Worship As It Is In Heaven Series

A TIME TO WORSHIP AS IT IS IN HEAVEN

IAN JOHNSON

Feb 27, 2006

Worship is a huge subject and one which could fill volumes, So what I hope to achieve in this message is not an understanding of worship, but more an understanding of the one to whom all worship is due.

The obvious place for most messages on worship to start is of course John 4, Jesus was making it clear that worship wasn’t about being in a place, it wasn’t about what race you come from, or your format for worship, it is about being in the Spirit and about knowing the truth about the one to whom all worship is due.

JOHN 4:19-26 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim,* where our ancestors worshiped?” 21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know so little ab out the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah will come—t he one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”*[1]

Revelation 1:10 . 10 It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit.* Suddenly, I heard a loud voice behind me, a voice that sounded like a trumpet blast. [2]

So what is this being “ in the Spirit” ?

The obvious first response is that it is opposite “Being in the Flesh” its much deeper than this but before we can move deeper we first must deal with the flesh/Sin issue.

Paul encourages us in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 to make the place of worship (The Temple) fit for indwelling by the one to whom all worship is due.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 14 Do n’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil*? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.*17 Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.* 18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.*” 7 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cl eanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete purity because we fear God.

As we enter into this place of Worship we must first deal with the flesh! Clean the Temple, come to a place of repentance. This is not a once a year event at Easter camp but a moment by moment obedience to the call of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Put it this way, if the Queen of England announced that she was coming to your home for a visit. Would your response be

1) She can take me how she finds me!

2) I am so embarrassed about the state of my home I couldn’t possibly entertain her

3) Quick lets clean this place up and make it fit for a King! (Queen)

If you answered no 3 then you are on the way to worshipping in the Spirit. It all starts with the fear of God, knowing that our Sin separates us from God we want to deal with it in a Spirit of repentance Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9.

If you answered No 1 then you have a serious attitude problem called pride.

If you answered no 2 The Devil is playing games with you and lying to you about the truth of the Gospel. God does not condemn you, Romans 8 says your sin does that, so if we deal with the Sin issue then we remove the obstacles and nothing can separate us from His manifest presence. So right now let’s take a moment to allow the Holy Spirit to pinpoint any obstacles. [3]