C3 Church Southwest WA C3 Church Southwest WA

THE TRUTH ABOUT: WORSHIP

SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:5–8 (ESV) And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Worship was not something I recognized growing up.
Sadly, attended church for 6+ years, never observing worship
Illus: Gilligan and tiki god seemed like worship

THE TRUTH ABOUT WORSHIP
1. Worship Establishes FIRST; FIRST Demands Worship
HB shachah - to bow down; GK proskuneō - to kiss (embrace), to show reverence, to bow down.
Worship is an issue of priority, affection, reverence, elevation, honor, submission.
2.Everyone Worships; Everyone Has A FIRST
Adam/Eve, GOD as FIRST was by design - Genesis 1:31 (ESV) And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
Adam/Eve chose another FIRST, impacting design

Genesis 3:6 (ESV) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:24 (ESV) He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Psalm 51:5 (ESV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Everyone is worshiping
Ignorant worshippers
Intentional worshippers
People
Objects
Positions
Ideas, Truths, Concepts
Ideologies

FIRST is impacted by influences followed by decisions.
So important to influence others
Because of Design, when GOD is FIRST, life is in sync

3.FIRST Impacts Experiences & Outcomes
First Impacts This Life - Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
First Impacts Eternal Life -
Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,
2 Corinthians 5:9–10 (ESV) So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

4.Everything We Do Can Be Worship
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

SLIDE THE TRUTH ABOUT: COVERING
SCRIPTURE: Job 1:9-10 (ESV) Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?  Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
Coverings Protect, Amenitize and Expose
Sun glasses; polarization; harmful plastic
Clothing; fashion; poor construction
Home; air conditioning; breach in roof
Military; confidence; bought by an interest
Matthew 23:37–39 (ESV) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!  See, your house is left to you desolate. 
Psalm 17:8–9 (ESV) …hide me in the shadow of your wings,  from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.
Psalm 27:5 (ESV) For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
Psalm 61:4 (ESV) Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
Proverbs 18:10 (ESV) The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
Psalm 32:7 (ESV) You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah.

4 Critical Coverings
Impacting Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Financial, Social 
Family 
Job 1:9-10 (ESV) Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?  Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

“Church” or religion
Church is your most influential social group that worships something
Christian Churches
People treat churches like they are stores they shop from, when in reality they are covenantal families that bring covering, amenities and breaches
Philadelphia: Revelation 3:8–10 (ESV) “ ‘I know your works… I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Ephesus: Revelation 2:4,5 (ESV) …you have abandoned the love you had at first…. Repent… If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place…

State/Nation 
Psalm 33:12 (ESV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV) But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Kingdom
The World/Kingdom of Heaven
John 10:9–11 (ESV) I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Review Your Current Coverings & Adjust
Are you fully engaged in coverings?
Are you strengthening your coverings?
Get involved in your school district, local city council. 
Do you have an unintended or unhealthy coverings
Certain negative atmospheres that I can’t impact, I limit.
Some coverings you trade
You Are A Covering: Recognize And Adjust As Needed
Job 1:9-10 (ESV) Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?  Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
Protect, amenities and expose
You build your coverings strength with spiritual disciplines and obedience
You weaken/create breaches by your ignorance, lack of discipline and sin
Be blessed so they can be blessed

SCRIPTURE:  Daniel 3:4–7 (ESV) And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,  that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.  And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”  Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Compromise: 
Good: to settle a dispute by mutual concession
Bad: to accept standards that are lower than desirable
Very Bad: to embrace standards below God’s expressed will

COMPROMISE IS MORE THAN A SIN. SIN IS AN ACTION, WHILE COMPROMISE IS A COURSE OF ACTION.
Daniel 3,4 - Babylon lead by Nebuchadnezzar 
Spiritually dark time. 
Like America, the King's world was influenced by corrupt politicians, business leaders, social elites, judges, dark priests, and people from academia with a few godly people in the mix.
In Babylon were people of Israel, human trafficked into Babylon by the government. Some of their finest were elevated to political prominence 
Daniel 2:49 (ESV) Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.
God will promote you and use you to influence your world in spite of the evil around you!
Their presence made influential people jealous, but more likely, agitated the demons that influenced the people of influence.
Neb set up an image ninety feet tall
Daniel 3:4 Gathered the nation so when the music kicked on, everyone was to bow down and worship the image.
People participated on various levels:
As a group, everyone participated wholeheartedly.
Internally, people participated for various reasons
All in on idolatry
Afraid of losing job
Desire for promotion
Meet the expectations of their sub-group
Crowd pressure
Virtue signaling - good people do this
Afraid of the furnace
There were hold-outs, and hold-outs were dealt with.
Daniel 3:8 (ESV) Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews.
Daniel 3:12 (ESV) There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Brought before Neb
Daniel 3:13 (ESV) Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king.
Daniel 3:15 (ESV) Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
The Furnace: A Place Of Decision
A demand for compromise leading to safety from destruction
And invitation for obedience the leads to promotion

Common Furnaces Of Compromise:
Individuals, groups, organizations and communities.
Instead of influencing them, they influence you
Require ongoing compromise
They strip you bare. 
You may survive but you will not thrive.
Activities contrary to scripture
Addictions
Anger 
Unforgiveness
Cultural attitudes, values and practices
Things our culture embraces that occasionally demand our participation and celebration.
I would not attend a ceremony to celebrate someone committing suicide
I would not attend a ceremony to celebrate someone having an abortion
I would not attend a ceremony to celebrate two men getting married.
I would not attend 
Circumstances 
Miserable marriage
Poverty financ

THE TRUTH ABOUT: TRIALS
John 16:33 (ESV) …In the world you will have tribulation.
John 16:33 (NIV) …In this world you will have trouble. 
John 16:33 (MSG) …In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.

The Facts About Trials
TRIAL - a person, situation or thing that tests, reveals, proves another

TRIALS were not intended for our origin story.
We were made in the image of God, in His likeness, with his logo and nothing was needed to test, reveal or prove because we were established perfectly.
Genesis 1:31 (ESV) And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Very - meod - muchness, force, abundance
Good - tob - pleasing, agreeable, good
With God’s authority, we tested all things, but needed not be tested ourselves. In fact, nothing could test us.
Genesis 1:26 (ESV) And let them have dominion… over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

TRIALS began when sin cursed our world.
Genesis 3:17–19 (ESV) And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground (world) because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
In this world…
John 16:33 (ESV) …In the world you will have tribulation.
John 16:33 (NIV) …In this world you will have trouble. 
John 16:33 (MSG) …In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.

TRIALS will permeate our lives until the end.
James 1:2 (ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
James 1:12 (ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial…
1 Peter 1:6 (ESV) …you have been grieved by various trials,
1 Peter 4:12 (ESV) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
1 Corinthians 15:26 (ESV) The last enemy to be destroyed is death.


The Lies About Trials

LIE: God is the source of trials (temptations)
“This is happening, it must be meant to be” - NO
James 1:13–15 (ESV) Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
God doesn't start tem
God doesn’t prolong them
God rarely shortens them. 
God typically doesn’t doesn’t end them

LIE: Trials are a byproduct of God’s displeasure

Luke 13:1–4 (ESV) There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
Jesus was speaking against the idea that bad things happen to bad people. Bad things just happen.
An absence of trials is not proof of His pleasure.
An abundance of trials are not a sign of his displeasure nor a lack of faith.

LIE: Trials are predetermined and must be endured until they end. 
This lie assumes that there is no way to avoid trials and once they begin, there's nothing we can do but ride them out. 
Trials are not predetermined.
We can actually create them. We can lengthen them. We can shorten them. 
Galatians 6:7–9 (ESV) Do not be deceived:

“Look at the flowers
In all of their beauty
I don’t have to wonder
You know what you’re doing
So why would I worry at all
You’re faithful to supply”
“Look at the sparrow
Lacking for nothing
No fear of tomorrow
And what it will bring
If I have you I have enough
Cause your love will satisfy”

To those who struggle with exhaustion: Does God even hear me? I’ve tried, but nothing happened. Is it ever going to happen? It’s been so long since God promised. Nothing is changing. I give up. I can’t do this anymore.”

“You Know What You’re Doing”
Job synopsis - he lost his 10 children, his possessions, his health (sores), his wife
Job 42:1-6 “The Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I–and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.’”
The Lord then blessed him x2, second half of his life
Job 23:2, 10-12 “My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. 10 But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.”

“Everything I need everything I need
My father has it my Father has it
Every single time the Lord will provide
My father has it my Father has it”

To those who struggle with self-doubt: Am I enough? Am I doing this well? I don’t feel equipped for this. I don’t know what to do. This is too much to handle. I can’t do this.

“My Father Has It”
Moses & Israelites synopsis - they were about to cross the sea, saw 600 egyptians chariots chasing them, and Israelites thought that they were going to die
(Slide 1) Exodus 14:13-14 “Moses answered the people. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm. You will see how the Lord will save you today.
(Slide 2) Exodus 14:15, 19-20 “Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people of Israel to move on. Hold out your walking stick. Reach out your hand over the Red Sea to divide the water. Then the people can go through the sea on dry ground.’ 19 The angel of God had been traveling in front of Israel’s army. Now he moved back and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved away from in front of them. Now it stood behind them. It came between the armies of Egypt and Israel. All through the night the cloud brought darkness to one side and light to the other. Neither army went near the other all night long.”
Israelites made it safely to the other side

“Seek first the Kingdom and its treasures
Everything else it will be added
All that I’m needing
I know the Lord will provide
I know my God’s not empty handed
He gives us blessings upon blessings
I’m still believing
I know the Lord will provide”

To those who struggle with settling: Life doesn’t look the way I thought it would. This is how it’s going to be I guess. There’s no changing them. It’s always been like that. I’ve always had to deal with this. This is a part of who I am. It’s a part of life. I just don’t see how it could get any better.

“My God’s Not Empty Handed”
Solomon synopsis: Solomon was the wisest and richest person to ever have lived, God was honored by the way he led and lived, and God promised to fulfill his promise of living amongst the Israelites if Solomon obeyed. But Solomon followed in the footsteps of his father, settling for less. 
1 Kings 11:1-4, 9-13 ”Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women fro