Ever have a close friend betray you? How about a family member thinks you’re crazy for your faith? How about someone with whom you were working really close to in a ministry and then “bam” they leave or forsake you? The reality is life and ministry is hard and if you are NOT being attacked…maybe you’re not involved in ministry. The reality is its safe to sit on the sidelines and watch the “game” but that is NOT where God called us to be. Family members get sick and we lose jobs. We get hungry or even homeless. We are persecuted for our faith as family and friends disown us for being “Jesus freaks.” We lose a best friend even though we thought they were “with us” for life. At times, in the middle of a ministry battle when you are doing exactly what God called you to do and when you need someone to come along side you, you are abandoned by those whom you thought would be there for you.

Growing up I had a dad whom it seemed I could never please. He would have us rake the leaves in the yard, we’d come in with big smiles bragging on our work and he would say, “kids, it is not done good enough, go do it again.” Or we’d clean our room then we’d have to re-clean it over and over again. It was like this over and over again until one day….he left and devastated my life. He was my coach, my dad and I was lost. Then my mom started to drink and drink and drink with men and they would come over to the house. Then Jim came over after a night at the bars and never left. They lived together in our home and they would fight and argue at 3 in the morning until he would threaten her with physical harm. I would then get up and stand between them and he would threaten me. One day he didn’t threaten, he hit. I would come home from practice, walking as all walk to school in my community, through “the woods” and I could see our house. If his car was there I would become sad and mad. If his car wasn’t there, same thing because they would be out drinking and there would be no food to eat.

I was abandoned. I learned that I couldn’t trust anyone because I assumed they would leave me or hurt me…why not, dad and mom did.

I assumed it was the same with God, that one day He would forsake me or I couldn’t perform good enough to keep His love and favor. Eventually He was going to leave me because I was unlovable or because I didn’t measure up to His standards.

The reality is a Christian life is not an easy one but a very difficult one that promises attacks, disappointments and rejection.

2 Cor 4: 7-11: 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

This is NOT for those on the front lines of ministry (missionaries etc) but its for US here in Simpsonville. If we have not been afflicted etc, then maybe we’re sitting on the sidelines. The vision of this church is not to have “game watchers” but to have active participants in ministry. But I won’t lie to you…that means suffering for Christ’s sake. That means we will get shot at and yet we must realize we’re not superman and we are not invincible…so where do we go? Are we alone?

When we have our leadership meetings, our elder meetings, we should NOT be quickly reviewing the agenda but we should be hearing from our ministry teams and this should drive us to our knees as either are praying for the attacks of the enemy and/or praising God for His amazing work in our lives and ministries. It so easy to do nothing out of fear out of rejection and so, so many churches play “prevent” defense so as not to lose or make a mistake. Not this church. We are going to “run up the score” so high that only Jesus can get the credit for what we attempt in His name. If you want to play prevent defense, this may not be your church. That is why at times folks leave, they’re uncomfortable with active ministry or sitting around hoping a visitor doesn’t show up and take their seat. They want to just graze and not jump into the battle…they want safe. We’re in a war and it’s not safe! We may bleed but we’re afraid…what if we fail? What if you don’t like what I do? Are we here to please man or God? Ministry is messy and we will take a walk to see how messy this is.

Heb 2: 14-18: 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

How did He partake in “the same things” in the flesh and blood? How is death at work in us so that others may have life?

-Jesus’ birth (poor, homeless, no where to sleep and attacked)

-Matt 4: 1-11 - Jesus temptations…tired, hungry and you just want God and here comes the enemy…

- John 4: 6-8 - Jesus gets tired and asks the others to get him food. Sometimes we need to sit and let others get the food.

-Matt 21 - rejection after being crowned as King of kings! We will be called a hero at one point and then by the same people asked to quit or leave because we didn’t “do it their way” or do what they wanted. e.g.: “we care too much about the lost and not about them.”

-Luke 22:37 - Jesus is betrayed but His own…His own inner circle…not those “out there” but His buddy.

-Luke 19:41 - Jesus weeps over those He came to save…are you rejected by those whom you poured your life into?

- Mark 3: 21 - Jesus’ family (calling Him crazy), has family ever rejected you? John 7: 5 - Have you ever had your closest sibling reject you?

- Matt 26:40 - Jesus’ assuming “ministry partners” would be there for you. He wants to take a walk and pray to His Father and asked the 3 to pray for Him as He faces the cross…and they sleep…

When we are mission to do God’s plan for this church we WILL be attacked, mocked, rejected and maybe even scorned by our own….get used to it. It will be hard, lonely, etc. But….

Who is with you when attempting something new or when others think you’re crazy?

Deut 31: 6-8: 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Who is with you when you’re facing your enemies and they seem overwhelming and powerful?

Joshua 1: 4-5, 9: 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Who is with you went you’re asked to lead a ministry that is audacious and “crazy” in scope?

I Chron 28:20: 20 Then David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.”

Who will be with you when you seem to have no more to give and you love has run dry?

Heb 13: 4-6: 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Finally, when He is fighting for us and we know He is not against us - we can proceed with courage and take risks…why?

John 10: 28-30: 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 28 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

He is the King - now and forever

Remember the sermon on worship and the reality is we all worship something or someone? It was about idols and who we really follow. We follow money and then we loose it, it led us no where. We follow our idol of incorrect love/sex it leads us to STD’s or pregnancy…it takes us no where. We follow our idol of popularity and then there is someone more popular than us and so we are nowhere and then we actually “kill” that threat to our idol but gossiping or lying about them. Following our idols will NEVER lead us to our goals. They will ALWAYS let us down not they CAN’T deliver on their promises. There is only one that we can follow that will never let us down…

Is He our King? Why does it matter how we see the reality of His Kingship? Does this give us confidence to move forward in ministry and life? Let’s find out!

The idea of a king and a kingdom found in the Bible - (NOTE: many of these ideas are from “A Theology of the New Testament” by George Ladd; reprinted in1966)

1. OT
1. In 1 Sam 8: 1-7 we see that God declared that they had a king (Himself) and yet they wanted another (just like the idols in our hearts).
2. The people of God had a King who reigned over them. The King led them, fought for them and guided them in life (see the Exodus; the many battles that God won and the 10 commandments as examples of these realities).
3. The kingdom as was told by the prophets was looking forward to the “Day of the Lord” and a divine visitation to purge the world of evil and sin and establish God’s perfect rule and reign in the earth.
2. NT
1. The age to come and the Kingdom of God are interchangeable terms in the NT. Yet we see them “now and not yet”. The resurrection of Christ marked the transition from “this age” to “the age to come”.
2. The age which extends from creation to the “Day of the Lord”, which in the Gospels is designated in terms of the second coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead and judgment is marked by sin and rebellion. The age to come will see the reality of the reign of God. But it also means the reality of His reign now and the Kingdom here but perfected and in full measure in the “Age to Come”.
3. It is not the church but the rule of God. The church is a society of men and women.
4. The Kingdom creates the church
5. The church witnesses to the Kingdom (hence we share the gospel)
6. The church is the instrument of the Kingdom (hence last weeks sermon)
7. The church keeps the Kingdom “pure” visa vie church discipline, etc.
3. The Kingdom of God
1. Most scholars agree that the most distinctive thing about Jesus’ teaching was the presence of the Kingdom. In other words the Kingdom is in some real sense both present and future - “now and not yet.”
2. The enemies of the Kingdom are not princes and kings but “spiritual powers of evil (Eph 6).
3. Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” [our mission too!!] but not just for a future benefit but for a current earthly blessings, hence the miracles and the reality of feeding the poor and helping the widows.
4. It is quite clear that we are already experiencing a temporal reign of Christ in the church age. Chris is Lord: (Phil 2:9) and reigns at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 2:33-36; Heb 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12-13; 12:2). He is already enthroned as King (Rev 3:21) He is already enthroned as King (Rev 3:21; I Cor 15:24-26) He has given us the blessings of His Kingdom (Rom 14:17) and humans are brought into His Kingdom (Col 1:13)
4. The God of the Kingdom
1. OT - God’s activity: God’s Kingdom was God’s overall sovereign rule. He never ceased to be the God whole kingly providence untimely superintended all existence.
2. NT -
3. a seeking God - “Seek and save the lost”
4. an inviting God - “To invite sinners to the Great Banquet of the Kingdom was precisely the Lord’s mission” - Rawlinson
5. The fatherly God - to submit to the reign of God is to let Him be our heavenly Father.
6. The judging God - Those who reject the call or offer of salvation will be judged.
5. The Future Kingdom
1. The Book of Revelation - Not a chronological book but a descriptive book of 2 scenes: Heaven and earth - the destruction of evil and the blessings of eternal life.
2. On earth there will be judgement and punishment.
3. In Heaven there will be everlasting joy and life with Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
4. We see in Revelation the “recapitulation” of these scenes (the re-writing of them so as to really understand them like a mom repeats to her child, “don’t touch the hot stove”).
5. Heaven - worship
6. We will worship (all creation will worship) Him as seen in Rev 4: 4-11; 5:6-10; 7:9-12; 11:15-18; 19: 1-8
7. Earthly judgment
8. He will judge (as the King) Rev 11:11-16; 21:7-8
6. So what? - We have seen in our sermon series:
1. Who is God
2. He died for us
3. He rose for us
4. He is personal and communicates with us
5. He is our promise keeper
6. He alone is to be worshiped
7. He sends
8. He gives
9. He reigns
10. (next) He never leaves me
7. So we can then remember all this with confidence because of our KING!
1. We can know this wonderful King personally
2. We can worship Him in awe and with confidence
3. We can participate with Him in building His Kingdom
4. We can take risks b/c we know the King and He won’t reject us
5. We can rest in the sovereignty of His reign - He knows all
6. We can share this King with others
7. We can go/send because He will lead us/them
8. He is a King who owns everything - we can’t out give Him
9. He is a King who will never leave us (next week)

Give because He gave us so much!

Keller says: “A mark of a real Christian is generosity like [the radical generosity of] God.” We are to imitate Him and become more like Him as we grow in His grace so…

How generous is God to us:

• He gave us life
• He gave us creation
• He gave us redemption
• He gave us His Son
• He gave us His Holy Spirit
• He gives us grace
• He gives us His righteousness
• He gives us His Word
• He gives us hope
• He gives us a future
• He gives us eternity
• He gives us a relationship
• He gives us His ear
• He gives us His love
• He gives us His protection
• He gives us His healing
• He gives us ALL we have
• He gives us our food
• He gives us the next breath
• He gives us gifts
• He gives us a model
• He gives us joy
• He gives us endurance
• He gives us ALL we need

Read 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15

II Corinthians: A famine was occurring in Israel and Paul asked the church in Corinth to take up a collection to help feed the people there. This is quite an event for the year 55AD because of the racial and other prejudices. This was the church in action defeating racism and “becoming one in Christ”. So Paul tells us the:

1. Reality of Generosity - What radical generosity can do!
2. Reason of Generosity - Why should we give?
3. Requirements of Generosity - How much should I give?

1. Reality of Generosity: Vertical and Horizontal

Read below a letter (Epistle) written about the early church and how she was so different than the “world”. The italic and bold sections are my notes.

WHAT THE EARLY WRITERS SAID ABOUT THE CHURCH ~ Circa 160 AD

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180. More likely is 'the most excellent Diognetus', Claudius Diogenes, who was procurator of Alexandria at the turn of the second/third centuries.

The Epistle to Diognetus

CHAPTER V -- THE MANNERS OF THE CHRISTIANS

For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity [They Embraced, Equipped & Engaged the people and culture]. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct [engaging the people], they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers [They were Missional]. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring [They were pro-life]. They have a common table, but not a common bed [They fed and ate with “the world” but did not think like the world]. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich [They gave their money and selves away]; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonored, and yet in their very dishonor are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honor; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.

The world can see we’re different by how we treat others; inside and outside the church.

v12a: “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints,” [horizontal within the church]. How?

• food
• shelter
• clothing
• missions
• new churches
• VBS
• conferences
• ministry funding

v13b: “…and the generosity of your contributions for them and for all others.” Who? - For those outside the church so we fund: See list above!!! Same list!

The second reality of generosity is God glorified and worshiped [vertical].

v12b: “…but is also overflowing in thanksgivings to God” and v13a: “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ…”

2. Reason for Generosity: The Gospel and Grace

God gives all, supplies all and we bring nothing to the table as “He has distributed freely, He has give to the poor [us]; His righteousness endures forever.”

He has given us all and asks for just a small part in return. Imagine giving your child a whole 2 liter of Pepsi and asking for a sip and he tells you “no”.

v13…”they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ…”

v7 “Each must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Paul isn’t commanding us to give he is saying that if we get the gospel we will give in abundance.

Keller puts it this way:

“A [grace driven] Christian says, ‘everything I have I owe God because of your grace’. A moralist [works driven] says, ‘God owes me because I’ve worked hard.”

3. Requirements of Generosity - How much?

Driscoll puts it this way: “Therefore, the total “mandatory” OT tithe resulted in over 25% of a family’s gross income going to God and ministry. In the New Testament financial giving among God’s people focuses on grace, generosity, and the heart. The word “tithe” is rarely used in the New Testament, and when it is it is usual mentioned negatively in conjunction with the Pharisees who had sinful hearts when they gave. Perhaps the most thorough teaching in all the New Testament on giving is found in 2 Corinthians 8-9 where we discover the following principles regarding giving:

• Giving is a joy and an honor.
• Giving is a heart issue, there is no standard.
• Giving should come from your first fruits.
• Giving should be done regularly, cheerfully and sacrificially.
• Giving is tied to your proportion of faith
• The amount is between you and God.
• Giving is a spiritual gift - (Romans 12) some have a greater measure of this gift, coupled with faith.

Therefore, God’s people are today not required to tithe. But, as like everything else in the New Covenant our grace giving is to exceed Old Testament requirements of the law. Therefore, 10% should be for God’s people a floor and not a ceiling and a place to begin but not a place to end. Lastly, since God is ultimately the owner of all of our wealth the question is never how much should I give to God, but rather how much of God’s money should I keep?”

Paul puts it this way: “and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

At the end of the day, when we “survey the wondrous cross” the question is: “How can we not give until it hurts…”

What is worship? In the Bible there are two main groups of Hebrew and Greek words that mean worship: “labor” and “service”. Worship is a verb - something we DO. We are to be a participant - we’re not to sit and be entertained or passive although we be can “ministered to” with a song or sermon. This also doesn’t mean worship can’t be good and of high quality - in fact it better be because He is worthy (there’s that word again) of the best from our hearts. And because He is worthy and He is God He sets the “rules” for corporate worship and He tells us in His word how He is to be worshiped. We call this the “elements” of worship which include: Preaching; greetings; singing; giving; prayers; oaths; benedictions and sacraments. These should be done both vertically (towards Him) and horizontally (remembering the needs of others in prayer and in finances [the poor; missionaries; etc]). Some may say worship is both “transcendent and imminent”. Worship should also be Trinitarian - all three persons of the Godhead are worthy of praise and honor. But how we do these elements should be according to those around us. We should worship Him in the context of the culture and people around us so our worship is intelligible.

The Westminster Confession says it this way: 1.6: The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

Tim Keller says worship should be: Biblically faithful; culturally relevant; counter-culture and counter-intuitive

Counter Cultural: Do we look different and act the same (bad) or do we look the same and act different (good).

Counter intuitive: (Do you visit dying aides patience?) Somewhere where “Christians” would never go!

What we do here on Sunday AM is an outpouring from our daily worship. God calls us together to CELEBRATE as one body the realities of His goodness from the week’s activities. What we do, the elements, He demands….how we do them He gives freedom.
____________________________________________________________

Worship is NOT a “style of music” or a “style of preaching” although it is a part of corporate worship. Worship is ALL OF LIFE. How we live our lives is an indication of our personal daily worship of either God or an idol. When we are looking on the internet at something that is bad…we are worshiping an idol. When we argue without ceasing, we are worshipping the need to be right. When we fail to give, we are worshiping our money, when we constantly worry we are worshiping and feeding our insecurities rather than Him who has all things in His hands.

We give ourselves away to something or someone…our money; our time; our talents; our thoughts; our love ourselves; our hobbies; our history in our web browser. We all worship SOMEONE OR SOMETHING…. what you do with the things above will tell you what or who YOU really worship.

We read in the WCF 21.6: Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now, under the gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed: but God is to be worshiped everywhere, in spirit and truth; as, in private families daily, and in secret, each one by himself; so, more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or willfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by his Word or providence, calls thereunto.

In his book Unceasing Worship Harold Best states his thesis saying: “The burden of this book develops the concept of continuous outpouring as the rubric for our worship. As God eternally outpours within His triune self, and as we are created in his image, it follows that we too are continuous outpourers, incurably so.” (Page 10)

“We begin with one fundamental fact about worship: at this very moment, and for as long as this world endures, everybody inhabiting it is bowing down and serving something or someone—an artifact, a person, an institution, an idea, a spirit, or God through Christ. Everyone is being shaped thereby and is growing up toward some measure of fullness, whether of righteousness or of evil. No one is exempt and no one can wish to be. We are, every one of us, unceasing worshipers and will remain so forever, for eternity is an infinite extrapolation of one of two conditions: a surrender to the sinfulness of sin unto infinite loss or the commitment of personal righteousness unto infinite gain. This is the central fact of our existence, and it drives every other fact. Within it lies the story of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation or final loss.” (Page 17-18)

As we studied in the doctrine of the Trinity, we saw that God is a community within Himself of ceaseless outpouring. Although there is one God, the three persons of the Trinity eternally exist with a ceaseless outpouring of love, communication, and joy. And, as we studied in the God Loves sermon we saw that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. As such, we too are ceaseless worshippers pouring ourselves out for someone or something.

The biblical word for worship is also sometimes translated “sacrifice.” This insight is helpful because where we make the greatest sacrifices reveals what we truly love and what we glorify and worship. For example, if we eat and drink in excess, we are worshiping our stomach and sacrificing our health. If we sacrifice relationships with God and people for a hobby (e.g., sport, music, craft), then we are worshipping that hobby. If we are giving our bodies to sexual sin, we are worshipping sex and/or another person, whose acceptance is our highest aim, sacrificing holiness and intimacy with God in the process. In short, we give our time, energy, body, money, focus, devotion, and passion to that which we glorify most and make sacrifices to worship. Because we were made for the express purpose of worshiping God, everyone is a worshipper. The only difference is who/what we worship.

Idolatry is one of the most frequent and most misunderstood themes in all of Scripture. When thinking of idolatry, images of a primitive person bowing down to a statue or something akin to it come to mind. But, when the Bible speaks of idolatry it does so in a broad manner so as to reveal it as corrupted worship in contrast with true worship. Perhaps the most succinct definition of idolatry is found in Romans 1:25 which says, “they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” God is our Creator and our worship is to be directed to him alone. But, as sinners we are prone to worship created things rather than our creator God and that is by definition idolatry. In the context of Romans 1, this idolatry can be things God has made such as the human body and its pleasures (especially sexual), or things we have made such as human ideas about God and life that dominate philosophy and spirituality.

Keller and Driscoll: And, God begins the 10 Commandments by declaring that he alone is God and that nothing and no one is to be worshiped in place of or alongside him. The rest of the 10 Commandments go on to then illustrate how if these first two commandments are obeyed it will transform the rest of our life into opportunities to worship God with our desires, relationships, possessions, etc. Simply, if we worship God alone we will not worship sex and commit adultery, worship possessions and commit thievery or coveting, worship people’s perceptions of us and lie, worship unrighteous anger and murder, worship our job and never Sabbath etc.

Our spiritual worship will be towards God or towards an idol (First 2 commandments are to WHOM we give our worship and the other 8 are HOW we can show that worship).

Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Sacrifice - we sacrifice something to get what we WANT. Do we want God or do we want…food (health and extra money); a better golf game (I sacrifice money and time); alcohol (I worship the booze to celebrate or cover pain and I sacrifice my health, job, family etc)

So we make choices as to what or who we will worship - what is at the center of our hearts. Girls…on a date? He wants to go somewhere where he shouldn’t….do you obey him or Jesus? She is not a believer but you dater her anyway. Do you worship the date’s approval or Christ’s approval? Money…need a new car or want to worship it as it’s your status? etc.

This is why when I do counseling I tell people to “quite trying so hard” to stop whatever. Just look to Jesus and as you worship Him - ask yourself - Do I worship Jesus by this action or someone/thing else? This is how we approach our personal budgets….can’t make ends meet? What is there that is being worshiped and costs $$$$? Kill that idol and your budget will be healthy. What is the first check you write each pay period? That is probably your idol….who you worship.

Rom 1:25 - idol worshipers. The earth, pets (dogs shows or Jesus?); furniture (don’t jump on the furniture kids (its more important than the kids); the church building becomes more important than people.

So you see it goes back to the two words for worship in the Bible - Labor and sacrifice. What we do doing the week will affect and control what we do on Sunday. It’s not about a Sunday AM “fill” - it’s about an outpouring of thanksgiving from a week of praise.

1 John 5:21 - what are your idols? Who do you worship?

The Bible says:
Love your wife - the job says no
Give sacrificially - the new car; golf; hobbies; etc. say no
Worship Jesus corporately - the party last night says no
Don’t lust - your internet search history says lust
Serve one other - your calendar says no and you serve self
Use your gifts in the church - your late arrival and quick exit says "no"
Don’t fornicate - your boy friend says have sex and you give in

Jesus said in John chapter 4: “23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him [all the time]. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Next week the topic is about giving…we are made to give as He has given us it all. Our budget problem is not a spending issue…it’s a giving issue because we worship something else with our wallets. More to come.