“Coming Back to the Heart of Worship”
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
History of the heart of worship.
Luke 18:9-14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortionist, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The song dates back to the late 1990s, born from a period of apathy within Matt’s home church, Soul Survivor, in Watford, England. Despite the country’s overall contribution to the current worship revival, Redman’s congregation was struggling to find meaning in its musical outpouring at the time.
“There was a dynamic missing, so the pastor did a pretty brave thing,” he recalls. “He decided to get rid of the sound system and band for a season, and we gathered together with just our voices. His point was that we’d lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.”
Reminding his church family to be producers in worship, not just consumers, the pastor, Mike Pilavachi, asked, “When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”
Matt says the question initially led to some embarrassing silence, but eventually people broke into a cappella songs and heartfelt prayers, encountering God in a fresh way.
“Before long, we reintroduced the musicians and sound system, as we’d gained a new perspective that worship is all about Jesus, and He commands a response in the depths of our souls no matter what the circumstance and setting. ‘The Heart of Worship’ simply describes what occurred.”
When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come / Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart… / I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus
Redman remembers writing the song quickly in his bedroom soon after the church’s journey together, with no grand intentions, by any means, for it to become an international anthem. He viewed the words simply as his personal, subjective response to what he was learning about worship.
WORSHIP IS MUCH MORE THAN SINGING SONGS!
WORSHIP INVOLVES OUR DAILY LIVES---Worship be more than just going through the motions.
ILL: Slipping through the Spiritual cracks: Each year we read or hear of students who have slipped through the cracks! They can barely read and teachers have passed them on to the next grade. There are many who have gone to church their whole lives and they have spiritually slipped through the cracks. The went to VBS, attended camp. They participated n the kid’s Christmas program and they baptized into Christ at a young age. They went to Sunday School and communion and bowed the head in a somber way. They come to church each Lord’s day. They make notes during the sermon and stand and sit, kneel through the service. As they walk out the door they get in the car and cuss because of the traffic. They throw their bible into the back of the car where it will stay until the next week. They love lord and appreciate what Jesus did, but somehow they have lost the heart of worship.
Jesus’ tells of two men who are going to pray! He uses this story to show without our hearts in the right place going to pray is of little use.
I. Worship must begin with an upward look! Coming back to the heart of worship means coming back to a reverent, respect for God.
1. Look up to God with reverence and awe: Worship must be with the view that it is an honor to come into the presence of God!
Isaiah’s Commission 6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
It’s also important to know that worship is reserved only for God. Only He is worthy and not any of His servants (Revelation 19:10). We are not to worship saints, prophets, statues, angels, any false gods, or Mary, the mother of Jesus. We also should not be worshiping for the expectation of something in return, such as a miraculous healing.
ILL: FOR THE TAX COLLECTOR SAW WORSHIP AND PRAYER AS A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE! THE PHARISEE FELT THAT HE WAS DOING GOD A FAVOR BY GRACING HIM WITH HIS PRESENCE!
WE SHOULD SEE Worship as an honor and privilege—to teach, to preach, to sing, prepare communion, to serve communion…
In the bible the only tribe that was allowed to serve in the Bible was the Levites.
David saw his fight with Goliath as a privilege not as a duty!
They looked about the service more as a privilege than a sense of duty.
ILL: This week Valley Regional Hospital called and asked if someone could come and pray with a family that was preparing to turn off the life support on a family member. Not knowing what to expect I asked Caleb to ride over with me. We both prayed with the daughter and son-in-law and asked God to grant them grace during this time.
For me it was a privilege and an honor to be invited into this private time in their lives.
It was privilege to be able to make intercession on behalf of this family.
Ill: For many of you worship is a privilege
ILL: Katy Hudson is now Katy Peary—she has chosen to sing music that does not honor God! She will make a lot more money and be more popular, but she has lost the privilege of being able to honor God with her talent!
1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
The privilege to serve: Dingy teenager: She brought home her new boyfriend to meet her parents, and they were appalled by his appearance: leather jacket, motorcycle boots, tatoos and a pierced nose. Later, the parents pulled their daughter aside and said "He doesn't seem very nice." "Mom," replied the daughter, "if he wasn't so nice, why would he be doing 5000 hours of community service?"
An upward look of gratitude:
‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortionist, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
I thank God that my parents never divorced.
I thank God that my parents took me to church.
I thank God that He gave me a wife that loves the Lord.
I thank God that I was born in a free country!
I thank God that I was born with opportunities!
II. Look inward! Worship should involve self-reflection in the presence of a Holy God!.
The fact that you have not committed gross sins does not mean that you are better than the other person.
But here was this Pharisee who was very meticulous about following the blueprint and he followed it to the very detail. But in his own eyes he thought that he was better than the others. He looked down upon this publican. So we need to look at the answer, the third contrast. Here was a Pharisee who read his Bible, who prayed four times daily (because the Pharisees were known to pray four times a day: 9 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, and 6 o’clock. He fasted twice a week. He paid tithe. He was very faithful in tithe paying; these are all good things. In fact, Jesus said, “These you ought to have done.” quoted from:he Parables of Jesus
by E.H. ‘Jack’ Sequeira
As we begin a new year we should pray, read your Bibles, come to church, help with the needs our church and community…
But there is only one measuring stick of righteousness — Jesus Christ — and when you and I stand before Jesus Christ, the more we recognize His righteousness, the more sinful we will realize that we are. There is no way that we could ever reach the righteousness of Christ. In word, in action, He is absolutely perfect.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
The second part of Isaiah 6-- the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
ILL: Kids say she/he had his eyes open when we were praying! Look inward!
WE MAY THINK WE WORSHIP IS ABOUT US: After the dinner, the speaker and master of ceremonies were standing in the lobby greeting the people who had attended. A six-year-old boy ran up to the speaker and said, “Your speech stunk.” Embarrassed, the master of ceremonies asked the boy to run along. But the boy ran right up to the speaker again and said, “We’ve heard all your jokes before; they’re not even funny.”
Embarrassed, the master of ceremonies again asked the boy to run along. But he ran right up to the speaker again and said, “I bet you they never invite you back.” Just then the boy’s mother, who was standing a short distance away, saw what was happening. She ran up to the speaker and quickly said, “Please forgive my son. I have no idea what he said to you. But he is only six years old, and he is just at the age where he repeats what everyone else says.”
WE LOVE TO KEEP THE APPEARANCE THAT WE HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER!
ILL: Notebook: Pride (locked keys)
Carol Simons was doing an errand and accidentally locked her keys in her car. She called her husband at work, but he was out of the office, so she left a message. After a while, Carol called her mother for a ride and then waited in the store for help. Impatient, she went outside and tested the driver-side door. To her surprise, it opened. And feeling foolish, she quickly locked the door so she wouldn’t be found out. Just then, the store manager walked out and called to her, “Your husband came by and unlocked your door.”
We like to protect our reputations, don’t we?
Even when we know that we have been wrong, we still try to save our reputation.
This happens because…
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5-6).
Society puts pressure on our outward appearance worship should concern us with our spiritual appearance:
There was a survey taken of girls 9- and 10 years old that states that 40% have tried to lose weight, according to study shown by the National Heart Foundation. Another study reports that at age 13, 53% of American girls are “unhappy with their bodies.” This grows to 78% by the time girls reach 17. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that eating disorders affect more than 5 million Americans each year. When I heard this, I couldn’t even believe it.
Many young girls would rather look like Lady Gaga than be pure and holy!
III. Look outward! Worship should unite not put down others or divide!
“I thank you God that I am not like these other people….” It is a form of self-justification, and it leads to division.
Why would he pray, “Dear God I pray for the tax collectors, prostitutes and others who are struggling and ask that they will find the same grace I have received?
His pride had made him too big for his spiritual britches. C. S. Lewis once said, "A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and of course, as long as you are looking down, you can't see something that's above you."
THE PHARISEE WAS SO CAUGHT UP IN THANKING GOD FOR WHAT HE WAS NOT THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE PAIN OF THE TAX COLLECTOR!
Our spiritual battles and worship should begin with a look inward! Let each one examine himself. Culture wars raging over same sex marriage, homosexuality, etc. When we hear that Duck Dynasty’s patriarch has been reinstated or we hear that Chick-flia is making more money despite their traditional views on marriage most cheer! However there are two things we must keep in mind: Are we praying for those who we view as tax-collectors today?
When we come to worship our focus should be on Jesus and what he has done for us. When we look outward we will be like Mr. Baker and send a card.
When we look outward we will see the brother or sister who needs a job.
When we look outward we see the brother or sister who is going through cancer treatment.
The person who is struggling with a rebellious child.
The mother who has had a miscarriage.
SO CAUGHT UP THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE FAITH OF OTHERS
ILL: When I lived in NC there was a minister from TN. Who was in high demand to speak at revivals and homecomings. Every church had him come for revival.
He was an energetic speaker and he could sing and play the guitar and banjo, but almost every message was to put down what other groups were doing.
Rather than preach against other groups we should emphasis what is positive about our faith.
---We just call ourselves Christians, No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible
---We have no hierarchy
---On essentials we have unity and on opinions liberty
---Where the Bible speak we speak and where they are silent we are silent.
Conclusion: What if Matthew was present when Jesus told this parable. This would have reminded him of the time when Jesus called him to come follow him. Do you remember when Jesus called you to come follow him?
