Closer (Pt1)

This year while away for prayer, I heard the Lord say that 2018 would be known as a year of His presence for Encounter Church.

What I want you to know about God’s presence is that it is the difference maker in any situation you face. No matter what you’re facing if make the choice to put yourself in God’s presence, you will always look “up” and not “at”.

When you look “at”, you can easily become overwhelmed, but when you look “up”, your eyes are on the One who can fix and change it all.

So, for the month of January we are gonna look at worship and how important it is in our lives.

The firs thing I want you to know is that:

We all worship something.

We were all created by God to worship, whether it’s Him that we worship or not.

So, what is worship?

Worship is our response to the things we value the most.

Everyone has something that is important to them, it might be yourself, your job, sports team, money, shopping etc…

Everyone has something that is important to them, it might be yourself, your job, sports team, money, shopping etc…

You have something that consumes your thoughts, it’s what you adore and it becomes, if not careful, what you worship.

Now let me say, that God does not have a problem with you adoring or enjoying other things, it’s when those other things become more important than Him.

We weren’t created to worship those things, we were created to bring glory, honor and worship to our God, the only one worthy of our worship.

We all need to take a look at the things that we choose to enjoy and determine is God at the top of that list.

From time to time we all struggle and replace God. We all have times that we are still worshipping God but He might not be at the top of the list. He’s not at the place where I’m really giving my energy, devotion, time, money, schedule…that’s how you know what you’re worshiping when you really look at those things.

Whatever you worship, you will become obsessed with, then you begin to imitate and whatever you imitate is what you become. And some of us don’t like what we are becoming. So we need to take an inventory on what’s going on in our lives and make sure what we are worshipping is God.

Whatever you worship, you will become obsessed with, then you begin to imitate and whatever you imitate is what you become. And some of us don’t like what we are becoming. So we need to take an inventory on what’s going on in our lives and make sure what we are worshipping is God.

Romans 1:21–23 NIV

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Rom 1.21-23

(EXPOUND ON VERSE)

This verse is addressed to “people who claim to know God”. It’s addressed to Christians.

What is the golden calf in your life? (where is your money, devotion, time)

5 things we have exchanged: (sometimes we exchange true worship with)

1. Substitution

Sometimes we exchange true worship with hobbies (golf, football, shopping, kids etc…)

Has anything been exchanged to a higher place that He is?

Deuteronomy 6:14–15 NLT

“You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, for the Lord your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth.

Deut 6.14

2. Pride

What are people going to think if I worship God. They will think I’m a fanatic. So lots of people stand in the conservative pose.

If you’re not familiar with this environment, you might think we’re crazy.

Example: how people do over time.

It’s amazing how we can be concerned about what people think and not be concerned with what God thinks!

John 12:42–43 NLT

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

It’s amazing how we can be concerned about what people think and not be concerned with what God thinks!

Let it not be said of us. I really wanted to worship, I had worship going on in my shoe, I just didn’t let it get to my foot. I’m gonna worship God!

Let it not be said of us. I really wanted to worship, I had worship going on in my shoe, I just didn’t let it get to my foot. I’m gonna worship God!

3. Hedonism

Belief that pleasure or happiness is the goal to life. You measure how you live based on if it feels good you can do it. You don’t have morals, you have feelings, you don’t have choices, you have feelings. Don’t judge me, that’s how I feel.

Belief that pleasure or happiness is the goal to life. You measure how you live based on if it feels good you can do it. You don’t have morals, you have feelings, you don’t have choices, you have feelings. Don’t judge me, that’s how I feel.

Feelings are wonderful, but your feelings can’t be trusted. We’re not here to give any a feeling. We’re here to give God worship whether we feel it or not. His greatness never changes and He is worthy of our praise and worship regardless how we feel.

(Example: I don’t like that song so I’ll wait for the next one.) Everything that happens is this room is not for you. It’s all for the glory of God! From sound, lighting, video, band, vocals etc…ALL FOR HIM!!

Concept you need to understand:

Hebrews 13:15 NIV

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

I’m not waiting til I feel it. It’s better when it costs me something. I’m giving God what He deserves, I’m not going to put my feelings in it.

I’m not waiting til I feel it. It’s better when it costs me something. I’m giving God what He deserves, I’m not going to put my feelings in it.

People say, “well it’s not my personality”, but what if it’s God’s personality? I don’t love you based on what I like. I’ve got to find your love language and serve you, if I’m going to love you.

4. Spectatorism

That’s believing that if I showed up that’s enough. I can just be here and watch and that counts.

That’s believing that if I showed up that’s enough. I can just be here and watch and that counts.

Remember worship is your response to what you value the most.

We are not supposed to be spectators, we are supposed to be participators. If I tell Terri “I love you” but never show her how I love her, it’s not gonna fly. She needs me to show her and express my love to her. Not “do you love me”? “You know I love ya”. NO.

God wants you to express your love to Him.

Use this season of fasting and prayer

James 4.8

James 4:8 NLT

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Some of you are waiting on God and God made His move when He gave His Son to die for you. Make the move.

Some of you are waiting on God and God made His move when He gave His Son to die for you. Make the move.

Hebrews 10:22 NIV

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

5. Tradition

Tradition can become a replacement for worship if you’re not careful. You don’t worship God with any method. Don’t adore the traditions more than you adore God.

Tradition can become a replacement for worship if you’re not careful. You don’t worship God with any method. Don’t adore the traditions more than you adore God.

Matthew 15:3 NIV

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

Matthew 14:3 NLT

For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).

Matthew 15:7–9 NIV

You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’”

What does God want?

Ps 50.8-15

Psalm 50:8–15 NLT

I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”

1. Thank Him with sincere affection

Be thankful for life and the things around you.

2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”

God wants your affection!

2. Offer Him control of my life.

Offer Him all of you. Get out of the casual show up on Sunday attitude. God wants you to stop dating Him.

Romans 12:1 NIV

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.

Worship is when you wake up and say everything in my life and day are Yours. Offer yourself!

3. Include Him in everyday life

Deuteronomy 6:14–15 NLT

“You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, for the Lord your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth.

It’s worship to God when He is part of your whole life!

He wants to be your Monday-Saturday God, not just Sunday.

What God really wants is relationship with me.