True Worship, Part 2 B

Acceptable worship is really a key to understanding the whole matter of salvation. The goal of salvation is to produce acceptable worshipers.

So if you come in God to their lives. That's not it. Help them see how happy and prosperous their lives would be if they would accept Jesus. That's not it either. How about confront people with their sin. Well, that's true. But even that's not the primary thing today on grace to you. You may be in for a surprise as John MacArthur takes you to God's word and shows you the goal of evangelism really the goal of salvation.

So follow along with John MacArthur as he continues his compelling study titled true worship we returned tonight in our study to the theme of worship and I would draw your attention to John's Gospel again. Chapter 4 and I want to read again.

Verses 20 through 24 as the setting for our message. John's gospel chapter 4 verse 20 the Holy Spirit writing through John says, our fathers worshiped in this mountain and he say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship Jesus sent on to her woman leave me the hour, the one you shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem. Worship the father you worship me know not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews, but the hour, then now is when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the father seeking such to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth, our Lord instructs here that we must worship God in spirit and in truth, for the father seeking such to worship him. And so essentially worship then is giving respect her honor to God and we are called to that in. I suggested to you that there are four reasons why worship is essential for reasons why it is important reason number one is because Scriptures so repeatedly speaks of worship. Worship is important, and first of all because it is such a major emphasis in Scripture, then, secondly, worship is important because all of time and eternity depends on it. Destiny is determined by worship when you come to God with acceptable worship. It affects your destiny.

It manifests the life of God within you.

Now, I think, just as a beginning point let me read to you what I think is maybe a very significant definition of the true acceptable worshipers. Psalm 24, three, just listened to write it down. Psalm 24, 3 to 6 says this, who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in his holy place and I wasn't me. That means who is going to be what accept when they approach God and they want to come into his hill when they want to stand in his holy place who will he accept he will not accept the one who worship a false god want to worship the true God in a wrong manner in a self-styled way with the wrong attitude who will accept. Verse four he who hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully, he shall receive the blessing from the Lord in righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them who seek him who seek thy face, those who are acceptable are the ones who have clean hands. That is, they are in obedience to God, purified and made clean who have pure hearts. Their motive, their desire is right there, blessed, and there the generation who truly seek God. The fact is that if you come to God on their own terms. Man-made terms are not seeking God you're seeking only to pacify your own imagination.

Stay with me here comes really the heart and soul of our whole study so get your brain screw down tight and don't miss anything acceptable worship is really a key to understanding the whole matter of salvation and a lot of the stuff. The goal of salvation is to produce acceptable worshipers get the goal of salvation is to produce acceptable worshipers. So if you are truly saved your acceptable worship. If your acceptable worship. Are you truly coming to God's presence and thus, as we look at your worship as you examine your worship. You can understand whether or not your say now officially subscription to help you understand this back to our text John for John for to get your Bible handy because I will show you several John four verse 23, the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshipers now beloved that is a term to describe a Christian, a saint, a true believer. We could as well be called true worshipers as we are called Christians. We could as well be called true worshipers as we are called believers or saints or children of God, or any other term to describe our identity in our union with Christ, we are true worshipers who worship the Father in spirit and in truth, that we don't always do it as fully as we ought, but look at the end of verse 23 for the father seeking such to worship him.

You know why the father sent the son of the world very clear.

Jesus said I am come to seek and to save that which was lost for what purpose for what purpose. Why did God send Christ to seek sinners and save says right here because the father seeks such to do what to do. It worship.

That's the reason you redeem your sin, you were not redeemed primarily keep you out of hell if God wanted to keep you out of hell he could just not created you with the Same thing and you wouldn't of missed you would miss heaven because you in the known about it, you wouldn't be.

This is the reason you're saying is not to make you happy.

As nice as it is and is happy as it may make you the reason you're saved us worship God you were redeemed because the father seeks some to worship him. That is the sole reason why God created man and set out to redeem him because God sought such to worship so worshiping God is synonymous with Christian existence with being a believer in acts chapter 18 we can build our case further.

Verse seven it says Ende Paul course from his missionary journey departed from Athens, verse one came to Corinth. In verse seven says departed from there entered into a certain man's house, named Titus justice he departed from the synagogue because he rented a such flack with the Jews and he went into the house of the many Titus justice was one who, what, worship God was in.

This is another way of saying he was a believer.

He was a believer. He was a believer.

He worship God.

That is what a believer is one worship Scott if that is what we are. The note to see how important it is that we truly worship as fully as we verse 13 the Jews attack Paul and they bring them into the judgment seat to Galileo and this is their accusation.

This fellow persuaded men to worship God nor Paul's ministry was what he was doing his ministry he was persuading them to do what was about that synonymous with salvation. You see what I'm trying to point that's what the view of his ministry. What you see why ministry is to bring people to the point where they can worship God because it is right. We do not evangelize in order that you might be kept from hell that is secondary.

We do not primarily evangelize in order that you may be quote unquote blessed we evangelize in order that you might worship God who is worthy because for you to live apart from worshiping God as an affront to his holy nature. You are a rebel in his world call was accused of persuading men to worship God or they thought was contrary to the right system but how interesting. By the way, do you realize that when Jesus gave in John for that tremendous speech on how to worship.

Do you realize we did that he did not get that to a theologian, give that to an erudite Pharisee did not give that to a Cornelius was a God-fearing Jew give to a prostitute.

That's right, he preached worship to a prostitute, but a whole handful husband was living with Amanda wasn't her husband. He gave it to a woman who was a prostitute, click here. At last she wasn't even one of the wicked heart.

You didn't even see God. She wasn't even interested. She doesn't even show any curiosity, he just walked out flat called turkey to a harlot and told her to worship God. Why, because at the heart and soul of angels.

We are calling men to worship because God is worthy of worship. When you understand that you will understand how tragic it is, then, for the Christian who understands that he is called in redeemed to worship God to not worship God as fully as God ought to be worship and that was the thrust of Paul's ministry in acts 2414, when Paul discusses with Felix. His perspective is theology if you will. I love what he says in verse 14, but this I confess unto the just confess.

Here's what I meant after the way which they call heresy the way you can put quotes around the way was a term for the Christian faith.

After the way which they call heresy so worship I God of my fathers. When Paul gives his testimony says I worship the God of my fathers. After the way called after the Christian faith called away so Paul called people to worship God when he gave his own testimony, he said I worship God.

We say that too little, you know when the last time you evangelize somebody in a manner that I worship God after the manner of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now the gospel record supports this concept go back with me to Matthew notionally something very interesting but as you trace distinct Matthew we will going to Mark or Luke John, but I just want take Matthew and let me show you that the gospel record supports the fact that people are redeemed for the purpose of worship.

People who see the truth of Christ have an immediate response of worship.

And that means to give honor knowledge and respect and reverence and adoration, praise to one who is above you, to God himself was beginning Matthew to just run you through maybe six, seven or eight passages in your seat.

Matthew 211.

We come to the birth of Christ and the arrival of the kingmakers of the East and when they were coming to the house. Verse 11 says they saw the young child with Mary his mother and they fell down.

What worship I was the first thing that it they fell down and worshiped. Why, because that is the initial response to the reality of Christ from chapter 8 verse two Jesus come down from the mountain, great multitude followed him.

And behold, there came a leper. One of the leopard 22 worshiped, and said, Lord, see you knew who he was and he worshiped from chapter 9 verse 18 while he spoke these things under them, behold, there came a certain ruler and what did he do worshiped, worshiped good.

Chapter 14, Jesus said walks on the water.

He not only had to control the sea, but he had to control the disciples as well. Got back to the boat, the wind ceased verse 32 then verse 33. And that's Matthew 1433 and now they see who he is and they that were in the boat came and worshiped him say of the truth, thou art the son of God see whoever it is, whenever it is wherever it is the instantaneous spontaneous immediate response to Christ is to worship chapter 15 verse 25. Woman of Canaan and it says in verse 25 then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me. She worshiped same same response will go all the way to the end of Matthew chapter 20 verse nine and as they went to tell his disciples's behold, Jesus met them saying all hail and they came and held him by the feet and worshiped.

Those dear women, just like everybody else worshiped.

Verse 16 then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appeared, or appointed them rather and when they saw what they worshiped some doubted. Not just think through this from the sum of all of that is this believers are first and foremost, what worship you see that when that's the essence of the whole thing. That is the essence of what it means what it says. The father seek such to worship you. We have been redeemed to worship so important in 931 of job. I just can't resist one on a John to good Jesus heals a man was born blind in here this man born blind makes our case for us because he says this PQ makes a contrast. We know that God does not hear what sinners, so on the one hand, God doesn't hear sinners on the other hand, but if any man be a worshiper of God, even doing his will he hear another man says there are only two options.

God either hears you already doesn't hear you. And so there are only two kinds of people. The people God hears and the people he doesn't hear the people he doesn't hear are sinners, and the people he hears are worshipers of the contrast is between a sinner and worship so the whole of the world can be divided into the sinners and the worshipers.

Therefore, to be saved means to be a worship that becomes then the heart and soul of what we do see when God told Israel when God called Israel as a nation do you know that that was his purpose. He called that nation for one express purpose. Deuteronomy 2610 and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which thou Lord is given me, and thou shalt stand before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God, they were called. That's why the tabernacle was there. That's why the temple was there. That's why the priesthood was there the whole focus was on worship to follow the thought. Deuteronomy 26 verse 10 is worship but you know what gives rise to worship, go back to verse five, Deuteronomy 26 by the shalt speak and say before the Lord. I got a Syrian ready to perish with my father and he went down into Egypt and sojourned there with a few and became a nation great, mighty, and populous rim of the story of the story how the Joseph accepted his brothers down into Egypt and they came down and were about to perish in the family. Joseph give them food they wound up staying in Egypt all those years. By the time they left.

They were a great nation and the Egyptians badly treated us for six afflicted us latest honest hard bondage, and we cried to the Lord God of our fathers order our boys looked on our affliction, our labor and our oppression in the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand and outstretched arm and with all inspiring terror and signs and wonders, and he brought us into this place and given us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey Flores is worship the Lord. I got what we say.

Worship is the direct response to redemption in the Old Testament picture of redemption was the deliverance from Egypt was then in verse 11, he says, and thou shall rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God is given under the under thine house now and the Levite and the sojourner who is among you rejoicing starts redemption and redemption gives rise to worship and rejoicing.

I really believe that that's what Paul is saying in Ephesians 1. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. That's a that's an act of worship. That's a benediction is Blessed be the God and that's worship. Blessed be the God what you saying that because he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. We should be holy and without blame before him in love he has predestinated us and of the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to himself, in knowing we have redemption through his blood and that's why we say, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, worship is the result of redemption so beloved, I submit you that were called worship without question, we are called to worship, to render acceptable true spiritual worship. And this becomes for us to market a way of life, a way of life is not a sometime thing. It is in all the time for my close with one of the Scripture. Hebrews 12 verse 28, 20 now we have been saved to worship you gotten a picture look at Hebrews 1228 wherefore receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved to stop right there. If you're Christian you have received a kingdom which cannot be moved right when you have entered into the eternal kingdom of the living Lord Jesus Christ. You have a kingdom which can not be moved.

And when God comes along in the future and shakes the earth and you shake it will when you shake it so good that the stars fall out of the sky and the whole Earth will be turned in turmoil over again and re-created in the new heaven and the new earth. God is going to shake it, but we will belong to a kingdom which cannot be shaken cannot be with. This is talking about believers. Now if we are believers now follow then let grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear MAI help you to make one small alteration in the terms used in the authorizer and would you change the word serve to worship the same Greek word translated serve in that verse back in chapter 10 verse two is translated worship the true it is worship since we have received a kingdom which cannot be moved since we have become worshipers of God, then allow the graciousness to respond to God who has made us worshipers by worshiping God acceptably. If we want to put in Pauline terms, it comes out like this present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship and notice when since the universe 20 with reverence and godly fear for our God is a what consuming five you better worship God, or else acceptable worship is the result of salvation. First, but really filling out that worship in living up to its fullness is the result of the graciousness of the believer who willingly offers his body in an act of spiritual service whereby he worships God acceptably with reverence and godly fear because God is a consuming fire and you need to be worried about the consequences.

We don't worship properly, can I buy this from. If you have trouble in your life problems in your life and you go through a checklist as to why these things may be occurring in your life for the chop of the checklist. Perhaps I'm not worshiping God with a true heart in a true spirit. Perhaps I do not have the grace to worship God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, and the consequences for his chastening's well I can't wait to find out how this touches every area of life and then were going to get into the corporate praise and worship of the assembly and see how that is to work by the time were done.

I pray God will be worshiping in ways you never worship this is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us. John is Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary. His current study is meant to help you experience true worship that's the title of our series, and certainly a big part of worship is giving thanks to God and John.

We recently heard from two listeners who have a lot to praise God for and their letters are encouraging examples of how God is using his word to transform believers, and even to transform the church so share those letters with us you think you feel that the first one comes from Johan.

He writes my name is Johan I am a South African living in Saudi Arabia.

As you know, no religion is allowed to be practiced in Saudi Arabia accept Islam, but by God's grace. I am still able to listen to God's word about two years ago a friend of mine introduced me to one of your sermons.

I was so inspired by it that I started to listen to more of your sermons. This really change the way I looked at my own beliefs and my Christian life I love music and always listen to music when I'm in the car. But now, after downloading the Jeep after downloading the GQ I app that becomes something of the past these days I'm listening to you in the comfort of my office I start my day, an hour earlier just for this reason, your sermons and daily messages are so inspiring in your truly unleashing God's word God's truth one verse at a time. So thank you and the entire staff of grace to you.

You made the change in my life and he signed his name John. Thank you so much, were glad to be an encouragement to you my friend.

And then this is a letter from a listener name Mike. I don't even know how I found GQ why, but I'm so glad I did. I grew up where the emphasis is on an emotional experience, not the word of God. I'm now 40 years old and a pastor of a church of over a thousand, but it's only in the last few years that I've come to truly understand the gospel. This is changed both how I live and how I preach. We used to do 4 to 6 week series on various topics. But as of late. We're just preaching through books of the Bible. Last year was Romans in this year's Matthew I have all your commentaries and thereby go to commentary for any New Testament passage.

I cannot express enough for the difference and impact your ministry is had on mine. But let me just say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Well thank you Mike. I would love of all things to do and all influences that have to influence those who teach and preach the word of God because they have the widest impact that's tremendously encouraging end user, listener grace, you know, we teach the Bible verse by verse all across the globe 24 hours a day making investments in people's lives in their spiritual health and radio and the Internet has allowed us to take God's word to people in all sorts of situations and all sorts of languages in all places, literally around the world. Join us in praying that God's truth would reach people worldwide who desperately need to hear it.

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It's another half hour of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on wasting