It’s hard to believe, but Americans are the unhappiest people on earth. That is the conclusion of a new study by the World Health Organization and the Harvard Medical School, which found that 9.6 percent of Americans suffer from depression or bipolar disorder ? the highest rate of the 14 nations surveyed. Our “Prozac nation” has a greater percentage of depressed people than war-torn Lebanon (6.6 percent); job-starved Mexico (4.8 percent); carefree, hedonistic Italy (3.8 percent); and overworked, socially rigid Japan (3.1 percent). And how’s this for a paradox: Nigeria, a land of desperate poverty, rampant corruption and violent tribal conflict, had the lowest depression rate of all ? just 0.8 percent. How can this be? One possibility is that when your life is a struggle for clean water and adequate food, you don’t have time to indulge in existential despair. In New York, on the other hand, a lawyer making $200,000 a year may find himself “depressed” if he doesn’t make partner in his mid-30s. It may also be that in less modern societies, people find comfort and meaning in their families, their religion and their cultural traditions.
Vince Siciliano, Wall Street Journal’s The Week Magazine, 3/23/07
Archive for October, 2007
Startling Statistics on Depression
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007The Prize of Worship
Sunday, October 28th, 2007Podcast: Download
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INTRODUCTION
Today is the last message in the series on “The Heart of Worship”. Before we begin this morning I’d just like to take a few moments to summarize what I spoke about in the last two messages in this series.Remember that the heart of Worship – the essence of worship is found in the midst of people who are hungry/thirsty for more of God. True worship flows out of a deep, wrenching hunger and thirst desire to know God and not only to know Him but to dwell in His presence. It goes beyond the ritual or traditional worship into true God-inspired worship.
The first message of the series was the presence of worship. From the words of Jesus in John 4:23-24 and through the illustration of these words in Luke 7:36-50 we learned that true worship is not determined by place or posture but by the attitude of our hearts and the longing of our spirits after the heart of God.
True worship is birthed from a heart that has reverence for who God is, that is humble and repentant, and that has a penetrating love for God. True worship is not only birthed from these attitudes of our heart but also from the longing of our spirit after God’s heart – when we seek the giver not the gifts and are concerned more with ministry to God rather than ministry FROM God.
Last week, in the second message, I talked about the price of worship. Through the account of the Israelites at Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:1-20:21 we learned that there is a big difference between worship and true WORSHIP! The Israelites didn’t enter into a place of intimate worship with God because they were afraid to pay the price and sent Moses in instead. Paul wrote in Romans 12:1 that our spiritual act of worship is to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.
True worship is birthed by the attitude of our hearts and by the longing of our spirits after the heart of God but as the Israelites understood there is a price to remaining in this intimate place with God. The price of worship is ourselves! God wants us! In the process of bringing ourselves to God as living sacrifices in true worship there are some uncomfortable places that we’ll find ourselves: The place of repentance; the place of sacrifice; and the place of brokeness. As we begin to enter into true worship we’ll be confronted with the price that has to be paid and then we’ll have to ask ourselves – do we want to stay back and watch or do we want to enter into the intimate presence of God – knowing that it will cost us ourselves!
But after all this has been said, after we’ve learned about the presence of worship and the price of worship today it’s time to talk about the wonderful, blessed, glorious prize that is experienced by true worshippers in the midst of true worship.
PRAY.
The Call to Worship had just been pronounced starting Easter Sunday Morning service in an East Texas church. The choir started its processional, singing “Up from the Grave He Arose” as they marched in perfect step down the center aisle to the front of the church. The last lady was wearing shoes with very slender heels. Without a thought for her fancy heels, she marched toward the grating that covered that hot air register in the middle of the aisle. Suddenly the heel of one shoe sank into the hole in the register grate. In a flash she realized her predicament. Not wishing to hold up the whole processional, without missing a step, she slipped her foot out of her shoe and continued marching down the aisle. There wasn’t a hitch. The processional moved with clock-like precision. The first man after her spotted the situation and without losing a step, reached down and pulled up her shoe, but the entire grate came with it! Surprised, but still singing, the man kept on going down the aisle, holding in his hand the grate with the shoe attached. Everything still moved like clockwork. Still in tune and still in step, the next man in line stepped into the open register and disappeared from sight. The service took on a special meaning that Sunday, for just as the choir ended with “Allelujah! Christ arose!” a voice was heard under the church shouting…”I hope all of you are out of the way ‘cause I’m coming out now!” The little girl closest to the aisle shouted, “Come on, Jesus! We’ll stay out of the way.” (Autoillustrator.com, “WORSHIP”)
In another instance, after attending church with his father one Sunday morning, before getting into bed that evening a little boy kneeled at his bedside and prayed, “Dear God, we had a good time at church today, but I wish you had been there.” (Autoillustrator.com, “Worship”)
There are many people that miss out on the prize of true worship because they aren’t willing to “get out of the way” and let God do what He wants to do!! God has a great desire to enter into our services and manifest Himself to us but He won’t do it if we’re in the way. Sometimes we can be so organized, so proper, so “perfectly in time” with our worship that we resist any intrusion into the traditional order of our worship and thus place ourselves at a distance from what God wants to do.
When people worship God in Spirit and in Truth (discover the presence of worship, and embrace the price of worship) they will soon encounter the wonderful prize of worship: which is the manifested glory of God!
When you find yourself face to face with God’s glory you find yourself in a place that you don’t want to leave. Why? Because it is in this place that your very being finds completeness!
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:8-10 (NIV)
What a wonderful promise! “Come near to God and He will come near to you!” It is echoed in the Psalms by King David and later by Isaiah.
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalms 145:18 (NIV)Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Isaiah 55:6 (NIV)
However notice that this promise is followed James 4 by the commands:
Wash your hands, you sinners – True worship (coming near to God) brings you to a place of repentance.
Purify you hearts, you double-minded – True worship (coming near to God) brings you a place of sacrifice. God becomes your only desire – not one among many.
Grieve, mourn and wail….Humble yourself before the Lord – True worship (coming near to God brings you to a place of brokenness.
Yes, coming near to God can be a painful process. But the end result is that God draws near to us! And as James ended this particular passage – He WILL LIFT YOU UP! What does this mean? I believe that this phrase accurately describes two things that happen when you have a God-encounter as a result of true worship:
RENEWAL
The first aspect of this phrase, “lift you up” that I’d like to focus on is the idea that when God draws near to us is that there is a spiritual, physical and emotional renewal that takes place. He “lifts us up” spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
15 For this is what the high and lofty One says– he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me– the breath of man that I have created. 17 I was enraged by his sinful greed; I punished him, and hid my face in anger, yet he kept on in his willful ways. 18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, 19 creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the LORD. “And I will heal them.”
Isaiah 57:15-19 (NIV)
ILLUSTRATION
There is a great lesson to be learned from the dictionary. When things start going bad, we often fear they will only get worse. It seems the “worse” will take us to the “worst”. To prevent the “worse” from turning in to the “worst” look at the unique set up God has provided in the English language. Any standard dictionary will separate the words “worse” (and it’s derivatives) and “worst” with one special word – “worship.” When circumstances seem to be slipping in the wrong direction, remember that worship is the buffer between “worse” and “worst”. (Websters Dictionary)
When God draws near to us in response of our drawing near to Him we move from…
a place of repentance into a place of righteousness…
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NIV).
There is a need for us to confess our sins before God in that place of repentance but the scriptures promise that, uncomfortable as it is we will come to a place of righteousness as God purifies us from all unrighteousness. A good example of this worship is found in Luke 18:9-14.
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)
What is righteousness? Righteousness quite simply, is “rightness” it is the quality or condition of someone who is free from sin and is “RIGHT” before God. It is righteousness that allows one to stand in the presence of God. God will not draw near to unrighteous people because His glory will destroy them. God is a Holy and Righteous God and just as light dispels darkness – His holiness and righteousness will destroy unrighteousness. (When the High Priest went in to make the sin offering on the Day of Atonement he would have fellow priests tie a cord around his ankles in case he died so that they could pull him out. They would know he was dead if they stopped hearing the tiny bells ringing on the tassels by his feet as he went around doing his duties).
Sinful flesh dies in the presence of God and it was necessary that the High Priest make sure He was sprinkled with the blood from the sin offering and made sure that the Holy of Holies was smoky with the Holy Incense so as to veil His flesh from God.
When we go through the place of repentance in worship we are really acknowledging our unrighteousness or “not rightness” that keeps us from seeing God’s glory. But praise God righteousness has been made possible because of the one and only sacrifice paid by Jesus Christ. And this righteousness is gained by faith in Him.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:21-24 (NIV)
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
Now, because we are righteous before God, He is free to reveal Himself to us! There is something tremendously wonderful about knowing you are right in God’s eyes! And the truth of the matter is He wants everyone to be righteous.
I want to make one thing clear, true worship is not what makes us righteous but it is the vehicle by which worshippers can truly become aware of their righteousness before God – not on their own merits but by Jesus Christ. In the midst of this worship experience you are able to identify better with what Paul wrote to the Romans.
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
Romans 6:13 (NIV)
a place of sacrifice to a place of blessing
As I said in the second message, true worship will bring you to a place of sacrifice – but the sacrifice you bring to God will soon be forgotten as you begin to experience the blessings that God brings. But the ultimate blessing the most wonderful experience is just being in the awesome presence of God and having an intimate relationship with Him.
In the midst of this glorious worship experience we’ll start to see wonderful things happen that will blow away our concept of “church” and life as a Christian.
In the last message I used Romans 12:1, I’d like to repeat it here and then add the next verse,
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Friends, in the place of true worship there is a transformation that happens! One of the greatest blessings we can know is when God renews our minds from an unrighteous way of thinking (the pattern of this world) into a righteous way of thinking (God’s way of thinking). Paul wrote, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will”. How many of you would like to know what God’s will is? True worship brings us to this wonderful, blessed place of knowing what His will is because of the prize of having God manifesting Himself in our midst and transforming us!!
a place of brokenness to a place of healing
One of the most wonderful of all the transformations that takes place when God manifests himself in the midst of true worshippers is the healing of one who has entered the place of brokenness. God takes the broken and contrite heart and touches it with His healing love. In the midst of their brokenness they feel a wonderful peacefulness and joy that is matched by nothing else on this planet – Has anyone here ever felt this before? You know what I’m speaking about then. This healing that is found in the presence of God is greater than any physician, psychiatrist, chiropractor, dentist, masseuse, or surgeon can give you! It is more powerful, more potent than that received from any painkiller, any prescription, and cold medicine, any head pills, any heart medication. It is greater than the thrill received from any drug or drink. Truly it is a taste of heaven. And truly we can experience a little bit of heaven on earth when we worship God in spirit and in truth.
These three things combined – moving from the place of repentance to righteousness / sacrifice to blessing / brokenness to healing – as a result of God manifesting himself to worshippers works a tremendous renewal in the life of the worshipper spiritually, physically and emotionally. You WILL be changed, and you WILL want more of God, and you WON’T want to leave!!
RADIOACTIVE
The second aspect of the phrase “lift you up” from James 4:10 might at first raise a few eyebrows. It is described best by the word, radioactive. That is, not only does God renew you spiritually, physically, and emotionally, but He also begins to use you to bring revival in the hearts of others. He makes you radioactive spiritually.
There is something remarkable that happens to those who are exposed to the glory of God:
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34 But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.
Exodus 34:29-35 (NIV)
When Moses returned from the presence of God’s glory on Mount Sinai he had been there so long that He reflected the radiance of God’s glory on his face when He returned to the Israelites. You can bet that they knew that something was different about Moses! In fact when they saw Him they were afraid to go near Him. Here was the man they had sent into the thunder and lightning to pass on God’s messages to them and now they were afraid just because they saw He was changed? No, they were afraid because they saw the presence of God’s glory manifested in the face of Moses!!
This happened in the life of the apostles as well because they spent time in the presence of God’s glory.
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13 (NIV)
15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
Acts 5:15-16 (NIV)
True worshippers become radioactive as they spend time in God’s presence.
9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:9-18 (NIV)
The true purpose of God’s presence manifesting in our lives is evangelism. The more that true worshippers hunger and thirst after God and linger in His presence – the more He begins to reflect Himself in their lives.
Have you ever asked yourself as a Christian, “Why can’t I win my friends to the Lord? Why is it that my family members just don’t seem interested in God?” The reason people who know you aren’t interested in your God may be because you are more worried about convincing them of God’s presence that you are with dwelling in God’s presence and letting Him convince them. Without the presence of God you are just another somebody to those around you!
But the true worshipper…when people are around them they know that there is something different about them. I remember when my wife worked at Bi-iway that she would sometimes come home and tell me of how she was amazed at the number of people that would come to her and start sharing their problems (sometimes their life stories) with her. The reason people did this is because Kerryanne was radioactive spiritually! God’s glory was being reflected in her life and people recognized there was something different.
Tommy Tenney made this statement in his book, The God Chasers,
“I don’t know about you, but I am tired of just being ‘another somebody’ to the lost around me. I have made a decision. I made up my mind and set my heart to declare, ‘I am going to pursue the presence of God in my life. I am going to get so close to God that when I walk into secular and public places, people will meet Him.’ They may not know that I’m there, but they will definitely know that He is there. I want to be so saturated with God’s presence that when I take a seat on a plane, then everyone near me will suddenly feel uncomfortable if they’re not right with God – even though I haven’t said a word.” (The God Chasers, by Tommy Tenney, p. 113-114)
What about you?
CONCLUSION
The prize of worship is the presence of God manifested in our lives and through our lives. In the story that was read this morning, once again we have a woman who was a true worshipper. The same woman who anointed Jesus feet, and anointed his head was once again on her way to anoint Jesus body in his death in worship. Yet when she arrived at the tomb she found her Lord and Savior gone and began to weep. On his way to the true mercy seat to sprinkle His blood as an offering for the sins of the world, Jesus heard the cry of a true worshipper and it arrested Him – Jesus returned to Mary to receive her worship. There is a tremendous pull on the heart of God that is exerted by the broken and contrite heart of a true worshipper. God will manifest Himself where people are longing after Him.
Do you understand the heart of worship?
Lowell Ogden tells the story of a little boy who lived out in the country around the turn of the century. He had never seen a traveling circus, and one was coming to his town on Saturday. When he asked his father for permission to go, his dad said he could providing his chores were done early. Saturday morning came. Chores finished, the little boy asked his father for some money to go to the circus. His dad reached down in his overalls and pulled out a dollar bill, the most money the boy had ever seen at one time. Off the little wide-eyed fellow went. As he approached the town, he saw people lining the streets. Peering through the line at one point, he got his first glimpse of the parade. There were animals in cages and marching bands. Finally, a clown was seen bringing up the rear of the parade. The little boy was so excited that when the clown passed, he reached in his pocket and handed him the precious dollar bill. Thinking he had seen the circus when he had only seen the parade, the little boy turned around and went home. Isn’t it sad that some people come to church like this little boy who went to the circus? They may come with the intent to worship God, but all they see is the parade – the parade of liturgy, hymn singings, prayers, and preaching. They peer through their pews at all the activity and then turn to go home at 12:00 noon; thinking they have been to God’s house, but yet they missed the main event – a personal encounter with Jesus Christ! (Autoillustrator.com, “WORSHIP”)
It’s time for us to get back to the heart of worship!
Men & Church
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007Less than 40% of church attendants at a typical worship service are men.
Men are the world’s largest unchurched people group, according to Church for Men, founded by David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church. He argues that worship services today are typically built around feminine values, with worship songs that are sweet and sentimental and sermons that emphasize home, marriage and family. Men need more masculine imagery and more opportunities to use their unique skills. They have their own language, culture and needs. Murrow says that, rather than having a separate men’s ministry, churches need to integrate everything they do with a masculine spirit. Here are some of the suggestions Church for Men makes, based on their research: (more…)
Discovering new lands…
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007“One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.” —Andre Gide
The Price of Worship
Sunday, October 21st, 2007Podcast: Download
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INTRODUCTION
For those of you who weren’t here last week I’d just like to take a few moments to make you aware of some of the background of what I talked about.Last week I started a series entitled, “The Heart of Worship”. I expressed my hope that the words spoken from the three messages on true worship would be more than inspiring, and more than challenging – that they would be life-changing, life giving and would instill in us a deep, ravenous hunger for the presence of God.
The Heart of Worship, the essence of worship – is exactly that: True worship flows out of a deep, wrenching, hunger and thirst desire to know God and not only to know Him but dwell in His presence. It goes beyond the ritual or habitual worship into true God-inspired worship.
We began our series last week by talking about the presence of worship. From the words of Jesus in John 4:23-24 and through the illustration of these words in Luke 7:36-50 we learned that true worship is not determined by place or posture but by the attitude of our hearts and the longing of our spirits after the heart of God.
You see, you can exhibit the form or display the acts of worship but it is not true worship unless it is in spirit and in truth.
True worship flows out of a heart that has reverence for who God is, that is humble and repentant, and that has a penetrating love for God. True worship also flows out of a heart that seeks the giver not the gift and is concerned more with ministry to God rather than ministry FROM or FOR God!
Last week we discovered that the presence of true worship is found among worshippers who worship Christ in Spirit and in Truth not necessarily people who “worship”. And as we’re going to discover today, there is a real difference between the two!
PRAY
Read Exodus 19:1-25
1 In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt–on the very day–they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. 9 The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said. 10 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain.” 14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” 16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, 19 and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. 20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” 23 Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” 24 The LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Exodus 19:1-25 (NIV)
Then in verses 1-17 of chapter 20, God spoke the ten commandments.
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
Exodus 20:18-21 (KJV)
Folks, there is worship and then there is WORSHIP! True worship is much, much different from the worship that some people profess for God. The message today is entitled the price of worship and as we begin I want to draw your attention to a few things from the scripture passage that I just read.
It was God’s intention that Israel be a kingdom of priests (v. 6)
It was God’s desire from the moment He lead them out of Egypt that Israel, as His chosen nation, would become a kingdom of priests. I believe that the event that transpired at Mount Sinai was the first monumental turning point in the history of Israel. It was here that a crucial decision was made among the people of Israel. I believe that it was God’s intention that this band of rovers would be made into a kingdom of priests at this fabled mountain. Notice what the scriptures say:
First, Moses was told to consecrate the Israelites (v.10)
This action is remarkably similar to the process by which God instructed Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons later while instituting the priesthood. The Israelites were being told to prepare themselves to be in the presence of God.
Second, it seemed as thought God expected the people to want to see Him. (v21-23)
It’s as if God said in verse 21, “Moses, you better go down and warn everyone not to come up here or they’ll die!” Notice what God said in verse 22, “Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.” It’s interesting that God would say this when the people are already gathered at the foot of the mountain. It’s as if God was saying, “If they’re going to approach any closer to me – even the priests must consecrate themselves or they’ll perish in my presence.” But then Moses seems to remind God and says, “Wait a minute Lord, the people cannot come up this mountain because you already warned us to make boundaries around the mountain where we’re not to cross!” Then God said to Moses, “Okay then, go get Aaron and bring him up with you…”
Third, Moses refers to the thundering display of God’s power as a way to ensure correct reverence for God that would keep them from sinning.(18:20)
God wanted this nation of priests to be convinced of his power and might!
It was Israel’s response that led to the priesthood.
When the people of Israel saw God’s power displayed the Bible says that they trembled with fear and withdrew from the mountain and stood at a distance. They said to Moses, “Hey Moses buddy, ummm…we know you and if you speak to us we’ll listen – but umm…we don’t want to go any closer to God and hear Him speak to us again or uh, we’ll die!” And then Moses said, “Don’t be scared guys, God just wants to keep you from sinning” But still the people chose to remain at a distance and sent Moses back into the close presence of God.
What is significant about this occasion is that it was here that the people of Israel chose to have someone represent them before God and be a go between rather than be in the presence of God themselves. Instead of fulfilling God’s intentions for them and be a nation of priests they chose to separate themselves from the presence of God and have someone else stand between them and God. I believe this choice at Mount Sinai had a far greater impact than the choice the Israelites made to not enter the Promise Land later at the River Jordan. You see, at Mount Sinai they saw God’s power, passed off the priesthood, but looked forward to the promised Land – at the River Jordan they forgot God’s power, ignored the priesthood, and passed off the promised Land.
As I said earlier, there is a difference between worship, and true Worship. At Mount Sinai, the Israelites were satisfied to worship God at a distance but were afraid to enter into True Worship up close. It’s ironic, but the Israelites recognized at Mount Sinai that there was a price to true worship that they weren’t prepared to pay. Moses recalled this incident when He wrote in Deuteronomy:
24 And you said, “The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him. 25 But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer. 26 For what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? 27 Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey.” 28 The LORD heard you when you spoke to me and the LORD said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. 29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
Deuteronomy 5:24-29 (NIV)
God said to Moses, “Yes, I’ve heard what they said and you know what? They’re right! – For them to press on to Me will lead to their death – they can’t see me and live. Oh I wish they would desire to know me and worship me and obey me, so that they will experience my blessings forever!”
The price that the Israelites weren’t willing to pay to enter into true worship and experience the intimate presence of God was death. They were afraid of dying! Listen Moses, you go ahead, we’ll stay here and worship at a distance but you go ahead and then tell us what God says to you! Many people today really do want to experience the presence of God and enter into His presence but are afraid of getting too close and so they’ll settle for pseudo worship…
There’s a difference between worship and true Worship!
You know it’s interesting, in the light of this passage, that Paul writes to the Romans in 12:1,
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1 (NIV)
What is the price of worship? The price of true worship is ourselves. God wants us!
Remember when I talked about God’s intention for the nation of Israel to be a kingdom of priests? We’ll never know what would have happened if the people of Israel had stayed at the foot of Mount Sinai that day but what I do know is that through the cross and Christ’s one and only sacrifice, God’s intention is being fulfilled through Christians.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father–to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Revelation 1:4-6 (NIV)
What is a priest – a priest is one who brings sacrifices to God, and represents people before God. In the Old Testament, a priest was permitted to enter into the presence of God and work in his temple. Friends, it’s time to proclaim in the church of Jesus Christ, “Arise priests, and enter into the presence of God, arise and worship Him, arise and bring your sacrifices of praise, and thanksgiving!”
And yet there are those, who like the Israelites, withdraw from the intimate presence of God and become content with a form of worship, rather than the Heart of Worship. Why? Because they don’t want to pay the price.
The price of true worship is ourselves and because of this true worship leads us to some uncomfortable places.
place of repentance
When you are in the presence of God you become aware of your sinfulness and are brought to your knees in repentance.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)
There are many people who stand off in their worship because they are afraid of what may happen should they enter into the presence of God. Think of the Israelites! They had just heard the Ten Commandments spoken by God Himself. Can you imagine the frightening scene as God listed off one by one each of the commandments while there was lightning and thunder echoing around you and smoke spewing out of Mt. Sinai? I’m sure in the back of their minds the Israelites were going – Umm…I think I may have broken that commandment – I don’t feel very comfortable right now – I don’t think it would be safe to stay here much longer…
Too many people in churches aren’t worshipping God in Spirit and Truth because they start to enter into the place of repentance and feel uncomfortable and start thiinking, “Ummm… This isn’t a very good place to be right now…” WRONG! The place of repentance, while uncomfortable is the best place for you to be!! God can’t get rid of our sin until we confess it to Him! Are you hearing me? Jesus Christ has made it possible for the forgiveness of sins, but it’s up to us to confess those sins!! John wrote:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
True worship takes you through the place of repentance and into the place of righteousness – but that I’ll leave for the next message when I speak on The Prize of Worship.
place of sacrifice
Paul wrote to the Romans, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” What does this mean? A sacrifice is something that is of immense value to you that you give freely without the thought of gain for yourself. Did you hear me? Some people like to think of sacrifice without that last part, “It’s an incredible sacrifice for me… but I’ll give you my treasured stereo in exchange for your new car…” Instead of sacrifice, many people approach worship as a bartering game.
The woman who came to Jesus in Bethany and anointed his head understood the concept of sacrifice. It is written in the scriptures that the perfume she poured on His head was worth a year’s wages and yet she willingly emptied the jar. True worship brings you into a place where you are willing to sacrifice anything to get closer to God and to honor Him! I believe Paul was a true worshipper! He was prepared to die for Christ (Acts 21:13).
True worship will not be entered into by curious people but by thirsty people.
There are many curious seekers in the kingdom of God. People who are content to stay in the distance and “watch” what God is doing, get the warm fuzzies, nod their heads and say Amen and then go home and carry on with their lives. Curious seekers can’t enter into true worship because they don’t want to give up anything! And yet they’ll sing the words, “Lord I give you my heart, I give you my soul, I live for you alone” And then they’ll leave church and do anything but “live for God!”.
True worship is entered into by people who are thirsty for God. That is they’re prepared to sacrifice anything that will bring them closer to God. In our country, in our society most of us don’t really know what it means to go thirsty or hungry for something. You only have to watch footage on TV or talk to people who have been involved in famine relief efforts overseas to understand what people will sacrifice to get food or water.
When people are thirsty for God they are prepared to sacrifice their…
PRIDE
- they won’t worry about what other people are thinking – they’ll only worry about what God is thinking.
WILL
- Not my will but yours Lord. Their prayer is, “Show me your will Lord – so that I can get in it”
- True worshippers are able to take God’s wants and make them their wants – even when the two conflict.
- People who are thirsty for God are prepared to sacrifice their plans for the plans of God.
TIME
- People who are thirsty for God aren’t looking at their watch to see if the service has broken the time – limit. People who are thirsty for God live the phrase, “wait on the Lord”.
- People who are thirsty for God are also prepared to sacrifice their own time in response to the will of God.
RESOURCES
- True worshippers are prepared to give up everything they have to God and I mean everything. Notice I didn’t say they give up everything – only that they are prepared to give up everything.
LIVES
- ultimately true worshippers are people who are so thirsty for more of God that they offer their bodies as living sacrifices to Him. “Take My Life and Let it Be…”
Let me make one thing clear. True worship is not birthed by sacrifice! As I said last week, worship is the heart-wrenching, hunger-thirst response to God’s presence and to know Him more. However, as we enter into true worship we will be brought to a place of sacrifice where we’re faced with the choice of giving up something to go further into God’s presence. God never forces us to sacrifice something. It is always our choice.
True worship takes you from a place of sacrifice to a place of blessing – again, I will leave this for the next message in the series when I talk about the prize of worship.
place of brokenness
Some of the most powerful worship moments are experienced by those who are broken-hearted, at the end of their rope – who are in the pits of despair. The truth is that those who are “all-together” will never experience true worship until they are broken.
People who are broken come to God because they need Him. When they are made aware of a God who loves and cares for them they want to be in His presence!
People who have it “all-together” will have trouble stepping in close to the presence of God because they’re afraid that some cracks may be revealed, or they really don’t see any need for God. Brokenness is an uncomfortable place. No one likes feeling broken-hearted, no one likes it when life throws us a bad curve. But, oh the wonderful things that happen when with broken hearts we come to God and worship Him!!
When we bring ourselves to God he does a wonderful work through our worship. The heart of a true worshipper begins to awaken to it’s need for God. The Spirit of a true worshipper begins to cry out for more of Him. Our joys, our pains, our failures, our successes all come to the surface and in the light of God’s presence the true worshipper realizes their unrighteousness before the tremendous glory of God. But then in the midst of their brokenness God casts the light of His love and His grace and carries the worshipper to the place of healing. Again, this I will save for the next message in this series!
CONCLUSION
The price of worship? Ourselves. The Israelites stood at the foot of Mount Sinai that day and became afraid of the price that would be paid should they stay in God’s presence. Many Christians today face the same choice daily as they feel the tug of true worship on their heart. You have a choice to stay and remain in God’s presence knowing that the price of your worship is great or you can be content and satisfied with standing in the distance. That’s not what God wants! That’s not what God sent His Son to Earth for! God wants us to be in His presence, He wants an intimate relationship with you – He wants us to stretch beyond what we think our “all” is and go into the “all” he wants us to give in order that He may share the “all” He wants us to have.