The Lord We Worship

THE LORD WE WORSHIP Mark 3:1-6

Jesus has shown in this Gospel before this chapter His Lordship of Demons, Disease, Despair, and Sin. The miracle we read about today declares Jesus Lord of Worship. Today’s Message will help define Worship! We’ll keep this simple. We’ll observe from our text what Worship is Not meant to be. We want to examine what Worship Is. We will look at How to Worship.

I. What Worship is Not meant to be.

Worship is Not Just belief in God. To the Jew of time Jesus was on earth, Worship was belief in God. They were so caught up in their worship, that they literally missed God the Son. Worship does not mean certain a Day, a certain Place, a certain time, or a certain Duty. Worship is not being in a certain place. Nor is it at a certain time or day. Nor is it a certain duty. Worship is anytime when our heart is right, at any place, and whenever the heart is willing to do what God wishes. Worship is Not for God’s Benefit. It is something He knows will benefit us for He is God and is not in need of anything. When he created man He made him to want to worship as a quality of life. We live a better life if we worship. We read in the Bible that the Sabbath was important. Keeping it holy was one of the Ten Commandments. But we might ask why was the Sabbath established? MK 2:27 “Then he added, "The day of worship was made for people, not people for the day of worship.” Jewish tradition had so multiplied the requirements and restrictions for keeping the Sabbath that the burden had become intolerable. Jesus cut through these traditions and emphasized the God-given purpose of the Sabbath was a day intended for man. It was his for spiritual, mental and physical restoration. EX.16:23 He said to them, "This is what the Lord said: Tomorrow is a day of worship, a holy day of worship dedicated to the Lord.”

The first occurrence of the word itself, though the principle of the seventh day as a day of rest and holiness is set forth in the account of creation. Two fold reasons for the Sabbath were So man would rest and second to be reminded that God is the Lord. Exodus 23:12 "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that you may be refreshed. EZ 20:20 “And keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the Lord your God.’” Worship was not meant to be a day of rules but to show that we will take time to worship God, be refreshed and place our trust in Him as Lord of our lives.

II. What Worship Is meant to be. We need to live by Goodness not Ground Rules. JN 7:23 “why are you angry with me because I made a man entirely well on the day of worship?” LK 6:9 “Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you—what is the right thing to do on a day of worship: to do good or evil, to give a person his health or to destroy it?" It is our Attitude not Action that makes a difference in worship. Your attitude is more important than your actions. Many people will attend worship services today but they will not be worshiping. Why? Their attitude is not in the right place. They will deceive themselves into believing they worshipped, but they didn’t. They will pretend to keep a Sabbath by Sunday church going, and then stuff the day with all other activities that are far from worship. To worship takes Faith and Obedience, Trust and Obey. A person who does not take time in church to worship is saying I do not need God and He does not deserve my time. I have many other things that are of much more importance. We see the only person mentioned in our text that did any worshipping besides Jesus was the man that was healed. "Stretch out your Hand." And he did! Why did you come to church today?

III. How to Worship in the way that pleases God.

Come to God on His Terms. Those that sought to find fault with Jesus in our text wanted a Jesus that came to them on their terms. IS 57:15 “The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed. JAM 4:10 “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.” Conditioning of the Heart is Worship and not the state of the Heart. Allowing God to Condition your heart is more important than the form of the heart. You can come with a bad heart, just don’t leave with one. We need to come Giving. Worship is not getting but giving. Jesus shows us the perfect example of worship; He came to that synagogue that day ready to give, not get.