The Call of God #17
Undivided Devotion
Worship is honoring God. There are hindrances to worship. Show up on time. Cell phones are a distraction to focusing on God. Worshiping God is not like sitting and watching TV for hours. We are to lay aside every weight and sin and run the race (Hebrews 12:1). Lay aside what is on your mind. Anything that demands more of your attention is a god. Make God first. Jon shared about ripping a wooden idol off an Indian man’s neck and how he was set free. Get rid of your gods. What do you bring to church? There is a weightiness to worship, but the enemy brings counterfeits. We please God in our worship with our faith. Believe Him in the songs you sing and diligently seek Him. Look for opportunities to be with people in everyday evangelism. If what you wear causes people to think of something else, it is not a good thing. Am I a distraction to worship? There is a courtship with God, an atmosphere of romance. Reverence God. True worship costs you something- your time, effort, or money. Engage in worship with clapping, dancing, and rejoicing. Romans 12:1. Another definition of worship is your reasonable service, like the woman with the alabaster flask. Be a fool for God. You are peculiar because you praise God. What are you meditating on (Philippians 4:8)? Keep your heart with all diligence. Choose life. Our motive for worship is loving God. Surrender your heart, and walk in the Spirit. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Where do you live? Where is your dwelling place (Psalm 91)? Are you stepping out of the Spirit? Jon shared about getting a word of knowledge for a couple at Mardi Gras. Your assignment is to worship like you never did before.
Room Table – Questions & Answers
Jen Ropp & Jon Fike
Jen Ropp: Hebrews 10:35-38 tells us not to throw away our confidence (faith), which has great reward. We need cheerful endurance (patience), so that after we do God’s will, we may receive the promise. Abraham and Sarah’s promise from God looked impossible (Hebrews 11:11-12), and it did not come quickly but manifested twenty-five years later. If God says something, He will do it. Are you obeying and cheerfully enduring? Jon Fike: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” (Ephesians 3:20). God can do beyond what we think, according to the power that works in us.
Prayer Night
A word of encouragement was given. We spent the time in prayer.
Thanksgiving
Text: Ps. 100:1-3. We are to make a joyful noise, serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing, enter His courts with praise, and be thankful. 1) Thanksgiving requires an action (Heb. 13:15-16). Just like faith needs the action of speaking and also pleases God, so thanksgiving needs a spoken response and pleases God. It strengthens our faith. 2) Thanksgiving provides an entrance into fellowship with God (Ps. 95:1-3). 3) It’s a command (Ps. 50:1; Ps. 107:20-22). It’s not about you, but it’s about God. Prayer, the Word, and praise and worship form a strong balanced foundation in your life. 4) Thanksgiving is wisdom (Eph. 5:17-20; Ps. 92:1). 5) It’s a heart issue. It’s a language of love. 6) It motivates. The person blessing someone else wants to continue to bless more (Phil. 4:6). 7) It’s an endless act (Rev. 7:11). CAUTION: 2 Tim. 3:2-5 These are perilous times when one of the symptoms is being unthankful. Much of our culture is more concerned with self. We need to watch that we don’t allow the Word and our thankfulness to be choked out by the deceitfulness of riches, the lust of the eyes, and the cares of the world. Keep an attitude of gratitude. Be hungry for God.
True Worship
Jon Fike and the worship team led the congregation in praise and worship and teaching on it. Pat Denlinger taught us to be who God us to be as individuals and a congregation in worship, not holding back. Sandy Burkholder shared that she believes that the new song will one that we will hear with our spiritual ears. She said that the Lord has been speaking the word, Open, to her. Then Jon Fike taught about worshiping in spirit and truth. Pushing in means our being willing to sacrifice and to be corrected by His Spirit. Worship is our heart connecting with God’s heart.