Everyone Worships Something. Pt.3
Isaiah 43:21
True worship consist of a lifestyle, attitude, and actions that give honor and glory to God.
I want to give you four points on worship:
1. Everyone worships something.
If they do not worship, Jehovah God, then they worship another god, or they worship idols. Modern idols, often come in the form of materialism, pleasure, or the love of oneself.
Whatever we love, the most becomes a God to us.
Isaiah 43:21AMP “The people whom I formed for Myself Will make known My praise.”
One man stated, “Worship is a feast in which God is the host, the cook, the waiter, and the meal itself!"
In the ancient world, the worship of many gods simultaneously was common. The worship of many gods is called, polytheism.
For example, we read in the book of Acts 17:23, that Paul preached in the city of Athens, Greece, where he observed statues and monuments in honor of a variety of gods.
Paul was grieved when he saw that the city was given over to idols, Acts 17:16.
Our worship is very important to God.
Listen to the command from God to Israel: Deuteronomy 5:6-8NKJV ‘I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ‘You shall have no other gods before Me. ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;”
Always remember who brought you out. How He delivered you from a house of bondage.
God states, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Isaiah 45:5aNKJV “I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me,”
2. As believers, we worship only Jehovah, the God of the Bible.
Lunch Box Worship.
Have you ever been sitting in the break room at work or somewhere during lunchtime with your friend or coworker, and begin to eat your lunch that you brought from home? Your friend or coworkers lunch is made from homemade fluffy bread, that’s a two-hander meal, stacked with fresh lettuce, chopped tomatoes, a slice of cheddar cheese with a dill pickle on the side... Not to mention the side items of a small dish of macaroni salad or chopped fruit, topped with a slice of cake wrapped in cellophane. While yours is just a couple of pieces of flattened bread with bologna and cheese and a smear of mayo, a stale bag of chips that has been hiding in the back of your pantry. As you look at their lunch, and discretely wipe the drool from the corner of your mouth, you let out a silent sigh, and munch down on your quick-grab lunch.
Many times when we come to church, we just slap ourselves together and come to church to expect something to wow us, just as you were "wowed" with your co-workers carefully prepared lunch.
We need to do more than just the "grab n' go" when it comes to worshipping our God.
The apostle Paul explains the reason why we worship only Jehovah. He writes to the Colossians church.
Colossians 1:12-20TPT Your hearts can soar with joyful gratitude when you think of how God made you worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to us by living in the light.13 He has rescued us completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom realm of his beloved Son. 14 For in the Son all our sins are canceled and we have the release of redemption through his very blood.
15 He is the divine portrait, the true likeness of the invisible God, and the firstborn heir of all creation. 16 For in him was created the universe of things, both in the heavenly realm and on the earth, all that is seen and all that is unseen. Every seat of power, realm of government, principality, and authority—it all exists through him and for his purpose! 17 He existed before anything was made, and now everything finds completion in him.
18 He is the Head of his body, which is the church. And since he is the beginning and the firstborn heir in resurrection, he is the most exalted One, holding first place in everything. 19 For God is satisfied to have all his fullness dwelling in Christ. 20 And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again!
The worship of Jehovah includes the worship of Jesus. Jesus is Lord. Jesus reigns, and He is all worthy to be praised!
Everything. Say everything. Everything visible and invisible. Thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. -Jesus delivered me and you from the power of darkness.
The importance of our worship of Jesus is confirmed by many scriptures. The writer of Hebrews declares:
Hebrews 1:6NLT And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said,
“Let all of God’s angels worship him.”
Matthew 2:11NLT They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they- opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 14:33NLT Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Philippians 2:10NLT that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Jesus is worthy of all our worship!
John, on the island of Patmos was there for the word of God sake, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, Revelation 1.
Revelation 5:8-14NLT And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:“Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.
We worship Jehovah, because He is creator of all things.
The Lord spoke through prophet Isaiah, saying, Isaiah 45:21, and there is no other God, besides me, a just God, and a savior; there is none besides me.
Isaiah 40:28NLT Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.?He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
The worship of the Lord as Creator extends, of course, to Jesus Christ, who participated with the Father, and with the Holy Spirit in the act of creation.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Word:
John 1:1-3NLT In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
3. Illegitimate objects of worship.
We have already stated that we do not worship created things.
Romans 1:25NLT They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
Many religions/New Age/ Hinduism/ practice the worship of the sun and the moon – created things.
We do not worship angels. Colossians 2:18NLT Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
We do not worship ministers.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
Ministers of God should be respected and honored on account of their Calling, but they should not be worshiped.
They tried to worship Peter. Acts 3:12-13NLT Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? 13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him.
Listen Church, as Pastor, When we are in corporate worship, it produces harmony and a hunger, simultaneously. P.H
A few hinderances to worship:
Pride, Isaiah 14:12-15.
Sin separates you from worship, 1 John 1:9.
A false view of Christianity makes us undervalue worship.
Never been taught. Disagreement over worship, can produce strong hostility.
4. The purpose and goal of worship is- lifestyle, attitude, and action.
* The purpose and goal of worship is: Lifestyle.
Worship is so personal that worship surrounds you with holiness. Lifestyle, personal calling, Stirred up gifts, plus the fruit of the spirit on display.
Isaiah 6:8NLT Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
-Worship should drive us forward!
The purpose and goal of worship is: Attitude.
As you enter into worship your attitude begins to melt, while humility takes control.
Philippians 2:5NKJV Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Yield fully to Jesus and for His will in your life!
The purpose and goal of worship is: Action.
Worship gives us direction, Worship ignites Vision. Action. Worship grows us into our gifts and calling. Action. Worship propels us forward. Action. Worship illuminates and magnifies God’s word. Worship gives us insight/revelation into the unknown.
Worship makes Matthew 28,19 come alive. 19 Jesus commanded his disciples to go ye out and make disciples.
Corporate worship has 3 primary functions: 1. Worship God together, Psalm 133.
2. To disciple believers, Matthew 28:18-21.
3. To witness to the world, Acts 1:8.
We have 3 primary aims in worship:
True worship, honors God.
True worship strengthens the church.
True worship impacts the world.
* True worship honors God.
Isaiah 43:21NLT I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.
1 Peter 2:9NLT But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Honoring God is the number one focus of worship.
True worship strengthens the church.
Sincere worship pushes back the forces of darkness with humility at the forefront, in return, worship produces growth within the body, worship strengthens our testimony.
Worship builds the body up. Worship ignites vision, Worship goes into the impossible, and makes it possible. Worship strengthens our faith. Worship produces unity. Worship is at the forefront of our mission.
True worship impacts the world.
Worship shows us a bigger picture. Many of my personal victories come in worship. Worship can’t be selfish, Worship abides in selflessness.
Selfish worship means, “I want everyone to worship like me!’ ‘I declare attention.”
Worship endorses God’s gift. Worship takes the body of Jesus deeper into God’s will. Sometimes better than any of that, Worship prepares us for eternal God’s word.
Jeremiah 23:29NIV "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
In closing, last week I gave you the three Hebrew names tied to worship in the OT.
The first term, avad. It's usually translated to serve. It signifies a lifestyle of commitment and allegiance.
The second term, yireh. It is usually translated to fear, and reverence.
The third term, havah. It is usually translated to worship, and it fundamentally means the act of bowing down to pay homage.
Therefore, because of these three Hebrew words:
Serve. A lifestyle of worship.
Fear. An attitude of worship.
Bowing down. Actions of worship.
Because of these 3 Hebrew words found in the OT, we can better understand the meaning, worship.
Benediction.
