05/04/03 - "Planned for God's Pleasure" - by Pastor Mike Baker
We are in the second week of our 40 Days of Purpose program. For the next five weeks, we will be discovering the five purposes for God creating us.
We were created for His purpose. Rev 4:11 The only reason we are alive is because He wanted us! How does God want us to love Him back and to bring enjoyment to Him? Mt 22:37, ...Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment. The word for this is worship.
What does worship mean? Ro 12:1, ...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Worship is my response to God's love. Remember, God always makes the first move. Worship is also giving back to God. But what can we offer to God? Give Him your love. Mk 12:30 Love Him three ways:
- Thoughtfully - not ritualistic
- Passionately - all (heart, soul, mind)
- Practically - with your given strength and abilities
Even though He has everything, he does not have the following from you unless you give it to Him:
- Attention
- Affection
- Ability
Worship is (1) focusing my attention on God by choice. It takes energy and commitment. Ps 139:1-3 He wants us to focus our energy on Him because He has focused on us. How do you focus? Realize you are easily distracted because you are self-centered by nature (Ro 8:7), and we live in a self-centered culture (Ro 12:2) Fix your attention on God
...so that it stays. Chose to stop focusing on ourselves and set your focus on God.
Mt 6:6 Live in constant communion. Be yourself with Him. Ps 105:3 Ps 131:4 I will bless the Lord at all times to stay in tune with His Spirit so He can communicate with me. Is 26:3
Worship is (2) focusing our affection on God. Expressing our love. 1 Jn 4:19 He first loved us
and He wants to be loved. Hosea 6:6 The most important thing is to know that God loves you. The most important thing you can do is to love God. Pray this each day, Lord, I want to know you a little better and love you a little more.
Ex 34:14 Passionate about His relationship with you.
Worship is (3) using my abilities for God - serve Him with our strength. Col 3:23 Work at it with all of your heart.
Use work as your worship.
You are worshipping whatever you are focusing those three things on. If we worship Him with these three things, He will take care of everything else. Ps 37 ...delights in every detail of our lives.
Whatever you think about the most is what you worship. Heb 10:19 ...Let us choose to draw near.
God loved us so much that He paid the ultimate price in order for us to love Him back. I Peter He paid for us with His own precious blood.