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The Essence of Worship. Philippians 1:18-24. Worship Is…. The Priority commandment of God. The Pattern of observance in the OT. The Practice of the church in the NT. Our Primary responsibility before God. The Place where God is at home
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The Essence of Worship Philippians 1:18-24
Worship Is… • The Priority commandment of God. • The Pattern of observance in the OT. • The Practice of the church in the NT. • Our Primary responsibility before God. • The Place where God is at home • It is the Pre-requisite to effective service. • Worship is the Panacea for discouragement. • Worship is the Passion of God
In The New Testament • We see a surprising silence concerning the outward trappings of worship • We see great emphasis placed on worship as an inner, Godward experience of the heart played out in everyday life. • proskuneo – (NT word for Worship) is virtually absent from the epistles.
Worship is not so much what happens on the outside as what happens on the inside. • Worship is not so much about this building as it is how we view this building.
Worship • “worth” “ship” – condition of being worthy, honor, renown • Worship is attributing to God worth, honor, renown. • It is a magnifying of God – an act that shows forth how magnificent He is. • It’s an act that shows forth how great and glorious He is. • It’s all about reflecting the worth and value of God.
Questions… • What inner experience of the heart does that? • What inner experience reveals • the worth or • the greatness or • the beauty • of the perfections of God?
Philippians 1:18-24 • 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Philippians 1:18-24 • 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
, 21 Philippians 1:20 • 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. • 21 For to me, to live (corresponding to life in v 20) is Christ and to die (corresponding to death in v 20) is gain.
Philippians 1:20, 21 (paraphrased) • My expectation and hope is that Christ will be exalted whether by my life or by my death because to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain.
Philippians 1:20, 21 (leaving out the word “life”) • 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, in my death. 21 For to me, to die is gain.
Philippians 1:23 • I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.
Better Than... • Spouse • Children • Career • Retirement • Cars • Sports • …
Other words we could use; • Savoring Christ • Cherishing of Christ • Being satisfied with Christ above all other things.
God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him. • - John Piper
Exalted in death. • Exalted in life.
Philippians 1:20, 21 (leaving out the word death) • 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, in my life 21 For to me, to live is Christ.
Philippians 3:8 • What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
“To live is Christ” means to count everything as loss or as trash compared to • the great value of knowing Christ and • growing in that knowing.
For the Christian, life and death are both acts of worship – reflecting the greatness of God
The essence of Praising Christis Prizing Christ. • - John Piper
The essence of Worship is • Treasuring Christ above all as gain in our living • Treasuring Christ above all as gain in our dying.
TreasuringChrist is that inner experience that reveals the worth, greatness or beauty of the perfections of God?
The Essence of Worship Philippians 1:18-24