Our Worship Prompts His Willingness. Pt 2

Our Worship Prompts His Willingness. Pt 2

Matthew 8:1-3NKJV

Before the text this evening, Jesus had just finished the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5-7chapters. Finally as Jesus completed His mission, He walks down from the mountainside as a leper met Jesus. He was worshipping.

Matthew 8:1-3NKJV When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Notice the willingness of Jesus. Jesus isn’t moved by this mans leprosy (that’s nothing for Him), however, Jesus is moved by his worship!

I say it again, This lepers worship prompts Jesus’ willingness.

Looking past the text in, Matthew 8:5-13 notice this other worshipper. His name is not mentioned but that he is a centurion soldier. A centurion was commonly over 60-80 foot- solders. This centurion came to Jesus... highly unusual. He came with a request, He came with worship and powerful faith.

“Lord, I’m not worthy of your company, however, just speak the word and my servant will be healed!”

So you want to learn to worship? Start by speaking God’s word, and believe.

Revelation 14:7NLT “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”

I wholeheartedly agree with Pastor Jentezen Franklin. As long as I’m the pastor here, “Worship will be my sole purpose.” -How bout you?

Before we go any further, it may be helpful to sharpen our study by defining the word worship.

Some people think that worship only consist of singing, as in the phrase, ‘praise and worship,’ Worship is much more than just singing.

Some people think of worship as a Sunday morning event, where people gather to worship.

Both are true statements, but this doesn’t define worship.

One dictionary states that to worship is to honor, or revere as a supernatural beings or power, or as a holy thing; to regard or approach with great respect; to adore with appropriate acts, rites, or ceremonies.

Again, this leper came to Jesus worshiping! Like the centurion, the leper states, “If you are willing make me clean.”

Jesus states, “I am willing. Be made whole.” Immediately he was healed.

Rev. Alfred Gibbs, Worship: The Christians highest occupation. -1960. Worship is the occupation of the heart, not with its needs, or even with its blessings, but with God himself. Clearly, Gibbs definition emphasizes two important characteristics of genuine worship.

Worship must come from the heart.

Worship must be focused upon God, not a upon ourselves.

The Old Testament uses three primary terms that are translated worship:

The first term, avad. It's usually translated to serve. It signifies a lifestyle of commitment and allegiance.

The second term, yireh. It is usually translated to fear, and reverence.

The third term, havah. It is usually translated to worship, and it fundamentally means the act of bowing down to pay homage.

Isaac Watts wrote fifty-two books, twenty-nine of them on theology. But he is best remembered for his hymns. He wrote more than 700 hundred, and even today the average modern hymnal will have twenty or more of his songs 276 years after they were written. Here’s the rest of the story, When Isaac Watts died he was reciting one of his favorites: "I’ll Praise My Maker While I Breathe.” -James Cox, The Minister’s Manual, HarperCollins, 1996, p. 328.

Therefore, because of these three Hebrew words: 1. Serve. A lifestyle of worship. 2. Fear. An attitude of worship. 3. Bowing down. Actions of worship.

Let’s look at these 3 Hebrew names for worship.

avad/Serve. A lifestyle of worship.

Serving the Lord is a choice. Serving the Lord is absolute. Serving the Lord requires surrender. Serving the Lord should be enthusiastic. Serving the Lord requires steadfastness. Serving the Lord, should be joyful. Serving the Lord is a qualification for eternal blessing.

The prophet Malachi speaks of the day of judgment, When the people who serve the Lord, will be counted as God's jewels.

Malachi 3:18NIV And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Here's just a few scriptures references with the word serve, pertaining to worship.

Joshua 24:15NIV But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Here’s the truth, in the 21st century, some folks serve their emotions. Some serve their jobs. Some serve a shiny car and truck. Some serve jobs. Some serve alcohol. Some serve pleasure. Some serve sports. Some serve exercise. Some serve food.