Title: We worship God not us
Text: John 4:23-24
Purpose: Christians worship God truly.
Content: Respect God everyday/ Under the shadow of the Cross/ How to please God/ Whom we worship?
Respect God every day
Halleluiah! We glorify our God who have saved us, who makes us do justly rather than go to the wrong doing. We confess that we cannot stand a moment without God’s help. Psalms 34, “3Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together….9Let the Lord’s people show him reverence , for those who honor him will have all they need,” Amen.
My question here today for you is how much you experience God’s presence in normal life. Where and when do you feel that you are with God?
Since I have occupied this position in this church, I found that there is no division between sacred and worldly space in my case. For I live in the same place. I live here and I worship God here. At first I felt guilty of occupying the holy place but later I appreciated of this situation. Why? This place keeps remind me the presence of God every moment. Psalms 15, “1Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on you holy hill?” You must know that the person who loves god sincerely, who eager to know God will be there. Then you may imagine how I am happy about this place. If some of you envy me please come and stay with your blanket keeping your prayers.
God is every where. Then why do you not care of God’s presence. Why do you live as if you do not have God in your life? That is because you do not think of the relationship with God and follow you ambition or desire. Listen to this: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better to enter heaven with only one hand to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands” Why Jesus told so is that you must keep in mind God’s Judgment in your every day life. Rev. John Wesley has remembered with his notes for checking his holiness in every time. He tried to keep himself not committing any wrong doing with that note. He wanted to live with God every time. Is there any similar effort between Wesley and you?
Even if you are not able to say that you are fully devoting to God and following Jesus, you may need to step forward. Is your direction alright? Is that toward the Cross of Jesus Christ? Is that facing the throne of God? If then, you need to go forth even if you have to back some time. Tree steps forward than two steps back then you are progressing to the Cross.
Under the shadow of the Cross
What is the most blessing for Christians? I believe that is dwelling under the Cross. We are free now from every thing makes us feel uncomfortable, captured, unfilled…and so on. Every thing we adore before believing in Jesus is now useless. Does your money, fame, status, dream and family means more than Jesus Christ for you? That is not any more. Those things are nothing in Jesus, I mean, in the love of God.
We even hate our life itself in God. We always thank to God’s salvation work for us. We are still in the world but we do not follow the worldly rule but the rule of God. That does not mean we do not respect the law of our nation but we do more than that. We do not love the worldly perspectives but God’s teaching. I want you to confess Apostle Paul verses sincerely. “7For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die 8While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died.”
How to please God
There was a seventeen years old boy who was so unhappy. He had nothing but burden for his living. He gave three reasons he tried to rub a bank:
First, if he made it, he would flee with huge amount of money.
Second, if his plan went wrong, then he would get three meals in prison.
Last, if he got shut by the cop, he would have rest from this severe life.
What do you think after listen to this story? His sounds so sad and abandoned by his family and neighbors. What you must remember is that there is someone like him around you. The one might be younger or older than him. The one might be invisible because she or he hides herself or himself from others. Do you think that miserable people have reason to live their harsh life? No. That is not. If there is the only reason is that you need to take care of them.
Do you want to know how you can please God? That depends on whether you look at the world with God’s perspective. After twelve weeks spending my ministry time in this church, I alarmed by the awareness that people do not need another minister, I mean, another church. Some people go to church and others not. They go their church and non-church goers and unbelievers do not need my church. That is it. However that was just my feeling not fact.
Why I felt that I, as a minister, looked useless for guiding or helping people? That is because I was self-centered. My selfish mind interrupted me the true meaning of my ministry. The founder is my God and the one who led me here was God. Then nothings happen to me for a short time. Now this means nothing at all. But why I was severely affected by this, I mean, not happening in my church? The reason is that I have sought my glory not God’s. Now I realized that when I can look at the world in God’s side, I have abundant tasks to take care of.
While writing this sermon there was an old man selling Korean bread, “Theok.” I bought one of his bringing and gave him an apple, looking good one. He said “thank you.” And I said “Do you believe in Jesus?” His answer was that he has stopped going church for his work. I encouraged him to go back to his church.
My church has a Sunday visitor. He comes to beg for his life. I used to give him money and prayers. However I want to add one more, I mean, some food, fruits and cooked meals … something like that. Will see… My ministry in my church starts this point.
Last Friday, I have bumped into a boy spreading leaflet. His face tells me sorry for that. I said to him, “Hum, I am going to use this store then.” I hope that I can meet him again and again so that I can tell him about Jesus Christ. “Oh! God enable us to see others with your mind” This must be your prayer.
Whom we worship?
Do you award the presence of God while you worship God? I found that when I lead the service in big churches I was disturbed by my doing things than when I was in the crowed. I was trying to please people than God in leading services. That could not please God.
The word for service leader needs to be dialogical, confessional, decisive, thankful not instructive or informative. That is because we worship God not us. We praise God not a person. But we worship God with our fellow Christians together.
Today’s text tells us that how to worship God fully. Jesus said “23But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and the truth. The Father looking for anyone who will worship him that way. 24For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Some say that Korean Church is addicted in worshiping. In this aspect, there is too much worship in Korean Church. What they criticize is that people have many services but they seem not worship God but themselves. William Barclay pointed out that the true worship happens when a person reconciles and promotes relationship with God by one’s spirit.
What you must remember is that to worship God you need to concentrate on to God. Do not think of your worries or pleasure in the service. Trust God and hope God’s mercy. You must say thanks to God with your spirit. Do not wish anything like worldly people. You need to question to yourself that why God tells this sermon to me by my minister right now? What God wants to me to do immediately? If you find God’s will in every service, and live by that then God receive your service and bless you more and more. My last word is that Trust God fully. Amen.
Let’s Pray.
God! We thank you for Jesus, Your Son. We are pleased by the promise that Jesus will empower us when we trust in him. Please help us to be strong in this world. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mustard Seed Church KMC, Pastor Rev. Seung Joo Lee
238-9 2nd fl. Sinwol1dong, Yanchungu, Soeul 158-831
Tel.02)2693-0525
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