Service/Worship

Many brand names have been established to represent items with a standard of excellence and appropriate value. Those who legitimately sell and service these items are intimately aware of their features and are committed to maintaining their authenticity. They are “company” people who have committed their own lives to fulfilling the vision of the organization they serve. Personal identities have been submitted to the greater identity and purpose of the brand name. There are regulations in place to protect these brand names and keep them from being hijacked. However, where there is value to be gained, there is an enticement to illegitimately benefit from a name. Versions of products and services are continually presented with nothing of real value to back them up. Care must be given to ensure an acquisition is the real deal.

The abundant life Jesus came to give us is without comparison in worth. There is nothing that comes close to truly living this life as He has provided it to us. Like anything of worth, however, there is an enticement for the facades, things that are given His name, but aren’t the real deal. To really know Christ and represent the victory He won for us, everything about life will serve this purpose foremost. While kingdom service will certainly be a part of true life in Him, only when it comes through a life that is first of all set apart to worship the Name above all other names will it represent His heart’s provision. The loving worship and service of Christ will enable all of life to show His authentic love with much more than just the sounding brass and tinkling cymbals of a facade. True representation of His Name will come when abiding continually in His presence and before His face - serving Him first.

Notes

Service – the reason for and act of robe cleansing

Revelation 7:14-15 (NIV) 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

The real deal – servants of worship – what we do confirms who we are

John 4:23-24 (NIV) 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

The faithful service of honoring Him over the flesh – the intentional and purposeful return of love

Romans 12:1 (NKJV) 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1 (Weymouth) 1 I plead with you therefore, brethren, by the compassions of God, to present all your faculties to Him as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to Him. This with you will be an act of reasonable worship.

Romans 12:10-13 (NKJV) 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Everything that is done to/for anyone – potential worship/service

Colossians 3:23-25 (NIV) 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

“What would Jesus do?” vs “What is Jesus doing?”

John 5:19-20 (NIV) 19 Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

Where there is a heart presented to God in worship – removal of inauthenticity

Ephesians 5:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

A heart over a ritual – God’s choice

Psalms 51:15-17 (NKJV) 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.

Personal identities bow to His

John 3:30 (NIV) 30 He must become greater; I must become less."

Matthew 23:8-12 (NIV) 8 "But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

The aroma – victory over the flesh through the knowledge of Him

2 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Belief in Christ – served understanding of His resurrection – and ours

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.