Let Us Adore Him

We continue on our journey through Advent. We have looked at being prepared, joy, and love. Today we are going to look at adoration. Adoration being our proper response when we come into contact with the almighty.

When we think of adoration, we think of loving, of caring. But adoration is more of an action of reverence and worship. Many times what is involved is kneeling of bowing down.

It’s an interesting concept to think that in our western mindset, we have tied is into love. For adoration is worship, prayer, and reverence that God is worthy of. Sometimes our reason is because of our love for God, but other times we develop a love for God because we give Him adoration.

Husband and wife, 2 years vs. 20

To get fuller understanding of this we will look at the shepherds reactions in Luke.

Luke 2:8-20

Miraculous Revelation

v.9

The time all the world had been waiting for had arrived.

The coming of the one who would redeem man, who would make all things new, who would defeat death itself!

The coming of the messiah.

Who would this revelation come to? Who would God entrust with the most marvelous message to ever have graced human ears? Shepherds.

The ones who were discriminated against. Who were considered unscrupulous during that period.

Due to them being in the fields, they couldn’t join in religious rituals.

Yet these are the one’s who God makes this miraculous revelation to.

Because realize, the announcement of the messiah was a miraculous event.

Being brought by the armies of God themselves.

This wasn’t a understanding that the shepherds all the sudden came to.

To us:

Sometimes we desire to behold the wonders that the shepherds were graced with that fateful night.

To have angels or something else miraculous bring us a message.

Do you realize that your salvation is just as miraculous!

Ezekiel 37:1-10

We are the dead one, the dry bones.

The breath of God has gone over us, has brought us to life. So there now stands an army of God!!

Our salvation wasn’t something we “fell into.”

It wasn’t by luck that we discovered God.

He brought us to life, and brought us to Him.

Our revelation and salvation, though it might not seem so great a thing.

It is as great as an army being brought to life.

It is as miraculous as an the armies of heaven showing up in a bring light.

What does this have to do with adoration?

If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior then it is because the creator of the universe loves you individually.

He knows you by name, he knows how many hairs are on your head, and He is the one working in your life.

God has revealed himself to you....what is your response?

Going to Jesus

v.15-16

Wouldn’t it have been strange if their reaction would have been, “that’s neat.” Then remained in the fields!

When you were a kid and your friend said you have to come see weird thing I found.....you went to look!

After they realize what God had done, they had to go and see for themselves.

They had to see (v.15) what the Lord had made known.

It was to glorious to stay in the field! They couldn’t wait there and not go see what God had done!

They were compelled to go.

Our coming to Jesus (2 points)

One

We are compelled to go to our Lord.

Within reformed theology their is a doctrine called irresistible grace.

This doesn’t mean that God will drag us kicking and screaming to him as some think.

It means that when we see how great He is and His love for us. We cannot help but be compelled to come running into His arms.

We are like flies drawn to His glorious light.

John 10:27-28

John 10:27–28 ESV

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

If you are one of His sheep, you follow His voice.

Not out of compulsion, but willingly, because you know that in that voice, is life.

Two

This is also what is so important about corporate worship.

The shepherds weren’t alone coming to the king.

This is a time of coming together to worship the Lord Jesus.

People think “I’ll worship God on my own at home, or on a mountain.”

Yes, you should be doing that throughout the week.

But their is something special about drawing near to the throne of grace with other believers.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Don’t forsake gathering together.

We are to be spurring one another one, encouraging one another.

We were not made to stand alone.

Come to the throne of grace with other believers.

Glorifying God

v.20

The effect of the shepherds after seeing the Lord.

Adoration

They leave glorifying God for what He had done.

They saw that God was faithful to His promises, even though so much time had passed.

This realization brought them to worship God.

Seeing God for who He is, should lead to worship, praise, adoration.

Our reaction

What is our response to the Lord?

God has changed our will, where we desire God.

We have come and have seen how great our God is! We see His holy nature, and his love for us.

We have seen God reconcile this through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

We have seen that this season, is the time we celebrate Jesus coming to this world to be that sacrifice.

So what is our response?

Are we showing proper adoration?

How do we show proper adoration?

Romans 12:1-2

It isn’t the priests offering the sacrifice of sheep and ox for the people anymore.

It is you that should offer the sacrifice.

That sacrifice, is you.

Not through the fire, but a living sacrifice.

We are to be living, holy people, in worship and adoration of our God.

This happens when we are not conformed, but transformed.

We are not to be swayed by peoples opinions.

It isn’t about pleasing man.

That is being conformed.

But we are to be transformed.

Greek word, metamorpho. Like a butterfly.

This happens through our minds being renewed by God’s word.

As our minds are renewed, we are able to discern what is God’s will.

If our minds aren’t renewed, it is our own wisdom trying to ascertain how to please God.

We must be renewed, so it is God’s wisdom showing us how we can please Him.

By living that way, will we give God proper adoration.

Benediction:

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make his face shine upon you as you remember all that He has done, and seek to live for Him and follow His will.