Was worship lacking or me?

Introduction:

Remember a few weeks ago we all held hands?

“You will need the person to your left or right.”

that was only a few weeks ago, and if we truely kept that in mind then maybe the very fight that kept some people at home today wouldnt have been present, if we answered that call, reached out in love, prayed continuously.

Something I’ve noticed is that time is no respectors of persons

Its the middle of june. Before we know it the summer will be over our kids will be going back to school and we missed out on the intentional time we could have had with our kids.

happy bday to terry and Timbo

But honestly something i’ve noticed is that time is special. but i havent been good at being intentional with time.

Today were finishing our accidental series called misconceptions. And in this I’d like to talk about worship.

One thing I try to work on in my sermons, and my preperation is being intentional. but i can get carried away in teaching, facts and correction. instead of preaching application and interpretation.

God is sensative to your needs, so in order to Do God’s work this morning I must be sensative to His Leading. Amen.

It’s easy to callous my heart from God and focus on what im COMFORTABLE WITH rather than what I need to be doing!

In that today if you have your bible with you open up to Luke 7 36.

Something about this passage were about to read….In every passage outside of luke this story is mentioned, its given as Jesus anointed at bethany. but here it says. Jesus anointed by a sinful women. Food for thought as we move through this.

Luke 7:36–50 NIV

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Let Us Pray.

Have you ever heard of REg Layzell?

Reg layzell a Pentecostal from Toronto a retired businessman. Invited by the district to hold meetings.

Abozfered. From the fraizer river about 40 miles from Vancouver.

Where he was invited, the pastor was sick, so he had to do the entire service by himself and it was not going well.

Meetings went so bad that after a few days he stopped on that Wednesday and took a day off, arriving at the church early on that morning and began to fast and pray.

(January 1946) When Psalm 22:3, you are the Holy one who inhabits the praises of Israel.

Psalm 22:3 NKJV

3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

He asks God for forgiveness for any sins he had committed, Since God was the holy one he was afraid his sins prevented by an unconfessed sin.

Then he felt no conviction in his praying through confession, so he latched onto the second part of this verse. Where he decided he would fill the church with praise.

He went in the restrooms and praised God in the restrooms, then the piano and prayed there for the longest time.

Service began and he continued to praise. He stood up announced the first hymn and suddenly within that time a move of God began to break out.

Psalms 22:3 is important for us to see and notice.

Then we shouldnt be in his presence unholy, aka filled with sin.

God shows up when there is praise. And when there is praise His Shekinah Glory shows up.

So was Praise Lacking or is that just me?

Today were talking about worship, and were going to look at this beautiful captivating act of worship with the woman and the alabastar jar.

Its just a story about a woman, and a jar. Yet the power of the story is just that, its just a woman and a jar. This is a story of the new covenant, its a story that breaks the ritualistic, legalistic views of God, its a bold story that shows how God is relational.

Worship isnt about the song, place, the words, the hands lifted up, the tears. Those are the symptoms of worship. For worship is about communion with God. Worship bears the weight of intimacy with God.

Worship is about “what i bow to”

Our emotions become attached to what we worship.

Because when we show up, we honor, when we dedicate time, we show love and a eagerness to build that relationship.

Worship brings us into the Glory, and the Glory brings us towards worship.

I want to talk about two points today, when it comes to worship we have

Heartfelt worship (genuine worship)

Mindfilled worship (False Worship)

I believe the people in this room portray genuine or heartfelt worship. I think we come with hearts sincere for God we just simply dont express our hearts desire.

Sub-point here: the woman showed up.

- You left the comforts of your home, you left your bed and that amazing pillow, and in the middle of your struggle, in the middle of your rest, in the middle of your comfort you said, “I’m going to church” It don’t make no difference what was upon you when you woke up, you knew that you could shake it ALL off in the presence of the Lord.

This brings us to

1. Heartfelt Worship

Luke 7:37 (NIV)

37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.

- Heartfelt worship requires a level of commitment that often involves inconveniences.

-heartfelt worship is when you don’t care about the traffic, when you don’t care about the gas in your car, when you don’t care.

Heartfelt worship is this woman filled with tears, not caring about whos presence she is in, completely encompassed in the glory of Jesus. and overwhelmed by what she is feeling, she just knows one thing, her heart is drawn to jesus, maybe this is mary magadaline and she just had this Spirit speak to her to go anoint and prepare Jesus like many think.

Maybe this is a random woman that just knew that nobody is capable of doing what this man Jesus is able to do. Either way she decided long before she arrived what she was doing. She came prepared to worship.

- You decided to leave your home, you don’t make it up in a parking lot what you are going to do for the lord, no should have been already thinking about it all week, when get to church, I’m going to give my gift offering, I’m going to bless the lord.

-Heartfelt worship requires a commitment that often involves inconveniences.

I believe most people are aware of heartfelt worship, but what we must be careful of is walking from heartfelt worship into…

We must be careful that real worship doesnt become reel worship. All for show and repetitive.

Real > Reel

- Superficial Worship: or rather shallow worship.Those would be the religious people. They been in the church for too long, and in their mind they think, I got this down. I can close my eyes. I know how far I should raise my hand. You have it down to a science, but you really don’t worship. Your expression is the same. Yet the bible says in lamentations (Lam 3:22-23) Its new everyday!

Lamentations 3:22–23 NIV

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

heartfelt worship is worship that comes from you, not from what youve seen done. God dont care what type of church you were raised in, or what another pastor said was okay. He cares about having communion with you!

God isnt looking for you nor I to fall into a place of repetition, but rather of newness. ANd realness

2. Mindful Worship

Luke 7:44 (NIV)

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

What is mindful worship. Its worship with alterative motives.

See weve talked about the woman, her heart led her to be filled with emotions.

But Simon had the same opportunity, Jesus explains, but was so caught up in his mind he missed the opportunity.

Simon was more concerned with ….

What do you think the devil is doing?

What do you think the devil is doing when he reminds you that you have to go to work tommorow and you might lose your job this week, you think the devil cares about your job?

What do you thinik the devil is doing when you hear someone sniffle and you begin to concern yourself with sickness

What do you think the devil is doing reminding you of how youre mad at your spouse, you think the devil cares about your marriage?

If the devil can interfere with any of those things he can win, because he gets you away from worship and into your mind.

This turns our act of worship into oh yeah God, can you help me with my job, can you help me with this sickness, can you help me with my marriage, can you help me with my kids…

Worship is false when it becomes situational instead of intentional.

Were going to close with this.

Romans 1:20–25 NIV

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

When we fail to glorify God and give thanks it leads to idolatry, and to siinful living. It begins with unthankfulness and indifference and results in seeking other areas to satisfy.

Were called and encouraged to worship the Lord.

Psalm 29:1–2 NIV

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

When we fail to Glorify God, in reality, it lowers our standards.

Look at the proof in the world we live in. The schools, the courtrooms, look at your job spaces, your families.

The family is under increasing attack, we have failed education systems, violence ranging in our cities, and even in this small community we serve in.

All because people no longer answer the call of heartfelt worship.

May we pave the way, and ignite a generation of kids, adults, and elders that have a desire, dedication, and determination to remain in constant communion and fellowship with the Lord!