God Exalting Worship

God Exalting Worship

John 4:20-24

One characteristic of most of the churches that are experiencing dynamic growth is that of God exalting worship. Irwin Lutzer believes in the importance of worship and put it this way, “If we haven’t learned to be worshipers, it doesn’t really matter how well we do anything else”. The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever – or simply put to worship God! In Revelation 4:11 we read, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” However, what is involved in God exalting worship? If we are to please God, we need to consider its elements.

I. Preparation

A. Rufus Jones in an article entitled The Double Search wrote, “God ... can be received only through appreciation and conscious appropriation. He comes only through doors that are "purposely" opened for him.”

B. (2 Chronicles 12:13-14) "So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. {14} And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD."

C. (2 Chronicles 19:2-3) "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. {3} Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God."

D. (2 Chronicles 27:6) "So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God."

E. (Ezra 7:10) "For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

II. Examination

A. (Isaiah 6:5) "Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

B. (Psalms 24:3-5) "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? {4} He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. {5} He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

C. Scientists have discovered that every snowflake has a tiny piece of dust at its core. Yes, every snowflake has a "dirty heart". No matter how pure and white new fallen snow may look its heart is unclean. Likewise, no matter how good we may look to those around us and ourselves, God looks at the heart.

D. When the blood of Christ is applied to the heart, it cleanses from all sin. Not a speck of defilement remains, for God removes every stain and washes him even whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7).

III. Expectation

A. Jim Smith went to church on Sunday morning. He heard the organist miss a note during the prelude, and he winced. He saw a teenager talking when everybody was supposed to be bowed in silent prayer. He felt like the usher was watching to see what he put in the offering plate and it made him boil. He caught the preacher making a slip of the tongue five times in the sermon by actual count. As he slipped out through the side door during the closing hymn, he muttered to himself, "Never again, what a bunch of clods and hypocrites!" …Ron Jones went to church one Sunday morning. He heard the organist play an arrangement of "A Mighty Fortress" and he thrilled at the majesty of it. He heard a young girl take a moment in the service to speak her simple moving message of the difference her faith makes in her life. He was glad to see that this church was sharing in a special offering for the hungry children of Nigeria. He especially appreciated the sermon that Sunday--it answered a question that had bothered him for a long time. He thought as he walked out the doors of the church, "How can a man come here and not feel the presence of God?" …Both men went to the same church, on the same Sunday morning. Each found what he was looking for. What do we look for on Sunday morning?

B. (Psalms 62:5) "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."