Untitled Sermon

As we begin again today, I would like you to turn with me, in your Bibles, to St. … I will, once again, read in your hearing from the ESV. ESVThe woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 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.Here’s something that we must all grasp during our worship encounter for today. “Worship is central to all that we are!” More than that, “We have lived no lives, if we have not lived them as if each of our moments are moments of worship.” Face it ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, young people, the reason for our existence is worship… Listen to the Lord in (ESV) “I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Worship is the purpose for which we have been called… Worship is the mission that we have been given – (Go ye into all the world, and bring men that they might come and worship before me, says the Lord of hosts).What is Christian Worship?Before we go any further with today’s message, it is necessary that we ask, and answer one important question. The question is: “What is Christian Worship?” Does it have anything to do with worshipping in a vibrant congregation that has a dynamic praise team, or a charismatic and influential preacher? Does it have anything to do with great social interaction, and an awesome fellowship encounter? Is Christian worship about providing food for the hungry, and clothes for the naked? Is it about bringing comfort and reassurance to visitors and members who have had, or, who are having a difficult time? What is Christian Worship? Why are we here today?If I may be allowed to take the time to remind you again today, (1) “Christian Worship is a Sincere Acknowledgement of who God is.” Let me ask! Have you been consciously, and consistently acknowledging him in your daily life? (2) “Christian Worship is Confessing to God’s face that which we believe about him... And, it is verbally expressing the confidence that we have in him.” (3) “Christian Worship is Celebrating God’s acts of Creation, Redemption, Protection, Benediction, Guidance, and Affirmation.” May I ask, “What have you celebrated today?” According to Bryan Chapell, Christian Worship is man’s sincere response to God’s revelation of himself, and of His Grace. “He (God) gives us the privilege of welcome into his presence that we might reciprocate with the gift of worship” Here’s a “Key Point” to keep in mind about worship: “Worship offered to God isn't a one-sided story. When it is offered with the right knowledge, and in the right spirit, worship brings undeniable benefits and blessings that transform the life of the worshipper (believer & unbeliever alike).”

The Psalmists have a number of expressions that speak to the experiencing of joy, peace, excitement, satisfaction, and empowerment, as they relate to the Christian and his/her worship. Come with me to . (ESV) One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Unless we are insecure, and are seeking the affirmation of others, or we are seeking to go somewhere, riding other people’s popularity, and name recognition; normally, when we long to be in other people’s presence, it is because we truly like being around the individuals - the relationship that we share with them means a whole lot to us. They are - as it were - our reason for living. When this is the case, we can’t wait to be around them. We can’t wait to spend time with them. We can’t wait to tell them about the things that are going on in our lives.If you evaluate the Psalmist’s statement in verse 4 & 5, you’ll realize that worship for him, is like being a kid in a candy store. There is so much to see, so much to experience, so much to enjoy. Not only that, thru worship, he is able to celebrate his personal security. Thru worship he’s able to enjoy the assurances that he has, knowing that in the hand of God, his life is safe and secure; his finances are taken care of; his relationships are protected; his home is safe; his educational aspirations are achievable; his relationship with God will last, and if it’s broken, it will be revived. In , the Sons of Korah continue the worship-inspiring thoughts shared by David in . Here is (ESV) How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah According to Roger Ellsworth, as the Psalmist thought about the house of the Lord, the significance of being there, and the worship that is experienced and practiced in it, 1. He found himself envying the birds that nested in it (v. 3). 2. He referred to the birds to convey something of the benefits of worship. 3. He sees “The sparrow” as a common emblem for worthlessness () 4. He sees “The swallow” as a common symbol for restlessness. 5. However, The house of God ministers to both of them. It is indeed amazing how God functions in our worship exercises. He takes one song, He takes one prayer, He takes one offering, He takes one sermon, He takes one testimony, and with that one item, He ministers to all of us, in our individual setting, without leaving any of us empty, without leaving any of us feeling insecure, without leaving any of us feeling unwanted, without leaving any of us feeling unwelcome, without leaving any of us feeling unappreciated. Lifted UpWorship has a way of lifting the believer/worshipper from the mundane, the inferior, and the insignificant, to a place where he/she is standing on the same platform with God. Mind you! he/she is not equal with God, they are just standing in the same place with him, and on the same plane as he’s standing. Let’s look at . (ESV)

ESVFor thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

The Psalmists have a number of expressions that speak to the experiencing of joy, peace, excitement, satisfaction, and empowerment, as they relate to the Christian and his/her worship. Come with me to . (ESV) One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Unless we are insecure, and are seeking the affirmation of others, or we are seeking to go somewhere, riding other people’s popularity, and name recognition; normally, when we long to be in other people’s presence, it is because we truly like being around the individuals - the relationship that we share with them means a whole lot to us. They are - as it were - our reason for living. When this is the case, we can’t wait to be around them. We can’t wait to spend time with them. We can’t wait to tell them about the things that are going on in our lives.If you evaluate the Psalmist’s statement in verse 4 & 5, you’ll realize that worship for him, is like being a kid in a candy store. There is so much to see, so much to experience, so much to enjoy. Not only that, thru worship, he is able to celebrate his personal security. Thru worship he’s able to enjoy the assurances that he has, knowing that in the hand of God, his life is safe and secure; his finances are taken care of; his relationships are protected; his home is safe; his educational aspirations are achievable; his relationship with God will last, and if it’s broken, it will be revived. In , the Sons of Korah continue the worship-inspiring thoughts shared by David in . Here is (ESV) How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah According to Roger Ellsworth, as the Psalmist thought about the house of the Lord, the significance of being there, and the worship that is experienced and practiced in it, 1. He found himself envying the birds that nested in it (v. 3). 2. He referred to the birds to convey something of the benefits of worship. 3. He sees “The sparrow” as a common emblem for worthlessness () 4. He sees “The swallow” as a common symbol for restlessness. 5. However, The house of God ministers to both of them. It is indeed amazing how God functions in our worship exercises. He takes one song, He takes one prayer, He takes one offering, He takes one sermon, He takes one testimony, and with that one item, He ministers to all of us, in our individual setting, without leaving any of us empty, without leaving any of us feeling insecure, without leaving any of us feeling unwanted, without leaving any of us feeling unwelcome, without leaving any of us feeling unappreciated. Lifted UpWorship has a way of lifting the believer/worshipper from the mundane, the inferior, and the insignificant, to a place where he/she is standing on the same platform with God. Mind you! he/she is not equal with God, they are just standing in the same place with him, and on the same plane as he’s standing. Let’s look at . (ESV)

According to J.D.W. Watts, in his commentary on Isaiah 57:15:1. The invitation is for suitable worshipers to join YHWH...” He says that we are to “Note the contrast of “high and holy” with “contrite and lowly.” 2. According to him, “This is God’s paradox.”3. He says that we ought to note carefully that “The place of glory and power belongs not to the proud, ambitious, and strong of humankind, but to the “contrite,” meek, and “lowly of spirit.” Worship doesn’t lift the person who’s full of him or herself. That person is too self-content for worship to do anything for him or her. Worship is for the humble, lowly, weak, and broken. The greater our acts and attitudes of sin, the greater is our need for Jesus. 4. According to Watts, there’s an invitation here, and that invitation foresees the benefits of worship and pilgrimage. 5. He notes that Worship will “revive the spirit of humble.” And, It will “revive the heart of those practicing contrition.”Properly stated, Worship is God’s medicine, Worship is God’s Opiate, Worship is God’s wonder-drug for man’s everyday maladies.. When worship is engaged, nothing is impossible, and no goal is unattainable - as long as its pursual is in harmony with the will of God. According to Jack Hayford: “...the Scriptures consistently show God calling His creatures to worship in His presence, that He might release, redeem, renew, and restore them.”

ESVFor thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

According to J.D.W. Watts, in his commentary on Isaiah 57:15:1. The invitation is for suitable worshipers to join YHWH...” He says that we are to “Note the contrast of “high and holy” with “contrite and lowly.” 2. According to him, “This is God’s paradox.”3. He says that we ought to note carefully that “The place of glory and power belongs not to the proud, ambitious, and strong of humankind, but to the “contrite,” meek, and “lowly of spirit.” Worship doesn’t lift the person who’s full of him or herself. That person is too self-content for worship to do anything for him or her. Worship is for the humble, lowly, weak, and broken. The greater our acts and attitudes of sin, the greater is our need for Jesus. 4. According to Watts, there’s an invitation here, and that invitation foresees the benefits of worship and pilgrimage. 5. He notes that Worship will “revive the spirit of humble.” And, It will “revive the heart of those practicing contrition.”Properly stated, Worship is God’s medicine, Worship is God’s Opiate, Worship is God’s wonder-drug for man’s everyday maladies.. When worship is engaged, nothing is impossible, and no goal is unattainable - as long as its pursual is in harmony with the will of God. According to Jack Hayford: “...the Scriptures consistently show God calling His creatures to worship in His presence, that He might release, redeem, renew, and restore them.”

Included in the blessings that come from Christian Worship, is man’s gift of receiving a message from God. When addressing the subject matter that falls under this heading, sometimes the congregational worshipper tends to experience mixed emotions. There is ambivalence! In essence, the worshipper wants to hear from God, but he/she doesn’t want to feel as if the Scripture and the preacher are putting his/her business on the streets. Neither does worshipper want the scriptures – or the preacher for that matter – to step too hard on his or her toes… Despite the worshippers’ apprehension, however, public/private worship is not complete, if we haven’t had a chance to hear from God… Hearing from God is fundamental to worship – it always has been, and it always will be. Because, in worship 1. God encourages us, 2. He directs us, 3. He reproves us, 4. He chastises us, and 5. He blesses us. While worship, for the most part, has been about praise, celebration, and reverence, the Bible leaves us with the clear indication that the word of God – both written and prophesied – was central to Israel’s worship experience. For an example, let’s go to the book of Acts, and uncover what worship-life was like in first century Christianity. (NKJV)

NKJVBut when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

Included in the blessings that come from Christian Worship, is man’s gift of receiving a message from God. When addressing the subject matter that falls under this heading, sometimes the congregational worshipper tends to experience mixed emotions. There is ambivalence! In essence, the worshipper wants to hear from God, but he/she doesn’t want to feel as if the Scripture and the preacher are putting his/her business on the streets. Neither does worshipper want the scriptures – or the preacher for that matter – to step too hard on his or her toes… Despite the worshippers’ apprehension, however, public/private worship is not complete, if we haven’t had a chance to hear from God… Hearing from God is fundamental to worship – it always has been, and it always will be. Because, in worship 1. God encourages us, 2. He directs us, 3. He reproves us, 4. He chastises us, and 5. He blesses us. While worship, for the most part, has been about praise, celebration, and reverence, the Bible leaves us with the clear indication that the word of God – both written and prophesied – was central to Israel’s worship experience. For an example, let’s go to the book of Acts, and uncover what worship-life was like in first century Christianity. (NKJV)

Based on this, and other recorded experiences, I would like to suggest to you that during “Bible Times”1. Hearing from God involved unalterable prescriptions for daily living (that is the inclusion of instruction from “The Law” - as was handed down through Moses). 2. Hearing from God involved instructions that were relevant to the worshiper's particular period of time, and his/her individual circumstances. Allow me to express this idea another way: “God speaks, based on unchanging precepts, and based on a people’s ongoing needs and circumstances.” He speaks to us through “His Written Word,” and through “His Appointed Messengers.” According to the Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, here are two important points that ought to be noted about worship: 1. The role of the preacher is to make biblical truth plain enough for listeners to understand its meaning and to demonstrate its relevance… Lets put it another way. “Preachers ought to preach so that the believers might be compelled to live the truth of the Bible in their lives.” 2. Louis Lotz masterfully characterizes preaching which succeeds at both explanation and applications. He says that ‘Good preaching, begins in the Bible, but it doesn’t stay there. It visits the hospital and the college dorm, the factory and the farm, the kitchen and the office, the bedroom and the classroom. Good preaching invades the world in which people live…”

NKJVBut when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”

Based on this, and other recorded experiences, I would like to suggest to you that during “Bible Times”1. Hearing from God involved unalterable prescriptions for daily living (that is the inclusion of instruction from “The Law” - as was handed down through Moses). 2. Hearing from God involved instructions that were relevant to the worshiper's particular period of time, and his/her individual circumstances. Allow me to express this idea another way: “God speaks, based on unchanging precepts, and based on a people’s ongoing needs and circumstances.” He speaks to us through “His Written Word,” and through “His Appointed Messengers.” According to the Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, here are two important points that ought to be noted about worship: 1. The role of the preacher is to make biblical truth plain enough for listeners to understand its meaning and to demonstrate its relevance… Lets put it another way. “Preachers ought to preach so that the believers might be compelled to live the truth of the Bible in their lives.” 2. Louis Lotz masterfully characterizes preaching which succeeds at both explanation and applications. He says that ‘Good preaching, begins in the Bible, but it doesn’t stay there. It visits the hospital and the college dorm, the factory and the farm, the kitchen and the office, the bedroom and the classroom. Good preaching invades the world in which people live…”

In conclusion, I would like to take you back to where we began, and ask again the question that is fundamental to our quarter emphasis. The question is: “What is Christian Worship?” (1) It is a sincere acknowledgement of who God is. (2) It is Confessing to God’s face, that which we believe about him... And, it is verbally expressing the confidence that we have in him. (3) It is celebrating God’s acts of creation, redemption, protection, benediction, guidance, and affirmation.Another Key Point to note about worship is this: “Worship offered to God isn't a one-sided story. When it is offered with the right knowledge, and in the right spirit, worship brings undeniable benefits and blessings that transform the life of the worshipper (believer & unbeliever alike).” So, what are some of the benefits of this kind of worship?1. In this kind of Worship, the believer experiences joy, he experiences forgiveness, she experiences peace of mind, and they get to celebrate the goodness of God. 2. In this kind of Worship, the believers have the privilege of hearing from God. He/she gets to hear from him through the reading of scripture, and the spoken word. He/she gets to hear from thru the songs and the prayers. He/she gets to hear from him through the testimonies and the reflections. Therefore, when we are absent from worship, we limit our ability to hear from God!And finally, the security of our Christianity is tied to our worship, and our hearing from God. Our witness, and our present happiness are tied to our hearing from God. Our future and our eternity are tied to our hearing from God. The Christian’s whole world is tied to his/her hearing from God. So, may I ask you today again, “Are you ready for a life of ongoing worship? Are you ready to hear from God? If you are, won’t you stand to your feet?While you are standing, here are a few other questions that you might want to ponder: 1. How do the benefits of worship impact, inform, and transform the life of the Christian? 2. What, if anything, does worship allow you to change in, and about your daily experiences?3. What, if anything, are you motivated to do, after having engaged the worship experience? After we have worshipped, we ought to depart determined to impact, influence, inspire, and motivate your fellowmen. We ought not to leave content to keep, for ourselves, that which we have gained. We ought not to leave, content to live in our own world, where nothing else matters but our personal feelings and experiences? We ought to leave, allowing the worship experience to mean more than just personal self-satisfaction… What will your worship experience for today mean for others?

Untitled Sermon

Introduction

Introduction

Experiencing the Blessings of His Presence

Experiencing the Blessings of His Presence

HEARING FROM GOD

HEARING FROM GOD

CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION