An Attitude of Worship

I am so glad that you decided to come to church today.

Although if we were to get technical I am not so sure that coming to church is the correct term that we want to use. That would imply that the church is a place. That it is a building, that it is an entity all to itself. Well it is not.

If we remember, there is a word that is used for church in the new testament and that word in the Greek is ecclesia. The word ecclesia is the word that means to gather. To assemble together.

And believe me when I say that the gathering, the ecclesia for the most part that we read about in the NT is not a term that has anything to do with a religious nature inherently. No, ecclesia really means to get together. A meeting, an assembly. It could be for something religious but by and large ecclesia means to get a group together. It could be a club. It could be a group of friends. It could be a team at work. It has more to do with people just getting together more than it has to do with our understanding of a church, which for us is a place.

A holy place. “You don’t want to say that in here, it’s a church!” You can’t wear that here, it’s a church! You can’t run in here, it’s a church! Now I don’t want to say that we should be disrespectful in our gathering, but that is what it is, church isn’t a place, its a people.

That is one of the reasons we have the Gather sign out there. It reminds us that when we come together and meet, we are gathering under King Jesus.

And so that is why this gathering could happen anywhere. We are meeting here in a school. It is a school, but within this school is an ecclesia, a gathering of people unified around Jesus Christ. But we call it church. We could meet at our house, we could meet at your house, it’s an ecclesia either way. It’s a gathering.

And so then I guess we should ask What is the church? If it isn’t a place then what is it?

What is the church? Church is who you are, not something you go to. The church is who we are, not something we go to.

Church is who we are, not something we go to. The church is who we are, not something we go to.

Not something you go to.

The church is not about what we want but all about what God wants. The church belongs to Him, not us. And so God directs the church and we exist to worship Him and to carry out His desires, and His wishes.

So lets continue to talk about the church at Antioch where they have been growing and lets see what they are up to.

Acts 13:1–3 ESV

1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

This is that church in Antioch that we talked about before. They came into existence because of the persecution from Stephens death. Barnabas is sent there by the church in Jerusalem to help them out. He got Paul to go there with them and they have spent time there, at least a year. And they are worshiping God, they are training people in Jesus, which is basically discipleship.

Remember that they are the first church where believers are called Christians.

They have grown. We read a list of names of men (Which I think is on purpose). These men who were in this church and if you study the names you find out that this church is very diverse. Different colors, different races, different cultures and they are all worshiping God together in this church and it is a beautiful thing.

And then God shows up in the middle of their worship and the Holy Spirit speaks and tells them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for this work that God calls them to do it.

So that is what happens. They worship through prayer and fasting. Fasting explained in this context is that they went without food to worship the Lord. They gave something up as a part of their worship. They were giving up food.

Look, God shows up when we worship. And worship isn’t just a slow emotional song, worship can be in every part of your life. Every part. It may bother some but I like hunting. I hunt now. And as I was hunting turkeys and no turkeys were showing themselves, I was worshiping. Thank you God for this great earth and for the beautiful trees and for the smell of the woods. All worship.

When you do things you love, you can involve worship in that. When I kayak, I worship because it is fun and I love it and I thank God that I am enjoying something. Worship is part of every day life. And God shows up in it.

And Remember this. Worship costs something. This is the basic nature of worship. And if we look at the nature of worship we see that there is always something that is being given up when worship happens. The woman who poured out a years salary worth of perfume onto Jesus was worshiping Him.

What does it cost us? For us when we worship we are giving up some time, yes. But that isn’t really all that hard is it?

Some of us when we worship we are raising our hands and that is scriptural worship. There is nothing negative when it comes to surrendering ourselves to God by lifting our hands to him. Doesn’t make us weird, it makes us worshippers.

I would encourage people to raise their hands in worship. Again, because it is Scriptural.

but I understand that for some that is very uncomfortable and that means that you are giving up some comfort to worship God. But what is more important? Your comfort and your dignity? Or the true worship of your God?

2 Samuel 6:22 ESV

22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”

2 Samuel 6:22niv ESV

22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”

David’s wife Michal criticized David for how he worshiped God.

2 Samuel 6:13–16 ESV

13 And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. 16 As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

When true worship happens something is given up.

Look at the worship if David, a man after God’s own heart. He dances before the Lord and the word says that he dances with ALL HIS MIGHT! That is some dancing.

There is a freedom and a joy that David experiences when he worships the Lord. Remember David wasn’t perfect. He was just loving his God in the way that he knew how. He showed it. He didn’t care what others thought. HE shows his love for God.

His wife is embarrassed by David and here is his response.

The New International Version Chapter 6

22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.

Now I feel like I should say that it all begins with your heart. Because you could raise your hands just because everybody else raises their hands. You could do that. People at the football games and baseball games do that all the time.

But true worship really comes from the heart and it expresses itself through some sort of action, which can be very personal to you.

But what I would say is this. As you worship God with all your heart, move into that next phase of your relationship with God. Maybe it is raising your hands. Maybe it is getting on your knees. Maybe it’s like David and dancing, but understand that true worship is what God wants from us and true worship brings God into your situation.

Worship costs something right? True worship costs us something. It is supposed to anyway. And the great thing is that when worship happens here God shows up.

Begin by praying at home, by yourself and raise your hands while you pray. Get on your knees, literally. God wants to meet you there. As you step out in faith God will show up.

When worship happens here God shows up.

Verse 2 says that they were praying and fasting and the Holy Spirit says, “I want Barnabas and Saul to leave and tell other cities about Jesus”

The Holy Spirit is saying that He wants there to be new Gatherings of people to hear about Jesus.

The only way to get out the good news of Jesus was to actually send people.

It sounds a little silly since everyone in this room grew up in an era where the telephone existed, or the tv existed. We have no concept of a world that isn’t connected. In order for people to hear about Jesus, they had to physically walk there.

Up until now, the New Testament church grew because of persecution.

Someone would stand up and talk about Jesus, that message would set off a persecution and people had to physically move to stay safe and it didn’t matter where they went to they would carry the message of Christ with them and the church grew.

But something different happens with this church.

This church heard the HS and moved forward with it. The fist time someone was intentionally sent out to plant another church.

This mission came from God, not from the desire of man. not what made sense to them, they followed Gods lead.

The beautiful thing about what was happening in this church was that God was moving and the people were ready to get on board with God’s vision for them. They were eager to hear from God and they were eager to place their trust in Him.

And it all begins with worship doesn’t it?

Ask yourself this question when it comes to your life, to your relationship with God,

Ask yourself this question when it comes to your life, to your relationship with God,

What does God want from me?

When we stop focusing on what we want and start focusing on what God wants God will start to show us and I believe powerful things will happen. He will show you. When you ask for what He wants for you He will begin to answer you: How does that happen?

his voice

Choices

But it all begins with worship, it all begins with fixing our eyes on God.

acts 13:1-

Acts 13:1–3 ESV

1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

They have grown. We read a list of names of men who were in this church and if you study the names you find that this church is very diverse. Different colors, different races, different cultures and they are all worshiping God together in this church.

And then God shows up in the middle of their worship and the Holy Spirit speaks and tells them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for this work that God calls them to do it.

So that is what happens. They worship through prayer and fasting. Fasting explained in this context is that they went without food to worship the Lord. They gave something up as a part of their worship. They were giving up food.

Worship costs something right? True worship costs something. It is supposed to anyway. And the great thing is that when worship happens here God shows up.

As the church what do we do?

Fix our focus on God.

Acts 13:2 ESV

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Through: Worship, they were Listening, they were expectant that God would say something. Worshiping, because that is where we meet God. That is where God wants us to be. He invites us into His presence and shows up when we worship. Whether you feel it or not.

Their focus was on God and not themselves.

So many churches do so many things to try to get you to come to their service because if a trait they possess. And I have been guilty if this too. Maybe you strive to have the best worship music in town, maybe you want to have the best building, maybe you want to have the most energetic speaker. Or the best youth group or the best college group or the best women’s ministry. Whatever it is we don’t see this stuff from the church of the New Testament.

If you look at the first century church you don’t see any of those things. You don’t see the best of the best of musicianship. You don’t see a thriving children’s ministry, or even a vbs. It’s not that those things are bad things at all.

But if you look at the first century church you don’t see any of those things. You don’t see the best of the best of musicianship. You don’t see a thriving children’s ministry, or even a vbs. It’s not that those things are bad things at all.

But the focus has to be on something else. If we look at the first century church we see a group of people who are passionate about Jesus and worshiping Him and doing whatever He wants them to do.

And this can challenge us...

So maybe we should ask these questions of ourselves:

God what do you want? How do you want to use me? Where do You want me to go?

I think if we start looking outward instead of inward we will begin to see a healthier, more Christ-centered church.

Fix our focus on God.

Fix our eyes on Jesus says.

There are so many practical things you can do here. Remember the WWJD movement? What would Jesus do? How many of you had those bracelets?

Fixing our eyes on Jesus means imitating Him in all that he did.

1 Peter 2:21 ESV

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

We watch Jesus so that we can know how to do what he did.

And then ..... we

To respond to His Word. Be willing

We go and do what He says. This reminds me of the calling of Isaiah in the OT

Isaiah 6:1–8 ESV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

We respond to the call of God. And if we think we are too sinful, look at what Isaiah says. He says, aw man! I am lost! I am a sinner, I have screwed up and I am not worthy. He knows he isn’t worthy but look what happens.

He is forgiven, guilt is removed and he is forgiven and then he is commissioned to go out for the Lord.

God wants to send you this morning. He wants to forgive you and have you trust in Him. But listen, we have a part in this. We have to respond. That is our responsibility and ours alone.

You can’t use sin as an excuse! You can’t hide behind sin. Jesus paid for that sin. There are no excuses. Respond to God in this.

We must respond to God. When we hear His truth. When you are faced with a decision for God, we have to respond. And we always do.

When you are faced with a decision for God, we have to respond. And we always do.

And we always do. We either respond to do what God wants or we respond by saying, no God, I won’t.

We either respond to do what God wants or we respond by saying, no God, I won’t. You realize that right? You will respond to God’s call on your life. You will either say yes, God, or No, God.

When the church at Antioch worshiped, God showed up and they said yes, big big things happened.

You realize that right? You will respond to God’s call on your life. You will either say yes, God, or No, God.

Understand that Barnabas and Saul were the guys. They were probably very gifted and that church was sorry, personally to see them go. But that is how God determined that the gospel would be spread.

But when they said yes, big big things happened. Understand that Barnabas and Saul were the guys. They were probably very gifted and that church was sorry, personally to see them go. But that is how God determined that the gospel would be spread.

And that church, that gathering was obedient and they sent off Barnabas and Saul and amazing things happened as a result of it.

They could have ignored the call and been comfortable in their little church but who knows what would have happened if they weren’t obedient. Who knows what you or I might be missing out on because of our ignoring the call of God?

What does church look like for us? Is it a place we go to? Or is it a thing that we are?

What these verses are teaching us is that when we worship, truly worship God, he will guide us and direct us to do something for Him.

And so we have nothing to offer except for our worship. God doesn’t need anything from us. The only thing we can really offer him is our worship. And as we worship, as we give ourselves to Him, we can be sure that He is with us and He will be directing your path.

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The Message of Acts 1. Barnabas and Saul Are Sent out from Antioch (12:25–13:4a)

We notice that in neither reference to fasting does it occur alone. It is linked with worship in verse 2 and with prayer in verse 3. For seldom if ever is fasting an end in itself.

Here is a huge difference in what we see...

The Acts of the Apostles Sent out by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1–3)

The men and women of the early Church never did what they wanted to do but always did what God wanted them to do.

Pray.

God we worship you. Holy are you Lord! We give ourselves to you. We offer our puny lives to you which are worthless until you change us. Lord we worship you. I lift my hands to you and surrender to you my life and the plan that you have for me. And I pray for your children here, the same thing. Give them an attitude of submission to your will. God I pray that you would speak to us as we worship you. In Jesus name.

I Asked that question earlier, what does God want from me?

We are going to sing our last song this morning and I want you to think about that question. What does God want from me? Ask Him, God, what do you want from me? Ask that as we sing this last song. I am here for you God.