Witness As Worship Series

#2 in a series

“Finding Your Worship Language”

WITNESS AS WORSHIP

Romans 12:1-2

Rev. Rick Pendleton

North Dunedin Baptist Church

Dunedin, Fl

revrick3@hotmail.com

Last week I began a series of sermons on Different Worship Languages. We began by looking at Martha as an example of Service as Worship.

Today we look at Lazarus as an example of Witness as Worship.

Just imagine that house that day with Jesus sitting teaching… Martha in the kitchen serving… Mary sitting reverently at Jesus’ feet… disciples filling every square foot of the room… and Lazarus. Lazarus is not even mentioned in the passage. But… we know that Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha… the man of the house. Where is he? In a position of honor, right at the right hand of Jesus. And what is he doing? WITNESSING to the power of Jesus to raise us from death to life.

Does he speak? We don’t know. Probably, as the host, he introduces Jesus to any other guests. He welcomes Jesus to his home and asks him teach. Then he sits down, says nothing… but he is a screaming, beaming, undeniable witness.

Can you imagine the people there listening to Jesus teaching. They can’t take their ears off Jesus… because no man ever spoke like this… but they can’t take their eyes of Lazarus… because no man ever came back to life like this. They look in amazement at Lazarus and shake their heads thinking, “This man was dead… three days… and now he is alive and well!”

Everywhere Lazarus goes the people point and whisper and stare… he is a living marvel… a walking miracle… a walking, breathing witness to the power of God.

>>>>>It reminds me of the little boy who asked his mother…”If God is bigger than us and lives inside of us… shouldn’t he stick out?”

HE SHOULD… IF he is really in there.

If your God does not stick out… Your God is too small

Pocket-sized God won’t demand much…. Or help much

In Lazarus’ life JESUS STUCK OUT.

Everywhere he went they talked about Jesus, Jesus was an unseen presence in every place Lazarus went.

Can you imagine the power of Lazarus’ testimony, his witness.

As Lazarus sat in his home that day, beside Jesus, he was worshipping Jesus through his witness… with his life.

And that is how we should all worship Jesus… one way.

Our life should be a living, breathing, walking, talking witness to the power of Jesus to give life to the dead… sight to the blind… healing to the broken… and peace to the troubled.

If it does… then our life is not only a witness to others… it is worship.

That is what Paul was talking about in Romans 12:1-2 when he said,

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. NAB

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

OUR DAY TO DAY LIFE IS TO BE WORSHIP.

More than that it is our REASONABLE … only makes sense to see it as… worship.

Today, in the age of the Church, as believers, we are not called to offer burnt offerings of animals. We are not to bring a sacrifice—but now WE ARE the sacrifice.

We now offer ourselves, our lives as sacrifices unto God.

In doing so, there is a pleasing aroma that reaches the throne of God far greater than any animal sacrifice.

This aroma is lifted up through believers who will allow their total life to be an offering of worship; whose lives are on God’s altar and consumed with holy fire.

They cry out from their innermost being: MAY MY LIFE BE WORSHIP TO YOU LORD! MAY MY LIFE BRING GLORY TO YOUR NAME!!!

Through the life of Lazarus we will learn about the Pleasing Aroma of Living Worship.

Where does this “pleasing aroma” come from? How does it come?

I. The pleasing aroma of living worship comes from the life completely offered up to God.

Paul says in verse 1 “I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to OFFER your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…”

In view of the mercy they received from God, Paul calls them to offer their bodies-their lives-their all to God as a LIVING SACRIFICE.