We are continuing our series titled "Jesus Habits." We all develop habits. Some are good and some are not so good. Some habits are down right bad. As Christ followers, we should try to follow the example of Jesus as closely as possible. Today's habit topic is baptism. Jesus was baptized.
The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon. You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.
Jesus Was Baptized
Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him.14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?”15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.16 After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him,17 and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:13-17
Baptism is not a sacrament. Baptism is a Biblical command.
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. - Acts 2:41
But when they believed Philip as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized. - Acts 8:12
Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household; and many of the Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, were believing and being baptized. - Acts 18:8
Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name. - Acts 22:16
The Biblical order is this: Faith first, then baptism.
Baptism doesn't save you. Faith saves you. You can go to Heaven without baptism, but you can't go to Heaven without faith.
3. Baptism allows you to experience cleansing of sin.
Only faith can cleanse, but baptism is the public symbol of what has already happened. Only the shed blood of Jesus can cleanse you.
4. Baptism marks a new beginning in your life.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?2 Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:1-4
5. Baptism bands believers together as Christ followers.
Baptism is an act of obedience in response to faith in Christ Jesus.
The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned. - Mark 16:16
Jesus was missional. We should be missional like Jesus was.
For the past few weeks at my church, we've been talking about habits. Habits can determine the course of our lives. Bad habits will lead us down a destructive path. Good habits will improve our quality of life. There is no way human beings can live a life filled with nothing but good habits. Truth be told, we all have bad habits we need to change. However, there was one man who lived a perfect life. He had no bad habits at all. His name was and is Jesus. As Christ followers, we should desire to copy the habits of Jesus (we are calling them Jesus habits). We have learned that Jesus prayed. Jesus worshiped. Jesus was relational. Jesus was generous. Today, we learn that Jesus was missional.
The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon. You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.
Jesus Was Missional
If your life is overcome with bad habits, you don't have to stay that way. The gospel of Jesus is powerful enough to change your bad habits. When the gospel changes your habits, your whole life changes.
Our pastor mentions in the video above that one bad habit is wasting time. One reason for wasting time is not knowing your life's mission or purpose. Sometimes we know our life's mission or purpose, but we are afraid to take that step.
I'm not afraid of failure; I'm afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter. - William Carey
Jesus never wasted time. Jesus rested, slept, enjoyed meals, and spent time with friends, but He wasted no time fulfilling His mission. Jesus was missional.
What was Jesus' mission?
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. - Luke 19:10
Jesus never strayed from His mission.
As followers of Jesus, His mission is our mission.
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you; just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." - John 20:21
Are you a follower of Jesus? If your answer is "yes," then His mission is your mission. If your answer is "no," then learn more about how you can have a relationship with Jesus here.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.2 And there was a man called by the name f Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable due to the crowd, because he was short in stature.4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see Him, because He was about to pass through that way.5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”6 And he hurried and came down, and received Him joyfully.7 When the people saw this, they all began to complain, saying, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!”8 But Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am giving back four times as much.”9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” - Luke 19:1-10
Take not of three missional words at the end of the above passage: Seek, Save, Lost.
Have you ever been lost? You can be lost and not look like you are lost. Zacchaeus did not look lost, but he was. He thought he was somebody important, but there was a void in his life. Zacchaeus fell short of the glory of God. We are told in Romans 3:23 that we ALL fall short of the glory of God.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23
Like Zacchaeus, many of us think we are "OK with God" or that we are "righteous enough." Like Zacchaeus, we might appear to "have it all," but instead be empty.
Guess what? You might think you are seeking Jesus, but Jesus is seeking you. Like Christ came to Zacchaeus, He comes to you. God wants to spend time with you.
When Jesus saves you, He changes everything about you.
Zacchaeus received Jesus with joy. Salvation is a relationship with Jesus. When we receive His love, forgiveness, joy, and peace, our hearts change.
Do you need a change in your heart? Do you need new good habits? Jesus' mission was to seek and save the lost. His mission is to seek and save you.
If you are already a Christ follower, then you have been found so that you can find others. You have been loved so that you can love others. You have been changed so that you can become a change agent in the lives of others.
Jesus was generous. We should develop the habit of living generously. The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled "Jesus Habits: Generosity."
Jesus was generous.
You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.
What does it mean to be generous? Generosity is defined as being intentional in life by offering yourself and resources to others in the name of Jesus. We are never more like Jesus than when we are generous. Generosity is a foundational Jesus habit.
Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” - Mark 1:41
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” - Matthew 9:27-29
A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. - John 5:5-9
At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. - Luke 7:21-22
Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” - Matthew 19:13-14
Jesus always made time for those who were hurting.
Jesus was generous to His enemies.
Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.”Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. - Matthew 26:48-50
But Jesus responded and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. - Luke 22:51
34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves. - Luke 23:34
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. - Romans 5:10
And you were dead in your offenses and sins,2 in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.3 Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). - Ephesians 2:1-5
Jesus gave Himself to us.
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:16
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. - John 1:12
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. - Philippians 2:3-8
When we see how much we have been given, it is easy to give.
What does the habit of generosity look like in our lives?
The biggest lie Satan wants you to believe is that you have to already have a lot in order to be generous. Not true! Let's read the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.16 The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents.17 In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more.18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.20 The one who had received the five
talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you
entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’
22 “Also the one who had receivedthe two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’ - Matthew 25:14-23
God has given each of us a "measure of talents" to be used to invest in God's kingdom. Some of have 5 and some of us have 2. The "talents" we are given are to be used as Jesus commands and that is to love Him and love others. How do we love others? We follow Jesus' example. We are to be generous to others.
We do not need a lot to be generous. We only need a changed heart.
There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?”10 Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat.” Now there was plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.11 Jesus then took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. - John 6:9-11
Generosity is not just and act. It is an attitude of the heart.
Generosity is not just a feeling. It is a lifestyle choice.
We don't always feel like being generous. Sometimes we don't want to be generous because we feel the other person doesn't deserve our generosity. Well, generosity is not based on how we feel or whether or not the receiver deserves our generosity. Our generosity is based on who we are in Christ Jesus.
If you read and study the Bible, especially the gospels, you'll quickly realize the habits of Jesus. You'll see His characteristics and His behavior. You'll recognize the habits of the Man who lived a sinless life. My pastor is leading us through a series called Jesus Habits. We are learning about various Jesus Habits because as Christ followers, we should be copying the habits of Jesus as closely as we possibly can. Today, we are learning that Jesus was relational. The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon. You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.
Jesus Was Relational
Relational people draw others to themselves. They don't push others away. They don't talk about others. They talk to others. They don't look down on others or pull others down. They lift others up. They don't take from others. They give to others. Instead of pre-judging others, they intentionally seek to get to know others.
What habits have you formed regarding other people? Would you be considered a relational person?
Relating to others is the key to opening the door to their hearts.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them." - Luke 15:1-2
Jesus was relational. Notice in Luke 15:1-2 above that the tax collectors and sinners were "coming near Jesus to listen to Him." Jesus drew people to him. Jesus loved people. He cared and still cares about people. Jesus was always intentional about bringing people to their greatest need, a relationship with God.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells a series of stories about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. Every one of those items were found. Let's read the entire chapter together.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to Him.2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 And so He told them this parable, saying,4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the [c]open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?5 And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing.6 And
when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors,
saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was
lost!’7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
The Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I had lost!’10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Prodigal Son
11 And He said, “A man had two sons.12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he divided his wealth between them.13 And
not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and
went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his
estate in wild living.14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without.15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.16 And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything.17 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here from hunger!18 I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.”’20 So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet;23 and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate;24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.27 And
he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered
the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’” - Luke 15
My pastor mentions the lyrics to a song called Reckless Love. Some of the lyrics are:
There's no shadow You won't light up,
Mountain you won't climb up; coming after me.
There's no wall You won't kick down,
Lie You won't tear down; coming after me.
Oh, the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God . . .
It chases me down, fights till I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine.
The love of God is powerful and relational!
All throughout the gospels, the examples of Jesus relating to others with love are everywhere. Those examples are likely found around you as well, in your church and in Jesus-followers who live life around you.
Jesus comes to you, relates to you, loves you where you are, and transforms you by His power.
Here are a few more examples of Jesus relating to others.
Jesus began a relationship with a man named Matthew, an unpopular tax collector, and it opened many other doors.
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s office; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. - Matthew 9:9-12
Jesus demonstrated that sharing a meal is one of the best steps to building relationships.
Jesus valued relationships over "red tape."
Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.6 Jesus, upon seeing this man lying there and knowing that he had already been in that condition for a long time, said to him, “Do you want to get well?”7 The
sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when
the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down
before me.”8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.
Now it was a Sabbath on that day.10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is a Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” - John 5:5-10
Are you someone who removes "red tape" so some relationships can be formed and others can come to Christ?
Jesus removed "red tape" multiple times.
*The Samaritan woman in John 4.
*A sinful woman in John 8.
*Zacchaeus in Luke 17.
*The leprous man in Luke 5.
*Nicodemus in John 3.
The last thing Jesus did before He died on the cross was to build a relationship with a person.
42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” - Luke 23:42-43
If we want to follow Jesus's habits, what does this look like for you?
1. Be authentic.
Be authentic in your identity. Be yourself. Some people will like you and some won't but you are unique and gifted to relate to others. God is always at work in YOU. Be YOU.
Be authentic in your motives. Your motive should always be about getting others into a relationship with God.
2. Be aware.
If you want to be like Jesus, then you have to be aware of His work. Be aware of His work around you. Be aware of divine appointments.
But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” - John 5:17
Where has God placed you? Do you view where you are as a divine appointment, His assignment?
3. Be approachable.
Smile. Be nice. Be kind. Be friendly. Be interested in others.
Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. - Romans 12:9-10
Don't pretend to love others. Really love them.
4. Be affirming.
Acceptance doesn't mean approval. We can affirm others because they were made in the image of God. Everyone has the same basic needs. Our affirmation of others is always rooted in God's love for them.
All that you do must be done in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:14
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.
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
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.
PIN ME!
Jesus worshiped. We should worship like Jesus (Jesus Habits)
