Devotional Life – Worship: Orientation. Action.Col 3:15-17

Isa 45:22-25; Matt 4:8-10; John 4:19-24

Introduction

“You are the chief instrument of worship”

An instrument, in the sense of a musical instrument (i.e., you are the essential component of corporate worship

An instrument, as in you are an instrument of God’s will

Part of that work is to worship him.

Technological Worship

Introduction

Worship in the larger context

So what does that all-week worship look like?

Worship as orientation, and worship as action

Worship as Orientation

Our Orientation

 22 “Turn to me and be saved,    all you ends of the earth;    for I am God, and there is no other.

“I am God, and there is no other”

God is God, and we are not God.

Worship as Orientation

23 By myself I have sworn,    my mouth has uttered in all integrity    a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow;    by me every tongue will swear.

nothing higher for him to swear upon.

We see this passage quoted (2x!) by Paul in the new testament:

This shows us that the question of Worship is not Whether, but When?

Worship as Orientation

25 But all the descendants of Israel    will find deliverance in the LORD    and will make their boast in him.

Turn to God, and you will find deliverance.

Worship as Orientation

Being Orientated toward God means being orientated away from other objects of worship.

Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

Worship as Orientation

There are powers in this world that are trying to turn us away from God.

His response is from scripture

To Orientate toward God means to orientate away from things that would turn you away from God in favour of themselves.

Ask yourself, what are they?

To orientate to God is to turn to God, and to turn away from that which is not God.

Worship in a new light

What does worship Orientated toward God look like?

John 4: Worship in Spirit and Truth

“Where should I worship? Mountain or Temple?”

“Neither”

Worship in a new light

John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

The time is coming and the time is now when you will worship in a whole new way.

Worship in a new light

Since the kingdom of God is the age of the Spirit’s outpouring, true worshippers will worship the Father in virtue of the life, freedom, and power bestowed by the Spirit, and in accordance with the redemptive revelation brought by the Redeemer.

- Beasley-Murray, G. R. (2002). (WBC 36)

With the knowledge of redemption in Christ, our ability to worship has greatly increased

Worship in a new light

Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

“There is no space in which worship should not take place, no time when it should not occur, and no activity through which it should not happen”

- Ernst Kaesmann. 1969. In Miroslav Volf. 1993.

Kiwifruit – (see image on following slide)

Worship in a new light

Worship requires orientation to God, and the Spirit of God enables us to worship in every kind of way.

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Being a member of the body of Christ calls us to peace in Christ

And to Let that peace rule our hearts

Worship in a new light

16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

The key word here is admonish; carries the idea of “put” and “mind” (big fat greek wedding)

When is the last time you made plans to worship?

Worship in a new light

Verse 17, our landing pad

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Not easy to obey

If you do it in the name of Christ, it is worship.

Worship in a new light

Prayer, Engaging Scripture, Singing

Doctor Who; Going to the dentist

We at least need to ask the question

Thankfulness

Conclusion

Our orientation is Good.

Practicing Worship is harder than it seems

Culture and Passion

Should we make it an issue of Discipline? Fran

Conclusion

Monkey Rock or Monkey Face

Conclusion

Steven Curtis Chapman

Hero when I was young

Into Adopting, Lost his 3 year old Maria – hit by a car in her driveway that her brother was driving

His Response: Worship

Beauty will rise

It was the day the world went wrong I screamed til my voice was gone And watched through the tears as everything came crashing down Slowly panic turns to pain As we awake to what remains and sift through the ashes that are left behind

But buried deep beneath All our broken dreams we have this hope:

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise and we will dance among the ruins We will see Him with our own eyes Out of these ashes... beauty will rise For we know, joy is coming in the morning... in the morning, beauty will rise

So take another breath for now, and let the tears come washing down, and if you can't believe I will believe for you. Cuz I have seen the signs of spring! Just watch and see: Out of these ashes... beauty will rise and we will dance among the ruins We will see Him with our own eyes Out of these ashes... beauty will rise For we know, joy is coming in the morning... in the morning...