ROMANS 1:19-25 | ARE YOU WORSHIPPING THE CREATOR
Notes
Transcript
TEXT: ROMANS 1:19-25 | ARE YOU WORSHIPPING THE CREATOR
TEXT: ROMANS 1:19-25 | ARE YOU WORSHIPPING THE CREATOR
ILLUSTRATION: We are not gardeners.
ILLUSTRATION: We are not gardeners.
But in an attempt to play pretend, this year I build raised bed garden boxes and put a fence around it to keep the animals out in an attempt to possibly grow and produce some fruit and vegetables.
As we were filling back in the beds with dirt I began to just pour the dirt into the boxes.
That was not the right move.
After each of the beds were about half full with dirt, Tressa pointed out the error of my ways.
The dirt was full of weeds, and so we (mainly Tressa) proceeded to dig with a little shovel through all of the dirt looking for and pulling every blade of green grass and every weed in the dirt.
We were fairly successful because there have only been a few weeds we have found since planting the seeds in the garden beds.
But for the ones that did manage to survive the initial weed purging process, Tressa gets out her little shovel and digs down deep below the green blade of grass, because she wants to ensure she gets to the part that matters most… the root.
EXPLANATION: I was reading a book recently and the author reference Romans 1:25
EXPLANATION: I was reading a book recently and the author reference Romans 1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
And in that verse there was a profound truth that I really believe gets at the heart of our relationships.
He says that they “worshipped the creature more than the creator”.
Here was the key that was so profound to me… “we must understand that we are at our deepest roots, worshippers.”
We were created to worship.
And you can mark it down we are always worshipping someone.
And who we choose to worship greatly dictates the condition of our relationships.
APPLICATION: This morning, church, I want to challenge you with a thought… you are created as a worshipper, so who are you worshipping?
APPLICATION: This morning, church, I want to challenge you with a thought… you are created as a worshipper, so who are you worshipping?
I believe for most of us here, we could fall right into the trap of Romans 1:25
For the longest time I just assumed this was referring strictly to some animal or maybe even some other person.
And there is certainly application for that.
But I believe at the root of who we are we want to worship one above anyone else… that is ourselves.
We are the creature… the creation that we want to worship.
And this is nothing new.
ILLUSTRATION: As you weave your way through the OT, do you know what you find about the children of Israel?
ILLUSTRATION: As you weave your way through the OT, do you know what you find about the children of Israel?
They were constantly jumping around with who it was they were worshipping.
They were in a repeat cycle of worshipping God followed by doing exactly what Romans 1:25 says.
Why was this such a struggle for them?
It’s because they were created as worshippers.
And a worshipper must constantly be worshipping something.
And for most people you spend your life worshipping yourself… and that is why you have problems in your relationships.
EXPLANATION: This matter of worship is something God takes very seriously.
EXPLANATION: This matter of worship is something God takes very seriously.
In fact the very first time we find the mention of worship in the Bible is over in Genesis 22
And it wasn’t someone singing to God in a church service
Abraham and Isaac were making there way to a mountain in Moriah, because God had instructed Abraham to go there and sacrifice his son Isaac.
When they reached the base of the mountain, Abraham gave a word to describe what he was about to go and do:
And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
The most serious act of obedience Abraham could have imagined, he called “worship”
APPLICATION: Friend, who you worship will impact every aspect of your life!
APPLICATION: Friend, who you worship will impact every aspect of your life!
Because if we don’t deal with the root of who each of us are, we are never going to have a better family.
We will never have a better church family.
We will never have the sweet relationship with Christ that He desires for you to have.
Today, I want you to understand one simple thought, “You are a worshipper”
And then I want you to answer one question, “Who are you worshipping?”
For most in this room, we will find ourselves defaulting to worshipping ourselves.
And when you worship yourself more than you worship God it will lead to some pretty dangerous consequences.
I. YOU HAVE AN INCORRECT VIEW OF YOURSELF
I. YOU HAVE AN INCORRECT VIEW OF YOURSELF
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find?
ILLUSTRATION: Luke tells us the story of a man who had this very problem:
ILLUSTRATION: Luke tells us the story of a man who had this very problem:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Kneeling next to him was that publican he had just called out:
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Jesus gives His commentary on the situation:
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
EXPLANATION: It is over in Proverbs that we found the truth that is so relevant
EXPLANATION: It is over in Proverbs that we found the truth that is so relevant
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find?
Most men exalt themselves
Most men declare their own goodness
Most men view their position with God like their perspective of themselves in the mirror
“Looks pretty good.”
ILLUSTRATION: It’s the same place that the church of the Laodiceans believed they were at.
ILLUSTRATION: It’s the same place that the church of the Laodiceans believed they were at.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Can I summarize how they viewed themselves… “I’m good!”
But it was God Who gave the correct diagnoses of what they were truly like!
They had an incorrect view of themselves!
EXPLANATION: What is so interesting about Romans 1:25, is the Bible doesn’t say that they “worshipped and served the creature in place of the creator”
EXPLANATION: What is so interesting about Romans 1:25, is the Bible doesn’t say that they “worshipped and served the creature in place of the creator”
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
They didn’t replace God all together.
No, they just worshipped and served the creature “more” than the Creator.
Exodus 34:14 is an interesting verse… listen to what God says:
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
APPLICATION: When we worship ourselves more than God, we will have an incorrect view of ourselves.
APPLICATION: When we worship ourselves more than God, we will have an incorrect view of ourselves.
II. YOU DON’T NEED GOD
II. YOU DON’T NEED GOD
ILLUSTRATION: If I were to ask you if the number 168 means anything to you… what would you say?
ILLUSTRATION: If I were to ask you if the number 168 means anything to you… what would you say?
Ya it meant nothing to me either when someone asked me that question.
168 is the number of hours you have in a week.
If you slept on average 8 hours a day = 56 hours
If you work 50 hours a week
Lets add 3 hours a day for the necessity things like taking getting ready, eating, driving to work = 21 hours
You go to church Sunday morning and Wednesday = 4 hours
And then let’s say you took 2 hours each night to just relax = 14 hours
Total of 145 hours
That means you have 23 hours left over each week.
That means that most people have around 1,196 leftover hours each year
Did you know that they say that the average person can read through the entire Bible in 70-80 hours.
So how many times are you going to read through your Bible this year?
According to a recent study by Christianity today, 9% of Christians read their Bible daily, and 5%-7% of Christians have read the entire Bible through in their life.
And the number one excuse… “I don’t have time”
EXPLANATION: Go demands our worship!
EXPLANATION: Go demands our worship!
I am the Lord: that is my name: And my glory will I not give to another, Neither my praise to graven images.
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Why would God demand that we worship Him?
Is it because He is a narcisist?
NO!
Is it because He needs the boost in moral?
Of course not!
When we worship God, it takes our attention off of ourselves and and puts it on Who God is and what He has done.
It communicates a dependence on the One Who is the giver of all good gifts
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
APPLICATION: If we were being honest with ourselves, when we don’t make time for God what we are really saying is, “I don’t need God.”
APPLICATION: If we were being honest with ourselves, when we don’t make time for God what we are really saying is, “I don’t need God.”
Because we are more concerned with worshipping ourselves, than we are worshipping God.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: There is none that doeth good.
The truth is most people that go to church are Christian by profession, but atheists in practice!
They live like they don’t need God.
When you worship yourself more than God, YOU HAVE AN INCORRECT VIEW OF YOURSELF, YOU DON’T NEED GOD
III. YOU BLAME GOD WHEN THINGS DON’T GO YOUR WAY
III. YOU BLAME GOD WHEN THINGS DON’T GO YOUR WAY
ILLUSTRATION: Remember the the children of Israel
ILLUSTRATION: Remember the the children of Israel
God had just brought them out of Egypt, parted the waters, destroyed their enemy and was leading them to the promised land.
Do you remember how they responded? Of course you do.
“God why did you lead us out here… just to die? Were there not enough graves in Egypt?”
“God this isn’t the way we wanted things to go.”
ILLUSTRATION: God has placed Adam and Eve in a place of absolute perfection.
ILLUSTRATION: God has placed Adam and Eve in a place of absolute perfection.
The rivers flowed with Dr. Pepper, there were no olives on earth, and everyone was an Indiana Hoosier fan.
But on that day in Genesis 3, when they took and ate of that fruit, everything changed.
The realized they had done wrong and they tried to hide themselves they tried to cover their sin.
When the presence of God came walking through the garden on that day, God asked a question, “Adam, where art thou?”
Now Adam wasn’t the greatest player of hide-and-seek that had ever lived.
God was asking Adam because He wanted Adam to see where his sin had taken him.
Away from God and with a broken relationship to God.
When Adam and Eve finally showed themselves to the Lord, God asked, “Did you eat from the tree I commanded you not to eat from.”
Do you remember Adams response?
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
When Adam found himself in the darkest moment of his life, his worship changed from an open hand of praise, to a fist pointed to heaven.
“God you did this to me.”
EXPLANATION: When you choose to worship yourself more than you worship God, there will come a time where the choice must be made, will you trust God through your situation, or will you blame God for your situation.
EXPLANATION: When you choose to worship yourself more than you worship God, there will come a time where the choice must be made, will you trust God through your situation, or will you blame God for your situation.
And your response will show who it is that you are worshipping.
APPLICATION: You see oftentimes, God’s ways aren’t the same as our ways.
APPLICATION: You see oftentimes, God’s ways aren’t the same as our ways.
But when you worship yourself more than God, and God doesn’t do thing your way… the only answer is the blame Him.
Because He didn’t submit to your will.
If your worship to God is determined by how the circumstances of life God, you can mark it down it isn’t God you are worshipping.
Because true worship isn’t based on our situations and circumstances… true worship is based in the character of God.
God deserves your worship, not because of what He does… He deserves your worship because of Who He is!
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
ILLUSTRATION: Caleb and Alyssa had been coming to our church for about 2 and a half years.
ILLUSTRATION: Caleb and Alyssa had been coming to our church for about 2 and a half years.
They have been making preparations to start a church in Anaconda, and found out toward the end of last year they were expecting a little baby.
Her water broke and she went into labor at 23 weeks and 1 day.
For the next 12 weeks she stayed in the hospital.
At 35 weeks she delivered her little baby girl.
But two week after her birth, I got the message from Caleb that while in the hospital their little baby had taken a turn.
Over the next 5 days the doctors did everything to save her life.
But after everything they tried, she ended up passing way in June 12.
We were devastated for them, and couldn’t imagine the pain they were experiencing.
When we sat down with them on the Saturday after their little baby had passed, we had the opportunity to talk with them.
They shared that they were broken and hurting.
But then they said something I’ll never forget.
They said, “we are just worried that people are going to blame God… and we don’t want that to happen. We want them to know that God is still so good.”
In the most painful moment in their life… it was clear Who they were worshipping.
Because even when things didn’t go their way, they still didn’t blame God!
APPLICATION: Friend, you were created as a worshipper… it’s who you are… you have no choice in the matter.
APPLICATION: Friend, you were created as a worshipper… it’s who you are… you have no choice in the matter.
But you do have a choice in who you are going to worship.
DO YOU HAVE AN INCORRECT VIEW OF YOURSELF?
ARE YOU LIVING LIKE YOU DON’T NEED GOD?
ARE YOU BLAMING GOD BECAUSE LIFE DIDN’T TURN OUT HOW YOU PLANNED?
Based on the truths from God’s Word, can you honestly say you are worshipping God supremely?
Or could it be that you have decided to worship and serve the creature (yourself) more than the Creator.
