WORSHIP Series 2

NEXT STEPS - Party with the Pastors

Pop-Up Sunday - Celebrating Kids moving up into new age groups

Coming Friday night - Young Adults Open House

Sunday 24th - Sunday Night RAW - Refuge Aviano Worships

CHURCH ON THE MOUNTAIN! 5th Sunday and the start of Back to Church Sunday series!

FALL RETREAT - just 8 weeks away!

THE WAR FOR YOUR WORSHIP

What God Seeks

John 4:23 “23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him.”

We are not the first worshippers.

All of Creation is created for worship.

Psalm 19:1 “1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.”

It’s much more than a “Would you look at that?” - Its a “WHOA - take a look, but sit, study, marvel, find revelation, be awe-struck in wonder - GOD DID THAT?!”

I love to sit and marvel at the handiwork of God. (Barcis, The Meteor Showers, Aurora Borialis, the magnitude of things - and the smallness of things)

One preacher said that if you took and measured the vastness of the total Universe and the smallness/minuteness of the smallest and beyond microscopic things - the average size of creation would be the size of a man or woman - where we find the crown-jewel of God’s Creation, the apple of His eye made in His Image, carrying His likeness and empowered to steward it ALL - all for His Glory.

We literally exist to worship GOD - created by Him for Him.

But we weren’t the first created for worshiping God.

Amongst all that was and is created for worshipping God, a multitude of heavenly hosts - an untold number of Angelic beings were established in the presence of God in order to worship and minister to Him - without the restriction of time, or night, or day, to continuously non-stop, bring glory and praise to God Himself.

And there was one created being who was crafted by God to be the worship-leader of Heaven

Ezekiel 28 13-19 gives an account of the angel Lucifer’s role in heaven as one who hovered over the Throne of God and from within Him music came forth from him and he was anointed to do - he had the chance and did walk amongst the altar of God - amongst the fiery stones ablaze by an All-Consuming Fire; he was called a protector on the mountain of God - full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

He was perfect in all of his ways from the day he was created UNTIL iniquity was found in him.

Isaiah 14:12–15 CSB

12 Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens! You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground. 13 You said to yourself, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will set up my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the gods’ assembly, in the remotest parts of the North. 14 I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you will be brought down to Sheol into the deepest regions of the Pit.

Lucifer became focused on himself and what he wanted to do. He raised up his will against God’s Will.

And you’ve got to notice here a key and main difference between Lucifer and Christ was that Lucifer said, “I will,” while Jesus said THY WILL.

Lucifer wanted praise and worship - Satan wants the praises of men, and the focus and wonder of men;

Jesus wanted everyone to focus on the Father — to praise and glorify the Father, to wonder at the workmanship of the Father.

But Satan continues to war for our worship today. The enemy of your soul wants everyone and everything to worship him still.

And he continues to corrupt the world and the things of the world in an attempt to remove all of creation from worshiping God, to glorying himself.

Satan tried his hardest to tempt Jesus - he figured if he could get Jesus, then all of mankind would be his and NOT God’s.

Matthew 4:8–9 CSB

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”

Jesus had to quickly remind him

Matthew 4:10 CSB

10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

JESUS finalized Satan’s attempt to rule over him; He ended the conversation - as it probably reminded Him of that moment Jesus watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven - the amount of force he was kicked out of the presence of God.

There is a WAR for your worship. The act of bowing down is a position of honor, and deep respect. The act of putting your face to the ground before something or someone is an act of worship.

That’s why we declare that prophetic word from Philippians 2:10-11

Philippians 2:10–11 CSB

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 14:11 “11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.”

There is a WAR for your worship! Satan continues to war for you to worship him.

But here’s the thing, if he can’t get you to worship him, he will distract you with anything he can to worship that - so as long as you don’t worship God.

Satan absolutely HATES when we worship GOD. HE hates it. That was his rightful place in creation - and we mere humans now to get to take up his place, in the lowly place here on earth to worship the God of Heaven.

He hates your worship… He will try to distract you, weaken you, make you feel tired - bring you to a place of complacency, so that you won’t want to worship God.

Satan does NOT want you to be what you are created for because he can NEVER be in the place of what he was created for again.

He hates you and me. Flat out.

There is a war for your worship.

Warfare creates hazards

War is a precarious thing: there are a lot of hazards in warfare.

War is violent.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 CSB

3 For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, 4 since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments 5 and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Your worship is a weapon in the midst of an ongoing war in the spiritual realm. This morning, there was a fight for your worship. Tiredness, delays, failed alarms, the case of the I-don’t-want-to’s - all come in to play in coming to God’s house to join the Kingdom choir of worshiping GOD.

Romans 12:1 “1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.”

War creates conflict. You wonder why getting the family ready for Church on Sunday morning is hard? Harder than going to the movies or going to the beach? Because of war.

There is a war for your worship - every single day.

And the things that are not of God seemingly come easier to access - because that doesn’t worship God.

Anything we do for the LORD is going be through warfare - because there’s a war for your worship.

Why is worship so important?

YOU ARE A WORSHIPPER!

It’s a simple fact that we are created for God’s glory. Breathing the breath of God in our lungs right now is a part of our existing in worship to GOD. LIFE within us glorifies HIM. This is why abortion, or suicide, or assisted suicide is so contradictor to GOD, because it is the opposite of glorifying Him. Satan is at the heart of such things - because it is an attempt to rob God of His worship.

It’s so important that God established in the 10 commandments

Exodus 20:3–5 CSB

3 Do not have other gods besides me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me,

WORSHIP is Holy unto GOD - it’s HIS, and His alone.

And we have to ask ourselves - what do you worship? Exam:

time

heart/passions

affections

money being spent

personal body

image you’re pursuing

kids / family over time with the Lord

material possessions

Career / accomplishments

YOU WORSHIP WHAT YOU VALUE MOST

But the LORD said,

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath it, or that is in the water under the earth.

You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I Jehovah your God am a jealous God…

There is a war for your worship…

2. YOU WILL BECOME LIKE WHAT YOU WORSHIP.

Psalm 115:4 “4 Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.”

Psalm 115:8 “8 Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them.”

As you worship, you become like who/what you worship.

If you worship a certain lifestyle - you start dressing like that lifestyle.

If you worship certain music - you attempt to mirror what is portrayed in that music.

If you worship certain entertainment - you become obsessed with that venue of entertainment.

And in these attributes of worship, we take on the attributes of what is worshipped - even to the point of when they aren’t of God, that they will supersede God and all that belongs to Him.

If you worship travel, you will quickly decide to take a trip rather than go to Church.

If you worship sports, you will sacrifice time, energy, and focus on that - rather than on God.

If you worship sensuality, your focus will be on the things of flesh - and revealing more flesh than you should.

YOU BECOME LIKE WHAT YOU WORSHIP.

And our goal here at Refuge Aviano is to have a distinct worship experience - where our focus is on God, and His holy attributes.

We need to become holy, as He is holy.

Holiness is an attribute of one who worships God. Because the one who worships God becomes more like Himself - in the image and character of Christ Jesus.

3. WORSHIP ESTABLISHES GOD’S THRONE WHERE WORSHIP IS HAPPENING

Psalm 22:3–5 CSB

3 But you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 Our ancestors trusted in you; they trusted, and you rescued them. 5 They cried to you and were set free; they trusted in you and were not disgraced.

WORSHIP INVITES GOD INTO THE MOMENT.

Worship invites God to where often God physically manifests His presence in the space around and within the worshipper.

You get to feel God’s presence.

And it is warm, and inviting, and peaceful - and creates longing for more still.

Worship acknowledges and invites the THRONE of GOD

what does a throne represent

Authority

Power

Sovereignty

It’s the seat of power and a visual representation/reminder of God’s position (above you and me) and His sovereign authority in our lives.

Whenever we worship God, His presence and throne and power are there - and when God enters that space, nothing unholy can be there.

When you begin worshipping God, satan and his minions can’t stand it - and they can’t stick around.

Because the presence of a holy God - is an all-consuming fire - and there judgment day is appointed but its not that day, and they’ve got to run from that all-consuming fire.

YOUR WORSHIP IS WARFARE - AND IT CREATES CHAOS FOR YOUR ENEMY.

SATAN DOES NOT WANT YOU TO WORSHIP GOD - AND WILL GIVE EVERY EXCUSE FOR YOU NOT TO

BUT WHEN YOU DO, YOU BEGIN WORSHIPPING THE MOST HOLY GOD, AND YOU BEGIN TO CONFESS OUT LOUD ALL OF HIS GREATNESS, ALL OF HIS MAJESTY, ALL OF HIS HOLINESS

it reviles the things of Satan and this world, and they CANNOT stick around.

Submit yourself before GOD, and who is all is, and SATAN MUST FLEE from you.

This is why when you’re under the weight of an attack from the devil or demonic powers, it tries you keep you frozen and silent - to keep your mouth shut.

But if you can just call on the name of JESUS - there is POWER in the name of JESUS

That Name is wonderful -God is wonderful

That Name is counselor - God is our Counselor

That Name is Mighty God - He is Almighty, and there’s NO thing stronger

That Name is Everlasting Father - He always was, always is, and forever will be and HE overrules ALL things

That Name is Prince of Peace - the bringer of peace, and the demolisher of strongholds,

And finally when you call on the Name of JESUS - YOU’RE SAYING - SAVIOR, He’s my Savior - God is my Savior

Satan get AWAY FROM ME - God is my Savior - and He has condemned you to the pits of Hell for all eternity

You have no hold on me - I worship my God, MY SAVIOR, my REDEEMER

So stop wasting my time and GET OFF OF ME!

YOU BECOME MORE LIKE WHO YOU WORSHIP - Operating in the authority of GOD ALMIGHTY and kicking devils in the teeth.

Establish a mindset of worshiping God always - and you will trample those spiritual snakes and scorpions - you will stomp out the devil out of your family.

You will WALK established in faith in Christ Jesus.

THIS IS WAR - AND CHRIST HAS ALREADY GIVEN YOU THE VICTORY - ITS THROUGH YOUR WORSHIP!

John 4:24 “24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.””

Hebrews 12:28–29 ESV

28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.