Loving God - Leading a Life of Fourfold Worship
A Sermon by Drew Stephens
Copyright 2001
You have been selected to go on a perilous journey that will separate you from your friends and family and keep you incommunicado for at least 20 years. You have been given a piece of paper on which to write the most important message you can to all the people your life could have an impact on. You only have room for 36 words. The same message goes to family members, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, co-workers and even to people who do not as yet know you or know anything about you. What will you write? What is the most important message you could communicate in a few words?
In the New Testament Jesus summed up the most important message from God to man with these words:
Mark 12:29-31
29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: ’Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 ’And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
Jesus summed up the most important message of God to man as this: Worship the Lord with all your being!
This commandment was a reinforcement of what God gave to Israel through Moses in
Deut 6:4-9
4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
This passage is called the “Shema” which in Hebrew means “Hear or Listen.” This is the message that God wanted His people to listen to and to tell their children. This is the message He wanted them to think about when they got up in the morning and when they went to bed. The message He wanted to be in their hearts and on their minds as they went about the task of the day.
Verse 8 talks about how they are to be a sign on your hand and as Frontlets on between your eyes. This is where the Jews get their Phylacteries. An Orthodox Jew will wear strips of leather that has a box mounted to it that contains this scripture on his left arm or on his forehead.
God wanted this command to be what governed the thoughts and labors of His people.
Further more He wanted it written on the doorposts of their home. This is called a “Mezuzah.” It is a small tube that contains the written “Shema” this command, which was to be nailed to the entrance of their homes. I have a Mezuzah that I got in Israel that is attached to the doorway of our home.
It is a great reminder that God is to control our home and that our home is to reflect our love for God.
In this great command God wants to teach the world this message:
Understand who I am, and then love me in with your hearts, your thoughts, your deeds, your relationships, your emotions, your sleep, everything that you are and do.
The short version is this.
Know Me, and Worship Me with ALL your being!
That’s the Drewlian translation but it is consistent with God’s Word.
In the New Testament Jesus reinforced this command. The translations in Matthew, Mark and Luke and Deuteronomy vary somewhat, however what is very clear is that God wants us to love Him with all of our being.
Now the question is how do we love God. Let me use a different word that perhaps we think of as an equivalent to loving God.
How do we Worship God with all of our being?
I. WHO do we Worship?
Deut 6:4
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
1. We are called to KNOW God.
It is vitally important that we spend regular time in God’s Word for the sole purpose of getting to know God. There are times we spend in the Word for encouragement, and for direction, but it is crucial that we also spend time getting to know the Lord, and to understand His attributes.
2. God has revealed Himself as the great I AM.
Exodus 2:13-14
13 Then Moses said to God, “indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “ The God of your fathers has sent me to you” and they say to me, “What is His name?” what shall I say to them?”
14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”
God has revealed Himself as the completely self sufficient ONE. God alone has no needs, and is complete in and of Himself.
3. We are called to worship God ALONE.
Exodus 20:3
You shall have no other gods before Me.
Exodus 20:5
“I, the Lord Your God am jealous God.”
God is very protective of worship. He requires that our focus be on Him alone.
II. WHY do we worship?
· Mankind was CREATED to worship.
Solomon the wisest man ever to live, after 12 chapters of introduction put it this way,
Eccl 12:13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. (NKJ)
That is a part of our make up of being created in the image of God.
1. We were created with the CAPACITY and the NEED to Worship God.
· We are made in the image of God with the ability to bring Him glory. When we worship God with all of our being we bring Him glory and meet our most important need.
· We all have physical needs; food, water, shelter that are necessary for survival.
· We all have emotional needs; love, hope, understanding that are necessary for our emotional health.
· Likewise we have a spiritual need to worship.
· Pascal put it this way, “We all have within us a God-shaped vacuum.” It is an innate need of our soul to worship God.
2. God has PRESCRIBED how He and He alone, is to be worshipped.
· The Scriptures are full of the parameters for worship.
· The “Shema” that we read earlier, defines the framework of worship, To love God with all of our being.
· The Ten Commandments expresses the guidelines God established for worshipping Him.
3. We cannot however, worship God and meet our Spiritual need on our OWN TERMS.
Gen 4:3-7
3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.
4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering,
5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
(NKJ)
· Cain sought to worship God on his own terms, rather than on God’s terms. In these few verses you have the root of all false religions. Worship on man’s terms rather than on God’s.
· Have you ever wondered why there are so many religions in the world?
· You would think that rather than worship a false religion those who have turned away from God, would simply eat, drink and be merry. However we must keep in mind that mankind has a NEED to worship.
I want to show you a short video clip that I shot in India last month. Now this clip deals with Idolatry, however what I want you to notice is how the people you see are compelled to worship. To western minds the thought of bowing down to a piece of wood, stone or metal and worshipping it, as God seems unimaginable, and certainly illogical. What we must keep in mind however is that mankind Needs to worship.
SHOW VIDEO CLIP
· False worship takes place every moment of everyday in every corner of the world. It has a wide variety of forms and functions, but all of it is at least in part a human attempt to meet the Spiritual need we have to Worship God.
4. Because of SIN, we are INCAPABLE of fulfilling our NEED to Worship God, on our own.
A. Our works, efforts, and sacrifice can never offer true worship apart from Jesus Christ.
B. Therefore, God in His infinite love has offered us redemption through Jesus Christ. He alone is capable of meeting our greatest need.
5. God provided the ONLY WAY we could come to God and WORSHIP Him.
Rom 5:8
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(NKJ)
III. What is WORSHIP?
Now I am using Worship and Loving God as synonyms. We are commanded to Love God with all of our being. Worship is a picture of how that love is manifest in a person’s life.
Worship is a difficult word to define, because it is so big and because of the limits of language and human understanding.
Here are some definitions that reveal a facet of Worship
A. The Hebrew word for Worship is “Shaha,” meaning to BOW LOW or prostrate oneself. Therefore worship involves HUMBLING ourselves before God.
B. The Greek word for worship is “Proskyneo” which means to kiss the hand of one who is revered. Therefore, worship involves the ADORATION of God.
C. The English word “Worship” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “Weorthscipe,” which means one who is worthy or highly valued. So worship involves an appreciation of God WORTH.
D. According to the Dictionary “Worship” comes from the English word “Worth –Ship”
· It is an attempt to express the worth of an object, or person.
My working definition of Worship the Lord is this.
Worship is the LOVING ATTEMPT to begin to approximate the incalculable and immeasurable WORTH of God.
· God Himself cannot be measured by human words, human efforts, or human understanding.
· God’s worth cannot be calculated by human intelligence, it is beyond mathematical and scientific expression.
· The combine intellect of all the minds of all His created beings from eternity past through eternity future given the entire scope of eternity in which to labor could only begin to approximate the smallest part of the incredible worth and value of God.
· The combine strength of every muscle of all of His created beings, given the entire scope of eternity in which to labor could never produce a work that could reflect the smallest luminance of God’s radiant glory.
· The combine tongues of all of His created beings, given the entire scope of eternity in which to speak could never utter words enough to describe the magnificence of God.
· The combine hearts of all of His created beings could never express a love that compares to the love expressed by the Godhead on the cross.
And yet, our ultimate purpose in life and eternity is to lovingly express with all our being the great worth of God.
So how do we lovingly attempt to begin to approximate the incalculable and immeasurable worth of God?
How do we learn to Love God with all our being?
Let’s look again at God’s compacted most important message to mankind.
Mark 12:30
30 ’And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
God has made us a complex interwoven and interdependent being. We cannot truly compartmentalize our lives and reach an understanding of who we are because, our minds, souls, spirits and bodies are interrelated.
However, God’s Word implies that involves each aspect of our being.
IV. HOW are we to worship God?
· Worshipping God requires a FOURFOLD love.
1. Worship God with all our HEART.
2. Worship God with all our SOUL.
3. Worship God with all our MIND.
4. Worship God with all our STRENGTH.
1. Worshipping God with all our HEART.
A. Worshipping God with our heart begins with an AWE and ADORATION of who God is.
Ps 29:2
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
(NKJ)
B. Worshipping God with our heart is expressed by BELIEVING God.
Rom 4:3
3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
(NKJ)
Rom 4:20-25
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,
24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
(NKJ)
C. Worshipping God with our heart involves PREFERING God above ALL Things.
· We worship God when He has first place in our life.
Philippians 3:7
7 But whatever things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish.
D. Worshipping God with our heart involves PRAISING Him for who He is, and for all He does.
Ps 50:23
23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;
2. Worshipping God with all our SOUL.
· Our soul encompasses the seat of our Will and our Emotions.
A. Worshipping God with all our soul involves an AFFECTION for His Person, His Character, His Name, and His Works.
B. We worship God with our soul by being TENDER to His Glory.
Ps 69:9
9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
(NKJ)
C. We glorify God with our soul by being ZEALOUS for His name.
Exod 20:7
7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
(NKJ)
D. We glorify God with our soul by STANDING UP for the Faith.
Jude 1:3
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
(KJV)
E. We glorify God with our soul by serving Him with GLADNESS.
Ps 100:2
2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
(NKJ)
3. Worshipping God with all our MIND.
A. Worshipping God with our mind involves a deep APPRECIATION for God.
B. We worship God with our mind by being CONTENT in whatever state we are in.
C. We worship God with our mind through frank CONFESSION of sin.
D. We worship God with our mind when we give Him the GLORY from all we do.
4. Worshipping God with all our STRENGTH.
A. Worshipping God with all our strength involves ACTION.
B. We worship God with our strength by trusting in HIS ABILITIES rather than our own.
Phil 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(NKJ)
C. We worship God with our strength by being FRUITFUL.
John 15:8
8 "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
(NKJ)
D. We worship God with our strength by LIVING to God.
2 Cor 5:14-15
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
(NKJ)
E. We worship God with our strength by LABORING to draw others to Him.
Matt 28:19-20
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
(NKJ)
Gal 4:19
19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
(NKJ)
F. We worship God with our strength by leading a HOLY LIFE.
Matt 5:16
16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
(NKJ)
G. We worship God with our strength through SUFFERING.
1 Pet 2:21
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
Jesus expressed this concerning Peter in John 21.
John 21:18-19
18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."
19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
(NKJ)
And of the martyrs in Revelation God says,
Rev 12:11
11 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
(NKJ)
Worshipping God with a Fourfold love includes:
· Worshipping God with all your HEART.
· Worshipping God with all your SOUL.
· Worshipping God with all your MIND.
· Worshipping God with all your STRENGTH.
Let me take an aside for just a moment.
What is the opposite of worship?
Sin is the opposite of worship! It is rebellion against God.
How does sin work in our lives?
1) The seed of sin is present in our HEARTS because we are born as sinners with a fallen nature.
2) The seed of sin is watered in our SOULS and fueled to growth by our emotions and choice of our will.
3) The seed of sin takes root in our MINDS. No sinful deed is bears fruit unless, it is first sown in our minds.
4) Sin bears fruit in our STRENGTH in our actions.
The way to combat sin is to allow God to teach us to worship Him with a fourfold love that involves all of our being.
VI. WHEN do we worship God?
Duet. 6:6-9
6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
9 "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
A. We are to worship when we SIT.
B. We are to worship when we WALK.
C. We are to worship when we LIE DOWN.
D. We are to worship when we RISE UP.
Worship is to incorporate all areas of our life. Worship was never intended to be a SUNDAY MORNING only encounter.
We are called to worship together corporately, but God also requires individual and continual worship out of each of us.
So how do we practice a life of DAILY WORSHIP?
Let me share with you an adapted prescription from one of the writers of the reformation, Richard Baxter. These items are in part from an article he wrote in the late 1600’s entitled “How to Spend the Day with God.”
· SLEEP
Measure the time of you sleep appropriately so that you do not waste your precious morning hours sluggishly. Let the time of your sleep be matched to your health and labor, not to laziness.
· FIRST THOUGHTS
Let God have you first waking thoughts. Lift up your heart to Him reverently and thankfully for the rest you have enjoyed. Cast upon Him the strength requirements of the day ahead. Praise Him afresh each day for the joy of knowing Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
· PRAISE
Begin your day speaking praise to the Lord. Pray a Psalm to Him as an expression of your own heart.
· PRAYER
Let your prayer time be private and uninterrupted. Remember that this is the true work of the day.
· BIBLE READING
Set apart an early portion of your day for an intimate time in God’s Word. Work your way through all of the Scriptures, as they are all profitable to your soul.
· FAMILY WORSHIP
Let a time of family worship be performed consistently and at a time when it is most likely for the family to be free of interruptions. Include a time of Bible Reading and a discussion of what the passage read means, among family members.
· ULTIMATE PURPOSE
Remember your ultimate purpose, and when you set yourself to your days work or approach any activity in the world, let the Glory of God be written upon you hearts in all that you do. Do no activity, which you cannot invite God to participate in.
· DILIGENCE IN YOUR WORK
In whatever you labor do it as unto the Lord. No matter who your supervisor may be or the company that writes your check, you work for the Lord.
· TEMPTATIONS and THINGS CORRUPT
Be prepared for the temptations and the things, which corrupt you personally. Watch against them all day long. Ask the Lord to deliver you from evil, and purpose in your heart to flee temptation.
· MEDITATION
When the tasks of the day enable you to be alone, focus your thoughts on God and His Word. Recall the passages you read earlier in the day, allow their fullness to permeate your thoughts.
· REDEEMING THE TIME
Place a high value on your time. Be as careful of not losing it as you are losing your money. Invest your time in endeavors that will reap eternity.
· EATING AND DRINKING
Eat and drink with moderation and thankfulness for health.
· PREVAILING SINS
If a temptation prevails against you and you fall into sin, especially a habitual sin, immediately lament it and confess it to God; repent quickly whatever the cost. It will certainly cost you more if you continue in sin and remain unrepentant.
· RELATIONSHIPS
Remember every relationship has its special place and its advantage for doing some good and bringing glory to God.
Always remember to love your neighbor as yourself.
Be ever mindful of those relationships where you may be the instrument of God’s grace in sharing with a lost soul the glorious mercies of God.
· CLOSING THE DAY
Before returning to sleep, it is wise and necessary to review the actions and blessings of the day, so that you may be thankful for the blessings and humbled for all your sins and failures.
This is necessary in order that you night renew you repentance as well as your resolve for obedience.
If sincerely adhered to, these will be conductive to the holiness, fruitfulness and quietness of your life and add to you a comfortable and peaceful death.
In closing let me give you a practical assignment. Take a few moments to reflect on your personal worship of the Lord. Ask Him to reveal one thing He would like to have you incorporate into your life that would worship Him. Think about your Heart, your Soul, your Mind, and your Strength. Is there any area that God is tugging at that He would like His Holy Spirit to impact?
Listen to the Lord, and covenant to begin afresh in this area with Him today. Ask Him to give you the grace to make your life a life of daily worship.
