[0:00] we come together every Sunday morning. And why do we come together? Do we come here to worship?
[0:13] Do we come here to praise our maker, to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords?
[0:30] And then the question is, did you worship this morning? You know, worship is a condition of the heart. Just because you were here today doesn't say that you worshipped.
[0:45] Just because you were here and sang songs doesn't say that you were praising our God. But how is your heart?
[1:00] Worship is a condition of the heart. And it's not just on a Sunday morning, but it is every day of the week.
[1:15] Every moment of our life needs to be a life of worship. In John chapter 4, here we have Jesus and we have the woman of Samaria there at the well.
[1:36] And Jesus asked her for a drink. She came to the well to draw water. And Jesus asked her for a drink.
[1:50] Well, this was unusual that a Jew would ask a Samaritan for anything. And you know the story.
[2:02] We'll skip over most of this. But in verse 13, Jesus answered and said unto her, It is this well within us.
[2:38] And what is this well? It is the Spirit of God welling up within us and overflowing our being. That river of living water.
[2:50] That is what he's talking about. Now let's skip on down. And the woman had a question for him. In verse 19, she says, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
[3:04] Our fathers worshipped in this mountain. And ye say that in Jerusalem is a place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father.
[3:25] Ye worship, ye know not what. We know what we worship. For salvation is of the Jews. You know, and let me just interject here.
[3:38] Jesus told her, he said, We know what we worship. Do we know who we worship today? Do we know this almighty God?
[3:50] Do we know the holiness of God? Do we know who we worship today? Or do we just gather together because it's the thing to do?
[4:02] And all our friends are there and so we go and we, you know, we sing the songs and we listen to the word and whatever. But is our heart tuned in to God?
[4:15] Do we realize that we are coming into the presence of the holy God today? Where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst.
[4:26] In Psalms it says, Greatly to be feared. Our God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints. It's not exact, but we might read it later.
[4:39] But as we gather together, do we know who we worship? Do we know the God that we worship?
[4:49] Do we see him in his holiness? Do we see him as the Lord God Almighty? Do we see him, Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the head of the church?
[5:08] Do we see, do we know who we worship? Verse 23, The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
[5:25] For the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
[5:40] You know, I've been pondering these verses for weeks, and in reality, it's so much easier to point out wrong worship or false.
[6:05] And we'll look at some of that this morning. But our God is a spirit. They that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
[6:21] In chapter 3, Jesus told Nicodemus, He said, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
[6:40] God is looking for people to worship him in spirit and in truth. That tells me that the only way that we worship God is if we are born of the spirit, the new creation in Christ Jesus.
[6:57] The old is passed away. We are become a new creation in Christ. That new creation is what worships our God. You can never worship God in the flesh.
[7:11] You can never worship God in the old life. You cannot in the flesh work up yourself to a place that is pleasing to God.
[7:29] And I believe that is so much of the false that we see in our day. Let's get a couple other verses here.
[7:45] In 1 Corinthians 6 verse 17. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
[8:02] When we're born again, we're born of the spirit. He says it this way, that when we are joined to the Lord, he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
[8:15] If we're born of the spirit, we are one in spirit with the Lord. He lives within us and his spirit has come and we are one with him. We are one with him.
[8:29] Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own. Ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's.
[8:46] So when we are bought with a price, we are bought by the blood of Jesus. And when we're born again, we're a new creation in Christ and now we are joined unto the Lord in one spirit.
[9:01] And so, as we, as we worship, we worship him in spirit and in truth. Now in Hebrews, I believe it's chapter 4.
[9:15] I get a verse or 2 or 3 there. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12.
[9:32] For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
[9:53] The word of God, it is quick, it is alive, it is powerful, and it's sharper than a two-edged sword and what does it do?
[10:04] It divides asunder, it separates, it shows the difference between soul and spirit, the realm of the soul and the realm of the spirit.
[10:16] Are we worshiping in spirit and in truth? Are we worshiping in a soulish way? You know, the soul, the realm of the soul, it's the emotions, the feelings, the, that which, you know, the feel-good, the feelings that we all have, the, you know, you know, how many times have you, you know, you hear something, you hear, you hear a song, you, you know, something that, you know, it's upbeat and, and, and maybe, maybe it's even a good song, but it, it, it excites you.
[10:55] You know, it's excite, it's all right, it's okay to become excited in the spirit, but so much of so-called worship of our day, all it does is it comes on a soulish level and it excites the soul of man.
[11:18] An emotional experience. and if you, if, if, if you worship or try to worship on an emotional level, after it's done, it's over, the emotions will crash and that's all you have.
[11:42] But if you worship God in a spirit, on the spiritual level, you worship God in spirit and in truth, you will leave here today and it will go with you and it will affect your life.
[11:56] It will change you for the better. It will change you. It will draw you to a closer walk with God. If our emotions only are stirred, we are not changed.
[12:12] but we can command our soul to worship God, right?
[12:23] Oh, hallelujah. God is looking for those that will worship him in spirit and in truth.
[12:36] In Psalm 116, verse 12, what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?
[12:50] I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.
[13:02] Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. So what can we give to our God because of all his benefits for us? We will take the cup of salvation and we will call upon the name of the Lord.
[13:17] We will live our life for him. We will live a life that is pleasing to him. We will live a life that brings praise and glory to his name.
[13:29] Jesus said, if I be lifted up, all men shall be drawn unto me. Yes, I know. I believe he was talking about the cross and being lifted up on the cross.
[13:40] But today, if we will lift up the name of Jesus, it will draw those around about us unto Jesus. It will show them our Lord Jesus. It will show them life.
[13:52] It will show them the way of salvation. You know, what can we bring to our God?
[14:02] we don't have anything but ourselves. We can give him our life. We can give him, we can present our body a living sacrifice and live our life for him.
[14:16] Is that what we're doing? Not just on Sunday, but seven days a week. Seven days a week. Yes.
[14:27] Let's get a few more verses here in Psalms. Psalm 96, verse 1 to 4.
[14:37] O sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord all the earth.
[14:50] Sing unto the Lord, bless his name. Show forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
[15:02] For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. He is to be feared above all gods. It says, declare his glory among the heathen.
[15:15] You know, the heathen don't come to church, so we need to do that out there. We need to do that the other days of the week to declare the name of our God to the heathen.
[15:28] Declare his glory among the heathen. Sing to the Lord. Bless his name. Show forth his salvation. And who do we show it forth to?
[15:39] To those around about us. To those who we meet. In Psalm, Psalm 103, David said, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me.
[15:59] Bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. And he goes on down through this list of things that God has done for him.
[16:13] Things that God will do for us. Forget not all his benefits. Are we entering into his benefits? Are we partaking of his benefits and of his salvation?
[16:28] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities? Who healeth all thy diseases? Who redeemeth thy life from destruction? Who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies?
[16:40] Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things? So that thy youth is renewed like the eagles. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
[16:54] You know, our God, he is great and he is holy and he is righteous. He sits on the throne of the universe. But he knows each one of us and he knows each one of our needs.
[17:08] Let's not forget his benefits, the things that he gives us. Do we trust him? Do we worship him?
[17:19] You know, I believe that as we trust our God, it brings worship and glory to his name. Do you trust him in every area of life?
[17:35] in 104, verse 1, bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord, my God, thou art very great.
[17:48] Thou art clothed with honor and majesty, who covereth thyself with light as with a garment, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, who layeth the beams of his chamber in the waters, who maketh the clouds as chariot, who walketh upon the wings of the wind, who maketh his angels, spirits, his ministers of flaming fire, who layeth the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed forever.
[18:18] Thou coverest it with the deep as with a garment. The waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled, at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
[18:29] You know, our God is a great God. Our God is the almighty God. He is the creator of all things. Do we know who we worship?
[18:42] Do we know who we worship today? Amen. Amen. Amen. Psalm 96.
[19:20] Verse 9. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Fear before him all the earth.
[19:32] Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Are we living a holy life? You know, if we're born of the Spirit and if we've allowed him to cleanse us and sanctify us, we are holy.
[19:50] Not because of who we are, but who we are in Christ. Because he brings his righteousness and his holiness into our life.
[20:02] O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Fear before him all the earth. I believe that the fear of God in our hearts is a must to truly worship God in a way that is pleasing to him.
[20:34] Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Psalm 33.
[20:49] Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Psalm 33. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous, for praise is calmly for the upright. Praise the Lord with harps, singing to him with psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
[21:06] Sing unto him a new song, play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment.
[21:19] The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap.
[21:34] He layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
[21:47] For he spake, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught. He maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
[22:02] The counsel of the Lord standeth forever. The thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.
[22:20] Just a couple things here. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever. You know, we live in a day when the enemy, Satan, he has taken counsel, and he's raised up.
[22:38] He's raised up so much of the world against our God. He is still endeavoring to bring down our God, but he won't be able to.
[22:51] He is defeated. He is defeated. It says here, the counsel of the Lord standeth forever. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught.
[23:05] He maketh the devices of the people of none effect. Let me read in Psalm 2. There's this great word here.
[23:17] God asks the question, why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
[23:28] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
[23:45] You know, the psalmist here, he's writing this, he's seeing things happening and taking place just like we are today. But notice verse 4, he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision, then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
[24:09] You know, our God is in control, our God is always in control, and he is the high and the lofty one, he is the holy God, he is above all, he is above all, and as we worship him, we must acknowledge him for who he is, for who he is, the almighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace.
[24:38] You know, just on and on, we could continue, bringing out who our God is, do we know him today?
[24:52] Psalm 24, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein, for he hath founded it upon the seas, he has established it upon the floods, who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in his holy place?
[25:17] He asks a question, he asks a question and then he gives the answer, he that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul in a vanity, nor sworn deceitfully, do we have clean hands this morning?
[25:36] do we have a pure heart this morning? Have we lifted up our soul in the vanity?
[25:53] You know, have we gone after those things that feel good? Have we gone after those things looking for satisfaction, looking for something that satisfies?
[26:03] You know, this world is full of people doing just that, going from one thrill to the next, going from one party to the next, going from one praise service to the next, but they're never satisfied.
[26:24] They're never satisfied. They get through this emotional experience and then they crash and then they go on to the next one and they crash.
[26:35] But our God, if we worship Him, if we come to Him with clean hands and a pure heart, He will accept our worship and He will build us up.
[26:52] He will receive. We will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of His salvation, from the God of our salvation.
[27:07] If we come to Him, if we come to Him with clean hands and a pure heart, we worship Him in spirit and in truth, hiding nothing, worshiping Him, alleluia.
[27:34] You know, our God is a great, the great and the almighty, the holy God. God is a God.
[27:45] I'm going to read a few verses in Exodus when God came to Moses and to the children of Israel.
[28:01] In Exodus 24, 24, when God came down on the Mount Sinai, in verse 17, we'll give the glory.
[28:29] Moses, in verse 15, Moses went up into the Mount, and a cloud covered the Mount, and the glory of the Lord abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days, and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud, and the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
[29:01] Notice the sight of the glory of the Lord. It was, what was it? It was like a devouring fire on the top of the mount, and the children of Israel saw it, and Moses went up into that cloud.
[29:21] You know, in Hebrews it says that our God is a consuming fire. He's still the same God today. He's still the same God.
[29:33] Yes, He's still the same God. In chapter 40, we have another account.
[29:44] We have another account. They set up the tabernacle here, and all of that.
[30:17] We'll just come in here at the end of this, and in verse 34, then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
[30:30] And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
[30:47] You know, yes, when Jesus, when He died, the veil in the temple was rent, opening up the way into the holy of holies.
[31:03] But, yes, grace of God and the mercy of God in the new covenant, but our God is still a holy God.
[31:20] He's still a consuming fire. He still demands holiness of His people. people.
[31:31] And we'll look at some of that in just a bit in Peter and so on. Psalm 33, 8 says, stand in awe of Him.
[31:49] Stand in awe of this great God. Stand in awe of Him. You know, people take it so lightly. They worship Him so lightly.
[32:02] God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The Lord is nigh unto all those who call upon Him, to all those who call upon Him in truth.
[32:24] Yes. In Psalm 51. Here we have this great psalm that David wrote when he was repenting of his sin.
[32:42] And we'll just read a few, part of this, a few verses. verse 5, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
[33:02] Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
[33:14] You know, David is acknowledging here his sin, and that he was hiding his sin, but God, he says, God desires truth in the inward parts.
[33:27] Nothing is hidden from God. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Verse 10, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
[33:44] Is this our heart? Is this our prayer? Now, verse 15.
[33:56] O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it.
[34:07] Thou delightest not in burned offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart.
[34:19] O God, thou wilt not despise. The sacrifices of God, what are they? What are they?
[34:30] It says here, a broken spirit, a contrite heart, a broken and a contrite heart. O God, thou wilt not despise.
[34:43] You know, there's no place for pride. There's no place for pride. You know, pride was the downfall of Lucifer.
[34:56] Lucifer was the one who led worship in the courts of heaven, in the mountain of God. But he fell because of pride.
[35:10] a broken and a contrite heart. In Micah 6, 8, he says, And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God?
[35:38] Let's turn to Malachi. Malachi chapter 1.
[35:59] We will start verse 6. A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master.
[36:11] If then I be a father, where is mine honor? If I be a master, where is my fear? Saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests that despise my name, and ye say, wherein have we despised thy name?
[36:29] Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar? Ye say, wherein have we polluted thee, in that ye say, the table of the Lord is contemptible?
[36:41] If ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? If ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto thy governor, will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person, saith the Lord of hosts?
[37:00] You know, what's he saying here? He said, you know, the priests, they were to bring the offering to God. They would bring the people's offerings, and they would kill the lamb, or whatever it was, and they would offer the offering, a sacrifice to God.
[37:22] And God required the best of the flock. no blemish, no spot. But here it says, they were offering polluted bread, they were offering the old, and what was left over.
[37:39] They were bringing the blind, the lame, and the sick, those that weren't any good anyway, that's what they brought, and they offered it to God.
[37:50] verse 9, now I pray you, beseech God, that he will be gracious unto us.
[38:02] This has been by your means, will he regard your persons, saith the Lord. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught?
[38:12] Neither do you kindle a fire in mine all for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
[38:24] For from the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering for my name shall be great among the heathens, saith the Lord of hosts.
[38:45] But ye have profaned it. And how did they do that? Verse 13, Ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord, ye have brought that which was torn and the lame and the sick.
[39:03] Thus ye brought an offering, should I accept this of your hand? But curse it, be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth and sacrifices unto the Lord, a corrupt thing.
[39:16] For I am a great king, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. Cursed is the deceiver that brings less than the best.
[39:32] Let me ask you today, what are you bringing to our God? Are you giving him all? Are you giving him your whole life?
[39:42] Are you giving your life a living sacrifice? Are you giving him part of your life? Are you giving him less than your best?
[39:53] if we're giving him less, we're just like these people. They would go out in the flock and instead of finding that male that was the best and spotless, they would look all over there, there's, oh, that one, that one's lame and might be sick.
[40:19] We'll take that one, we'll offer it to the Lord. How is our life? Are we giving our best to the Master?
[40:32] What less can we do but live for him? He gave his all for us, he gave his life for us, what less can we do but to live for him?
[40:46] Amen. The eyes of the Lord go to and fro throughout the whole world, throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him.
[41:11] God is looking for the people whose heart is perfect toward him. That's who he's looking for. Yes, he is a great king and he is to be praised from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof.
[41:31] You know, not just an hour in the morning or an hour in the evening. No, but all day long our life needs to be a praise to our God.
[41:42] Yes. 1 Peter chapter 1. We'll start in verse 13.
[42:01] Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[42:11] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts, in your ignorance, but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.
[42:27] Because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy. You know, our God, he doesn't just ask you to be holy on a Sunday morning when you come here, but he asks you to be holy in all manner of conversation.
[42:44] Seven days a week, 24 hours a day. You know, we don't just worship God on a Sunday morning, but we worship him all week long.
[42:56] We worship him with every breath. We are to worship our God and to bring praise and honor and glory to his name. He says, be ye holy for I am holy.
[43:09] You know, that's a quote out of the Old Testament, but it didn't change in the New. God still requires his people to be holy.
[43:21] Yes. And it is only by faith in the Son of God and his shed blood that we can be holy.
[43:37] It is written, be ye holy, for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons, judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear or in reverence.
[44:00] Notice what we just read. God, the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to our work.
[44:14] He doesn't judge according to your Sunday morning, but he judges according to your work. Let's pass the time of our life here on earth, our sojourning, here in fear or in reverence in godly fear, reverence for our holy God.
[44:39] For as much as ye know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot.
[45:02] That is how we have been redeemed. That is how we have become holy, is through the precious blood of Jesus. And he redeems us from our vain conversation.
[45:15] What's our vain conversation? It is that living for self for six days a week. That's what that vain conversation is, is that life that we live for ourselves.
[45:27] be ye holy, for I am holy.
[45:44] you know, I believe that in our day, there's a lot of carelessness has crept into the church.
[45:59] You know, you know, God, God showed what he thinks of that. You know, we can go back, we can go back in Leviticus, it tells us about Nadab and Abihu.
[46:17] Who were they? They were the, I believe, the eldest sons of Aaron. You know, not long before, God had directed and Aaron and his sons, they were anointed priests.
[46:34] And they would offer incense, and they would offer the burned offerings, and they were in charge of those things in the worship of God.
[46:45] And God had given very specific directions that they needed to follow. But one day, Nadab and Abihu, they came up with a great idea.
[47:01] And they said, wouldn't it, wouldn't this be wonderful to worship God this way? Wouldn't this be an awesome aroma to God?
[47:11] And they brought an incense. They offered strange fire to God. What is strange fire?
[47:22] It is something that God did not direct, something that God did not ask for, something that God did not accept.
[47:34] and what happened when they offered that fire came out and devoured them, slew them that day.
[47:45] Why? Because somehow they had become careless. They thought they can do whatever they decide.
[47:58] but God needs to be worshipped in the way that God desires to be worshipped.
[48:13] We have Uzzah. They were moving the ark and bringing it to the city of David.
[48:26] and they had it on a cart. That was not how God had instructed to move the ark.
[48:38] The priests, the Levites, they were supposed to carry the ark. But as they went over some rough ground, the ark shook and Uzzah put out his hand to steady it so it wouldn't fall off.
[48:55] And when he touched it, he was struck dead. We have Ananias and Sapphira.
[49:10] You know, people were bringing their all and giving it to the church that the work of God could prosper and that the needs of the people would be met.
[49:24] And people were selling things and bringing the money and laying it at the apostles' feet. And I believe it was then taken and distributed to the widows and the poor and to meet the needs.
[49:45] But they brought half. half. You know, they didn't have to bring anything. They didn't have to give any of this. They could have brought half and said, here's half and we need the other half for whatever.
[50:03] But that wasn't what they did. They pretended to bring it all. and they lied to the Spirit of God.
[50:16] What happened? They were struck dead. You know, I've pondered this. You know, how often have we come to God and we've said, we give you our all.
[50:34] But we held back. We held back or we took back. You know, if God would still strike dead the way He did that day, who of us would be here?
[50:51] I believe God did it that day to show that giving half is not enough. Lying to the Spirit of God brings death.
[51:05] It still brings death today, even though He doesn't strike us dead physically. It brings death. Our God is a holy God.
[51:22] And if we will worship Him, we will worship Him in spirit and in truth. And He demands holiness. He demands us to have that reverence and fear of Almighty God.
[51:44] You know, Saul, he was disobedient. He was disobedient, and he told Samuel, Oh, I have obeyed.
[51:58] I have fulfilled the commandment of the Lord. But Saul told him that day, he said, you are disobedient. God is looking for a man whose heart is after God.
[52:17] God will rend the kingdom from you and give it to another. But Samuel said, he said, but will you now, can you please turn with me and come and let's worship our God.
[52:38] You know, Saul had drifted to the place that he couldn't even worship God unless Samuel worshipped him.
[52:52] Samuel told him that day, he said, the strength of Israel will not lie or repent. But he did turn and they worshipped that day.
[53:08] But you know, the end of Saul, God didn't answer him anymore and he turned to a witch for an answer. The strength of Israel will not lie or repent.
[53:23] in Hebrews chapter 12. Actually, I think we read some of this last Sunday.
[53:43] But here, he's talking about the account of when God came down on Mount Sinai. And then in verse 25, see that ye refuse not him that speaketh.
[54:02] For if they escape not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth.
[54:20] But now he hath promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
[54:44] Wherefore, we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire.
[55:07] God is shaking not only things in this world, but also heaven. why? That those things that can be shaken will crumble and only what cannot be shaken will remain.
[55:27] You know, when there's, when you're tested, when you're in that sore trial, when you're being shaken, what remains in your life?
[55:40] What remains when everything seems to crumble around about us? Are we still standing on the rock?
[55:51] Are we still standing on the rock? Wherefore, we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, you know, what are we building on?
[56:10] what are we building on? You know, in Corinthians, it talks about that.
[56:22] Wood, hay, and stubble, it will burn, but gold and silver, it will stand the test of fire, it will, it will stand, it will withstand the shaking.
[56:36] We, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved. Are we in that kingdom? Are we fully in? Or will we be shaken?
[56:48] This kingdom that we're a part of, it cannot be shaken, it cannot be moved. Hallelujah. He says, let us have grace.
[56:59] This grace is available if we will stand in it. If we will, if we will, it's available. let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
[57:21] You know, there's so much, there's so much of trying to worship God in lightness and, and, and, and, and no fear of God and just, a mockery, a mockery.
[57:44] But let us worship our God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Why? Because our God is still today in the New Testament age, he is still a consuming fire.
[58:11] Give yourself wholly, completely to God and to the calling he has for you.
[58:23] Just give yourself and allow him to make of you the person he wants you to be. You know, in, in John, in John in chapter nine, we have the account of the blind man.
[58:45] And this blind man makes a very, very, unique statement, I believe, for who he was.
[59:02] But I believe that somehow God used him to speak this. You know, Jesus healed this blind man. And, and the Pharisees asked, well, how is it that you see?
[59:16] You know, how is it? How can you see? You were blind. You were born blind. In, in, in, in verse 24, they called him again.
[59:45] And they told him, give praise, give God the praise. We know that this man is a sinner. And the reason they said this was because Jesus healed him on the Sabbath day.
[59:59] And he answered, and he said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know not. One thing I know, I was blind, and now I see.
[60:10] And they asked him again, how opened ye thine eyes? And he answered them, I have told you already, ye did not hear, wherefore would ye hear it again?
[60:21] Will ye also be his disciples? And they reviled him, and they said, we are Moses' disciple. Moses spoke to this man, we don't know who this man is.
[60:34] And the man answered in verse 30, And he said unto them, Why, herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
[60:50] Now we know. Now listen to this verse, verse 31. Now we know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
[61:11] What an awesome word. And he said this directly to the Pharisees, to the council. Since the world began, was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind?
[61:31] If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. And they answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and doest thou teach us?
[61:42] And they cast him out. They cast him out. But he spoke, he spoke that profound word to them that day.
[61:55] He said, God does not hear sinners. God does not hear sinners, but if any man be a worshiper of God and doeth his will, him he heareth.
[62:09] Does God hear us today? Are we a worshiper of God? Do we worship him? Do we worship him in spirit and in truth?
[62:21] The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth?
[62:32] For the father seeketh such to worship him. The father seeks such to worship him.
[62:43] God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. are we worshipping the one true God?
[63:01] Are we worshipping him? Have we entered in our God?
[63:18] that we might worship him acceptably in reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire.
[63:34] You know, the spirit of God, he is here to meet our every need. Remember those benefits that we read of in Psalm 103, he is here to meet our every need, whatever it might be.
[63:53] If we will give ourselves, if we will trust him, I believe that if we trust him, if we trust him, that is worshipping him also.
[64:09] Trusting him in every situation of life, trusting him in whatever circumstance we find ourselves, be still and know that I am God.
[64:29] You know, so many times we're too busy to be still and know who God is. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
[64:47] Yes, our God, he will come if we wait patiently for him and if we worship him, he will come and meet our every need.
[65:03] Let's pray. Lord, we thank you God. Lord, that you are the great and the holy God.
[65:16] And Lord, Lord, help us to worship you acceptably in godly fear, reverence for your holiness.
[65:34] Let us help us to come to you in humility and in meekness and allow you to cleanse us and change us and to set us free and to make of us the men and the women you want us to be, that we can fulfill your calling, that we can be your people, a peculiar people in this last day.
[66:11] Lord, help us. Help us, Lord. Help our unbelief.
[66:23] Lord Jesus, help us to not stumble because of unbelief, but to trust you with an unwavering faith and allow you to make of us a people that will lift up your name.
[66:51] Thank you, Lord. Have your way. In our hearts today, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.