"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A CHRISTIAN TO DO"
TEXT: LUKE CHAPTER 10
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever been a part of a scene like this -- "what do you want to do" -- "I don’t know what do you want to do" - "I don’t know what to you want to do" -- "what do you want to do?" -- I don’t know," "me either" "so what are we going to do?"
And then you sit there and do nothing -- sometimes it is hard to know what to do, isn’t it?
Last week, we studied Luke chapter 9 and the most important question to ever be asked -- "WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM." We said that man’s most fundamental problem, is not a "self identify crisis" but rather a "God identity crisis." You see, the only way for us to find out who we are is to find out who God is -- and because many don’t know God, they have no idea who they are.
WHO IS JESUS?
1. THE ONE WITH ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY
2. THE ONE WHO CAN ONLY BE SEEN BY THOSE WITH BOTH PURE MOTIVES AND PURE HEARTS (NO UNREPENTANT SIN).
3. THE ONE WHO IS NEVER TOO BUSY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE
4. THE ONE WHO CAN DO GREAT THINGS -- WITH A VERY LITTLE EVEN IN A REMOTE PLACE... WITH JESUS WHAT MATTERS IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE OR WHERE YOU ARE -- BUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO THE KING.
5. THE ONE WHO IS NOT GOING TO LET THE CROWDS, THE JEWISH LEADERS OR POPULAR OPINION DETERMINE WHO HE IS.
6. HE IS THE CHRIST -- THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD....
7. HE IS THE CHURCH AND HE IS THE BUILDER OF HIS CHURCH
8. HE IS THE ONE WHO DEMANDS THAT HIS FOLLOWERS DIE TO SELF, PICK UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM DAILY.. CONFESS HIM WITH LIVES AND LIPS
9. HE IS THE SON -- THE ONE WITH WHOM THE FATHER LOVES AND IS WELL PLEASED -- THE ONE WHO WE ARE TO LISTEN TOO!
10. HE IS SOME ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH -- HE HAS BEEN THERE -- HE HAS EXPERIENCED IT -- GOD CAME NEAR...
11. HE IS THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS FLYING RIGHT ON COURSE -- AND IF WE FLY WITH HIM, WE WILL BE ON COURSE AS WELL.
12. HE IS THE ONE WHO SET HIS FACE TOWARDS JERUSALEM AND WAS OBEDIENT EVEN UNTO DEATH.
13. AND, HE IS THE ONE WHO CHALLENGES US TO SET OUR FACE TO OUR CROSS -- TO KEEP OUR RESOLUTIONS/OUR WORD.
14. HE IS THE ONE WHO WANTS HIS FOLLOWERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT TO FOLLOW HIM -- THEY CAN NOT AVOID COMMITMENT/THEIR CROSS/INCONVENIENCE..
15. YES, HE IS THE ONE WHO DEMANDS & REQUIRES THAT HIS FOLLOWERS GO WHEREVER HE LEADS THEM -- THAT THEY PICK UP THEIR CROSS AND DIE TO THE DESIRES OF SELF DAILY -- AND NOT TAKE THEIR HAND OFF THE PLOW AND LOOK BACK..
THAT IS WHO JESUS IS!!!!!!!
Today’s message, is entitled "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A CHRISTIAN TO DO?" In chapter 9 Luke tells us who Jesus is, and in chapter 10 Luke is going to tell us what a Christian is to do... And we will see, that Because of who Jesus is -- what a Christian is to do is already determined for us -- therefore there is no need or place for Christians to get together at the Church and ask each other "What do you want to -- I don’t know what to you want to do?
This issue as to what we are to do, has already been decided -- by Jesus. He has told us what to do!
And in the 10th chapter of Luke’s Gospel we see the 3 fold duty - mission - the 3 fold responsibility of the Christian....
I. WE ARE TO BE AMBASSADORS, REPRESENTING THE LORD
LUKE 10:1-24
If we are to represent the Lord (and we are), this means that we are to do the things that the Lord would be doing. Just what was it that Jesus come to do?
As Jesus began His public ministry -- He was in a synagogue in Nazareth, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed him to read, He unrolled and read the following, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME , BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM FREEDOM FOR THE PRISONERS AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO RELEASE THE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE YEAR OF THE LORD’S FAVOR" Then Jesus rolled the scroll back up -- gave it to the attendant, and sat down.. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue was on Him -- and He said to them, "TODAY IN YOUR HEARING -- THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED.."
And the very last words that Jesus said before he ascended into heaven was that his people were to be His witnesses from Jerusalem to the outer most parts of the world.
Therefore we are to represent the Lord and take His Gospel of salvation to the lost, to those who are being held in bondage by sin.
The text we just read, tells us several things about our work of representing the Lord.
1. It is a group work, just as the 70 were sent out 2 by 2, it is a good idea for us when we go to evangelize to go out 2 by 2. Someone to pray with and to mutually encourage us as we go.
2. Jesus in vs. 2 said that "THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW.." -- THEREFORE THIS WORK MUST NOT BE A VERY POPULAR WORK.
What did Jesus mean by, "the harvest is plentiful" -- He meant that their were many people at that time, who needed to hear the message, many who were ripe and ready for it’s message of truth and freedom.... The crop was out in the fields just waiting to be picked.... NOW, Do you think what Jesus said applied to just that specific time, or do you think the harvest is plentiful right now, right here where we are? In East Tampa?
Tragically, some of the crop that is ripe for harvest, will eventually fall to the ground and die -- Why? because there was no one willing to go out into the fields to pick it.... "THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL -- BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW..."
Why do you think the laborers are few? BECAUSE
> Some have never even left the farm house to get a look for themselves, to see that the field is really ripe for harvest. And this makes it much easier to be indifferent to the needs of the crop.
> Others realize that harvesting a crop is a difficult work (requires time and effort) and they are too lazy to go out into the fields...
> Still others recognize that it is a dangerous work. Jesus said, "GO! I AM SENDING YOU OUT LIKE LAMBS AMONG WOLVES...." The gospel is a message of mercy, love and grace -- and when it is taken into a world of hate and evil -- there will be opposition from the evil one.
The 70 in our text were sent out into a vast field with very few workers to help them reap a great harvest... But instead of praying for an easy job, they were to pray for more laborers to join them, and we today need to pray the same prayer....AND PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS "LABORERS" NOT SPECTATORS, WHO PRAYED FOR MORE LABORERS... TOO MANY CHRISTIANS ARE PRAYING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO A JOB, THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO THEMSELVES...(AND UNLESS YOU ARE WORKING IN THE FIELDS YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT PRAYING TOO OFTEN FOR LABORERS).
LET ME ASKED YOU THIS. HAVE YOU SHARED CHRIST WITH ANYONE IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS? YEAR? 2 YEARS? 3 YEARS? HAVE YOU EVER HELPED BRING ANYONE INTO A SAVED RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?
THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT THERE ISN’T AFIELD FOR US TO HARVEST -RATHER, IT IS THAT THERE ARE TO FEW WORKERS OUT IN THE FIELDS...
3. THIS TEXT, TEACHES US TO GO OUT 2 BY 2 INTO A FIELD THAT IS RIPE FOR HARVEST...
AND IT ALSO TEACHES US THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL RESPOND IN A POSITIVE WAY TO THE GOSPEL -- THEREFORE THIS CAN BE A FRUSTRATING WORK.
IN SOME OF THE CITIES THAT THE 70 WOULD GO -- THEY WOULD NOT BE WELCOMED... THEIR MESSAGE WOULD NOT BE RECEIVED.. BUT THEY STILL HAD AN OBLIGATION TO GO TO THOSE CITIES.
AND, NOT EVERYONE WILL ACCEPT THE MESSAGE WE BRING EITHER.... BUT WE STILL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TELL THEM -- AT LEAST ONCE.
WE SEE THIS FACT ILLUSTRATED POWERFULLY -- IN GOD’S CALL AND DIRECTION GIVEN TO HIS PROPHET EZEKIEL... LISTEN TO:
EZEKIEL 3:17-20,27
THOUGH SOME WILL LISTEN, SOME WILL REFUSE TO LISTEN. BUT, THIS DOES NOT RELIEVE US OF OUR OBLIGATION TO TELL --
WE NEED TO TELL THE WICKED (OR THE LOST) WHO WILL LISTEN AND THE WICKED WHO WILL NOT LISTEN,
AND WE NEED TO TELL THE BACKSLIDING RIGHTEOUS WHO HAVE TURNED FROM RIGHTEOUS TO EVIL -- AND SOME WILL LISTEN AND SOME WILL NOT REFUSE TO LISTEN. "WHOEVER WILL LISTEN -- LET HIM LISTEN, AND WHOEVER WILL REFUSE LET HIM REFUSE..."
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, LET’S NOTE SOMETHING HERE; LISTEN TO JESUS’ WORDS AGAIN -- "HE WHO LISTENS TO YOU LISTENS TO ME; HE WHO REJECTS YOU REJECTS ME -- AND HE WHO REJECTS ME REJECTS THE ONE WHO SENT ME..."
When someone refuses to listen to what God has told you in His word to say to them (be they the lost or a backsliding Christian) -- Don’t take it personally, remember who they are rejecting -- Jesus/God.
"WOE TO YOU WHO REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THE SON -- IT WILL BE MORE BEARABLE FOR TYRE AND SIDON IN THE JUDGMENT THEN FOR YOU.."
4. ANOTHER THING THIS TEXT SHOWS US ABOUT REPRESENTING THE LORD - - IS THAT IT IS A JOYOUS WORK
The 70 returned from their evangelistic tour of the cities and villages of Judea bubbling with excitement, feeling they had been especially blessed, because the demons obeyed them...
And Jesus knowing they had their focus of excitement off target -- said to them, "DO NOT REJOICE THAT THE SPIRITS SUBMIT TO YOU, BUT RATHER REJOICE THAT YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.."
In other words, "Hey guys, you’re excited about the wrong stuff -- the Gospel message of salvation, free and available to all men -- is what you really need to get excited about.... "THERE IS MUCH JOY IN HEAVEN OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS..."
Many people today -- fill stadiums to see some man or woman supposedly perform miracles... They get so excited about it... but how many flocked to churches, where the word of God is proclaimed in it’s truth and fullness, with that same excitement...
AND ARE WE MORE EXCITED ABOUT ----
BUILDINGS, PROGRAMS, ATTENDANCE, A SPECIAL SONG, CONCERTS, OUTINGS, DINNERS THEN THE GOSPEL...
Can you think of ANYTHING more joyous then knowing that individual has passed form death to life.. That an individual who had stood condemned under God’s judgment -- now stand cleansed, and is going to heaven..
5. FINALLY, IT IS A PRIVILEGED WORK
"THEN HE TURNED TO THE DISCIPLES AND SAID PRIVATELY, `BLESSED ARE THE EYES THAT SEE WHAT YOU SEE. FOR I TELL YOU MANY PROPHETS AND KINGS WANTED TO SEE WHAT YOU SEE BUT DID NOT SEE IT -- AND THEY WANTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HEAR BUT DID NOT HEAR IT.."
CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS ARE INDEED PRIVILEGED PEOPLE.. WE ARE ABLE TO SEE AND HEAR "THE GOSPEL" THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S GRACE; THE GREAT SAINTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LONGED TO SEE THIS..
AS THE HEBREW WRITES IN HEB 11:39; THOUGHT THEY ARE COMMENDED FOR THEIR FAITH, NONE OF THEM RECEIVED WHAT WAS PROMISED..(NOT DAVID, MOSES, ELIJAH, JEREMIAH, ABRAHAM OR GOD KING JOSIAH ). THEY DID NOT GET TO HEAR THE GOSPEL -- RESPOND IN FAITH -- EXPERIENCE SALVATION BY GRACE -- HAVE THE INDWELLING OF THE HS.
WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE THE LORD’S AMBASSADORS TAKING THE GOSPEL INTO THE WORLD...
II. WE ARE TO BE NEIGHBORS, IMITATING THE LORD..
LK 10:25-29
25-28; THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT, "DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE"
WHAT JESUS IS SAYING, IS THAT THOUGH IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWERS -- YOU MUST NOT MERELY KNOW, BUT "DO" TO LIVE... MANY PEOPLE KNOW A LOT OF RIGHT ANSWERS; THEY KNOW THAT THEY SHOULD STUDY THE BIBLE, PRAY, ATTEND CHURCH FAITHFULLY, TITHE, SERVE IN THE CHURCH -- AND FORGIVE AND ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER -- BUT KNOWING IS NOT ENOUGH, WE HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS...IF WE WANT TO LIVE LIKE CHRISTIANS.
29; AND IN RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION JESUS TOLD THEM A PARABLE, A STORY ABOUT A MAN ON THE ROAD FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO, A MAN WHO WAS BEATEN, ROBBED AND LEFT FOR DEAD...
LK 10:30-37
NOW THIS ROAD AT THE TIME OF JESUS, WAS KNOWN AS "THE BLOODY WAY" -- JOESPHUS THE JEWISH HISTORIAN OF TIME TELLS US THAT HEROD HAD JUST LAID OFF 40,000 TEMPLE WORKERS JUST PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT JESUS TOLD THIS PARABLE.... THESE MEN LIVED ON THE ROAD AND IN CAVES PREYING ON INNOCENT TRAVELERS. CRIME BECAME SO BAD IN THE AREA THAT THE ROMAN ARMY EVENTUALLY HAD TO PUT A FORT THERE. THIS BEATEN AND BRUISED MAN -- LYING IN THE ROAD, ENCOUNTERED 4 PEOPLE, AND THESE 4 ENCOUNTERS TEACH US WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A NEIGHBOR -- THE FIRST 3 TEACH US WHAT NOT TO BE...
A. THE THIEVES were the first to encounter the man >>> and they viewed him as a VICTIM TO EXPLOIT, their attitude was, "what’s yours is mine and I’ll take it/I’ll use it..."
We must remember brothers that God gave us things to use and people to love, and we really get ourselves in serious trouble whenever we reverse the 2.
We must be careful not to exploit or take advantage of people (our spouse, parents, children and our friends) for our own selfish purposes...
Listen to Our King’s words in Luke 6:34,35
"AND IF YOU LEND TO THOSE FROM WHOM YOU EXPECT REPAYMENT, WHAT CREDIT IS THAT TO YOU? EVEN SINNERS LEND TO SINNERS. EXPECTING TO BE PAID IN FULL. BUT LOVE EVEN YOUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THEM WITHOUT EXPECTING TO GET ANYTHING BACK..THEN YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT, AND YOU WILL BE SONS OF THE MOST HIGH..."
Sometimes, we get ourselves all bent out of shape because we gave or helped someone expecting some kind of payment -- and when we don’t get it - we get angry.
Jesus who is our example, never exploited anyone -- He always gives back more than He asks -- he always leaves a person in better shape then when he had found them...
Let us all beware of looking at some one and asking ourselves, "what can I get out or from him/her -- what can they do for me" THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO BE A NEIGHBOR -- OR TO IMITATE JESUS
B. THE NEXT TO ENCOUNTER THE BEATEN MEN WAS THE PRIEST AND LEVITE AND THEY VIEWED THE MAN AS A NUISANCE TO BE AVOIDED...
LET SINCE ? ABOUT THESE GUYS;
WHAT WERE THESE GUYS DOING ON THE ROAD?
Well, Jericho was city in which priests lived, so these guys were returning home after having performed there priestly duties.. (they were on their way home from church).
WHAT DO THINK SOME OF THE EXCUSES MIGHT HAVE BEEN THAT THEY USED FOR NOT HELPING THE MAN?
. "I’ve been serving at the temple -- I’ve already done my part for the Lord.."
. "I’ve been away from my home for along time -- I need to hurry back..I need time for me"
. OR "I am sure some one else, who has more time then me, will come by soon and help... Larry Levite is just behind me..."
. "Hey, if Priest Paul didn’t do anything -- it must be okay for me to just step over the top of this beaten man.." (LEADERS BE CAREFUL OF THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU ARE SETTING -- PEOPLE WILL DO AS YOU DO, AND NOT AS YOU SAY).
Now, These 2 guys were religious people, and yet they ignored the calls of some one truly in need....
Let me ask you this; Suppose this man instead of lying in a ditch on a back road, was laying on the steps of the temple -- in plain sight of all the people... Do you think Larry/Paul’s actions would have been any different..?
"BE CAREFUL NOT TO DO YOUR ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE MEN, TO BE SEEN BY THEM. IF YOU DO YOU WILL HAVE NO REWARD FROM YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN" -- MATT 6:1
TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR WE ARE NOT TO VIEW PEOPLE AS VICTIMS TO EXPLOIT/PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, NOR ARE WE TO VIEW PEOPLE WHO ARE IN GENUINE NEED, AS NUISANCES TO BE AVOIDED... WE ARE TO IMITATE JESUS...
C. AND LUCKILY FOR OUR BEATEN MAN -- SOME ONE DID COME BUY WHO WAS IMITATING JESUS... A SAMARITAN WHO SAW THE MAN AS A NEIGHBOR TO BE SERVED.
NOW REMEMBER, INTENSE HATRED EXISTED BETWEEN THE JEWS AND THE SAMARITANS..
BUT DO YOU THINK THIS JEWISH MAN PROTESTED, WHEN HE REALIZED IT WAS A SAMARITAN WHO WAS HELPING HIM..?
Isn’t it interesting how when we are 1/2 dead and in trouble, our prejudices disappear, and we will accept help from even those: we don’t like / those we have negatives feeling towards --- and form those who we may have even talk about behind their backs.
WHEN THE SAMARITAN SAW THE BEATEN MAN HE HAD COMPASSION ON HIM -- HE WENT TO HIM -- BANDAGED AND TREATED HIS WOUNDS -- HE MADE CONTACT WITH HIM AND NO DOUBT EVEN GOT HIMSELF A LITTLE DIRTY... AND IT COST HIM SOME THING AS WELL -- HIS TIME -- HIS MONEY AND MAYBE EVEN A BUSINESS APPOINTMENT...
THE SAMARITAN, DID EVERYTHING AND HE DID IT FOR,THE RIGHT REASONS... HE EXPECTED NOTHING IN RETURN, IT IS NOT EVEN RECORDED WHETHER OR NOT THE MAN SAID THANK YOU. DO YOU THINK HE WAS GRATEFUL? DID HE STILL HATE SAMARITANS?
THE SAMARITAN SHOWS US WHAT IT IS TO BE A NEIGHBOR -- NOW WE KNOW WHAT A NEIGHBOR LOOKS LIKE , AND JESUS SAYS TO HIS FOLLOWERS GO AND DO LIKEWISE!
III. WE ARE TO BE WORSHIPPERS, LISTENING TO THE LORD.
LK 10:38-42
WORSHIP, IS AT THE HEART OF ALL THAT WE ARE AND ALL THAT WE DO IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. YES, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BE BUSY AMBASSADORS, TAKING THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL TO LOST SOULS. AND YES, IT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL THAT WE BE MERCIFUL SAMARITANS, SEEKING TO HELP EXPLOITED AND HURTING PEOPLE WHO NEED GOD’S MERCY. BUT BEFORE WE CAN EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT GOD IN A CARING MINISTRY, WE MUST SPEND TIME WITH HIM AND LEARN FROM HIM... WE MUST "TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY."
MARTHA, IN OUR TEXT WAS COMMITTING THE ERROR THAT DAMAGES SO MANY CHRISTIANS AND SO MANY CHURCHES -- THAT OF TRYING TO WORK FOR GOD, WITHOUT FIRST COMMUNING WITH GOD.
WHENEVER WE CRITICIZE OTHERS AND PITY OURSELVES, BECAUSE WE FEEL OVERWORKED, WE HAD BETTER TAKE TIME TO EXAMINE OUR LIVES. BECAUSE, PERHAPS IN OUR BUSYNESS WE HAVE BEEN IGNORING THE LORD. MARTHA’S PROBLEM, WAS NOT THAT SHE HAD TOO MUCH WORK TO DO, BUT THAT SHE HAD ALLOWED HER WORK TO PULL HER A PART EMOTIONALLY/SPIRITUALLY.
IF SERVING CHRIST MAKES US MISERABLE & DIFFICULT TO LIVE WITH -- THEN SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG WITH OUR SERVICE.
. YOU SEE, "THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS THE PART THAT ONLY GOD SEES.."
. AND UNLESS WE MEET CHRIST PERSONALLY AND PRIVATELY EACH DAY -- WE WILL SOON END UP JUST LIKE MARTHA -- VERY BUSY, BUT NOT AT ALL BLESSED/CONTENT
WHAT JESUS, IS TEACHING US HERE IN LUKE, IS THAT WORSHIP IS THE ULTIMATE PRIORITY - IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING -- WORSHIP, IS THE ONLY FUEL THAT CAN DRIVE THE ENGINE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. Worship, is an active response to God whereby we declare His Worth. WORSHIP, is a celebration of God! We worship God, We celebrate Him: we extol Him, we sound His praise we boast in Him...
Listen to how 2 writers in their book WORSHIP REDISCOVERING THE MISSING JEWEL describe the essence of Worship;
WORSHIP IS NOT THE CASUAL CHATTER THAT OCCASIONALLY DROWNS OUT THE ORGAN PRELUDE; WE CELEBRATE GOD WHEN WE ALLOW THE PRELUDE TO ATTUNE OUR HEARTS TO THE GLORY OF GOD BY MEANS OF THE MUSIC..
WORSHIP IS NOT THE MUMBLING OF PRAYERS OR THE MOUTHING OF HYMNS WITH LITTLE THOUGHT AND LESS HEART; WE CELEBRATE GOD WHEN WE JOIN TOGETHER EARNESTLY IN PRAYER AND INTENSELY IN SONG.
WORSHIP IS NOT GRUDGING GIFTS OR COMPULSORY SERVICE; WE CELEBRATE GOD WHEN WE GIVE TO HIM JOYFULLY AND SERVE HIM WITH INTEGRITY.
WORSHIP IS NOT HAPHAZARD MUSIC DONE POORLY, NOT EVEN GREAT MUSIC DONE MERELY AS PERFORMANCE; WE CELEBRATE GOD WHEN WE ENJOY AND PARTICIPATE IN MUSIC TO HIS GLORY...
WORSHIP IS NOT A DISTRACTED ENDURANCE OF THE SERMON; WE CELEBRATE GOD AS WE HEAR HIS WORD GLADLY AND SEEK TO BE CONFORMED BY IT MORE AND MORE INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.
WORSHIP IS NOT FOR THOSE CRITICALLY SPECTATING; WE CELEBRATE GOD WE PARTICIPATE IN HIS PRAISES...
WORSHIP IS NOT JUST AN EMOTIONAL FEELING VOID OF CONTENT... WE CELEBRATE GOD WHEN WE WORSHIP BOTH IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH....
WORSHIP IS NOT THE HURRIED MECHANICAL MOTIONS OF A "TACKED ON" LORD’S TABLE; WE CELEBRATE GOD PRE EMINENTLY WHEN WE FELLOWSHIP GRATEFULLY AT THE CEREMONIAL MEAL THAT SPEAKS SO CENTRALLY OF OUR FAITH IN THE CHRIST WHO DIES FOR US, WHO ROSE AGAIN ON OUR BEHALF, AND WHO IS COMING BACK FOR OUR GOOD.
WORSHIP IS A CELEBRATION OF GOD..
PSALM 100
THE ENGLISH WORD FOR WORSHIP; comes from an Anglo Saxon word which meant "worth - ship"
Therefore, worship means to attribute worth to something, to declare the supreme value of a person or thing.
Tragically many in our world today, and even more tragically, many who attend church, have declared the supreme value of and have given their worship too:
Job, career, family, friends, power, fame, personal pleasure, money, physical fitness, sports, hobbies..etc
These things get their worship before God does....
WHAT IS WORSHIP? WORSHIP IN THE CHURCH IS TO GIVE HONOR AND ADORATION TO GOD.......
WHY DO WE WORSHIP GOD?
For He alone is worthy
He alone is worthy of our worship.....
He alone is worthy of our honor, praise and adoration.....
HOW DO WE WORSHIP GOD....?
"YET A TIME IS COMING AND HAS NOW COME, WHEN THE TRUE WORSHIPPERS WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH, FOR THEY ARE THE KIND OF WORSHIPPERS THE FATHER SEEKS?"
SINCE GOD IS THE ONE WHO WE ARE WORSHIPPING -- IT IS UP TO HIM WHAT KIND OF WORSHIP IS ACCEPTABLE.... WORSHIP THAT IS IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH....
WORSHIP THAT IS ON THE ONE HAND DOCTRINALLY SOUND AND TRUE TO THE WORD.... IT DOES NO GOOD TO BE ALL EXCITED ABOUT GOD -- PARSING HIM WHEN YOU DO NOT WORSHIP HIM IN TRUTH... IT MAY INCREASE YOUR PULSE RATE BUT IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND, IT DOES NO GOOD EITHER TO HAVE THE TRUTH --TO KNOW THE GREAT DOCTRINES OF SCRIPTURE INSIDE AND OUT -- BUT YET FEEL NO LOVE, EXCITEMENT AND JOY ABOUT THAT TRUTH... TO BECOME COLD, HARD, RUSTY, DEAD AND UNENTHUSED ABOUT OUR GOD AND KING.
GOD WANTS WORSHIP THAT IS SPIT AND TRUTH...
I AM CONVINCED THAT THE REASON DAVID WAS A MAN AFTER GOD’S ON HEART (WAS NOT BECAUSE HE WAS PERFECT AND NEVER MESSED UP) BUT BECAUSE DAVID KNEW HOW TO WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH... EVEN IF PEOPLE (LIKE HIS WIFE) DIDN’T UNDERSTAND AND COULDN’T RELATE TO HIS EXCITEMENT...
HOW DO WE WORSHIP? IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH
WHY DO WE WORSHIP? HE A LONE IS WORTHY
WHEN DO WE WORSHIP? ALL THE TIME... EVERY DAY. EVERYWHERE .. IF YOUR WORSHIP OF GOD IS LIMITED TO WHAT TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THESE WALLS YOU HAVE NEVER REALLY WORSHIPPED GOD.... IT IS OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE WORSHIP, THAT PREPARES US FOR OUR CORPORATE WORSHIP.
HAVE YOU WORSHIPPED GOD THIS WEEK? PRAYED TO HIM? READ HIS WORD? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HIM? IF YOU ANSWERED NO TO THESE -- BESIDES BEING GUILTY OF SIN -- YOU PROBABLY DID NOT HAVE AS GOOD OF A TIME HERE TODAY AS THOSE WHO DID WORSHIP HIM PRIVATELY THIS WEEK.. SO, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU WANT TO DO...
-- JESUS HAS TOLD US WHAT TO DO...
TO BE AMBASSADORS -- REPRESENTING HIM
NEIGHBORS -- IMITATING HIM
WORSHIPPERS -- LISTENING TO HIM?
THE QUESTION TODAY IS NOT WHAT TO YOU WANT TO DO? BUT RATHER, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
