Adventure in the Ascent
To the adventure in Him... This phrase has been a rallying cry for me and my circle of friends for years. We were designed for intimate relationship with God. Jesus made this possible through His sacrifice on the Cross. The veil was torn, and we were invited beyond. We were created for a grand adventure in which we come to Him in repentance, maintain intimacy, learn of Him, walk His path, and ascend the hill of the Lord. Let's ascend together and experience the adventure with God. There's more...
Adventure in the Ascent
We are Created to Worship (Ex. 19-20, Deut. 19-20, John 4:19-24)
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” -Jesus, John 4:23
"In worship, we enter, touch and are touched by the presence of God Himself. We've been created to live like that" - C. S. Lewis
God created us for the ultimate priority of worshiping Him. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever...” “Worship is our innermost being responding with praise for all that God is, through our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and words, based on the truth of God as He has revealed Himself”
↠God was looking for an entire nation of “priests,” but they wanted to settle for an intermediary
↠Ex. 19- IF you will obey My voice, you SHALL be a kingdom of priests, “special treasure”
↠Ex. 20- They respond “No.” Moses, you speak with God, and tell us what He says, we are afraid. God desired a whole nation of priests, but they ended up with one tribe of priests, He wanted to deal directly with them, but they refused and got the law.
↠From SHALL to YOU ARE (1 Peter 2, Rev. 1:6)- New Covenant brings a new priesthood
↠Set apart for relationship, ministering to the Lord, directly, His own special people as He always longed for.
↠Why? “That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you.. (1 Pet. 2:9)”
↠God isn’t looking for worship. He is looking for worshippers- a priesthood proclaiming praise
↠Isaiah 43:21- “This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.”
↠Worship is a supreme responsibility for us, not just in song, but in heartfelt honor
↠We were created for worship (Rev. 4:11) & operating outside of intended purpose skews
↠Jesus explains further what the Father is looking for- a shift is coming! (John 4:19-24)
↠The location of worship no longer matters- we are the temple (Eph. 2)
↠Primary now is how and Whom we worship
↠Everyone worships- The only question is who or what we are worshiping. God designed us so that we would only find true fullness when we minister to and worship Him.
↠God is seeking true worshipers (implies false exist), we can’t honor with our lips when our heart if far from Him (Matt. 15)- come in repentance, hearts are close, focused on God
↠The true worshipers MUST worship Him in spirit and truth- from the heart/within, cultivate our heart for God. We come to Him in TRUTH/honesty, worship according to the whole counsel of God (John 14:6)
↠A few things about true worship:
↠Worship is our response to Him (1 Chronicles 16:29)
↠God is worthy of it, He deserves it (Ps. 145:3, Revelation 4:11)
↠Worship strengthens me (Ps. 103:1-5)
↠In worship, I am reassured of His presence (Psalm 73:23-26)- He is with me!
↠It fills me with true joy (Ps. 16:11), garment of praise for heaviness (Isa. 61)
↠Changes perspectives (Isa. 6)
↠It is warfare/a weapon (Ps. 149:6, 1 Sam. 16, Joshua 6, 2 Chron. 20)
↠Worship magnifies the Lord, releases His light, and dispels darkness!
Respond This Week: Look over these Scriptures this week. Ask Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding of being a true worshiper. Engage with God as you walk in your intended design of worship. Set aside personal times and a specific time in family this week to worship together- get creative and share with us what takes place. Let’s rejoice and worship together!