The Spiritual Disciplines: Worship
This past Sunday we concluded a 12 week sermon series entitled Freedom. The premise of the series is that too often too many of us don't experience spiritual freedom. That's usually due to one of two resons. First, it may be never having repented of sin, placing wholehearted trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and succumbing to His Lordship. Freedom begins with embracing the gospel. There is no spiritual freedom apart from Jesus.
Second, it may be due to neglecting the spiritual disciplines in daily living. Spiritual disciplines include: worship, prayer, giving (stewardship), Bible study, serving, and Christian community. That's not an exhaustive list; but simply the six disciplines we covered in our sermon series.
Spiritual disciplines are gifts from God. They are God-given tools given to us by which to stand firm in our freedom (Galatians 5:1). Practicing the spiritual disciplines don't make us free. Jesus makes us free. We are freed from sin, from its power over us, from its eternal consequences by the grace of God as provided through the sinless life, sacrificial death, and conquering resurrection of Jesus. We are set free by grace through faith; not by practicing certain disciplines. However, once we are set free, we enjoy that freedom by practicing the spiritual disciplines. Jesus set us free, but it's through exercising these disciplines that we get to live the life of freedom that Jesus secured for us. But the opposite is true; neglect of the disciplines is tantamount to neglect of our freedom in Christ.
What I am going to do today and hopefully for the next six weeks is briefly summarize each of the six disciplines that we covered during our series. However, I recommend taking the time to listen to the specific messages in the sermon series. To do so click here: FREEDOM
Today, I'm summarizing the spiritual discipline of worship.
At it's most fundamental level, worship is gratitude. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Through Him, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give THANKS to HIs name." Worship is possessing a spirit of gratitude toward God because of the grace we have received through Jesus Christ. We are to worship ("offer a sacrifice of praise") because we are thankful for the gospel (the sacrifice of Jesus). "Through" Jesus, we are set free FROM the tyranny of sin an set free TO enjoy a loving relationship with our Creator. Because of Jesus, we are rescued out of darkness and are given access to the presence of God. Because of Jesus, we liberated from spiritual death and guaranteed a seat at Jesus' table in heaven forever and ever.
Understanding the gospel, our hearts should be filled with gratitude, and that gratitude is to overflow into worship. Our hearts should be so relieved and gladdened that the relief spills out through our "lip." That is why we praise God and sing anthems to Him. That is why we teach others about His truth and love. That is why we share the gospel with others. All of that is the gratitude of our hearts being expressed in the fruit of our lips (singing, teaching, witnessing). Worship is gratitude overflowing into our speech - praising God and speaking about God.
Worship is also about rulership. It's about what rules over our hearts - about what our hearts give glory to. All of us us worship something. Something reigns over each of us. The question is: what is it that rules over us? A follower of Jesus is not simply a person who has received the grace of God, but also a person who has succumb to the Lordship of Jesus. They serve Him. They have given control of their lives over to His rulership over their lives. Christians worship God because they gladly acknowledge that He is not only the King of the universe but also the King of their hearts, minds, and souls. The discipline of worship is being so overwhelmed by God's greatness, glory, goodness, and grace that when you think about Jesus you say, "That's my King!" (check out this VIDEO about Jesus as King).
That's a quick review of a couple of the highlights in regards to the spiritual discipline of worship. So here are a few questions to ponder:
Take some time to evaluate your discipline of worship. Meditate on God's grace and on the gospel of Jesus. Ponder how you have benefitted from the cross. Think about how much God loves you. I pray that as you do so that your heart is filled with gratitude and that it will spill over into worship. And if it does, two wonderful things take place: God gets glory and you enjoy freedom!
In awe of Jesus,
Pastor Rick
Second, it may be due to neglecting the spiritual disciplines in daily living. Spiritual disciplines include: worship, prayer, giving (stewardship), Bible study, serving, and Christian community. That's not an exhaustive list; but simply the six disciplines we covered in our sermon series.
Spiritual disciplines are gifts from God. They are God-given tools given to us by which to stand firm in our freedom (Galatians 5:1). Practicing the spiritual disciplines don't make us free. Jesus makes us free. We are freed from sin, from its power over us, from its eternal consequences by the grace of God as provided through the sinless life, sacrificial death, and conquering resurrection of Jesus. We are set free by grace through faith; not by practicing certain disciplines. However, once we are set free, we enjoy that freedom by practicing the spiritual disciplines. Jesus set us free, but it's through exercising these disciplines that we get to live the life of freedom that Jesus secured for us. But the opposite is true; neglect of the disciplines is tantamount to neglect of our freedom in Christ.
What I am going to do today and hopefully for the next six weeks is briefly summarize each of the six disciplines that we covered during our series. However, I recommend taking the time to listen to the specific messages in the sermon series. To do so click here: FREEDOM
Today, I'm summarizing the spiritual discipline of worship.
At it's most fundamental level, worship is gratitude. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Through Him, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give THANKS to HIs name." Worship is possessing a spirit of gratitude toward God because of the grace we have received through Jesus Christ. We are to worship ("offer a sacrifice of praise") because we are thankful for the gospel (the sacrifice of Jesus). "Through" Jesus, we are set free FROM the tyranny of sin an set free TO enjoy a loving relationship with our Creator. Because of Jesus, we are rescued out of darkness and are given access to the presence of God. Because of Jesus, we liberated from spiritual death and guaranteed a seat at Jesus' table in heaven forever and ever.
Understanding the gospel, our hearts should be filled with gratitude, and that gratitude is to overflow into worship. Our hearts should be so relieved and gladdened that the relief spills out through our "lip." That is why we praise God and sing anthems to Him. That is why we teach others about His truth and love. That is why we share the gospel with others. All of that is the gratitude of our hearts being expressed in the fruit of our lips (singing, teaching, witnessing). Worship is gratitude overflowing into our speech - praising God and speaking about God.
Worship is also about rulership. It's about what rules over our hearts - about what our hearts give glory to. All of us us worship something. Something reigns over each of us. The question is: what is it that rules over us? A follower of Jesus is not simply a person who has received the grace of God, but also a person who has succumb to the Lordship of Jesus. They serve Him. They have given control of their lives over to His rulership over their lives. Christians worship God because they gladly acknowledge that He is not only the King of the universe but also the King of their hearts, minds, and souls. The discipline of worship is being so overwhelmed by God's greatness, glory, goodness, and grace that when you think about Jesus you say, "That's my King!" (check out this VIDEO about Jesus as King).
That's a quick review of a couple of the highlights in regards to the spiritual discipline of worship. So here are a few questions to ponder:
- Does Jesus rule over your heart?
- Is your heart filled with gratitude towards God?
- Do you daily express your gratitude by verbally praising God and speaking of God?
Take some time to evaluate your discipline of worship. Meditate on God's grace and on the gospel of Jesus. Ponder how you have benefitted from the cross. Think about how much God loves you. I pray that as you do so that your heart is filled with gratitude and that it will spill over into worship. And if it does, two wonderful things take place: God gets glory and you enjoy freedom!
In awe of Jesus,
Pastor Rick
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