True Worship: Prioritizing God's Presence in Our Lives

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?

Sermon 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

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Sermon Clips

"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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