Our Worship Prompts His Willingness. Pt 2
Matthew 8:1-3NKJV
Before the text this evening, Jesus had just finished the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5-7chapters. Finally as Jesus completed His mission, He walks down from the mountainside as a leper met Jesus. He was worshipping.
Matthew 8:1-3NKJV When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Notice the willingness of Jesus. Jesus isn’t moved by this mans leprosy (that’s nothing for Him), however, Jesus is moved by his worship!
I say it again, This lepers worship prompts Jesus’ willingness.
Looking past the text in, Matthew 8:5-13 notice this other worshipper. His name is not mentioned but that he is a centurion soldier. A centurion was commonly over 60-80 foot- solders. This centurion came to Jesus... highly unusual. He came with a request, He came with worship and powerful faith.
“Lord, I’m not worthy of your company, however, just speak the word and my servant will be healed!”
So you want to learn to worship? Start by speaking God’s word, and believe.
Revelation 14:7NLT “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”
I wholeheartedly agree with Pastor Jentezen Franklin. As long as I’m the pastor here, “Worship will be my sole purpose.” -How bout you?
Before we go any further, it may be helpful to sharpen our study by defining the word worship.
Some people think that worship only consist of singing, as in the phrase, ‘praise and worship,’ Worship is much more than just singing.
Some people think of worship as a Sunday morning event, where people gather to worship.
Both are true statements, but this doesn’t define worship.
One dictionary states that to worship is to honor, or revere as a supernatural beings or power, or as a holy thing; to regard or approach with great respect; to adore with appropriate acts, rites, or ceremonies.
Again, this leper came to Jesus worshiping! Like the centurion, the leper states, “If you are willing make me clean.”
Jesus states, “I am willing. Be made whole.” Immediately he was healed.
Rev. Alfred Gibbs, Worship: The Christians highest occupation. -1960. Worship is the occupation of the heart, not with its needs, or even with its blessings, but with God himself. Clearly, Gibbs definition emphasizes two important characteristics of genuine worship.
Worship must come from the heart.
Worship must be focused upon God, not a upon ourselves.
The Old Testament uses three primary terms that are translated worship:
The first term, avad. It's usually translated to serve. It signifies a lifestyle of commitment and allegiance.
The second term, yireh. It is usually translated to fear, and reverence.
The third term, havah. It is usually translated to worship, and it fundamentally means the act of bowing down to pay homage.
Isaac Watts wrote fifty-two books, twenty-nine of them on theology. But he is best remembered for his hymns. He wrote more than 700 hundred, and even today the average modern hymnal will have twenty or more of his songs 276 years after they were written. Here’s the rest of the story, When Isaac Watts died he was reciting one of his favorites: "I’ll Praise My Maker While I Breathe.” -James Cox, The Minister’s Manual, HarperCollins, 1996, p. 328.
Therefore, because of these three Hebrew words: 1. Serve. A lifestyle of worship. 2. Fear. An attitude of worship. 3. Bowing down. Actions of worship.
Let’s look at these 3 Hebrew names for worship.
avad/Serve. A lifestyle of worship.
Serving the Lord is a choice. Serving the Lord is absolute. Serving the Lord requires surrender. Serving the Lord should be enthusiastic. Serving the Lord requires steadfastness. Serving the Lord, should be joyful. Serving the Lord is a qualification for eternal blessing.
The prophet Malachi speaks of the day of judgment, When the people who serve the Lord, will be counted as God's jewels.
Malachi 3:18NIV And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
Here's just a few scriptures references with the word serve, pertaining to worship.
Joshua 24:15NIV But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Here’s the truth, in the 21st century, some folks serve their emotions. Some serve their jobs. Some serve a shiny car and truck. Some serve jobs. Some serve alcohol. Some serve pleasure. Some serve sports. Some serve exercise. Some serve food.
Exodus 3:12NKJV So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
To serve God means to devote oneself fully to Him. Serving God is a commitment to total allegiance, a lifestyle of dedication to God, and to God alone. -Lee Roy Martin.
Exodus 23:23-24NLT For my angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them completely. 24 You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars.
For the believer, to worship God must be absolute. (Destroy all idols).
Psalm 100:1-3aNKJV Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3a Know that the Lord, He is God...
As you serve others with gladness. As you serve God with gladness. Through any action taken by you serving is the proper responds.
2. yireh/Fear: An attitude of worship.
The word fear is another term that can mean worship. Although it can mean to be terrified or scared, fear can also mean to reverence and honor.
Fearing the Lord and serving the Lord go hand n hand. -Fearing God is a response to grace.
The psalmist insist that when we experience the power of God's forgiveness, we will respond with reverence toward him.
Psalm 130:4NLT But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.
Nugget- The fear of God is an inner disposition or attitude of deep respect for God.
Therefore, the fear of God represents the emotional foundation of worship. True worship holds God in high esteem. True worship never takes God for granted, but respects God's ultimate authority.
Again, Fear: An attitude of worship. Think about it, You get in His presence, and you get saved, forgiven and healed. He gives you a word.
Nugget- Fearing anything except the Lord, is equal to idolatry.
Judges 6:10NKJV Also I said to you, “I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not obeyed My voice.’ ”
“Fearing other gods is the same as worshiping them.” P.H
Hear the words of the prophet Jeremiah pertaining to lifeless idols. Jeremiah 10:5NKJV They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good.”
Jeremiah is saying that since idols are powerless, they are undeserving of fear. However, Jeremiah insists that it is the Lord who should be feared.
The prophet answers his own question in, Jeremiah 10:7NLT Who would not fear you, O King of nations? That title belongs to you alone! Among all the wise people of the earth?and in all the kingdoms of the world, there is no one like you.
We should always revere our Lord. Give Him our best. Not leftovers.
3. havah/Bowing down: Actions of worship.
Genesis 22:5NLT “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”
Abraham was actually saying that ‘we’ (Abraham and Isaac), will give ourselves solely to God.
Testimony: I’ve always thought that this act of worship (this act of surrender) was a testimony unto Abraham. However, I am convinced this worship (this surrender) was a two-fold event between Abraham, Isaac and their God, Father God!
Nugget- Worship is the normal response to God’s presence.
Exodus 33:9-10NKJV And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door.
God’s people saw the presence of the Lord and they were moved to worship.
Very soon after this event, Moses was allowed to stand in the Clift of the rock, and see the glory of the Lord. This vision of God caused Moses to worship.
Hear God sing about Himself. Exodus 34:5-8NLT Then the Lord came down in a- cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy!?I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.” 8 Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped.
Remember, worship involves the giving of ourselves to God. The word worship (havah) is used for the first time in the account of Abraham sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22.
Whether it be the giving of Abraham’s son, the giving of a lamb, the giving of money, or the giving of our time, worship involves giving to God something that is valuable to us.
When the ark of the covenant came back from the Philistines (the Philistines were dying left and right) These idol worshippers, cried out, “Get rid of this thing!”
I’ll just say this, God knows how to cause trouble if trouble is needed! P.H
When the Ark came back to Jerusalem, David wrote a psalm which says in part. 1 Chronicles 16:23-31NLT Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. 24 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. 25 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. 26 The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens! 27 Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling. 28 O nations of the world, recognize the Lord, recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. 29 Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. 30 Let all the earth tremble before him. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
In closing, So this leper comes to Jesus worshipping. He ask Jesus one simple question. “Are you willing to cleanse me of this leprosy.”
Jesus states, “I Am willing.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. -Our Worship prompts His Willingness.
Benediction.
