The Heart Of Worship

THE HEART OF WORSHIP

Watching Discovery channel: HEART TRANSPLANT. HOW MARVELOUS THE HEART IS, HOW IT BEATS AND GIVES LIFE, SPREADS LIFE TO REST OF BODY.

What is Worship? Singing on Sunday morning, perhaps! But I think is more, it goes much deeper, or at least it should. Listen to the words of this song.

When the music fades and all is stripped away and I simply come, longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart, I’ll bring you more than a song for a song in itself is not what you have required, you search much deeper within through the way things appear, your looking into my heart. I’m coming back to the heart of worship, where is all about YOU JESUS!

The Dictionary defines Worship as 1. A expression of reverence or 2. extravagant respect or devotion. This morning did you come here with an expression of reverence to God, did you come here with extravagant respect and devotion for a God loves and cares for you! I hope you did, but if the answer is no, maybe some of you are like me and you want to know HOW DO WE GET BACK TO THE HEART OF WORSHIP?

Their are two truths, when looking at getting back to the heart of worship, and the first is

I. KNOWING THE PRIORITY OF WORSHIP

The first priority of worship, is knowing that Jesus is your first priority! (READ PSALM 95:1-7) Does that sound like people who had their priorities in check. You bet it does! You see the first commandment of Jesus is out of (Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength”.) Too many times I see that we get tied down with serving and doing this or that. When are first priority needs to be worship, our service flows out of our worship, because of our love, thanksgiving and praise to God for the things He is doing and has already done!

The Old Testament priests chosen from the tribe of Levi, you know their main priority was? I’ll let Ezekiel tell you (Ezek. 44:15 “come near to me and minister to me.”) Ministry to God was above all else. It was true then and it is true now! So, how is your ministry to God!

I have a feeling this morning God is calling his church back to worship. I don’t know about you, but I can hear God saying, “ I want the hearts of my people back” It’s time to get back to the heart of worship!

II. DOING PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Story of Rocky: Mic says you have to be like greese lighting. Trys and trys until he gets it

If you don’t already know worship is something we do. And we all know if you want to do something well, you have to prepare and preparing leads to better preparation and in the end better worship!

Here are some practical steps to hopefully help each of us prepare for worship and in turn bring us back to the heart of worship!

1. Learn to walk with God daily. Try to follow Pauls words in (1 Thess. 5:17 says, pray without ceasing) take every spare moment to thank God, to praise Him. When you in the car, waiting in the drive thru, out farming in the field. Then when you come to Sunday morning worship, it’s just a continuation of what you’ve been doing all week.

2. Learn to depend on God. Allow him to be in control, to guide and lead you His way and in His time. ( cast all your cares upon Him)

3. Learn to offer a sacrifice of worship. Many times life gets us down and we don’t really feel like worshipping, we don’t really feel like celebrating, but go anyways. Because when God’s people get together great things can happen. Isaac Pennington says that when people gather together for genuine worship, “They are like a heap of fresh burning coals warming one another as a great strength and freshness and vigor of life flows into all.” Remember the Proverbs 27:17 were it states that “Iron sharpens iron” So even if you don’t feel like it go and let God, BRING YOU BACK TO THE HEART OF WORSHIP!

Maybe this morning you see a need in your life to make some changes. Maybe you see the need to get some priorities straightened out. Maybe you see the need to walk daily with God, to depend on his strength and to worship Him like it says in John 4:24 where we are to worship Him in Spirit and in truth! Maybe it’s time for you to get back to the heart of worship!