Worship

Adult       -       Youth

God is just in condemning us to the cross, however God is also merciful. He didn’t want us to have to pay the price for sin. He knew we couldn’t pay it, so he paid it for us. Worship comes out of that – praise comes out of that. When one thinks of what we deserve for what we did . . .

Jesus said for the joy set before him, he endured the cross and despised the shame – He didn’t do it because he wanted to bear the cross, but he did it because he wanted to get a relationship with you back. He saw the joy, the glory of the Father in the plan of redemption – He said “I’ll do it. Where do I sign?”

That’s the most awesome thing. After you really get a hold of righteousness, then holiness begins to make sense. Jesus died so that I wouldn’t have to pay the penalty for that junk, so I want it out of my life. The thing that sent him to the cross, I want to throw that stuff out, because I want more of him. In his presence is the fullness of joy, so I don’t want the old habits, the old thinking, the old attitudes, because all they ever brought me was death. The payment for those things is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then godliness makes sense.

After I’m saved, I am always standing in front of God, whether I feel it or not. I am right there. And he’s got his eye on me. Praise God he’s got his eye on me. Sometimes I don’t have both eyes on me, but the Lord has his eye on me – He’s watching me. What ought I to do, knowing I’m standing in the presence of God? Salvation is the most awesome thing ever! The fact that we could have the righteousness, the right to stand in front of God as if none of that sin ever happened. It means I seek holiness, I seek peace. This is my offering to God for what he did for me.

That’s why forgiveness is easy. It’s the least I could do for what he did for me, because he didn’t have to. I was bound for the cross – I had to go to the cross. The God I serve, the God I love, the God that gets me up in the morning, and lays me down to sleep, that preserves me while I’m asleep, and is there with me every moment, he said “I’m not gonna let you do it. I’m gonna do it myself.” And he says “You know what, I want your personality, but I know that you cannot handle character, so I’m gonna come down and show you how to live, and be your example. I’m not just gonna tell you, I’m gonna show you. I’m gonna be the word – I’m not just gonna give you a word, but I’m gonna be the word. This is where praise bubbles up. When you think of what he did. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to. This is where worship comes from.