We Value Authentic Worship

INTRODUCTION

Worship is an outward expression of surrender.

King David got carried away with his worship. Wearing ephod instead of King’s garments.

He was criticized for making a full of himself by his wife Michal, daughter of Saul.

2 Samuel 6:14–16 ESV

14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. 16 As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

Worship is not music though music can be used for worship.

Worship is us expressing our surrender. Humbly showing God how important he is to us.

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.

Acts 2:46–3:10 ESV

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

6 Characteristics of Authentic Worship.

1. Authentic Worship is Daily (2:46, 3:1)

Acts 2:46 ESV

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

Acts 3:1 ESV

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

Authentic Worship is worship at all times.

Pray without ceasing.- Worship without ceasing.

Colossians 3:16–17 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Worship was a natural outflow of a life surrendered to Jesus.

It was not forced. It was just who they were.

2. Authentic Worship is Formal and Informal (2:46)

Acts 2:46 ESV

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

In a formal setting- the Temple- everything consecrated for service of God.

In a home- where we do everything for the glory of God.

Authentic worship is not one way at church and one way at home and work.

3. Authentic Worship Changes You (2:47)

Acts 2:47 ESV

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Moses’ face.

How can you spend time in God’s presence and not be changed?

John 4:23–24 ESV

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

4. Authentic Worship Opens Your Eyes (3:1-2)

Acts 3:1–2 ESV

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

9th hour= 3:00PM - time of evening prayer and sacrifices.

would have been easy to have been in too big of a hurry to help others.

We see those and need and see them the way God sees them.

Jesus noticed those that everyone else ignored.

5. Authentic Worship Reflects Jesus(3:3-5)

Acts 3:3–5 ESV

3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

Everyone is looking to Peter and John because they reflected jesus.

6. Authentic Worship is Contagious (3:6-10)

Acts 3:6–10 ESV

6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

The result of the miracle was another person worshiping Jesus, not Peter or John.

CONCLUSION

Worship always begins with surrender.

Worship is about God, not us.

Are you a worshipper?