We are growing gied people of God who are going and if you won’t change come to rece and you won’t leave the way you came welcome the star we are growing gied B of who are going and if you won’t change come to receive and you won’t see the way you p Is good afternoon we give God praise and declare as the song song I finished singing the word of God is here and the people of God are here and so we pray that you will come and receive that which you need want to welcome you to our virtual Bible study through the star
Bethlehem Baptist Church I’m Pastor Sean Jones and I’m so blessed and grateful to be to com to your home into your lives on today whether you’re at work whether you are um out doing life and able to stop and have a good time how it is that
You are moving it is my prayer that you will be a part of tonight today’s study um whether you are watching it live or on demand we thank God for you and that as you are contining to seek to be used by God as well as to grow in the word of
God today’s study is going to be a blessing for you as we’re continuing our study we have been for the last um last week or so engage in the concept of understanding what it means to be a worshipper and so we’ve been doing this
Series now this is week two on I am a worshipper and I believe and just know that God is going to bless you um as you engage in the word of God and in today’s study as you if you have questions or comments whether you’re live or on
Demand I encourage and invite you type them in the chat if you’re watching on demand if you type your question in the chat I’ll still receive them and I’ll be able to respond back to you um within within uh a day or so of your question so that you can continue to
Grow and gain knowledge as relates to um what God’s word says regarding being worshippers of him in spirit and in truth and so if you’re live if you I see one person’s already in the chat if you can go ahead and drop your name in the
Chat say good afternoon um so we know who we’re with on today even live as we’re continue to be all that God wants to be and grow in fellowship and love and so again we’re thankful to our virtual disciples who’ve made the adjustment to Noonday Bible study online
Um versus being in the evening for our virtual community and so I’m thanking God for you and excited about what God is going to do today um through our time of sharing let’s go to God in prayer and then we’ll get right engaged to the word
Um father God we thank you we praise you God for your presence and for your power we thank you God for how you have been kind and loving to us um we now ask as we enter into this corporate time of study that oh God you would meet us in
This place oh God wherever we may be watching or engaged that God you would grow our faith that we would receive understanding and knowledge of God that will inspire us that will inform us that will guide and direct us if necessary even correct us oh God confirm god um
Things about your word that we might be one who would worship you and glorify your holy name in all that we do and all that we say this is our prayer we pray in Jesus name for his sake amen all right and so again good evening good
Afternoon to those I see you uh Deacon Mike good afternoon to you praising God for you as well and so we’re going to get right into to today’s study I am a worshipper and so if you missed last if you missed um not last week we were
Offered um Thanksgiving break um but if you missed the first week I want to encourage you to do two things one you can go to our YouTube or our website um and go to the Bible study either playlist or the page on our website and you can watch last week’s uh the last
Sessions um episode and study so you can catch up also on our website we also provide the slides that you’ll see for every lesson I teach so if you want to download those slides for your own personal uh growth the nurture edification um encourage you to do so
That as well all right let’s go get right into the word on today so speak continue this idea about what it means to be a worshipper right I want us to understand truly what worship is and I want to make sure that I really um give
Us a definition of what worship is for us as star as disciples and friends and so what is worship worship as you see on the screen it is a transformative experience u meaning that worship when you engage in worship how you move how you operate whether that is in a
Corporate space or if it’s on an individual basis with you and God it should be something that transforms who you are it changes you you’re not the same person that you were when you first entered into your life of worship or a moment of worship good afternoon Leading Lady Reverend
Jones bless you U for you glad you’re able to join us on today as well and so worship transforms us as a result of the transformation experience it results um when and it happens we are transformed when saved individuals love both God and the word of God and Obey it on um last
Time we met together I talked about the fact that in order to worship God in spirit and in truth that one must be spiritless Leed must be spirit filled and only those who are saved persons um can truly worship God in spirit and truth and so I can’t as a non-s saved
Person non-person who’ve been baptized confess Christ I can of course appreciate God I can attend worship but to really have a worship as a lifestyle I must be saved um Through My Confession of faith and to the blood of Jesus that covers and um well as wipes away our
Slate our sin de so those who are saved um both love God and the word of God and Obey it it’s critical we understand that worship is not not about just Clapping Your Hands not just about shouting or singing or dancing in the church or when you’re watching online but it is about
How you obey the word of God in your living know this worship again is reflective in our living worship is a lifestyle and not a life event I was just put that in the chat real quick worship is a lifestyle and not a life event other meaning other words that
Worship is not what you do or what you go to per set on Sundays um from 10 or 11 to to 12:30 or so but worship is not just what we come together to Worship in one way but worship is reflected in our living and we’re going to really focus
In on that today in our teaching and our study understanding that worship only transforms us when we love God love God’s word and we’re willing to oby the word of God and so we’re going to ground um our sharing today in scripture um from Mark chap 12 I’m looking at verses
28-30 and the the Bible reads it says one of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer he asked them of all the Commandments um which is the most important the most important one Jesus answered um is this here o
Israel the Lord our God is the one love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength the second is like this love your neighbor as yourself there is no commandment greater than these as we look at this
Scripture about loving God uh with all of our heart our mind our soul and our strength we want to understand that that is what worship is and we’re going to break down what this really means to be a worshipper of who loves God and who understands who God is so first thing is
We must understand that worship is a relationship between us and God that as we understand worship if we are to if we are worshiping God y’all ywe our our heavenly father there must be a relationship that one has and one of the amazing things about our God is
Is that God always gives us um Direction and understanding and Clarity um through his word and so in the Old Testament as um God was um working with and developing relationship with the Israelites after he had helped them through the Exodus free them from Egyptian slavery
The bible let us know that um as God gives Moses those Ten Commandments those tablets on Mount siani that um the first four Commandments the four out the 12 um four out the 10 excuse me um they do this they give us um directions about our relationship with God and
Particularly God’s requirement for worship and so I need to understand as we look at those first four Commandments that God’s Commandments revealed to us um God God’s character let us know who God is and so also it tells us how we should obey God and live for God and so
Remember worship is about obeying God’s word loving God’s word loving who God is and doing that with all that we are as a result we then will be transformed thus as we look at this we must recognize and understand beloved that when we obey God God is glorified because the world Sees God
In our actions and so that’s why worship is not just what you do on Sunday it’s not what you just do at the concert or online for worship worship is not relegated to lifting our hands and clapping and singing and dancing but worship is about
Our love and our obedience to God as a result of how we live for God that the world then sees God in us and as a result God is glorified and so we must recognize that as we worship God as we are worship to God that God must be and
Always is Central to our worship if you are going to be a worshipper you must make sure that God is the focus God is the central person the central entity the central spirit that we worship and understand this in order for God to be the center of your worship um you must
Know more about God um that God is Central and that God is um the focus he is the the fixation of your worship John 15 and5 tell it says that I am the vine and you are the branches if you remain in me and I am
You you will bear much fruit from apart from me you can do nothing as a result if we are going to be worshippers we must be so connected to God uh we must be so ingrained with God that in our living in our how we live how we breathe
How we move that God is so a part of us that we focus on God in everything that we do thus as God shows us through the Ten Commandments who he is and who his character is and how we should move must understand that in order to worship God
If God is going to be the center of your worship that you’ve got to know who God is I cannot worship a God I do not know as a result God’s word lets us know who God says he is Isaiah 5 45:22 tell it says turn to me and be saved all the
Ends of the Earth for I am who God and there is no other and in this scripture right here God is making it Crystal Clear um that when it comes to who he is one um he’s saying he’s the one who has saved us um from from devation he said
From the ends of the Earth he is God for all of the Earth all of humanity all of the universe as a result he also makes it clear that there is no other God that there is no other God like our God like the pongs like scripture says that God
Is in a class all by God self Isaiah 46 verse 9 says this it says remember the former things those of long ago again God says I am God and there is no other God I am the god and there is none like me um in the word of God God makes it
Very clear um that he is the one and true and living God that there are no other big Gods no longer capital G gods that God is by God self and we must recognize that in our worship of God and so one of the things I love about God’s
Word and the scriptures is this is that the scriptures always are often um give us Revelation about God’s nature that as you read the word word of God you come to know who God is how God operates how God thinks and what God expects of us as
Well as how God moves and So based upon his his nature and his ways um we understand more about God because if I don’t read the word I don’t know God if I don’t know God I can’t worship God so the truth of who God is is affirmed
Through scripture as well as in our EX experiences know this that as you walk with God the also say that he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me that I am his owner song says as me Terry there um none other have ever
Known and so we got to understand that this relationship we have with God is ongoing and that is um that leads us to worship god um because of how we’ve got to know God and God has shown himself to us now in Scripture the Israelites again looking back at Exodus as they are
Forming this relationship with God um that after Moses as to God meets Moses at the burning bush and he tells that I am who I am and he goes back that God begins to reveal himself to the Israelites and to the world to Egypt based upon God’s interactions with them
And so the Israelites they first really get to know who God is as God administers the 12 different plagues to those in Egypt as as Moses goes as God has directed him to tell Pharaoh let my people go and Pharaoh um the Bible says was resisted and refused um to
Relinquish um this um those slaves who were Israelites um that God sent 12 different plagues he sent plagues of of frogs and Locust he said plagues of of drought and of blood in the Nile and all different kind of plagues and what the Israelites began to learn about God is
That God was powerful and had control over nature had control over animals that God was a powerful God as a result not only the the 11 plague but the 12th plague of God sending the death angel to go throughout Egypt and to kill all the firstborn males of everything humans and
Animals that was a symbol to the Israelites as well as to Egypt um that the god of Israel Yahweh the one and true Living God that we worship um was in control of everything and everybody why because Egyptians believed that um the first male in um of even Pharaoh’s
First male son would be the next successor and even a God himself for the fact that our God was able to kill kill that God that that that that that idea of one person being God let them know that God was Supreme that God was bigger and stronger and more powerful even in
The fact of the Exodus as they are released after that 12th plague and they’re headed now to the promised land they’re headed now to the promised land that as God Parts the Red Sea and they walk on dry ground that being the Israelites and then God allowing the Red
Sea then to collapse on the Egyptians who were chasing them thinking to bring them back that show the power and the Miracle working ability of God so they have experienced God as a as a miracle worker they’ve experienced God as a liberator and after they received the Ten Commandments and over the centuries
They have learned to experience God because God has revealed God self to them in scripture and in their life in hundreds of different ways God told them Exodus 20 ver2 I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt I’m deliverer I’m the one that
Saved you from slavery Exodus 3 and4 God said to Moses I am that I am Yahweh meaning that whatever you need whatever is needed I am the one that can do that and I don’t know about you all but knowing who God is knowing that God God
Is I am that I am that God is a provider he is a miracle worker he is a deliverer gives us reasons not only to worship God through our lips and through clapping but it also lets us know that we better obey God because God has all power and
So in our experience of who God is and God can reveal who God is to us um as God reveals himself to us and then as I said a moment ago helps us to learn how we are to approach God the truth is this that as you get to know people um you
Recognize who you can approach who in what ways there’s some folk that we know in our lives that don’t play and so you can’t joke with them a lot because when you joke with them it does not go over well and as you get to know somebody you
Know what you can say how you can say how you can deal with him that’s the same thing for God as God reveals himself and live in relationship in communion in connection with God God shows God’s self to us as a result we know how it is that we can approach God
How we can be in relationship with God and one of the things that we learn in relationship with God as God reveals himself in his word is that God urges us to be like God but before I get to being like God I need you to know on today
That for many of you who are watching who are listening know this that you have experienced God in unique ways for yourself there are some who are watching who know that God Is A Healer because of your experiences with God that God has shown himself to be a one who is a
Healer either for you directly or someone in your family but if God has provided for you he’s opened doors for you then that’s that’s also helps in my worship of God because when I think of what God has done when I ex when I reflect on how God has shown up in my
Life how God has answered prayers how God has revealed and made himself present and known that informs My Worship it tells me how I should live also how I should show my adoration and my praise unto God now one of the things that God does again God urges us Deacon
Barnes in in our living in our worship to be like God because you know that God reveals himself to us that that revelation of God through his word and through how God speaks to us is definitely one um that shapes who we are that my that God makes an impression
Upon Us in a way of and that impression as God impacts us it changes who we are and it change also how you live and how you worship um Leviticus 20 7-8 says that says consecrate yourselves and be holy because who what I am Holy meaning
God is Holy um keep my decrees and follow them I am the Lord who makes you holy in this scripture here Leviticus God again tells the Israelites that because God is Holy that he urges us that if we’re going to love God if we’re going to love God’s word
And Obey God’s word then we must then do the things that God directs and that’s what worship is and so he tells us in Leviticus that we should consecrate ourselves in other words remove from our life our habits our thoughts and our behaviors things that make us common
Things that cause us to be impure and Unholy what sin what Behavior what habits what attitudes do we need to cease from doing what behaviors should be changed and repent of that that that making that 180 terms asking for forgiveness changing my attitude and my habits and my ways and beginning to
Operate and live in a different way God says God says that because he is Holy that we should consecrate ourselves and be holy like God because our job in in life is to be like God we we got to be a reflection of God if God is Central to
Your worship and to your living and your lifestyle that you recognize that you cannot live without God it is then our responsibility that God has entrusted into us to live a holy lifestyle that means that we ought to we ought to think clean live clean Talk clean be pure be
Singled out not that we are so um um so spiritual so holy we’re no earthly good but it is to be saying that we ought to stand out from the rest not because we think we’re so great but because of our living we are not doing just what
Everybody’s doing but we are rising above we are rising to the top the cream of the crop we are living a lifestyle that’s above reproach we are glorifying God in our Behavior as a result of our behavior and our thoughts and our actions of loving God loving God’s word
Obeying God it then commands respect of others because people recognize and they’ll see that your lifestyle your living your living worship I love that that that terminology living worship is one um that rises above the rest and so in worship know this beloved God is drawing us and calling us to become
Close to God but notice that whenever you get close to God because we should connect you to God worship should allow you to be in God’s presence but whenever we’re in God’s presence um it does reveal the dichotomy the difference between us and God and know this that
God is Holy and we are not God is Holy the Bible says that our our righteous is nothing more than filthy rags in his sight as a result being in God’s presence reveals our sin and then also our desire prayerfully to be cleansed of our sin through the blood of Jesus and
Through our actions and so as we worship God as we be holy for he is Holy we consecrate ourselves we we we we change our behavior and our actions we are transforming ourselves because the word and the spirit transforms us and calls us to live better to live a greater
Lifestyle that is a form or a way of worship your obedience to God is worship your living for God is worship your love for God and the word of God is worship your desire to receive a word from God that transforms you and transforms your
World is a form of worship and so in first John 4 the Bible tells us that God is love as a result if God is love and we see the love of God then we must recognize that there are some things about us that we’re not as loving as we
Should be as a result we are then called by God to also exhibit and resemble and be a reflection of God’s love which is why God calls us not just to love our friends and our family but also to love your enemies as well that when people
See you as a Believer know you to be a disciple of Christ Cassandra that God is calling for us to then be loving in our actions be gracious and kind in our actions because God is love himself God God the Bible says in Psalm 11 ver Psalm
11:7 that God is a righteous God as a result we ought to also live in a righteous manner that we ought to live to do right and to be right to others not saying that you’re always right but that I want to live a lifestyle I want
To live in a way um that I am righteous in my actions and my dealings meaning I am just and I’m Equitable and we are kind and we are caring and we are compassionate and when we are are examined um we people can say that that they’re seeing the God in us through
That Luke also says in Luke 636 reminds us that God is merciful I love this scripture because um he tells us that while God is merciful he also lets us know that um it’s easy to be merciful to be kind to to be lenient to persons who
Are family and friends but can you and are you willing to Grant Mercy to your haters to your enemies are you willing to be merciful and kind and loving to those that have done you wrong done you dirty talked about you have have have stolen things from you God says he’s
Merciful so we should be merciful how do we know God is merciful his Grace and his Mercy that we don’t deserve salvation we have sinned we have trespassed we have missed a Mark we have fallen short of God’s glory as a result God’s mercies are new Every Morning
Leviticus say and great is his faithfulness to us and so true worship living worship means that we’re loving God we’re living for God we’re obeying God’s word and that leads to a transformed life of Holiness and so um not only um do we learn about relationship between us and God In
Worship um but God let us know as he Contin reveals himself to us that God is not to be rival Exodus 20:3 tells us you shall have no other gods before me go this is the first commandment this is the primary commandment and as a result God wants to make it clear um
That for us to have have any other God ahead of him anything else ahead of him means that we robbing ourselves of the blessings and the benefits of being in a relationship with God and where God is number one in our lives and so in when it comes to your um
Your priori list when it comes to uh who is first in your life God should always be um number one uh he ought to be first and foremost in your life that over your children over your spouse over your car over your money over your job or your
Business God should be first and foremost because God the Bible says have no other gods before us and I want to I want I want to say this on today I want to warn us that many of us unsuspectedly have replaced God spot with other things our love for our
Mothers our love for our children our family our grandchildren um our spouse and other things often times we devote more attention and time and Care um and thought to those person of things over God but God says he is not to be rivaled he is a God and have no other
Gods before and so as we’re as we’re talking and sharing I want you to begin to write a list of what or who you think you have put in place of God and repent of that work to make sure that God is first that you you’re not asking God to share
Space with something or someone else but that God is first and foremost in your life if we’re going to be a worshiper again God be rivaled Exodus 20: four says in the second commandment you shall make not for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven or above or
On Earth beneath in the waters below for God is a jealous God notice God says that in your living in your worship of him in your Obedience of him that you ought not create build purchase buy um any object any physical thing um that you begin to give um reverence to
Credence to Alle aliance to that is not God God says don’t form anything whether it’s Birds animals cars objects things that you have said that this is the idol this is the thing that I focus on more this is the thing I give my time and my
Attention to God says do not make for or your as any Graven image as King James would reading and so God have to be rivaled in this in our worship of God also and God not being rival Exodus 20:7 the third qu says do not misuse the name
Of the Lord your God for the Lord your God will not hold anyone Guiltless who misuses my name now I want to say this as a kid I learned um this the scripture this commandment many of did Growing Up or at some point in your life um to not
Use the lord’s name in vain as King James reads it right and for many of us we were taught this only means what we say you know don’t don’t say Jesus Christ um don’t swear on God’s name and all these things but know this beloved that this commandment this this this law
This this this directive from God is not just about the verbal use of God’s name because God understands this that God God knows that his name is everything it’s his reputation and so this means also not associating anything or anything or anyone that diminishes God’s name and God’s
Character and so so know this um even as pastor of star Bethlehem I’m grateful to pastor this wonderful church for the last years looking forward to even more years with star um that I recognize um that there’s a clause in my Covenant with star in terms of me not doing anything that would
Disparage that would um shame the name of the church based upon my behavior or my conduct publicly but as the leader of the church as a pastor the unders sheeper of this church um it is my responsibility to not hurt star’s name or reputation in the public based upon
My own personal behavior and so we’ve even seen this recently uh um allegedly um Diddy uh Sean Colmes has been um has been accused of certain behaviors and we’ve seen the last few days that even organizations and companies that that Diddy has been associated with even
Revolt TV who he was a chairman of um have now sever ties with him because unfortunately the rumors of the allegations about his sexual misconduct true or not true that’s not for us to judge today um have damaged their name and they refuse to be connected with
Anyone who has damaged the character the reputation of the company because they cannot be asso with that and so as a result how do we make that for us God says that if and how we move how we live causes his name to be diminished his
Reputation um to be damaged that is a sin and so God is saying that in our living worship that we ought to make sure that what we do how we move how we act that we’re always uping God’s an we’re alwayss people see us and they
Speak well of the god of our Salvation because of how how we move how we act but yet many of us have violated this commandment in our living worship because we have done things we have said things we have acted in certain ways that people have looked sideways at God
Because of who we are because they know that we’re connected with God we’ve claimed to be a Christian we’ve claimed to be a member of the church they know us to be deacons and pastors and and leaders and what we have done has sullied God’s name and God’s character
So God calls us to make sure that we are beloved um living up to his name and giving his name glory god also says that as we talk about how we worship God how we live for God that because of who God is as Central God not to be rivaled in
Any way he also tells us in the fourth Commandment in Exodus 20 ver8 remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy this is important because how we live out the Sabbath reveals what we believe about God and Sabbath is Holy to God and we’re
Going to deal with that um in in a good way later on today in our Bible study and so as I shift gears uh again living worship how you live your life is worship not just your singing your shouting your praising all that is wonderful and great and Grand uh but the
Way we live and worship ought to always glorify God the word glorify this big church word right it means to give weight or to honor to Something Matthew 5:16 like this it says you are the light of the world a town of heal that cannot be
Hidden you are the light of the world you are the salt of the earth right and so as worshippers um the world gets to know God through us as a disciple as a believer as a member of star more importantly a member of the body of Christ people ought to know you are
Saved as a result there are folk in this world who are unsaved but because they see you they’re in relationship with you you work with them they live next door to you you’re are engaged in Social organizations and sororities and fraternities and lodges we understand um
That he that God sees that they see God through us and so being in God’s presence also is overwhelming what does that mean it means this that when we are in relationship with God that God loves us enough and that God’s presence is so overwhelming um that God God’s presence
Ought to change who you are it reveals um who you are um it reveals how God is and how great God is to the point that God’s greatness at times be overwhelming anybody ever been in worship before and been overwhelmed in his presence um that God’s glory his presence the weight of
God has so um overwhelmed you and I I wish I was able to um In This Moment really give an example my wife did this last night in Bible study that if you think about a cup full of water with ice in it that if you pour the water in a
Cup full of ice at some point it overflows and that God being the ice of center of it that we pour God we’re over spir spirit of God overwhelms us and God’s presence overwhelms us and it overflows in Luke Chapter 5 ver8 when Jesus um helped Simon Peter um catch
More fish he ever caught before in his life as a as a fisherman the Bible says um that when they were u i they caught all the fish that Simon is so overwhelmed by the miracle and how God has moved through Jesus that he says he
Says um say he fell to his knees and told Jesus go away from me Lord for I am a sinful man um know this that God God’s presence so overwhelming that it often reminds and shares with us um that when it comes to who God is that we’re not in
The same category we’re not in the same weight class that we and God are not equal and so um we must understand God’s presence as we glorify God should change us and that times let overwhelm us for the good let us know that God is doing a
Work in us and that we know who we are in God um and so the way in which we live and we worship um also transforms us again how people see us and how they see us in our worship ought to then transform their lives people ought to
See you and want to be better want to be a believer want to grow spiritually because you have inspired them um through their living and so there are a couple things that the Bible says that as we live for God we worship God uh people should learn about who God is
That that through your living worship how you live how you move how you operate how you love God how you love God’s word and live for God ought to teach people that God is Holy they ought to know that through your living through your action that God hates sin in other
Words that they see you trying to your best to not see it and recognize it that that that you try not to sin because God hates sin God self they ought to see through us that God redeems The Sinner that that that we’re sharing with other
Persons that uh we are not um saved by ourselves that we are not holy but that we need a savior we need Jesus and through the plan of God through Jesus Christ that he’d redeem Sinners that um those who accept Christ as Savior because he died for our sins
That he loves us uh we ought to teach folk through our living and through our worship that God grants fullness of life to God’s people that people ought to know that you living your best life because God has blessed you the Bible says that for that Jesus said that he
Came that we might have life and have it more abundantly and people ought to see through our living worship that God’s on a mission um to to redeem all the world that he wants everybody who has been who sined who has fallen short to come back
To be re reunited in the fold with him through his son and that for God so loved the world which meaning we’re coming out trying to let everybody know don’t care your orientation your ethnicity don’t care about your race your gender your Creed that God loves
All of us and he wants all of us to redeem and come back to him God through our living worship we ought to teach folk that God requires obedience and He blesses those who are obedience the Bible says that obedience is greater than sacrifice so through your living
Through your worship people ought to recognize that God requires there a standard God has and that when you live according to the standard when you obey God there are blessings of blessings to of blessings with your name on it God teach that we got to teach folks through
Our worship that God grants his people Mercy great mercy and Grace your grace and mercy brought me through that’s we sing all the time people ought to see that and know that through our worship through our living God that people ought to know that God grants the people his people power and
Boldness there are too many Christians who are timid who are afraid who are punks who are scared but we ought to live in holy boldness that we ought to know who we are and whose we are that because God is King of Kings Lord Lords because he has all power in his hand
That he’s given us that same Authority that same power as a result we should walk in boldness and power not that we are all that um but letting them know that the god of our Salvation bless us and gives us what we need and we walk in
His authority and his power and we know who that is and it’s important that as we do that um we ought to let people know people ought to see through us um that if if we love God they can do these things and they understand is about who God
Is continuing um the way we live and worship should glorify God in Acts 2 verse4 family um when the early church um worshiped the entire city of Jerusalem they trembled because of what happened to acts 2-4 of the whole city was turned upside down Pentecost took place people
Who were not saved saw the spirit of God trans of of fall on people they saw people’s lives being changed they saw the power of God moving through people’s lives and it impacted their City our living worship not just what we do on Sundays between 11 and one 12 o’clock or
One o’clock but how you live ought to affect the world in which you live in those on your job those in your neighborhood those in your organizations in your family ought to be impacted by your living your lifestyle you ought to be a influence you ought to be the salt
Of the earth you ought to be a change agent for Christ that because people find see that you are forgiving and loving and kind they desire to do the same thing know this beloved that when we are worshippers that love God love God’s word and live for God and obey God that
Inward work that transformative work to resemble God in God’s word that obedience to God always has outward results um we say we say like this in the church um there’s something on the inside working on the outside oh what a change in my life well the change ought
Not just be in your life but it ought to also be in the life of your family and your children and your job and your co-workers and that’s what we’re looking to do as we worship god um know this um that as we glorify God there is still transformation 2 Corinthians 2
Chronicles 7:14 we love this scripture it says if my people who are called by my name will what humble themselves and pray seek my face turn from their Wicked Ways then I will hear from Heaven I will forgive their sin and heal their land we cannot worship God until we do these
Things humbling yourself means recognizing that God is Central God is first there are no other gods before me before God says that I got to lower my I got to hum I gotta bow in submission I’ve got to not just physically bow but my lifestyle needs to yield to God’s
Word I decide how to move not how I want to do but what God says Jesus said like this not my will but thine will be done I humble myself I pray talk to God commune with God and then I seek God’s face I I
Desire and go after God I I I’m trying to get all I can from God I want to be in his presence I want to hear his word I want to be in communion and connection with God that when we humble ourselves knowing that I need God I need God to be
Superior so I’m gonna fall back so God can rise up I’m going to seek his face I’m going to go after the things of God and then if I humble myself and I seek his face I turn to my Wicked Ways I I’m G to change some behavior I’m G I’m GNA
Work through the word and the spirit of God and my Obedience of God to change my heart and my mind and my words and my actions and so that I’m not as nasty and evil um and hateful and jealous and conniving but I want to have a lifestyle
That is pure and loving and merciful I want to be righteous I want to be loving and kind as God is Holy as God is the Bible says that if we do these things then God will hear from Heaven he will forgive our sin and then do what heal
The land he’ll give Prosperity he will provide that which you need and the question Bel you got to ask yourself is this what is blocking you from genuine living worship what have you not in what plac of your life have you not humbled yourself in what areas have you sought
Other things and not God’s face and what areas have you refused to repent and turn and change in some behaviors and some Lifestyles and some actions because those are the things that block us from truly worshiping God from making him the center of our worship making him the
Center of our joy making him who he is and making sure that we know that he is God all by God self we can know that um know that also I mention earlier that God’s name is important to him um God’s name again is
Who God is he his the say is trueth all you have is your name all you have is your character and reputation and so one one of the things that I love about God is this is that God knows who God is he knows that his name I am that I am means
He he knows who he is as a result God never Acts or functions or behaves contrary to his character in his nature God never gets out of pocket god never um does things that are against his own word that you can trust that God is
Gonna be true to God who God is why because if God doesn’t then he ceases to be who God is and so um as worshippers of God when we don’t live according to God’s word because worship is a lifestyle not a life event it then causes unbelievers to
Misunderstand who God is give you a quick example David in 2 Samuel 12 um he commits adultery he’s not where he’s supposed to be he he takes B Sheba um forces her to to lay with him she becomes pregnant and then in attempt to hide his sin he arranges for UAH first
Hopefully to sleep with her so that she he he might think that he got her pregnant when Uriah does not sleep with his wife while he should be at war with the other soldiers he arranges for Uriah B sheba’s husband to be killed as a result the Bible lets us know that uh
The prophet Nathan comes to David and lets David know that his actions have hurt God’s name verse 12 12 verse1 14 says but because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord the son born to you will die because of David’s sin and how he had um diminished
And defamed God’s name through his actions the child that basba was pregnant with died because of David’s actions beloved there are consequences to our actions God will not allow his name to be sullied for our benefits but he will check us so that he is never lowered but he’s always lifted
Up so his name is important to him Ezekiel 36:23 tells us I will show the Holiness of my great name which has been profaned along among the Nations again when our worship is consistent our living is consistent God’s name and God’s people will always know who God is
God people who are unsaved will know who God Is So as a result God wants us to make sure that we in our living and our worship beloved always do his name Justice and one of the things about knowing about God’s name God’s name is ho hly it is wonderful it’s Majestic it
Is marvelous Matthew 6 and9 in the Lord’s Prayer when God Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray he begins by saying your prayer like this Our Father who are in heaven Hallowed holy be your name when God’s name is kept holy through our actions and our behaviors
And are living then what happens his kingdom shall come and his will will be done on Earth as it is in heaven and so our worship beloved our living worship how we love God how we love God’s word how we obey God’s word how we live for
God um allows God’s name to be glorified and kept his kingdom the work we do on Earth it um happens and it build up the kingdom people are blessed and grow faith and grace of God and that is the will of God to be done in this Earth so
His name is important to him again H his name is so important to him that you got to recognize that our life depends on God’s name being holy that without God’s name being what it is we are at a loss how do I know the Bible tells us that we
Ought to that we are to that we are called by his name right um in Matthew 18 and 20 We Gather in his name we pray in the name of Jesus right um we we live by faith according to his name Acts 3 16 U we Proclaim his name right atus
9:16 um we are baptized in the name God in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit we put hope in his name Matthew 12:21 and so we got to recognize um that because his name is Holy his name is great that we ourselves our
Salvation our living um is connected to his name if his name is diminished then God help us that’s why acts and 12 Acts 4:12 tells us that salvation is found in no other no one else no the name under Heaven given unto Mankind in which man might be saved at
The name of who Jesus his son every KN shall by every tongue shall confess we got to know that his name has power and power even for us M gives um when it comes to worship um the Bible tells us also um in those first four Commandments he says um they
Know that God’s before me he says don’t make any any graven images that I’m a jealous God he says that uh don’t misuse his name but he also says uh keep the Sabbath holy no this beloved that as we worship god um God wants us to be differently identify the rest of the
World one of the ways that he separates us from everybody else is through the Sabbath even as God was creating the earth and the heavens and the universe the Bible says that on the seventh day he rested and said it is Holy Genesis 2:3 says and then God blessed the
Seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all his work of creating that which he had done the seventh day um belonged to God it was meant to be recognized and that on that day we as created beings of God were to
Rest from our labor to pause from our work to stop what we were doing so that we could take time to recognize who God is and to spend time in relationship with God and that’s why as Believers Christians we have to keep the Sabbath holy the Sabbath is a sign that God has
Redeemed us that he has stifi he has called us apart We Are Holy he has removed us from what is common because he is Holy and so um what is Sabbath it also means that that um Sabbath means um that we are special to God Deuteronomy
5:15 reminds it says that um you are slaves but God still brought us out of out of slavery he still brought us out of Egypt and so because of that we’ve got to celebrate that on the Sabbath day was the time for us to pause and the
Rest and it signify how specially word of God so Sabbath has three significant um things to God’s people one on Sabbath acknowledges that God is alone the Lord Of Our Lives Sabbath acknowledges that there is a creator that God created the heavens and the Earth and we acknowledge that it’s not
Just a Big Bang Theory but even if there’s a big bang that God was the one behind the bang but it also acknowledges um that there is a redeemer um and a sanctifier that God has redeemed from the hand of the enemy that God has through his so Jesus saved our soul and
Has Sanctified us and so um how we keep Sabbath is a major expression of our worship now I want to say this that um as the major expression of our worship um Sabbath is the time for us to pause now um for many of us we have as Christians
Vied the Sabbath we do everything else but what we should on the Sabbath we do not take moments to pause and reflect who God is we we don’t take moments to really give God glory and spend time uninterrupted time in God God recognize that life is hard we must
Work to be prosperous and to pay our debts and to build for our family and to build prosperity and wealth and God wants you to have all that yet even in working hard you’ll never enjoy the fruits of your laborless you have a moment of pausing and reflection in Jeremiah 17 verse
21-27 the Bible calls us to pause for Sabbath that we can be so consumed with work that we neglect who God is we we work so hard all day and all night trying to get paid and get to the bag and get this and get that that we
Neglect the pause to acknowledge that is the God who has who has saved us who has gifted us and equipped us and empowered us and has given you the talent and the skill and the ability to get the bag and the money in the first place so Ezekiel
20 and2 says this this this was an indictment on people the prophet said and U that God says I also gave them my Sabbath as a sign between us so they would know that I and the Lord made them holy beloved Sabbath is about God and
You and Sabbath is also for your own self-care many of us run ourselves ragged because we do too much and don’t take time to pause and reflect if God being the god of the universe the creator of all things the most powerful entity in the world in the UN
Could say he needed to pause and rest I worked six days straight created everything and if God who does not need rest the Bible says Bible says he neither Slumbers nor sleeps took a moment to pause and to lean back and to enjoy and see what he has done then what
Makes us think that we do not need self-care we need time to get away and to pause and in your living worship when you take moments to pause and reflect and thank God for what God has done and how he has provided how he has shown up
And how he has Sanctified you and made you holy and cleansed and you know who he is then that is how we show God that we worship him and show others who God means to us and so Sabbath is still relevant now we who are Christians our Sabbath is not anymore um
Sundown Saturday Friday to uh sunset Saturday that was the original Sabbath but because Jesus was resurrected on the Sunday on the first day of the week the Lord’s day we as Believers as Christians we celebrate the Sabbath on the Lord’s Day Revelation 1 ver10 says on the
Lord’s day I was was in the spirit and I heard behind me a voice a loud voice like a trumpet and even John as he’s on the Alat says that on the Lord’s days when the Lord spoke to him and so beloved I need us to know that that that
The first of of the week is our Christian Sabbath that Sunday is our time to commune with God and to rest in God and rest from our labors and to enjoy all that God has given unto us and and know who he is again many of us have
Profaned the Sabbath because um on the day we should worship and commune with God we replaced it with overtime and other jobs we go to all kind of sporting events and children’s activities and we even over church on Sundays and so God is calling us in this season beloved to
Take time to pause from your work so you can enjoy the fruit of your work nothing wrong with going to a sports game nothing wrong with going to a football game or basketball game but when you take spend the whole time going to there and not giving God his just doe you have
Violated the sabath even over churching meaning you spend all day in church singing and preaching and working and teaching that you’re working more than you’re worshiping and competing with God I’m G be honest as a pastor um Sunday is not my Sabbath because I’ve worked for the church so I’m working throughout the
Day on Sunday so for me my Sabbath is Monday and so many of you know Pastor don’t work on Mondays because I take time I try to take time to commune with God and to rest in God and to reflect on what God has done and so it’s important
Beloved that as we worship God that we give God time and we invest our time in God the keeping the Sabbath tells God that God you’re work worthy I trust you for my provision that you’re worthy I thank you for creating me that you’re worthy I acknowledge oh God that all
Things come from you that I am redeemed I’m saved I’m set apart and this is the thing that I struggle with with Christians this that our brothers who are Muslim our s who are Muslim or are Jewish they will take off they will not work on their holy days they are they
Will not work on Sabbath they will go to Temple they will spend time in the synagogue and the law of this land says that no job can infringe upon your worship and your Sabbath and for many of us who say oh I got to work on Sundays
The Devil is a Lie you can take the time if you make God your priority to say at least for a few hours I got to go to worship I’ve got to go to church I’ve got to pause for my job and your job cannot legally fire you or reprimand you
Because you have taken time to work worship your God and so beloved let us not be like those I’m in the time of Ezekiel where it says in in in this chapter here 20 verse 16 and because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and
Desecrated my Sabbath for their hearts were devoted to their Idols so beloved I just came here to really encourage you you know that as we are worshippers of God that God is calling for us um to worship Him know that he is God all by himself and that our living worship how
We move how we breathe how we operate is is our worship not just clapping our hands and praising and singing but our worship is through our love of God our love of God’s word and our living of God by being obedient to his word as we
Conclude today I want to thank you again for joining us for our Bible study I want to remind you that if you would be so kind as to donate on tonight today if you would give a love gift um you can do so through the various means text to
Give you can scan the code with your phone if you’re looking at a TV or a screen um and you can give on today you you’re a disciple star you got gify you got real as a app you can donate to our our Bible study so we can continue to
Grow this ministry and serve you by giving you the word of God virtually and electronically want to let you know that this Friday um we’re decking the halls of the church and so we’re getting to the Christmas spirit the Christmas cheer and so if you got a little time want you
Join us at the church on this Friday 6:30 we’re going to decorate the walls and put the tree up and the waths and have a great time we have some chocolate and some cookies and have a good time and fellowship so we invite our disciples to come out and be a part of
That on this Friday um also on the 20th we’re concluding our onee Holy Bible we’ve been reading the Bible all year long and so I’m grateful for that and so we’re having a trivia night we’re going to have we’re invited us to be in competition to show how much you’ve
Learned over the years here and so I’m encouraging families or Ministries or friends or groups if you would get together and get between two to four persons on a team together so we can compete and have a good time um Family Feud style um for um this for our
Fellowship as we conclude our Bible study for the year um there’s going to be a grand prize of $200 cash for the team that wins this trivia night and so you can sign up on our website today you can go to rim you can sign in the
Building um for this so that we can have a great time in fellowship and fun studying God’s word and seeing um who has been be a part of their oneyear Holy Bible reading as we discuss the one year holy Bible next year 2024 we’re still reading the Bible we’re going to switch things
Up this year next year instead of reading the Bible um based upon the table of contents we’re going to read the Bible chronologically meaning we’re going to read the Bible based upon the historic events as they unfolded in history and so I’m excited about this um
I’ll be sending out an email in the next day or so um to disciples and Friends we’ll post it online social media where you can join us in reading this chronological Holy Bible you can either purchase the Bible through our website or you can join the group that we’ve
Been on ersion Bible app and reading together about a 15 minutes every day in our devotional time of reading the word of God as we are learning the word of God and seeing how God’s Redemptive work and the plan of God was unfolded um in real time and so finally we have our
Christmas um celebration for our Sunday school on the 17th of December at 9:30 in the morning come out and support our children in our Sunday school ministry as we continue to celebrate the birth of the king and then iite you to stay after worship on the 17th um Pastor Rend
Today’s Christmas tree we going have a great time in fun and fellowship our pastor sponsor this every year and so we’re going to have our ugli for the Christmas contest we’re going um to um give you a gift from my wife and I to every disciple and star and those
Disciples who want to bless your pastor first lady you want to pour to us and give us a Christmas gift we would be um so humbly willing to receive that gift of love on this year and so that’s a great time for us to come together we’ll
Have some food we have some fun sing some carols laugh at our sweaters have a good time as we conclude the holiday season or go into the holiday season and give God praise for who God is last thing is this our youth ministry is going to bless children in this season
I’m excited they have their brunch with blessings on the 23rd of Christmas of December um they’re gonna ask you to join them for food and for brunch for games and for gifts um we’re gonna give toys out the children between ages two and 177 and ask you to wear your
Favorite Christmas sweater and if you would sign up by by by scanning the code that way we can get your information um and you can be a part of this breun from blessings open to the community not just to Disciples of star but anybody who wants their children blessed uh before
The holiday season beloved we thank God for you I love you for who you are I hope you were blessed by today’s Bible study have an amazing day take care peace God bless you
source
