1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,180 They're our own Hale and Wilder. 2 00:00:07,180 --> 00:00:11,080 And that's quite a fitting number because of the theme of our study this evening in 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:16,880 the Word of God, which deals with this matter of worship. 4 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:22,640 We've been talking about the priesthood of the believer and the responsibilities that 5 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,120 we have as believer-priests. 6 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:35,360 We have seen previously that we have been, by the grace of God, consecrated or set apart 7 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,760 to the priesthood. 8 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:43,360 We've been washed from our sins in the blood of Christ. 9 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:50,720 We have been given the robe of spotless righteousness in His sight by justification. 10 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:55,640 We have been anointed by the Spirit of God. 11 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,440 We've been set apart under priestly duties. 12 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:06,480 God has opened the access for us into His very presence so that we may come confidently 13 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,840 before Him at any time and in any place. 14 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:16,180 We don't have to be in church to pray. 15 00:01:16,180 --> 00:01:22,080 We are no more in the presence of God in church than we are anywhere else where we happen 16 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,700 to be, because God indwells us. 17 00:01:26,700 --> 00:01:30,360 This building is not His sanctuary. 18 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,080 Our hearts serve as His sanctuary. 19 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,640 He lives in you and in me. 20 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:42,600 Our spirits form the holy of holies in this age. 21 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:47,040 And we are priests assigned to serve. 22 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,280 We have seen that there are sacrifices that we are to offer up. 23 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:58,800 The sacrifices, as listed in the book of Hebrews, are praise, the fruit of our lips giving thanks 24 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:09,480 to His name, service, in other words, doing good, and giving of our substance, sharing 25 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,440 with those who have need. 26 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:17,280 In Romans 12, 1, which we are going to look at so you can open your Bible there, we have 27 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:24,200 found already that another of the sacrifices we are to offer up as priests in this age 28 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,140 is the sacrifice of our bodies. 29 00:02:28,140 --> 00:02:31,320 These are to be living sacrifices. 30 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:39,320 In the Old Testament, the priests brought sacrifices involving death most of the time. 31 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:46,680 But not so in this age, because Jesus has offered the supreme, ultimate sacrifice. 32 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,080 He gave Himself in death for our sins. 33 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:54,640 There needs be no further sacrifice of death. 34 00:02:54,640 --> 00:03:00,920 Now the sacrifice is a living sacrifice poured out day after day through us. 35 00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:07,280 He says in Romans 12, 1, I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present 36 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:18,360 your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of 37 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:29,160 worship, or that could read, which is your rational, reasonable service of worship. 38 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:34,360 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that 39 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:42,240 you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 40 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:48,200 You will notice in those verses a number of words that deal with the matter of sacrificing, 41 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,040 of worshiping. 42 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:56,400 It's a key verse regarding the subject for this evening, the worship of the believer 43 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:57,900 priest. 44 00:03:57,900 --> 00:04:04,160 We have said that one of the duties of us, of ours as believer priests, is that of sacrifice. 45 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:05,960 Tonight we are looking at the matter of worship. 46 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,000 Now the two are not mutually exclusive. 47 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,920 There is a lot of overlapping in them as a matter of fact. 48 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:21,840 The purpose of every moral being which God has created is that of worship of God. 49 00:04:21,840 --> 00:04:27,200 Man of course fell into sin, and thus he could not be a worshiper. 50 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:33,080 And God through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed man. 51 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:40,920 And as John MacArthur said, he has done this to make worshippers out of rebels. 52 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:47,440 Worship is a theme which dominates the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, from the Garden 53 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:52,520 of Eden to the New Jerusalem that we looked at this morning. 54 00:04:52,520 --> 00:05:00,160 There is probably not a more vital theme for us to learn about as believer priests than 55 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:04,120 this theme of worship. 56 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:12,880 And I think that we must admit that it is sadly lacking or at best deficient in the 57 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:17,800 lives of far too many of God's people. 58 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:19,600 Some of us were talking about A.W. 59 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,800 Tozer before the service tonight. 60 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:26,240 Tozer has been with the Lord now about twenty years. 61 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,320 He was a prophet to the church in his day. 62 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,920 He was ahead of his time so to speak. 63 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:40,040 I don't think he was really appreciated then as much as he has been since his death. 64 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,320 Warren Wiersbie has compiled a little paperback book called The Best of A.W. 65 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:45,320 Tozer. 66 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:51,880 If you would like some stimulating thinking, something that will stir you and enrich you, 67 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:56,520 I would encourage you to get a hold of that paperback, The Best of A.W. 68 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:57,520 Tozer. 69 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:05,080 One of the articles in that particular book is entitled Worship, the Normal Employment 70 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,800 of Moral Beings. 71 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,680 He makes a statement in there that is thought provoking. 72 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:19,840 He says, worship is the missing jewel in modern evangelicalism. 73 00:06:19,840 --> 00:06:26,440 We're organized, we work, we have our agendas, we have almost everything, but there's one 74 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:30,740 thing that the churches, even the gospel churches, do not have. 75 00:06:30,740 --> 00:06:33,640 That is the ability to worship. 76 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,560 We are not cultivating the art of worship. 77 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,920 It's the one shining gem that is lost to the modern church. 78 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:46,800 I believe we ought to search for this until we find it. 79 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,160 A good statement. 80 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,200 What is worship? 81 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,480 We were talking about that before the service, too. 82 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:57,680 What is worship? 83 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,000 Is worship an emotional experience? 84 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:08,520 Well, it can involve emotions, but I think it would be short-sighted to say that worship 85 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,240 is an emotional experience. 86 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:16,080 There are many people today who are caught up in emotions and existentialism, seeking 87 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,580 after a new high. 88 00:07:18,580 --> 00:07:24,520 We need to be aware of that kind of mentality even among evangelicals. 89 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,320 But we ought not to deny emotions, on the other hand. 90 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:33,400 We need to realize that very often worship does involve emotions and there's nothing 91 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,640 wrong with that. 92 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:41,480 We ought not to shut off the faucet of our emotions so that we lack them. 93 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,040 There's a place for emotions. 94 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:49,940 So often I think the attitude that we engender in coming to church is that of, what am I 95 00:07:49,940 --> 00:07:52,360 going to get out of it? 96 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:56,480 Or if we go away and say, boy, I got a lot out of that, or we say, I didn't get much 97 00:07:56,480 --> 00:08:05,040 out of that service, that very kind of thinking reveals that we know little about worship. 98 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,320 Because you see, worship is not getting at all. 99 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:12,560 Worship is giving, as we're going to see. 100 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:17,600 I hope that God will cause our thinking to mature so that we don't come to church thinking, 101 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,080 I'm going to get something out of this, or I'm looking to get something. 102 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:25,440 Rather, we will come to church saying, what can I give? 103 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:30,880 What can I contribute? 104 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:38,480 There are two words in the New Testament that are most commonly translated, worship. 105 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,520 There are other words, but these are the two most common. 106 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:47,800 One of them means generally to kiss the hand. 107 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:53,920 It means to bow down as one would before a sovereign or a king. 108 00:08:53,920 --> 00:09:01,200 We are foreign to that kind of a picture in our society, but if you watch television and 109 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:08,200 you see people around royalty and other nations, you will see a proper courtesy before royalty. 110 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,680 It often involves bowing down. 111 00:09:10,680 --> 00:09:12,840 That is the thought in this one word for worship. 112 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,240 This is the most common word. 113 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,880 It means to bow down and to kiss the hand. 114 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:25,720 It's a very oriental picture, but it's the word that God uses to express what our attitude 115 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:26,720 ought to be. 116 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:32,120 Let's face it, worship is an attitude as much as an action. 117 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:37,240 It is an attitude of submission, an attitude of bowing down. 118 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:44,480 Then there is another word that is the word for service, particularly worshipful service. 119 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:49,520 It's the word that's used here in Romans 12.1 at the end of the verse. 120 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:53,920 It's a word that refers to religious duty. 121 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:57,760 If you put those ideas together, you come up with this. 122 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:03,120 Worship is giving to God the honor that is due to him. 123 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:07,760 That's a very simple definition, but I think it suffices. 124 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:14,400 Worship is ascribing to God the glory and the honor of which he is worthy. 125 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:22,160 The English word worship comes from the Anglo-Saxon. 126 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:33,040 Originally it was worth-ship, and it refers to affirming the value of a person or a thing. 127 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:37,120 To declare the worth of something. 128 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:48,000 In Old English you will read statements referring to a sovereign as your worship. 129 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:53,520 What that noun meant was that this person, this sovereign, is worthy of respect. 130 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:59,000 It's a word that declares his value because of his office. 131 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,540 That has been brought across to us today when we speak about worship. 132 00:11:02,540 --> 00:11:09,200 We are affirming the honor and the value, so to speak, of God. 133 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:13,520 We are saying that God is worthy above all others. 134 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:18,360 We give worship to God because of what he's done for us. 135 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,960 You'll notice even in the text that we looked at here in Romans 12, there are words like 136 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:28,040 present, there is sacrifice, and then especially this word acceptable. 137 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:32,640 It's used twice, once in verse 1 and again in verse 2. 138 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:38,040 It's a word that means what is well pleasing to God, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual 139 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,040 service of worship. 140 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:45,400 Now you've got to think where this verse comes in the book of Romans. 141 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:50,440 He begins the verse by saying, I beg you, brethren, by the mercies of God. 142 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,560 That's what the first 11 chapters of Romans is all about. 143 00:11:53,560 --> 00:11:59,640 It describes the mercies of God, how lost we are as sinners, and how God has provided 144 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:05,600 redemption and righteousness for us, and how that righteousness is very real. 145 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:11,200 It's a part of our lives, and how God has created this new body in this age called the 146 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:16,320 church which reflects his righteousness through Jesus Christ. 147 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,680 All of this is the mercy and the grace of God. 148 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:23,720 The apostle says now on the basis of all this doctrine, on the basis of all that God has 149 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:31,000 done for us, I beg you, present yourselves in worship to God. 150 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:38,560 You see, worship comes as a result of our recognition of what God has done on our behalf. 151 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:40,240 We see this again in Hebrews. 152 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:44,800 Come over to Hebrews 12 for a moment. 153 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:49,840 Oh, there's a whole lot about worship in Hebrews, isn't there? 154 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:59,000 Because it is focused upon a Jewish orientation, and there's a great deal about sacrifice 155 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,280 and service. 156 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:05,520 In chapter 12, at the end of the chapter, he explains all that God has done for us. 157 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:10,360 He's brought us to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to 158 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,320 the General Assembly, the church, and so on. 159 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,760 He warns us to listen to what the Lord has to say. 160 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:20,400 In verse 28, he kind of summarizes it. 161 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:27,760 He says, chapter 12, verse 28, Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be 162 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,040 shaken. 163 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:34,160 That is a great statement that summarizes the blessings of the previous verses. 164 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:41,240 Do you realize that you and I are part of a kingdom, an order that is in this world 165 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:49,040 that cannot possibly be shaken or removed or defeated? 166 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,560 It is a permanent, eternal kingdom. 167 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:54,800 It is the kingdom of Jesus Christ. 168 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,240 God by His grace has made us a part of that. 169 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:04,760 He says, since we've received this kingdom, let us show gratitude by which we may offer 170 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:10,080 to God an acceptable service. 171 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,200 Right there is the idea of worship. 172 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:19,680 Let us offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe. 173 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:24,280 On the basis, he says, of what God has done for you, then this should be your response 174 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,920 to worship Him. 175 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:35,080 So worship is giving God the honor to do Him because of who He is and what He's done. 176 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:41,040 You know that's the reason that the pagan world is condemned. 177 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:49,800 Review with me Romans chapter 1 again, and we'll just look at verse 21. 178 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:54,680 You will recall that he's talking here about the condemnation of God, the wrath of God 179 00:14:54,680 --> 00:15:00,000 that comes against those who suppress the truth. 180 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:13,600 In verse 21 he says, for even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or 181 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:14,600 give thanks. 182 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,920 What does that mean? 183 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:21,680 They did not worship God for who He is or for what He had done. 184 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:26,160 They didn't give Him glory as God for who He is, nor did they give thanks to God for 185 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,280 what He had done. 186 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:32,960 Because they refused to worship, God condemns them. 187 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:37,200 They become futile in their minds and their foolish hearts are darkened. 188 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:45,240 It is not too strong a statement to say that we have been saved to worship. 189 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:51,240 So often our theology is man-centered, and we say we are saved because God wanted to 190 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,440 keep us out of hell. 191 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:57,840 Well there is truth to that of course, but there is a greater truth folks. 192 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:04,160 That focuses on God in theology, and that is that God has saved us so we might worship 193 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,200 Him. 194 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,600 And you want to know what you'll be doing throughout eternity? 195 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,760 You'll be worshiping God. 196 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,920 That involves a lot more than playing a harp and singing songs. 197 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,960 We're going to see that tonight. 198 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:20,840 Worship involves service. 199 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:25,360 But the reason that you and I have been saved is that we might be made worshippers, true 200 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:26,360 worshippers. 201 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:33,400 Do you remember what Jesus said to the woman at the well there in Samaria? 202 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:44,080 They had a conversation, and a part of that was that the Father seeks true worshipers 203 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:45,120 to worship Him. 204 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:50,520 An interesting thought, a true worshiper. 205 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:52,560 A true worshiper. 206 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:57,120 It is possible to be a false worshiper or to worship falsely. 207 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:07,640 Well to worship a false God, it's possible to worship with the wrong motives. 208 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,520 God seeks true worshippers. 209 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:13,520 Those who know what worship is and who are worshiping. 210 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,360 Now how do we worship? 211 00:17:16,360 --> 00:17:18,280 That's the second question. 212 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:22,520 Having talked about what worship is, how do we do this? 213 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:28,360 It's important to understand that worship is not just a noun. 214 00:17:28,360 --> 00:17:31,680 It is a verb. 215 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:35,240 It is an action word. 216 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:41,720 We need to recognize that worship is not just a church service, though we talk about going 217 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,480 to worship. 218 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,540 And that's fine as far as it goes. 219 00:17:48,540 --> 00:17:53,600 And worship really, and believe me this is the key thought for the whole evening, worship 220 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:58,480 is a way of life. 221 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:03,440 Worship is not just going to church and singing and praying and listening to the preacher 222 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,680 and going home. 223 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,960 Worship is a way of life. 224 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:14,040 Worship involves living acceptably before God. 225 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:21,720 Now there is that key word, doing what is acceptable to Him, well pleasing to God. 226 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,680 We're going to run through some scriptures here. 227 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:27,720 I have five of them that I've selected. 228 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:33,800 These scriptures will help us to begin to understand that worship is a way of life. 229 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:35,960 It's not something we just do in church. 230 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:40,680 It's something we do seven days of the week. 231 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:46,880 Here in Romans, so turn to Romans 14, verse 18. 232 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:53,560 The thing that's going to tie these verses together is this thread of worship terminology 233 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:55,240 which you'll pick up. 234 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,720 Romans 14, verse 18. 235 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:07,960 He says, For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 236 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:12,480 So he says, He that lives this way is acceptable to God. 237 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,960 And there's that word, well pleasing. 238 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:16,360 What way is he talking about? 239 00:19:16,360 --> 00:19:19,160 Well, we have to look at the context. 240 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:25,760 In Romans 14, he is telling us that there are those believers who are weak in the faith. 241 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:30,820 They don't have an understanding of the liberty that is ours in Christ. 242 00:19:30,820 --> 00:19:36,480 They have consciences that are weak, weaker than they ought to be, but nonetheless that's 243 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:38,800 the reality of the situation. 244 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:40,200 They are weak. 245 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:46,200 And so he says that those of us who are stronger, who understand the liberty that we have in 246 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:53,080 Christ, are to live in such a way that we're considerate of the weaker. 247 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:58,280 We're to be sensitive to their needs, to understand the place that they are in their walk with 248 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:02,320 God and not do anything that will cause them to be offended. 249 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,000 That's what he says here. 250 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:11,800 He says the one who lives with that kind of an attitude is one who worships, who lives 251 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,960 acceptably before God. 252 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:21,240 The guy who pushes for his own way and who says, I don't care what they think, this 253 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,600 is what I'm going to do. 254 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:26,760 That kind of an attitude is not a life of worship. 255 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:30,480 It's not an attitude that pleases God. 256 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:35,560 The attitude that pleases God understands where the weaker brother is, does not judge 257 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:44,080 him for that, but says I will limit myself in my liberty so that he will not stumble 258 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:45,080 or be offended. 259 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:52,760 Now it takes grace to live that way, but that's the way Jesus lived, and that's how we're 260 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:58,760 commanded to live, to be considerate of one another. 261 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:07,400 Then in the next chapter, chapter 15 verse 16, he reminds them of the grace that was 262 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:16,960 given him from God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest, 263 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:18,880 you see that? 264 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:29,360 Ministering as a priest the gospel of God that my offering of the Gentiles might become 265 00:21:29,360 --> 00:21:33,280 acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 266 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:39,640 That verse is pregnant with worship terms. 267 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:45,240 Essentially what he's saying here is that winning people to Jesus Christ is a life of 268 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:48,620 worship. 269 00:21:48,620 --> 00:21:54,240 When you and I share our faith, whether it be in some organized ministry of the church 270 00:21:54,240 --> 00:22:02,480 or there informally in the office or around the coffee, in the restaurant, as we share 271 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:09,760 our faith and people are one to Christ, it is as though we are priests giving out the 272 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:15,760 gospel to people, our prayer being that they may be saved, that we may offer them up to 273 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:21,380 God acceptably, a tremendous thought that is. 274 00:22:21,380 --> 00:22:29,260 You see if I'm going to worship God it means that I have to be a faithful witness. 275 00:22:29,260 --> 00:22:34,540 God will take care of the fruitfulness of it, but my responsibility is to be a faithful 276 00:22:34,540 --> 00:22:35,540 witness. 277 00:22:35,540 --> 00:22:37,640 What does it mean to worship? 278 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:42,320 It means to witness, to share our faith, to win others to Christ. 279 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:58,880 Let us go to Philippians 4. 280 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:02,800 The apostle thanks them for the gift that they've sent to him for his ministry. 281 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:05,800 In fact, they've sent two. 282 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:11,080 He says in verse 18, I have received everything in full and have abundance. 283 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:21,080 I am amply supplied, notice, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant 284 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:28,800 aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 285 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,840 And so here's another verse that just bubbles with terms dealing with worship. 286 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:42,160 He says that what we give is like a sacrifice that is offered up to God and there is as 287 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:48,680 it were an aroma about it that is well pleasing to God. 288 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:53,480 It is a sacrifice that has a sweet savor or aroma. 289 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,640 It is acceptable, in other words, to him. 290 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:01,260 Have you ever seen your giving that way? 291 00:24:01,260 --> 00:24:02,840 Worship is giving. 292 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:11,960 It is giving to God really what is His because everything that I possess, actually I only 293 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,320 am the steward of. 294 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,360 I oversee it in this life. 295 00:24:16,360 --> 00:24:24,440 And as I give to the Lord and to His ministry, to His work, that is a sacrifice to God. 296 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:28,600 Worship is giving. 297 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,800 So worship involves being considerate, especially of the weaker brother. 298 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:34,520 It involves winning people to Christ. 299 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,720 It involves giving money to the Lord's work. 300 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:44,760 Turn over to Ephesians chapter 5 verse 10. 301 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:49,080 Well let's back up to verse 8 to get the context. 302 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:56,120 He says walk as children of light, verse 10, trying to learn what is pleasing, there is 303 00:24:56,120 --> 00:25:01,800 the key word, what is pleasing, acceptable to the Lord. 304 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,840 And what is acceptable to the Lord? 305 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:09,540 Well to cause our lives to be like those terms in verse 9. 306 00:25:09,540 --> 00:25:11,160 He says the fruit of light. 307 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:18,000 He says this is what the children of light are characterized by, goodness, righteousness, 308 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,640 and truth. 309 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:29,080 And so our lifestyles should reflect what is good, what is right, and what is true. 310 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:38,800 To the extent that we reflect what is wicked, what is selfish, what is deceitful or false, 311 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:40,920 we are not worshiping. 312 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:47,520 Conversely, as we live our lives according to righteousness, we live our lives according 313 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:55,760 to truthfulness, and according to goodness, our lives are a worship to God. 314 00:25:55,760 --> 00:26:02,840 And then finally to 1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 3. 315 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,120 How do we worship? 316 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:10,820 First Timothy 2, 3. 317 00:26:10,820 --> 00:26:17,360 He simply says this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. 318 00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:18,360 What? 319 00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:29,240 He says in verse 2 that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 320 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:36,960 And so in our manner of living we should reflect tranquility, God-likeness, and dignity. 321 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:44,320 In other words, we ought to reverence life, to see its seriousness, not to waste it and 322 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:52,040 fritter it away. 323 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:57,480 As we put up the standard over here of what worship is, I believe the Spirit of God would 324 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:05,320 have us to compare our lives, our attitudes, with what we see. 325 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:10,900 The assembling of believers for worship, like we do on Sunday, is really just the overflow 326 00:27:10,900 --> 00:27:12,800 of our worship all week long. 327 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:16,360 Have you ever thought about it that way? 328 00:27:16,360 --> 00:27:21,640 So many people look at going to church as their spiritual high. 329 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:26,080 They go to church, that's their pickup, and from there it's all downhill. 330 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:31,680 Until the next week they get back to church and get their next injection. 331 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:33,760 That is not the will of God. 332 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:39,240 The will of God is that six days a week we are worshiping God out there in what we're 333 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:45,640 doing in our homes, in our personal relationships with other people, at work, driving the car 334 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:47,640 in the expressway. 335 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:51,960 Everything we do reflects worship to God. 336 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:56,000 And then when we get together on Sunday it's just that our hearts overflow with everything 337 00:27:56,000 --> 00:28:02,240 that's been happening and worship is spontaneous and it's beautiful. 338 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:08,740 But to have come to a service and having lived a life of selfishness and meanness throughout 339 00:28:08,740 --> 00:28:14,320 the week and then claiming to worship, that's a perversion. 340 00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:19,440 That's a disgrace to God. 341 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:20,760 What place should worship have? 342 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:23,880 Well, it should be the priority. 343 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:28,200 I believe that worship is God's priority. 344 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,560 Just think about these things. 345 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:37,400 If you look at the Ten Commandments, actually the first four of them deal with worship in 346 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,280 some aspect of it. 347 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:47,720 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 348 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:51,740 You shall not make any graven image. 349 00:28:51,740 --> 00:28:58,560 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 350 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:02,860 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 351 00:29:02,860 --> 00:29:10,040 You see as God gave the Ten Commandments, worship and the accruediments of worship was 352 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:14,160 a priority. 353 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:18,600 When you think about Israel, worship was a priority. 354 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:24,980 Have you ever noticed how God commanded them to encamp in the wilderness? 355 00:29:24,980 --> 00:29:31,040 They were to put the tabernacle out there in the middle of this large area and then 356 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:38,200 immediately surrounding the tabernacle would come the priests and the Levites who had the 357 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,400 service of the tabernacle. 358 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:48,560 Then all of the others were in a particular order as God commanded around the tabernacle. 359 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:54,200 Interestingly, they were all to face their tents toward the center. 360 00:29:54,200 --> 00:30:03,320 In other words, the place of worship was to be the center of the whole camp of Israel. 361 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:07,240 When they went to bed at night, the last thing they were to look at was the tabernacle out 362 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,520 there and that pillar of fire above it. 363 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:13,640 When they got up in the morning, the first thing they were to see as they came out of 364 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:17,480 their tent was that pillar of cloud over the tabernacle. 365 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,800 Worship was the priority in Israel. 366 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:24,880 Their activity, of course, involved bringing offerings. 367 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:28,120 We see it in Hebrews 11. 368 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:38,360 The first three individuals really mentioned there are individuals who lived before the 369 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:39,360 flood. 370 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:43,200 There's Abel and who? 371 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:46,280 Enoch and who's the last one? 372 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:48,280 Anybody remember? 373 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:49,280 Noah. 374 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:51,520 Now, I've preached this. 375 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:52,520 You've probably heard it. 376 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:57,720 There are three words that summarize those verses about those three guys. 377 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:02,000 Excuse me, gentlemen. 378 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:10,560 Each word begins with W. If you think about Abel, what word comes to your mind? 379 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:11,560 Worship. 380 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:16,820 It talks about him offering up his sacrifice to the Lord. 381 00:31:16,820 --> 00:31:20,280 If you think about Enoch, what does it say about Enoch? 382 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:24,520 He walked with God, so he had the walk. 383 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:28,480 Then Noah, by faith, worked. 384 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:29,880 He built the ark. 385 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:36,120 So you have worship, walk, and then work. 386 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:39,880 Don't we so often reverse that order? 387 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:41,840 We say, well, I've got to work for the Lord. 388 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:44,840 I've got to walk with God. 389 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:46,720 Worship comes down to the end somewhere. 390 00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:55,320 God's priority is worship, then walk, and then work. 391 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:58,320 That's God's priority. 392 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:02,200 Why is worship such a priority? 393 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:09,360 Because we become like what we worship, a basic principle of life. 394 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:18,800 If we love money and worship money, we'll become greedy and covetous. 395 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:25,760 If we are looking for sensual fulfillment, the gratifying of the flesh, and we worship 396 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:35,600 those things, we will burn out, and our lives will become perverted and twisted. 397 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:38,280 We become like what we worship. 398 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:45,640 I believe that's why, again and again, the Word of God tells us to focus on Jesus Christ. 399 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:52,860 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 400 00:32:52,860 --> 00:32:59,320 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 401 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:06,320 Folks, let us learn what it means to be true worshipers. 402 00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:18,160 Heavenly Father, we have to confess that we know very little about this matter of true 403 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:26,720 worshiping, and we are reminded that we are to worship in spirit and in truth. 404 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:32,200 Help us to understand that worship is a way of life, that we worship tomorrow as well 405 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:39,800 as today, and that as we gather here for our services, it is only the overflow of all that 406 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:48,360 we have done and all of the attitudes that we have expressed through the week. 407 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:56,280 Dear Lord Jesus, make us true worshipers of the Father. 408 00:33:56,280 --> 00:34:02,700 As we bow our heads and our eyes are closed, as the Spirit of God searches our hearts, 409 00:34:02,700 --> 00:34:08,440 I wonder if this evening the Spirit of God has put his finger upon an area of your life 410 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:17,180 where you are not worshiping at all, or where you are worshiping the wrong thing, or you 411 00:34:17,180 --> 00:34:21,680 have the wrong motive. 412 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:25,600 Are you considerate of others? 413 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:31,560 Do others come before yourself? 414 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:36,400 Are you sharing your faith and winning people to Christ? 415 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:42,960 Are you giving sacrificially and joyfully? 416 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:52,040 Is your lifestyle conformed to what is good and right and truthful? 417 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:58,360 Do you evidence a seriousness about life, or do people know you as a cut-up? 418 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:00,800 Do you waste life? 419 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:07,680 Are you undisciplined? 420 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:15,480 The Spirit of God has indicated to you by conviction that you need to learn something 421 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:22,920 more of worship in your life in a specific area. 422 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:34,600 Will you right now talk to God about that? 423 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:36,520 All to Jesus I surrender. 424 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:47,520 Will you surrender that area to Him, to His Lordship? 425 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:56,080 Father I pray that tonight there won't be one of us who will go away except that we 426 00:35:56,080 --> 00:36:04,160 have made a commitment to learn more about worship and to be true worshipers as you teach 427 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:08,120 us how. 428 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,160 In Jesus' name I pray, amen. 429 00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:18,200 I would like for us to close by singing a verse of what Mark is playing, All to Jesus 430 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:21,200 I Surrender. 431 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:28,880 That's 451. 432 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:32,960 And as we sing this, if there is a need in your life and we can pray with you and help 433 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:34,960 you this evening.