Matthew 19:16-21
And behold, one came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" [17] And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." [18] He said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; [19] Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." [20] The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" [21] Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Introduction: Some people come to church and actually end up worshipping traditions, or the building, or the style of worship, or the Pastor. But none of these things are worthy of our Worship. This morning we are going to look at the second commandment
Exodus 20:4-5
"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. [5] "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Many people are confused about what to worship and why.
Principle: Do not idolize anything.
What are the dangers of worshipping incorrectly?
Any and all idols:
1) Disappoint
Habakkuk 2:18
"What profit is the idol when its maker has carved it,
Or an image, a teacher of falsehood?
For its maker trusts in his own handiwork
When he fashions speechless idols.
Romans 10:11
For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be DISAPPOINTED."
2) Dominate
1 Cor. 12:2
You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols, however you were led.
3) Deform
Jeremiah 2:5
Thus says the Lord,
"What injustice did your fathers find in Me,
That they went far from Me
And walked after emptiness and became empty?
The Promise: If you worship me I will bless you.
Exodus 23:25-26
"But you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst. [26] "There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
Idols happen when people take a person or a thing and value it more than God.
Name Game:
Elvis Brad Britney
Tiger Robert Billy
Michael Marilyn Shaquille
Koby Mike Emmitt
Three Main Idols in Moses’ day
1) Baal Sex
2) Mammon Money
3) Moleck Violence
Worship – To give my highest love, devotion, affection, and loyalty.
What are the benefits of Worshipping Correctly?
1) Proper Worship fulfills me.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Many Pastors have abused and mis-taught concerning this passage
A little boy once wanted a bicycle so much that he would do almost anything to get one. Birthday and Christmas he asked his parents for a bicycle. Each time he did not get one. He then decided to take a different tack and decided to ask God for a new bicycle. Dear God he said I am a perfect, he stopped. No I am not perfect. He tried again, Dear God I am a good, he stopped. No he was not good. Once again he tried, Dear God I want to be good, and once again he stopped. He had to admit that he did not even want to be good. He decided to go to his room and try to decide how to go about asking God for a new bicycle. As he walked through the dining room he saw the statue of Mary that his family left on the bookcase. That’s when it hit him. He took the statue, wrapped it in a pillowcase and put it in his closet. Then he went into his room and prayed. Jesus if you ever want to see your mother again you better give me a new bike
Matthew 5:6
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
How do we hunger and thirst after righteousness?
a) By spending time in God’s Word
b) Making important to you what is important to God
Not filling our lives with the unimportant
Just as with our physical bodies a junk food diet will not provide lasting satisfaction. The same is true with our spiritual bodies. Careers, money, relationships, things will never bring lasting satisfaction.
2) Proper Worship transforms me
2 Cor. 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Galatians 4:19
My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you--
Romans 12:1-2
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Two pictures in scripture of this process
1) Potter/Clay
Jeremiah 18:1-6
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, [2] "Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I shall announce My words to you." [3] Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. [4] But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.
[5] Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, [6] "Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
2) Fire/metal
1 Cor. 3:10-13
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. [11] For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, [13] each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
Transformation takes time. Be patient
3) Proper worship frees us
2 Cor. 10:3-4
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, [4] for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives,
And freedom to prisoners;
[2] To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
[3] To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
[4] Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations,
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
2 Chron. 20:21-22
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." [22] And when they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.
1 Samuel 17:47
and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands."
Hebrews 13:15
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are downtrodden,
Frees me from what?
1) My past
2) My present
3) Strong Holds
What are some modern day strong holds
1) Depression
2) Loneliness
Prayer
Small groups
4) Our Future
The enemy is never happy when we make a decision to serve the Lord.
W Worthy Way of Life
O Outward Order
R Repentance Relevant
S Spirit-led Selfless
H Heavenly Healing
I Intimate Individual
P Pleasing God Priority
