The Heart of Worship Micah 6:6-8 Graeme Sterne 2009

I’m coming back to the heart of worship And it’s all about You I’m coming back to the heart of worship And it’s all about You. It’s all about you Jesus. I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it, ‘Cos it’s all about you. It’s all about You Jesus

Outward expressions of Worship Singing, music, celebrating Psalm 100 Bowing down to the ground Psalm 95:6 Praying – privately Matthew 6:6 - raising hands I Timothy 2:8 Fasting Matt. 6:16-18 Obedience Rom. 12:1,2 Meditating on the word of God Deut. 17:18 - 20 Giving money II Cor. 8:5

These are outward actions that come from something much deeper The heart of worship is surrender Hosea 6:6 Micah 6:8

True worship happens when we surrender to God Yielding to the Spirit Following Christ Being a disciple Going ‘all out’ for God Sanctification Letting go

When God gets a hold of your life he does not want to trim a branch here and there. He wants the whole tree – all of it! C.S. Lewis

Paradoxes in Christianity Slaves are free people If we lose our life we gain it If we try to hold onto our life we lose it If we give we will receive Surrender is a noble thing to do

Barriers that block total surrender Fear – of letting go Pride – don’t want to admit I need help Ignorance – don’t know what it involves

Barrier 1: Fear of letting go We want to keep control We are scared of what surrender might mean We know in our heads that we should trust God but our feelings pull in another direction

Perfect love casts out fear… Never lets us out of His sight Cares about every detail of our lives Gives us capacity to enjoy things Turns all things for good Has gone to prepare a place for us Is patient with us Helps us with our burdens

Barrier 2: Pride Self sufficient e.g. Rich young ruler Rebellious spirit e.g. Isaiah 30:15 Think we know best e.g. Prov. 3:5,6,7 Unwilling to learn e.g. Proverbs 9:12

Barrier 3: Ignorance Surrender is not: Passive resignation Giving up rational thinking Repressing our personality Entering a spiritual existence and leaving this life behind

Surrender is: Best demonstrated in obedience e.g. Peter in the fishing boat Reacting to a challenge with prayer e.g. David & Goliath, Daniel, Mary, Hannah Letting God do His work e.g. Abraham, Rebecca, Saul, Mary Reflected in relationships e.g. Jesus in the garden, Mary and Martha

The blessings of surrender Peace Isaiah 30:15 Freedom John 8:32 Power Romans 8:5-11 “The greatness of a man’s power is in the measure of his surrender” William Booth (Founder of the Salvation Army)

We cannot fulfill God’s purposes for our life while focusing on our own plans