True Worship: Prioritizing God's Presence in Our Lives
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor introducing the new series titled "Heart of Worship," emphasizing that worship is not limited to songs sung during service but is a way of life. He uses a hypothetical scenario to illustrate the urgency and desperation of urging and pleading, comparing it to the strong language used in the Bible. The pastor then delves into the meaning of grace and mercy, urging the congregation to consider God's mercy and respond by offering their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This, he emphasizes, is true worship and promises that by doing so, they will experience God's presence in various aspects of their lives.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of being set apart like the Levites, warning against the danger of prioritizing personal desires and neglecting the presence of God. He encourages the congregation to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and to get off the altar of sin. He shares a personal experience of being in God's presence and realizing the need to surrender everything to Him. He warns against the danger of taking control and being the boss in our relationship with God.
The pastor then shifts the focus to the atmosphere and its impact on our experiences. He gives examples of restaurants with good food but a weird atmosphere and meetings with tension or uncomfortable experiences due to the atmosphere. He relates this to the church, expressing his gratitude for the growth and positive changes happening at ConnectionPoint. However, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining a worship mentality rather than adopting a cruise ship mentality. A worship mentality involves deep respect for spiritual authority and a focus on helping people grow spiritually.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of living life with God's presence. The congregation is encouraged to rely on God in every aspect of their lives, whether it be in their businesses, marriages, raising children, or even going to school. The pastor leads the congregation in a prayer, offering their bodies as living sacrifices to be set apart and pleasing to God. True worship, the pastor explains, brings God's rain and presence into their lives.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the principle of priority in worship. He explains that God desires to be the main priority in our lives, above anything else. The pastor highlights that people often prioritize other things such as their job, career, finances, or even famous people, turning them into idols. The pastor encourages the congregation to catch a heart to worship God and make Him the number one priority in their lives. He concludes by referencing Zechariah chapter 14, highlighting the importance of worshiping God and the consequences for those who do not worship Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Worship is not limited to songs sung during service but is a way of life. It involves offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is true worship and by doing so, we will experience God's presence in various aspects of our lives. [12:45]
- Being set apart like the Levites is crucial. We must avoid the danger of prioritizing personal desires and neglecting the presence of God. Each day is a new opportunity to start afresh and to dedicate ourselves to worshiping God. [24:30]
- The atmosphere and its impact on our experiences is significant. A worship mentality involves deep respect for spiritual authority and a focus on helping people grow spiritually. We must prioritize pleasing God over seeking the approval of others, as God's opinions will matter for eternity. [36:15]
- Living life with God's presence is essential. We are encouraged to rely on God in every aspect of our lives. True worship brings God's rain and presence into our lives. We must desire to be different and to surrender our own will and opinions to align with God's will. [48:20]
- The principle of priority in worship is vital. God desires to be the main priority in our lives, above anything else. We must avoid turning other things into idols and make God the number one priority in our lives. Without worship, there will be no reign. [59:30]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 11:36: "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen."
2. Romans 12:1: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
3. Zechariah 14:16-19: "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The Lord will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Romans 11:36 reveal about the source and purpose of all things?
2. In Romans 12:1, what does it mean to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God?
3. What are the consequences mentioned in Zechariah 14:16-19 for those who do not worship the Lord Almighty?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Romans 11:36 relate to the concept of worship as a way of life, not just an act during service?
2. How does offering our bodies as a living sacrifice, as mentioned in Romans 12:1, reflect our worship and reverence for God?
3. What does Zechariah 14:16-19 suggest about the importance of prioritizing God in our lives and the consequences of not doing so?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life. In what ways can you offer your body as a living sacrifice to God, as mentioned in Romans 12:1?
2. Can you identify any areas in your life where you have not prioritized God as you should, similar to the warning in Zechariah 14:16-19? What steps can you take to rectify this?
3. How can you demonstrate a worship mentality in your daily interactions and responsibilities, reflecting the principle in Romans 11:36 that all things are from Him, through Him, and to Him?
4. Think of a situation where you prioritized personal desires over God's presence. How can you ensure to prioritize God's presence in similar situations in the future?
5. What is one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate that God is the main priority in your life, in line with the teachings of Romans 12:1 and Zechariah 14:16-19?
Devotional
Day 1: Living Worship Beyond the Church Walls
Worship extends beyond the songs sung during service; it is a way of life. It involves offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is the essence of true worship, and by living this way, we will experience God's presence in various aspects of our lives. [12:45]
1 Peter 2:5 - "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What does it mean to you to offer your body as a living sacrifice to God? How can you live out this form of worship in your daily life?
Day 2: Embracing the Call to Be Set Apart
Being set apart, like the Levites, is crucial in our spiritual journey. We must avoid the danger of prioritizing personal desires and neglecting the presence of God. Each day is a new opportunity to start afresh and to dedicate ourselves to worshiping God. [24:30]
Leviticus 20:26 - "You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."
Reflection: In what ways have you allowed personal desires to overshadow your relationship with God? How can you set yourself apart for God today?
Day 3: Cultivating a Worship Mentality
The atmosphere and its impact on our experiences is significant. A worship mentality involves deep respect for spiritual authority and a focus on helping people grow spiritually. We must prioritize pleasing God over seeking the approval of others, as God's opinions will matter for eternity. [36:15]
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a worship mentality in your daily life? What changes can you make to prioritize God's approval over others'?
Day 4: Living in God's Presence
Living life with God's presence is essential. We are encouraged to rely on God in every aspect of our lives. True worship brings God's rain and presence into our lives. We must desire to be different and to surrender our own will and opinions to align with God's will. [48:20]
Psalm 16:11 - "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been resisting God's presence? How can you invite Him into that area today?
Day 5: Prioritizing God Above All Else
The principle of priority in worship is vital. God desires to be the main priority in our lives, above anything else. We must avoid turning other things into idols and make God the number one priority in our lives. Without worship, there will be no reign. [59:30]
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: What are some things that you have prioritized over God? How can you rearrange your priorities to put God first?
Quotes
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to be able to see how merciful he is getting to you, that you are not getting what you deserve. And when you can see that, then it says to offer your body as a living sacrifice, to offer, to bring yourself as an offering to him, offering as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is what? True and proper worship." ([22:17])
"Has anyone ever offered your body as a living sacrifice? I know I have. See, if it happens, we have to get off the altar. Now I'm no longer here because living in sin is I get up because right here, it's a new day and his mercies are new every morning. And so it's a new morning, it's a new day, and you got an extra hour to sleep. What a great day to get back on the altar." [31:51]
"But maybe for some of us, what happens is we start living life. We start going to church, and that's awesome. And years go by, and all good. And we're taking these steps. But never forget those moments you've had with God. at prayer and fasting or moments where it's like, God, literally, you can have everything. Just use my life." [40:12]
"We don't want to live life without you. We don't want to do our business without you. We don't want to do marriages without you. We don't want to raise kids without you. God, we don't want to go to school without you." [41:28]
"And different is on that altar as a living sacrifice. And with that, you will pour out your presence. You will pour out your presence upon our lives as we move forward." [42:16]
"We are a worship. We are focused that they walk into this place with. We are focused on helping people grow spiritually, mindset. A worship mentality has a deep respect for spiritual authority, although not an unhealthy respect. It's not unhealthy. It has a deep respect. A cruise ship mentality doesn't have a lot of respect for spiritual authority." #!!16:57!!#
"Worship is a way of life. It's so much more than a song. It is, we were created to worship. And all of us worship. Did you know every single person in the entire world, Christian or non-Christian, worships?" #!!07:01!!#
"But if you can't miss the workout and it doesn't bother you that you haven't read your Bible in a month, you might see the priority." #!!08:36!!#
"No worship, no reign." #!!12:00!!#
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