First Baptist Church
Worship God!
March 1, 2020
A number of years ago, probably about 20 - 30 years ago, the church world entered what was affectionately called “WORSHIP WARS!” Worship wars really have to do with one aspect of worship, the music. That’s great news for me, because there are no sermon wars, at least not yet.
Worship wars were and are all about the music we sing in worship. Some like hymns, some like contemporary Christian music, some would prefer a little Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, along with a dose of Kanye West. The last 2 have proclaimed faith in Jesus, by the way. Others might want more of a country themed worship. Others really don’t care. It’s been a struggle since the church attempted to be more contemporary, to try and reach the “younger generation.”
As you can see today, we were very hymn focused. And that’s great! We’ve had days where we’ve been more contemporary focused, but most of the time we try to have a healthy combination of both.
We’re in our 3rd week of looking at worship, as it pertains to our purpose in life. We’re called to worship God!! Most of us consider Sunday as our worship time. It’s when we make special efforts to come to the church and worship God. And you know . . . there are some Sundays it’s not easy to get out of bed.
Whatever the reason. Maybe it’s the kids, maybe you’re over-tired and over-stressed and you just want to hide under the covers. There are summer trips, winter vacations, kids and family events which can easily pull us away from coming here to worship. And for many, it’s easy to get out of the Sunday morning routine and stop worshiping.
But I would say that worship isn’t just about what happens here. There’s far more to worship than just coming to this building on Sundays. Yet, when we come here, what’s our attitude, what are we expecting and willing to give when we walk through the doors. With that in mind, I want to look at some of what Jesus said about worship and where the focus of worship should be.
In Matthew 15, Jesus was being tested by the Pharisees. They were trying to trap Him and they asked Jesus why the disciples didn’t wash their hands before they ate. It’s really kind of a silly question to ask grown men, but they were trying to trap Jesus and have Him go against the traditions of the elders and the word of God. Ultimately, Jesus responded to them with these words --
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. - Matthew 15:7-9
Jesus was quoting from Isaiah 29. This was an issue with the Israelites as well back in the 700 BC era. Jesus’ point was that the pharisees are following tradition. The Pharisees were hypocrites because their actions were external and didn’t come from their hearts, and their teachings were not from God but were based on tradition.
They were giving lip service to God. They kind of make it look like they were all pious and spiritual and following God, but really it was lip service. You know how it is when you tell someone something about your life, and they’re nodding their head, and as you walk away you think, “that was a waste of time, they acted interested, but they didn’t really care.”
Have you ever had that happen to you? That’s kind of what I see happening with what Jesus was telling the Pharisees.
Jesus’ point is that it’s about the heart. The heart is what counts in worship. As a result, the Pharisees were worshiping God in vain, because they were more interested in following traditions than giving their hearts to God.
We see the same thing in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5, Jesus said --
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. - Matthew 5:23-24
Have you ever noticed that it’s not easy to worship when you’re really angry. Jesus wants us to understand that as well. When we come here, but know there are issues with a brother or sister that are reconcilable, we need to seek that out before we give our gifts to God. In other words, don’t make a big production of your gift. Leave it at the altar, because your gift is a gift to the Lord and you should give it with a clean heart. When reminded of that, go, go and be reconciled to your brother or sister, then come back with a joyful heart and worship God.
Remember what David asked for in Psalm 51, after he confessed his affair and asked forgiveness from God? As David prayed for wholeness, he said -
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. - Psalm 51
Do you see what David is praying? He wants a clean heart, a pure heart . . . why? Because he knows that’s what is most important to God. Look at what God really wants, it links with Matthew 5 about gifts. God doesn’t want our sacrifices which are done because that’s what we’re supposed to do. We do them without a heart for God. What God wants is a heart which is broken, a heart which is contrite, a heart which is focused on God.
Now, we shouldn’t be walking around like a bunch of Eeyore’s. Looking all depressed because we’re always trying to rid ourselves of our sinfulness. God wants us to have hearts which are focused on Him, hearts which know right from wrong, hearts which seek to love God and others for no other reason than the fact, God loves us and sent Jesus to die for us.
Do you see this theme so far? God wants our hearts more than anything else. That’s why when Jesus was asked what’s the greatest commandment, He said -
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your HEART and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. - Mark 12:28
Whenever there’s a list, the first item is what is most important. Love the Lord your God with all of your HEART!!! That’s our starting point. That always must be our starting point. So, as we seek to worship God, it starts with our hearts.
There really should be a rhythm to our day and our lives. Yet, we live such chaotic lives that it becomes difficult for us to take the time to worship God in the middle of the day, or at any time.
I’m fascinated by the life of a monk named Brother Lawrence. He died in the year 1691. That’s a long time ago, but he understood the rhythm’s of life. He lived in a monastery and mostly worked in the kitchen and repairing sandals. He had health issues which he incurred fighting in the 30 Years War in Europe.
After he died, some of his letters were collected and published under the title, The Practice of the Presence of God. In it, Brother Lawrence made this statement -
I worshiped Him the oftenest I could, keeping my mind in His holy presence and recalling it as often as I found it wandered from Him. I made this my business, not only at the appointed times of prayer but all the time; every hour, every minute, even in the height of my work, I drove from my mind everything that interrupted my thoughts of God.
Isn’t that cool! Even at the busiest times of his work, he sought to go back to thinking and meditating about God. That’s part of the rhythm I believe we’re called to cultivate as well.
Worship Matters. Worship matters to God and worship should matter to us.
Oftentimes, we allow personal distractions to get in the way. If you thought about it right now, how many of you have been distracted in worship this morning? It’s not like going to a movie where we’re mesmerized and entertained. In worship, we have to do the work. We have to get our heart, spirit, mind and body open to God. It’s pretty easy to come here to worship, but never worship.
We greet one another, but we didn’t worship.
We heard prayers, but we didn’t worship.
We sang songs, but we don’t worship.
We listen to sermons, but we don’t worship.
We might even serve in a ministry - - but don’t worship.
It happens, doesn’t it? All of these things are elements of worship, but they aren’t worship in and of themselves, which means you can do all of them and yet have not truly worshiped God.
Ultimately, worship is a lifestyle. That’s really what Brother Lawrence was saying. It’s what those other scriptures are telling us.
In John 4, while Jesus is sitting by a well, resting, a Samaritan woman and Jesus have a conversation. In the end, what Jesus tells her is so important to grasp -
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” - John 4:23-24
Here are the key words - - true worship - - Jesus said which was anticipated for the age to come, Jesus says HAS NOW ARRIVED!! He said,
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here,
Jesus wants us to fully understand the hour is now here in ME. And what marks this true future worship that has broken into the present time is that it’s not bound by form or place. Instead of being in this mountain or in Jerusalem, Jesus explained, true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.
What Jesus wants us to understand, and this is really, really, super important to grasp - - it won’t be wrong to worship in a place, like where we are. It won’t be wrong to have certain styles or forms which aid us in worship. None of that will be wrong . . . BUT Jesus is making explicit and central to His point that these outward forms are not what makes worship - - - - worship.
What makes worship - - - - worship is what happens “in spirit and in truth” — with or without a place and with or without outward forms.
I take “in spirit” to mean that this true worship is carried along by the Holy Spirit and is happening mainly as an inward, spiritual event, not as an outward bodily event. True worship occurs when I engage my heart and spirit. Outward forms don’t matter. They may be nice, but they aren’t vital.
What’s totally necessary is when our hearts and spirits are engaged with God. It’s when we experience the power of the Spirit of God and in all reality, we’re powerless without the Holy Spirit.
When we worship with true hearts and spirits, we’re worshiping with sincerity and integrity in our hearts and spirits. Jesus spoke out against those hypocrites. But now, He’s helping us to understand true worship is more about our heart, our spirit, doing it according to God’s truth. It’s also proclaiming that Jesus is the truth as well. We proclaim that Jesus is Lord and Savior. His truth shapes my life so I can worship in spirit and truth. The experience of our heart is the defining, vital, indispensable essence of worship.
Worship is based on a true understanding of God’s nature, and it is a valuing of God’s worth. Part of true worship is valuing or treasuring God above all things.
We can say, the inner essence of worship is to truly know God and then respond from the heart so that we would value, treasure, enjoy, celebrate God above everything else. And when that happens, when we experience the profound joy of worship, we also experience a deep, joyful satisfaction in God which leads to our making God real and relevant in the world around us, as we make a difference in the world serving others in the name of Jesus.
OK, I know I just got pretty theoretical. Let’s finish with some practical thoughts
Awhile ago I mentioned the rhythms of life. I believe we need to recapture them, or maybe grab them for the first time. One of the beauties of Jewish worship is the rhythm that moves from worship to the week.
It’s hard to even find a starting point, because it all flows together. If we start with the worship - afterwards families eat together and talk about the worship. They don’t dissect what they didn’t like, they talk about what had meaning for them, the message, the songs, the scripture, the fellowship, the giving.
Then they use the early part of the week to reflect on what they’ve learned, they let it reside in their heart, spirit and mind. Then as the week is coming to it’s conclusion, they begin to prepare for the next Sabbath. They become excited about what is next, they read and prayed during the week. The women begin preparing the Sabbath meal on Thursday and Friday. It must be done by Friday at sundown. They wake up and go to worship and move through that rhythm throughout the week. It’s a fascinating cycle that most people really don’t do, which leaves us totally unprepared for worship when we walk into this building.
In his book Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster wrote, “Forms and rituals do not produce worship, nor does the disuse of forms and rituals. We can use all the right methods, we can have the best possible liturgy, but we have not worshiped the Lord until His Spirit touches our spirit.” How true that is. We have to be open to receive the Spirit of God in our spirits.
Here’s a suggestion to help us prepare for worship so that we might better experience God’s Spirit - -
We all have the responsibility to prepare our hearts for worship. If God calls us to worship Him “in spirit and in truth” then we must consider the state of our spirit and readiness of our hearts. Can you take some time during the week to prepare your heart through prayer, bible reading and devotions? Can you consider the prior week’s worship?
Before we arrive at worship - - How can we make our Saturday night activities and Sunday morning routine help us to prepare for worship? Do we have the kids clothes ready on Saturday evening. Are we arguing; running late, coming in to worship already frustrated, stressed and overwhelmed? Can you get to sleep at a decent time? Can you listen to whatever Christian music to help prepare your heart and spirit?
Once we arrive for worship - - During those moments between before worship, what are you doing? Are you greeting people, or sitting and preparing your hearts for worship? Neither is wrong. Can you examine your attitude when you walk in to the church . . . That will impact your worship. Can we slow down, for just a moment, setting aside any distractions so we can get our focus on God.
And since worship does not start when we enter the church, it should not stop when we leave. After we leave worship -
Worship should continue. We should form that rhythm of meditating on the word, praying and seeking to draw closer to God as we move through the week. It doesn’t matter how good our worship is when we gather, it is incomplete until it continues when we scatter. But, worship always begins in our hearts.
