Worship-the One Essential of Life Luke 10:38-42
What is Essential?
Comedian Brian Regan shares how that when the airline lost his luggage, he goes to the counter where lost luggage is reported. He says’ "Now how would you like that job? People come up to the counter and you say. How are you today, Let me guess, you are not happy? Or maybe you angry. Or Perhaps you are Really really angry, Livid!"
Then, the attendant at the counter take your information and tell you they will do all they can to get your luggage to you ASAP and will contact you. Next, they give you and small bag the size of a sandwich bag called, an ESSENTIALS kit. Then Brian goes on to say. "So, this is an essential kit, I thought what I packed for the trip was my essential kit, but I stand corrected.
Let’s look at our lives. In tough times like these folks are beginning to reevaluate. If you are laid off or suffer a cut in pay…you begin to ask, “Do I really need this?” Is Cable essential? Is the Internet Essential? The same could be said of Cell Phones, Extra Vehicles and Play Things. When the rubber hits the road and there is only so much cash, we remember that as long as we have food and shelter and transportation we have all that we need. Maybe not all we want but what we need. We do not have everything, but the main thing Then we understand What really is Essential to Life.
In he Depression, many survived on a little cornbread, milk and pinto beans. If times get really rough we might be willing to reduce our lives to even the the bare Essentials.
This morning I want to share with you the Essentials of Life. Like the song “Getting back to the basics of Life.” We need to get back to the basics of Life. Before we build a house it is Essential to lay a strong foundation. Otherwise the house will begins to break apart through the stresses of time. On the other hand, Marble or Corian counter tops are beautiful, but not essential. Before we build a life, we must understand the Essentials and build upon them or we will break apart in the stresses of life.
The Essential of Worship
If you were to ask a crowd of people what was the One Essential in the Christian Life.Baptist says Evangelism. Pentecostal-Spirit filled life; Presbyterian -Reverence. How can we know what is really essential?
Let’s examine the Scripture.Scripture is the final authority.
Psm 27:4
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4
Luke 10:38-42
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’[k] feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus[l] answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Martha is a servant minded individual. She is always busy. Her motto is "cleanliness is next to godliness."
Don’t miss this. Jesus did not rebuke her for her service. If folks don’t serve, the job won’t get done. He rebuked her because she put the good ahead of the Best.
As a result, she carried a load she wasn’t intended to carry.
Now what does the Bible say about worry. Worry is sin. Cast all your care upon him for he cares for you.
Worry about nothing, pray about everything. And the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and mind.
Those who mind are stayed on God shall be kept in perfect peace.The focus is the Lord, the result will be peace.
But she did not have time to sit a the feet of Jesus.
Not only was Martha worried. She was resentful. She resented Mary. Now I believe the Lord Jesus, was not just telling Martha that she was worried about many things. But she was worried about things and People (Mary) that she should not be . Martha was not just a busy person, she was a busy body.
But the cut goes deeper. Not only did he refuse to rebuke Mary and rebuke her.
Now he holds up Mary as the example for Martha to follow.
Isn’t it amazing if we REALLY listen to Christ he will show how we are wrong about something or someone and that they are the one who has got it right and we need to get it right.If he has NEVER done this to you, ask yourself am I perfect, or am I just not listening?
Now he holds up Mary as the example for Martha to follow.Incidentally,of all of the disciples of Jesus,
Mary was the only one who got in on the Lord’s death before it occurred, as she poured ointment on him.
Mary understood that Private Worship was Essential
Essential Private Worship Matt 6:5
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly
Why Secret?
Privacy-Quiet Place-Gather your thoughts. Meditate, Do Not hurry. Hurry is the death nail to a relationship with Jesus.
Honesty-Pour out your heart before the Lord, He waits to hear you
Trust in Him at all times, you people;Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psm 62:8
Sincerity-No one but you and God knows…no games here (hypocrites)
Intimacy-Your Father…New Concept…”I am going to talk to my Father…” what a difference this makes compared to the attitude I going to get my chore done or I am going to have my quiet time.
Moses faced shined from his communion with God.
Jesus promised living waters would flow from us if we were trusting him. Are they flowing or are you trying to get blood from a turnip?
The public life begins to flow when we are devoted to him in private.
Mary understood it is ALL ABOUT HIM. It is not about me, my ministry, my plans, it is about Jesus. Nothing was too good-too much-too humiliating-to sacrifice.
When Worship is lacking reflect on the cross.
You paid much too high a price for me
Your tears, your blood, the pain
To have my soul just stirred at times
Yet never truly changed.
You deserve a fiery love
That won’t ignore your sacrfice
Because you paid, much too high a price.”
“I want to tell this jaded world of love that truly saved my life
A love that paid, so high a price”
“Much Too High a Price” by Larnelle Harris
Essential Public Worship Heb 10:24,25
Today, When you came in and saw that I was not in my seat, my normal place for the time of Worship. Some were wondering where is the preacher? Doesn’t the Pastor know it is time to be in God’s House? Doesn’t he know the time, the hour? Pause.
I often wonder the same thing of you.
When you are not in God’s house you are missed. When you are in leadership and in a visible role you are not in God’s house, you are missed even more.
Many things are more important to you than Worship; Work, school, illness.
I am empathetic, I really am. If you hurt I hurt. If you tell me that you are not able to be at church, because of your illness I believe you.
Two of our members who have been in the hospital as much as anyone in the church attended every single night, 7 nights of Revival services.
If you can do all the things you need to do, go all the places you want to go and you can not endure 1.5 hours in the house of God, you may need to ask the question, is this a condition of my body or my heart?
I am not a legalist when it comes to this matter. I believe it really believe it is a matter of the heart. My point is That We should want to be in God’s house WE should LONG to Worship God.
Answer this question honestly, if everyone attended Sunday Nights like I attend would we have Sunday Night service any longer?
If everyone attended Wed night any discipleship teaching for the adults and children any longer? If everyone attended Revival, would there ever be any efforts at Revival any more?
All Leaders, answer this question, am I leading those who respect me and follow me to Worship by my attitude toward attendance and support all of the opportunities of Worship or am I showing them that these things are not important to me?
I do not want you to respond simply out of obligation. this is about Worship from the heart? Is Jesus Lord, Is Jesus All, Is Jesus your heart’s desire. Does your heart cry “Worthy is the Lamb, to receive glory, honor and power.”
Keep the cross of Jesus in front of us. When we remember what he gave up to save us. When we remember what he endured to save us. We see that great love and we respond back in love and are we realize the sacrifices we make are small.
One man said, “If Jesus be God and died for me, then all the sacrifices I make cannot be too much.”
Are you TRULY Worshipping Him today? Come and Worship Christ the King!
