Hosting the presence by being a true worshiper | Raph Fernandes

Hosting the presence by being a true worshiper

As of right now, We are teaching about the benefits of hosting the presence of God. We talked about Obed Edom, that because he cared for the presence of God because he hosted the ark of the covenant for only three months, his life and household were extremely blessed.

We also talked about David. The man after God’s heart, learned that he always could choose between protest or praise. Because he chose praise instead, he had the key of David to open doors. Anyone that chooses praises instead of a complaint will experience the spirit of grace. Praises will open doors. 

We taught about the Tent of David. We learned that David built a tabernacle to host the presence of God. It was different than the tabernacle of Moses. There we had music and worship. David set up a 24/7 schedule of Levites to keep music before the presence of God.

(Psalm 22:3) “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises [dwelling in the praises] of Israel.

Someone said if we want God “feels at home,” in His dwelling place, let’s fill our house with praises. Let’s start our day with songs of worship.

- But what is worship? Why do we do it? How do we do it?

(John 4:23-24) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

True worshipers imply there are false worshipers. 

The Father is not seeking the best communicators, the rich, the poor, or the black or white. Neither singers. He is seeking a worshiper.

-What is worship?

Worship is to give full devotion. We all worship something, someone. When we react with excitement and amazement toward someone or something that we value or count worth for us, we practice worship.

What are you worshiping? What did you venerate, give mind and heart during the week? What are the subjects that come out of your mouth during the week? What or who do you admire the most? That might give you a good clue of what you worship.

Worship is more an act of the heart than of the lips.

Matthew 15:8-9 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

What kind of worship expressions are we going to develop here at Vine Church? 

(Psalm 34:1) I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

(Psalm 84:2) My soul longs, yes, faints

for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and flesh sing for joy

to the living God.

(Psalm 100: 1-2) Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

- Why do we do it? We were created to worship.

We were created to worship God and find all joy in His presence.

(Revelation 4:11) “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

( Isaiah 43:21) The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

(1 Peter 2:9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

- How do we do it? 

In awe.

First, know that worship is a privilege only for the children of God. Animals, plants, creation (that includes an unbeliever) can only praise God. 

(Psalm 150:6) Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

But worship is for those that were made fire, like Him.

(Hebrews 1:7) “Of the angels, he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers [worshipers] a flame of fire.”

Why can we alone worship God?

(Hebrews 12:28-29) 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, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

We start with thanksgiving and gratefulness(“let us be grateful”), but we should come to the point of reverence and awe (“with reverence and awe”). Awe is for the only one that is awesome.

A sister was describing her first time visiting Colorado in the fall. Her description of the mix of colors of the scenery was captivating. She was in awe. That incredible see sight brought an awe experience. We must get to that point. 

-How do we do it?

 In our knees.

(Psalm 95:6) Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

I get myself low so Christ can be magnified.

(John 3:30) He must increase, but I must decrease.”

-How do we do it?

Shamelessly.

(2 Samuel 6:14) And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.

I specifically used the words of Michal, David’s wife that was not a worshiper and could not understand that. 

(2 Samuel 6:21-22) And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this [...].”

Learn to lose a little before God. The stage structure is not to state that we are here for an audience performance. The worship team is here only to perform before a one-person audience, that is our holy God.

A simple worship act for beginners is to raise your hands. 

(Psalm 141:2) “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!”

The “lifting up of my hands” means two things: an expression of victory. Expression of surrendering. That’s what worship is all about. God fights our battles while we seek Him in worship. He gives us to victory as we surrender to Him and praises.

-How do we do it?

Passionately.

The problem is that many are expecting to feel in order to worship God. But the feeling follows obedience. Not the other way around.

A definition of worship that every believer learns in is that worship is for what God is, not for what He does. Here lies the secret for a vibrant worship life. What do you know about your God?

Today I want to remind you that God is love. 

(1 John 4:15-16) “15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

The more you understand the love of God for you, His forgiveness and grace, the more you will worship. Two stories come to mind:

(Luke 7:41) “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii [20 months’ wages] and the other fifty [two months’ wages]. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

(Luke 7:47-48) Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

And the story of Mary, that pours and expensive perfume (almost a year salary) on Jesus’ feet.

(Matthew 26:10) But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.

How does the world see our passionate worship expression? 

(Matthew 26:8) And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?

-Conclusion:

It is all about one realize how much God loves them. 

(Romans 8:35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

(Romans 8:38-39) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You can not change the love of God for you, but the love of God will change you. It will make you a true worshiper.