The Topic for the Sermon at the Sunday Service held on 26th
January, 2014 at St. Margaret's UCZ Church in Kitwe was entitled: “The
Blessing of True Worship”.
Preacher: Brother Kapaya
Readings: Genesis 22: 1 – 18
2
Chronicles 25: 20 – 27
1
Corinthians 10: 6
John 1: 12
SERMON SUMMARY
·
Everyone has something to worship. This worship
can be either true worship ot false worship. Each type of worship has got its
own reward.
·
True worship is that of God. True worship
attracts blessings.
·
Examples
of Worship
False
Worship
o An example of false worship is that of King
Amaziah as read in 2 Chronicles 25: 20 – 27. He did what was right in the eyes
of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly. After the kingdom was firmly in his
control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. Yet he
did not put their children to death, but acted in accordance with what is
written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded: “Parents
shall not be put to death for their children, nor children be put to death for
their parents; each will die for their own sin.” King Amaziah decided to worship
God and yet he worshipped idols as well.
o You
may give offerings to God but if it is done without a true heart it is not true
worship at all. The thing you have put in place of God is the source of false
worship. False worshippers are full of pride and are stubborn.
True Worship
o An
example of true worship is that of Abraham as read in Genesis 22: 1 – 18
God tested Abraham. He said to
him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
Then God said, “Take your son,
your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice
him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
o True
worship will always pass through test to see if it is true or not. If you are a
true worshipper you will always pass a test.
o True worship is a lasting relationship with
God.
o True
worship is sacrificial. A true worshipper can give anything to God without
thinking of how much it is worth. When you give to God you should give your
best.
o True
worship is revelational. God will always reveal to a place of worship as was
when he showed Abraham when God called him to a place of worship in the region
of Moriah.
o True
worship is full of faith. Hebrews 11: 1 – 2 says: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for
and assurance about what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand
that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not
made out of what was visible.”
o The
blessings you will receive will be generational. Genesis 22: 16 – 18 says “I
swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have
not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.
Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and
through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have
obeyed me.”
o Today
you have a choice of worshiping according to Amaziah or Abraham.
o I
invite you to choose your worship according to Abraham.
AMEN!
THOUGHT FOR THE
WEEK (From the Church’s Weekly Bulletin)
Most people go to church for what they can get, and they
go for what will appeal to them or “bless” them! Well, if one goes to church just
for what one can get out the music, or what they can get out of the sermon, or
just to get blessed, such a one has missed the point.
We go to church to worship God, and that is done by
giving and not getting. In Worship we “'give” to Him, not receive from Him. Granted, we offer Him the praise due to His Name,
we’ll be blessed with His presence because He “inhabits the praises of His
people". His presence brings healing, restoration, revelation, prophecy,
resurrection of every dead thing! (Exodus 23:25)
Do you worship God when you come to church? Do you prepare
your heart for worship? When you are getting dressed or when you are on your
Way to church, is your heart eager to worship God?
True worship means "to give homage, honour,
reverence, respect, adoration, praise or glory to a superior being". It is
giving honour and respect to God. In true worship, we connect our hearts to God's
heart, we lift up our spirit to His Holy Spirit, and we give Him our ALL to do
as He wills. We prostrate ourselves before God in reverence, and pay Him the
glory and honour which is due to Him as the King of kings, and Lord of lords!
Worship is a consuming desire to give to God; it involves
the giving of ourselves, our heart attitudes, our minds, our souls, and our possessions.
God is the
Beginning and the End, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and He deserves
our worship!
Come; let us worship the Almighty God in spirit and
truth!
AMEN!
