Words that have been stolen

• When we allow our words to mean something other than God’s version the words lose their strength they were intended to give
• When the words are defined differently they lead to confusion The word this week – Worship
• The world’s version – “I don’t worship anything”
• The church’s version of worship – music. A majority of church splits center around this concept

Romans 1:25 (NIV) Gods version of worship

1st We are called on to worship Him only –a command

• Everyone worships something
• We were made to worship/serve Him only
• He knows that what we serve we are shaped by
• If we serve/worship the wrong things we are impacted negatively

Deuteronomy 6:13 (NASB95) “You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship (serve Him only) Him and swear by His name.

Luke 4:5–8 (NIV), Jeremiah 2:5 (NIV) 2nd What is Worship?

• Definition –In the Hebrew: To prostrate oneself, to give reverence to– In the Greek: To serve
• Worship is a focus on God – to adore –bow before
• Worship is God-centered not self/human-centered
• Worship is a lifestyle not just an event
• There is a worship that is unacceptable to God

Hebrews 12:28–29 (NIV) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

John 4:23–24 (NIV), Mark 7:5–8 (NIV)

Aspects of worship

1. Worship is a lifestyle of service–God is the one we serve – whatever controls your life you are worshipping – sets the tone of your life

Romans 12:1–2 (NIV), 1 Samuel 15:22–23 (NIV)

1. Worship is sacrificial – it takes time

Acts 10:3–6 (NIV)

C. Praise – singing –it happens at a time with other believers

Psalm 33:1 (NIV) Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Colossians 3:16 (NIV), Ephesians 5:15–21 (NIV), Hebrews 13:15–16 (NIV)

3rd Our worship reveals how much we value Him

Malachi 1:7–8 (NIV) “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the LORD’s table is contemptible. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty.

Haggai 1:9 (NIV)

4th God’s response to worship

Psalm 22:3–5 (KJV 1900) But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: They trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: They trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

Next steps:

• Examine yourselves –what does your lifestyle tell you about who you worship?
• Commit to a God-centered worship –Make necessary adjustments
• A lifestyle of worship –daily abiding

2 Corinthians 13:5–7 (NIV) Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.