Sunday 06:06:10

Becoming Worship Everywhere we go, everything we do, every thought, every relationship is to be affected by the work of Christ on the cross. In everything, we are to reflect the glory of Christ. We are changed by reflecting, contemplating, beholding and remaining in Jesus Christ. Last few weeks: • When I see how Christ loved me, I see how selflessly I am to love others. • When I see how Christ forgave me, I see how I am to forgive others freely. • When I see how Christ gave himself for me, I see how I am to love my wife sacrificially. • When I see how Christ gave everything for me, I see how generous I am to be. • When I see how far Christ went to seek and save me, I see how I am to be leading others to know Him. The way I love others, forgive others, love my wife, love my kids, how generous I am, how willing I am to share what I’ve found in Christ with others – these all reveal how much or how little I’ve let the Holy Spirit mature me, grow me. But I am not asking you to modify your behavior. That wouldn’t last 2 weeks. I am asking you to consider how you worship. John Piper – “Desiring God” Stages of worship. The lowest stage of worship is the barren soul that feels no longing for God, but is repentant for having so little love for Him. It’s like a wanderer in the desert who has seen a river with water flowing, but has wandered away into desolate places. He wishes he hadn’t wandered off. Psalm 73:21-22 21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, 22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Psalm 32:3-4 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah We are like this before we come to Christ. But we find ourselves in this place at times in our lives, like we’ve wandered away from God. We regret having wandered off and we don’t even look forward to a reunion with Him because of our guilt or fear or anger at God. We don’t know if we’re ready to return – or if He’s ready for us to return. But the Bible reminds us that we don’t have to remain there. Psalm 51:17 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. In that place, in brokenness and grief over our ungodliness, we find God to be gracious and forgiving. Leads to the second stage of worship: In the second stage, we don’t feel connected to God, but we have a longing and desire for Him. It’s like our wanderer in the desert remembers the coolness of the river, the thirst-quenching water. He longs for it. He thirsts for it. He changes his course for the river. Psalm 63:1 1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Leads to the final stage of worship: In the final stage of worship there is joy in the presence of God. There is the joy of gratitude for His grace, wonder at His majesty, hope for a future with Him, and admiration for Who He is. It’s like our wanderer in the desert jumps in with both feet, feeling the coolness of the river, drinks in the life-giving water, whoops and hollers that He’s arrived at his destination. And has found relief from his wandering. Psalm 63:3-7 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. “Worship is a way of gladly reflecting back to God the radiance of His worth.” – John Piper Where are you in worship? Have you wandered from God? We all do for various reasons – • we get too busy, • we get angry with God, or • we wander off into sin. He paid the penalty for your sin because you never could. He loves you. He wants you back. Are you at a place where you’ve recognized your life has been lived too far from Him? He desires to show you grace and mercy. He desires to show you His goodness.