-9 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Philippians 2:1-11 1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The names of God reveal the character and attributes of God to us that we might truly know Him. There are over 700 different descriptions of God in the Bible. In studying the Names of God we found when we met God as: Elohim God This name speaks of His Personality (He is all we need, He has all we need and He is doing all we need done.) Genesis 1 El Elyon God The Most High God This name speaks of His Position (He is both Sovereign and Supreme in Position and Power.) Genesis 14:17-20 El Roi - He is the God Who Sees. This name speaks of His Perception Genesis 16:13-15 El Olam The Everlasting God This name speaks of His Permanence Genesis 21:33
El Shaddai The Almighty God This name speaks of His Power in our Lives Genesis 17 Adonai Lord This name speaks of His Place in Our Lives Genesis 15 Psalms 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. When Abraham met and acknowledged God as Adonai he was forever changed. Before he had a good religion but now he had a great relationship. This is so true of so many people, maybe even some here today. There is a big difference between being aware of God, having a religion and having a personal living intimate relationship with God. Remember the Hebrew name, Adonai is translated Lord in our English Bible. Meaning He is Lord, He is Master of our lives. When we acknowledge His Lordship over us, it means that we recognized and accept the fact that we are His possession. And because of that, He is responsible to protect us and provide for our every need. It is indeed a blessed experience to have such a great and wonderful Protector and Provider. Other Old Testament Examples of Prophets, Priest and Kings who acknowledged His Lordship and then experience His provisions for their lives are: 1) Moses At the burning Bush Exodus 4:10 But Moses said to the LORD, Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue. 2) Joshua at defeat of Israel at Ai looks for direction from his Adonai Joshua 7:7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! 3) Gideon in the defeating of the Midianites Judges 6:15 And he said to him, Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father s house. 4) David In his prayer of gratitude to God s promise to build the temple through his son. 2 Samuel 7:18-22 18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!
20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 5) Isaiah heard voice of Adonai Isaiah used to the king s courts and maybe was a little proud. Isaiah 6:1, 8, 1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here I am! Send me. 6) Jeremiah was a humble insecure child. Jeremiah 1:6 Then I said, Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth. 7) Ezekiel used name Adonai Jehovah 200 times Ezekiel 3:11 And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, whether they hear or refuse to hear. 8) Daniel used Adonai 10 times in 17 verses in his prayer of confession. Daniel 9:3-4 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, So prophets, priest and kings recognized God s right to command and direct them according to His will as the Lord of their lives. In Philippians 2 we learn to Praise Him as Lord It is in our nature as a believer vs. 5 1. We praise Him Inherently Let this mind be in you A. It is the Nature of a Christian to praise the Lord. Not praising the Lord just to say Praise the Lord An instruction or just something people say a byword like PTL You ascribe to Him all that He is your life. You say good things about Jesus Let the redeemed of the Lord say so B. It is the Need of the world to hear you praise the Lord We praise everything else to the world Our favorite person
Our favorite football, baseball team Our car, our clothes, our job, our church.. Does the world around us think that we would rather talk about Jesus than anything else.. They need to hear us. We have no difficulty doing this at a football game But have a hard time in getting into a praise worship service.. Need to check out our salvation. 2. You Need To Praise the Lord Intelligently Not just let your mind be open to what ever comes into your mind put your mind in neutral.. No place in scripture where such a thing is practiced or justified. We are to have Christ Mind.. What does it mean to Praise Him Intelligently Know Who He Is Knowing What He Has Done Know Where He is Right Now Who He Is- Vs. 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, He is God in the Flesh He is not just like God, an example of God, He is God. John 14: he that has seen me has seen the Father. What He Did - Vs. 6-8 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Thought it not robbery to be equal with God.. Gave up His right to heaven Took on the likeness of man Was obedient to go to death. He died for our sins and purchased our salvation. Where He Is - Vs. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, He is highly exalted At the right Hand of God - Hebrews 1 & 12 He is the audience of your praise. Illustration of the boy who was rescued from the fire in England by a man and later put up for adoption.
3. You Praise Him Immediately Vs. 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.. Don t wait for a church worship service The mention of His Name.. We bow in adoration We confess that He is Lord Adonai. Today only a Christian can ascribe praise to Him. The only way to get to heaven is to just Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life. One day you will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord God, you are right Jesus is Lord. When you get up in the morning you can praise the Lord because: You are a believer and it is your nature You realize who He is, what He has done for you and where He is right now. You praise Him at the very thought and mention of His Name.