Awe-Full Worship

Context

Theme: Growing Together.

Current Guide: The author of the Letter to the Hebrews.

The great theme of the letter is that Jesus is the supreme fulfillment of promises of God contained in the Law and the Prophets and therefore Christians should endure in faith despite all challenges and so obtain the eternal life and kingdom promised in the Hebrew Scriptures and fulfilled by Christ.

Last week, we considered how the life of faith is like a spiritual marathon that we must run with endurance, with our eyes fixed on Jesus.

This week, Hebrews reminds us to worship God with awe. A-W-E — Full worship.

He does this by contrasting how God delivered the first covenant to Moses and the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai, with how God has given the new covenant through Jesus.

Very briefly, by way of reminder, we are told in the Old Testament book of Exodus that when God gave the 10 commandments to Moses, God descended on the mountain top in darkness and fire, and forbad anyone to come up the mountain other than Moses, on pain of death. It was an extraordinary appearance of God, intended to put the fear of God upon them so that they would obey God’s law and follow Moses to the promised land.

Now Hebrews reminds us that the New Covenant inspires even more awe.

Today’s reading comes from Hebrews 12.

Text

Hebrews 12:18–29 “For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 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, for our God is a consuming fire.”

Introduction

Book of Order. Worship of the triune God is the center of our common life together.

Worship is the central thing that brings us together….with each other and with God.

When you think about it. It is an amazing claim. We gather together, not around a celebrity or a politician or even a preacher or a band….We are here because we are called together before God. To encounter God to be shaped together by God.

Seems like an overstatement?…

Exegesis 1: Contrast of Sinai and Zion

Christian worship really that big of a deal?

A question the original recipients of the letter to the Hebrews may have been asking. It seems they may have been being tempted to give up meeting as Christians for worship and just rely on synagogue…for many Christians in the early years were members of both synagogue and church.

Christians did not have dedicated church buildings yet. Did not have all the prayers and liturgies and music that we have now. They did not even have the NT Bible that we have today. They had the Lord’s Supper and Baptism, — which pointed to a humble savior crucified on a cross — and the witness stories of the apostles.

Maybe did not seem like enough…go back to the venerable traditions of the Jewish forebears. Back to the covenant of Moses. The Law given at Sinai with great pomp and power.

What the apostle shows them is that while the covenant with Moses was visible to the eyes and to the ears and to the touch, it did not bring people closer to God, but kept the people at a distance from God.

blazing fire, darkness, gloom, tempest, an angelic trumpet blast, all frightened the people.

the voice of God speaking to Moses was so thunderous that the people begged not to hear it anymore and Moses himself, that “friend of God” trembled with fear.

the presence of the all-holy God so stringent against sin of any kind that any person or animal that touched the mountain must be stoned for polluting the presence of God.

A true and powerful encounter with God, yes! a good covenant with God, yes!

Result: a severe limitation: God and people still essentially apart.

But now, a better worship has been given. Not something terrifying, but something welcoming, You have come to:

Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Earthly Zion and Jerusalem, being the capital of ancient Israel, were metaphors for being in God’s presence. Now, you have come to where God and his people literally dwell together…

You have come to innumerable angels…NB: dressed in festal gathering. Not blasting trumpets or wearing armor or wielding weapons. Dressed for celebration.

You have come to the community of the righteous people who have been made perfect…and who have been born to eternal life.

And you have come to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant. This covenant is founded on his blood.

The old covenant blood of Abel cried out to be avenged upon Cain who murdered him,

But the new covenant of the blood of Jesus was shed to forgive sins.

Therefore, no one is going to be struck dead for coming close to God, Jesus’ blood says a better word, like a sign posted at the door to sinners: “come”…

Result: Instead of a severe limitation to connecting with God, an new welcome to God.

The ancient Christians could not see all this with their eyes or touch it with their fingers. They could only access it by faith. They had to believe and know that Christian worship — as simple and humble as it was — was bringing them close to God in a way that no other form of religion, or worship or activity could.

Application 1: We are in the presence of God.

Worship can seem simple to us today too.

Even with Sanctuary/GP, Bibles, hymnals, lights, chancel, robes, bands…can still wonder: Is there something really significant going on?

Yes there is.

We see with our physical eyes, only a glimpse of the spiritual reality that is around us…

we see people around us…not yet perfect, but being made perfect…points us to the righteous made perfect in heaven.

Music…congregational singing…points us to the praises around the throne of God.

When we hear the good news preached that Jesus forgives sin, … points us to the welcome sinners receive from God.

Revelation 5:9–13 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders;…and myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands of others, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb …for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every…nation; …

Sometimes church seems mundane. But every once in a while, we see what is really going on.

Example: I remember a time when I was in church as a teenager, about the time I was discerning that I wanted to be a pastor. Sermon. Music. Kids around me. Learning and growing. Smell of the sanctuary. I was in God’s place, with God’s people, I knew it was true:

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.””

True for us today: We are in the presence of God during worship.

Since this is true: What should we do?

Exegesis 2: Stay in the worshiping community.

Hebrews says, Do not refuse the one who is speaking.

That is, do not take lightly what has been revealed about worship.

Again a contrast.

In the Old Testament, the ancient Israelites saw the mountain, they saw the darkness and smoke. Heard angelic trumpet, the voice.

But did they obey and walk in the covenant of God.

Instead they fashioned a golden calf idol and worshiped it. And so they died in the wilderness and never entered the promised land.

Hebrews says, don’t make that mistake.

For you Christian are even more accountable…not less..

For in revealing the gospel, God has not spoken merely from earth, but from heaven.

Hebrews 1:1–2 “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by [His]Son,…”

Last time, God shook the mountain. But this time, God has promised that he is going to shake heaven and earth, a reference to Jesus’ second coming.

Luke 21:25–28 Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations …for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. ..””

The apostle exhorts the Christian: if the ancients did not escape consequences for ignoring God’s temporary covenant, how much more shall we be held accountable for ignoring the very Son of God, who brings an unshakable kingdom.

Application 2: Pay Attention

So what shall we do? Pay attention to worship and not neglect what it communicates to us.

Example: You are good at this.

A few weeks ago. I preached Colossians 3. Put on the new self in Christ, like a new wardrobe.

Many of you said, I looked at my wardrobe. Donated my old stuff. On a deeper level: I’m thinking about life in Christ.

Last week: Spiritual journey is like a marathon.

Many of you, I want the 26.2. Deeper: Spiritual victory.

Even right now, many of you take notes, talk together with family, friends, about What did God communicate in worship.

These are good habits. We are accountable for taking worship to heart: helps us follow Christ to the promised land and not to fall away.

Exegesis 3: Let us worship with awe.

Lastly, the apostle encourages Christians — knowing that God is welcoming them into his presence, that their spiritual future is in the balance — that they should always worship gratitude, with awe and reverence.

Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe;”

Apostles is correcting a temptation in early Christian worship. Early Christians often the poorer members of society. They did not have religious clothes or robes. They did not have a temple or synagogue. They met in someone’s home. Shared a common meal. Social, good.

But also an occasion for critical spirit: This isn’t holy enough, not religious enough, doesn’t make me feel spiritual…today: I didn’t get anything out of it.

Apostle flips the situation around. Reverence and gratitude doesn’t come from outside but from within. You bring the reverence. You stand in awe. You express the gratitude.

Worship isn’t just what happens around you…it is something you all bring with you to God.

Because God is a consuming fire. The same God of Sinai, is now among you, purifying you for the kingdom of heaven.

Bring your awe, reverence, and gratitude.

Luke 12:32 ““Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Application 3:

How are we showing up to worship?

Example: when I worship somewhere as a guest I go analytically. Critique. Judge. How was the music? The liturgy? Was he/she articulate? We were organized and on time? — could say a professional hazard as a pastor. But also the danger of evaluating worship rather than sharing in it. Is it “good”

instead of singing, looking around.

Instead of listening mind wandering.

We are to come to worship with reverence and awe.

Focused on the God who is being worshipped and what God is doing among us.

There will be SOMETHING.

Purifying us for his kingdom. Priorities correct.

Someone not able to attend church regularly, as they have for decades: I miss being at church. I miss God and his people, contributing and serving and worshiping.

Flip worship ideas on its head. Not something that happens around us…something we offer together for what God has done.

He has given us an unshakable kingdom and we are growing together into it.

We discover over time, he is making us more and more ready for heavenly worship we long for.

Conclusion

Worship of the Triune God is the center of our common life together.

We have been welcomed into God’s presence.

Our spiritual well-being depends on it.

We should be filled with gratitude and awe.

Awe-full worship.