The Person Worshipping

Introduction

Psalm 150:6 AV 1873

6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

What do I love?

Greatest challenge as a leader is not the program or the message but what I bring inside of myself.

For years churches have argued about style, instruments and personalities, but the real battle in our worship is found within us. It is much more significant! Do we love God or do we love something that looks like god?

Idols enslave and ensnare.

Isaiah 45:16 AV 1873

16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: They shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.

Ps106:36

Psalm 106:36 AV 1873

36 And they served their idols: Which were a snare unto them.

1 John 5:21 AV 1873

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Powerless idols

Psalm 115:8 AV 1873

8 They that make them are like unto them; So is every one that trusteth in them.

Psalm 31:6 AV 1873

6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: But I trust in the Lord.

The most powerful idols, however, are the ones that we cannot see.

What is your idol?

Type of worship?

God uses issues in my life to reveal long standing sin.

—Life is hopeless w/o proper worship

2 Timothy 3:2 AV 1873

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

2 Timl. 3:

2 Timothy 3:2–4 AV 1873

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Love and Worship

2 Timothy 3:4 AV 1873

4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Matthew 22:37 AV 1873

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mattew 22:37

Question to ask:

How do I know what I love the most? By looking at my life outside of Sunday morning. What do I enjoy the most? What do I spend the most time doing? Where does my mind drift to when I don’t have anything to do? What am I passionate about? What do I spend my money on? What makes me angry when I don’t get it? What do I feel depressed without?

The great God values not the service of men, if the heart be not in it: The Lord sees and judges the heart; he has no regard to outward forms of worship, if there be no inward adoration, if no devout affection be employed therein. It is therefore a matter of infinite importance, to have the whole heart engaged steadfastly for God.—Isaac Watts “Discourses on the Love of God”

What Do I Believe?

Know who your are talking about and love that person.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 AV 1873

10 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

John 14:6 AV 1873

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 8:32 AV 1873

32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Romans 1:18 AV 1873

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

John 16:13 AV 1873

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 17:17 AV 1873

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

John 4:23–24 AV 1873

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Theology and Doctrine

Depth of what we sing is important. The music notes are great and helpful, but the words speak our doctrine and theology.

2 Timothy 4:13 AV 1873

13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

We need help and it is important to immerse ourselves in true doctrine and theology and get help from reliable source.

Common misconceptions

Studying this stuff shouldn’t be hard

Know God better through music than words

Theology and Doctrine cause problems

Doctrine does not divide, it unifies around the truth of the Bible. Right doctrine points out the fakes.

Acts 20:29–30 AV 1873

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

2 Corinthians 11:13 AV 1873

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2 Peter

2 Peter 2:1 AV 1873

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Doctrine should humble an individual not make him more proud:

1 Corinthians 2:11–12 AV 1873

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Ephesians 1:17–19 AV 1873

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Romans 11:33–36 AV 1873

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 8:1–2 AV 1873

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

1 cor.

Good theologians are increasingly humbled by the God they study.

The heart and mind together . Strong, passionate desires for God flow from and encourage the faithful, thoughtful study of God—his nature, character and works.

What do I practice?

Skill and ability assist in glorifying the Lord.

No fly by night services.

1 Corinthians 3:10 AV 1873

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Psalm 78:72 AV 1873

72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Skill is a gift for God’s glory

Skill must be developed

Skill doesn’t make worship more acceptable to God.

Skill should be evaluated by others.

Skill is not an end to itself.

What does skill help us do?

Focus on God:

Serve in the church

Psalm 34:5 AV 1873

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: And their faces were not ashamed.

1 Peter 4:10 AV 1873

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

I Pter 4:10

Multiplies serving opportunities

Conclusion

Heart issue

Not just about music

Worship is about personal, spiritual depth