True Worship Sermon

A few weeks ago, I was at a Military and 1st Responders conference in St. Augustine, Florida. I was asked to teach a workshop on what it means, “To worship God from a Biblical Context.”

As I sat in front of my computer, I asked the Lord

what do You want to say to Your people for Your Glory?

And as I began to write, the Holy Spirit reminded me that True Worship Begins and Ends with God.

I thought - well this sounds more like a sermon than a workshop.

But my time slot was an hour and fifteen minutes.

So I hope y’all ate before you came to church this morning because this sermon comes from that.

I want to challenge us in the same way.

———

What does the Lord want you to hear from His Word today?

How does God want to change your heart - so that it aligns - with who He is?

What sin does He want to call out and deal with in your life?

And what would it look like to live a life completely and totally surrendered to God?

I fully expect for the Holy Spirit to lead us in our time together this morning as our Father answers those questions for us.

Let’s Pray

Father, Your Word tells us in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord”. Lord, this time is Yours, we make it an offering to You. Break down any walls we’ve built, the lies we’ve believed. Destroy the idols in our lives that keep up from serving You. You have set us apart for Your glory and honor and praise. We are a desperate people, who in this next hour are in desperate need of You.

And His people said - AMEN.

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Hopefully you picked up a bulletin when you came in. If you didn’t, you’re going to need one. There’s a post it note in there so just hang on to that - it’s there intentionally.

The Lord has gave me a topical sermon to preach this morning and I am excited to share what the Lord has to say to His people.

If you would, please write down the following two words:

“Worship - God”

It’s only two words, and seems specific - straightforward, but if I asked you to define it, we’d all write down something different wouldn’t we?

When we talk about “Worshipping - God” we understand that it could mean a lot of different things.

So this morning, I want to work through what Worship is, Who God is, and whether or not our heart posture reflects a life surrendered to God.

———

WORSHIP

Some might say, prayer and reading God’s Holy and Perfect Word without any mixture of error is worship - and they would be correct - but that’s not all worship is.

I think a lot christians often think of worship, in the context of singing songs and they would be correct, it is worship - but that’s not all worship is.

And perhaps it’s because people who stand up here, play instruments, sing, and lead the congregation in worship are often referred to as the ‘worship team’.

And it is worship - and Scripture commands us to do it -

to offer up songs of praise to God.

In Isaiah 43:21 - God says

“The people whom (I) formed for (Myself) will declare (My) praise.”

This particular word “praise” means “praise-song” or “hymn”.

He saying, I made you for Myself to declare My praise, My glory -

Church we were created to worship Him.

I learned recently that our vocal cords are developed by week 12 in the womb.

Now I don’t pretend to know the Mind of God, but I have to think that He didn’t create vocal cords in us, just so we could just hear ourselves talk.

Psalm 146 says in vv 1-2,

“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, my soul! I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

The first (3) times “praise” is used - it means to “shine” or “celebrate” in a visual sense or “boast with praise” and the (4th) to “sing or make music”.

But, not everyone likes to sing, do - they - church?

Now, I’m not calling out anyone specific - so don’t ask yourself “is he talking about me.” I’ll leave that conversation between you and the Holy Spirit.

Story of Me

I used to know this guy at church, he would stand there with his arms crossed during the worship singing..

His wife would nudge him.. why aren’t you singing?

He didn’t want to.

Maybe in his mind he thought, I’m here - isn’t that enough?

Why do I have to sing - I don’t like to singing in front of people..

Nobody wants to hear me sing..

This “I don’t want to - you can’t make me” kinda attitude.

Every week, his wife tried to involve him in the joy that she had in the Lord.

She understood something.

Church, that guy was me -Your worship pastor.

Back then, I didn’t know that “True worship begins and Ends with God”.

I was just showing up and going through the motions..

Now, I want to be clear that if the Spirit leads you to raise your hands - do it.

If the Spirit leads you to come to the front - do it.

It doesn’t matter what others think - it’s not about them - it’s about God.

If the Spirit leads you to be quiet and reflect on truth of God’s Character that we’re singing about - do it.

I’m not talking about that.

I’m talking about having an appropriate heart posture before God.

Church, can I give you a word this morning?

How you sound, when you sing - is not what’s important,

What’s important is- who you’re singing to. (Pause)

And church, He commands us to do it.

And get this - He doesn’t call or command you to do something and fail to provide whatever’s needed so you can obey.

Perhaps in God’s Infinite Wisdom when He created you, He crafted a particular musical note - that is - your voice - which is separate and distinct from any other voice in all of creation.

So when He hears your specific note being played - His glory is revealed throughout all of creation.

Who are we to withhold that kind praise, that kind of glory from Him?

If we’re not gonna give Him our voice in song - then maybe it’s not a far stretch that we’d also hold back our voice when it comes to sharing the Good News

That is - The Gospel

To that the waitress who’s life is full of brokenness.

The mom who’s barely surviving just trying to raise and feed her kids.

The guy who’s given up and thinks there’s nothing in this life worth living for anymore.

Don’t you think they could benefit from knowing that there is a God who created them -

Who - despite the fact that they rebelled and sinned against Him - cares about them enough

To send His only Son - Jesus to die a death reserved for them - in order to bring them back into a right relationship with Him for all of eternity?

Don’t you think people need to hear that?

Don’t you think that as Christians we should take every chance we’re given to sing His praises boastfully with a heart of joy because of what He’s done for us?

Or did we already forget that “The people whom (He) formed for (Himself) will declare (His) praise.”

True Worship Begins and Ends with God.

—————

Earlier I asked you to write down the word “Worship”. This word derives from an old English word, “Werth-ship”, and It’s “The state or condition of being worthy” and from a biblical context, it simply means to “put or place something in its proper context.”

Do we honor God in His proper context?

In Hebrew, worship means to “bow down or prostrate oneself” in reverence.

In Greek, it conveys a deep respect and submission.

Are we reverently submissive to God?

Now, I should point out that God is not, who He is, because we say so.

He is, who He is, because, He says so.

In other words - God doesn’t cease to be God just because we don’t honor Him in His proper context or reverently submit ourselves to Him.

But how can we be reverently submissive to Him, if we don’t even know who He is?

The first time God speaks to us is in Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.”

Revelation 1:8 says

I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (He’s saying I’m past, present and future - I exist outside of time and space.)

And in Exodus 3:13

“Then Moses says to God, Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you. Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name? What shall I say to them?

V14

And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “This is what you shall say to the sons of Israel: I AM has sent you.’” (God’s revealing His eternal and self-existent nature)

Who God is - matters

I didn’t know who He was and my heart posture reflected it.. I went through the motions and stood there during worship with my arms crossed, among other things because I failed to understand the nature of God.

You see, GOD, is not some random person or made up mythological creature so that man can feel better about himself.

“Our response to God" is ultimately shaped by the context in which we see Him.

If I don’t know Him or believe in Him, then I’m not going to follow His will for my life…

But you say, pastor Eric — we do — know God…

We know Him, we believe in Him, but if we’re honest with ourselves, our heart posture doesn’t always reflect that - does it?

We don’t always live like we’ll have to actually give an account for it

do we?

We don’t always behave reverently, knowing that we exist within the constant presence of a mighty God who sees all, do we?

Psalm 139:7 says:

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence?"

Where can you go to escape the presence of God….?

When I was young, I grew up in a Catholic Church and if someone said a bad word - other kids would say - you can’t say that in church.

You have to be good in church. God’s watching you..

You can’t swing that rosary around, because if you do, you’re giving the devil a ride..

And there were all these ridiculous things - but hey, the moment we stepped out of church - we could do whatever we wanted..

As if God’s presence was somehow limited and only confined within the space of the church building.

———

Is God’s presence not in the home… men - father’s?

You think God doesn’t see how we treat our wives - or our kids - because it’s in the privacy of our home? Because I said it under my breath so others didn’t hear me ripping into them..

You think He doesn’t know what’s on your computer screen, what’s in your search history?

You think He doesn’t know when we’re just going through the motions as a Christian?

Church, can I tell you that if our heart posture at church towards God looks different than the one we have at home, or work, or school - then we’re living a double life.

I can’t be one way here and another out there and at the same time believe that I know who God is because clearly my heart posture doesn’t reflect it.

Does our life - our heart - really reflect the Glory of God?

Does my worship truly Begin and end with God?

—————

As I prayed about it, I came to the realization that the problem is me…

It’s with - my heart..

My heart posture towards God is out of alignment with who He says He is.

Jeremiah 17: v9

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?

V10

“I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, to give each person according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.”

Paul says to the unbeliever in Romans 1,

V21

“For although they knew God (He’s talking about general revelation), they did not honor him as God (you could say they failed to see Him in His proper context - who He is) or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and, their foolish hearts were darkened.”

If the unbeliever is without excuse, what does is say to those of us who say that we do know God?

I mean, what excuse are we gonna be able to come up with when we stand before the righteous and just God?

Church,

Who or What is your heart worshipping?

In those secret places that no one else knows about except you - and God?

God makes this point throughout Scripture, but I wanted to focus on a vision that He gives Ezekiel in chapter 8 regarding 3 abominations in Jerusalem. I’m just going to read the first one, but I encourage you to get in His Word and read through all of it.

Here in chapter 8, God reveals what’s going on behind the closed doors - of their hearts - where they think no one sees including God.

Read Chapter 8:6-12

——

6 And He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations!”

7 Then He brought me to the entrance of the courtyard, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall.

8 And He said to me, “Son of man, now dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance.

9 Then He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here.”

10 So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of crawling things and animals and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around.

11 And standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand; and the fragrance of the cloud of incense was rising.

12 Then He said to me, “Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each man in the rooms of his carved images? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has abandoned the land.’”

Exodus 20:2-3

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“You shall have no other Gods before Me.”

A little more than 800 years later, these 70 elders are worshipping everything - but - God.

Church, the commandment hasn’t changed. On November 2nd, 2025, in Luling, Texas, God says,

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

“YOU SHALL NOT WORSHIP THEM OR SERVE THEM; FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, AM A JEALOUS GOD, INFLICTING PUNISHMENT OF THE FATHERS ON THE CHILDREN, ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO HATE ME.”

God shows Ezekiel several other abominations and each time, He says “there are even greater abominations” than the first.. And it just gets worse and worse.

In V17 God says,

“Do you see this, son of man? Is it a trivial thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked me to anger repeatedly…?

It’s really easy to distance ourselves from the Israelites and think - not us..

We don’t do that..

Not us God..

We don’t worship carved images in our home.

We don’t give a greater “Werth-ship” to other things…

What if God put 70 of us in a room and opened the window to the secret places of hearts for the entire world to see… what would be said of us…

What do our idols look like? What is it that we worship in secret?

I think it’s “ME” self - elevation, it’s all about ME and what I want for my life, for my kids, my career…

It’s the same for the world, only difference is they’re not ashamed to admit it.

It’s all about me and what I want, I mean we’ve elevated ourselves so much that if you don’t believe the same as me - I’m going to ruin your life. Cancel you..

You have a business - well you better support my cause or else. Is this not what were seeing today in our society?

The prosperity gospel preacher would tell you that God just wants you to be happy, healthy, and wealthy.… because it’s all about me.

———

- God created you for one purpose -

To WORSHIP HIM & do works for the good of others.

Your Bible might say it like this - in Mark chapter 12

V30 "You SHALL love the LORD YOUR GOD with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.

“Worship Him”

V31 The second is this: You SHALL love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

"Do works for the good of others”

Where in here does it say anything about you? Folks, it ain’t about us…

What did Jesus say to His disciples - “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

You were bought with a high price.. Sometimes we need to be reminded that the blood of Jesus Christ bought our eternal freedom..

What are you holding back from our King? Which part of your heart? Which part of your life?

And here’s the reality — If we were created to Worship like God said back in Isaiah 43:21 then is stands to reason that we’re always worshipping something, Because it’s what we were created to do..

Our problem, is that - we waste our worship on things that are worthless and I believe that God wants to deal with us and our hearts this morning… He wants to deal with the idols in your heart.

I have this vivid image in my mind of Jesus being nailed to the cross.. the hammer hits the nail as it drives into His flesh (hit).

It’s as if that hammer is my sin. (hit)

God’s wrath being poured out on His Son for me. (hit)

I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have been like.

What kind of love it takes to send Your Son down to earth to be born of man, to suffer, to die and be buried to deal with our sin once and for all.

—

But that’s not the end because on the 3rd day He rose from the grave and later He ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

And He didn’t do all of that, to see us here in 2025, worship the same idols.

I’d like for us to just close our eyes and take a moment to quiet our heart before the Lord.

I want you to imagine that you are kneeling before the King of kings, the Lord of hosts and ask for Him to reveal the idols in your life that you’ve replaced him with..

Ask Him to reveal what you’ve really been worshipping.. in that hidden cave of your heart.

And when He reveals it to you, I want you to write it down on that (post it note) you have in your bulletin and hang onto it.

**Wait for everyone to finish**

Jesus says in Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other [….]”

The word ‘serve’ here means to be a (slave to..) or to (yield your obedience) to someone or some thing.

Jesus didn’t die a sinners death just you could go back and be a slave to whatever it is that you wrote on that paper…

You can serve a lot of things, but there’s only ONE person worthy of it - Christ Jesus.

—————

Church,

If True Worship begins and ends with God, then our heart posture should be a life that’s completely sold out and surrendered to God because of who He is.

Not my will - but Yours.

Here am I Lord - send me…

This life is Yours - do with it whatever You will.

Here’s what that looks like - lived out…

Never lose your AWE of God. Keep Him in His proper context.

There’s a song with a verse that says -

I just want to get caught in Your gaze;

Right here in Your presence, God

Is where I want to stay,

Oh, just to dwell in Your house.

Spend my hours and my days on You.

If that’s the posture of your heart… then you’ll long to-

Spend time memorizing His Word - and meditating on it.

Deut 11:18 - says “to lay up these words of mine in your heart and your soul.”

Pray - without ceasing.

Isa 30:18 - says “the Lord waits or He longs to be gracious to you - and He waits on high to have compassion on you.

Sing songs psalms of praise to Him at all times.

Go and fulfill the Great Commission [Go, make disciples, baptize, teach all I’ve commanded].

Praise the Lord!

You can’t serve two masters church…. So choose this day whom you’re gonna serve and don’t hold back anymore, don’t withhold your Worship to God.

I’m fixin to pray, and then, the worship team is going to come up and lead us in a response song.

If you’ve made a decision to follow Christ for the first time, would you please respond by coming down so we can rejoice over you and pray with you.

And church, at the same time, I want for all of us to come down as well from wherever you’re seated and throw that idol into one of these garbage cans, because that’s what it is, and that’s where it belongs.

PRAYER

Father, forgive us for making a mockery of Your character by worshipping other things. For not honoring who You are by our actions, our words, our deeds, our hearts. We give all that we are to You this morning and ask that You would reign fire down on the idols that we’ve allowed to take what’s Yours - which is, our heart.

Father, would you make clear to those this morning who have not called on the name of Jesus to save them from their sin. Because today is the day that you have made and we shall rejoice and be glad in it.

Father - Show us Your glory forever and ever. Amen

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