Worship, Ezra 3
- What causes you to worship?
- Dinner table praise
- To restore a church, a priority is to restore worship.
- To Worship as it is written
- Please turn to Ezra 3, page 390
What is Worship?
“The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, being satisfied with God above all earthly things. And then that deep, restful, joyful satisfaction in God overflows in demonstrable acts of praise from the lips and demonstrable acts of love in serving others for the sake of Christ.” John Piper
What is worship? “Life… because we were born to worship God.” Vinny Grossi
- 5 greek words that we would say are “worship” or “praise” in the NT.
WORSHIP: We tell the story that God is our highest priority by humbly giving him the glory in all of life.
Vs. 1 Unity in community, They had a common goal. To restore what was broken.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1–6
Vs. 2 “As it is written”
Simple Obedience
And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 2 John 6
Vs. 3 Protection, worship through fear
- “People of the land”
- God inhabits the praises of His people,” declares David in Psalm 22:3.
- It’s God’s battle
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:10–13
- Vs. 4-7 Worship “as it is written”
- Vs. 8 -9 Approx. 8 years later they finish the temple
- Vs. 10-11 Worship as it is written
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1
- Vs. 12-13
- Restoration takes time, but we must worship together.
- Make room for the next generation
- Don’t be discouraged, don’t discourage!
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5–11
Lead into Communion
WORSHIP: We tell the story that God is our highest priority by humbly giving him the glory in all of life.
Worship as it is written