The Roots of True Worship

Theme Intro:

After I believe adequate prayer and meditation, I’m excited to share this year’s theme with you all. The purpose of communicating themes is to take us on an in-depth and focused journey through God’s word, so we can gain a thorough understanding of the whole counsel of GOD on various topics.

Did any of us grow up saying “we’re going to Church?” Then as we learned better, we should now understand that we are the called out, the people of the way, also known as the Church. So we’re not going to our selves. So did any of y’all start saying, “we’re going to worship”? Yeah. Which may or may not be a true statement. What happened, is that we began to view the concept of worship as the period of time we’re together on Sunday morning and/or evening. But as I’ve read, reviewed, and studied scripture over the years, GOD has shown me that true worship, is more than a moment. It is more than an 2-hour event. No, true worship, is a lifestyle!! This year’s theme is: My Worship Is A Lifestyle!!

Worship Definition: Let me give you a simple definition of worship: It is recognizing the worth of a divine being, and responding to/paying that being with the love, respect, submission, celebration, and obedience in accordance with its worth.

Now some of you may already be feeling like, we’ve talked about worship and praise before. But the problem many of us have, is that we primarily, if not solely think of worship with respect to the forms of worship. That being, the various acts of worship. But worship is not just an act, it begins with an attitude! So I want to do a priestly job of educating God’s people of his desire regarding worship.

Theme Text Briefing: Our theme text for this year is Romans 12:1, where Paul says we should present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to GOD, this is your spiritual service of worship. But Paul uses worship language in this passage that’s not new, rather it progressed over time.

Transition to Sermon Topic: So I want to begin by re-examining the Roots of Worship.

To do that, we will go back to the beginning of humanity. Ro 15:4 says we need to go back and learn so stuff so we can have a firmer hope, but Paul also is trying to move them to glorify GOD and Jesus with one accord! Some of you received a preview of this in November’s first Sunday bible class, but I’m going to further explain and prayerfully leave all of us with more to chew on.

Thesis Statement: The first roots or origins of worship can be seen with Adam and Eve through what they acknowledged and experienced with GOD. And if you and I are going to live a lifestyle of worship, it is crucial that we acknowledge and experience the same things about GOD!

GOD IS (Acknowledge)

Number 1, GOD IS! Now before you or I or Adam or Eve could even concern ourselves with worship, the truth of the matter is that GOD IS!! How do we know? Because Moses records that at the dawn of scripture, “In the beginning GOD!” That means the beginning of earth, GOD was already, with no beginning or end!

Why is this important for the worshipper? Because there’s no need to discuss the worth of anything that doesn’t exist!! And worship isn’t true if one doesn’t believe GOD exists.

In addition, Gen 2:7 shows that without the existence and life in GOD, Adam would have never lived! Was Adam aware that GOD existed? Certainly, because Adam could hear his voice.

Acknowledge that GOD IS!

God’s Power (Acknowledge)

The second reality that was acknowledged was God’s power. More specifically his creative power (power speaks of God’s ability to do). Now we get the benefit of Moses telling us what happened. But we can also observe that Adam recognized God’s creative power when he formed Eve. He knew he had been sleep for a long time, and when he woke up, something was missing from inside of him, there was a scar on his abdomen, and here comes this woman. Listen how he acknowledged God’s creative power:

Genesis 2:23 NASB95

23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

By acknowledging God’s creative power, Adam was crediting GOD as the source of his life!

God’s Provision (Enjoy gratefully)

The third reality that was not only experienced, but gratefully enjoyed, was God’s provision. God’s provision reveals his love and care. Notice what GOD provided:

Garden: Gen 2:8 says GOD planted a garden and then he placed Adam there.

Irrigation: Gen 2:10 says GOD watered the garden with a river.

Food: Gen 2:9 says GOD caused every tree good for food to grow.

Adam had everything he needed and some. A place to live and eat. And this was not a boring experience, because verse 9 says it was pleasing to the sight. Adam could move around in constant joy!!

But look at another provision. GOD looked at Adam, said man you just out here messing with these Rhinos, but it’s not an adequate partnership. That’s what led him to form Eve. So not only did creating Eve demonstrate God’s power, it also demonstrated his Provision for Adam’s life! Thank You!

God’s Purpose (Live)

To cultivate and keep the land. But notice too, be fruitful, multiply, fill and subdue the earth. Rule over creation. The response is to live in his purpose!

God’s Probation (Respect)

Now GOD did not form AI machine learning beings to do whatever he says. He created humans with freedom to choose between one thing and another. Because of that, the fourth and necessary reality is that GOD gave them a probation. Not the one where an inmate is released, although it is related. Generally, probation is putting a person through a period of testing to determine if they are fit for obedience. What does it reveal? Whose authority do you respect and submit to.

So GOD gives him a command in Gen 2:15-17, out of all the trees you can eat, except this one of knowledge of good and evil. With that, a punishment if you violate the probation. Death!

What’s the takeaway? Out of all that GOD provides, GOD commands how we are to behave with what he has provided us. Respect and revere God’s authority!!

God’s Presence (Experience Joyfully)

The fifth and last reality I want us to see, at the roots of worship, is God’s Presence. Some might say, isn’t his presence the same as existence. No. Existence says GOD IS Alive. Presence says how close he allows you to be to him and he to you!! It’s important to be aware of, but more than that, it’s another one you joyfully experience.

There is an extremely unique intimacy that Adam had with GOD. “I can’t see this being, but I know he’s there.” Adam didn’t need a veil for his face, an ephod, temple, holy of holies, priest, prophet, or any medium God’s voice would just approach him, whenever, and Adam would respond back comfortably:

“Hey Adam”. “Yes Creator”. “You see those creatures hanging in the cut under the trees, what would you call them?” “Hmm, leopard, panther, and cheetah.” ---

“What about that one that’s flying toward us right now.” “The way his neck is, buzzard” ---

“What about those two that keep peeking their eyes out the water?” “Alligator and Hippo!”

Conclusion: If you’re going to make worship a lifestyle, based on what we’ve observed from beginning, you must:

Acknowledge that GOD IS Acknowledge God’s Power Gratefully Enjoy God’s Provision Live in God’s Purpose Respect God’s Probation Joyfully Experience God’s Presence