Worship Series - Part 3

“Our Reasonable Service”

Romans 12:1 (Message #3 in Worship series) 

INTRODUCTION:

I used to like to watch “Star Trek” on TV. I am referring especially to the first version, with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. The plots were sometimes silly, but they were fun. I also enjoyed “Star Trek - The Next Generation,” and “Star Trek – Voyager,” but after that I sort of lost interest.

Mr. Spock, the Vulcan played by Leonard Nimoy, was always so rational. He always wanted to do the logical thing and would get frustrated with humans who were often illogical. Some of you are also old enough to remember TV ads featuring the old actor, Wilford Brimley with his big droopy moustache, who for a long time tried to talk us into eating a bowl of Quaker Oatmeal every morning for breakfast because, as he always said, “you know it’s the right thing to do.”

As important as it is to do the “logical” thing, and as important as it is to do the “right” thing, In Romans 12:1, the apostle Paul is concerned that we do the “reasonable” thing. In the KJV it reads like this: “I beseech ye therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Based on this verse I am sure that Paul would say that to lay our life in God’s hands as an act of worship is:

Ø  The logical thing to do.

Ø  The right thing to do.

Ø  The smart thing to do.

Ø  The reasonable thing to do.

TRANSITION:

Notice, Paul says, it is “…your reasonable service.” In the New American Standard Version, it reads, “…your spiritual [or rational] service of worship.” I mentioned in our last study that the word Paul chooses to use here in 12:1 is one of the three main Greek words used to describe worship. It always carries the idea of serving as an act of worship. Think of the priests ministering before the Lord night and day in the Temple as an act of worship. Their service was their worship. Their worship was their service. The two things were inseparable.

There are three things that I want to point out about this “service of worship”:

Ø  Worship involves work; it is not easy, and it takes effort.

Ø  Worship requires preparation, of the heart and of the tools.

Ø  Worship improves with practice; the more we do it the better we are at it.

MAIN BODY:

I. WORSHIP – What is it? We addressed this in the first study. Simply put, worship means to attribute worth to someone or something.

            A. Worship is driven by three (3) distinct attitudes:

                        1. Thanksgiving – a spirit of gratefulness

                        2. Praise – marvelling at His greatness and wondrous acts

                        3. Adoration – feelings of deep and genuine love for Him

            B. Worship can be expressed by many different activities:

1.       Singing

2.      Listening

3.      Dancing

4.      Praying

5.      Clapping

6.      Playing music

7.       Giving

8.      Speaking

9.      Shouting

C. Worship can be executed from many different bodily positions:

                        1. The publican stood in the Lord’s presence (Luke 18:13)

                        2. Job remained seated (Job 2:8)

                        3. The Wise Men prostrate themselves before the Christ Child (Matthew 2:11)

                        4. Elijah bowed down with his face between his legs (1 Kings 18:42)

                        5. Daniel knelt before the Lord (Daniel 6:10)

                        6. Solomon knelt with his hands raised to God (1 Kings 8:54)

II. Worship is a reasonable response in the light of WHO GOD IS:

            A. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Triune God, three Persons, yet One in Essence

            B. Eternal God, from everlasting to everlasting

            C. Creator, Sustainer

            D. Lord of All, Great and Mighty

            E. All-Knowing, All-Powerful, All-Present

            F. Just, Merciful, Longsuffering, Kind, Holy

            G. Perfect in every way

            H. Challenge: Make a list of the many names and titles of God used in Psalm 18 and 145. 

III. Worship is a reasonable response in the light of WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US:

            A. He made us—we are His by design and by creation.

            B. He sustains us—constantly provides for our needs.

            C. He remade us—see 2 Cor. 5:17 and Eph. 2:10

IV. Worship is a reasonable response in the light of the CLEAR COMMANDS OF SCRIPTURE:

            A. Psalm 2:11, “Worship the Lord with reverence.”

            B. Psalm 29:1-2, “Worship the Lord in the splendour of His holiness.”

            C. Psalm 95:6-7, “Come let us worship and bow down.”

            D. Deut. 6:13, “Fear the Lord your God and worship only Him.”

E. Exodus 34:5-8, “Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped.” (But notice that he did not need to be told to do it. It was a natural response.) 

V. Worship is a reasonable response in the light of the BENEFITS THAT WE GAIN:

            A. Worship lifts our eyes from the problem to the One who holds the solution.

Ø  e.g., Peter walking on the water; David in the Psalms

B. Worship lifts our spirits and brings us encouragement.

Ø  Paul and Silas in jail in Philippi – Acts 16:24-25 praying and singing hymns of praise

Ø  Daniel in the lions’ den – Daniel 6:16-22

Ø  The three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace – Daniel 3:16-30

C. Worship re-establishes our priorities and puts our earthly life in proper perspective.

Ø  This life is a rehearsal for eternity.

Ø  We are called to be worshippers here and now and forever.

Ø  “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” (Westminster Catechism)

VI. The example of the Magi (cf. Matthew 2:9-11)

            A. They sought Him until they found Him (i.e., they did not stop seeking)

B. They recognized Him for who He was (v. 11, “they saw the Child and bowed down and worshipped Him”)

C. They acknowledged Him with appropriate reverence (“…bowed down”)

D. They worshipped Him (it was the purpose for which they had come)

E. They presented their offerings to Him (N.B. the offering of their gifts was part of their worship)

VII. Worship always involves 3 key elements:

            A. HUMBLING – Falling down, humbling ourselves before Him.

Ø  cf. Psalm 95:6, “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”

Ø  It requires setting aside our pride.

Ø  5 times the Bible commands us to “humble ourselves, and He will exalt us.”

Ø  It means setting aside our “rights,” possessions, wilful plans, etc.

B. SACRIFICING – Casting our crowns before God’s throne.

Ø  cf. Revelation 4:10-11, “The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ¹¹ ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.’”

Ø  A “crown” is anything that exalts and draws attention to the wearer (could be your intelligence, your wealth, your importance at work, your talents, your children, etc.)

Ø  John the Baptist understood this concept. He said, “He [Jesus, the Messiah] must increase and I must decrease.”

C. DECLARING – Telling the Lord His worth (remember “worthship”)

Ø  Look at Revelation 4:11 once again: “They [the 24 elders] lay their crowns before the throne and say: ¹¹ ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.’”

Ø  Declare how much He is worth to you.

Ø  Express your love for Him.

CONCLUSION:

My desire is that we become true worshippers—in our personal devotional lives, in our families, in our small groups, and when we come together in corporate worship. It is through worship that we truly come to know God, in a personal way. Worship is entering into His presence and interacting with Him. Worship is where we draw near to Him and listen to what He wants to say to us. And that is bound to bring many positive benefits into our lives and into our church.

In fact, one of my favourite verses expresses this truth. It is found in Daniel 11:32 and says, “The people who know their God will display strength and take action [KJV “do exploits”].” There is the key! Strength comes from knowing God. And the power to act comes from knowing God. And both of those happen when we give ourselves to worship the King of kings, and Lord of lords, in spirit and in truth.