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Let’s look at worship from one particular vantage point – that of sacrifice. Many times, we read the laws regarding sacrifice in Leviticus and other books and we just dismiss them as old and no longer needed ceremonies with no meaning for today. Actually I think that as we think about worship there are some key aspects to sacrifice that will help us understand what we do and actually enhance our experience of worship.
From: Insideworship.com The sacrifices fall into three basic categories (and two types). The first were the on-going remembrances of the covenant that God had made with His people (for example, the daily burnt offerings, done collectively, and the Passover, done individually), the second were those that removed contamination and enabled the people to approach God (here we have the so-called sin and trespass offerings), and the third were those offerings of worship and thankfulness that were offered after one approached God (the so-called peace offering, many votive offerings, firstfruit offerings, etc.).
Jesus Christ fulfilled those sacrifices that renewed our relationship with God or wiped away unrighteousness. (Hebrews 9)
We can also look at the sacrifices as they fall into two types: atonement, and acknowledgement. Christ is our atonement. But there still remains a sacrifice—not a sacrifice of atonement, but a sacrifice of acknowledgment, of praise.
I want to talk about this sacrifice – both in terms of what we do and who we are. The making of a sacrifice involved four parts, each with significance to us as we prepare sacrifices of praise to bring to the Lord.
Preparation
Selection – the person would select a lamb, bull, amount of grain, etc. Are you determined to worship, are you purposeful about your worship?
Transportation – the person would have to take that sacrifice to the Temple. Do you bring that purposeful worship with you when you go out and when you come to church?
Presentation
Laying on hands – are you personally involved (more on that in a moment) Lifting to the High Priest – Jesus is our high priest – and you are giving the sacrifice to Him as the mediator to the Father. Laying on the altar – the purpose of laying on of hands was so that the person giving the sacrifice would identify with it. But in reality, we ourselves are the sacrifice in terms of praise and worship. And that leads us to the next part:
Participation
The bearer of the sacrifice presented it to the priest, but transferred his right and title to God by laying his hand upon it. (Lev 3:1) Even so, our sacrifice of praise is not for us, but we transfer our rights to ourselves to the Lord and offer up praise to Him not to benefit us but to celebrate Him.
Living sacrifice
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. (NIV)
Now I know this seems a little odd – isn’t the very definition of a sacrifice something that is killed?
In the old sacrifices But for the new sacrifice So we die to the flesh, but live to the Spirit. Everything we do for the Lord becomes a living offering.
Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-- the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Confess – Homologeo. Confess, give thanks, promise
So when you lift up the name of Jesus, when you thank Him for who He is, when you sing to Him in His presence, it is very much like a sacrifice that was set on the altar: a sweet smelling aroma that pleases God.
Production
We don’t really understand how it works, but as we lift up praise and worship to the Lord we are participating in a sacrifice. As in the burnt offerings, there is something that takes place on that altar. It’s called “combustion.” You need 1) fuel, 2) oxygen 3) spark
Combustion• The burning of a substance in an oxidizing reaction that produces heat and often light
It’s all oxidation: adding oxygen to something. It changes that something depending on the rate:
Slow = rust Fast = explosion Sustained = combustion
A little about the source of that oxygen: I think the Holy Spirit actually provides the oxygen that fuels the fires of our praise.
1 Corinthians 12:3 “No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
John 15:26-27 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. ESV
Like a fire, we need a constant, sustained, controlled source of the Spirit to keep our praise going. Too little and it dies (worship often), too much and it blows out (it’s a walk not a sprint). Invite the Spirit as part of your life each and every day, to provide a source for a constant stream of worship.
Rabbis said that in the time of the Messiah, all sacrifices would cease but the sacrifice of praise.
Examples of Worship:
Woman:
Luke 7:36-39 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. ESV
Stood behind Him Subservant Cried on His Feet Repentant Wiped them with her hair Involvement Poured perfume on His feet Worship
David:
2 Samuel 6:12-15 And it was told King David, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 13 And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. ESV
1. Acknowledgment of the Lord’s goodness (“the Lord has blessed” Why do you worship?) 2. Approach the Lord to worship (“David went …” Do you draw near?) 3. Attitude (“rejoicing”) Worship should create a glad heart, even in sadness 4. Activity (“dancing” – are you focused on God or on others) 5. Apparel (“linen ephod” – not a king, but a humble priest-stripped to the core) 6. Accompaniment (“shouting, sound of horn” Is it public?)
It is reasonable (Romans 12:1) – our devotion to God is both with our spirit and our understanding – even though the world, like David’s wife Michel, will ridicule you.
Conclusions
Galatians 2:20-21 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Since we belong to Christ, we need to set our minds on thinking of ourselves as a continual sacrifice of praise – our lives on the altar, we are dead to sin but alive to Jesus, think about your life as sacrifice!
The Outcome of Worship
What do we do when we worship
· Tell God we love Him · Declare what He’s done/doing/going to do · Thank Him · Offer ourselves and open ourselves to Him · Wait on Him to move in our lives
What happens to us when we worship
1) Our purpose is fulfilled (We will praise forever) 2) Our fellowship restored (quality time with the Lord) 3) Our hearts re-centered (away from the world) 4) Our lives changed (as we open up to Him) 5) Our witness made public (people will want what we have)
How to enhance your personal worship
1) Have the mindset that it is Worship, not singing 2) Do it more often than Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights 3) Don’t be self conscious 4) Let your life be surrounded by worship
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