Practice: Worship 7.2 - March 14, 2010

Practice #7 - Worship
7.2 – Entering In

Romans 11:36-12:2 (New Living Translation)
For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.   Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

   •    Three Key Components of Worship…
      o    It brings glory to the one Worshipped.
      o    In Worship, the worshipper offers, presents, or dedicates something.
      o    That offering no longer belongs to the worshipper, it becomes a Sacrifice to that which is
               worshipped.

A Picture of the Temple
The Process:
1.    Teaching
Romans 10:14-15 (New International Version)
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

2.    Confession
James 5:15-16 (New International Version)
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
 
3.    Repentance
1 Kings 8:46-49 (New International Version)
When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, “We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly”; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
 
2 Chronicles 32:26 (New International Version)
Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
 
Job 34:33 (New International Version)
Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent?
 
Revelation 3:2-3 (New International Version)
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
 
4.    ConsecrationExodus 19:21-22 (New International Version)
and the LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them."
 
What is consecration?“To set apart as Holy; to devote to sacred or serious use.” 
This is the offering piece of Worship.  This is what Paul is talking about in Romans 12:1: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices” - in other words…Consecrate yourself to the LORD.
 
5.    AdorationLeviticus 16:34
This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.