Elevating God: Transforming Worship into Daily Life
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound concept of elevation in worship. Throughout scripture, elevation is a metaphor for worship, reflecting our mental and spiritual positioning. Many of us struggle with self-esteem issues, either feeling too low or too high. However, the true measure of our position is not where we see ourselves but where we place God in our lives. Some people treat God like a good luck charm, keeping Him in their pocket and only calling upon Him when needed. Others may even step on Him, using Him as a means to an end. But true believers understand that real elevation comes from lifting God up, giving Him His rightful place in our hearts and minds. When God is elevated, His enemies are scattered, and we align ourselves with His purpose.
Worship is not confined to Sunday mornings with LED walls and bands; it is an everyday lifestyle. Some of us elevate our problems higher than God, drowning in our situations. The way to overcome trials is not by focusing on them but by lifting God higher. When we declare God's holiness, we are not just acknowledging His moral goodness but recognizing Him as set apart and supreme in our lives. This declaration should lead us to introspection, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in our lives that need repentance and alignment with God's word.
In our prayer times, we should focus on declarations rather than requests. By declaring who God is according to the Bible, we make these truths a part of our identity. This practice helps us recognize and remove any mixture in our lives that stands between us and God. Worship becomes a time of alignment, where God lovingly corrects and guides us, ensuring we walk in His ways.
### Key Takeaways
1. Elevation in Worship: Elevation in worship is about giving God His rightful place in our hearts and minds. When we lift Him up, His enemies are scattered, and we align ourselves with His purpose. This act of elevation transcends our struggles with pride or insecurity, placing God in utter control of our lives. [32:07]
2. Everyday Worship: Worship is not just a Sunday morning activity but an everyday lifestyle. We must keep God elevated over our lives, not our problems or life situations. By doing so, we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and overcome trials and tribulations. [33:46]
3. Declaring God's Holiness: When we declare God's holiness, we are recognizing Him as set apart and supreme in our lives. This declaration should lead to introspection, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal areas that need repentance and alignment with God's word. [40:31]
4. Prayer as Declaration: Our prayer times should focus on declarations rather than requests. By declaring who God is according to the Bible, we make these truths a part of our identity. This practice helps us recognize and remove any mixture in our lives that stands between us and God. [41:48]
5. Alignment through Worship: Worship is a time of alignment, where God lovingly corrects and guides us. As we lift Him up and submit to His worship, He reveals areas in our lives that need adjustment, ensuring we walk in His ways. This process is not condemning but encouraging, helping us to make necessary shifts. [43:42]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[32:07] - Elevation in Worship
[33:46] - Everyday Worship
[37:35] - Lifting God Higher
[40:31] - Declaring God's Holiness
[41:48] - Prayer as Declaration
[42:51] - Holy Spirit Conviction
[43:42] - Alignment through Worship
[45:53] - Seeking the Kingdom
[48:52] - Prayer for Healing and Peace
[49:36] - Congregational Interaction
[01:05:05] - Welcoming Newcomers
[01:07:12] - Importance of Small Groups
[01:07:51] - Upcoming Events
[01:09:09] - Offering and Generosity
[01:13:37] - Next Step Program
[01:14:14] - Timothy Team Discipleship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 68:1 - "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him."
2. Psalm 29:2 - "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."
3. Romans 12:1 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what does the metaphor of elevation in worship signify? [32:07]
2. How does the pastor describe the difference between treating God as a good luck charm and truly elevating Him in our lives? [32:07]
3. What does the pastor mean when he says worship is an "everyday lifestyle"? [33:46]
4. How does declaring God's holiness lead to introspection and repentance according to the sermon? [40:31]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "lift God higher" in the context of everyday life, and how does this affect our perspective on problems and trials? [33:46]
2. How can the practice of making declarations in prayer, rather than requests, transform one's spiritual life? [41:48]
3. In what ways does worship serve as a time of alignment and correction from God, and how can this be both encouraging and challenging? [43:42]
4. How does the concept of God being "set apart" (holy) influence the way we prioritize our lives and remove mixtures that stand between us and God? [40:31]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current worship practices. Do you find yourself elevating your problems higher than God? How can you shift your focus to lift God higher in your daily life? [33:46]
2. Think about your prayer life. How often do you make declarations about who God is according to the Bible? What steps can you take to incorporate more declarations into your prayer time? [41:48]
3. Identify an area in your life where you feel a mixture of priorities. How can you declare God's holiness over this area and seek alignment with His word? [40:31]
4. Consider a recent trial or tribulation you have faced. How did your perspective on God influence your response to this situation? What can you do differently next time to ensure God is elevated above your struggles? [33:46]
5. During worship, have you experienced moments where you felt God lovingly correcting and guiding you? Share an example and discuss how this has impacted your walk with God. [43:42]
6. How can you make worship an integral part of your everyday life, beyond Sunday mornings? What practical steps can you take to ensure God remains elevated in your heart and mind throughout the week? [33:46]
7. Reflect on the statement, "When God arises, His enemies are scattered." How can this truth bring peace and confidence in your current life circumstances? [32:07]
Devotional
### Day 1: Elevation in Worship
Theme: Elevation in worship is about giving God His rightful place.
Description: Elevation in worship is not about our physical posture but our mental and spiritual positioning. Many people struggle with self-esteem, either feeling too low or too high. However, the true measure of our position is not where we see ourselves but where we place God in our lives. Some treat God like a good luck charm, only calling upon Him when needed, while others may use Him as a means to an end. True believers understand that real elevation comes from lifting God up, giving Him His rightful place in our hearts and minds. When God is elevated, His enemies are scattered, and we align ourselves with His purpose. This act of elevation transcends our struggles with pride or insecurity, placing God in utter control of our lives. [32:07]
Bible Passage: "The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?" (Psalm 113:4-6, ESV)
Reflection: Think about a time when you felt overwhelmed by your circumstances. How can you intentionally elevate God above your current struggles today?
### Day 2: Everyday Worship
Theme: Worship is an everyday lifestyle, not just a Sunday activity.
Description: Worship is not confined to Sunday mornings with LED walls and bands; it is an everyday lifestyle. Many of us elevate our problems higher than God, drowning in our situations. The way to overcome trials is not by focusing on them but by lifting God higher. When we declare God's holiness, we are not just acknowledging His moral goodness but recognizing Him as set apart and supreme in our lives. This declaration should lead us to introspection, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in our lives that need repentance and alignment with God's word. By keeping God elevated over our lives, not our problems or life situations, we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and overcome trials and tribulations. [33:46]
Bible Passage: "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad." (Psalm 34:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine, even in the midst of challenges and busy schedules?
### Day 3: Declaring God's Holiness
Theme: Declaring God's holiness leads to introspection and alignment.
Description: When we declare God's holiness, we are recognizing Him as set apart and supreme in our lives. This declaration is not just about acknowledging His moral goodness but about placing Him in the highest position in our hearts and minds. This act should lead us to introspection, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in our lives that need repentance and alignment with God's word. By declaring who God is according to the Bible, we make these truths a part of our identity. This practice helps us recognize and remove any mixture in our lives that stands between us and God. Worship becomes a time of alignment, where God lovingly corrects and guides us, ensuring we walk in His ways. [40:31]
Bible Passage: "But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness." (Isaiah 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: What specific areas in your life need realignment with God's holiness? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this process today?
### Day 4: Prayer as Declaration
Theme: Focus on declarations in prayer rather than requests.
Description: Our prayer times should focus on declarations rather than requests. By declaring who God is according to the Bible, we make these truths a part of our identity. This practice helps us recognize and remove any mixture in our lives that stands between us and God. When we declare God's holiness, we are not just acknowledging His moral goodness but recognizing Him as set apart and supreme in our lives. This declaration should lead us to introspection, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in our lives that need repentance and alignment with God's word. Worship becomes a time of alignment, where God lovingly corrects and guides us, ensuring we walk in His ways. [41:48]
Bible Passage: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, ESV)
Reflection: What truths about God can you declare in your prayers today? How can these declarations shape your identity and actions?
### Day 5: Alignment through Worship
Theme: Worship aligns us with God's purpose and guidance.
Description: Worship is a time of alignment, where God lovingly corrects and guides us. As we lift Him up and submit to His worship, He reveals areas in our lives that need adjustment, ensuring we walk in His ways. This process is not condemning but encouraging, helping us to make necessary shifts. When we declare God's holiness, we are not just acknowledging His moral goodness but recognizing Him as set apart and supreme in our lives. This declaration should lead us to introspection, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal areas in our lives that need repentance and alignment with God's word. By keeping God elevated over our lives, not our problems or life situations, we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and overcome trials and tribulations. [43:42]
Bible Passage: "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you allow worship to be a time of alignment with God's purpose for your life? How can you be open to His loving correction and guidance today?
Quotes
1. "Because there's certain people that they keep God in their right pocket a little God that they keep in their pocket that's a good luck charm that they stick their hands in their pocket in their pocket and they maybe rub rub it together and they call upon God whenever they need him some people that keep God way down and at times Sometimes we self-aggrandize so much that we even step on him or we use him as a platform, as a means to an end." [32:07] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we understand, biblically we understand that in the kingdom of God, when we give the Father his rightful place in our hearts and in our minds, it doesn't matter. Whether we struggle with pride or we struggle with insecurity. When God is lifted up, when we lift him up, we place ourselves in a location where he is in utter control. He is the Lord of our lives and we then engage the purpose of our lives." [33:46] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Worship is an everyday lifestyle where we have to keep him lifted up over our lives. As the covering of our lives. Lift listen, listen, listen. There's some of us here in this room right now that you're lifting your problems higher than God. Oh, come on. You're lifting your life situations higher than him. Yes. Yes. And the way that we get through our stuff. The way that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The way that we overcome trials and tribulations. It's not by lifting them up high and then drowning in our situation." [37:35] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When we say, God, you're holy, we're not telling him that we're holy. We're saying he is holy to us. So what that basically means is that we're saying, God, you are the Lord of our lives. God, you are set above. You are precious. Lord, we're saying, God, we have no mixture in our lives. In the throne of my heart, it's only you. It's not you in sports. It's not you in another person. It's not you in our ambitions." [40:31] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "My prayer time is not a bunch of asking God. It's not walking down my wish list. Most of my prayer times are declarative. I begin to declare. I declare what the Bible says, who he is. And when I declare it, I make it part of who I am. You see, when I say, Lord, you're holy, I'm really saying, Lord, open my eyes. Let me recognize the areas in my life where I have allowed more mixture to come. get in the way between me and you." [41:48] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "So I will spend my time. Worshipping the Lord. And while I worship, I meditate. And then all of a sudden he begins to align me with his word. With his kingdom, his rulership, his government, his authority. I just worship. And in the time of worship, a loving father will wrap his arms around me and say, Danny, you need to adjust this. Watch out for that. And you're walking. One degree off. Make a shift. You can do it. You can make it. You're looking good. He's not a condemning that beats me down. No, no, no, no, no." [43:42] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "When we declare your worship, we know father, if we now seek the kingdom and his righteousness, then everything else will be added onto us. We make you primary. We make you the center. We thank you Lord that every need in this house will be taken care of. I speak to bodies right now to come in line with the word of the Lord. I speak to backs. I speak to the blood. I speak to muscles and tendons. I speak to minds. Be healed now in the name of Jesus." [45:53] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Because you, this church is a generous church. And we have an understanding of what it means to honor the Lord with the first fruit of our lives. And so, let's continue to do that. If you've never given before in this church, we don't, there's never any obligation to give. People give from their hearts, from their hearts. We believe in what we call tithing. And tithing is basically giving. Giving a 10% of everything that comes into your life, whether you find it, earn it, given to you, whatever it may mean, any increase in your life, we do it out of worship unto the Lord." [01:10:47] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "If I have seed in my hand, and I go by this many times, if it's not enough to meet my need, it must be my seed. Instead of eating my seed, I'll sow the seed. And then the Lord will produce. More seed back to me, so then I can continue the sowing, and then there becomes an exponential harvest in my life. I don't give to get, I give because I love. And he gave to me because he loves me. But in my giving, there's always a return. Why? Here's the deal. Ready for this? You can never out give God." [01:11:45] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Timothy team is really what Pastor Victoria and I do. It is, I, I love doing that even more than I'm what I'm doing right now. It's, we have a discipleship group and that meets and it's a, it's a two-way. It's a two-year program and we do it every Monday. If you're very interested in being a part of the Timothy team, show up tomorrow night at six o'clock. We'll feed you dinner. Yeah. We feed a lot of people in this church. Yes. We feed you dinner and then we'll engage." [01:15:03] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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