Corporate Worship : Our Mission!
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Corporate Worship: Our Mission!
Corporate Worship: Our Mission!
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
We as a church exist to make a difference in our community, proclaiming the Gospel by:
· Worshiping the Lord
· Praying Corporately
· Growing in Grace
· Reaching Our Community
Giving of Our Resources
We as a church are to make much about church worship!
We have to make this a priority and above all else.
We must
It order to worship we must be in a attendance!
It's surprising to me how many Christians struggle with the idea of church attendance.
We are at a crossroads in our nation on the importance of going to church.
There are a huge number of American Christians who are not active in a local church - in the tens of millions.
Of course, this isn't a new problem. Since the beginning of Christianity, the early leaders had to challenge this mindset, saying "Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." ()
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
A popular Christian social media catch-phrase is, "You don't go to church, you are the church." While I get the sentiment in some ways, this is an unhealthy view, pitting "being the church" and "going to church" against each other.
If we are truly "the Church," then we will surely get together with other believers regularly. We cannot "be" the church, if we don't "go" to church. Not fully anyways.
The "Church" never connotes a single, individual, lone ranger Christian just going about his Christian duties, and never gathering together to worship with other believers.
Joe Stangel - i dont have to go to church to be a Christian
The "Church" by it's very nature means multiple believers, who "where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." ()
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
This is both the Biblical and historical pattern set forth for us by the first followers of Jesus.
They would get together weekly to worship God together, and at times even daily. They would also share community together in each other's homes.
Paul and the other Apostle's letters were actually sent to these church communities that gathered in various cities to be read aloud together. Church means getting together with other believers to worship Jesus Christ, and hear the Scriptures together, and encourage one another in the faith.
To worship God together and be committed to worship Him together, to hear His Word together.
Do not reduce Church to listening to a podcast. It's so much more than that.
It's community. It's worshiping with other, praying for others, hurting with other, serving others, being involved in the lives of others."
We as a church exist to make a difference in our community, proclaiming the Gospel by:
· Worshiping the Lord in Church
I The Battle Lines Have Shifted
I The Battle Lines Have Shifted
We should be reminded of the following verses .
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Greater Affluence
Greater Affluence
Money gives people options.
Our church is at all engaging the middle class, the upper middle class, or a suburban demographic, an interesting trend is developing.
There are simply more affluent people than there were decades ago, which may in part explain why so many “average’ people indulge their obsessions with granite counter tops, designer homes and decent cars, even without being mega-wealthy.
There are simply more affluent people than there were decades ago, which may in part explain why so many “average’ people indulge their obsessions with granite counter tops, designer homes and decent cars, even without being mega-wealthy.
And again…people with money have options.
Technology options. Travel options. Options for their kids.
And again…people with money have options. Technology options. Travel options. Options for their kids. And, arguably, that affluence may be one of the factors moving them further away from a committed engagement to the mission of the local church. It’s perhaps fuelling some of the reasons outlined below.
Arguably, that affluence may be one of the factors moving them further away from a committed engagement to the mission of the local church. It’s perhaps fueling some of the reasons outlined below.
Higher Focus On Kids’ Activities Outside the Church
Higher Focus On Kids’ Activities Outside the Church
A growing number of kids are playing sports. And a growing number of kids are playing on teams that require travel.
Many of those sports happen on weekends. And affluent parents are choosing sports over church.
It’s as simple as that.
More Travel
More Travel
Despite a wobbly economy, travel is on the rise, both for business and pleasure.
More and more families of various ages travel for leisure, even if it’s just out of town to go camping or to a friend’s place for the weekend or a weekend at the lake.
And when people are out of town, they tend to not be in church.
Edgar Synder guy- we dont do church in the summer we have alake house, in the fall I have my hunting camp ....
The Cultural Disappearance Of Attending
The Cultural Disappearance Of Attending
When I grew up, people felt an obligation to attend church on a Sunday. Not anymore
I regularly meet people all the time who haven’t been in months but LOVE our church.
I regularly meet people all the time who haven’t been in months but LOVE our church.
It’s like everything else we only go and do what we want
Self-Directed Spirituality
Self-Directed Spirituality
Self-Directed Spirituality
Self-Directed Spirituality
People are looking less to churches and leaders to help them grow spiritually, and more to other options.
We live in a era in which no parent makes a visit to a doctor’s office without having first googled the symptoms of a child’s illness and a recommended course of treatment. Just ask any family physician. It drives them nuts. (Google, doctors will tell you, is not a complete replacement for medical school.)
Similarly, when was the last time you bought a car without completely researching it online?
In an age where we have access to everything, more and more people are self-directing their spirituality…for better or for worse.
Similarly, another characteristics of the post-modern mind is a declining trust of and reliance on institutions.
Using the word legalism to equate attendance.
I used to be in that bondage now I am free.....
II The Biblical Pattern for Church Attendance
II The Biblical Pattern for Church Attendance
We long for God because we want to be in his presence. This sermon explains that while we always live in God's omnipresence when we worship we experience his revealed presence. It is that presence of God that we long for in worship.
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN FOR CHURCH IS THIS:
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN FOR CHURCH IS THIS:
Introduction
Introduction
Every Christian should gather together to hear the Scriptures and worship Jesus together with other believers weekly
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
acts 2
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
1 cor 16.9
15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: They will be still praising thee. Selah.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: But the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
This is the Biblical pattern - not all of us are called to church leadership, and so we should submit to, and serve whoever God has called to lead at the place we find ourselves.
Home church movement has waived but - still kicking and screaming ..... all have died along with their kids
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
George Barna surveyed thousands of churchgoing Christians. The question was asked: "Have you ever experienced God in a worship service?" Only one-third said that they regularly experience God in church.
III Reasons why you should attend church weekly, and why church attendance can change your life:
III Reasons why you should attend church weekly, and why church attendance can change your life:
(see ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )If there are believers who are unable for physical reasons to attend a church weekly, they should find a church or believers who will gather together with them regularly for worship in their own home. (see ; )
GOD SAID SO
GOD SAID SO
1. GOD SAID SO
1. GOD SAID SO
William Hendrix's book Exit Interviews is about why today's generation is leaving the church. He summarizes the views of many worship dropouts: "Perhaps the most common complaint was that worship services were boring. It was not just that these gatherings were not interesting; they were not worshipful. They did little to help people meet God." (p. 260)
God tells us in His Word to "not give up meeting together." ()
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The Bible even goes so far as to call the Church the "Bride of Christ." If you love Jesus, you will love the things that He loves, and there is no one a good man loves more than His bride. The Church is this important to God, so it should be ever-important to us.
Sally Morgenthaler writing in Worship Evangelism says
The Bible even goes so far as to call the Church the "Bride of Christ." If you love Jesus, you will love the things that He loves, and there is no one a good man loves more than His bride. The Church is this important to God, so it should be ever-important to us.
this is the Biblical pattern - not all of us are called to church leadership, and so we should submit to, and serve whoever God has called to lead at the place we find ourselves (see ; ; , ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )If there are believers who are unable for physical reasons to attend a church weekly, they should find a church or believers who will gather together with them regularly for worship in their own home. (see ; )
"[When] Worship services that are not worshipful, people not meeting God, people not being allowed to participate in a worship relationship with God - it is as if the very essence of worship has been quietly removed. . . . The most significant benefit of a worship service is connecting with God. It does not matter how chatty and interesting the celebrity interviews, how captivating the drama, how stunning the soloist, or how relevant the message. When personal interaction with God is absent, church loses much of its appeal." (p. 23)
God didn't call us to gather and worship to burden us, but to bless us. Church attendance can become one of the greatest blessings in you and your family's life
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS PRIORITIZE GOD AND HIS WORD FIRST IN THEIR LIVES.
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS PRIORITIZE GOD AND HIS WORD FIRST IN THEIR LIVES.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
When was the last time you experienced the presence of God in a worship service? True, life-changing encounters with the living God are missing from many of our churches. One of the greatest needs among churches today is not new programs, a new seminar, or a new study. What is needed today is an encounter with God. We desperately need a life-changing glimpse of the greatness, the awesomeness, the wonder, the power, the mercy, the goodness, and the lovingkindness of God.
A call for regular church attendance begins in what are likely the first written words of the Bible, the Ten Commandments. says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”2
What Gods keep you out of church - health but doesn't affect other items during the week
1. FAITHFUL ATTENDERS PRIORITIZE GOD AND HIS WORD FIRST IN THEIR LIVES.
1. FAITHFUL ATTENDERS PRIORITIZE GOD AND HIS WORD FIRST IN THEIR LIVES.
A call for regular church attendance begins in what are likely the first written words of the Bible, the Ten Commandments. says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”2
How we spend our time is the truest measure of God’s place in our lives. If we are quick to fill the time set aside for worshipping God with visiting family, going to the beach, attending concerts, or just relaxing, we are unintentionally saying those things matter more than God (, ).
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
If we want to prioritize God and what he wants to say to us, we need to prioritize church in addition to our own quiet times with him.
2. FAITHFUL ATTENDERS DEMONSTRATE THEIR LOVE FOR JESUS AND HIS BRIDE.
2. FAITHFUL ATTENDERS DEMONSTRATE THEIR LOVE FOR JESUS AND HIS BRIDE.
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS DEMONSTRATE THEIR LOVE FOR JESUS AND HIS BRIDE.
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS DEMONSTRATE THEIR LOVE FOR JESUS AND HIS BRIDE.
“I love Jesus but not the church” is like saying to a new groom, “I love you but not your bride.” The Bible describes the local church as the bride of Christ (:2Eph. 5:24-27, , ).
It is impossible to maintain a thriving relationship with Christ while at the same time avoiding fellowship with a gospel-believing local church. When we commit to loving the church, we commit to loving Christ.
Parents should be especially driven to attend church regularly.
The children of parents who do not attend church consistently are more likely to walk away from Christianity when they are old enough to decide for themselves.
Why? Their parents demonstrated week after week that Christ is an add-on, an addition, and if life is too busy, it is okay to ignore him. Parents, please model for your children that Jesus is not only the Savior of your soul but the King of your life.
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS RECEIVE THE GOSPEL EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS RECEIVE THE GOSPEL EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
There is nothing more important than the gospel, than hearing anew that Jesus is a righteous substitute for sinful, broken, people—for you and me (, ). In , Paul says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
romans 3.
romans 10.
Even though we need to hear and believe the gospel every day, it is easy to go a whole week without giving this life-changing message a passing thought. One of the church’s roles is to boldly and lovingly tell us how bad we are and how great Jesus loves us week after week. When we love the church, we love the gospel.
Even though we need to hear and believe the gospel every day, it is easy to go a whole week without giving this life-changing message a passing thought. One of the church’s roles is to boldly and lovingly tell us how bad we are and how great Jesus loves us week after week. When we love the church, we love the gospel.
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS HELP EVANGELIZE THE LOST AND BUILD-UP NEW BELIEVERS.
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS HELP EVANGELIZE THE LOST AND BUILD-UP NEW BELIEVERS.
In the early church, the Holy Spirit used regular and passionate participation in the church in Jerusalem, a local church, to bring new people to faith in Jesus.
They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. – (emphasis added)
It is a miracle when the unchurched and non-Christians begin attending church. There are already a lot of new words, lingo, and patterns to learn. By not attending faithfully, we confuse the newly churched about what it means to follow Jesus. Not only is this a challenging time for a non-Christian attender, but there is also a spiritual battle taking place (). When we attend together, we fight the battle together.
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS CULTIVATE A HEART-ATTITUDE OF GRATEFULNESS.
FAITHFUL ATTENDERS CULTIVATE A HEART-ATTITUDE OF GRATEFULNESS.
Church attendance is good for the soul. If you’re someone who struggles with sadness or depression, find a church that has God-given joy and commit. It is easier to catch the joy when you are around others who truly have it.
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
eph
Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. –
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. –
Worshipping regularly with fellow believers and giving to the local church can up-lift the soul and refresh us for our everyday life.
The benefits of attending faithfully are enormous.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Regular church participation gives us the opportunity to use our spiritual gifts to build up the local church and bring God fame (, , ). The book of Hebrews says over and over how important it is for Christians to encourage each other and not fall away.
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Regular church participation gives us the opportunity to use our spiritual gifts to build up the local church and bring God fame (, , ). The book of Hebrews says over and over how important it is for Christians to encourage each other and not fall away.
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. –
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. –
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. –
The potential consequences of neglecting church are serious—cultivating a hard heart, not sharing in Christ, turning away, and subjecting Christ to public disgrace ().
Christ warned the Church in Laodicea they were lukewarm. In , the Apostle John says, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” If you are a lukewarm attender, chances are you are a lukewarm believer. God desires that His followers repent from a lukewarm relationship with him and truly seek him. The Holy Spirit wants to set us on fire for God and His glory. Strong attendance helps us heat up our ministry temperature.
Lastly Just to Encourage You -
Lastly Just to Encourage You -
I. What is worship?
I. What is worship?
WORSHIPING JESUS TOGETHER IS POWERFUL
WORSHIPING JESUS TOGETHER IS POWERFUL
Jesus lives inside of us by His Spirit when we believe in Him - this is a profoundly incredible truth!
But what does worship mean? When you mention the word worship, it conjures us all kinds of images in people's minds. Simply stated worship is declaring the worth of God. The word worship comes from the old English word that means "worthship." With that definition in mind, we don't worship God for what we get out of it, but to give God the honor that is due him, recognizing his worth, his value, his place in our church, and his claim on our lives.
But there is also something biblically powerful about gathering together with other believers to worship. Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." () So he is not only lives in us by His Spirit, but He is in the "midst" of us when we gather to worship Him.
Worship, therefore, is not a weekly pep talk to rally the troops and win the contest. Worship is not a motivational seminar to make us feel good about ourselves. Worship is not the Christian alternative to a Saturday night rock concert or a Beethoven symphony. Worship occurs when people encounter God who loves them and desires a relationship with them. Robert Webber, in his book Worship Old and New, says it succinctly that worship is "a meeting between God and his people." Worship does not lead to an encounter with God. It is an encounter with God.
3. WE NEED CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
3. WE NEED CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
WE NEED CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
WE NEED CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
When we worship God, whether on our own or in church, we come with an agenda: to meet with God. And as important as that is, we need to remember that God has an agenda as well: to meet with us.
All of us long for community and connection with others. God has given us this gift in gathering together for church, and in smaller groups in each other's homes. It fulfills something inside of us to do life with others, encourage each other and be authentically involved in each other's lives.
If worship is about encountering the presence of God, a simple question is raised: Isn't God's presence always with us?
Christian TV, podcasts, books and conferences are wonderful additions to our spiritual lives, but nothing can take the place of consistent Christian community through the local church.
II. The realities to God's presence
II. The realities to God's presence
WE GROW MORE TOGETHER THAN ALONE
WE GROW MORE TOGETHER THAN ALONE
A. The reality of God's omnipresence
A. The reality of God's omnipresence
It can be messy when we step into each other's lives. We are all human, and no one is perfect. So it requires effort and intentionality and grace from God to do life together, even as believers.
Of course, God is always with us. "If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there" (). This is the reality of God's omnipresence. God's universal presence is a marvelous fact of life. We cannot escape the presence of God. Sometimes we are blind to it, but never for a minute think that God's presence is not with us. God promised Moses: "My presence will go with you" ().
Gathering regularly with other believers becomes a refining process whereby we help each other, pray for each other and encourage each other to want to follow Christ more wholeheartedly. It is a truly beautiful thing.
God promises to manifest his presence in a special way when we worship. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them" () seems to contradict "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (). Why would Jesus promise to be present conditionally (when two or three are present in my name) if he also promises to be with us always - that is under any circumstances? The only logical explanation is that Jesus is speaking about a different kind of presence in the first passage, something more than just God's omnipresence.
Don't let excuses stand in the way of what you know God is calling you to do. God will strengthen you, and empower you to do what He has called you to do. I am praying for you -- if you have encountered past wounds from leaders or from church members -- that God will bring healing and grace to you, as you seek to follow Him, and love His Church.
B. The reality of God's revealed presence
B. The reality of God's revealed presence
We as a church exist to make a difference in our community, proclaiming the Gospel by:
We as a church exist to make a difference in our community, proclaiming the Gospel by:
La Mar Boschman calls this type of presence "the revealed presence of God . . . an unusual revelation of God's essence in a certain location." Old Testament scholar Terence Fretheim calls it God's "tabernacling presence." Some refer to it as God's "manifest presence." In corporate worship, God desires to remove our blindfolds and give us an extraordinary, breathtaking glimpse of divine radiance.
· Worshiping the Lord
records an example of both God's omnipresence and God's revealed presence. Jesus was there - omnipresence - in the midst of this crowd that had come to hear him teach. But notice verse 17. "And the Lord's power to heal was in Him" (). The NIV translates it: "And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick" ( NIV). Luke recognized something different. Yes, Jesus was present - physically he was with them. But Luke noticed something more, something different. He noticed a power, Jesus' manifested presence that was in attendance, too. God's revealed presence was there, too. And, it was God's revealed presence that healed the paralytic brought to Jesus that day. And it was his revealed presence that caused everyone to be "astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen incredible things today!'" (). That is the presence we long for in worship.
This extra glimpse of God we crave; we want. We need to feel it, to sense it, to experience it, to taste it, and to touch it. And when we do, like the paralytic, we will forever be changed. We should ask for it.
III. What is needed in worship?
III. What is needed in worship?
If you could ask God for anything, what would it be? What we ask for says a lot about ourselves.
Some people have that opportunity. Moses was one. Moses met with God and had the opportunity to ask him for anything in the universe. Moses did not ask for food or drink, or gold or silver, prestige or riches. Moses had a desire for something far deeper, something higher, something beyond himself, something eternal, something spiritual. Moses had two requests.
A. A hunger for God
A. A hunger for God
First, Moses asked: "teach me Your ways" (). The Amplified Bible translates it this way: "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight" ( Amplified Bible). Moses wasn't interested in God's ways just because he desired information. His desire came from a heart of a worshipper that was saying, "I want to sign up with you for life - not just a chapter of it. I want to walk into eternity with you." It was his way of saying I want to become more progressively, more intimately acquainted with the living God. He was saying that he wanted to experience God every day of his life. He didn't just want the facts he wanted God. He was talking about a relationship.
Moses hungered for God. Moses longed for God. Moses realized that nothing else in the world could compare to the experience of being with God. Moses had a passion for his presence.
Let me stop for a moment. Do you realize that you can experience God's grace without experiencing his presence? You can have an understanding that Jesus died for your sins, and not ever have an intimate relationship with him? You can know facts and figures, dates and times, and still not really know the One who loved you first. What a shame to be saved and not really enter into the joy of knowing Christ. Sadly, people do it all the time. Our churches are full of people who know who God is but don't really know him and have never experienced his presence.
Our worship should hunger for God.
B. An encounter with God
B. An encounter with God
Second, Moses asked: "Please, let me see Your glory" (). The Hebrew word for glory is chabod, which means "God's honor, renown, majesty, weight, and his visible splendor." The word glory used in this setting is closely related to presence and face. Moses wanted to behold God face to face. He wanted a visible encounter with the living God. He was not content with business as usual. He wanted God to show up in his life.
Let's pause again: When you come to church are you tired of business as usual? Going through the motions? Showing up Sunday after Sunday for worship service and not having your soul stirred? Leaving the same way you came in? Don't you want God to show up in your life?
We not only need to hunger for God, we need an encounter with God.
This encounter, this sense of God's supernatural presence, transforms worship from a duty to devotion, from a ritual to relationship, from just another meeting to a holy gathering. God's attendance in our lives and our experience of him is the essence of real worship.
IV. What do we need to do?
IV. What do we need to do?
Here are five simple, but life changing actions we need to take to experience God's revealed presence in worship.
Anticipate God's revealed presence in worship. Expect him. Long for him.Look for God's hand at work in worship.Listen for God's voice.Open yourself up to new manifestations of God's presence.Be sensitive to the leadership of God's Spirit.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Let me close with two observations regarding experiencing God's presence in worship.
Worship leader and composer Marty Nystrom observes:
"I do a lot of traveling and witnessing on airplanes. And I've heard over and over again, 'Well, I've been to church before and, yea, it was good, but it's not really my thing.' (They probably went to a dead church!) And I've had people say, 'Well, I've read the Bible and it's a good book, but I study the Koran, too, and there's some wisdom there. . . .' But, I've never had anybody look me in the eye and say, 'You know, I've experienced the presence of God, and quite honestly, I don't want it.' No one has ever said that to me! Because, people who experience the real presence of God are changed from the ordinary. . . . They want more of him."
A. W. Tozer wrote:
"The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God, and the church is famishing for want of his presence. The instant cure of most of our religious ills would be to enter the Presence in spiritual experience, to become suddenly aware that we are in God and that God is in us. This would lift us out of our pitiful narrowness and cause our hearts to be enlarged. This would burn away the impurities from our lives as the bugs and fungi were burned away by the fire that dwelt in the bush."
