Worship

Course: The Higher Calling to Worship (1)

Introductory Lesson 2

Lesson Title: Worship in trials

Text:2 Corinthians 8:2, How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

Introduction:The Bible describes the whole of the Christian life in terms of worship.

"> We are to walk in love this is described as a sweet smelling fragrance (worship).Ephesians 5:2, "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour."

> We are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice (worship).Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

"> Paul saw the gifts of the Philippians as worship to the Lord.Philippians4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Introductory Illustration:The Dead Sea Experience

God is the great illustrator. It is not a coincidence thatJerusalem the place God ordained for worship lies near to the lowest point on the surface of the earth, the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is about 800 metres above sea level. TheDead Sea is about 400 metres below sea level. There is nowhere on the surface of the earth that is lower than theDead Sea.

Personal Story:Dead Sea Products

When my wife and I were in London we were walking through a shopping area when a woman stopped my wife and asked her if she would like her nails done. She said yes and after sampling the products she bought some of them. When the lady gave her a bag she saw it wasDead Sea products. When she saw they were fromIsrael she was delighted.

There is no life at the Dead Sea. But theDead Sea has minerals that help to beautify the body.

It is not a coincidence that the place of worship is near to the lowest point on the surface of the earth.

God beautifies the worshipper in the beauty of holiness.

We must always go up to worship. It is a choice. We can remain in theDead Sea where there is no life or we can go from the Dead Sea experience and worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness in us.

Main Points

1. The deepest sorrow is able to lift the believer to great heights of worship. The greatest trials have inspired the greatest worship,1 Peter 1:7-8.

Hymn Story: It is well, it is well with my soul

Horatio G Spafford wrote the hymn When peace, like a river after experiencing two major disasters in his life.

(1) He was financially ruined by the Chicago fire in October 1871.

(2) But the greatest tragedy was when his four daughters drowned after their ship collided crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

His wife Anna sent a telegram following the disaster with the words, Saved alone.

Spafford visited the place where his daughters drowned and then wrote the words of this hymn.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

"> Spaffords hymn testifies to his faith that despite personal tragedy the word of the Lord is certain it shall be well with you.

Psalm 128:2 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

2. The hardest trials are able to beautify the believer for worship. The book of Psalms

This is the great book of worship in the Bible but the Psalms are often very negative.

Question: Why is worship in the Psalms mixed with so much sorrow and so many difficulties?

The answer has to be that these circumstances led the Psalmist to the great heights of worship.

Consider Psalm 40.

1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

David says he waited patiently to deliver him. Literally with waiting he waited

He was in a horrible pit for a long time.

Then the Lord lifted him and put him in a secure place.

Then he rejoiced with a new song.

The new song came after waiting in the trial.

The Psalmist then rises to the heights of worship from the depths of oppression.

Psalm 40:13-16 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

The end result was glorifying the Lord.

3. The deepest poverty is able to produce worship that is of great value.

Worship out of poverty.

Consider the giving of the poor widow (Luke 21:1-4).

Widow - The experiences of life had removed the obstacles to worship.

The rich the love of the world removed the desire to worship.

The widow gave a small amount but she gave all.

The rich gave huge amounts of money out of their abundance.

They were fulfilling their duty.

Worship does not hold back but gives everything to God.

The widows small gift was a sweet smelling fragrance (worship).

Summary:

The Dead Sea Experience

1) The deepest sorrow is able to lift the believer to great heights of worship.

2) The hardest trials are able to beautify the believer for worship.

3) The deepest poverty is able to produce worship that is of great value.

Lesson Outline

Course Index

Textbook - The Higher Calling to Worship