Showing posts with label A.W. Tozer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A.W. Tozer. Show all posts

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Jesus Worshiped (Jesus Habits Series)

We are currently studying Jesus habits.  Jesus had no bad habits.  He lived a perfect life.  If we could all copy the good habits of Jesus, the world would be a much better place. Can you think of bad habits in your life?  We all have good and bad habits.  Our habits can make us or break us.  Your habits determine the direction of your life.  When we live like Jesus, it changes everything.  When we live like Jesus, it is called Christ-likeness.  Jesus worshiped.

Jesus worshiped.  We should worship like Jesus.
Jesus worshiped.  We should worship like Jesus.

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.  You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.


If you are a Christ follower, then Jesus lives in you.  

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. - Galatians 2:20

If you have given your life to Christ, He has given Himself to you.

The one who says that he remains in Him ought, himself also, walk just as He walked. - 1 John 2:6

We should live as Jesus did.  His habits should be our habits.

Jesus Worshiped

Worship is an expression, an experience, an encounter with God. When we worship, we are glorifying God.  We were created to glorify God.  Jesus glorified God.  Jesus worshiped every day of His life.  Worship was a lifestyle of Jesus.  Worship in the life of Jesus was both private and public.

1.  The Worship Habit of Jesus

Jesus grew up in a home where worship was a priority.

And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. - Luke 2:22

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the feast. - Luke 2:41-42

And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people. - Luke 2:52

Your kids will never prioritize what you marginalize.  Make worship a priority for your family every Sunday. - Pastor Paul Purvis

Jesus began His ministry by attending a worship service.

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. - Luke 4:16

Jesus worshiped every day.

At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a man inciting a revolt? Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me. - Matthew 26:55

Jesus was passionate about worship.

His disciples remembered that it was written: “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” - John 2:17

Jesus' Passion in Worship:

Jesus sang worship songs.

And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. - Mark 14:26

Jesus loved to see children participate in worship.

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, 16 and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?”- Matthew 21:15-16

Jesus loved to see people fed from the Word. 

And yet they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said. - Luke 19:48

And all the people would get up very early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him. - Luke 21:38

Jesus was passionate about giving as an act of worship.

And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large amounts. - Mark 12:41

Jesus' Promise About Worship

For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst. - Matthew 18:20
Where two or three are gathered . . . Matthew 18:20
This wall decal is available here.

 

Worship is Powerful!

2.  What does the habit of worship look like in our lives?

Everybody worships.  The question is not about whether or not we worship.  The question is about what we worship.  Worshiping wrongly results in emptiness and misery.

"Without Worship, we go about miserable."  - A.W. Tozer


True worship is not a place.

 God's Word tells us about the place of worship in our lives when it comes to priority.

Not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. - Hebrews 10:25

True worship is not about us.

We cannot make worship about ourselves.  Worship is not about our feelings, but about whether or not God is honored.  It is about whether or not our hearts are right so that God can be honored by us.

"Worship is the strategy by which we interrupt our preoccupation with ourselves, and attend to the presence of God." - Eugene Peterson 


True worship has requirements.

As the priests entered the house of God, there was a procedure as they entered the presence of God.  They didn't just show up and automatically worship.

Now even the first covenant had regulations for divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. - Hebrews 9:1

Read more about the detailed procedure for worship described in Hebrews 9 here at Bible Gateway

In Old Testament times, people who entered into the worship area (before the Holy of Holies), they came into the courtyard.  At the entrance was a brazen altar.  On the brazen alter, sacrifices were offered non stop.  It probably smelled horrible but it was a reminder to the people of their sins.  The symbolism of this tabernacle sacrifice points to Jesus in the future.  This carries over into the New Testament.

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. - Romans 12:1

Worship begins when we yield ourselves to God and give Him everything.

Back in the courtyard of the tabernacle, there was a piece of furniture called a laver.  The laver was a huge bowl of water.  The priest was to wash his hands and feet before he went any further into the presence of God.  We are talking about cleansing.  Dirty hands and feet (dirty hearts) are a contradiction to true worship. 

This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me. - Matthew 15:8

In this condition,  our joy is gone.  Our focus is gone.  God is not honored.

Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name. - Hebrews 13:15 (Now we are ready to worship.)

What does it look like to continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God?

It is praise, thanksgiving, singing.  It is the Word of God.  It is prayer, giving, and serving.  Worship is also nourishing, strengthening, healing, refreshing, and contagious. 

Worship is costly.

Worship cannot happen inside the church unless it first begins outside the church.

True worship is what God is seeking.

Worship is a matter of the heart.  It is about a truthful heart and an humble spirit - a repentant sinner abandoning all hypocrisy.   

Read the story about the woman at the well in the gospel of John, chapter 4.  The first person Jesus revealed Himself to as the Messiah in the book of John was a failed, despised woman who knew nothing but failure.  Jesus tells this woman that He is looking for people like her to worship Him.

God is looking for people YOU to worship Him.  

The best worshipers come with their brokenness, scars, failures . . . and God opens His heart to them.  Their hearts are forever changed.  

God is searching for true worshipers.  Being a true worshiper is a daily habit, just like Jesus.  


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Jesus Worshiped.  Jesus Habits.  We should worship like Jesus.
Jesus worshiped. We should worship like Jesus (Jesus Habits)

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Sunday, May 31, 2020

Psalm 13 (Summer Playlist Series)


Today we are looking at Psalm 13.  My pastor is leading us through what he is calling our summer playlist series.  The book of Psalms is a collection of poetry and music, thus the summer playlist title.

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's message.

You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.


We are all fellow strugglers.  We all need God and we need each other for encouragement.  Psalm 13 was written by King David during one of his lowest points in life.  David had been on the run from King Saul for 12 years.  David loved God but hated his circumstances.  Four times within the first few verses, David cried to to God, asking God how long he would have to endure his circumstances.

In 6 short verses, David transitioned from deep despair into a spirit of worship.  Let's take a look at the full chapter.
A Prayer for Help in Trouble

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
 
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
In the first 2 verses, David is complaining..
In verses 3 and 4, David is praying.
In verses 5 and 6, David is praising.


What is your posture before God right now?  Are you complaining, praying, or praising?

But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation., Psalm 13:5
This wall art featuring Psalm 13:5 is available here.

Let's look back at verses 1 and 2.  David feels abandoned, as if God has forgotten him.  Do you sometimes feel like David does in these first two verses?  I think there are times in our lives when we all feel like this, but the Bible tells us that God numbers every hair on our heads and that we are more valuable to Him than sparrows.  He keeps track of all our sorrows, collects our tears in a bottle, and records each one in His book.  He writes our names on the palms of His hands.
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. - Luke 12:7

You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book. - Psalm 56:8 
Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;  Your walls are continually before Me. - Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;  Your walls are continually before Me. - Isaiah 49:16
This wall art featuring Psalm 49:16 is available here.

Do you suppose David felt resentful because of his harsh circumstances?  Do you sometimes feel resentful.  I know I sometimes do, but let's take courage as we move on to verse 3.

In verse 3, David stopped complaining and really began to pray to God.  This is when the mood of this chapter changes.  David prays for God to take notice of his circumstances.  David acknowledges his personal connection with God when he calls him, "MY God."

David was alone.  Isolation robs us of our right perspective.

In verses 5 and 5, David is trusting, rejoicing, and singing.  His circumstances have not changed, but His heart has changed.  David is still alone and he is still hiding from King Saul, but instead of complaining and crying out in despair, David has chosen to trust, rejoice, and sing in praise to God.  David decides to glorify God in his circumstances.

We are not victims in this life.  We are victorious in Christ Jesus.

How do we apply Psalm 13 to our lives?


1.  Recognize that pain in life is unavoidable, but don't miss the purpose.  Pain will drive you to something.  Does your pain drive you to Netflix binges, pills, alcohol, pornography, isolation?

Pain should drive you straight to God.  God can use pain to grow us spiritually and to prepare us for future assignments.  God can turn our pain into a platform for service.
It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply. - A.W. Tozer
2.  In our worst of times, believe that God is always good.  God will never separate us from his love.  We can't avoid pain, but we also can't run out of God's grace.

Jesus experienced hardship and endured separation from God so that we don't have to.  There is a day coming when Jesus will redeem everything.
And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. - Revelation 21:4

God changed David's heart.  Is God changing your heart today?  

How long until you trust God?

How long will you live in rebellion?

How long until you surrender to Him?

Learn more about how to fully surrender to God through Jesus Christ here.

Read all posts in this series here

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Psalm 13 (Summer Playlist Series)

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