The Active Worshiper - How to Glorify God
Notes
Transcript
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
As we come together, we humbly bow before You, acknowledging Your sovereignty and majesty.
As we delve into Your Word, we ask for Your guidance. Open our hearts to receive Your truth with humility. May Your Spirit stir within us a deeper understanding of what it means to worship You in spirit and in truth.
Grant us the wisdom to apply the principles we've learned. May this time of study and reflection draw us closer to You and empower us to live as true worshipers in every aspect of our lives.
May our worship be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, and may it bring glory and honor to Your holy name. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Children who are 4 yrs of age - 2nd grade may now make their way to Children’s Church please follow Mrs. Jane.
Well its been a four month journey but we have finally made it .
The final message in our series, "The Heart of Worship," I am filled with gratitude for the journey we've shared. Throughout this series, we've explored the what Jesus meant when He instructed the woman at the well, John 4:24 “24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.””
We have talked about the...
(List of previous sermons from the Worship Series)
Right Worship Matters
Worship God in Spirit
Worship God in Truth
God: Who is He (Triune)
The Immutable, Unchanging God (Never Changing)
The Omnipotent God (All Powerful)
The Omnipresent God (All Present)
The Omniscient God (All Knowing)
The Holiness of God (Holy, Holy, Holy)
The Glory of God - Which is the Essence of Worship
Today we will conclude our series on the heart of worship by answering the question, how do we glorify God, what does that look like in my life as I pursue the essence of what worship truly is.
God is glorified, when we trust Him with an unwavering faith.
Unwavering Faith in God
Unwavering Faith in God
Worship involves trusting God without doubt or indecisiveness. Just as Abraham's unwavering faith glorified God, so does our complete trust in Him, even in the face of trials. Romans 4.20 speaks of Abraham’s faith in God’s promises and Word.
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
Faith is perhaps the most basic form of worship. For without it, it is impossible to please God. Heb.11.6
Every Christian professes belief in God's faithfulness to His Word, yet too few live lives marked by unwavering trust, leaving the world uncertain about the reliability of our God. Even the slightest hint of doubt regarding God's character or His promises suggests a lack of confidence in His integrity. Scripture warns in 1 John 5:10 that those who doubt God essentially accuse Him of falsehood. In essence, doubting God portrays Him as unfaithful. (Reference: John MacArthur, Worship: The Ultimate Priority, p. 176)
We glorify God, by praising Him with our mouths.
Verbal Praise
Verbal Praise
Psalm 50:23 (NKJV)
23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;
Praising God with our mouths glorifies Him. Reciting His attributes and works, and thanking Him, reflects true worship.
To develop trust in God in the present, the most effective approach is to examine His actions in the past. Through His past deeds, God has consistently demonstrated His faithfulness, serving as a constant reminder that He has never faltered in His promises. Reflecting on His past faithfulness and recounting His works glorifies Him. This is only done by studying the Word of God from OT to NT and seeing for yourself the faithfulness of God.
We also give God glory when we confess our sin.
Confession of Sin
Confession of Sin
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The term "confess" in this verse originates from the Greek word "homologeo," derived from "homo," meaning "the same," and "logos," meaning "word or expression." Essentially, the word confess means "to say the same thing as" or "to express complete agreement." Confession involves aligning our words with God's, fully acknowledging our responsibility for sin and recognizing the severity of sin's depravity.
This is way true confession leads to true repentance. It is seeing our sin and our total depravity just the way God sees it. We don’t often think of the confession of sin as worship, but it is.
Confessing our sins humbles us before God, acknowledging His holiness and righteousness.
Fourthly, we glorify God through producing spiritual fruitfulness.
Abundance of Fruit
Abundance of Fruit
John 15:8 (NKJV)
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit;
Bearing spiritual fruit is essential for glorifying God. This includes both good works and displaying the characteristics of Christ, revealing His nature to the world.
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
That explains clearly what fruitfulness is. The fruit we bear to His glory is the fruit of good works.
Also we glorify God through confident prayer
Confident Prayer
Confident Prayer
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Prayer, aligned with God's will, glorifies Him. It's not merely asking for things but communing with God and echoing His Word, ultimately revealing His glory in the answer.
We glorify God as well through a willingness to suffer for His name sake
A Willingness to Suffer
A Willingness to Suffer
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
Loving God enough to suffer for Him glorifies Him. Whether through martyrdom or enduring hardships, our willingness to suffer demonstrates our devotion to God.
Then there is the content heart that glorifies God.
A Contented Heart
A Contented Heart
Contentment in all circumstances testifies to God's wisdom and sovereignty. Even amidst trials, like Paul, true worshipers find contentment, glorifying God.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
We bring glory to God by proclaiming His Word with clarity...
A Clear Witness
A Clear Witness
Proclaiming God's Word with clarity spreads His glory. When people hear and respond to His Word, they become worshipers, continuing the cycle of glorifying God.
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,
In Conclusion:
Conclusion:
As we bring this series, "The Heart of Worship," to a close, let us not view this as the end but rather a continued lesson in what is at the core of true genuine worship of our Holy God.
May we be worshipers who live out our faith with unwavering trust, verbal praise, confession of sin, abundant fruit, confident prayer, willingness to suffer, contented hearts, and clear witness.
Let us be living testimonies to the transformative power of worship, reflecting God's glory in all we do. AMEN
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father,
As we close this series on worship, we thank You for revealing its depth and beauty. Guide us to live lives of unwavering trust, joyful praise, humble confession, and fruitful service. Empower us to bear witness to Your love and grace. May our lives be a reflection of true worship, glorifying Your name in all things. Amen.