Worship

Worship:

WORSHIP IS AN ESSENTIAL AND IMPORTANT PIECE TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Worship is the awed response to the saving acts and praiseworthy character of God.

WORSHIP ISN’T JUST SINGING:

Romans 12:1 (NLT) — 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

But today we are talking specifically about this. The gathering together of all of us to worship God together for who he is, what he has done, what he is doing and what he will do. And there is something special that happens when we worship together.

You can worship in your living room. You can worship in your car. Turn that Carolla into a cathedral . You can worship in a coffee shop with your airpods in while you journal or work. YOU CAN.

BUT

There is something special about this. Deciding “You know what, we can gather as many people that are willing together in one place and all worship God together. There’s something special about it.

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) — 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

WORSHIP IS OUR BEST RESPONSE WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

You know what I mean? When it feels like life has come to a screeching halt. Everything is going wrong. It feels like we are at the edge of a cliff, trouble is closing in, and we have no idea how we are going to make it out this time.

WORSHIP CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING IN THAT MOMENT.

You see worship is powerful. Not only in those moments thought. You see worship when things are going great is just as powerful and important as worship when things are going wrong.

Developing a habit of worship when things are good prepares us so that worship is the instant reflex when things are going wrong.

I don’t know what everyone in here is going through or has gone through but i guarantee all of us have had those moments.

THE STORY WE ARE COVERING TODAY IS A SPECIAL ONE.

Because I believe that all of us have been in a situation like this whether you responded like these people did or not you have been.

PAUL AND SILAS INTRO

They are preaching the good news of Jesus and they arrive in a town and meet this girl who we learn has a demon that is tormenting her and so Paul and Silas command the demon to leave her and instantly people are upset. Because we also learn that people were extorting the fact that she had a demon messing with her to earn money.

So now yes this womans life is changed but we got people that aren’t making money anymore. So they get upset and start an uproar of people demanding that Paul and Silas get arrested and here’s where we pick up their story.

Acts 16:22–24 (NLT) — 22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

NOW HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?

Read the Bible like it’s real people in real situations because these things really happened. ME? I’m asking God “Why would you allow this to happen”?

Have you ever had one of these moments? You finally get your quiet time on track, you finally start developing godly habits. Your prayer life finally feels good and that’s when things start going wrong.

THE ENEMY ATTACKS WHAT IS A THREAT.

So you better believe when you start to take your relationship with God seriously that’s when attacks are going to come.

BUT IN THESE MOMENTS… Our gut response isn’t always to praise and to worship. Most often it’s “God why”?

And i don’t believe that asking God why is the problem it’s what follows “God why”. listen God knows how you feel. God knows you have questions. There is nothing you could say to God that he didn’t already know that you thought.

But what follows matters. Do you sit? Do you regress or do you worship?

WORSHIP IS A RESPONSE

Response to what? Not to success… not to Things going great.... not to things being easy or even seeing breakthrough it’s just our response. In all situations. We worship. Despite our circumstance, despite our feelings, and no matter what is going on wrong around us and in our world we can choose to respond to what God has done, is doing and will do.

Matthew 28:8–9 (NLT) — 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.

Acts 16:25 (NLT) — 25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

THIS IS AN EVEN SO FAITH AND EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FAITH.

This is worship despite the circumstance.

Reminds us who God is

I don’t know about you but from time to time I need a reminder of who God is. Because sometimes I forget what He can do. Sometimes I forget that He is bigger than my situation. Sometimes I lose sight and what God has done and the promises He has made.

Psalm 103:2 (NLT) — 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

Just because my situation doesn’t look good now doesn’t mean God’s not still good. And when everything is falling apart around me and I choose to worship I get reminded of who God is.

And when I’m reminded of who God is it changes the way I see things

CAR TOTALED STORY -- MOM “BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE… YOU’RE ALIVE”

Another person “God was looking out for you” another “God was protecting you” another “imagine what could have happen… God is good”

You see when I worship… I start to remember God doesn’t owe me anything yet HE CHOOSES to be good to me… and it changes the way I view my situation.

Magnifies God in our life -- and it magnifies God in our life for other people to see

Perspective

When you are close to something small it looks bigger

Whatever i’m closest to is the biggest thing in our life

Get closer to God through worship (MAGNIFY) and he becomes bigger than anything you face.

Acts 16:26–33 (NLT) — 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.

ILLUSTRATION OF SOMETHING BIGGER BECAUSE OF PERSPECTIVE

33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.