Worship is the Heart- True Worship

All authority is Jesus’, he sends disciples (definition of a disciple is someone who is committed to being changed by Jesus, following Jesus and he mission of Jesus).

Worship is the Heart- We don’t have an obedience problem, we have a love/worship problem.

Worship- Our response to who God is, what he does, and living a life that is consistent with that reality.

Psalm 145-

David’s response to who God is

Our response to what God does- Brag on God, Rest in His provision, Find fullest satisfaction in Him.

Psalm 145 was written by David for the Israelites as they lived in Covenant community with God, but it still helps us to be better worshippers today. We have talked a lot about responding to who God is and what God does, but we need to take it one step further. Worship is more than just outward expression, but it really should be the overflow of our heart.

Shifting gears a bit

We are going to look at a couple of verses tonight from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman church.

Paul was once named Saul, and here’s what you need to know about Paul- he was once someone who looked like they loved God very much, and seemed to have the whole worship thing down, but inside he was a mess. His heart was filled with pride and hatred, then God changed him in a big way. He becomes one of the most prolific church planters in the New Testament, and much of the NT is written by him.

He writes to the Roman church as they are experiencing some internal division. The Jewish believers are kicked out of Rome, lose their position and status in the church to no Jewish believers. When they are allowed to return a power struggle ensues. Paul writes to unite them.

Paul’s letter to the Roman church can be summed up in one word- Grace.

Overflowing with examples of God’s grace to us, and so we come to chapter 12 and he uses the past teachings, the last 11 chapters, about God’s grace to stand on what follows. Paul then uses the next few chapters to show his readers what living in light of the grace, and a changed heart, should look like.

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

How does Jesus change worship?

Worship is driven by love, love should drive us to action. Old Testament worship, system of laws, rituals, sacrifices, tangible actions God demanded of his people. This is the background context the Jewish believer brings into the faith.

The converted pagan believer would be familiar with sacrificial systems too.

Jesus changes worship by becoming the once and for all sacrifice- no longer have to work, we just get to love God and enjoy him forever.

What’s a “living” sacrifice?

Living sacrifice- "sacrifices" that respond to God's mercy by devoting ourselves, not least, our bodies, to him.

DA Carson

Instead of taking the life of another animal, we voluntarily give our own -FF Bruce

Paul identifies this living sacrifice as “spiritual worship”

In a sense, there is a way in which we can live that becomes a continual act of worship that pleases God.

The key is not modifying behavior, but allowing God to transform you.

This transformation...

1. Only comes from God, vs. 1

-It’s a mercy from God

-Romans 11:30–32 (CSB)

Romans 11:30–32 (CSB)

As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience,

so they too have now disobeyed, resulting in mercy to you, so that they also may now receive mercy.

For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may have mercy on all.

-Whether you’re a jew or gentile, the only way to be reconciled is through God, he’s the only source.

-It’s only obtained through God’s grace and mercy- he is loving, patient, and kind.

-What we deserve is to be separated from God

Illustration: Looking for my keys Sunday, on the key ring.

Application: If true and real transformation that our hearts crave can only come from God, then he deserves our full heart.

So often we can try to hold little pieces of it from him. (social life, sexuality, finances, time, etc)

2. Conforms us to his heart, vs. 2

“Do not be conformed to the patterns of this word...”

Illustration: Play-dough will conform to whatever it is pressed in. We are the same.

Just like Play-dough, we conform to whatever we are pressing into.

a. Option 1- We can press into the world- pursue worldly things, allow it to influence us

b. Option 2- We can press into Christ, allow him to make us more like Him.

c. “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.”

-Conforming to God’s heart- Romans 12:9-21

-Romans 12:9-21- Summary- Love what is good and pursue it, love one another, stay away and have no part of what is evil.

As we press into Christ we find ourselves loving the way that he did, loving God and people, giving sacrificially, and balancing grace and truth.

As you continue to press into Christ, you will grow into maturity.

Transition- One mistake people make- getting frustrated that they may not be maturing as fast as they would like.

keep messing up

fear sharing faith

Don’t feel like they know enough

Please realize that being transformed is a lifelong process.

3.) ...is a lifelong process, vs 2

-“be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.”

-Digging into scripture, learning about what God cares about and passionately pursuing those things.

-An active prayer life which seeks to further a dependence on God.

-weighs all things against the gospel

illustration: Saying your commited is not enough… you have to commit to the process. Words are cheap, heart is everything.

-example COLLEGE FOOTBALL COMMITMENTS this time of year. Verbal commitments don’t mean much.

**Be in it for the long-haul, worship God with your whole life, it begins with heart change**