Consumed Pt 2

Got a week behind. Here's pt 2 with pt 3 coming later in the week.
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Consumed Pt 2
Worship Lifestyle

Leave It at the Door

There’s a song we sing sometimes here at Journey Fellowship called Madly. It’s a song about how much we love Jesus and how we are offering our lives to Him. It has a curious line in it that says “Let what we do in here fill the streets out there, let us dance for you, we will dance for you.” When we sing that song I often wonder, “Does anyone know what that means.” What does it mean? I want us to take a few minutes from Matthew our worship pastor about why he uses this song in our worship gatherings and what he thinks this song is calling us to.

Why would someone write a song about this subject? I think because we have a problem understanding what God is calling us to when He calls us to worship. What causes us to leave worship at the door? What are we really saying about God when we limit Him to one place? What has to happen for us to become people who do in the streets what we do here?

Worship Life or Worship Lite?

The real problem starts with how many of us have been trained. Our mindset is wrong. My daughter is four and we are learning about training and mindsets right now. I can teach her how to do something and to her it’s right no matter what, because she has no previous experience to compare it to. For example, Annalise can tell you how to pack her lunch for school. She knows the order, the ingredients, and the proper utensils. Try to make it in a different way or order, even if it comes out the same, and you’re in big trouble because she has a mindset but no experience to compare it to. Worship for many of us is for Sundays. We grew up hearing we’re going to church to worship God today. We’re going to a worship service or gathering. We were told we are going to God’s house. All of those phrases are not bad, but they are incomplete based on scripture. According to the NT God does not live in a house anymore- He lives in us. Space is no longer sacred- we are! Further, we do not worship God just on Sundays or just at certain times. We have left behind the dull rituals of “religion” and been taken captive by a vibrant faith in a living unbounded God who desires to be a part of every aspect of our lives. Don’t believe me? That’s ok, look in Romans 12:1-2.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Now let’s look at the first verse to get a grip on worship life vs. worship lite.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy
First, worship life has a view of God’s mercy. Worship lite usually focuses on God’s requirements. Remember, worship lite has to do with a specific day, time, or activity. Do you remember growing up and hearing people telling you or other kids- don’t do that or God will be mad. Or, we don’t run in God’s house. Or, my personal favorite, you better act right at church or God’s going to get you. Now that’s a threat. Worship lite ends at the doors of the church house. It limits God’s power to an area. Worship life has to celebrate God’s mercy because it means God is with us and in us all the time- even when we are failing Him. Worship life reminds us that we are constantly dependant on God’s grace, revealed in Jesus.

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship
Second, worship life views our whole lives as part of worship. Worship lite involves only our mouths and our endurance. Worship lite focuses on singing when we are told to, shutting up when we are told to, and not leaving early. Worship life involves every part of us. Our jobs become sacred spaces where spiritual things happen- where we are learning from God and where God is using us to build His kingdom. Our families become places where grace and mercy come to life. We become more spiritual people because we no longer view our spiritual lives as locked up in a building and pulled out for use once a week.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
So this is where worship life gets complicated. Worship lite has few demands beyond Sunday. There is nothing else to do unless you are a part of one of those weird churches that has small groups that meet during the week or encourage you to read the bible for 5 minutes a day on your own. Worship life is much more.

Worship life, remember, is about your whole body and life. It’s about what you do all the time. So worship life calls you to a life of difference. Now this is not a life of LAW- it’s a life of obedience. Obedience to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in your life as it is informed by scripture, wise teaching, and God’s truth. Some people are very uncomfortable with this idea. They want conformity, but God did not design the church to produce people that all look and think alike. That’s why we have a variety of gifts and talents that come from God and balance the church. Think for a second about a church filled with prophets and teachers- they would never get anything done and they would be too busy condemning one another, the world, etc to have any mercy on those who Jesus misses the most. N the flip side, a church with no prophets and filled with merciful people becomes a place where there is no right and wrong and everyone is accepted with no push to be more like Jesus.

So what does this renewal look like? What patterns are we breaking? Let’s look at Ephesians 5 for a minute. The first part of this section talks about what we touched on last week, being obsessed with things instead of God. Remember, the old way was making idols out of stuff. We were consumed with getting and keeping. After Paul finishes that description in vs.7 by calling is to avoid close association or binding relationships with people who are controlled by idols, he begins to explain to us how to live in a worshipful way.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So what are the instructions that we are given in this passage?
Live to please God- we don’t just live haphazardly and make it up as we go along. We have a goal, an objective and that is to please God. Paul further reiterates this in 1 Cor 9:24-27 when he tells the Corinthians to run their lives pursuing the prize of following God.
Do not participate in evil, and protect others by not allowing evil to do it’s work unknown – As Christ followers we are not simply called to criticize those things God calls evil, but to actively work to defeat evil and to see God triumph- that is Kingdom expansion!
Live wisely- apply the knowledge God gives you to life- form the best plans and use the best means for their execution
Use every relationship, position of authority, and moment to make God known – this is the very definition of worship life- our lives are an extension of God into the world- we are His representatives everywhere not just at a certain place on a certain day at a certain time- when we are firing an employee, when we are disciplining a student, when we are calling a creditor, when we are dealing with our insurance company, when we are disagreeing with our spouse

Results of Worship Life

In both Ephesians 5 and Romans 12 a phrase is used that reveals for us a huge benefit of worship life.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Vs 2- Romans

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. vs 17- Ephesians

Knowledge of God’s will. Why do we so often find it hard to know what God wants for our lives? We only encounter Him, hear Him, seek Him once a week. We do not listen for God’s voice in the voices of our kids, our coworkers, our books and music, our conversations, our times of scriptural meditation. We think God only speaks at church. We have lived with worship lite for so long we have no clue that there is Life out there and we’re missing it. God wants our lives to be echoes of our gatherings here. For our lives to dance before Him in worship as we go about our lives. Your life is meant to be a life of worship. God is calling you to turn off the “lite” and embrace the Life. And as your life becomes a life of worship you will begin to see and sense God’s will, God’s purpose, God’s promise for your life.

Consumed Pt 1

Here's the first part of a new series on worship called Consumed. This week we're taking a look at the things that we replace God with.
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Consumed Pt 1
Worship Objects

Probably the most frustrating thing for many of us is the crowd that exists in our lives. Now I’m not talking about people this morning, I’m talking about stuff. I walked into Panera this morning with two bags containing 4 books, an ipod, 2 notebooks, numerous pens and papers, a laptop, and a thumb drive. I had to put it all down before I could even order. It’s crazy how stuffed with stuff, and the stuff we use to get that stuff, our lives can become. I’ve often wondered what God thinks of our stuff. Does it really hold no value to Him at all? Can our stuff be useful to God or is it just there to crowd Him out? For the next three weeks we are going to take a look at our lives from God’s persective. What is in our lives that keeps us close to God? What consumes us to the point that it damages our relationship with Jesus? How do we maintain balance in our lives? What does that balance look like?

Luke 12:13-34
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

I WANT

In a land rife with consumers willing to spend, demographics matter even to farmers. That’s the message retail analyst Kenneth Gassman brought to the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s 78th Annual Convention on Dec. 1 in Williamsburg.
“We are a nation of consumers,” Gassman said in an afternoon educational session titled “Who’s Pushing the Shopping Cart.” Consumer spending reflects two-thirds of the U.S. gross national product, which is significantly higher than those of other industrialized nations.
- http://www.vafb.com/conv/2003/news_gassman.htm

Possessions, the driving force behind so much of what we do. We work so we can pay the bills, but what are the bills that are piling up around us? When 2/3 of the GNP in America is produced by consumer spending, I would say buying stuff is important to us. Negative savings- a people who want it now When savings in America was at -.5%- in other words spending more than we make- and according to CBS News- Consumer debt has more than doubled in the past 10 years to record levels, making it hard for many families to cope. Consumer debt hit a record $1.98 trillion in October 2003, according to the most recent figures from the Federal Reserve. That debt — which includes credit cards and car loans, but not mortgages — translates to some $18,700 per U.S. household.- We know we are a nation that wants our stuff and sooner rather than later.

So what is the effect of all this stuff?

It has some pretty chilling effects on our national morals and habits. We have become a nation of 2 income families- which means we are a nation of day cares, nannies, and latch key kids. This breeds a generation that is growing up without the benefit of nurture and care from anyone they are blood related to. And this is a problem.

It’s a problem for our marriages as well. In fact, in the church as well as outside the church, debt, financial stress, and 2 people working, is negatively affecting marriages. The “mythical 50% divorce rate” as it was called at the end of the last century, is not a myth. And divorce is as prevalent in the church as it is in those who never darken the door of the church.

All this tracks back to a principle, a truth, that Jesus himself spoke to. We have taken to defining ourselves by what we have or do not have. It’s not “keeping up with the Jones’” anymore. It’s feeding our own wants and desires. Jesus once told a crowd- “A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.” When did He say it and why? What does it mean for us today? Let’s take a look in Luke 12.

Getting Mine

13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
So this guy comes to Jesus, a rabbi well versed in the law, and demands justice. I’m sure he has all his data together and I’m sure he’s not trying to steal. He just wants what is his. Sound familiar? We work hard and we play by the rules, so what’s the problem in getting ours? What does having things have to do with God anyhow? Notice, this guy is not coming with a spiritual question. This is a straight business deal, a legal matter, but Jesus turns it into a spiritual matter.

That’s the first thing I want you to hear this morning- Everything is a spiritual matter. Whether it’s a financial decision, a parenting decision, a relationship decision- it’s all a spiritual matter. Every decision has spiritual ramifications- that’s why Paul tells us to pray continually (1 Thess 5:17) - b/c God has an interest in our lives.

So when this guy comes up to Jesus and wants his rightful inheritance Jesus asks the questions- What is the reason behind the request? He does not ask this out loud but in His warning- be on your guard against all kinds of greed- I other words “why do you need the money?”

I know nothing about this guy, but I’m going to assume something for a moment- based on Jesus’ ministry and reaction to the poor and downtrodden and His commands to love mercy and justice- I’m going to assume the guy asking for his portion was not hurting. He wasn’t in need- just in want. I think this is even more justified when Jesus follows up with the phrase “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Now maybe I’m selling this guy short. Maybe he needed the cash- but his attitude is a lot like ours- I want mine.
Now remember earlier when we talked about having stuff and how much we have? Well Jesus goes even further in discussing this by telling a story- a parable- following His warning. 16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Ouch, spiritual truth #2- having stuff does not indicate God’s favor any more than not having stuff indicates God’s disfavor. We are not followers of the great ATM in the sky. God’s desire is not for us to get a bunch of stuff and keep it for ourselves. In fact, it sounds from the story as if stuff can get in the way of God.

How can this happen? Well think about it for a minute. Stuff requires our attention. The car requires a wash and wax, the ipod requires new music and a charge, the computer needs updates, the toys must be played with, the monster must be fed. The more stuff you have the more time it takes to deal with all of it- and there is one thing you cannot earn, buy or make more of- TIME. And since you have a limited amount of time- God’s time gets less and less and storing up stuff lowers the amount of space for things of God.

And God needs space in your life- because everything is a spiritual issue- remember truth #1? So here’s the deal- if something is going to further cut into your time do you really need it? It’s an economic decision- will I have to work more to have this. A time management decision- how much more time will come out of my day to use this item? And ultimately a spiritual decision- how will the greater need for finances and time impact my spiritual life- my time with God. And I’m not just talking about a personal devotional life- I’m talking about time to listen to, learn from, serve, be loved and touched by- God. Jesus seems to be saying- the more we clutter up our lives with earthly treasure the less space we have to be given spiritual treasures that will last.

Fighting the I Want

In order to overcome this desire to consume- to our own spiritual detriment- we must go to war. In a war, there are objectives- we are fighting for something. In this case we are fighting to rid our lives of things that prevent us from pursuing and receiving God’s best. When Jesus discusses this battle following this parable He seems to take a scorched earth policy towards stuff. Listen to this…
22Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus gets right to the heart of the battle with stuff. We want stuff because we do not trust God to give us what is best. God is going to provide for you. So you do not need to store up a bunch of stuff to get you through when God fails. We often accumulate stuff to comfort us as life takes a nosedive- who has ever gone shopping- for a new dress or a new toy- when feeling depressed or upset at life? Instead, Jesus tells us to trust God, not our ability to provide when it seems things are going bad.

Going further, Jesus tells us to overcome our love of stuff by putting it to use for the kingdom. Notice He does not say throw it away. He tells us to sell it and give what we receive to those who do not have. Now the question is, what do we sell? The answer is whatever has taken you hostage. And my friends, you are not the best judge of this answer. Ask someone who loves God and loves you what has taken you hostage. What is keeping you from doing the things God asks you to do? Start with the basics and work outward. What keeps you from being a part of the gathering of God’s people? What keeps you from being with your family? What keeps you from spending time with God? What creates the inability to tithe? What prevents you from serving others? What keeps you from being able to give freely to others? As you work through, you will find many things that are not necessary. Sell them. Give the proceeds away. As your life becomes simplified, you will be more free than you have ever realized.