Return to the King
Building Blocks of Worship • Sermon • Submitted
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I was reading about a martial arts fighter. He came forward at a Billy Graham crusade and accepted Christ as his Savior when he was 12 years old. But he never really committed his life to serving Christ. He went on to become the karate middleweight champion of the world for eight straight years. He appeared in karate movies, and in one movie, he fights against Bruce Lee in a death match!
Years later, he starred in the hit TV series Walker, Texas Ranger. He was successful in almost every area of his life. But he never had a relationship with God.
One day, he came home from work, and he saw his wife Gina reading the Bible. He says “You’re not getting religious on me, are you?” She said “This is good stuff! You should read this.” So he sits down on the couch and reads the Bible with her. And the Spirit of God starts working him over. He says “You need to come back to Christ. You need to finish what you started when you were 12 years old! You need to make Him the Lord of your life.”
And so Chuck Norris surrendered his life to Christ. Except this time, Norris’ life was transformed. If you watch the last two seasons of “Walker, Texas Ranger,” you’ll see a much stronger emphasis on faith in Christ.
After the show ended, Norris and his wife got involved in all kinds of ministries. He helps out with the Trinity broadcasting network, the Billy Graham Association, the Make a Wish foundation.
He also began the Kickstart program, which ministers to at risk students in junior high schools across America. In other words, Norris doesn’t just mentally acknowledge Jesus Christ. His life is changed for the better because of Jesus Christ!
From a sermon by Marc Axelrod, Jesus Came to Preach Good News, 11/23/2009
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A few weeks ago we discovered that sin hinders the full expression of worship to God in spirit and in truth. The logical answer to that problem is one of the building blocks of worship: Repentance. In our passage this morning we will see the Old Testament Prophet Hosea outlining for Israel a path back to God and true worship. We will discover that every time we worship we need to Return to the King, and bring the right words and response with us when we do.
Recognize When You Wander From God.
Recognize When You Wander From God.
O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
“A Christian is not one who never goes wrong, but one who is enabled to repent and begin over again after each stumble—because of the inner working of Christ.”
C.S. Lewis
Sin is exposed by the Word
NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.
Sin is exposed by God’s working on your conscience.
And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
Prayers are hindered until you deal with it.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me:
Confession leads to worship
Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.
And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.
Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. The misbehavior of students led to a riot in which professors who tried to restore order were attacked. The following day a meeting was held between the university’s board, of which Jefferson was a member, and defiant students. Jefferson began by saying, “This is one of the most painful events of my life,” suddenly he was overcome by emotion, and burst into tears. Another board member asked the rioters to come forward and give their names. Nearly every one did. Later, one of them said, “It was not Mr. Jefferson’s words, but his tears.” Just like the student was moved by Jefferson’s brokenness, so is God by ours. When we are truly broken and sorry for our sins, this leads to repentance (Source Unknown)
Return to God Leaving Your Sin Behind
Return to God Leaving Your Sin Behind
O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
You were closer to Him when you wandered off.
He is YOUR God… you already have a covenant relationship with Him.
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Once convicted, we must return to the King.
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn unto the Lord your God: For he is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness, And repenteth him of the evil.
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, And I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
Return to God Bringing Words of Worship With You.
Return to God Bringing Words of Worship With You.
Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: Say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: So will we render the calves of our lips.
Take away my sin
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Receive me in your grace
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Receive my sacrifice of praise.
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord better than an ox Or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
A sacrifice of praise will always cost you something. It will be a difficult thing to do. It requires trading in our pride, our anger, and most valued of all, our human logic. We will be compelled to voice our words of praise firmly and precisely, even as our logic screams that God has no idea what he’s doing. Most of the verses written about praise in God’s Word were penned by men and women who faced crushing heartaches, injustice, treachery, slander, and scores of other intolerable situations. Joni Eareckson Tada. (Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry 8724.)
Hymn # 378 I Surrender All
Hymn # 378 I Surrender All
Welcome to Evangelical Baptist Church
Welcome to Evangelical Baptist Church
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Hymn # 367 His Way With Thee
Hymn # 367 His Way With Thee
Hymn # 486 I Am Resolved
Hymn # 486 I Am Resolved
Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.
And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.
Hymn # 154 Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Hymn # 154 Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Hymn # 325 Have Thine Own Way Lord
Hymn # 325 Have Thine Own Way Lord
Hymn # 262 Cleanse Me
Hymn # 262 Cleanse Me
Testify!
Testify!
Missionary Letter
Missionary Letter
Special Music
Special Music
Dismiss for Kiddie Church and Junior Church
Dismiss for Kiddie Church and Junior Church
Scripture Reading Hosea 14:1-2
Scripture Reading Hosea 14:1-2