AUTHENTIC PASSION 4
“Worship”
TEXT: John 4:21-4:24
INTRO: This morning we are starting our NEW Series “Authentic Passion. Authentic Passion 4 Worship, Word, Work, & World. As a Christian we are marked by our passion… our Passion for God. People are always looking and observing us and over the course of then next 4 weeks we want to look at four areas that all Christians need to have a passion in. This morning we start by looking at “Worship.”
WHAT IS WORSHIP?
Authentic Worship is NOT…
A ritual or duty
A specific time on Sunday morning
An act or performance
Music
Authentic Worship is: exclusive (Exodus 20:3-5) it’s a lifestyle (John 4:23)
As Christians we are marked by our worship.
“Worship is more than a physical or intellectual exercise; it is a purposeful, spiritual activity concentrating on God, thinking about His power & majesty – turning my attention away from myself”
HOW ARE WE TO WORSHIP?
John 4: 21-24 Jesus is talking about how we as a people are to worship God
We READ…
Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
In this passage Jesus gives us the patter/formula for true “Authentic” Worship:
1. “IN SPIRIT” = the level at which true worship takes place. Its Our Spirit connecting with Gods.
2. “IN TRUTH” = worshiping in truth involves the truth of the Father, revealed in the Son, and received through the Spirit because truth is God’s very nature and characteristic
*Authentic Worship comes from a heart that is fully devoted to the Lord
The word “worship” is derived from an Old English word “worth-ship”
*Worship is God-centered not man-centered
“True [Authentic] worship is not found in an act of performance, but rather in a life of heartfelt dedication and commitment. In other words…an all encompassing lifestyle.” ~Jane Hamon
Know that we have laid a foundation for “What Authentic Worship is,” & “How we are to Worship.” this brings me to my First Point:
I. AUTHENTIC PASSION 4 WORSHIP: IS SACRIFICIAL
Genesis 22:2-5 say, “Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will WORSHIP and then we will come back to you.”
Abraham called the sacrificing of his own son worship.
Abraham understood that true [Authentic] worship was not free -- but rather involved giving to the Lord. Abraham knew that God would not give him a promised son and then take him away. He knew God could raise him back to life if Abraham had to sacrifice.
A true worshiper is not concerned with what worship costs him/her (friends, family, reputation, social status)
Bottom Line: Like Abraham the dearest thing in your life will determine the level of worship to which you will be able to go. Will you be able to lay it down? Will you let go of your likes or your preferences to enter into True Worship.
AUTHENTIC PASSION 4 WORSHIP: IS REVERENTIAL (RESPECTFUL)
Psalm 5:7 “But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple.”
-Authentic Worship is not done in a half-hearted, lackadaisical manner; it flows from a heart of reverence and respect for God
-A reverent worshiper dwells in the presence of God, because that individual always welcomes God; and God is able to manifest Himself on that person’s behalf.
When God shows up, our response determines the outcome.
Do you remember in….
Joshua 5:13-14 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
Joshua’s response to the presence of the Lord reveals his heart of reverential worship—as a result Jericho fell.
Bottom Line: We Worship because of who God is. Not for what We are trying to get from Him. But because of Who He is, and We worship out of respect for what He has done and who He is.. Has your Worship to God been out of respect this morning?
III. AUTHENTIC PASSION 4 WORSHIP: IS GUTSY
Daniel 3:28 “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ”Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”
In the face of death, these young men refused to bow to anyone or anything except God Himself.
Bottom Line: A person who has authentic passion 4 worshipping God is not weak. Matter of fact it takes more guts to make a stand for God than to follow the crowd. Are you willing to worship regardless of what others are doing, or what others are saying?
IV. AUTHENTIC PASSION 4 WORSHIP: IS UNDIGNIFIED
2 Samuel 6:20-22 “When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.”
“Undignified” = to totally not care about anyone else’s opinion about you at any given time. It just really doesn’t matter how you are supposed to act or behave, cause you just feel the need to let loose and be a little crazy or different.
(ILL.) Batavia AG Platform Duty
I remember when I was a Vol Minister at Batavia AG in NY that I was
on the platform and worship was going on and we where claping and singing, I was getting into what i call "the grove" its when it doesn't matter what you look like or how silly you are you are just worshiping God with everything in you. I got done with Worship, sat down and heard a great sermon from my fellow minister friend... but when service was over and we were leaving I asked the wife in the car how worship seemed to go today with having the Sr. Pastor, board member, and me on the platform. She said you looked funny, your face was twisted and rinkled and that I looked constipated. I laughed so hard and I sais really, cuz I was just going for it in Worship.
Application: As I have said about worship, We are to worship without hesitation, reservation, or comfort.
King David had chosen to lay aside his kingly apparel and status, and become as one of the servants and worship the Lord with all his might, with no concern for how he looked or what others might think.
2 Samuel 6:14 says “And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”
David’s dancing was . . .
1. Alone—we don’t read of anyone dancing with him.
2. With all his might — he gave it all he had
(Heat, Mind, Soul, & Strength) 3 Internal Manifested External in 1
3. Before the Lord—not before the people as a show. David's heart was pure and his conscience did not accuse Him. He worship with every fiber of his being and it did not matter who saw Him.
Bottom line: Authentic Worship happens in the inside and then manifests itself on the outside.
CLOSING: Authentic Passion is what we are striving for. Today if you have lost your passion its time to regain it.
Lets PRAY...
