Practice: Worship 7.3 - March 21, 2010

Practice #7 – Worship
7.3 – When Life Gets In The Way

Matthew 13:1-9 (New International Version)
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."
 
Matthew 13:10-11 (New International Version)
The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Matthew 13:18-23 (New International Version)
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

1.    Many people cannot understand why anyone would want to worship God.Psalm 53:1-3 (New International Version)
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

2.    Many People make all kinds of commitments when things are easy, but cannot stay the course.Philippians 3:10-14 (New International Version)
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

3.    Many People just let life get in the way.Revelation 3:15-17 (New International Version)
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

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.

Practice: Worship 7.1 - March 7, 2010

Practice # 7 - Worship
7.1 – The Worship Wheelhouse

Romans 11:36 - Romans 12:2 (New International Version)
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Some Simple Elements of Worship:
•    It is for the Glory of whatever is worshipped.
•    There is an Offering where the worshipper will Present or Dedicate something.
•    Whatever is dedicated or offered or presented to the thing worshipped becomes sacrificed – it                     belongs to the thing that is worshipped.

A View of Worship from Scripture:
Offering and Sacrifice:
•    Genesis 4:2b-5… Cain and Abel are offering sacrifices
•    Genesis 8:20-21… Noah builds an altar and makes sacrifices
•    Genesis 14:17-20…Abraham and Melchizedek
•    Genesis 22 – Abraham and Isaac – Abraham makes a Sacrifice
 
Acknowledging who God is and what He is doing:
•    Genesis 24:26-27 – Abraham’s Chief Servant finds Rachel for Isaac to marry.
•    Genesis 28:16-19… Jacob’s dream and reaction
•    Genesis 35… Jacob goes back to that spot and builds an altar to remember.
•    Exodus 15… Moses and Miriam Sing to God

Obedience to the Lord’s Commands:
•    Exodus 12… Hebrews obey God through the Passover
•    Exodus 19-20… Commitment from the People and a Commitment from God
From Exodus 21 – Matthew 3 everything takes on a defined process – the LAW…
Jesus called them back to a perspective that honors God…

John 4:23-24
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

•    The Question she asked was immediately about worship.
•    There is a place for the law, but it is not the observance of the law that pleases God.
 
Isaiah 1:11 (New International Version)
“The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the LORD. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.”

2 Traps in Contemporary Worship:
1.    Religiosity – Truth without the Spirit
Galatians 3:2 (New International Version)
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?

John 5:39-40 (New International Version)
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
•    How can I know if I have fallen too far on this side of the worship balance?
 
2.    Anarchy – Trying to Emphasize the Spirit without any truth.
Galatians 5:13 (New International Version)
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Jeremiah 17:9 (New International Version)
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
•    How can I know if I have fallen too far on this side of Balanced Worship?

Conclusion:
When I Worship, is it in the wheelhouse of Spirit and Truth?
What did I offer in Worship today?  Whatever I offered, it is no longer mine.  If I offered nothing, I did not Worship.  What then did I do?  Is God okay with that?

Practice: Encourage 6.4 - February 28, 2010

Practice #6 – Encourage
2.4 – A Community of Encouragement

Acts 4:36-37 (New International Version)
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 11:19-23 (New International Version)
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.

Acts 11:24-30 (New International Version)
He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 13:1-3 (New International Version)
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 15:36-41 (New International Version)
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

What Can We Learn From the “Son of” Encouragement?
Encouragers Call out of People What God has Already Put in Them.

What keeps us from encouraging others?

1.    Lies from Satan.
Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

2.    Pride.
 Proverbs 11:2 (New International Version)
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 13:10 (New International Version)
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Proverbs 16:18 (New International Version)
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23 (New International Version)
A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Proverbs 16:5 (New International Version)
The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

James 4:6 (New International Version)
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

3.    Fear
2 Timothy 1:7 (New International Version)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Hebrews 10:39 (New International Version)
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Practice: Encourage 6.3 - February 21, 2010

The Blessing
Practice #6.3 - Encourage

Introduction: No matter what our age, our parents’ approval or lack o f approval affects the way we view ourselves and how we act with those we love most.

Genesis 27:18-29 (New International Version)
He went to his father and said, "My father." "Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it?" Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing." Isaac asked his son, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" "The LORD your God gave me success," he replied. Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not." Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. "Are you really my son Esau?" he asked. "I am," he replied. Then he said, "My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing." Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come here, my son, and kiss me." So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said,
"Ah, the smell of my son
is like the smell of a field
that the LORD has blessed.
May God give you of heaven's dew
and of earth's richness—
an abundance of grain and new wine.
May nations serve you
and peoples bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother
bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed
and those who bless you be blessed."

The Blessing is a critical part of healthy emotional and spiritual development.

Jewish belief about blessings . . .

Luke 10:5-6 (New International Version)
When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to this house.” If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.
Even Jesus believed that blessings have the power to change a culture.

5 Parts to the Blessing:
1. Meaningful touch!
Isaac kissed Jacob and touched him.
Luke 4:40 (New International Version)
When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

2. Tell them how special they are!
John 1:14 (New International Version)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Proverbs 3:27-28 (New International Version)
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"— when you now have it with you.

See also: James 1, Ephesians 5:25-26, II Timothy 3:3

3. Tell them how much you love them!
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 (New International Version)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

4. Tell them how God will use them!
When Jacob is ready to die, he calls his sons together and blesses all 12. Some got really amazing blessings, and some got pretty insignificant blessings. All of the blessings spoken came true. (See Genesis 49)

5. Commit to them to always be there!
Commit to their individual needs.
Genesis 49:28 (New International Version)
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

Conclusion: The Blessing

Practice: Encourage 6.2 - February 14, 2010

Ephesians 5:15-33 (New International Version)
    Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
    Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
    Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

 

“Learning to encourage your spouse”

Chapman says – every couple gets together to make each other happy; something happens between “I do” and “I won’t.”

Emerson Eggrich says that the battle cry for marriage is in
Verse 33:
Husbands must love your wives as your own body; the wife must respect her husband.

Long dissertation on this, but when wives are not loved, husbands are not respected, we go in the crazy cycle.

I.    Be determined to work at communication
    Verses 15-19
   Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every                   opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord
   A.    We have forgotten how to laugh together, share our joy with each other.
   B.    Learn to communicate feelings
       a.    I watched a video on Alaska Logging
          i.    All problems are shared collectively
          ii.    When it is out in the open you deal with it
          iii.    Crocodile Dundee
   C.    Norman Wright – 3 changes are taking place in the institution of marriage
      a.    The decline in understanding
       b.    The loss of determination to stay married
       c.    The development of unrealistic expectations
    *When I got married I was looking for an ideal – turned into an ordeal; now I’m                                         looking for a new deal.
   D.    Women are attracted to the strong, silent type
   E.    Dr. Dobson says – years ago families who worked together generationally
   F.    10 Guidelines for marriage connection:
       1.    Be a good listener – do not speak until the person speaking is finished
       2.    Slow to speak, think first, then speak
       3.    Speak the truth always in love
       4.    Do not use the silent treatment to frustrate the other person
       5.    Stay away from quarrels
       6.    Do not respond in anger
       7.    When you are wrong, admit it and ask for forgiveness
       8.    Avoid nagging
       9.    Do not blame the other person
       10.    Try to understand the other person’s opinion
   G.    Speak words that build up your spouse
Verses 25-26
  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her          holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
II.    Work at developing the right attitude
  Verses 20-21
  always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit       to one another out of reverence for Christ.
   A.    Stay away from “if only’s”
   B.    No one has all that they want out of a relationship
       a.    Too many think the answer is changing the relationship
       b.    Article in Cincinnati  Inquirerer
          i.    A man and wife fought for 9 months – been married for 21 years
          ii.    Decided to call it quits
          iii.    Each took a test to see what kind of partner they were looking for – each other
   C.    Lady in Kentucky – preacher having a revival said she has a lot on the ball
     a.    She has an 80 year old dad who is dying
     b.    A husband who is disabled
     c.    A child who is mentally handicapped
III.    Realize that good relationships are built
   A.    Change is inevitable – I’m not the same as I was 25 years ago
   B.    My likes and dislikes are not the same “Will you love me when I’m old and gray . . . “
   C.    Be creative
      a.    Go places together – “no time, no money.”
      b.    Spend time away from each other
      c.    Don’t push to always be right
      d.    Set goals together

   D.    Remember: it’s in the giving we receive
      a.    Blessings are ours when we give unselfishly

E.    Find ways to encourage

* I went to the house of a dear old lady sitting at her table having breakfast

Practice: Encourage - February 7, 2010

Practice #6 – Encourage
6.1 – The Call to Encourage
What is Encouragement? 

The Greek word – parakaleo, “To Call Alongside.”

Romans 12:6-8 (New International Version)
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
 
Exodus 17:8-13 (New International Version)
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Some lessons about the call to Encourage:1.    Even Leaders need encouragementPhilemon 1:7 (New International Version)
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

2.    Godly Leaders can’t do it alone
Hebrews 3:12-14 (New International Version)
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

3.    Everyone can and should encourage others
Hebrews 10:25 (New International Version)
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.