A Man And His Worship

As we gather this morning at Gateway Community Church, we are continuing our series of talks entitled, “Are You Man Enough To Be God’s Man?” During the course of this series, we have taken a straightforward, nothing-held-back look at our character – our integrity, honesty and work-ethic. A few weeks ago we began looking into the soul of the Man of God. We talked about the unquestionable necessity for training in the Word of God – the Bible. We talked about disciplining our minds, and getting control over our thoughts. Last week we talked about the battlefield that is our prayer life. Today, we continue our focus on a man’s soul by discussing A Man and His Worship.

Many Christians have never thought through the meaning and importance of worship. In our society, which is centered nearly exclusively on pleasure and entertainment, the church is now filled with people who have the idea of worship completely turned around 180 degrees.

In his book WORK, PLAY, AND WORSHIP IN A LEISURE-ORIENTED SOCIETY, Gordan Dahl said, “Most middle-class Americans tend to: worship their work; work at their play; and play at their worship.” [ii]

Dahl is absolutely right! Most of us in church have our expectations of worship and our evaluation of worship totally messed up! Why is the church filled with such confusion over worship? The answer is actually found in how we answer another question: “Why do we worship – is it for God, or is it for me?” The assumption today by many people is that worship is primarily for us – to meet our needs. Because of that assumption, we tend to evaluate the worship experience using the wrong criteria. We ask the wrong question: “What did you think of the service today?” As a result, we end up developing worship services that are entertainment based, where the people in the audience sit back and wait for the show, and then later play the role of armchair critic –

When we take this type of attitude into the church, and emerge with this same attitude intact, then our so-called “worship” service has become nothing but a self-centered trip to the theater!

The question we ought to be asking ourselves at the end of the service is this one: “What did God think of the service, and of my part in it?” “What did I give to God as an act of worship this morning?”

Our goal this morning is to change the concept of worship at Gateway Community Church from self-centered to God-centered.

Because in our society today we tend to think of worship in terms of entertainment, and most particularly music, today’s service is going to be intentionally worship without music. Other forms of expression and communion with God will be employed throughout the discussion of this important topic for the man of God. In particular, we will be focusing on 5 words of exaltation and worship found in Scripture that are universal in their interpretation – they are words that are the same in every language on earth. With each word will be a Scripture that relates to that words meaning. The first word is hallelujah!

Reading #1 Hallelujah! – Psalm 148 – The Message[iii] [Read by Praise Team Member]

The word Hallelujah is a universal word of worship. It means “Praise the Lord.” It is the focus of Psalm 148:

1 Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven, praise him from the mountaintops; 2 Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his warriors, 3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you morning stars; 4 Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds; 5 Praise, oh let them praise the name of God - he spoke the word, and there they were! 6 He set them in place from all time to eternity; He gave his orders, and that's it!

7 Praise God from earth, you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps; 8 Fire and hail, snow and ice, hurricanes obeying his orders; 9 Mountains and all hills, apple orchards and cedar forests; 10 Wild beasts and herds of cattle, snakes, and birds in flight; 11 Earth's kings and all races, leaders and important people, 12 Robust men and women in their prime, and yes, graybeards and little children. 13 Let them praise the name of God - it's the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; 14 he's built a monument - his very own people! Praise from all who love God! Israel's children, intimate friends of God. Hallelujah!

For our discussion today, we are going to look at a passage of Scripture where Jesus very strongly speaks to the nature of worship. It is found in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 7, verses 1-17. Please turn there and follow along as I read it.

1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" 6 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 8 "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men*--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." 9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 11 But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"--' (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do." 14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"[iv]

It is clear in this passage that when we put our traditions, our expectations, and our own agenda ahead of the Lord He is not pleased with, impressed by or accepting of our so-called worship.

The Pharisees were great at coming up with all sorts of rules, regulations and traditions that they labeled as “God honoring,” but their hearts were far from God. They had replaced reverence for God and submission to Him with a long list of duties – even rules about how much water should be used to wash the hands and how it was to flow over the fingers! Their “religious practices” replaced worship. They had become so focused on the outward condition of the hands that they had long ago stopped thinking about the inward condition of their hearts. God does not look on the outward appearance, but on the heart. In our day, a person could be going through all the outward motions of worship – dressing up nice, folding the hands to pray, raising the hands during songs, nodding the head during the message, but his heart may be the whole time focused on himself – “How do I look to others?” “Why did they choose this song?” “Can’t that drummer keep a steady tempo?” “This message is so boring!” “Why are we doing it THIS way?”

If Jesus listened to the conversation in our cars as we drove home from church – would he use these same words, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me?” When we prepare for, participate in, and depart from a “Worship Service” our hearts should be especially close to Him! Our thoughts, expressions, actions – our entire focus is to be on God and Him alone. The worship that is shown in Scripture is a recognition of God’s mighty acts, a celebration of His character, and a commemoration of His grace. Is that our focus when we gather?

Reading #2 AMEN! Exodus 15:1-21 [Read by Praise Team Member] {With interpretive dance}

The word AMEN is a word of finality, of confirmation, of certainty. It means, “Make it so!” or “So be it!” It is a universal declaration of God’s authority and power. In Exodus 15, Moses recounted the working of the Lord. His song of praise is a great AMEN to the power of God!

1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! 2 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone. 6 "Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces. 7 And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble. 8 And with the blast of Your nostrils The waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.' 10 You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 "Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. 13 You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation. 14 "The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; The mighty men of Moab, Trembling will take hold of them; All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away. 16 Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased. 17 You will bring them in and plant them In the mountain of Your inheritance, In the place, O Lord, which You have made For Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. 18 "The Lord shall reign forever and ever." 19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them: "Sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!"

The passage that Jesus quoted in Mark 7, verses 6&7 came from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 29:13-16, we read,

9 Drug yourselves so you feel nothing. Blind yourselves so you see nothing. Get drunk, but not on wine. Black out, but not from whiskey. 10 For God has rocked you into a deep, deep sleep, put the discerning prophets to sleep, put the farsighted seers to sleep. You Have Everything Backwards 11 What you've been shown here is somewhat like a letter in a sealed envelope. If you give it to someone who can read and tell her, "Read this," she'll say, "I can't. The envelope is sealed." 12 And if you give it to someone who can't read and tell him, "Read this," he'll say, "I can't read." 13 The Master said: "These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren't in it. Because they act like they're worshiping me but don't mean it, 14 I'm going to step in and shock them awake, astonish them, stand them on their ears. The wise ones who had it all figured out will be exposed as fools. The smart people who thought they knew everything will turn out to know nothing." 15 Doom to you! You pretend to have the inside track. You shut God out and work behind the scenes, Plotting the future as if you knew everything, acting mysterious, never showing your hand. 16 You have everything backwards! You treat the potter as a lump of clay. Does a book say to its author, "He didn't write a word of me"? Does a meal say to the woman who cooked it, "She had nothing to do with this"?

The frustration that God had with the people of Israel in Isaiah’s day was that they thought they had it all together. They had figured out this worship thing – they were intelligent, they had the prophets, and they were the people of God! What did they have to worry about? But the fact is they had been lulled into a spiritual sleep – they were sleep-walking through their worship, and that sleep-worship did not honor God at all! Look at verse 13 – “these people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren’t in it. Because they act like they’re worshiping me, but don’t mean it.”

The situation back then could hardly be more like our situation today. We run around with more availability of the Scriptures in more translations than any people in the history of the world. We think we have it all together with our sophisticated understanding of science and nature. But the fact is that we have fallen into a spiritual coma – our lips move, occasionally our hands raise, but we’re sleep-worshiping. It’s possible to come into a church today and participate in an hour long “worship service” and hardly give any thought at all to the supposed Object of our worship – we focus on the setting, the appearance of the leaders, the skill of the “performers,” the way things are done, and we pay no attention to the Lord at all.

In John chapter 4:23 Jesus said that the time had now come when true worshipers would worship in Spirit and in Truth, and that the Father seeks such worshipers. Did you know that there is no other indication in Scripture that implies that God seeks anything else from His children? God desires worship above anything else! Real, sincere worship.

At the very end of his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul stops dictating the letter, takes the pen from his scribe, and writes a closing verse in his own handwriting. It reads: “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. If anyone won't love the Master, throw him out!” He then uses an ancient Aramaic word of worship Maranatha! It means, literally, “Lord, come!” Psalm 35 is an old Hebrew song calling for the Lord to “Come quickly!”

1 O LORD, oppose those who oppose me. Declare war on those who are attacking me. 2 Put on your armor, and take up your shield. Prepare for battle, and come to my aid. 3 Lift up your spear and javelin and block the way of my enemies. Let me hear you say, "I am your salvation!" 4 Humiliate and disgrace those trying to kill me; turn them back in confusion. 5 Blow them away like chaff in the wind – a wind sent by the angel of the LORD. 6 Make their path dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. 7 Although I did them no wrong, they laid a trap for me. Although I did them no wrong, they dug a pit for me. 8 So let sudden ruin overtake them! Let them be caught in the snare they set for me! Let them fall to destruction in the pit they dug for me. 9 Then I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be glad because he rescues me. 10 I will praise him from the bottom of my heart: "LORD, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the weak and helpless from the strong? Who else protects the poor and needy from those who want to rob them?"

Worship in Spirit and Truth. The Samaritans seemed to have the “spirit” of worship – Jesus never condemned their efforts – but they lacked knowledge. The Jews had all the knowledge (“truth”), but lacked “spirit.” God seeks people who will worship him with both their entire body and soul (spirit), and also with their mind (“truth”). It's like the old commercials where a man was walking and eating a jar of peanut butter, and he runs into a man who was eating a chocolate bar - they complain at first that their food was contaminated - but soon discover that it's better with both! [Pass out miniature Peanut Butter Cups.]

Hosanna is another word of worship that has no direct translation – a universal word of praise – it means, literally, “Lord save us!” or “Blessed be the Lord who saves us!” Psalm 118 celebrates the salvation of the Lord, whose faithfulness endures forever.

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 2 Let the congregation of Israel repeat: "His faithful love endures forever." 3 Let Aaron's descendants, the priests, repeat: "His faithful love endures forever." 4 Let all who fear the LORD repeat: "His faithful love endures forever." 5 In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and rescued me. 6 The LORD is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 Yes, the LORD is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. 8 It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people. 9 It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 10 Though hostile nations surrounded me, I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD. 11 Yes, they surrounded and attacked me, but I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD. 12 They swarmed around me like bees; they blazed against me like a roaring flame. But I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD. 13 You did your best to kill me, O my enemy, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. 15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! 16 The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! 17 I will not die, but I will live to tell what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he has not handed me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the LORD. 20 Those gates lead to the presence of the LORD, and the godly enter there. 21 I thank you for answering my prayer and saving me! 22 The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD's doing, and it is marvelous to see. 24 This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success. 26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. 27 The LORD is God, shining upon us. Bring forward the sacrifice and put it on the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.[v]

Message Part 4: Worship from the Heart Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6 [Pastor Bob]

God seeks people who will worship him in both spirit and truth – with heart, soul and mind. He desires that from us. Why? Because He is, above all things, our Father. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father, which art in heaven…” He broke new ground for them. The idea of addressing God in such a familiar way was unknown to God’s people prior to Jesus’ example. But it was not only his example to us, it was the way he prayed as well. In the Garden of Gethsemane, on the night before he died, Jesus prayed in the most desperate conditions of his life, He cried out to his Father, “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

In that moment of deepest need, Jesus called upon His father using a word that was incredibly intimate. It was the word a little child would use to address their father. Perhaps the closest we have to it today would be “daddy.” You know, when we grow up, most of us stop calling our fathers “daddy.” It’s a little to juvenile, we get uncomfortable because of the intimacy of the name, even with our earthly fathers – but Jesus used this name for the Heavenly Father.

What is most amazing about this word of worship is that it is a name for God that we are told we can use as well. God wants us to have that kind of close intimacy with Him! In Romans 8:15 Paul tells us “For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.” When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and experience the forgiveness of sins that His blood gives us, we become part of the family of God! And not just some distant cousin – we are adopted in – given all the rights and position of a full child of God – we are given the right to call Him “Daddy!” He seeks that kind of relationship with us – He wants that intimacy with us – but our worship is often far from it.

Summary: The audience sees a man who thinks he's going to church, but instead he's facing across a desk from God. All his clapping, praying and Bible reading fail to do justice to the promises that God is giving him, and the man leaves not understanding how much God loves him.

Set: God is sitting behind a desk. On the desk is a name plague that says "God". There is another seat for the person. On the desk are typical church notices, coloring pencils, and some bibles stacked up.

(God gets up and extends his hand in greeting. The person appears to do the same but instead takes a bible/Church bulletin/etc. from God's desk and sits down. God reluctantly sits as the person opens the church bulletin.)

GOD: I love you so much I was prepared to send my only, beloved Son into the world to die because I knew it would save you.

CHILD: Oh. Yeah, I heard about that. Thanks. (Causally reads bulletin. Looks up after a pause.) I'm sorry did you say something?

GOD: Well what do you say in response to that? If I didn't even hold back my own Son, but gave him up for you, don't you think I be prepared to give you anything?

(Person's gaze drifts around the room. Then stands up and starts clapping along to an unheard chorus.)

GOD: (Yelling too) You know Jesus said, "I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full."

GOD: (Louder) I said, I have a great plan for your life. A plan to help you and not to harm you. A plan that will give you hope and a future.

CHILD: (Stops clapping & yelling. Sits down.) Yeah someone in church was saying that the other day.

CHILD: And I think if more people knew about that, the world would be a better place.

(Finds a coloring sheet in the bulletin. Looks to see if anyone's watching and the starts drawing.)

GOD: (Stunned) Are you blind? I wrote that verse for you! Have courage, my friend. Look at the hope to which I've called you!

CHILD: Courage. Now there's something I could use. Stuff really intimidates me sometimes you know?

GOD: Don't worry my child! I have commanded you to be confident because I'll be with you myself, wherever you go, to give you eternal encouragement and good hope and strengthen your heart for every good deed and word! (He's still coloring) And those who hope in me will not be put to shame. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.

CHILD: (Stops drawing) Wow. What a beautiful dream. That's the kind of thing that kids of today should be hearing, don't you think? Instead of all that punk music. No wonder the world's in such a mess.

GOD: I can make that dream your reality! I haven't left you alone on earth. I've sent my Spirit to you and he lives in you. And he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world!

CHILD: (Whispering) But sometimes I just look at the world and despair at what we're up against.

GOD: That's the devil discouraging you. Listen, you are more than conquerers in this world because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. And he has already overcome the world!

GOD: Listen, I've begun a good work in you, and I promise I'll complete it. OK? I promise. And I don't break promises. Even if you are unfaithful to me, I will still be faithful to you. Just make the decision to throw off everything that's hindering you and follow me.

GOD: I never expected you to do this alone. I am with you. Do you understand who I am? I'm the almighty God. I hold the heavens in my hand. The earth is my feet seat! There is no one before me. So listen when I tell you that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you!

GOD: And you're going to need him, my child. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! Here, read this!

CHILD: (Stand up and reads in monotone voice.) Today's reading comes from Paul's second epistle to Timothy; chapter one; verse seven. "GOD did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline."

CHILD: (Gets up as an afterthought.) May God add his blessing to this reading. (Sits.)

CHILD: (Looking at watch) Ooo almost finished. I hope I can get home in time for the movie.

CHILD: (Reaching for money) There's nothing worse than missing the first ten minutes. Huh?

GOD: Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future or any powers - nothing could separate you from my love.

CHILD: Oh. Sure thing - that's great to know. (Puts money into offering plate/bag on the table.)

CHILD: (Doesn't hear. Takes bible and sheets and replaces them on the desk. Looks at the coloring sheet, sees if anyone's watching, and puts it in his pocket instead.) Well, see you next Sunday.

Does our worship focus on God, or on us. Do we honor God with our lips, but our hearts are far from Him? Are we worshipers that God longs for – worshipers in spirit and in truth? Do we honor God when we worship Him – or do we go through the motions?

He longs for closeness with you – He gave His own Son to give you the right to be His child, and He wants to have deep intimacy with you.

This morning, as we close our service with communion, let me urge you to make your Abba, Father, your Daddy, the center of your focus. Allow yourself to be impressed with the love He has for you. Remember the great works He has done for you. Recall the wonderful promises He has made and will keep. Experience the intimacy He longs to have with you.