Is He Worthy?
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I want to begin this morning with a Brennan Manning quote:
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” - Brennan Manning
This week we begin holy week where we remember the final days of Jesus leading up to the resurrection
On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey and then a few days later, the crowd yelling hosana is the same crowd yelling crucify Him
Isn’t it interesting how the same crowd who hailed Jesus is the same crowd who wanted Him crucified?
And the question that always lingers is “why?”
Well, could be many reasons:
Could be political, they thought He was going to be a strong leader who would wipe out the Romans
Could be a little simpler, maybe it was just the heat of the moment
Or, maybe a little of both. It is easier to flip when we are disappointed
We know this is not exclusive to the the crowd as Peter denied Christ on the same evening that Jesus washed his feet…
Maybe it happens to all of us?
Why is it so easy to worship Jesus in a moment and then deny Him the next?
I wanted to dive into this a little this morning
How do we remain consistent, worshipping Jesus all of the time?
As we look at this, let’s build a framework to discuss this
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
This idea of a living sacrifice is huge! It is a core theme in the christian life!
We continually, daily, or moment by moment, offer ourselves up to be pleasing to God!
Last night, Julia had us listening to a Hebrew worship group that she likes and they were talking about sacrifice
They shared that the root of the Hebrew word for sacrifice literally means “to draw close”
This is interesting. As we offer ourselves as a sacrifice, we are literally drawing close to Jesus!
As we build the framework to discuss this question, we begin with offering a sacrifice of ourselves, to draw closer to Jesus!
If we don’t want to drift away to a place of denial, then we must draw closer!
To worship God according to Romans 12 means to deny ourselves and draw closer to Him!
We separate ourselves, we do not conform to the world, like the crowd did on good friday, but we transform our minds..beginning with sacrifice
We can’t worship God, while dancing with the devil!
To sacrifice ourselves means to say “no” to the things that are not of God! And this might hurt!
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
So, we are holy, separated from the world, and we should walk in this way!
Not grieving the HS, - keeping our eyes on Him!
How much are we willing to sacrifice ourselves for Jesus?
What if moment by moment, God would have something for us to do?
What if God would have us minister to someone while we are shopping at walmart?
What if, instead of being frustrated with Godly interruptions, we took the time and embraced them?
What if worshipping Jesus means pouring into the person in front of us?
What if it means picking up the phone and checking in on someone?
What if it means taking the time to spend time with Jesus? Reading the word, praying, time for worship?
What if it means learning to listen to the voice of the HS?
I want to wrap up with why it is important to worship Him!
It is simply because He is good!
Any Chronicles of Narnia fans?
I like the conversation between Susan, Lucy, and Mr. Beaver
“Is he—quite safe?” I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion” – Susan
“If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.” – Mrs. Beaver
“Then he isn’t safe?” – Lucy
“Safe? . . . Who said anything about safe? Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King I tell you.” – Mr. Beaver
I love this because it puts perspective to the ideas that Aslan, who is the depiction of Jesus, is powerful and mighty and we should have fear and trembling before Him, but He is good!
I was listening to Esther this week on the audio bible and she was legit!
She goes before the King and he has every right to kill her if he chooses to…but, he extends his scepter to him, symbolizing he is good with her
I think of this in the way of God! He is king, He is power, but He is love!
When we come to an intimate place with Him, we have the king on our side!
So, why do we worship Him, why do we walk with Him?
Because He has the power to save, to heal and to deliver!
When we find it important enough to listen to the HS, we are His hands and feet in the world!
We do what God is calling us to do, because He is powerful and He is good!
Lastly, is God worthy of our worship?
Is He worthy of our time?
Of our embarassement?
Our full surrender?
He is the creator of the world!
Going to play a song and if you have never given your life to Jesus, now is the time! He is good! He will change your life!
Listen to the words in Revelation 5, and we will start the song immediately after. Worship team, you can come up during the song.
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.
4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Is Jesus worthy of our worship, our sacrifice, and our full surrender?
If you need prayer this morning, let’s come to the King of power!
Play Song - worship team come up
