Title: Requirments, Resistance and Results of Worship
Theme: To show the importance of worship.
Text: Genesis 15:7-21
Open with Genesis 15:6-8
Abraham just beginning his walk with the Lord. Why did God choose him? Why did God use him? Abraham had a relationship. A relationship of worship and respect for God.
My goal is to get you to come to God’s house and expect something fresh and new.
Three things to observe: I. The Requirments of Worship II. The Resistance of Worship III. The Results of Worship
I. Requirments of Worship vs. 6-10
A. Faith
6 And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Faith is belief, faith is obedience. To believe means to obey.
believe-to preserve in trust and belief by manifesting an obedient faithfulness
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 AV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. HEB 11:1 (NIV)
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8 AV)
righteousness-being in a right relationship to God and His will
Paul and Silas Ac 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
B. Commitment
7 Then He said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it." 8 And he said, "Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?"
This commitment was shown early in the book of Genesis 12. Abraham took all he had and he left. Where did he go? Well he just left trusting in God. He just left not knowing where he was going. All he knew was that God had called him. All he knew was that God has told him. All he knew was that God had spoken and when God speakes we listen.
Worship is a commitment. A commitment to praise. A commitment to obedience. A commitment to follow all of God’s commands.
C. Preparation and Sacrifice
9 So He said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
Jesus sacrifice was his blood. Now that blood is passed into us when we accept him.
Find verse where when we become born again Christ blood flows in our veins
II. Resistance of Worship vs 11
11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
A. What they are
1.. Principalities and powers
Our battle is not against flesh and blood the the principalities and the powers of this world.
2.. Persecutions and oppressions
For our style. For our joy. For our commitment. Even by those in our own church will we be persecuted because it is easier to persecute than to grow.
3. Disturbances and distractions vain thoughts and sinful emotions of the heart
Something around us. This is why I don’t sit in the back because there are too many distractions. Now if you can handle that praise the Lord.
B. How to resist them
1. Watchfulness
Mt 26:41 Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
2. Opposition
3. Perseverance-overcome-the Christian life is life of overcoming.
Re 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
4. Help of the Lord-Pray
III. Results of worship vs 12-21
A. Reassurance of a Promise
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.
(Gen 15:18) On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates;
B. Presence of the Lord
17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
1. Smoking Furnace-cleansing of the sacrifice and the sacrificer seen in Isaiah 6:7 when the coal was taken and placed on the lips of Isaiah
2. burning lamp seen in the burning bush that Moses saw, seen in the pillar of cloud that led the Israelites, this is also how the enemy knew that the Lord was with them
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalms 119:105 AV)
God alone established this covenant with Abraham. All Abraham had to do was believe.
God again established a final covenant with man. In it was see an agreement. In it we see a sacrifice. But the difference was it was final. Jesus Christ came. God’s presence dwelt amoung man in Jesus Christ. He walked and he talked like and with man. Finally the sacrifice was made and the covenant confirmed. Our only part is acceptance.
Praise and worship is a vital part of our relationship .
Four fold reason to praise.
1Pe 2:9 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:
Do you have the requirements to praise? You must be saved
If you are here and you are not a Christian. Or you have fallen away, you know you can’t worship. You know it is hard. I want you to come.
Do you have resistance? Clear your mind. I believe that if you have a need of healing or if someone is on your mind to be prayed for then come and do it before service can begin.
This service is for us. It is not for those that are not hear unless we pray for them.
If you have come today and Satan has been trying to distract you with many things. Maybe it is a need. Maybe all you could focus on was this.
Do you desire (hunger for the results)?
