Breaking Chains: The Transformative Power of Worship

Devotional

Day 1: Breaking Pride in Worship

True worship requires breaking our pride and the opinions of others. It’s about laying aside our public image and approaching God with humility and surrender. This act of breaking our pride allows us to enter into a deeper, more genuine relationship with God. The woman with the alabaster jar exemplifies this by breaking her most valuable possession before Jesus, symbolizing the breaking of her pride and the release of something precious to God. Authentic worship comes from a place of humility and surrender, not from a desire to impress others. [13:34]

Isaiah 57:15 (ESV): "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 2: Personal Sacrifice in Worship

Worship is not just about singing songs; it’s about bringing something personal and costly to God. The woman with the alabaster jar brought her most valuable possession and broke it before Jesus. This teaches us that true worship involves personal sacrifice and giving God something that costs us. It’s about bringing something personal and costly to God, not just lip service. The act of breaking the jar symbolizes the breaking of our pride and the release of something precious to God. [25:02]

2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV): "But the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."

Reflection: What is one valuable thing in your life that you can offer to God as a form of worship today? How can you make this sacrifice a regular part of your worship practice?

Day 3: The Spirit Behind the Sound

It’s not just the sound we make in worship but the spirit behind it that matters. We can say all the right things, but if our spirit is not aligned with God, our worship lacks power. Authentic worship comes from a place of genuine love and surrender to God. The woman with the alabaster jar did not just perform a ritual; her act was a profound expression of her love and sacrifice. This teaches us that the spirit behind our worship is what truly matters. [09:21]

John 4:23-24 (ESV): "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Reflection: Reflect on your current worship practices. Is your spirit genuinely aligned with God, or are you merely going through the motions? What steps can you take to ensure your worship is authentic and heartfelt?

Day 4: Worship as a Prophetic Act

When we worship, we prophesy victory and breakthrough in our lives. The woman’s act of worship was prophetic, preparing Jesus for His burial. Our worship can declare God’s promises and bring about His purposes in our lives. Worship is a powerful weapon that can change our circumstances and bring about God’s promises in our lives. When we break something before the Lord, we open up the prophetic. [37:26]

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (ESV): "And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, 'Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.' And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed."

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you use worship as a prophetic act to declare God’s victory and promises over this situation?

Day 5: God Fights Our Battles Through Worship

When we worship authentically, God goes to war for us. Jesus defended the woman’s act of worship, showing that God values our genuine worship and will fight our battles. Worship is a powerful weapon that can bring about God’s victory in our lives. Authentic worship can prophesy victory and breakthrough in our lives, and God will defend and fight for those who worship Him in spirit and truth. [35:41]

Exodus 14:14 (ESV): "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

Reflection: Identify a battle you are currently facing. How can you incorporate worship into your strategy for overcoming this battle, trusting that God will fight for you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the profound significance of worship and how it can transform not only our lives but also the world around us. We began by acknowledging the power of Jesus' name, the name above all names, and the importance of gathering in His presence. Worship is not just about singing songs; it’s about breaking something within us to release a sound that can shift atmospheres and break chains. We explored the story of the woman with the alabaster jar from Mark 14:3, who broke her expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' head. This act of worship was not just a ritual; it was a profound expression of her love and sacrifice.

We learned that true worship requires breaking our pride and personal sacrifices. It’s about bringing something personal and costly to God, not just lip service. The woman’s act of breaking the jar symbolizes the breaking of our pride and the release of something precious to God. We also discussed how worship is not about the sound we make but the spirit behind it. Authentic worship comes from a place of humility and surrender, not from a desire to impress others.

Moreover, we touched on the importance of not letting the opinions of others hinder our worship. Just as the woman faced criticism for her extravagant act, we too might face judgment, but what others see as waste, God sees as worship. We must be willing to break our pride and bring our personal sacrifices to God, knowing that He values our authentic worship.

Finally, we emphasized that when we break something before the Lord, we open up the prophetic. Our worship can prophesy victory and breakthrough in our lives. Jesus defended the woman’s act of worship, showing that when we worship authentically, God goes to war for us. Worship is a powerful weapon that can change our circumstances and bring about God’s promises in our lives.

###

Key Takeaways

1. True Worship Requires Breaking Pride: Authentic worship demands that we break our pride and the opinions of others. We must be willing to lay aside our public image and approach God with humility and surrender. This act of breaking our pride allows us to enter into a deeper, more genuine relationship with God. [13:34]
2. Personal Sacrifice in Worship: Worship is not just about singing songs; it’s about bringing something personal and costly to God. The woman with the alabaster jar brought her most valuable possession and broke it before Jesus. This teaches us that true worship involves personal sacrifice and giving God something that costs us. [25:02]
3. The Spirit Behind the Sound: It’s not just the sound we make in worship but the spirit behind it that matters. We can say all the right things, but if our spirit is not aligned with God, our worship lacks power. Authentic worship comes from a place of genuine love and surrender to God. [09:21]
4. Worship as a Prophetic Act: When we worship, we prophesy victory and breakthrough in our lives. The woman’s act of worship was prophetic, preparing Jesus for His burial. Our worship can declare God’s promises and bring about His purposes in our lives. [37:26]
5. God Fights Our Battles Through Worship: When we worship authentically, God goes to war for us. Jesus defended the woman’s act of worship, showing that God values our genuine worship and will fight our battles. Worship is a powerful weapon that can bring about God’s victory in our lives. [35:41]
### [35:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:20] - Introduction to Worship
[02:37] - The Alabaster Jar
[03:58] - Prayer for Unity and Transformation
[05:14] - Personal Story: First Words in Worship
[06:30] - The Power of Worship Songs
[07:49] - Biblical Examples of Worship
[09:21] - The Spirit Behind the Sound
[10:45] - The Woman with the Alabaster Jar
[12:19] - Breaking Pride in Worship
[14:42] - Personal Sacrifice in Worship
[16:05] - Story: Finding the Lounge
[18:53] - Access Through Worship
[20:23] - Authenticity Over Image
[23:31] - God’s Way of Worship
[25:02] - Breaking Something Personal
[27:47] - The Cost of Worship
[30:57] - King David’s Example
[32:25] - What Are You Withholding?
[35:41] - God Fights Our Battles
[37:26] - Worship as a Prophetic Act
[38:53] - Conclusion: Something Has to Break

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 14:3-9 (NIV) — > While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Observation Questions

What did the woman with the alabaster jar do when she approached Jesus? ([02:37])
How did the people around Jesus react to the woman's act of worship? ([12:19])
What was Jesus' response to the criticism of the woman's act? ([35:41])
According to the sermon, what does the breaking of the alabaster jar symbolize in our worship? ([10:45])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the woman chose to break the alabaster jar and pour the perfume on Jesus' head? What does this act signify about her understanding of worship? ([02:37])
How does Jesus' defense of the woman’s act of worship challenge our understanding of what is valuable or wasteful? ([35:41])
In what ways does the sermon suggest that worship can be a prophetic act? How does this align with the story of the woman with the alabaster jar? ([37:26])
How does the concept of breaking pride and personal sacrifice in worship apply to our daily lives and spiritual practices? ([13:34])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt judged or criticized for your way of worship. How did you handle it, and what can you learn from the woman's example in Mark 14:3-9? ([12:19])
The sermon emphasizes the importance of breaking pride in worship. What specific steps can you take to break your pride and approach God with humility and surrender? ([13:34])
Consider something personal and costly that you can bring to God as an act of worship. What might that be, and how can you offer it to Him this week? ([25:02])
How can you ensure that your worship is driven by a genuine spirit of love and surrender rather than a desire to impress others? ([09:21])
The sermon suggests that worship can prophesy victory and breakthrough in our lives. How can you incorporate this understanding into your worship practices? ([37:26])
Think about a current battle or challenge you are facing. How can you use worship as a way to invite God to fight that battle for you? ([35:41])
Reflect on the idea that God values authentic worship over public image. How can you prioritize authenticity in your worship and daily life? ([20:23])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "I came on assignment this morning to teach you about the kind of worship that God wants to produce from your life that can change the world. And here's what I believe the word the Lord gave me for you is today on worship is that in order for you to release worship that can change not only your world, but the world around you, something has to break." [02:37] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You see, church services didn't save me, but there was a sound that set me free. Come on, there was a sound that shifted something on the inside of me. And I feel like there are some of you even here, even when you were living in sin, come on, you turn on the Christian radio and you get all convicted. I got to turn that off and go back to the pop stuff because there's something significant about a sound." [07:49] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When God sent his son on that cross, he gave you access. He gave you permission. The bill was paid in full. He gave you every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. And why would you let somebody else's opinion obstruct your encounter with the living God? He already said yes and amen. Somebody say amen. God already authorized it over your life." [18:53] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You have got to break your pride. You cannot receive the presence of God while you are clinging to your pride, while you are clinging to your public image. Men, let me talk to you for a second because sometimes worship is a little tough for us. I don't want to slow. What do I do with my hands? I don't know. Extravagant worship is not effeminate. It is obedience." [20:23] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When you worship and when you praise, you prophesy that though it's not okay right now, I know it's going to be okay. We're all going to be okay. Why? Because my God is on the throne. My King is still reigning. I don't have to wait till everything's okay to worship him. I worship him in the midst of the warfare." [37:26] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "What they see as waste, I came to tell you, God sees as worship. In fact, God sees as worth it. You're investing into something the world doesn't understand. But because you're giving what you have to the King of Kings, He can take what you have and multiply it and change your family and change your destiny." [12:19] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If you're going to worship God rightly, you must learn to break from your image and your reputation and the opinions of others. Somebody say something has to break." [13:34] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You must break something personal. My wife is one of 10. She's got nine siblings, a large Vietnamese family. And I'm learning a lot about this culture because I'm white. And so I don't, I don't know a lot about it. And one of the first things that I learned about the Vietnamese culture is that whenever we show up to her parents' house, we don't show up empty handed. We always bring something." [25:02] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Worship isn't worship unless it has a cost. You are not earning something from God, hear me. I am not saying that you earn your place in God's house, but the etiquette in God's house is that you must break something, you must bring something, and you must give him what you have. You cannot offer God worship that costs you nothing." [30:57] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When you break something before the Lord, you break open the prophetic. Let me finish with this. Look at verse 6 as this woman pours her perfume, breaks open her worship, Jesus goes to war. Look at verse 6. Jesus said leave her alone. Some of you are fighting battles right now that belong to the Lord and if you would just lift your hands and worship, if you would just break open your life to him, he will go to war for you." [33:52] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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