Getting God’s Heart for the Least the Last and the Lost
Psalm 95:6-7
Jim tells us the story about when he was the pastor of a Nazarene church in Michigan, he got a brochure to a John Wimber Signs & Wonders conference. The church’s board sent him and no one knew what would happen to Jim while he was there. His mother-in-law called to say she knew he was going to get “blasted” by God. And he was!
It was his first experience with Vineyard-style worship. For the first time he stood, raised his hands, and worshiped with abandon. He took the spirit he “got” and brought it back to his church. There was something about being in God’s presence. Jim was “ruined” and released to experience the consuming fire of God, His presence, His grace.
People were touched, they were healed. The presence of God brought the power of God to bring healing and change lives for the better.
The purpose of of our time together this morning is to help each one reach their “redemptive potential” (maximize the difference each person’s life can make) by learning how to live a lifestyle of compassion as an act of worship.
We plan to help you grow (stretch) your capacity for compassion spiritually, relationally, emotionally, practically, and financially. We believe that God is going to use this campaign to start a snowball (chain reaction) of compassion that will spread across the world. We’re starting our campaign this week by asking everyone to “get a life group” and to ask for a fresh “breakthrough of worship” in their personal life.
The journey of compassion begins with worship. We must touch God’s heart before we can change God’s world. It is the level of our passion for God that will help determine our level of compassion for people.
“What is your worship temperature?”
Worship and Intimacy Inventory - Check yourself, do any of these statements apply to you?
- My mind and mouth switch to automatic pilot during worship.
- The last time God answered a specific prayer is a dim memory.
- I feel guilty when I hear someone telling what they learned in their quiet time and hope they don’t ask me how mine is.
- I wonder where my joy went in serving God.
- I read my Bible because I should, not because I want to.
- I find myself critiquing the church service rather than growing from it.
- Those smiling, happy Christians get on my nerves.
- I’ve been spending more time feeling disappointed with God and my life than enjoying God.
- I miss God’s presence being like the air I breathe.
This exercise isn’t meant to make you feel guilty. On the contrary, it’s meant to help you to take a look at yourself and see where you might need to turn on the switch of God’s light and see where you might need to let Jesus come in and bring in some healing.
Defining worship
Mark 14:3-9
Luke 7:36-50
True worship can’t be measured by its effect on us; it must be measured by its effect on God.
“The most common mistake Christians make in worship today is seeking an experience, rather than seeking God. They look for a feeling, and if it happens, they conclude that they have worshiped. Wrong. In fact, God often removes our feelings so that we don’t depend on them.” –Rick Warren
The sacrifice of worship cannot depend on just our feelings. True worship is a response from our hearts, not words from our mouth. Does your worship move your heart closer to God? Does your heart foster God moving on your behalf? Does your adoration of Him cause Him to come and touch your heart?
Luke 10:27
That verse can be exhausting. But there is a rest God wants to bring us that helps us open our hearts to Him. When we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, it becomes easier for us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When God moves on our hearts as we worship He opens up the power for us to love others and show His love to them.
We’ll wrap up this topic next week.
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