Brief Summary
This sermon emphasizes the importance of sincere and reverent worship, warning against the dangers of casual or indifferent attitudes in the presence of God. It highlights that true worship involves a pure heart, obedience, and a recognition of God's holiness, and it prepares believers for an eternity of worship.
- The sermon addresses the importance of sincere and reverent worship.
- It warns against the dangers of casual or indifferent attitudes in the presence of God.
- True worship involves a pure heart, obedience, and a recognition of God's holiness.
Intro and Announcements
The service begins with a welcome and announcements, including a reminder of the church's declaration for 2025, encouraging members to align their lives with God's will and overcome challenges through Christ. Announcements include upcoming prayer meetings, Bible studies, volunteer opportunities in the nursery, and men's and women's meetings. The congregation is thanked for their financial contributions, and a blessing is pronounced over their homes, families, and businesses, asking for prosperity, protection, and wisdom.
Happy Independence Day and Ephesians 2:10
The speaker shares a message related to Independence Day, focusing on Ephesians 2:10, which states, "For we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good things, which he planned for us long ago." She breaks down the key phrases, explaining that believers are God-made ("poiema," meaning workmanship or masterpiece), made new in Christ, and created for good works. She emphasizes that good works are the purpose of salvation and that God has prepared a path for each person to walk in.
Praise and Worship
The congregation engages in a period of praise and worship, lifting their voices and hands in adoration. The speaker leads a prayer, asking for God's presence to permeate the building and for their praise to come from pure hearts. The worship includes singing, with lyrics emphasizing God's worthiness, holiness, and role as savior, healer, and deliverer.
Focus on God
The congregation is encouraged to focus their minds on God, and a song is sung about God's strength, beauty, and power to deliver. The lyrics praise God as the King of Heaven, worthy to be praised, and the name of Jesus is exalted. The worship continues with songs declaring praises to God's name, recognizing His greatness and worthiness.
Surrender and Prayer
The worship transitions into a time of surrender and prayer, with lyrics expressing a desire to draw near to God and surrender to His will. The congregation sings about hungering for God and surrendering their lives to Him. They ask for the Holy Spirit to move within them and have His way, acknowledging their need for God's presence, power, and touch.
Come Holy Spirit
The speaker leads the congregation in calling upon the Holy Spirit to come and move in their lives. They acknowledge their inability to change on their own and ask for God's intervention in every aspect of their lives. The congregation is encouraged to invite the Holy Spirit to work and move in them, doing what only He can do.
The Lord Is In This Place
The speaker emphasizes the presence of the Lord in their midst, encouraging the congregation to acknowledge and believe in His presence. He acknowledges that some may be struggling with difficult situations and reminds them that nothing is too hard for God. He prays for those who are struggling, declaring that the devil is a liar and that God is true.
Distractions in the Holy Place
The speaker introduces the sermon topic: "Distractions in the Holy Place," drawing from Leviticus 10. He shares that the message has been on his heart for weeks and that the enemy has tried to hinder it. He notes that distractions are common, especially when one is trying to focus on something important.
Leviticus 10:1-3
The speaker reads Leviticus 10:1-3, which tells the story of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, who offered unauthorized fire before the Lord and were consumed by fire. He explains that their sin was approaching God in their own way instead of the way God had prescribed. He emphasizes that God gave specific instructions for worship and that these instructions were not optional.
Casual Worship Defined
The speaker defines casual worship as approaching God in a relaxed, indifferent, or irreverent manner. He clarifies that it is not about the style of worship but about the posture of the heart. He shares a story of a young man who was turned down for a job interview because he treated the opportunity unseriously, drawing a parallel to how people sometimes treat the opportunity to enter God's presence.
Casual Worship Dishonors God's Holiness
The first danger of casual worship is that it dishonors the holiness of God. The speaker emphasizes that God has given specific instructions for worship and that irreverence can have serious consequences. He cautions against trying to make God a peer or referring to Him casually.
Casual Worship Breeds Spiritual Apathy
The second danger of casual worship is that it breeds spiritual apathy. The speaker references Revelation 3:15-16, where the lukewarm church is warned. He explains that casual worship can lead to spiritual numbness, causing people to go through the motions without a genuine connection to God.
Casual Worship Reduces God to Our Level
The third danger of casual worship is that it reduces God to our level. The speaker shares examples of casual language used to describe Jesus and emphasizes that while God is relational, He is still the sovereign King. He explains that true worship involves humility and awe, while casual worship often exalts the self.
Casual Worship Opens the Door to Hypocrisy
The fourth danger of casual worship is that it opens the door to hypocrisy. The speaker shares his personal experience of going to church while living a sinful life, realizing that he was trying to please others but not God. He emphasizes that God looks at the heart and that true worship must be sincere.
Casual Worship Quenches the Presence and Power of God
The fifth danger of casual worship is that it quenches the presence and power of God. The speaker references 1 Thessalonians 5:19, "Quench not the Spirit." He explains that when hearts are cold or distracted, it hinders what God desires to do in their lives and churches.
Casual Worship Fails to Prepare Us for Eternity
The sixth danger of casual worship is that it fails to prepare us for eternity. The speaker references Revelation 4:10-11, describing the worship in heaven. He suggests that if people are not comfortable worshiping God on Earth, they will not be prepared to worship Him in eternity.
Questions for Self-Examination
The speaker poses three questions for self-examination: Do I treat worship as a sacred moment? Am I giving God my best, or is He getting leftovers? Is my heart truly engaged when I worship the Lord? He encourages the congregation to ponder these questions and seek to offer acceptable worship to God.
Closing Prayer
The speaker leads a closing prayer, asking God to help them avoid casual worship and to worship Him in spirit and in truth. He asks for forgiveness for the times they have approached God irreverently and prays that their lives would be an example of worship unto Him.
Communion
The congregation prepares for communion, and the speaker asks the Holy Spirit to examine their hearts. He emphasizes the holiness of the sacrament, representing the life of Jesus given for them. The congregation partakes of the bread and the cup, remembering Jesus' sacrifice and thanking Him for His love and forgiveness.
Testimony and Closing Remarks
The speaker introduces a young man, the son of a former church member, and shares a testimony of how God healed his father of cancer. He emphasizes the transformative power of God and encourages the young man to live for Him. The service concludes with applause and closing remarks.
