Worship

Josiah Ott

Sanctification & Spiritual Disciplines • Sermon • Submitted 9 months ago • Presented 9 months ago

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Sanctification & Spiritual Disciplines

Session 5: Praise, Worship, & Thanksgiving

I. Introduction: Overview of Worship & Praise

GREAT SOURCE of QUESTION: WHAT is HEAVEN LIKE???

HONESTLY…WE KNOW VERY LITTLE.

WILL WE KNOW LOVED ONES?

CAN I GO FISHING?

WHAT DO WE EAT?

IS IT MEXICAN???

**ONE THING WE DO KNOW: HEAVEN is A PLACE of WORSHIP!**

WORSHIP on EARTH = PRACTICE for ETERNITY

FOCUSING TONIGHT: “HOW” & “WHY” of WORSHIP

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B. A Picture of Heaven: (ONE of MANY)

TURN & READ:1. Rev. 7:9-12 ESV After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

(Q) WHAT ARE SOME FEATURES YOU NOTICE in THIS PASSAGE?

GREAT MULTITUDE (LOTS of PEOPLE)

DIVERSE GROUP,, FROM EVERY TRIBE & TONGUE

BEFORE the THRONE

CRYING OUT in WORSHIP

SALVATION,, BLESSING,, GLORY,, WISDOM,, THANKSGIVING,, HONOR, POWER,, BE to OUR GOD.

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THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE: HEAVENLY VISIONS = FILLED W/ WORSHIP.

WORSHIP on EARTH = PRACTICE for ETERNITY

DON’T LIKE WORSHIP?? —NOT GOOD,, THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GOING to BE DOING,,

WORSHIP = IMPORTANT

SHOULD CHARACTERIZE OUR LIVES as CHRISTIANS....

(T) I want you to keep this in mind as we go through this topic tonight, as we worship in church, and as we live our lives in general.

Defining Terms:

C. Worship:

1. The Faithlife Study Bible says, “Worship involves the physical and emotional aspects of human personhood, which often finds expression though music and song. But fundamentally, worship is an acknowledgment of who God is and what He has done.”[1]

2. Eerdman’s Bible Dictionary states that worship is, “the appropriate human response to the magnificent glory of God.”[2]

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II. How We Worship:

A. Through Christ

MOST IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH---WORSHIP = OFFERED THROUGH (ALSO TO) CHRIST...

HE ALONE is MEDIATOR

OT—Holy of Holies (Presence of God) = restricted to High Priest

HOLY THINGS = SEPARATE,,

CHRIST DIED,,

VEIL = TORN

COME BOLDLY to THRONE of GRACE

**IN WORSHIP,, WE’RE ENTERING the PRESENCE of the KING**

TURN & READ:B. Hebrews 13:12-15

Hebrews 13:12–15 (ESV)

12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.

14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

AS ANIMALS = BURNED UP OUTSIDE CITY AFTER SACRIFICE,, JESUS SUFFERED FOR US:

THEREFORE: LET US LEAVE THIS WORLD BEHIND,,

BEARING REPROACH FOR CHRIST

&& OFFERING UP “SACRIFICE” of PRAISE.... TO GOD.... THROUGH HIM.

CONFESSION of ALLEGIANCE

VERBAL PRAISE

WILLING to BEAR REPROACH for CHRIST...

CHRIST’S WORK = COMPLETE

(Q) BUT HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE OFFER UP a SACRIFICE of PRAISE?

THEOLOGICALLY: WORSHIP MUST BE BROUGHT THROUGH CHRIST,, BY MEANS of NEW COVENANT W/ GOD...

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(T) SIMILAR IDEA FOUND in JOHN 4:

TURN & READ:1. John 4:21-24 ESV “Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”[4]

SAMARITANS && JEWS = DIVIDED/HATED EACH OTHER

**MAJOR DIFFERENCE WAS OVER PLACE of WORSHIP: JERUSALEM or MT. GERIZIM

1. D.A. Carson comments, “The worshippers whom God seeks worship him out of the fullness of the supernatural life they enjoy (‘in spirit’), and on the basis of God’s incarnate Self-Expression, Christ Jesus himself, through whom God’s person and will are finally and ultimately disclosed (‘in truth’); and these two characteristics form one matrix, indivisible”[5]

o GOD = SPIRIT = UNCONTAINED… BY IMPLICATION: WORSHIP CAN TAKE PLACE ANYWHERE

**SPIRIT of GOD WITHIN US,, GIVES US ABILITY to RELATE to GOD…THROUGH CHRIST…WHO is THE TRUTH.

PASSAGE SHOWS:

WORSHIP COMES THROUGH NEW COVENANT & in MANNER PLEASING:

NEW COVENANT: PRIORITIZE GATHERING W/ GOD’S PEOPLE…BUT KNOW,, WE CAN WORSHIP ANYWHERE...

NEW COVENANT: BELIEVER = TEMPLE of GOD’S SPIRIT

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1. Lifting hands

TURN & READ:1. Psalm 63:1-4 ESV “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”

TURN & READ: 2. Psalm 141:1-2 ESV “O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!”

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2. Bowing/Prostrating Oneself

TURN & READ: 1. Nehemiah 8:6 ESV “And Ezra opened the book [of the Law] in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”

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3. Singing

1. After the mighty deliverance of God’s people at the Red Sea, Moses and the people sang (see Ex. 15:1).

TURN & READ:2. Psalm 9:2 ESV “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

TURN & READ:3. Psalm 96:1-6 ESV “Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”

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4. Clapping and shouting

TURN & READ:1. Psalm 47:1-2 ESV “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! 2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.”

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5. Musical Instruments, and Dance

TURN & READ:1. Psalm 150:1-6 ESV “Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

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6. Thanksgiving

1. Thanksgiving—should characterize the Christian life, it’s what God desires of us, part of His will! (1 Thess. 5:18).

2. I don’t remember where I first heard this, but isn’t it interesting to consider that atheists celebrate thanksgiving…who do you thank??

READ: o Psalm 106:1 ESV “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

TURN & READ: .3. Ephesians 5:18-21?? ESV “18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

SPIRIT FILLED LIFE = SINGING UNTO GOD,, CONTINUAL THANKSGIVING,, MUTUAL & HUMBLE SUBMISSION

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MOST IMPORTANT NOTE on “HOW”.... “HOW” ISN’T WHAT is MOST IMPORTANT...

WHAT = MOST IMPORTANT,, = THAT IT’S DIRECTED TOWARDS GOD...

REMEMBER DAVID: “BEFORE the LORD”

FOCUS SHOULD BE on OBJECT (GOD) MORE THAN EXPRESSION

SCRIPTURE SHOWS US THERE ARE a VARIETY of WAYS to WORSHIP GOD,, AND WE SHOULD USE THEM!

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III. Why We Worship:

A. We worship God because of who He is.

1. He is holy.

TURN & READ: 1. Rev. 4:6-8 ESV “And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

o You can see a SIMILAR PICTURE in Isaiah 6.

o GOD = HOLY....SEPARATE,, DIFFERENT,, PERFECT,, NEVER MADE a MISTAKE...

§ Not only this, but GOD = HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (EMPHASIS)

§ CAN YOU IMAGINE: LIVING CREATURES AROUND the THRONE....

WORSHIPING FOREVER…

NOT GETTING BORED BECAUSE of HOW GREAT GOD IS...

THINK ABOUT THIS! **WORSHIP SHOULDN’T BE BORING BECAUSE IT’S FOCUSED on A HOLY, PERFECT, ALMIGHTY GOD**

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2. He is worthy, He is deserving of praise, worship, and adoration.

TURN & READ: 1. Rev. 4:9-11 ESV “And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

**NOTE HUMILITY:

(Q) WHAT are ELDERS DOING??

CASTING CROWNS DOWN

>>> NO ONE CAN STAND BEFORE the PRESENCE of GOD & BOAST <<<

FOCUS in HEAVEN = ON GOD WHO is WORTHY...

**WE’LL TRULY REALIZE HOW UNWORTHY WE ARE,, THAT WE’RE THERE ALL of GRACE!!**

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(V11) ONE REASON GOD = DESCRIBED as WORTHY = CREATION...

TURN & READ: § Psalm 8:3-4 ESV “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”

Another Passage: Specifically detailing Christ’s worth:

TURN & READ: 3. Rev. 5:6-14 ESV “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”

1. GOD the FATHER & SON BOTH ARE SHOWN W/ INCREDIBLE WORTHINESS to BE PRAISED

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B. Beyond who God is, we should also praise and worship God because of all that He has done for us.

TURN & READ: 1. Psalm 9:1-2 ESV “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

TURN & READ: 2. Psalm 103:1-5 ESV “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

1. If these things were TRUE UNDER OLD COVENANT....HOW MUCH GREATER of A REASON DO WE HAVE to WORSHIP GOD TODAY???

TURN & READ: 3. James 1:16-18 “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

1. JAMES TEACHES: TEMPTATION to SIN DOESN’T COME FROM GOD....

INSTEAD,, GOD BRINGS GOOD GIFTS...

LOOK: (Q) HOW MANY THINGS in LIFE THAT ARE GOOD,, COME APART FROM GOD’S HAND?

0 THINGS....

SO BY IMPLICATION…HOW MANY GOOD THINGS CAN WE THANK & PRAISE GOD FOR???

**LIMITLESS!! EVERY GOOD THING in YOUR LIFE = A REASON to BLESS GOD!!

WE SHOULD BE ABLE to LIVE W/ a HOLY, CONTENTEDNESS....

````For DISCONTENTMENT essentially SAYS: “God what you’ve given me isn’t enough.”

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4. WHEN WE CONSIDER ALL THESE THINGS… WE SHOULD RESPOND in WORSHIP & THANKSGIVING....

TURN & READ: 1. Luke 17:11-19 ESV “On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

WE LOOK @ THIS & THINK....HOW COULD THEY NOT GO BACK & THANK HIM??!?

Have we returned to thank Him this week??

COMMON EXAMPLE: IMAGINE if YOU LOST the THINGS YOU WEREN’T THANKFUL FOR....

**DELIVERANCE FROM SIN = GREATER THAN HEALING FROM LEPROSY**

TURN & READ: 5. 1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

o **CONTEXT…RECEIVED CHRIST…BEING BUILD UP as SPIRITUAL HOUSE,, CONTRARY to THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED the LORD....

CONCLUSION:

Wonderful news: Worship doesn’t ever have to be a reflection of how we feel,, for it is based upon who God is and His inherent worth,, which doesn’t change… and upon what God has done for us,, which doesn’t change...

No matter how we feel,, we must worship,, because God deserves all of our worship.

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IV. Takeaways:

1. WORSHIP is OUR ETERNAL JOB DESCRIPTION, we need to get used to worshipping because worship characterizes every passage about heaven more than anything else.

2. There are a VARIETY of FORMS & EXPRESSIONS of WORSHIP...

3. The OPPORTUNITY for WORSHIP as we have it today is OPENED THROUGH the LORD JESUS CHRIST. As such we can now worship not just in a place, but everywhere, in Spirit and truth.

4. WE PRAISE & WORSHIP GOD....FOR WHO HE IS… AND FOR ALL HE’S DONE FOR US...

[1]Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible. Lexham Press. [2]Powell, M. A. (2000). Worship, New Testament. In D. N. Freedman, A. C. Myers, & A. B. Beck (Eds.), Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible (p. 1391). W.B. Eerdmans. [3]Broyles, C. C. (2016). Israelite Worship. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, L. Wentz, E. Ritzema, & W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Lexham Press. [4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Jn 4:21–24). (2016). Crossway Bibles. [5]Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (pp. 225–226). Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans. [6]Guinan, M. D. (2000). Praise. In D. N. Freedman, A. C. Myers, & A. B. Beck (Eds.), Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible (p. 1076). W.B. Eerdmans.

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