In our message series, “Basic Training”, we’re talking about the essentials of the Christian life. The key disciplines that you need to practice in order to grow spiritually. The desire to grow spiritually, to grow in your relationship with God is present in every true believer. Jesus said in …
Matthew 5:6 (NIV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to strongly desire to grow spiritually, to grow closer to God. The disciplines we’re talking about in this series are things that every believer should be practicing and growing in. Those who hunger and thirst, who earnestly desire to grow, will be blessed.
Today, our next message is entitled “Worshiping God or What is Heaven Like?” What does it mean to worship? In the Bible, the word for worship literally means to bow down to kiss someone’s feet, displaying one’s devotion and submission to God. Worship involves giving one’s entire self to God and His will.
John 4:23-24 (NIV) Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
If there are true worshipers, there must also be false worshipers, people who have fooled themselves into thinking they are worshiping, when in fact they are not. True worshipers worship in spirit and truth and God is seeking that kind of worshiper. To worship in spirit is through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. To worship in truth is to worship according to the truth revealed in God’s Word.
Everyone worships something or someone. Whatever you worship, you become like.
Psalm 135:15-18 (NIV) The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. … Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
When we worship God, we become more and more like Him. That’s what spiritual growth is all about, becoming more and more like Jesus, as we worship Him. Today, we’re going to be looking at the book of Revelation to learn more about worship.
The book of Revelation was written in a time of severe persecution of the church. The visions that God revealed to the apostle John were given to encourage the church of his time and the church of all times, that Jesus reigns, even when things are difficult. The book of Revelation was written to tell us how the history of this world ends, and it’s a good end for the believer. Revelation was written to give us a glimpse of heaven and to show us how we can join in heavenly worship, while still here on the earth.
Message Audio, Outline & Study Guide
Basic Training Message Series
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