239 A Passion for His Presence: Where Worship Sacrifices

We are wrapping up our series on the topic of worship with some honest talk, because here’s the thing: worshipping God from the heart isn’t always easy. 

There are times when worship comes easily—when life is good, prayers are answered, and joy overflows. But what about when it’s not? What about when your heart is heavy, when questions remain unanswered, and when hope feels distant? That is the place where worship sacrifices. 

Some would say it’s hypocritical to praise when you don’t feel like it. God says, it’s not hypocrisy, it’s obedience.  

Hebrews 13:15 says: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name.”

Praise and worship are never to be slaves to our circumstances but masters over them.  

Sacrifice has been part of worship since the beginning. And while Jesus’ death and resurrection mean blood sacrifice is no longer needed, there is still a place for sacrifice in our praise. There is still a time when our worship of God costs us something. Will we worship even then? Is He still worthy of our praise—even when it’s hard? 

Here are three conditions when worship may require sacrifice for you in the days ahead. 

1.     When someone has hurt or wronged you. (Acts 16)

Like Paul and Silas, you, too, to varying degrees, are going to be hurt by people. You’re going to be wronged and mistreated. And you’re going to face the challenge of how you’re going to respond.  Will you commit to offering a sacrifice of praise anyway?  Is God still worthy of your praise?

Christ is often most clearly shown when in our mistreatment, when things are totally unfair, and we worship anyway. It’s then that people wonder, “What is it that you have?  What do you know? Whatever it is, I want it.” 

2.     When you are deeply disappointed. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

What happens to your worship when things don’t turn out the way you’d hoped? For the prophet Habakkuk, his worship rose like a defiant “nevertheless.” Even in the face of all these hard things, even when things don’t go my way…I will rejoice in the Lord. 

3.     When you’re worried or afraid. (Psalm 27)

David is faced with threats of all kinds, yet even in the middle of all these fears, the one thing he knows he needs is worship. He knew that in the sanctuary, in God’s presence, he would find perspective and the recovery of hope. 

Note what happened in each of these stories. Worship came first, and then came the transformation. The sacrifice of praise was offered before circumstances changed. 

Now it’s our turn. Will you allow the circumstances to silence your praise, or will you determine to offer God a sacrifice of praise? Give God the worship that perhaps touches His heart the most, and in the process, you may find Him to be everything you need.

Text: Heb. 13:15; Acts 16; Hab. 3:17-18; Ps. 27

Originally recorded on February 7, 1999, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN