Untitled Sermon (13)

THE KINGS

Pt. 19 - UNLIMITED

(Worship Pt. 2)

Introduction

What is worship?  Is our worship determined or limited by our personality? Location? Culture?

Worship is one of those areas that we have perhaps allowed culture to define in a way that limits it, especially in where it takes place and what is culturally acceptable.  This has been happening since the time of THE KINGS … which we will see today in 2 Samuel 6.

Let’s define it:

Worship - assigning worth to something, declaring loyalty to or celebrating someone / something.  

One of the best places that I’ve seen to observe worship is on Sundays - not only in churches, but on Sunday afternoons … like this picture of an experience from a gathering of people celebrating that they felt was worthy of their loyalty.

(SHOW PICTURE of Fans at the Panthers game)

ILLUSTRATION:

Fan Code of Conduct Policy - Bank of America Stadium

Purpose

To promote a high-energy environment to lend support to our team, while maintaining a wholesome, family-oriented atmosphere by defining certain acts or types of behavior that are unacceptable.

Policy

To ensure that all patrons have a pleasant game-day experience, each patron should act responsibly and be considerate of others. The following acts or types of behavior will not be tolerated in Bank of America Stadium (list is not all inclusive):

Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal in nature; Possessing and/or concealing a firearm, explosives or other weapons; Possessing or using illegal drugs; Fighting, taunting or any action that may harm or endanger others; Harassing or threatening other patrons, stadium staff, players or game officials; Projecting images onto players, coaches, officials, broadcast or network employees or other sideline personnel by aiming a laser pointer, spotlight or other such device at them; Intoxication or other signs of alcohol and drug impairment that result in irresponsible behavior; Offensive language or obscene gestures; Nudity - to include the removal of shirts, blouses and other items of apparel that may offend others; Smoking; Liquor violations; Throwing objects (including beach balls).

Whether or not certain types of behavior and/or acts are inappropriate or offensive to others may depend on one's perspective and values. Stadium management reserves the right to deem an act or exhibited behavior to be inappropriate and act accordingly.

PURPOSE: To LIMIT how fans act in the stadium.  

Limiting activity is so many times seen as the way to steward an environment … I get it, we have to have guidelines, and in the case of our worship - those are Biblical guidelines.

HOWEVER, let us NEVER come into the presence of God and be limited in our worship by our personality, by our upbringing, by how well we slept last night, by what my spouse said to me on the ride here, by the songs that we sang … and the list goes on.  

God is inviting you to a lifestyle of UNLIMITED worship.

THE FOCUS OF OUR WORSHIP IS AN UNLIMITED GOD.

OUR RESPONSE SHOULD ALSO BE UNLIMITED.

Worship is NOT

limited to singing a few songs and giving in the offering during a worship service.

limited to group gatherings.

limited to our personality.

limited at all … 

Worship is unlimited in the strength and power it brings to a life yielded to an unlimited God!

Today’s Scripture:  

Last week, we read about the fact that when the presence of God is not stewarded correctly, people get hurt.  This week, there is another example of worship in the presence of God that causes quite a stir!  It happens when they are bringing the Ark of God back into Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 6:14-16 (NLT)

And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns. But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him.

2 Samuel 6:20-23 (NLT)

When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.

Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!”  

So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.

”THIS IS GOD’S WORD. I BELIEVE IT IS TRUE AND TIMELESS. THE LOVE, FORGIVENESS, AND POWER THAT IT DESCRIBES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME. I WILL LEARN FROM IT AND LET IT TRANSFORM EVERY DETAIL OF MY LIFE.” 

Things that can limit our worship:

Circumstances 

Let me first say, that God understands.  God knows where you are at and is concerned about your current reality.

In fact, Jesus even says that not even a little sparrow falls to the ground without His knowledge … and that we are much more valuable than that.  He knows you and sees you!  Your circumstance is NOT a surprise to Him, nor does it cause Him to lower His expectations of your response to Him.

But on the other side of that circumstance, there is an invitation that He is giving to you … to not allow that circumstance to limit your worship.  There is a level of FREEDOM and POWER when we make a decision to WORSHIP in spite of our circumstances … for you and those around you!

Thermostats vs. thermometers.

Story of Paul and Silas: Acts 16:22-34

They were beaten and thrown into prison.  They find themselves in a crazy predicament that they had every reason to be LIMITED … and yet they worshipped.

Acts 16:25-26 (NLT)

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

Possessions. 

Possessions can limit our worship in 2 ways:

We think we don’t have enough and what we have can’t amount to worship.

Luke 21 - the rich are seen putting in offering gifts that amounted to a “tip” … because it was given out of their excess … a little widow lady comes and puts in ALL that she had and it was considered an act of worship … given out of her lack!  THAT IS WORSHIP and TRUST!!

ILLUSTRATION —- 2 years ago … Tithe of tomatoes.  (PICTURE)

We think what we have is ours and we don’t realize that how we steward what we have is an act of worship.

Rich Man in Mark 10  … had kept all the commandments, but when Jesus asked him to give up possessions, he grieved and passed up the opportunity to follow Jesus.  He valued what he HAD over what He was being offered … JESUS still invites us ALL into an eternal mindset that sees who we are now as STEWARDS of what God has entrusted to us … and NOT OWNERS.

Mark 10:21-22 (NLT) 

Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

DAVID GREEN (owner of Hobby Lobby)  - we OWN nothing … we are simply stewards.  EVERYTHING is God, he only asks that we put Him first and return to Him his first 10%.

That is why I can UNASHAMEDLY invite you into an UNLIMITED experience of returning back to God even more of what is already is so that he can use it to further the Kingdom.

(KINGDOM BUILDERS UPDATE)

YTD Giving … $391,000

Reidsville Project:  $147,500 remaining … 

CARDS

Lack of self-awareness  

Perhaps the biggest limitation to true worship is the fact that we don’t truly grasp who we are without Jesus.  Which can lead to a sense of not being grateful.

SINNERS SAVED BY GRACE!!

Les Miserables - story of Jean Viljean - recently paroled criminal who is released from a hard labor camp after serving 20 years for stealing a loaf of bread.  He struggles to find a place in the world with his newfound freedom.  There’s a priest who takes him in and shows him compassion and feeds him.  Jean Valjean repays that priest with a beating and stealing much of his fine and expensive silverware.  

He is caught with the silverware the next day.  The police officer detains him and takes him back to the priest and says, “This man had the audacity to say that you gave this silver to him”.

In a moment that would forever change Jean Valjean’s life the priest looks at him and the officer and says, “Jean Valjean … I am very angry at you!  I’m angry that you didn’t also take the candlesticks like we had discussed!  They are worth more than 2,000 francs!”  He stuffs the silver candlesticks into his bag and says for him to be on his way.

As he is leaving, the priest pulls him in close and says, 

“Don’t you forget. Don’t you ever forget. You’ve promised to become a new man! Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil. With this silver I’ve bought your soul. I’ve ransomed you from fear and hatred, and now I give you back to God.”

Those who have been the recipients of unlimited grace must but be a distributor of grace to others and worship God with an unlimited mindset.