SUNDAY SERMON 14/04/2024
- Sermon By: Apostle: Betson Kikoti
- Categories: Sermons
TITLE: WORSHIP
When we talk about worship, it means we are talking about a person’s heart and God and not the hearts of a group of people.
Proverbs 8:30-31 “Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.”
The joy that Jesus had was staying with his Father, whatever work he was doing was to please his Father.There are many in the church today who claim they worship God, yet deep down they harbor hurt and anger. Jesus says he worked and became joyful for his Father in Heaven, if Jesus his happiness was with humans, it means he saw the plan that God had for humans, so Jesus said his happiness will be with anyone who loves his Father.
Before you were born, Jesus knew your appearance that would come to earth. Jesus was glad that there will be humans who will be joyful before God as He is. Are you the one amongst those who are full of joy in the Lord?
Exodus 20:1-3 “And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Here God was telling Moses to speak to the children of Israel, he wanted them to set a system of worship and commandments to follow, he was telling the children of Israel to remember where they came from and realize that it was not by their cunning mind but God used his power to bring them out of Egypt.
God gave an order to the children of Israel and said “You shall have no other gods but me.” it means that God wanted to be praised Him alone and if you praise Him He becomes joyful. When you praise God, then heaven opens and when God sees that, he turns his blows to the devil and you are safe.
What are the consequences of worshiping other gods? Exodus 20:5 “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”
This is God’s jealousy of those who worship other gods, those who go to local healers, who worship idols and perform rituals. You who know God decide to worship Him alone and do not mix God with other things because God says “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”
THE WORSHIP IS ACCOMPANIED WITH THE FOLLOWING THINGS:
1. Obedience
Without obedience, worship is impossible. As long as you follow instructions, you must obey, even if it means doing something you dislike.
2. Honor:
Worship is accompanied by respect, when you honor God in worship you are gifted with hidden treasures. Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
If we respect God and hear His voice we obey and do accordingly, then He will open hidden treasures for us.
3. Humble;
1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may lift you up in due time; while you put all your worries on him, because he is very busy with your affairs.” Anyone who is humble is accepted by people and God always exalts him.
4. Acknowledgments:
Luke 17:11-19 “… And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:”
God is pleased with grateful people, if you thank Him He can do more than what you asked.
5. Glory.
God does not like to share glory with a man, if someone does something to you, know that it is God who has used that person and gave it to you, so you should return the glory to God.
• Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”