Luke 19:28-40 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, Why are you untying it?’ tell him, The Lord needs it.’ " 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They replied, "The Lord needs it." 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" 40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Shelley replaced by 2 full time workers. We get off track - feel self important
how will the world live without me - You can be replaced - rocks
Ps. 118:19-29 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Why do we need to make worship Job #1?
1. There is a God and you’re not it!
"God is my copilot" NOT! Let God pilot
Worship grounds us in truth about world - life meaning and ourselves
Success does not equal wholeness - just in case you didn’t notice
We depend on God more than we ever know
Just because you made it that doesn’t mean you’re made
I had completely forgotten this (sunset)
2. He deserves ALL of your praise and glory and honor
Blasphemy - I go to church because I get something out of it!
How much praise is enough? All through the Bible you read There’s a kind of hush
Matt. 9:4-8 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, `Get up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7 And the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
Luke 7:11-17 11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don’t cry." 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Acts 2:42-43 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Heb. 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."
Don’t play around with fire! High voltage electricity - respect awe Hard hats
Fire works and fireplaces are not images we need to use for God.
Flash paper from magic store - don’t clown around with fire
Fire of God - Ancients worshiped fire - transformed - magic - warmth -
God’s activity always involved fire, let there be light - burning bush, pillar of fire by night, fire from heaven, God in the fire walking with 3 men. Baptizes with Fire!
Bible talks about God as a consuming fire I know about fire - not all pleasant
Do I try to control the fire of God
You need to be burned marked branded - you will be tested as if by fire
God will use worship in spirit and truth to totally unmake you - transform you
God won’t spare any pains to cleanse you to remake you melt me mold me fill me use me
God wants far more from you that for you to stop sinning
Worship God but Don’t worship the miraculous
2 Thess. 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders
Little church build in the center of the crater of a dormant volcano
Dynamite humor - candle
You gonna talk or you gonna fish?
Church - what are you going to do?
Does all this praise seem reasonable, does it make sense?
Hallelu Crazy the Lord Only to those who are saved.
I’m a fool for Christ - whose fool are you?
Craze = passion make our church a nut house - I’m the chief nut - that’s why I drive my wife nuts
Nuts - Never underestimate the Spirit
Fanatical? People understand crazy in love -they long for it sing about it
foolish moros morons for Christ - know nothing but the cross - (the no-noting party)
All seeing eye on the $1 - God can’t keep His eyes off of you You’re just too good to be true
You can call me crazy but I still believe
"What can wash away my sin - and others
2 Cor. 5:13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God
1 Cor. 1:18-31 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
I Cor. 4:9-13 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
How can you tell if you’ve worshipped - you shine - you’re transformed
Style is not an indication of substance - don’t have to dance or clap
Back to the donkey - he would be a fool to think that the praise is for him
But still - to be the donkey carrying the message - what a job!!!!
