The Firm Foundation of Worship: Diving Deeper
See Jesus
"I'm not enough and I don't have enough."
Have you ever thought something along these lines?
Me too. Sometimes about money, sometimes about time, energy, opportunities, or favour. Sometimes about intelligence, skill or likability. Sometimes about righteousness, joy or peace. Anywhere where I feel lack, insecurity, or inferiority, I've felt tempted to think this way.
Sometimes when I've sinned, I've thought, "I'm not righteousness enough, I don't have enough good standing with God."
Shame leads us to believe that we aren’t enough and that we don’t have enough. It causes us to cover ourselves and hide from God. Shame says, "I’ve been dealt a bad hand." It says that I'm lacking in who I am and what I have.
Worst of all, shame keeps us from drawing close to the very one who could heal what we’re ashamed of.
This must be how Adam and Eve felt in the garden after they'd sinned and were hiding from God. The moment they sinned, shame began talking to them, telling them that they weren't good enough. Shame has been talking to humanity ever since.
But Jesus has shown us how to answer the accusation of shame.
The blood of Jesus has answered once and for all the accusation of guilt and shame towards humanity. Because Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross in our place, the accusation of guilt that demands justice has been satisfied. Because he's given us a new spirit, a new nature, just like him in righteousness and innocence, the accusation of shame that "you are not good enough" no longer stands.
Engaging in worship is the opposite of engaging in shame. When we worship God for His goodness, for His sacrifice, for His resurrection, His redemption, His love and His majesty, we say, "I am enough because you’ve redeemed me. I have enough because you are for me. I’ve been dealt a great hand! You have provided me with everything I could ever need!"
While shame may continue its accusation, we are now equipped to say, like Jesus, "Get out of here, Satan! For it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only!"
Worship acknowledges that with Jesus everything is different. The ordinary becomes extraordinary. The sinner becomes the redeemed. The distance between us has disappeared. We say, "Get out of here Satan! God says I can draw close to him and I have everything I need."
Worship elevates Jesus to his proper place of King and Lord in our life. When we see Jesus high and lifted up, we see the true order of things, the true nature of reality, wherein Christ is all-powerful, and the forces of darkness have been stripped of their power. Everywhere that Christ is acknowledged and Lord and King the kingdom of darkness is supplanted by the Kingdom of Light.
-Pastor Nicole
Know Jesus
This week, you can dive deeper into the message through one or all of the following:
Consider an area where you feel tempted to think "I am not enough" or "I don't have enough." Make a list, either out loud or on paper, of every good gift God has given you in that area. Worship God for everything He has done to provide!
Do a DBS on Matthew 4:1-11. Consider how Jesus responded to the accusation, "You are not enough and you don't have enough."
Listen and worship along with "Testify"
Consider the prayer prompts given in your time with God this week.
Discovery Bible Study
TO BEGIN
Pray and ask Holy Spirit to teach you about God from His word.
Next, read the verse a couple of times.
Now, ask these questions:
What does this tell me about God/Jesus?
What does this tell me about people?
How can I respond to what I just read?
When you’re done asking these questions, it’s a great idea to pray and thank God for teaching you more about who He is and who you are!
Discovery Bible Study (DBS) is a way for anyone, anywhere to read God's word! You can dive deeper into this week's message by doing a DBS one any one or all of these scriptures. DBS is a great tool to use for your own devotions, as a bible study with friends, or as an evangelism tool!
Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.
During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-11
Listen to ‘Testify’ by Maverick City Music
Prayer Prompts
Pray for an outbreak of worship in our church family!
Pray that we would grow strong in the foundations of family growth.
Pray that the love of God would shine through the body of Christ.
Share Jesus
You can share this week's podcast, email, or blog post. Check out volunteer opportunities to get involved in the work of sharing Jesus in our church family and community.
Current Volunteer Opporunities
Pastor Charla is looking for volunteers for the Christmas season Kid's church schedule. This schedule will be one Sunday commitments rather than a four week rotation. You can sign up to help by contacting Pastor Charla at pastorcharla@kiplingchurch.com.
