Living In The Last Days In The Power Of God’s Transformation – Part 2 Series

LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS IN THE POWER OF GOD’S TRANSFORMATION – PART 2

We are continuing this message from where we left off last time, and this is the close – Part 2. It was a night message delivered in Boston, England in a Seminar.

The one aspect we are being taught here from the verse in Romans 12:1-2 is that SACRIFICIAL COMMITMENT IS SPIRITUAL SERVICE OF WORSHIP. This worship can be by an individual such as we see with Mary at the feet of Jesus and fully occupied with Him.

(a). {{Luke 10:39 “And she had a sister called Mary, who moreover was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet.”}}

What do you think this verse might be teaching us? This well known event sees Martha rushing around getting the meal and all the rest that had to be done, and Mary seated at the Lord’s feet listening to Him. This is not a matter of Mary choosing the better part, for the word says she chose the good part. {{Luke 10:42 “but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen THE GOOD PART which shall not be taken away from her.”}} So much can be said here but I won’t explore. Just note the good part of sitting at Jesus’ feet worshipping.

(b). {{John 12:3 “Mary therefore took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and ANOINTED THE FEET OF JESUS, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”}} She brought the best she had in service to her Lord and it was a fragrant perfume to the Lord. “Presenting ourselves” in service for the Lord is likewise a fragrant act of service. The best presentation is ourselves.

Worship is a service we perform. However it is one we WANT to perform. What is worship? It is paying the correct homage to God; it is pouring out the heart and mind to God in love. It is speaking the praise, singing the praise, and serving God in love and desire and gratefulness. We see it in the homage of the Magi in Matthew 2 when they came to ask, {{Matthew 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and HAVE COME TO WORSHIP HIM.”}}

And how was this worship done? Well they paid their homage and presented him with gifts. It is important to understand what the gifts were and what their significance was. Gold was for the King of the Jews; frankincense was for His pure, delightful life lived among men; myrrh was for His suffering – the cross for man’s redemption.

(c). {{Matthew 14:33 and those WHO WERE IN THE BOAT WORSHIPPED HIM, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”}} In worship it is essential to know the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ - Who He is; and What He has done; are essential elements in worship. We should not be distracted by all sorts of filling to make an all-embracing service, and thereby lose sight of the central element of worship which is the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. 80 and 90 years ago the Olympics opened with a very simple ceremony, then the lighting of the flame, and the games began. Now there is so much clutter and razzmatazz, entertainment with one nation trying to outdo another in opening and closing ceremonies, that you wonder for a time what happened to the Games. Churches have gone the same way.

The services have become entertainment with bands and people promoting themselves, and all sorts of extravagant inclusions happen but not much time for the chief purpose and that is the Lord. Services that are presentations rather than being devoted to proper worship, do not honour the Lord. AND some of what is called singing today is not worship.

(d). {{Matthew 28:9 “and behold, Jesus met them and greeted them, and they came up and took hold of His feet AND WORSHIPPED HIM.}} The ladies were thrilled to be in the presence of their Lord. This is so important in worship, for it speaks of closeness. You can’t live your life at a distance, and worship in closeness. You must be in the Presence of the Lord, and come as His close friend, not as an estranged believer of sorts. Worship is personal, and he who does not walk in step with the Lord, cannot worship the Lord.

(e). {{John 4:23 “but an hour is coming, and now is, when the TRUE WORSHIPPERS SHALL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH, for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers.”}} That hour is NOW, for the Holy Spirit has come. This is a very important verse. As we are presenting ourselves to Christ, which means sacrifice and commitment, then we learn to be in the presence of the Saviour. It is then that we worship in spirit and truth but what does that mean? The Holy Spirit has been given to us for a very special reason, among other reasons. That special reason is to draw attention to the Lord, and to lead us in focus on the Lord. He shall not speak of Himself but will glorify Christ. That is how we worship in spirit as the Holy Spirit operates through our spirit in Christ-awareness and Christ-centeredness.