Reclaiming Our Voice: The Power of Worship
Summary
### Summary
Today's message centers on the theme of worship and the importance of aligning our lives with God's will. We began by declaring our commitment to worship God wholeheartedly, refusing to be silent despite the challenges we face. This declaration is a powerful reminder that our worship is not just about singing songs but about living a life that honors God in every aspect.
We explored the story of Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" as a metaphor for how the enemy tries to steal our voice and keep us silent. Just as Ariel lost her voice to the sea witch, many of us have allowed circumstances and the enemy to silence our worship and our declaration of God's goodness. We must reclaim our voice and boldly declare God's faithfulness, regardless of our circumstances.
We also discussed the importance of realignment in our spiritual lives. Just as a car needs regular alignment to function properly, we need to continually align ourselves with God's Word and His will. This involves removing the "old bricks" of our past—habits, mindsets, and behaviors that are not in line with God's plan for us—and replacing them with "new bricks" that reflect our new identity in Christ.
The message emphasized the need for personal accountability in our spiritual growth. We are responsible for what we allow to be built into our lives and what we choose to remove. This includes changing our patterns of thinking, speaking, and behaving to align with God's Word. We must be intentional about filling our minds with God's truth, speaking words of life, and acting in ways that reflect His love and grace.
### Key Takeaways
1. Reclaim Your Voice: Just as Ariel lost her voice to the sea witch, many of us have allowed the enemy to silence our worship and declaration of God's goodness. We must reclaim our voice and boldly declare God's faithfulness, regardless of our circumstances. This act of worship is a powerful weapon against the enemy's schemes. [38:32]
2. Spiritual Realignment: Just as a car needs regular alignment to function properly, we need to continually align ourselves with God's Word and His will. This involves removing the "old bricks" of our past—habits, mindsets, and behaviors that are not in line with God's plan for us—and replacing them with "new bricks" that reflect our new identity in Christ. [43:29]
3. Personal Accountability: We are responsible for what we allow to be built into our lives and what we choose to remove. This includes changing our patterns of thinking, speaking, and behaving to align with God's Word. We must be intentional about filling our minds with God's truth, speaking words of life, and acting in ways that reflect His love and grace. [55:04]
4. Power of Words: The Bible is clear that there is power in what we say. We must be mindful of our speech, ensuring that no corrupt or negative words come out of our mouths. Instead, we should speak words that build up and impart grace to those who hear. Our words have the power to shape our reality and influence those around us. [01:05:03]
5. Behavioral Change: Our actions must reflect our new identity in Christ. This means being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, just as God in Christ forgave us. We must let go of bitterness, anger, and malice, allowing God to remove these "old bricks" and replace them with behaviors that honor Him. [01:16:26]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[27:56] - Declaration of Worship
[28:36] - Reclaiming Our Voice
[29:09] - The Power of Worship
[30:39] - Spiritual Realignment
[31:42] - Personal Accountability
[36:54] - Boldness in Worship
[38:32] - The Little Mermaid Metaphor
[40:24] - Unchanging Nature of God
[42:03] - Daily Alignment with God
[43:29] - Removing Old Bricks
[45:03] - Building Unity
[46:30] - Instruction Manual of Life
[49:43] - Ephesians Chapter 4
[51:07] - Built into Something New
[55:04] - Personal Responsibility
[01:00:04] - Changing Our Thinking
[01:05:03] - Power of Words
[01:16:26] - Changing Our Behavior
[01:21:08] - Withholding Nothing in Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV)
> "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."
2. Proverbs 18:20-21 (NKJV)
> "A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit."
3. Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
> "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 4:17-24 say about the transformation that should occur in a believer's life?
2. According to Proverbs 18:20-21, what is the significance of our words?
3. How does Romans 12:2 describe the process of spiritual transformation?
4. In the sermon, what metaphor was used to describe the importance of reclaiming our voice in worship? ([38:32])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the need to "put off" the old self and "put on" the new self in Ephesians 4:22-24? How does this relate to our daily lives?
2. How can the power of words, as described in Proverbs 18:20-21, impact our spiritual growth and relationships?
3. What does it mean to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind" according to Romans 12:2, and how can this be practically applied in our lives?
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of personal accountability in our spiritual growth. How does this concept challenge or encourage you? ([55:04])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current patterns of thinking. Are there any "old bricks" that need to be removed to align more closely with God's Word? What steps can you take this week to start this process? ([43:29])
2. Consider the words you speak daily. Are they life-giving or destructive? What practical changes can you make to ensure your speech aligns with Proverbs 18:20-21? ([01:05:03])
3. Think about a specific area in your life where you need spiritual realignment. What actions can you take to seek God's guidance and make necessary adjustments? ([43:29])
4. Personal accountability was highlighted in the sermon. Identify one area where you need to take more responsibility for your spiritual growth. How can you hold yourself accountable this week? ([55:04])
5. The sermon used the metaphor of Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" to illustrate reclaiming our voice in worship. Have you ever felt like your voice in worship or declaration of God's goodness has been silenced? How can you reclaim it? ([38:32])
6. Reflect on your behavior towards others. Are there any actions or attitudes that need to change to reflect your new identity in Christ? What specific steps can you take to be more kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving? ([01:16:26])
7. How can you be more intentional about filling your mind with God's truth this week? Identify one specific practice (e.g., daily Bible reading, prayer, attending a small group) that you will commit to. ([01:00:04])
Devotional
Day 1: Reclaiming Your Voice
Description: Just as Ariel lost her voice to the sea witch in "The Little Mermaid," many of us have allowed the enemy to silence our worship and declaration of God's goodness. This silence can come from various circumstances, such as fear, doubt, or past hurts. However, reclaiming our voice is essential for living a life that honors God. Our worship is not just about singing songs; it is about boldly declaring God's faithfulness and goodness in every aspect of our lives, regardless of our circumstances. This act of worship is a powerful weapon against the enemy's schemes. [38:32]
Isaiah 12:4-5 (ESV): "And you will say in that day: 'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.'"
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt silenced or hesitant to declare God's goodness. How can you reclaim your voice and boldly proclaim His faithfulness today?
Day 2: Spiritual Realignment
Description: Just as a car needs regular alignment to function properly, we need to continually align ourselves with God's Word and His will. This involves removing the "old bricks" of our past—habits, mindsets, and behaviors that are not in line with God's plan for us—and replacing them with "new bricks" that reflect our new identity in Christ. Regular spiritual realignment helps us stay on the path that God has set for us, ensuring that we are living in a way that honors Him. This process requires intentionality and a willingness to let go of the past to embrace the new life God has for us. [43:29]
Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV): "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: What are some "old bricks" in your life that you need to remove? How can you replace them with "new bricks" that reflect your identity in Christ?
Day 3: Personal Accountability
Description: We are responsible for what we allow to be built into our lives and what we choose to remove. This includes changing our patterns of thinking, speaking, and behaving to align with God's Word. Personal accountability means being intentional about filling our minds with God's truth, speaking words of life, and acting in ways that reflect His love and grace. It is a daily commitment to live in a way that honors God and reflects His character. By taking personal responsibility for our spiritual growth, we can ensure that we are building a life that is pleasing to God. [55:04]
Galatians 6:4-5 (ESV): "But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to take more personal accountability? How can you start making changes today to align your thoughts, words, and actions with God's Word?
Day 4: The Power of Words
Description: The Bible is clear that there is power in what we say. Our words have the ability to shape our reality and influence those around us. We must be mindful of our speech, ensuring that no corrupt or negative words come out of our mouths. Instead, we should speak words that build up and impart grace to those who hear. By speaking life-giving words, we can create an environment that reflects God's love and grace. Our words can be a powerful tool for encouraging others and proclaiming God's truth. [01:05:03]
Proverbs 18:21 (ESV): "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
Reflection: Reflect on your recent conversations. Are your words building up and imparting grace to those who hear? How can you be more intentional about speaking life-giving words today?
Day 5: Behavioral Change
Description: Our actions must reflect our new identity in Christ. This means being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, just as God in Christ forgave us. We must let go of bitterness, anger, and malice, allowing God to remove these "old bricks" and replace them with behaviors that honor Him. Behavioral change is a crucial aspect of spiritual growth, as it demonstrates the transformation that has taken place in our hearts. By living out our faith through our actions, we can be a testimony of God's love and grace to those around us. [01:16:26]
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Reflection: Is there any bitterness, anger, or malice in your heart that you need to let go of? How can you replace these "old bricks" with behaviors that reflect your new identity in Christ?
Quotes
1. "There's so many of us that are living a life voiceless because we've allowed the enemy to keep us silent and that's why that that we were just declaring over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over I will not be silent devil you will not have my voice but I will worship God I will declare the goodness of God I will declare the faithfulness of God even if what I see in the natural is different I will still declare God's goodness and I will still declare God's mercy." [38:32] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We exist to get people to a place where they will acknowledge trust and lean on God daily d-a-i-l-y daily we need him every single day I mean I I maybe we should change say hourly second by second because daily things happen to us we need him every single day to try to get us to be thrown out of whack and we need to go back to God." [42:03] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Things in our life will throw us off alignment and we've got to go back to God. We can make a choice and say, I'll just deal with it. I will constantly make sure that I'm moving the wheel to the left. Or I can go back and say, realign me. And as we're daily acknowledging God, trusting God and leaning on God, what we're saying is, God, align me so that I don't wear unevenly and so that I can do what I'm supposed to do." [43:29] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We are all individual bricks. And individual bricks, they really don't do anything on themselves until they start getting put together. See, when you start putting all the different individual Legos together, brick by brick, you can start building something. And we talked about unity, which is what Jesus prayed for us, that we would be one. And the church is so fragmented and so divided across the globe by all kinds of different things. Instead of looking at what Jesus said, Father, I pray that they would be one as you and I are one." [45:03] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We're being built into something new in Christ. And can I tell you something? We cannot build on the wrong bricks or on the old bricks. We can't build on the wrong ones. What do I mean by that? My kids have a bunch of different Lego sets. I should say we have a bunch of different Lego sets because some of mine do. And I remember there was a time there was somebody that said, hey, my kids outgrew Legos. You wanted all these extra pieces. And they gave us this container with drawers full of. Different Legos. And where the reality is that it has all kinds of different bricks from all kinds of different sets, all mixed together." [51:07] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Some of us have the tool that God. God has shown of what it is we're supposed to do with our lives, but we don't use the tool. We don't grab it and say, like, I remember the first time I saw this in a set a few years ago. I was like, what is this? And I went to the manual and it explained that the set brought one Lego removal kit. It brought one piece to take the things off. And church, it's time. It's time. We take the responsibility and the accountability for what it is that we allow to be built on us and taken off of us." [53:16] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "It's you who is accountable for what you're allowing to be built in you. Oh, but we love to blame people. We love to blame circumstance. We love to blame situations. It goes back as to, let's go. Let's go this time, right? No, back to Genesis chapter number one. God creates everything, gives the instruction to Adam of what they're not supposed to do. Adam tells Eve, but one day Eve sees the fruit and says, it looks good. He hears the voice of the serpent and likes what he says, takes a bite. Nothing happens, by the way. Adam says, what are you doing? She says, oh, this fruit is so delicious. Here, have some. And Adam eats the fruit, and the eyes are opened." [55:04] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "What are we ingesting? What are we allowing to be built on us? What is it that we're allowing culture and the world system to say that it's okay and then we try to say, but it fits. Look, look, look, look. The piece actually clicks and fits. But the question is, is it the way God designed it to fit? Or is it out of place? And if it's out of place, do we allow God to grab and hold and say, yep, that doesn't belong there. So let's go ahead and use this little removal kit to go ahead and put it in the place, press it or pull it and let it come apart." [58:23] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Our pattern of thinking must change. Again, verse 17. Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. I looked up that word blindness. Do you know that it was actually a medical term? It meant a callous that had been built like something put in the eye that made a person blind. It was a medical term. And God is saying the world's mindset is totally blind to what I want." [01:02:11] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Our pattern of speaking must change. Can I be very, very clear for a moment? The word of God is clear and evident that there is power in what we say. And I don't care what popular preacher has now said that it's okay because the Holy Spirit told them it was okay to curse. The word of God, the Bible, says that no corrupt, evil speech come out of your mouth. Cursing should not come out of our mouth. And it shouldn't come out of our fingers on Instagram and Twitter either. Because we got acronyms for everything. I'm tired AF. Oh, because I didn't want to say it. Yes, you did say it. With your fingers." [01:04:16] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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