Why Church
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So today we are taking a pause from our study of the Armor of God. There is something that God has really been dealing with me about, and I can’t not talk about it. To start of I need to apologize to the congregation for something that you all are unaware of. If you had not noticed there has been allot of changes going on the last several months. I believe with all my heart that these changes are necessary in order for us as a congregation, as Christ’s church to move in a direction where we can be more effective in our mission. But with changes come growing pains, some conflicts, some unhappy people, some happy people, and some who are indifferent. And with all that being said, for certain aspects of this my attitude and heart have not been in the right place, like I said most of you don’t know that but I still need to apologize for that. So, now what we are going to be talking about today I have been prayerfully struggling with all week, and I think we all need to hear what God has been dealing with me about. As you all know I now have a different role in the church than I had before, and right or wrong I have a different focus than I did, and it is becoming more and more clear to me what God is calling me to do. My focus is not to fill our pews, it is not to make everyone here happy, it is not to gain notoriety for myself. As Paul said, it is to preach Christ, and Him crucified, to make sure you all have an understanding of who He is, what He has done for us and what He continues to do for us. My focus is your hearts, because that is where it all starts. Now I know I cannot know what is in all your hearts, only God can, but as Jesus told Peter in John 21:15-17, “feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep” This leads up to the message for this morning, I am going to start of with a question? But first know I am not trying to persuade anyone in a certain direction to suit my personal agenda, but speaking from the heart of what I believe we should know as God’s children.
Why are we Here Today?
Why are we Here Today?
This is not a rhetorical question what are some of your answers, why are you here today?
We are going to be talking about a couple of different things today, one of those is worship, and the other is compromise. Now with compromise it can be a slippery slope. There are some things in church we can compromise on, and some things that we cannot, we can compromise about simple things, but when it come to doctrinal things there is no compromise.
Compromise
Compromise
1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
Here we see the apostle Paul writing to his college Titus. Paul had left Titus in Crete to help that church combat false teachers, and get the church in order. Paul writes to him to help with these tasks by showing the connection between right belief and right action, he emphasizes that God’s graciousness should prompt us to be godly people.
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
How are we to be able to speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, show perfect courtesy, it is through the power of the Holy Spirit. You see the language “poured out on us” remember the cup and the bucket, what happens when you pour it out it overflows, and this should be the pattern for our lives. These verse are why I think as God’s children we should compromise on simple things. God is a God of order, and desires for His church to be the same. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for having division in the church, because we should be united in one common thing, and that is Christ. Does this mean we will always see eye to eye, no, but when we do have differences we should work them out in a loving caring manner, as Paul instructs us to be courteous toward people. Where are our hearts?
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
We see the same type of instruction from Peter. Now for the Worship.
Worship
Worship
What is worship? The term worship service is used frequently these days to represent the music before the message, and in some churches it represents the entire service. But what is it really. By definition according to the Nelson Student Bible dictionary it is
“Reverent devotion and allegiance pledged to God; the rituals or ceremonies by which this reverence is expressed. The English word “worship” comes from the Old English word “worthship” a word that denotes the worthiness of the one receiving the special honor or devotion.”
That last sentence “the worthiness of the one receiving the special honor or devotion” there is no one more worthy of worship than our LORD. One of the things that I think is important for us to understand and for our young people to know is that we are free to worship. As long as we are worshiping from the heart, and in a God glorifying manner.
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Here Jesus is speaking with the Samaritan women at the well. Remember we live as a part of God’s kingdom, the here and now part of it, and if we are true worshipers we are to worship him in spirit and truth. What does he mean by worship in spirit and truth. In order for us to worship there has to be a change of our hearts, that is to accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. Our heart of stone is then removed and we receive the heart of flesh that Ezekiel talks about.
19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
One heart, this is the unity we have in Christ. The changed heart we receive at our new birth.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Authentic worship involves an inward change of heart, not just outward observance. Real followers of God worship in complete sincerity. And how do we worship, we worship in song, we worship in prayer, we worship in reading God’s word, we worship in service to Him.
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
I think we have lost sight of what true worship is, and I think we need to get back to it. This leads me back to my question why are you hear. Are you here to get something or are you here to give something, to offer yourself as a living sacrifice.
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
We need to be here for one reason and one reason alone and that is to worship God, to give him all the honor and glory He is due, and this should be done from the heart. Our only motive for coming to church should be worship and praise of HIM. Okay now before you get to upset with me yes, there are some byproducts of worship, you should get feed when you come, it should prepare your heart for the message, but why are you getting feed so you can continue to worship with the right heart, to learn and grow, because the more you learn and grow the more your desire to worship will grow, and the better understanding of worship you will have. But if you are here only to get something, then you are here for the wrong reasons, if you are here checking off the boxes you are here for the wrong reason, if you are here because you think sitting in that pew will save you you are here for the wrong reason. I think just as Peter in the water we have lost our focus on Christ and we are starting to sink. We need to cry out to Jesus, and refocus our worship, fix our eyes upon Him.
Why Church?
Why Church?