Misc. “What is Worship?”

What is True Worship?

Whats upppppp!

My name is Hayden and I’m super excited to be here with y’all tonight.

I know we’re just now meeting, but I want to let you know something about me. I have this pretty irrational fear.

Does anyone else have any irrational, sort of strange, fears?

I’m not talking about the fear of flying, or maybe you’re afraid of dogs… those can be normal based on your experience, right?

I’m talking about a type of fear that causes you to play out a situation that likely would NEVER happen.

Let me just share with you my fear.

My fear is paying for something with a counterfeit dollar bill.

Like, here’s the scenario that plays out in my head:

I get a $20 and go to pay for a shirt somewhere.

Imagine I’m doing this for my wife Hailey.

I’m

Next thing I know, police officers surround me and I’m being arrested with the headline in the newspaper reading, “Local Teaching Pastor Arrested on Counterfeit Money.” with a very unflattering mugshot of me crying my eyes out.

Before you judge me and think I’m crazy… let me explain why that stays on my mind.

It’s on my mind because people that make counterfeit money never make a $3 or a $27 dollar bill, right?

They make it look like the right thing.

Here’s why this is such a big deal for me…

I could have something fake and go through the motions of using it and never even realize it.

I tell you that because the next two midweeks are focused on TRUE Worship. What does it look like to actually worship Jesus?

We are focusing on TRUE Worship because, if we are not careful, many people can slip into fake worship without even realizing it.

So before we look at true worship, listen to what Jesus said to some religious leaders about worship:

Matthew 15:8–9 ESV

8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

I love this about Jesus… He straight up called them out!

They honored God with their mouths but their hearts were far from God.

What Jesus is essentially saying is, “If you aren’t intentional about what you’re doing, you can get caught up with a counterfeit version of worship.”

Man, my worship isn’t counterfeit though.

Let me give you three principles about worship:

Worship is always inside out.

Worship begins with what the heart values and becomes visible in our actions

Worship is worth-ship.

It is treasuring who God is, what He said, and what He has done above all.

True Worship is visible in our lives when our hearts value God above all.

What should our hearts value?

True worship begins when we value who God is, what He said, and what He has done above all.

Let’s look at what Paul says about worship in Romans, and I want you to ask yourself, does my life reflect true worship?

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

How can I live a life of true worship?

1. Worship begins in your heart.

Guys, God is so good to us.

It’s not only who He is, but what what He’s said, and what He’s done.

What are some of God’s mercies?

What are the mercies of God?  Think with me of them. 

Love, God's love is shed abroad in the heart, it says in Romans 5. 

Nothing can separate us from the love of God it says in Romans 8. 

Grace: Romans 1, Romans 3, Romans 5, Romans 6, all the way through, grace, grace, grace, another of the mercies of God.

The Holy Spirit, chapter 5 tells us that the Holy Spirit has shed abroad in our hearts.  Chapter 8 tells us we have received the Holy Spirit to dwell within us.  It says it in chapter 8 verse 2, verse 4, verse 9, verse 11, verse 14, verse 16 and verse 26.  The Holy Spirit is a mercy given to us by God, an undeserved blessing.

How about peace?  Chapter 1 verse 7, chapter 2 verse 10, chapter 5 verse 1, chapter 8 verse 6 and elsewhere it says we've received peace.  That's a mercy of God. 

And faith, over 20 times, and

comfort - Romans 1:12

Romans 1:12 KJV 1900

12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

power, Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 KJV 1900

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

hope, Romans 5:2

Romans 5:2 KJV 1900

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 8:20 KJV 1900

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Romans 8:24 KJV 1900

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

chapter 5 verse 2 and chapter 8 verse 20 and 34...and 24, rather. 

And we've received patience, chapters 9 and 11. 

And kindness, chapter 2 verse 4. 

Romans 2:4 KJV 1900

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

And we have received glory and honor and righteousness and forgiveness and reconciliation and justification, all of those are the mercies of God.  And in chapter 5, verse 10, we have received security, and eternal life in 5:21, and freedom in chapter 6 and chapter 7, and resurrection in chapter 8, and sonship in chapter 8, and intercession in chapter 8.  These are the mercies of God.

And what he is saying is, "Look, you who have received all of these marvelous things, you to whom God has given them, and they are mercies."

What are some of the things He has said about us?

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

John 1:12 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Worship is our response to and pursuit of what we value most.

2. We can worship anything.

our response to what ever we value as

So that brings me to an important point.

What is the greatest motivator for worship?

The cross!

2. Worship is evident in your choices.

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your spiritual worship.

This is strong language, you know?

This is saying to God, “Do whatever You want with my life.”

This proves that worship is so much more than just singing

1 Peter 2

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, “What will you give me if I release you?” “The half of my wealth,” was his reply. “And if I release your children?” “Everything I possess.” “And if I release your wife?” “Your Majesty, I will give myself.” Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, “Wasn’t Cyrus a handsome man!"With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, “I didn’t notice. I could only keep my eyes on you - the one who was willing to give himself for me.”