New Work Fellowship Podcast

Going Through the Motions of Prayer - What is Prayer? (Luke 11:1-4)

All last year we were in one sermon series: Preach Jesus. The point of that was simply that you and I would see Jesus. But, once you see Jesus: what's next? You worship Him. But then what? What's next? There is a simple phrase Jesus used over and over again when interacting with people, "Follow Me." Jesus was inviting people (then and now) to go with Him on a journey. He was offering to be their guide, and as their guide, he was going to take them to places they could not and would not go without Him..  The words "Follow Me" were mission-critical for the church. It was an invitation to a way of life. So, for much of the year to come, we are going to talk about "going through the motions" with Jesus. How are you following Him?

Until we learn to go through the motions and rhythms and disciplines of our faith journey, we will not experience all that Jesus has to show us. Prayer is the first essential movement of going deeper with Him.  There was a prayer rhythm to Jesus' life.  What is your rhythm? Maybe you can pray in the early morning - before daylight time. Maybe you can pray before you take that first sip of coffee. Maybe you could pause to pray at lunchtime or at bedtime.  In the weeks to come, we will be laying out for you many rhythms of prayer that you can weave into your life.

Worship Jesus: It Has Nothing to Do With Volume - Glory (Revelation 19:4-7)

Revelation 19:6, "Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder..." It was loud!

This final picture of the worship of heaven brings back into focus much of the themes that we've seen and experienced in looking at so many worship services before. The sound is not unlike Sinai or Pentecost. It is reminiscent of the crowds at Jericho and Jerusalem. Worship is ultimately not about us. It is always about bringing glory to God. And what is it that brings Him glory? When the world down here, looks more and more like the world up there. His Kingdom come is to be our prayer. It is our worship that fuels such a vision. Our praise to bring Him Glory.

Worship Moment: Shâbach

Psalm 145:4, "Let each generation tell its children of your might acts; let them proclaim your power." Loud worship passes the glory of God from one generation to the next. Again, it has nothing to do with volume, but it has everything to do with a wholly surrendered life - that brings God glory.

Worship Jesus: It Has Nothing to Do With Volume - Loud Words (Revelation 1:9-20)

Revelation 1:10, "...I was worshipping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast." It was loud!

God's word is like a megaphone for our lives. Are we listening? It was John's custom to be in worship (It is assumed in the text); but in the ordinary of the routine - something new, something fresh breaks in. God has a message for His Church. It's a new message, but not really. new. It is the same message, but being received in a fresh new way. He tells John, "Write it down. Don't miss it. Get it right!" Jesus is always speaking to his church. (He is always speaking to his churches.) His words "shout" to us, if we will listen.

Worship Moment: Tehillâh

Psalm 22:3, "Yet, you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." Are the words of your mouth a suitable residency for the Holy God to reside? Can He dwell in the throne of your heart? Jesus said out of the heart, the mouth speaks. What is the condition of your heart? Is it an amphitheater of worship?

Worship Jesus: It Has Nothing to Do With Volume - Wholly Surrendered: Take Two (Psalm 103 & Acts 2)

 

Acts 2:2 & 6, "Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting." v6 "When they heard the noise, everyone came running." It was loud!

Acts 2 is the second take of the Sinai event. Whereas that was the worship experience where God revealed Himself (literally) to the nation as their God - at Pentecost - God repeats for "all the nations" what he did for "the" nation. And the neat thing about the text is that phrase, "When they heard it, everyone came running" - wouldn't it be something for everyone to come running to the presence of God?! This is the calling of the church then. This is the call of the church today. To worship God is ultimately - to bless all the nations of the earth (all people, everywhere). Our worship is not complete until we have declared Him to all people everywhere. Every Man, Woman and Child. Worship is the surrender of all our life and service to His purposes.

Worship Moment: Bârak

Psalm 72:11, "All kings will bow before Him and all nations will serve Him."  The vision of a church looks more and more like the vision of heaven of every nation, every tribe, every tongue.

Worship Jesus: It Has Nothing to Do With Volume - Broken Praise (Ezra 3)

 

Ezra 3:13, "The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance."  It was loud!  Our lives are a mingling of brokenness and wholeness.  We are renewed, restored, made right. But at the same time, we are sinful, fragmented, and fractured. We are not as we should be. We very much live in a world of the Kingdom realized, but not yet. There is a tension in our worship. The picture of weeping and rejoicing is a great picture of the broken condition that we bring to our worship.

Worship Moment: Tôwdâh

Psalm 56:11-12, I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? I will fulfill my vows to you, O god, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help." while we often try to hide our brokenness, and we do not want others to know our frailty - how ironic it is that  when we confess our failure that our worship becomes a thing of praise overflowing out of a grateful heart. We should be broken (weeping) and at the same time rejoicing.

Worship Jesus: It Has Nothing to Do With Volume - Empty Volume (1 Samuel 4:1-11)

1 Samuel 4:5, "...their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!"  It was loud.

This has all the markings of an incredible moment in which God shows up in a special way. Even though this was the "time of the Judges" (every one did as they thought was right in their own eyes); it appears that God is about to do a mighty work.  They know, if the ark is with them, God is with them. If God is with them,, nothing short of a victory is theirs! And yet, we find this is just a "false loud." Worship is more than just the sound. We are not in control. We need to hold "loosely" to our ideas of control. God is not bound by our assumptions and desires. Worship is to come before God without presumptions or demands. We hold out our lives with open hands.

Worship Moment: Zâmar

Psalm 144:9, "I will sing a new song to you, O God! I will sing your praises..." While worship is so much more than music - there is a sense in which our lives become our song to the Lord. We must constantly strive to allow God to make us new - so that our lives become a concert of new songs, new praise to the Lord for His goodness. We should never attempt to trap God into our old assumptions. He is forever new - our lives should be forever renewed!

Worship Jesus: It Has Nothing to Do With Volume - Worship Fools (Joshua 6)

Joshua 6:20, "...they shouted as loud as they could...Jericho collapsed..."  It was loud.

Who would go to war with a marching band? Really? Is this a good strategy?  Do you win a war by fighting with musicians? this was foolishness. Maybe it is a reminder that when we come to worship, we are also to surrender our plans, our hopes - and cling only to the Lord. Trust Him. Be willing to be foolish for Him. (Maybe this is the idea behind King David who in worship declares - I can be more undignified than this! And yet, so often it is in worship that we are most refined. It is in foolish abandonment to Him that we find our greatest victory.

Worship Moment: Hâlal

Psalm 159:3-4, "Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory." Could it be that our fear of being seen as foolish makes us miss the blessing and victories that God has in store for us?

Worship Jesus: It Has Nothing to Do With Volume - Wholly Surrendered (Exodus 19 - 20)

Worship begins with the surrender of the whole heart to God. It is bringing all we are to the God who is above and beyond all that we imagine. We stand before him in awe and wonder - overwhelmed and undone because of who He is.

Worship Moment: Yâdâh

Psalm 67:3, "May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you." What was happening at Sinai was not about one nation but all nations. Worship is about "extending our hands" until all hands (all nations) come to worship the Lord. all of history is pointing to that moment in eternity, when every nation and every tribe will bow before the King of Kings an praise (Yâdâh) Him.

The First Words of the Resurrected Jesus - First Words (John 20:1-18)

Mary Magdalene lives the Easter story for all of us. All who follow Christ come the way she traveled. At the beginning of her story, she is described as "standing outside and crying."  that is where faith is born. Easter begins in the pain. But we do not have to stay there. What Jesus did for her, he longs to do in you.

Jesus saw her pain, "Dear woman..." (His compassion is endless).

Jesus knew her name, "Mary..." (His love is personal. You are not the only one, but it is as if you were).

Jesus met her need, "Do not cling..." (His provision is perfect. You don't have to cling to your salvation. He does the work. Just surrender. Trust Him).

Jesus gave her purpose, "go...find...tell" (His plan is for good).

He reminds her of the promise, "My Father, Your Father. My God, Your God."

In the coming weeks, come expecting a worship encounter that not only teaches worship - but provides fresh experiences of authentic worship. We all worship. But we do not all worship Jesus. Come in the next weeks prepared to worship Jesus!

Jesus and His Final Words: Lived Out - The Way Home (Luke 23:44-46 & John 12:23-33)

 

Here we hear Jesus, the Son speaking to the Father. It is a word of serene surrender and total trust. I put myself in your hands. The truth is, throughout the gospels, if you were listening - you could hear the words the Father spoke to the Son.

Matthew 3:17/ Mark 1:11/ Luke 3:22 - at this baptism, the Father splits the skies to announce His love.

At the Mount of Transfiguration, (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36) God again calls Him dearly loved - and implores the disciples to listen - give Him your full attention. (Peter recalls the sacred moment: 2 Peter 1:18). Another interesting moment in that encounter is after the disciples heard the voice of the Father - when they looked, they only saw Jesus. Of course, we can only see the Father by looking to Jesus (Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:15).

At the beginning of this final work on the cross, John's gospel sets it up by sharing Jesus' announcement, John 12:23-33: "Now the time has come..." Confidently, Jesus declares that the Father will glorify the Son as the Son does the work of the Father. He will not shrink from that work. And in that moment, the Father speaks yet again (and it is heard by others) - but they think they are hearing thunder. That word is a clear reference back to the moment of Sinai - when God shows up and the mountain is covered by thunder (Exodus 19:16-20, 20:18-21).

God, the Father thunders His love for His Son. Here on the cross, the Son declares His love for the Father.

Both Father and Son speak with one voice of love. And Jesus shows us the way home - entrust your life to the Father.