WEBVTT 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:04.959 This is a good day to preach on worship. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:07.679 That happens to be the topic. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:11.599 Hebrews chapter twelve, you'll find printed in your bulletin. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:21.359 You're the word of God. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:36.479 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.600 For they could not endure the order that was given. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:43.759 If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:49.920 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I tremble with fear. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:01:18.959 But you have come to Mount Zion, into the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels and festival gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:22.640 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:31.680 For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:40.319 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens. 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:52.799 This phrase, yet once more, indicates the removal of things that are shaken, that is, things that have been made, in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:02:06.799 Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:16.719 This is the reading of God's holy, infallible, inerrant, beautiful, powerful word. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:19.280 Let's ask the Spirit's help. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:21.759 Father, thank you. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:23.439 Thank you for giving us this word. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:25.120 Thank you for giving us worship. 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:32.240 Father, you said the only time in the Word of God that you say if something about your seeking, you're seeking true worshipers. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:37.039 Worship worshipers who worship you in spirit and truth. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:46.159 So, Holy Spirit, would you open our minds and our hearts to receive your word and your truth, your grace this morning? 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:50.240 We thank you that there is truth to be proclaimed. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:53.599 Lord, we thank you that there are promises to be believed. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:56.080 So, Father, we pray. 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:59.360 Holy Spirit, teach us now. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:01.919 In the name of Jesus, we ask. 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:02.879 Amen. 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:13.360 Worship is the central activity of the Christian. 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:20.719 Worship is something that we're going to do throughout all eternity. 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:24.719 You know, when you get to heaven, there's no more evangelism. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:29.439 All the ones who have been called and saved are going to be there. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:34.319 What is the one central activity of the redeemed people of God? 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:36.080 It's worship. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:43.759 And that's why we need to start now here on earth as we learn and understand what worship is. 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:45.360 And we respond. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:53.120 I remember years ago when I read this passage and it just reached out and kind of grabbed me, bit me. 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:55.919 I'd read it before, but I never really understood it. 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:05.360 It changed my understanding of worship, it changed my experience of worship, and it's never been the same since. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:09.360 That might be a new experience for some of you today. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:11.680 What is he saying? 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:13.840 We're going to look at this. 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:22.800 We're going to look at the where we worship, the who who worship, and the what of worship. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:26.000 Where does worship take place? 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:28.720 You might say, well, that's easy. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:29.279 I got that one. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:31.600 1300 West Braddy Road. 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:33.519 Well, okay. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:35.120 That's true. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:39.040 But there's so much, so much more to that. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:43.199 So many more layers of beauty and depth. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:45.600 Verse 22 of the text. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:52.720 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem. 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:54.720 So where do we worship? 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:56.639 Where are we worshiping right now? 00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:02.079 Not only here, but in heaven by faith. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:06.959 Is this an amazing truth? 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:13.839 I suspect that many, many Christians have lived their whole lives and have not understood this. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:15.839 This will change your life. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:17.600 This will change your worship. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:21.839 If the Spirit opens this truth up to you today. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:37.920 When the word church, ekklesia, the Greek word, it's the gathering, the assembling, the assembling of God's people. 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:50.319 When God's people come together for the purpose of worshiping God, we come not only to a place on earth, but we come to a place in the very heavens. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:58.079 And so we could say not only that maybe our worship is heavenly, and that's a good thing. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:05.199 You know, some Sundays you go home and you might think, well, that was heavenly worship, and that's a good thing, but that's not what he's saying. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:12.560 He's not just saying that you had a heavenly experience of worship, but he's saying that you actually have come into heaven. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:16.959 Heaven's worship, not just heavenly worship. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:18.800 There's a difference. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:22.560 By faith, that's what we're doing right now. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:54.560 You have come by faith in the head of the church, Jesus Christ, as we see him, as we see his finished work, his perfect life, his sacrificial death, his powerful resurrection, his ascension into heaven, as we see his finished work on our behalf, and we believe it, and by faith we take that into our hearts, we thereby enter into heaven's worship when we come. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:00.480 No longer is there a place on earth like there was in the Old Testament. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.600 In the Old Testament, there were places. 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:08.560 Mount Sinai, the top of Mount Sinai, we're going to talk about that a little bit more. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:11.439 There was a tabernacle in the Old Testament. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:13.920 There was a temple in the Old Testament. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:16.480 There was a place where you went. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:18.000 No longer. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:29.680 You know today there are God's people meeting in huts in some lands, in caves in some land. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:32.480 Doesn't matter. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:35.759 The physical place doesn't really matter. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:39.040 What matters is that you're coming to Jesus. 00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:42.720 And his spirit is present with his people. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:45.839 Verse 18. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:51.360 No longer do God's people worship at Mount Sinai. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:08:02.319 No, we come to Jerusalem, to the temple, the mountain that in the Old Testament, the mountain that could not be touched, or the penalty of death. 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:05.439 Here today, he says, come on in. 00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:08.639 He says, Come on in. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:10.800 I have a place for you. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:14.560 And you didn't have to kill a lamb before you came. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:19.439 You didn't have to go through an elaborate ritual process, ceremonial cleansing. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:21.839 You just come. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:24.240 He says, Come as you are. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:27.040 But come. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:33.519 And there's a contrast between Mount Sinai in the Old Testament and Mount Zion in the New. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:36.960 Mount Sinai couldn't, don't, don't even touch. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:40.879 If an animal touched the base of the mountain, the animal would be killed. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:43.679 If a person did, likewise. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:54.399 So Moses, when he went up on the mountain for 40 days, 40 nights, when he's up there, he had a holy protection from God because God invited him to come up. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:59.440 But he was not to do it casually or take it lightly. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:02.399 Mount Sinai could not be touched. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:06.080 Here he says, Mount Zion worship, New Testament worship, come on in. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:08.080 With confidence, come near. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:11.039 Back then it was a blazing fire. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:15.120 They were scared when God showed up on the top of Mount Sinai. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:17.200 They trembled. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:19.200 Moses trembled. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:25.600 We don't tremble out of a dreadful fear today. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:29.279 There was darkness, there was gloom, there was fire. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:37.679 And yet he talks about in the New Jerusalem that there's no sun needed, that the glory of the Lord is the light that shines upon his people. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:39.279 We're going to see that. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.360 We're going to see that one day. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:46.720 No one stayed on the top of Mount Sinai. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:48.559 You didn't belong there. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:51.919 By the way, you know in the Old Testament they didn't have pews. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:54.320 Or chairs. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:59.200 In the Old Testament, whether it was a tabernacle or the temple, there were no chairs, there were no pews. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:00.000 You know why? 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:01.600 You didn't belong there. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:08.480 The priest came in, and the priest did what the priest had to do on your behalf. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:11.759 But now we we have chairs. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:17.440 In New Testament worship, God says, come and sit. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:21.120 Come and take in. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:24.480 Mount Zion. 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:31.200 You see, there are so many really important implications of this. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:34.879 One is it doesn't matter what size your church is. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:44.960 If you're a church of 30, which we were when I came here, if you're a church of 30, if you feel like you're really tiny, don't worry about it. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:49.600 Because you're entering into heaven's worship. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:55.600 If you're a church of 300, if you're a church of 3,000, if you're a megachurch, get over yourself. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:11:01.519 It's all because you've got the perfect band or the perfect preacher. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:02.159 No. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:11.600 This really has changed my perspective and enjoyment of worship over the years. 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:22.879 Because whether you're small, medium size, or large, it really is about coming into heaven's worship. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:28.399 Hebrews chapter 10, verse 19. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:40.480 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened up for us through the curtain, that is through His flesh. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:56.720 And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:04.080 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:18.480 And let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as in the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:27.759 What an amazing paragraph, chock full of truth for us in our enlightenment as we learn how to worship. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:34.960 Jesus' body was torn, the curtain was torn, open, and we saw that the other week in Good Friday. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:37.919 From top to bottom, that means Jesus says, Come in. 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:40.879 Come in now as you are. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:42.559 Come. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:48.080 Because you don't have to worship anymore with an evil conscience. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:53.919 You can worship with a clear conscience, with a cleansed conscience. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:59.519 You can worship with confidence that you belong here, that God wants you here. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:03.600 That might be a different way to worship for some. 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:05.600 But he does say come. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.440 Don't neglect coming. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:09.759 What keeps you away from worship? 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.960 How little does it take you to keep you from coming here? 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:14.720 The rain? 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:16.720 Oh no, because you're here. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:19.759 A little rain doesn't stop you guys. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.600 But what does? 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:25.360 I don't know if I feel like it today. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:26.639 Come on. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:33.600 I had some really good questions after the first worship service. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:40.159 A man came up to me and he said, Pastor, what do I do when I don't feel like coming? 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:44.559 What do I do if I wake up and I'm grumpy? 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:46.159 That's what he said. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:49.840 If I'm not in the mood. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:52.240 Should I not come? 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:56.240 I said, nah, I think we can do better than that. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:59.200 Tell God you're grumpy. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:00.799 Be honest. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:04.480 Just tell God, I'm not sure, I'm not in the mood to worship. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:06.240 I don't want to worship. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:08.960 I said, repent. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.720 Prepare your heart. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:22.879 Prepare your heart before you come so that when you come, you're not coming with a grumpy, discouraged heart. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.679 I don't know about you. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.919 I know what I need to do. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.759 I need to do it seven days a week. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:35.600 I need to come into the Word of God and let the Word of God cleanse me. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:40.159 I need Sunday mornings, I need to get up early, and I just need to be in the Word of God. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:43.200 Sunday mornings I need to listen to good Christian music. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:45.360 All that just helps me. 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:48.240 And sometimes I have to repent. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:52.799 This is not automatic for any of us. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:15:00.320 The Father seeks true worshipers who worship him in spirit and in truth. 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:06.960 The good news, friends, is we have the Holy Spirit who can show us where our hearts are. 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:11.519 Help us prepare our hearts for what he wants to do and worship. 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:17.519 So let me ask you a question right now. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.440 Who are you worshiping? 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:22.159 Are you worshiping on Mount Sinai right now? 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:24.399 Or are you worshiping on Mount Zion? 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:29.200 Mount Sinai was the law. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.399 Is it still all about the law for you? 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:42.639 Are you still trying to go through all these rituals and all these ceremonial things that you gotta do to come to God? 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.120 I think there are contemporary versions of that. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:52.559 Where people are still trying to cleanse themselves. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.879 You can't cleanse yourself. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:57.519 You can receive Jesus' cleansing. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:15:59.600 But come. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:04.399 Come to Mount Zion. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:09.759 Right now, by faith, we are actually in heaven. 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:17.840 Our voices are joining in, blending in with the voices of the angels. 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:20.000 My parents. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:32.639 So when my dad got behind the pulpit and they were singing, the mic was always off. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.759 True. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:39.279 My mom had a nice voice. 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.080 My dad's no longer a monotone. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.120 Wow. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:50.159 I better not think about that too long. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.919 He's not a monotone. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:56.480 He's got a beautiful voice. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:07.759 Your voice is blending in with the voice of the angels, innumerable angels, and you're the the saved who have gone before us. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:12.079 Man, that that's a beautiful truth. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:17.200 You say, well, yeah, but my voice isn't so good. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:22.480 I may not be a monotone, but God loves to hear your voice. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.559 Your voice is your voice. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:31.200 He wants to hear your voice from your heart. 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:34.079 That is beautiful praise to God. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:37.920 So you don't worry about the person sitting next to you. 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:43.599 First service, I looked around, I saw a bunch of brothers doing this to each other. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.640 God loves your voice. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.119 He really does. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:56.160 And you know God has a voice. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:18:02.799 Zephaniah chapter 3 tells us that the Lord, our mighty God, our warrior, sings over us with much joy. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:07.680 Do you ever hear him singing over you in worship? 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:10.079 I do sometimes. 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:15.599 Sometimes in worship I just have to stop singing because his voice is better than mine. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:17.519 But I hear his voice. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:25.680 And when I do, I just sometimes I just have to stop and take in his voice. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:31.759 This might be a new experience for some of us. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:34.319 We're learning how to worship. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:39.200 Where we worship, secondly, who gathers to worship? 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:41.039 The church of the firstborn. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:46.400 The firstborn in the Old Testament, the firstborn son, God, just about everything. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:52.559 Well, the firstborn, usually in Scripture, is referring to Christ Himself. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:19:01.680 He is the firstborn, begotten of God, only eternally existent with God, but he is the firstborn, the head of the church. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:09.680 We come to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:17.839 In the Old Testament, Moses recorded all the names of the firstborn sons, at least at one point in Numbers chapter 3. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:24.160 The names are registered in God's book. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:32.480 One of my professors, Ed Clowney, used to say, why does the Old Testament in some places read like a telephone directory? 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:35.680 You young guys don't know what that is, do you? 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:40.240 There used to be a telephone book. 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:44.960 And you'd open it up and there'd be all these names. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:47.599 Names matter. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.519 Because people matter. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:53.839 Why are all those names recorded in the Old Testament? 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:55.839 Because they mattered to God. 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:58.640 You might think, well, I don't really care about all those names. 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:01.839 They're hard to pronounce, but it mattered to them. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:04.319 How about your name? 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:08.400 There's another book, and it's not the membership book of APC. 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:11.039 Your name may be registered in our membership roles. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:17.039 We're thankful for your names as members, but there's another book that's even more important. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:19.359 The Lamb's Book of Life. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:22.559 Revelation chapter 3, 5 talks about it. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:25.039 Philippians chapter 3 talks about it. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:30.400 See, the thing that really matters most is your is your name in the book of the Lamb? 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:32.480 Is your name? 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:35.759 Have you been saved by the grace of Jesus Christ? 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.839 Have you been washed from your sin? 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:41.519 Have you been adopted into God's family? 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:47.920 If so, your your name has been written in the Lamb's book of life. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.640 You know what that means? 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:52.799 Everything's okay. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:56.000 Everything's okay. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:58.000 No matter what happens. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:05.680 No matter what happens in this world, no matter what happens to you, it's gonna be okay. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.960 The Lamb's book of life. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:13.599 Jesus said, look, that's what matters most. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:16.480 You remember in Luke chapter 10, verse 20? 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:19.279 Jesus sent out his disciples to do ministry. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:20.400 And they all came back. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:22.160 They came back giddy. 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.880 Oh boy, you should have seen what we did. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.720 It's like Jesus didn't know. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:29.519 Who do you think you gave you gave you that power? 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:31.519 They come back all giddy. 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.720 They're really excited. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:35.359 They say, Jesus, you should have seen what happened. 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:38.880 We were teaching and we were casting out demons, even. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.000 And we were clean, we were healing people, we were doing all these things. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.960 And Jesus says, What? 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:50.160 Do not rejoice that the demons submit to you. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:54.720 But rejoice that your name is written in heaven. 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:59.279 Don't get all giddy about your ministry. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:05.599 Don't get all giddy about all the things you do for Jesus. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.960 But never get over what he's done for you. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:30.480 If you want to rejoice, if you want to find real joy, find your joy in the Savior who loves you, the Savior who suffered for you, the Savior who's waiting for you one day to be with him in heaven. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:37.759 Every Lord's day we enter into the sanctuary to heaven's worship. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:50.079 Again, our praises join in and blend in with the songs and the praise of the angels and all the saints who have gone before us because we are God's ecclesia, the Greek word for the gathered, the assembly. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:56.720 The Old Testament prophets saw the nations streaming to Mount Zion to join their worship one day. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:03.039 I love pastoring this congregation because people from all over the world are here. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:06.960 We have people from far away, nearby. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.960 We're all part of God's family. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.640 That's beautiful. 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:16.079 We come together. 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:21.599 The prophets in the Old Testament saw that day, the nations will stream to Mount Zion. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:26.000 Well, that includes people from the United States. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:29.440 We're a long way from Israel. 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:33.200 We're a long way from where Jesus lived. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:36.000 We're the nations that came. 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:38.880 That's what Jesus is doing. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:44.319 And beautiful things happen when God's people worship like this in spirit and in truth. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:48.079 The Apostle Paul talks about it in 1 Corinthians chapter 14. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:24:00.160 He says, when you are engaged in godly gospel, lively worship, unbelievers will come into your midst and they will say, Surely God is among these people. 00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:03.839 The secrets of their hearts will be revealed. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:06.559 They will come to know Jesus Christ as Savior. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:12.079 As I said that, as I preached this in the first service, I just looked around. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:14.480 I saw so many people that have just come to Christ recently. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:17.599 I see people here who have just come to Christ. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:25.359 And I know through the preaching, through the worship. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:32.640 That's what we should expect to happen when the powerful word of God is preached and proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.960 We shouldn't be surprised. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:39.839 This is what Jesus does in his church. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:43.440 It is a beautiful thing. 00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:46.960 Truly, God is among these people. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:52.960 So that means hey, that means it really matters what you do in worship. 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:55.279 Don't mumble your songs. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.000 No mumbling. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.200 Please. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:07.359 Mumbling comes from a kind of a soul that's asleep. 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:11.759 A life that's kind of on an autopilot. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.519 This is important. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:24.400 It's important for you to be aware of what you're doing in this room, that you're actually offering your spiritual sacrifices. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:27.359 That's what was read. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:31.279 That Peggy read that earlier in 1 Peter 2. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:44.480 You're a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:47.599 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:50.720 Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:52.000 Don't forget that. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.720 You remember that? 00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:59.200 We were on the outside. 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:02.160 We were outsiders and Jesus brought us in. 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:06.000 We were spiritually dead and Jesus raised us up from our death. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:10.160 When we remember that, we worship like that. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:14.720 No mumbling in this room, okay? 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:17.440 No statues in this room. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:24.799 Some of us could use it a little bit like just a little bit like you were at the football game. 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:28.640 Like you were at the soccer game. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:32.480 A little bit of excitement, a little bit of life. 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:34.799 That's not going to hurt anybody. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.519 Here's the question. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:39.119 Are you engaged? 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:46.799 Is your mind and your soul, your emotions, are you engaged in what we're doing here? 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:49.200 That's what the point is. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:55.200 I have to remind myself of these things sometimes. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:27:02.720 I have to ask God, am I, Lord, was I really engaged in our worship today? 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:10.079 I said something else this morning that I got some comments about is don't worship the experiences. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:13.839 Worship the God who gives the experiences, but don't worship the experiences. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.759 Some people do that. 00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:23.119 Some people are just looking for a worship service that gives them the frills and thrills and makes them all electric inside. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:28.319 Don't worship and don't chase the experience. 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:33.359 But chase the God who can make you come alive. 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:36.640 Worship the God who can make you feel alive. 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:39.599 That's what He wants. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:43.920 So where are we right now? 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:47.599 We're in heaven by faith. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:53.200 Boy, do you ever think, if I could just see that? 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:57.920 If I could just get a glimpse right now what's going on in heaven. 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:00.480 I've wondered that sometimes. 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:02.319 That's not for now. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:07.359 You might think, well, that would really change my worship. 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:08.720 No. 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:10.480 No. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:14.240 The word of God will change your worship. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:20.799 As the Spirit of God makes this truth come alive, the Spirit of God will change your worship. 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:22.960 You don't have to wait to heaven. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:30.640 And lastly, as we close, what is worship? 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:33.759 He says, you have come to a festal gathering. 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:36.880 Some translations say a joyful assembly. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:43.119 An assembling to praise God is no casual thing, nor, as we've seen, is it optional. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:50.000 The church gathers before the Lord and he speaks to us from his word by his spirit. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:52.480 Jesus is our worship leader. 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:56.400 Hebrews chapter 2, verse 12 tells us that Jesus is the choir master. 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:58.079 Jesus is the worship leader. 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:02.799 Jesus is singing praises to his Father. 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.319 Wow. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:09.920 I'm going to hear that one day. 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.480 I'm going to hear that. 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:18.000 And my voice is going to blend in and join in with his and yours. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:21.440 It's going to be a good choir. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.880 It's coming. 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.799 It's coming. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:36.880 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 4, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:41.279 We who have been called out of darkness into his marvelous light. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:43.920 A joyful assembly. 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:49.920 We pour out what God pours in in worship. 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:53.279 Our worship team talks about this all the time. 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:57.279 You can only pour out what the Holy Spirit pours in. 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:03.359 Is the Holy Spirit pouring something into your heart this morning? 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:05.759 Is there some attribute of God? 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:09.759 Is there some part of God's character that is just becoming more beautiful to you? 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:13.839 That's a good thing. 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:17.359 Is Jesus becoming more beautiful to you this morning? 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:21.440 Are you realizing how much you've been saved from? 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:26.000 Has it been a while since you've thought about what you've been saved from? 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:28.319 What you've been saved for? 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:31.759 That's the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:34.079 None of us can do that by ourselves. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:37.119 Some churches are all about the Word. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:39.200 I mean, all about the Word. 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:41.920 They hardly know that there's a Holy Spirit. 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:44.559 Oh, they know that the Holy Spirit inspired the scriptures. 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.599 They know that. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:48.160 But that's about all that it seems that they know. 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:49.839