Encountering the Divine: The Supernatural Nature of Worship

 

Summary

In Hebrews 12:14-24, we are called to pursue peace and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. This passage warns against falling short of God's grace and allowing bitterness to take root, which can defile many. It uses Esau as an example of someone who, for a momentary desire, lost his birthright and blessing, highlighting the importance of valuing spiritual inheritance over temporary satisfaction. The text contrasts the terrifying experience of the Israelites at Mount Sinai with the glorious reality of coming to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, where we are surrounded by angels and the spirits of the righteous made perfect. This is a call to recognize the supernatural nature of our worship and the presence of God among us.

Reflecting on the influence of 19th-century liberal theology, which sought to remove the supernatural from Christianity, we see a need to recover the sense of God's transcendence and holiness. The Enlightenment's dismissal of the supernatural led to a reduction of God to a mere part of the natural world, losing the awe and reverence due to His majesty. Theologians like Rudolph Otto and Karl Barth sought to reclaim the mystery and otherness of God, emphasizing that true worship involves encountering the divine in a way that transcends our ordinary experience.

Worship is not merely a human-centered activity but a supernatural event where we enter into the heavenly sanctuary. It is a time when the church, the body of Christ, gathers not just with those present but with the angels and saints who have gone before us. This sacred assembly is a foretaste of heaven, where we meet with God and the Lamb, experiencing His presence in a profound way. The sacraments, too, are supernatural acts that communicate God's grace and mark us as His own.

In our modern context, there is a danger of reducing worship to entertainment or a focus on human needs, losing sight of its true purpose. Worship is designed for the regenerate, those whom the Spirit has transformed, to offer praise and glory to God. It is a time to cross the threshold from the secular to the sacred, from the common to the holy, and to encounter the transcendent majesty of God.

Key Takeaways:

- Pursuing Holiness and Peace: The call to pursue peace and holiness is essential for seeing the Lord. This pursuit requires vigilance against bitterness and sin, as exemplified by Esau, who lost his blessing for temporary satisfaction. Our spiritual inheritance must be valued above all else. [00:18]

- The Transcendence of God: The Enlightenment's dismissal of the supernatural led to a loss of God's transcendence in theology. Recovering the sense of God's majesty and otherness is crucial for true worship, which involves encountering the divine beyond ordinary experience. [10:06]

- Worship as a Supernatural Event: Worship is not merely a human-centered activity but a supernatural event where we enter the heavenly sanctuary. It is a foretaste of heaven, where we meet with God, the angels, and the saints who have gone before us. [28:17]

- The Role of the Holy Spirit in Regeneration: Regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, transforming the heart and will of a person. It is not something we can achieve on our own but a divine act that brings us to life in Christ. [21:04]

- The Sacredness of Worship: Worship is designed for the regenerate to offer praise and glory to God. It is a time to cross the threshold from the secular to the sacred, encountering the transcendent majesty of God and experiencing His presence in a profound way. [37:59]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:18] - Pursue Peace and Holiness
- [01:09] - The Terrifying Mount Sinai
- [02:02] - Coming to Mount Zion
- [03:08] - Prayer for Understanding
- [04:04] - Encounter with Ian Murray's Book
- [05:17] - Influence of 19th Century Liberalism
- [07:24] - The Enlightenment's Impact
- [09:00] - Reaction Against Liberal Theology
- [10:46] - Rudolph Otto and the Holy
- [13:08] - Neo-Orthodox Theology
- [16:27] - The Eclipse of God
- [19:00] - Miracles and the Supernatural
- [21:04] - Understanding Regeneration
- [26:00] - The Crisis of Worship
- [28:17] - Worship as a Supernatural Event
- [37:59] - Crossing the Threshold to the Sacred
- [46:21] - The Heavenly Assembly
- [48:25] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 12:14-24

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two key pursuits mentioned in Hebrews 12:14, and why are they essential for seeing the Lord? [00:18]
2. How does the example of Esau in Hebrews 12:16-17 illustrate the consequences of prioritizing temporary desires over spiritual inheritance? [00:34]
3. What is the contrast between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion as described in Hebrews 12:18-24, and what does this signify for believers? [01:09]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of regeneration? [21:04]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the pursuit of peace and holiness require vigilance against bitterness and sin, as exemplified by Esau? [00:34]
2. How does the sermon suggest that the Enlightenment's dismissal of the supernatural has impacted modern worship and theology? [10:06]
3. What does it mean for worship to be a "supernatural event," and how does this understanding affect the way believers approach worship? [28:17]
4. How does the sermon describe the sacredness of worship, and what implications does this have for the way believers gather and worship together? [37:59]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be prioritizing temporary satisfaction over your spiritual inheritance? How can you realign your priorities? [00:34]
2. How can you actively pursue peace and holiness in your daily interactions with others, especially in challenging situations? [00:18]
3. In what ways can you cultivate a sense of awe and reverence for God's transcendence in your personal worship and prayer life? [10:06]
4. How can you ensure that your participation in worship is focused on encountering the divine rather than being distracted by entertainment or personal needs? [28:17]
5. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more open to His transformative work in your heart and will? [21:04]
6. What steps can you take to cross the threshold from the secular to the sacred in your daily life, making space for encountering God's presence? [37:59]
7. How can you encourage others in your church community to value and participate in the sacredness of worship, fostering a deeper sense of unity and reverence? [37:59]

Devotional

Day 1: Valuing Spiritual Inheritance Over Temporary Satisfaction
Pursuing peace and holiness is essential for seeing the Lord, as highlighted in Hebrews 12:14-24. This passage warns against falling short of God's grace and allowing bitterness to take root, which can defile many. Esau serves as a cautionary example of someone who, for a momentary desire, lost his birthright and blessing. This underscores the importance of valuing spiritual inheritance over temporary satisfaction. Our spiritual inheritance must be valued above all else, requiring vigilance against bitterness and sin. [00:18]

Hebrews 12:14-15 (ESV): "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled."

Reflection: Identify a situation where you are tempted to choose temporary satisfaction over your spiritual values. How can you prioritize your spiritual inheritance in this situation today?


Day 2: Recovering the Awe of God's Transcendence
The Enlightenment's dismissal of the supernatural led to a loss of God's transcendence in theology. Recovering the sense of God's majesty and otherness is crucial for true worship, which involves encountering the divine beyond ordinary experience. Theologians like Rudolph Otto and Karl Barth emphasized the mystery and otherness of God, reminding us that true worship involves encountering the divine in a way that transcends our ordinary experience. [10:06]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience where you felt the awe of God's transcendence. How can you cultivate a greater sense of His majesty in your daily worship?


Day 3: Worship as a Foretaste of Heaven
Worship is not merely a human-centered activity but a supernatural event where we enter the heavenly sanctuary. It is a foretaste of heaven, where we meet with God, the angels, and the saints who have gone before us. This sacred assembly is a time when the church, the body of Christ, gathers not just with those present but with the angels and saints who have gone before us. [28:17]

Revelation 5:11-12 (ESV): "Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!'"

Reflection: During your next worship service, consciously imagine joining with the heavenly assembly. How does this perspective change your experience of worship?


Day 4: The Transformative Work of the Holy Spirit
Regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, transforming the heart and will of a person. It is not something we can achieve on our own but a divine act that brings us to life in Christ. This transformation is essential for true worship, as it is the Spirit who enables us to offer genuine praise and glory to God. [21:04]

Titus 3:5-6 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you need transformation. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to work in this area today?


Day 5: Crossing the Threshold to the Sacred
Worship is designed for the regenerate to offer praise and glory to God. It is a time to cross the threshold from the secular to the sacred, encountering the transcendent majesty of God and experiencing His presence in a profound way. This sacred time is not about entertainment or focusing on human needs but about encountering the divine. [37:59]

Psalm 96:9 (ESV): "Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!"

Reflection: Before your next worship service, take a moment to prepare your heart to cross the threshold from the secular to the sacred. What steps can you take to ensure your focus is on encountering God's presence?

Quotes


Hebrews 12:14 through 24 pursue peace with all people and Holiness without which no one will see the Lord looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God L any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many become defiled lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau who for one morsel of food sold his Birthright for you know that afterward when he wanted to inherit the blessing he was rejected for he found no place for repentance though he sought it diligently with tears. [00:00:18]

The primary premise of the Enlightenment was that the god hypothesis is no longer necessary for us to account for the universe in which we live or for the origin of human life and the driving agenda of many of the uh enlightenment philosophers particularly the French encyclopedias including Deo who identified himself quote as the personal enemy of God was to free western civilization from unwarranted intrusions from supernaturalism. [00:07:24]

What 19th century liberalism did was they reduced God to part of the process of this world and what was lost primarily in 19th century liberal theology was the Transcendence of God the supernatural that is God's being above and beyond the limits of this universe. [00:10:06]

Rudolph Otto who exploring people's response in culture to whatever it is they deemed to be holy that he said that what people sensed was a certain numinous a certain plus something going Beyond ordinary Human Experience that he defined in terms of the phrase mysterium tremendum that is anytime a person experiences The Uncanny sense of the Holy that that experience is always shrouded in mystery and it provokes a kind of inner dread or fear a trembling in the soul. [00:11:56]

Regeneration is a supernatural work of God that no person can accomplish in his own flesh you can't walk down an aisle and make a decision to be born again only God the Holy Spirit can raise you from the dead. [00:21:04]

Worship is designed for regenerate people it is the regenerate who are called together Those whom the spirit has changed and he brings them together that they may offer the sacrifice of praise to their God to honor him and to give glory to him. [00:26:00]

Heaven is above nature Heaven is the Abode of the Transcendent Majesty of God and if we're tasting heaven when we come together to Worship in our churches that means ladies and gentlemen that Worship in the Christian sense is to be a supernatural event let me say it again worship is to be a supernatural event. [00:28:17]

We cross the threshold of the secular to the sacred from the common to The Uncommon from the profane to the holy and that's what the author of Hebrews is talking about in chapter 12 when he talks about New Testament worship as a supernatural event as a taste of Heaven. [00:37:59]

When we come together for worship now by the power of the Holy Ghost we are raised we are transported into the Heavenly Sanctuary itself it's the taste of heaven and who's there I mentioned this a couple conferences ago here that I preached another church here in Orlando that had a early service and a late service and they have lots of people at the late service they got about 30 people in the early service. [00:41:21]

Every time we come together and not only we are we entering into the Heavenly Sanctuary where the Angels the archangels the seraphim and the cherubim are praising God singing the antifonal response holy holy holy but who else is there the spirits of just men made perfect the saints that have gone before us. [00:43:21]

When we come to the table of the lord it's a supernatural event when we come to the baptismal font and communicate the sign of the Covenant of God the sign of the New Covenant we communicate the mark that is the invisible mark on the soul of everyone who receives it's a supernatural lament for you have come to Mount Zion to the city of the Living God the heavenly Jerusalem to an innumerable company of angels to the general assembly. [00:46:21]

He has Sanctified a day he has Sanctified a people he has Sanctified a place he has Sanctified a word all of which are instruments of his own Holy Spirit who works to sanctify us we cannot focus on the Holiness of God without being led to a hunger and thirst in our souls to worship him. [00:48:25]

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Transcript
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