Practical Worship
Notes
Transcript
Having studied the topic of Biblical worship
How God’s word describe worship and worshipers
Lots of theological truths about worship
We want to finish our series with what our practical duties are in worship
This passage of God’s word gives us 3 ways that we can know that our worship is practical not just theoretical
Before looking at the 3 ways lets consider a few fundamental phrases or words
We must first acknowledge that it is only by the “Mercies of God” that we are called to obey/ consider this exhortation
the 3 distinguishing traits of practical worship only apply to those who have a knowledge of the mercies of God
Hence Paul says brothers (those belonging to the family of God)
You must have come to know the deep compassion and sympathy that God bestowed on your sinful soul through His Son Jesus Christ to Justify you and sanctify you before you can attempt to engage in practical worship.
In other words Practical worship is your response to the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the power of God for Salvation 1:16
So Paul is saying here, since God has saved you you should respond to Him in your spiritual service of worship by presenting your body as a sacrifice
Secondly, Biblical sacrifice is not whimsical or arbitrary
You don’t make it up as you go
It is established in the reality of covenant relationship/pact/binding contract/commitment
It is also the means by which God wills to have personal dealings with His people
Love, faithfulness, obedience, and praise are presented in the bible as true forms of sacrifice
In is in light of this I want us to see the Apostle Paul’s exhortation
The Roman Christians are urged to present their bodies as a sacrifice
Not merely their minds nor just their wills (even though they are essential)
God wants the believers to present their bodies
It is only through the body, practically, that we can “serve our generation by the will of God.”
We look, we speak, we hear, we write, we nurse, we travel, by means of these material servants of the will, our living limbs.(our bodies)
therefore, without the surrender of the body we can not surrender the whole self
This is a rather strange request for God to make of His Children
Especially considering the quality/characteristic of the sacrifices He demands of them
Living- He says their sacrifice needs to be living
one that has life in it/ one that is alive
In both ancient Roman religion nor in Judaism bodily sacrifices were never alive . They were always dead
But here the command to the believers is that they would makes their bodies (their whole being) to the praise/obedience/ faithfulness/ and love of God
All of your life (everything you are/ you do must be done out of the desire to love/obey/praise/ be faithful to God
Holy- He also says that their bodies that is being presented as a sacrifice should be holy
that it needs to be fully devoted to God
It needs to be full of moral purity
Needs to be clean and pure
totally dedicated to the covenant relationship
It needs to be set apart from the things that God rejects in this world
Your whole self inside and out (in thought/speech/and deed) Has to reflect this level of holiness
Pleasing(Acceptable)- The believers presenting their bodies as a sacrifice needs to be pleasing
Implication here that there could be (there is) a displeasing (unacceptable) presentation of a sacrifice
Paul is careful to outline this to His readers and by God’s own grace and providence to us today
The presentation of your whole being in praise obedience love and faithfulness needs to be equivalent with something that God Himself would fully agree with
If God doesn’t fully agree with your obedience/praise/ love/ faithfulness then whatever you present is deemed unacceptable
So true practical worship of a christian/ a believer needs to meet the satisfactory standards of God as He sets them forth in His word
Paul is essentially restating the truth that is in Romans 6:13 “and do not go on presenting your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Because Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that when you go on presenting yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”
So instead you must live this new life you have been given by the mercies of God as one belonging to God
Renouncing/ denying yourself and carrying your cross daily and imitating and following the Lord Jesus Christ
Who is the embodiment/ the perfect accomplishment of a LIVING/HOLY/PLEASING sacrifice unto God
If you want to worship God this is what it looks like practically
Live every aspect of your life in holiness and seeking to please Him
You do that by looking less like the world and more like Jesus Christ (v.2)