Worship: Our Identity, Empowerment, and Connection with God
Summary
In our ongoing series, "Going Vertical," we delve into the essence of worship and its profound impact on our lives. Worship is not just an act; it is an integral part of our identity as children of God. It is not about fulfilling God's need for adoration but about aligning ourselves with His purpose, which ultimately benefits us. Worship empowers us, connecting us to God's strength and enabling us to fulfill our calling, whether in ministry or daily life.
Today, we explore biblical examples of worship through the lives of three women: Mary, the mother of Jesus; the woman with the alabaster jar; and Deborah, the judge of Israel. Each of these women exemplifies a unique aspect of worship that we can learn from.
Mary's story in Luke 1 reveals her response of faith and submission to God's call, despite the potential scandal and personal cost. Her willingness to magnify the Lord, even in uncertainty, teaches us the power of worship in declaring God's greatness and aligning ourselves with His promises.
The woman with the alabaster jar, as described in Luke 7, demonstrates extravagant worship. Despite her sinful past, she brings her most valuable possession to Jesus, anointing His feet with perfume. Her act of worship, driven by love and repentance, shows us that true worship involves giving our all to God, trusting in His forgiveness and grace.
Deborah, a prophetess and judge in Judges 4 and 5, exemplifies worship as a source of wisdom and guidance. Her connection with God allowed her to lead Israel with divine insight. Her story reminds us that worship positions us to hear God's voice and receive His strategies for victory in our battles.
These stories illustrate that worship is not confined to a specific act or place but is a lifestyle of surrender, faith, and connection with God. As we worship, we declare His greatness, receive His power, and align ourselves with His purposes.
Key Takeaways:
1. Worship as Identity and Empowerment: Worship is an integral part of our identity as God's children. It empowers us by connecting us to God's strength, enabling us to fulfill our calling in every aspect of life. Worship is not about God's need for adoration but about aligning ourselves with His purpose, which ultimately benefits us. [00:35]
2. Faith and Submission in Worship: Mary's response to the angel's message exemplifies faith and submission. Despite the potential scandal and personal cost, she magnified the Lord, aligning herself with His promises. Worship involves trusting God's word and submitting to His call, even when the path is uncertain. [07:12]
3. Extravagant Worship and Forgiveness: The woman with the alabaster jar demonstrates extravagant worship through her act of anointing Jesus' feet. Her worship, driven by love and repentance, shows that true worship involves giving our all to God, trusting in His forgiveness and grace. [16:58]
4. Worship as a Source of Wisdom: Deborah's story highlights worship as a source of wisdom and guidance. Her connection with God allowed her to lead Israel with divine insight. Worship positions us to hear God's voice and receive His strategies for victory in our battles. [26:03]
5. Daily Connection with God: Spending time daily in God's presence through worship helps us recognize His voice and understand His will. Like knowing a loved one's voice, familiarity with God comes from consistent fellowship, enabling us to discern His guidance in our lives. [46:39]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - The Origin of Worship
[01:29] - Power Through Worship
[02:46] - Women Who Worship
[04:16] - Mary's Encounter with the Angel
[05:46] - Mary's Response of Faith
[07:12] - The Magnificat: Mary's Song
[11:56] - The Woman with the Alabaster Jar
[16:58] - Extravagant Worship
[20:07] - Jesus' Response to the Pharisee
[23:19] - Deborah: A Judge and Prophetess
[26:03] - Worship as a Source of Wisdom
[30:22] - Personal Testimony: Following God's Call
[36:13] - Finding Connection in Community
[46:39] - Recognizing God's Voice
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Going Vertical"
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 1:26-38
2. Luke 7:36-50
3. Judges 4:4-10
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 1, how does Mary respond to the angel's message, and what does this reveal about her character? [07:12]
2. Describe the actions of the woman with the alabaster jar in Luke 7. What does her behavior indicate about her understanding of worship? [16:58]
3. In Judges 4, what role does Deborah play in the story, and how does her leadership reflect her connection with God? [26:03]
4. How does the sermon describe the significance of worship in the lives of Mary, the woman with the alabaster jar, and Deborah? [02:46]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Mary's willingness to accept God's plan, despite the potential personal cost, teach us about faith and submission in worship? [07:12]
2. How does the woman's act of anointing Jesus' feet with perfume illustrate the concept of extravagant worship and forgiveness? [16:58]
3. In what ways does Deborah's story demonstrate that worship can be a source of wisdom and guidance? [26:03]
4. How does the sermon suggest that daily worship can help us recognize God's voice and understand His will? [46:39]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to do something challenging for God. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Mary's example of faith and submission? [07:12]
2. The woman with the alabaster jar gave her most valuable possession to Jesus. What is something valuable in your life that you might be holding back from God, and how can you offer it to Him in worship? [16:58]
3. Deborah's leadership was rooted in her connection with God. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God to seek His wisdom in your daily decisions? [26:03]
4. Consider your current worship practices. How can you make worship a more integral part of your daily routine to align yourself with God's purposes? [46:39]
5. Think about a situation where you need God's guidance. How can you use worship as a tool to seek His direction and strategies for victory in your personal battles? [26:03]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust in God's forgiveness and grace. How can you express this trust through your worship? [16:58]
7. How can you create a consistent habit of spending time in God's presence to better recognize His voice, similar to how you recognize the voice of a loved one? [46:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as Our True Identity
Worship is an integral part of our identity as God's children. It is not about fulfilling God's need for adoration but about aligning ourselves with His purpose, which ultimately benefits us. Worship empowers us by connecting us to God's strength, enabling us to fulfill our calling in every aspect of life. When we worship, we are reminded of who we are in Christ and the power that comes from being in His presence. This connection with God is transformative, allowing us to live out our faith with confidence and purpose. [00:35]
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally align your daily actions with your identity as a child of God through worship today?
Day 2: Faith and Submission in Uncertainty
Mary's response to the angel's message exemplifies faith and submission. Despite the potential scandal and personal cost, she magnified the Lord, aligning herself with His promises. Worship involves trusting God's word and submitting to His call, even when the path is uncertain. Mary's story teaches us that true worship is about surrendering our fears and doubts to God, trusting that His plans are greater than our understanding. Her willingness to embrace God's call, despite the unknown, is a powerful example of faith in action. [07:12]
"And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:38, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are hesitant to submit to God's will? How can you take a step of faith today to trust Him more fully?
Day 3: Extravagant Worship and Forgiveness
The woman with the alabaster jar demonstrates extravagant worship through her act of anointing Jesus' feet. Her worship, driven by love and repentance, shows that true worship involves giving our all to God, trusting in His forgiveness and grace. Despite her sinful past, she brought her most valuable possession to Jesus, anointing His feet with perfume. This act of worship was a profound expression of her love and gratitude for the forgiveness she received. It reminds us that worship is not about our worthiness but about God's grace and mercy. [16:58]
"Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." (Luke 7:47, ESV)
Reflection: Is there something valuable in your life that you are holding back from God? How can you offer it to Him as an act of worship today?
Day 4: Worship as a Source of Wisdom
Deborah's story highlights worship as a source of wisdom and guidance. Her connection with God allowed her to lead Israel with divine insight. Worship positions us to hear God's voice and receive His strategies for victory in our battles. Deborah's life demonstrates that when we prioritize worship, we open ourselves to God's wisdom and direction, enabling us to navigate life's challenges with confidence and clarity. Her leadership was marked by a deep reliance on God's guidance, which was cultivated through her worshipful relationship with Him. [26:03]
"Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time." (Judges 4:4, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to listen for God's wisdom and guidance through worship?
Day 5: Daily Connection with God
Spending time daily in God's presence through worship helps us recognize His voice and understand His will. Like knowing a loved one's voice, familiarity with God comes from consistent fellowship, enabling us to discern His guidance in our lives. This daily connection is vital for spiritual growth and alignment with God's purposes. As we cultivate a habit of worship, we become more attuned to His presence and more responsive to His leading, allowing us to live out our faith with greater intentionality and impact. [46:39]
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to deepen your daily connection with God through worship?
Quotes
1) "We talked about how the origin of worship, how when God brought worship into being, how the enemy hates us. He despises you because you took his place as the head worship leader in heaven. We get to worship God. He got in trouble for saying he's going to be what we are. He said, I will ascend above the heights. I will be like the most high God. And he got kicked out of heaven for that. And so what did God do when he created us? He said, let's make man in our image and after our likeness. In other words, let's make people like us. And that just really probably ticked him off because he said, I got in trouble for that. And so we are actually part of his punishment." [00:35] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "Last week, we talked about power. We talked about there's power. You receive power through worship. When you stay connected through God through worship, you receive power to accomplish what God has called you to do in your life. And we're not just talking ministry. We're talking doing your job. Whatever you do, whatever your gifting is, what God has placed you on this earth to do, if you stay connected to him in worship, stay in him, he's going to be there for you. He's going to be there for you. He's going to be there for you." [01:29] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Mary weighed all these things out, and she thought of all the consequences, all the things that are going to happen, all the potential problems, and she thought, let's do it. Let's do it. I'm good with it. Let's go. And so, the angel left her. This was a response of faith. She did not know how God was going to handle all these problems. The scandal, the Joseph, she didn't know that Joseph later on was going to have a dream. She didn't know any of this stuff. And so, she chose to submit to the call of God and believe the word of the Lord, because this angel had prophesied to her." [07:12] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "When we worship God, when we worship him for who he is and what he has done, it builds in us an encouragement because when we know what he has done, we know what he can do. In the book of Revelation, it says, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Every time you hear a testimony, every time you talk about what God has done, every time you hear about what God has done, then it prophesies to you that he can do that, in your life too." [15:24] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "When you're so in love with God, when you're so in love with Jesus, you want to give him everything that you have. You want to just, I mean, when you fall so in love with him, you just say, here, you got it all. And the great thing about that is when you say, God, this is all yours, then he blesses that and he returns it to you." [16:58] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "When you spend time in his presence, when you spend time worshiping him and connecting with him, you get to know him so well that he can just give you an inkling, and you're gone. He can give you a thought, and it's gone. You don't have to wonder. Now, you're still going to think, is that me or is that God? But you're going to know, this is how I know that God speaks to me. Is it stuff that I wouldn't think of?" [46:39] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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