Don't Let the Rocks Cry Out: True Worship

Jesus didn't come to raise up an army, he came in humility. He didn't come to overthrow Rome, he came to go to the cross. He did not come to establish a temporary political kingdom. He came to defeat death, hell, and the grave and establish a kingdom that would last forever. His kingdom will never end. Tell your neighbor, never ever end. [01:11:19] (29 seconds)  #KingdomNotPolitics

The same people, that same crowd who was shouting Hosanna at the beginning of the week was shouting, crucify him by the end of the week. Jesus didn't come to serve their agenda, he came to fulfill the will of the father. His prayer was not my will, but yours be done. When Jesus didn't do what they wanted, their praise turned into rejection. [01:11:55] (25 seconds)  #PraiseToRejection

They put in a prayer like a coin, they expect a result, and if they don't get what they want, they walk away disappointed. But God's not a machine dispensing our favorite guilty pleasures, he is a king to be worshipped and true worshipers praise the Lord at all times trusting in his timing, trusting in his plan, knowing that his ways are higher than our ways. We have limited understanding whereas picture. He sees our beginning. He sees our eternity. He sees everything in between, and his way is best. [01:14:59] (35 seconds)  #TrustGodsTiming

Well, that first Palm Sunday was beautiful, but it was also bittersweet because we knew Friday was coming. We know that same city that shouted praise would soon shout, crucify, and we know how easy it is for people to praise in one moment and drift in another. So we need to return back to that heart of worship where we worship with childlike faith, where we love Jesus for who he is, where we praise him with our whole hearts, where we bring the sacrifice of praise, where we worship in spirit and in truth and come ready. Let's not let the rocks take our place. [01:37:28] (40 seconds)  #ChildlikeHeartWorship

There's something about that childlike faith that God loves. Children are tender, they're open, they're responsive, they're not guarded, cynical, or self conscious. And actually, research actually confirms what scripture shows us. Studies from groups like Barna have found that the majority of people accept who accept Jesus do so before the age of 13. And the likelihood of receiving the gospel drops significantly as people age. That's why it's so important to plant seeds early. [01:04:52] (36 seconds)  #PlantSeedsEarly

God's not looking for impressive worship, he's looking for heartfelt worship. I remember the old nineties esque song by Matt Redman called The Heart of Worship. Anyone remember that song? That was a really good song. It reminded us that worship is all about Jesus, but we can make it about so many other things and we need to go back, return to that pure heart of worship, get back to what it's all about. We need to keep that childlike faith that never loses the reverence, never loses the awe, never loses that wow factor of who our God is. [01:07:35] (42 seconds)  #HeartOfWorship

We worship him because he is our savior who saves us from our sins. We worship him because he is the king of kings who reigns over all. We worship him because he is the prince of peace that brings peace to every situation. We worship him because he is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We worship him because he is faithful and true. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Let's give him praise right now. [01:13:19] (33 seconds)  #ReasonsToWorship

So true worshipers say, even if it's not going the way I thought, you are still good. Let's tell him, you are still good. You are still worthy. You are still king. I'm gonna praise you anyhow. I'm gonna praise you anyway. I'm gonna praise you anytime. I'm gonna praise you every day, all the time. Tell your neighbor, all the time. [01:15:35] (24 seconds)  #PraiseAnyhow