Saved to Worship Pt. 1

Worship is not optional

Matthew 4:10 ESV

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

This is a quote from Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 6:13 ESV

It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

By saying what He did, He told us we are all created and responsible to worship.

The foundation on which this is based is on redemption.

Because of the salvation we have, we should display glory to God.

Ephesians 2:7 ESV

so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Worship is should also be our response to the sacrifice made by Christ.

Ephesians 1:6 ESV

to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

God is making sinners into worshippers.

Luke 19:10 ESV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

John 4:23 ESV

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.

If you look at this, the main reason why we are redeemed isn’t to escape hell, but to worship God.

All of the things we get as a result of our redemption are side benefits.

Ephesians 3:21 ESV

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Paul affirms this in

Romans 1:5 ESV

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

John says the same thing.

3 John 7 ESV

For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

Our salvation if for God’s benefit first, not our own.

Yes, there are benefits for us and our salvation, but the primary benefit is God’s.

We are to seek to glorify God before we seek to gain anything form Him.

If we are only concerned with the benefits we receive from salvation, we will have a very shallow relationship with our heavenly Father.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

God’s primary activity has always been the seeking of true worshippers.

The Bible tells us when history will end, it will end with the culmination of all those who have been redeemed worshipping our Father.

Revelation 19:1–5 ESV

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”

We will come together to worship God.

As it was in the beginning

Before the earth and we were created, worship was going on.

Nehemiah 9:6 ESV

“You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.

When Adam and Eve were first in the garden, they worshipped God until they fell.

The first division in Adam’s family came due to worship. We talked about this last week.

Redemption in the Old Testament

It is clear in the Old Testament that people were to worship God.

Why did the Israelites have to wander in the desert for 40 year?

It was because they failed to worship God when He redeemed them and brought them out of Egypt.

Before the next generation entered the land, Moses gave them specific instructions on how to worship God with the feast of first fruits.

Deuteronomy 26:8–9 ESV

And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

The response comes in verse 10

Deuteronomy 26:10 ESV

And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God.

All Israel needed to do was one thing - Worship God in the way He wanted to be.

Nehemiah records a revival that happened with the Israelite people after they hadn’t worshipped God appropriately for years. It was through the reading of scripture, they found out how they were supposed to worship God.

There was a distinct history for Israel that was brought to light when they read the scripture. They found when they worshipped God the way He wanted, the country prospered. When they didn’t, they were punished.

Worship and the cross of Christ

The life and work of Christ are linked to worship.

He lead by example of the importance of true worship.

Psalm 22 is a wonderful prophetic look at the crucifixion of Christ.

Psalm 22:6–8 ESV

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

Psalm 22:13–18 ESV

they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Why did Christ die? What was the purpose?

Psalm 22:22–23 ESV

I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

What should we do in response to Christ dying on our behalf?

Psalm 22:25–27 ESV

From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.

The only response we have to the sacrifice that was made for us through the death of Christ on the cross for us is to worship him with a true worship. It must be a heartfelt true expression of worship.