Thankfulness is meant to be expressed.
Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people... Ps. 149:1-4
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Ps. 150:3-6
Do not underestimate the value of pomp and ceremony.
Definition of Pomp:
1. Dignified or magnificent display; splendor
2. Vain or ostentatious display
Definition of Ceremony:
1. A formal prescribed procedure by ritual or custom to express publicly a reality
2. A formal set of acts without intrinsic purpose; an empty form
Pomp and Ceremony is empty without Presence.
Presence: a substance
1. The state or fact of being present at the current time
2. A person who is present, especially in an impressive way
Culture is marked and founded upon office, decorum, and ceremony.
Do not underestimate the value of named position and office.
He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. Matthew 10:41
Outward acts of reverence and honour are not enough.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7
Pomp and Ceremony must be filled with substance.
True Presence requires God's presence and our presence.
Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. 14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Is. 1:13-15
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. Matthew 15:8
Presence requires expression in varying degrees of pomp and ceremony.
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:19-20
Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs correlate to Soul, Body and Spirit.
There is a need to gather together to experience powerful prayer and God's presence.
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20
Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My father in heaven. Matthew 18:19.
The Example of Church Ordinances/Ceremonies
An ordinance is a God-given ceremony using natural elements that express a spiritual truth and imparts a spiritual reality when participated in with faith.
Baptism, Communion, Laying on of Hands, Dedication, Anointing
Applications:
Dignity - Commanding esteem and respect by the appropriateness of your appearance, words, and actions