Restoring True Worship: A Childlike Heart for God
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound implications of worship and the posture we ought to have towards it, drawing from the powerful narrative in Matthew 21:12-17. We delved into the scene where Jesus enters the temple and is confronted with a sight that stirs His righteous anger: the house of God, intended to be a place of prayer, has been turned into a den of robbers. This marketplace atmosphere, with money changers and pigeon sellers exploiting the faithful, was a stark deviation from the worship God desires.
We reflected on the significance of Jesus' actions as He overturned the tables and drove out those who were perverting worship for personal gain. This act serves as a wake-up call for us to examine our own lives and ensure that our worship is not self-serving but rather a sacrificial offering to the Lord, as exemplified by Jesus Himself.
The subsequent healing of the blind and the lame in the temple, who were traditionally excluded from such holy spaces, underscores the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry. It also illustrates the risk inherent in faith, as these individuals defied societal norms to seek Jesus' presence and healing touch.
Furthermore, we considered the response of the children in the temple, who, upon witnessing Jesus' miracles, began to praise Him with the words "Hosanna to the son of David." Their unashamed and genuine worship contrasted sharply with the indignation of the chief priests and scribes, who were displeased with the children's acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah.
Through this narrative, we are reminded of the call to approach God with childlike faith and simplicity, to live in the moment, and to trust in God's provision and care. We are encouraged to embrace a life of worship that is less about us and more about honoring God with the trust and obedience of a child.
Key Takeaways:
- True worship requires us to examine our motives and ensure that our actions are not self-serving but are instead a reflection of our desire to honor God. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we must invite Him to cleanse our hearts and redirect our focus towards genuine worship. [01:03:18]
- The healing of the blind and the lame in the temple serves as a powerful metaphor for the transformative power of faith. When we take risks to draw near to Jesus, we open ourselves up to His healing and restoration, regardless of societal barriers or personal limitations. [01:06:31]
- The praise of the children in the temple is a model for our own worship. Their spontaneous and joyful acclamation of Jesus as the Messiah teaches us that worship should be a natural outpouring of our recognition of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. [01:09:07]
- The indignation of the religious leaders highlights the danger of losing sight of what truly pleases God. We must guard against becoming complacent or accepting practices that contradict the heart of worship, which is to glorify God and acknowledge His sovereignty. [01:10:37]
- Approaching God as children not only pleases Him but also aligns our hearts with His. As we live out our faith with childlike trust and obedience, we offer the greatest gifts we can give to our Heavenly Father, reflecting the love and trust inherent in a child's relationship with their parent. [01:19:44]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 21:12-17
#### Observation Questions
1. What actions did Jesus take when He entered the temple and saw the money changers and pigeon sellers? ([55:02])
2. How did the chief priests and scribes react to the children praising Jesus in the temple? ([01:09:09])
3. What was the significance of the blind and the lame coming to Jesus in the temple, and what did He do for them? ([01:04:05])
4. What did Jesus say about the temple being a house of prayer versus a den of robbers? ([55:51])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus was so angry about the activities taking place in the temple? How does this reflect on the nature of true worship? ([55:51])
2. What does the healing of the blind and the lame in the temple signify about Jesus' ministry and the inclusivity of His message? ([01:04:05])
3. How does the reaction of the children in the temple contrast with that of the religious leaders, and what does this teach us about genuine worship? ([01:09:09])
4. What does it mean to approach God with childlike faith and simplicity, as highlighted in the sermon? ([01:12:52])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own worship practices. Are there any areas where your motives might be self-serving rather than honoring God? How can you invite Jesus to "cleanse" these areas? ([01:03:18])
2. Have you ever taken a risk in your faith to draw nearer to Jesus, similar to the blind and the lame entering the temple? What was the outcome, and how did it impact your faith? ([01:06:31])
3. The children in the temple praised Jesus openly and without shame. How can you incorporate more spontaneous and genuine expressions of worship in your daily life? ([01:09:07])
4. The religious leaders were indignant at the genuine worship and healing taking place. Are there any traditions or practices in your life that might be hindering true worship? How can you address these? ([01:10:37])
5. Jesus calls us to approach God with the trust and obedience of a child. What specific steps can you take this week to cultivate a more childlike faith in your relationship with God? ([01:19:44])
6. Think about a time when you felt God's provision and care in a simple, childlike way. How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness in your current circumstances? ([01:14:14])
7. Identify one area in your life where you can simplify your approach to worship and faith. What practical changes can you make to focus more on honoring God and less on personal gain? ([01:16:36])
Devotional
Day 1: Heartfelt Worship Over Self-Interest
True worship emerges from a heart that seeks to honor God above all else. It is not a transactional act, but a sacrificial offering that reflects the worshiper's genuine desire to glorify the Creator. This requires a deep introspection of one's motives and intentions in worship. Are the songs sung and the prayers offered up done so with a focus on self, or are they a pure outpouring of love and reverence for God? Just as Jesus cleansed the temple to restore its purpose as a house of prayer, individuals are called to invite Jesus to cleanse their hearts, removing any elements of self-service and realigning their worship with the heart of God. This cleansing is not a one-time event but a continuous process that ensures worship remains untainted by personal gain or ego. [07:40]
"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." - John 4:23-24
Reflection: How can you invite Jesus to cleanse your heart today to ensure your worship is pure and focused solely on God?
Day 2: Embracing Faith's Transformative Power
The healing of the blind and the lame in the temple is a testament to the transformative power of faith. It serves as a reminder that when individuals take risks to draw near to Jesus, they open themselves up to His healing and restoration. This narrative encourages believers to look beyond societal barriers and personal limitations, to seek Jesus with the expectation of transformation. Faith is not passive; it is an active pursuit of God's presence and power in one's life. The temple, once an exclusive space, became a place of inclusion and healing through Jesus' actions, illustrating that faith can break down walls and create spaces of grace and mercy. [06:31]
"And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.'" - Matthew 9:2
Reflection: What personal limitation or societal barrier do you need to overcome to draw closer to Jesus, and how can you actively pursue that healing?
Day 3: Worship with Childlike Joy
The praise of the children in the temple serves as a model for authentic worship. Their spontaneous and joyful acclamation of Jesus as the Messiah teaches that worship should be a natural response to recognizing who Jesus is and what He has done. Unlike the calculated and often reserved worship of adults, children offer praise with unbridled enthusiasm and without concern for the opinions of others. This childlike worship is not only pleasing to God but also a powerful witness to those around. It is a call to believers to shed their inhibitions and worship with the same freedom and sincerity as a child. [09:07]
"Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger." - Psalm 8:2
Reflection: How can you incorporate the uninhibited joy and sincerity of childlike worship into your own practice of praising God?
Day 4: Guarding Against Complacency in Worship
The indignation of the religious leaders at the children's praise of Jesus highlights the danger of becoming complacent or accepting practices that contradict the heart of worship. It is a stark reminder to constantly evaluate whether one's worship practices truly please God. Complacency can lead to a rigid adherence to tradition that stifles the spirit of worship and ignores the essence of what it means to glorify God. Believers are called to guard against this by remaining vigilant and open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, ensuring that their worship remains a true reflection of God's love and sovereignty. [10:37]
"These people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men," - Isaiah 29:13
Reflection: In what ways might you be accepting or participating in worship practices that are more about tradition than truly pleasing God, and how can you change that?
Day 5: Trust and Obedience as Worship
Approaching God with childlike faith is not only pleasing to Him but also aligns the believer's heart with His will. Living out faith with the trust and obedience of a child is a profound act of worship. It reflects the love and trust inherent in a child's relationship with their parent. This trust is not naive; it is a conscious decision to rely on God's provision and care, to live in the moment, and to embrace the simplicity of faith that looks to God for guidance in all things. This form of worship is a gift to the Heavenly Father, one that honors Him and deepens the believer's relationship with Him. [19:44]
"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3
Reflection: What does living out your faith with childlike trust and obedience look like in your daily life, and what is one step you can take today to move towards that?
Quotes
1) "How does a child live? A child doesn't worry about tomorrow. A child lives in the moment... They understand little and must be taught how to live the right way by their parents. Children unashamedly, unabashedly celebrate without fear of judgment or reprisal... And this is the life posture that Jesus says is the greatest way to approach praise." [01:15:55]
2) "God is worthy of our praise, so we praise him. God is worthy of being followed, so we follow him. God takes good care of me, so I trust him. He asks it of me, so I do it." [01:17:03]
3) "The way he loves his sister, that's a gift to me. The way he listens to his mother, that's a gift to me. The way he obeys me when I ask him to do something, that's a gift to me... This is the gift the Lord asks of us. Would you follow me? Would you obey me? Would you worship me? Would you invite me? These are the greatest gifts that we can give to the Lord." [01:19:44]
4) "Jesus turns the tables over on this mentality. He's flipping the tables. He's driving these people out of his father's house of worship. And I'd encourage it if the Holy Spirit's tinging something in you at the moment that we would allow and invite the Lord to turn the tables over on us." [01:03:18]
5) "Faith comes from the fact that we have hope, and we trust that Jesus is who He says He is, that our Father is who He says He is, and that we should and we are able and it's worthy of us to take a risk to trust in Him, to follow Him, to be near Him, to be in His presence, to go where He's calling us to go, to do what He's asked us to do or say." [01:07:31]
6) "Hosanna, hosanna to the son of David. They begin to shout this, hosanna, the one who is revered, the one who is adored, hosanna, the one who will come to save us, the one who will bring the victory to the son of David. This is an implication that this is the Messiah that we've been waiting for." [01:09:07]
7) "Their priorities were to make Jesus indignant. What Jesus saw was that in the temple, in the inner courts, these thieves, these robbers had made their way into the temple where worship was supposed to be taking place to do their business. He's angry." [01:10:37]
8) "We are called to approach God's kingdom as children do. This might be hard to wrap our minds around because somewhere along the lines, we became pretty cynical, didn't we, adults? Man, we allowed life to get really complicated, didn't we?" [01:13:05]
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