Thanks

What is Thanks?

• from Chapter 9 of “Worship’s Journey” by Kevin Norris

As I approached the microphone and the sea of faces before me, I inwardly expressed my heart to God. “Thank you Lord for dying on the cross for me. I have been saved by your grace. Thank you!” Once again, I needed to be in the right frame of mind to lead a larger group in worship. Successfully leading a congregation in exuberant praise is “heady wine,” when the band is “in the groove” and everyone is right into it. As worship leaders, we are tempted to become intoxicated with our own success, as it “goes to our head” and becomes pride.

It is easy to accept the glory for ourselves for what God is doing, to feel that it is our talents that make meetings go so well. A pastor friend gave me a sound word of advice when he saw God using me to lead others in worship. He said, “Stay close to the message of the cross.” So, many times when I was tempted to fall into the pride trap, I would thank God for salvation as I began to lead worship.

As I continued to thank God in everyday life, I began to understand its importance in praise and worship.

What does Psalm 100:4 suggest to us about thanksgiving, gates, and entering God’s presence? Gates are an entry point. They keep the wrong people out and let the right people in.  

I remember going to Progressive Field, the home field of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. As I lined up outside the gate, I could see thousands of people inside the stadium. I love the thrill of being in a packed stadium, hearing the crowd cheer, enjoying two teams locked in battle! As I approached the gate, I was confident that I would soon be seated. Why? Because I held something that qualified me for entrance to the stadium. It was a ticket for that particular game on that very day. The attendant looked at my ticket and allowed me through the gates. I was in.

What qualifies us to enter the presence of a king? There are special procedures we must learn if we are to meet a king or queen. What about the King of kings?  We enter his gates with thanksgiving. I wondered what thanksgiving had to do with qualifying. 

We read in the book of Hebrews that we can enter God’s presence because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. 

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain . . . ”   – Hebrews 10:19-20

In the Old Testament, the High Priest in Israel was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies,  just once a year, and only after sprinkling blood of the sin offering. Our Great High Priest Jesus died in our place, a once-and-for-all sacrifice for sin. Now we don't have to kill bulls and sheep to make it possible to be in his presence. And better yet, we can approach him anytime.

Jesus taught us to remember his death and resurrection by talking about bread and wine at the passover meal. He wanted us to continually give thanks for his sacrifice on the cross. We remember, and give thanks for what he has done. Our attitude toward the cross has much to do with experiencing his presence.

In Psalm 24:3 David asks “who qualifies to be in God’s presence?”  

“Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?”

It is the ones who have clean hands and a pure heart. We are cleansed from sin and have our hearts changed by trusting in God’s forgiveness. We can “stand in the holy place” because Jesus paid the price for us. 

I began to see the importance of our heart attitude if we want to see the King. It was part of the protocol, the correct way to approach him. We can’t approach Jesus with pride in our heart. In a larger group, in corporate worship, we must gather together in humility, but with confidence in Jesus’s sacrifice. That’s the way to enter God’s courts. The presence of God in a church meeting is different from the way he is with us personally throughout our lives. To experience and feel his touch has been my goal in leading others in worship. For me, it has always begun with my own thankfulness for the cross.

In Deuteronomy 8, Moses urged the people of Israel to give thanks to God when they became prosperous in the promised land. He warned that if they did not thank God, then their hearts would be lifted up in pride and take the credit for their success.

We enter his gates by thanking Jesus for what he has done for us on the cross. Through thanks and humility we qualify to enter. Only the cleansed and forgiven can live in the presence of such a holy God. He does not receive us because we are mature or our singing sounds great, he welcomes the humble who trust in his forgiveness and acceptance. He welcomes us into his presence even though we may be weak and fail occasionally. God’s incredible grace allows us to “enter boldly into the throne room” (Hebrews 10:19).

Worship leaders must continually remember that God’s enjoyment of our worship does not depend on how our songs sound.  I don't think God is impressed with our music. He is the inventor of music after all. A father is not usually impressed with the technical skill of his three-year-old daughter when she paints a picture for him. He is impressed with her heart of love. So it is with our songs. It is not the brilliance of our musicianship or the eloquence of our words that God accepts. He looks at our hearts to see who he lets through the gates into his presence. He detests fake worship (Isaiah 29:13) no matter how good it sounds.

Thanking God involves both remembrance and proclamation. There is great power in recalling what God has done and speaking it out. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” 

The children of Israel often forgot what God had done (Psalm 77). I find it amazing that they would forget miracles like the Red Sea parting, but they did. We can be just like that; we easily forget what God has done in our lives and in those around us. He wants us to both remember his good works, and to vocalize them.

Remembering God’s goodness and speaking out our appreciation has many rewards. Thanks gives us hope for the future, strengthens our faith and guards against unbelief.

I was part of a YWAM outreach from our Holmsted base in England, to Venice, Italy, when I was faced with a challenge. After our month on the streets sharing God’s love, I was invited to travel to Denmark with YWAM friends. Afterward I would need to find a way to get back to England. It sounded like fun, but I had been learning not to rely on my own thinking. I needed to pray and see if it was something that God was blessing. I went away and prayed and felt God was allowing me to go. 

One reason they asked me was the need to fill their van with paying passengers! I did not have the money to go with them or to get back to England, so I prayed a prayer often repeated while serving with YWAM. “Lord, I feel you are leading me to do this, now, will you please provide for me.”  The very next day I received a check from New Zealand, which was quite unexpected. I cashed the check and told the friends I could travel with them. 

The next day we left, traveling through Europe. After the time in Denmark, I arrived in London on an overnight ferry and found my way to Victoria Station to catch the train back to the base at Holmsted Manor, West Sussex. I remembered how far I had traveled on the proceeds of that check. My heart was full of gratitude. That check arrived the day after I had prayed, and the day before the van left for Denmark. Could there have been a more precise timing for God’s provision? One day earlier and it wouldn’t have been an answer to prayer, one day later and I wouldn’t have been able to make the trip. Was that just good luck, a coincidence? No, for me it was one more example of God’s faithfulness and goodness.

Many times since then I have remembered that story and told it to others. Now, even as I write I am remembering God’s faithfulness during that time. It gives me courage and hope to keep believing him for the provision to do his will. 

A few years ago we had an opportunity to buy a home. My wife, Liz, and I had often dreamed of owning our own but an opportunity had not arisen. Until then! When we were confronted with a deadline to make the final decision to buy, we still had not received enough for the deposit. We gained courage by remembering God’s provision over many years. We heard God’s clear “yes,” made the decision, and within two weeks we had the full deposit. God is good! The stories we tell unfold a convincing picture of God’s faithfulness to provide.

If we forget what God has done we can lapse into unbelief when we encounter challenges in our walk with God. When we give thanks we are built up in our faith because we are concentrating on God’s ability not our own. When we remember how God has provided for us in the past, and thank him, we gain confidence in the future and courage to act. We are encouraged to believe he can and will do it again!

Thanksgiving for the cross opens us to the presence of God in worship. Thanksgiving for God’s past guidance and provision encourages us to trust and proclaim God’s faithfulness to ourselves and others. And it leads to a awareness of his character that gets expressed in praise. But what is praise? Let’s find out!