Expectations from worship

Isaiah 6:1-8

1. A sense of God’s presence (Isaiah 6:1)

• We should be convinced that “surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.”

• Worship should neither be boring, or mere entertainment.

• It should convey a deep respect for the Holiness, majesty and power of the almighty God that is in our midst.

2. A conviction of our sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5)

• “Woe to me!”

• If there is no conviction, the Holy Spirit is not working in your life.

• The closer we get to God, the more we realize our own sinfulness.

• The brighter the light the more the wrinkles show.

• Even Paul was convinced of his sinfulness.

1 Timothy 1:15 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

• When a person brags about his own goodness, it’s a telltale sign that he hasn’t been near the purity of God lately.

• When you are in the presence of God, you cannot help but recognize your sinfulness.

3. A joyful reminder of God’s grace (Isaiah 6:6-7)

• We should receive a cleansing of sin and release from guilt.

• A church service should motivate us to repent.

• We should leave rejoicing in the knowledge of God’s grace.

1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

4. The inspiration to serve (Isaiah 6:8)

• When we gather for worship, we should be inspired to serve.

• Instead of an instinct to criticize others, the believer should leave with the desire to Share the truth with the lost, and minister to the hurting.

• We should leave different than when we came.

• God accepts us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way.

• You cannot truly worship God without serving Him.

Equipping of the saints; Ephesians 4:11-12

Dreams & Visions: Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17