Expressed Devotion
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
We are going to continue looking at our theme of “Biblical Worship.”
Last week we focused on the Greek word translated as worship “proskuneo” which means to “bow down before” and how humbling it is to bow our face to the ground before our God and yet how dangerous it is to do so to any thing or one created by our Creator.
Today we are going to turn our attention to another Greek word translated as worship “sebomai.”
With this in mind let’s turn our attention to this powerful word.
Sebomai
Sebomai
Defining The Word.
Defining The Word.
In secular Greek usage this word is almost exclusively used for the acts of worship expected by idols so as to gain favor from that particular god.
We see this even in its usage in the bible for such purposes.
27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
In “sebomai’s” usage concerning the worship of God we see it expanded upon to better represent how God wants to be worshiped.
Notice how it is translated in the O.T. LXX in particular.
24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?
The idea behind this word is that of “performing the acts of worship expected by way of fearful wonder.”
Summary
Summary
So, the idea behind this word “sebomai” is that of “performing the acts of worship with an attitude of fearful wonder.”
How exactly do we go about doing that though?
We must worship with a…
Truthful & Fearful Wonder
Truthful & Fearful Wonder
Heart
Heart
No one can keep their heart away from God and fearfully and wonderfully “sebomai” or worship him.
13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
61 Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”
Sebomai worship also takes…
Dedication
Dedication
One cannot properly worship God without a strict dedication to him.
Devotion (as we noticed earlier) is a key aspect of this word and one that is expected by our God as well.
15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
This sebomai worship also takes…
Accuracy
Accuracy
Many today suggest that God does not care what acts of worship we perform only that we are emotionally involved in the worship of God.
This could not be further from the truth because any worship of God that does not adhere to the accuracy of the scriptures is “vain worship” as the Israelites found out.
6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
God is both spirit and truth and our worship of him must follow both.
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. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Summary
Summary
The worship of God, according to our word for worship this morning, is more than just going through the motions as well as it is more than just being emotionally charged.
The proper worship of God is to have one’s heart focused on God, being completely dedicated to his sovereignty, and all the while also set on accurately performing the acts expected.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Sebomai isn’t punching a time stamp and calling it good.
Sabomai is our expression of dedication to our God in worship and is yet another reason why ignoring the assembling of the saints for things that could be done at a later or different time all the more important.
Let your worship your sebomai be seen as a sweet aroma to our God.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.