Introduction
The Nike company became famous for a single line, “Just do it.”
The entire reason this slogan became popular is due to the fact that its very difficult to “Just do it.”
In fact, very rarely do we just “do something”—whether its a diet, our jobs, or even cleaning the house—there is often a greater motivation that pushes us to do it.
In Revelation John is given a simply command: “Worship God” (Rev. 22:9).
Seems easy enough—but why?
We’ve looked at the “what” and “how” or worship—but what about the “why”?
What’s the “why” of your worship?
What is the fuel that ignites the fire in your heart which moves you to praise God?
What is the spark that ignites the desire within you praise God?
What we want to look at: “Sacred Worship: Offered by Grace Bought Sinners”
Text: Eph. 1:3-14
Notice that this section begins with a bursting forth of praise to God (v. 3).
Then three times he says that we should praise God’s glory (v. 6, 11, 14).
Perfect text to ask the question, what moves Paul to worship God?
We worship God…
Because He Lavishly Pours out His Grace
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”
A wretch? Really?
Eph. 2:1-3.
Dead: incapable of doing anything worthwhile.
Walked: actively participated in sin; nothing you did which you didn’t have to do.
Followed: deceived, Satan follower.
Carrying out desires of body and mind: it felt good do it; it looked pleasurable, try it; if it made you look good, if it elevated you.
Were by nature children of wrath: sin became so much a part of you that it was wrapped up in your DNA.
Because of that, you were deserving of wrath (Rom. 1:18).
Why is Paul being so hard on them?
Don’t like people to bring up our past mistakes; “When we argue my wife becomes historical.”
Paul wants them to remember (Eph. 2:11-12).
Not because of that’s who they are, but because of who they were and where they were going.
This is a key part of understanding why we worship God: before we can experience a moment of meaningful worship, we have to be given a mirror.
Do you see yourself in this way? A sinner headed on the path to eternal damnation, on an unstoppable roller coaster, plunging headlong into the eternal dark pit of everlasting punishment?
One of the main reasons we struggle with praising God today is because we never learned to fear Him.
Most important words in all of scripture, “But God.”
Not “But Jacob…”
“Being rich in mercy…great love…even when we were dead…”
Great despair and helpless, and dread in the face of where we were headed, and then sudden, unthinkable mercy.
Its as if a criminal was about to have the needle placed into their arm, to be executed, and then they pull the needle away, unstrap him, pat him on the back and release him.
Paul puts it this way in 1:7-8: he lavished us with the riches of his grace.
God held nothing back in giving us salvation; salvation and more salvation.
“Save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him” (Heb. 7:25).
Notice what this results in: to the praise of His glorious grace (v. 6).
If I believe I can save myself, no reason to praise God (Rom. 4:2).
When you realize who you are, where you were headed, and what you deserved, and what God has given—you praise His name.
Salvation always leads to adoration and exaltation.
Because He Actively Pursues our Good
I want you to notice how active God is:
Has blessed (v. 3)
Chose us in him (v. 4)
Predestined us (v. 5)
Blessed us in the beloved (v. 6)
Lavished grace upon us (v. 7)
Made known to us the mystery of His will (v. 8)
He does this to “bless us in Christ Jesus” (v. 3-4, v. 6-7, 9-10, 11, 13) with:
Gave us somewhere to belong: Adoption (v. 5)
Gave us something to conquer our past: Redemption and forgiveness (v. 6-7)
Gave us something to look forward to: Inheritance (v. 11)
Gave us something to keep us going: The Holy Spirit (v. 13).
Everything you hunger for—every good thing you tru
