Thankful Worship

INTRODUCTION:

ILL. What is it that really excites you? Like every time it excites you. Is it that delivery guy bringing another package. My children get excited everytime there is a package that shows up. I can’t tell you how many times the Prime guy, the FedEx guy or my favorite the UPS guy shows up and my dogs even get excited! My kids always want to know what’s in the package. Who is it for? Secretly I think they are hoping we forgot their birthday had passed and we bought them something! Of course now, Christmas is coming!!! Right.

God seems to give plenty of reasons to be thankful - doesn’t HE?

Someone shout out what you are thankful for that HE has shown you lately!

Remember Thanksgiving isn’t over - just the unhealthy eating… ☺

This morning we have a packed morning.

It might be cliche’ -ish, but isn’t God is GOOD! Amen!

I know i am ready for Christmas, what about you?

But we aren’t going there yet - not until next Sunday!

But i’m ready to talk about the Good News of Jesus coming.

So Let’s talk about HIS Good News today also!

Did you know that the kingdom of Jesus has already begun?

So we have spent this month looking at how we can easily change an environment from negative to positive, from grumbling to glorifying, from normal-every-day to - extraordinary j- out of this world

This morning we will wrap up our series on Pandemic thankfulness in the book of Hebrews - again just one verse!

I got to be honest - i don’t really like preaching one verse sermons, but I have enjoyed the last few weeks doing just that…

In order for us to focus on one verse, we MUST give some clarity to the book of Hebrews and Chapter 12.

So that is what I am going to do to get us ready for our verse of the day!

Quick summary of Hebrews

Chapter 1- Jesus is Supreme!!!

Radiance of God’s glory!

Exact Representation of God’s Being!

HE sustains all things - holds all things together

(Paul said it this way in Colossians which we have been in the last three weeks)

Colossians 1:15-19 “HE is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by HIM all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by HIM and for HIM, 17 HE is before all things, and in HIM all things hold together. 18 And HE is the head of the body, the church; HE is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything HE might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all HIS fullness dwell in HIM, 20 and through HIM to reconcile to HIMSELF all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through HIS blood, shed on the cross.”

Two main goals in the book of Hebrews from the writer (Thank you Bible Project!)

First Goal: Elevate Jesus as superior

That’s why the book opens with these words…

Hebrews 1:1-3 “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

In each section of Hebrews, the writer shows how Jesus is superior to all things.

Superior to angels

Superior to Moses

Superior to Priest/Melchizedek

Superior to all other Sacrifices and Covenant

Second Goal: Challenge the reader to remain faithful to Jesus despite persecution

With each section proving Jesus is Superior to all things, the writer gives a warning for the followers of Jesus.

Warning #1 - If Israel was called to pay attention to the Torah how much more should we pay attention to the message given by the Son of God, Jesus.

Warning #2 - If Jesus is higher than Moses, how much higher are the stakes if we rebel against Jesus?

We also are in a wilderness, don’t rebel like the Israelites did!

Warning #3 - To reject Jesus is one's best and only chance to be reconciled fully to God, so don’t do

that!

Warning #4 - Ultimate sacrifice - once and for all! Warns the audience from walking away from Jesus.

It is like turning your back on a gracious offer of God’s forgiveness - why would you do that

So then chapters 11-13, tell us that since Jesus is the message, the hope, the gift of eternal life and the perfect sacrifice..

We should follow the great models of the faith (chapter 11) and not matter what we should stay with Jesus!

(Thank you Bible Project again!)

So chapter twelve then

Quick summary of Chapter 12

“Therefore” - Heroes of the Faith...

“surrounded” -

“Throw off” - everything that holds us back!!!

ILL. It was said over 1666 years ago that no one could break the 4 minute mile! But almost 70 years later (68) on May 6, 1954 by Roger Bannister at age 25, in 3:59.4

But the story behind it is even more amazing…

But not only that, but The "four-minute barrier" has since been broken by over 1,400 male athletes,[2] and is now the standard of all male professional middle distance runners in cultures that use Imperial units. In the 65 years since, the mile record has been lowered by almost 17 seconds, and currently stands at 3:43.13, by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco, at age 24, in 1999.[3][4] Running a mile in four minutes translates to a speed of 15 miles per hour (24 km/h).[5]

There is a remarkable account of his exploits by the British journalist and runner John Bryant,and the lessons it holds for leaders who want to bust through barriers in their fields. Bryant reminds us that runners had been chasing the goal seriously since at least 1886, and that the challenge involved the most brilliant coaches and gifted athletes in North America, Europe, and Australia. “For years milers had been striving against the clock, but the elusive four minutes had always beaten them,” he notes. “It had become as much a psychological barrier as a physical one. And like an unconquerable mountain, the closer it was approached, the more daunting it seemed.”

This was truly the Holy Grail of athletic achievement. It’s fascinating to read about the pressure, the crowds, the media swirl as runners tried in vain to break the mark. Bryant also reminds us that Bannister was an outlier and iconoclast — a full-time student who had little use for coaches and devised his own system for preparing to race. The British press “constantly ran stories criticizing his ‘lone wolf’ approach,” Bryant notes, and urged him to adopt a more conventional regimen of training and coaching.

So the four-minute barrier stood for decades — and when it fell, the circumstances defied the confident predictions of the best minds in the sport. The experts believed they knew the precise conditions under which the mark would fall. It would have to be in perfect weather — 68 degrees and no wind. On a particular kind of track — hard, dry clay — and in front of a huge, boisterous crowd urging the runner on to his best-ever performance. But Bannister did it on a cold day, on a wet track, at a small meet in Oxford, England, before a crowd of just a few thousand people.

Why do I tell you that?

Because the book of Hebrews tells us that no matter what the “Experts” in life say, The Heroes of Faith who modeled crazy - ‘out-of-the-ordinary-faith’ - did the unthinkable for Jesus.

Hear these words from the Holy Spirit guided author of this letter:

Run

Fix your eyes

Consider Jesus

Don’t grow weary/lose heart (2)

Endure

Strengthen yourself

Make every effort (Make it better)

to live at peace with all

See that no one misses Grace

see that no one is impure

WE come to Mount Zion! Not an unapproachable mountain!

See that we don’t miss Jesus

The Writer is encouraging the readers, all the ones who have come before us, those who will be after us and DO NOT FORGET THAT INCLUDES US!!!

So don’t trust the experts, but press on!!!

The writer goes on...

“Once more - I will shake” (God says)

What will remain cannot be shaken…

Therefore…(we come to our verses for this morning)

BIBLE:

Text: Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that CANNOT be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.”

Because of Jesus...

Because of grace...

We are receiving an UNSHAKEABLE KINGDOM

SO

Be thankful in worship...

We have been talking about being Thankful - all month

The Greek word that the NIV has translated as “thanks” appears 156 times in the NT and 83% of the time (130x) is translated “grace” Only 5 % is it translated as ‘thanks”, “thank” or some form of “thank”

The biblical use is

Grace

that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

good will, loving-kindness, favour

what is due to grace

a gift of grace

benefit, bounty

AND THE LAST BIBLICAL USE IS WHAT I WANT US TO SEE, BECAUSE THIS IS HOW IT IS USED HERE IN HEBREWS 12!

thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, (here’s me returning ) reward

Listen to how the Message paraphrase writes these two verses…

Hebrews 12:28 MSG “Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!”

Worship...

21x in NT

17 of those times is translated as ‘serve’

4 times serve/service

Most often “to serve for hire”

The root word that this comes from means “a hired menial”

Menial - meaning not requiring much skill and lacking prestige… menial factory jobs - anyone can do this!

Might I suggest, when you come to church and worship takes place - you have been bought to worship.

WORSHIP IS NOT BENEATH YOU - YOU ARE BELOW WORSHIP!

Standing in boredom is a slap in the face to the boss!

Non-participation in worship is a misunderstanding of grace!

Not only a misunderstanding but a misrepresentation of being a receiver of an unshakeable kingdom.

God is a consuming fire!

ILL. The last weekend of this past September we had “Man’s Camp” - Robin Sigars was our speaker/preacher for the weekend. Our theme for the weekend was Ignite. The first night Robin said this...

“Fire will consume what it cannot purify and it will purify what it cannot consume!” - Robin Sigars...

Think about that in context of our Scripture!

If God is a consuming fire, HE will either destroy you or consume you - there is no middle ground with HIM! - another “Robinism”

So has the fire consumed you or have you been purified.

I believe your worship reveals the truth of your answer!

Thankfulness is a natural by-product of worship that stems from, flows from the understanding of HIS grace to you!

CHALLENGE:

This is our final sermon/look at thankfulness.

Has there been a pandemic of thankfulness spread in you?

Has it spread out from you?

The results turn into worship more and more.

The results affect the people who you are around.

We need a pandemic!

A real holy pandemic of thankfulness.

Will you get infected for the glory of God and the beauty of Jesus?

Take the fire home! (candles???)

Let’s pray!

GROW:

I asked you this morning at the beginning, What is it that really excites you?

Did worship at the church together come to mind?

Did serving Jesus in the community side-by-side even cross your mind?

Did it at all have to do with the Kingdom of God and you being a part of that?

Then maybe...

Today, you need to because you have never realized that God is THE KING and HIS Kingdom is unshakeable.

Today is a great day to join HIM being ready to live in that kingdom, that is to choose Jesus!

Jesus said, the kingdom of God is within you

The kingdom of God is near you…

Don’t you want to live in that kingdom, now and forever!?

If so, we want to invite you to talk with one of our ministers or elders about that decision - that great decision.

Maybe you honestly need more than that - maybe you need repentance, confession, and new beginnings again!!!

Surely if you have already made the decision for Jesus’ kingdom which is really choosing Jesus, then you know the Scriptures that teach for one to receive Jesus and to not live in the Spirit, not reveal fruit, live as your own Master that this is worse off than the beginning. You know that right? Would you say you are living with an unshakeable kingdom mindset - that by default overflows with thankfulness!?

Maybe you could use a refreshment - a dose of rededication. A do-over - again!

Those words just bring conviction to me! Does it do that to you, too?