The Church – Called to Worship
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The mission of the local church is: Preaching and teaching; Making disciples; Fellowship; Worship; Missions and evangelism; Maturity of the believer; Ministry in the home; Ministry to material needs.
Worship:
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:21-24 KJV
The Church – the Body of Christ – was in the heart and the mind of God from the foundation of the world. The world had never seen anything like it – it was a mystery known only by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus talked about the Church, but, not until He died and rose again, was she revealed for all to see. This Church is not a mere organization, but it is a Kingdom – the Kingdom of God – that has no geographical boundaries, no cultural boundaries, no racial boundaries – no boundaries or limitations at all. The invitation to salvation is extended to every generation and every family, tribe and nation on the face of the earth.
Worship is the hallmark of the Church. That is what we do – we worship God and Him alone. We worship Him in spirit and in truth. We worship Him in every way possible! We don’t worship at a particular place, in a particular way with mere rituals or lip service – we can and should worship God from the heart anywhere, anytime. In the local church and wherever Christians gather, they worship God by singing, praying, preaching, giving and serving. An important mission of the local Church is to promote and sustain an atmosphere that is conducive to worship, prayer and praise. The Lord should always feel welcome in our midst.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV
We are a peculiar people – God’s own purchased, special people – a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy, dedicated nation. Set apart to show forth and publish His praise, virtues and excellence. We worship God personally because of what He has done for us and also for Who He is. At the same time, by our worship, we reflect the goodness and greatness of our God to the world He loves and died for.
For here we have no permanent city, but we are looking for the one which is to come. 15 Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. Hebrews 13:14-15 AMP
In the Old Testament, the offering of animal sacrifices was usually a part of their worship of God, but in the New Covenant, the Church offers up to God a sacrifice of praise. We worship in Spirit and in truth by praising with heart and lips – thankfully acknowledging and confessing and glorifying His name. The spirit of worship, prayer and praise, is what brings revival, renewal and growth to the Church.
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 AMP
Another way we worship God is by presenting ourselves – spirit, soul and body – to God, as a living sacrifice. We worship God by refusing to allow sin to have its way in us and by dedicating ourselves to holiness and godliness with the help of the Holy Spirit. Our godly lives serve to worship and bring glory to God. This is our reasonable service – the very least we can do for such a wonderful Savior!
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
1 Corinthians 14:15 NKJV
We worship God in Spirit, by the Holy Spirit, sincerely from our hearts. We worship God in Truth, according to, and conforming to, His precious word and His image. We worship with our mouth, in our earthly language, and in words we know and choose. We worship in the spirit, in tongues, in our heavenly language with words that come directly from the Spirit Himself. In the spirit, we can worship gloriously and with no reservations or limitations. The Holy Spirit worships our most wonderful, glorious, majestic, mighty, gracious Heavenly Father, through us, with words more fitting that mere human language could ever express! Thank God, that He gave us a way to truly express how much we love and appreciate Him and all He has done!
Who shall not reverence and glorify Your name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]? For You only are holy. All the nations shall come and pay homage and adoration to You, for Your just judgments (Your righteous sentences and deeds) have been made known and displayed. Revelation 15:4 AMP
For all eternity, the Church, together with the angels and heavenly creatures, will worship and praise their God and King!
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the