"And When You Come Together"

Jesus told Peter that, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” Paul told that Corinthians that when they came together more harm was done than good. What is the point of organized religion?

And When You Come Together

(Matt. 16:13-20)

Introduction:

A.  This is an exciting time for this congregation.  I hope each of you are taking up the challenge by God to become wholeheartedly devoted to him.  God desires us.  He wants to be in relationship with us, but he wants us to walk in step with his will.

B.  As a church family and individuals we need to step up our Christian devotion.  God directs us to be people of proclamation.  “Go into all the world and make disciples… (Matt. 28:19).”  Wednesday night we began to think about how we can do more to proclaim the saving grace of Jesus.  It was exciting.

C.  Another aspect of devotion that God expects is that of service.  Jesus taught about judgment day as time when people are separated in part due to how they serve or don’t serve others.  What we do for others we do for Jesus himself.  We need to be people of service to this community and to one another a church family.

D.  A third aspect of devotion to God is that of transformation.  For the last 3 week I have talked about the need to be in line with what God has already begun in us.  Transformation is a continual process of growth and dedication.  It is intentional and requires from us a desire to change, repent and grow.

E.  The last aspect of devotion that God has called us to be is that of worshippers.  Worship is both collective and individual.  It is both something that has a dedicated time and also something we should be doing 24/7 in our personal lives.  Devotion to God demands worship.  I don’t know how one could read the Bible and come to any other conclusion.  So why is “organized religion” so important?  What does our collective time do for us and what does God expect from this time we spend together every Sunday?

I.  My Church

A.  Jesus set up this discourse by asking the question, “Who do people say that I am?”  This is not Jesus wanting to know something that was hidden or looking for some type of praise to make him feel good.  Jesus is directing the conversation and wanting to make a statement.

B.  The second question is, “Who do you say that I am?”  Now we have contrast.  You know what the people think about, but look within yourself and ask what you think about me.  It is with that, that Peter replies, “You are the Christ,” the “Messiah,” the Son of the living God.  Caesarea Philippi was picked by Jesus for this very discussion.  The area was a worship center.  There worship Baal, to Pan, but most importantly to Caesar.  In this arena God reveals to Peter that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God!

C.  It is with that revelation that Jesus announces what the living God is going to do.  Jesus bold proclaims, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”  Jesus says that he will build his church.  That word in Greek means “assembly.”  It carries with it the idea of being “called out” or “a calling to come together.”  Jesus was not building a church building.  He was not building a temple or worship center.  Jesus was building a group of believers that would impact the world because of their faith.  His church – the church.  There is only one and it belongs to him.  The power of death – the last and most feared of all human enemies – has now power of the church.  For Jesus rose from the dead and conquered that enemy and now the gates of hell cannot stop the church which Jesus established.

D.  Brethren, we who have been bought with the very blood of Jesus and empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are that church.  If you don’t belong to the church you don’t belong to Jesus, it is that simple.  So why is organized religion so important?  Because Jesus organized it, died for it, rose up from the dead for it, and placed all believer who are baptized in him in it.

E.  I want to touch on three areas that collective worship does.  When we come together in worship it should be a time of rejoicing, reverence and calls us to respond.

II.  Rejoicing

A.  It is sad when God has to tell his people that they are doing more harm than good when they come together as the church.  But that is exactly what he did in 1 Cor. 11:17.  I don’t want to come together and do more harm than good.  So what should our assembly be like?  What is it that God seeks from us?  Listen to Ps. 95:1-5.  Part of worship is the idea of rejoicing for all that God has done.

B.  I believe that the worship David tried to bring to Israel was vibrant.  It was expressive.  It was filled with praise to God.  As we enter into the NT why would worship be any less vibrant, expressive or filled with praise?  I don’t believe it was.  I believe that when the church came together they were rejoicing.  They were a family of believers that had Jesus binding them together.

C.  If our collective worship doesn’t reflect at least some of the joy of our spirit, then maybe we need to re-examine our worship.  We are in the presence of the living God and that gets me excited.  But I won’t let that excitement detract from who God is.

III.  Reverence

A.  David continues in verses 6-7.  The idea that worship is not meant to be reverent is false.  If worship is not reverent, it is not worship.  The very phrase “to worship” means to kiss the hand, to prostrate oneself in homage.”  It has its root in ancient times when people would bow down and kiss the earth to thank the maker.

B.  Reverence does not mean silence.  It does not mean slow songs or saying “thee and thou.”  Heb 12:28-29 says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

C.  Reverence is the fear of God.  It is the “shock and awe” of the spiritual world.  Yes worship has it order so that everyone has an opportunity to worship God, but it is not “sit down and be quiet.”  It is to see God for who he is when we worship him and not dishonor him, but bring him honor by the things we do and the way we treat one another.

IV.  Response

A.  Listen to Ps. 95:8-11.  Brethren, worship calls for us to respond.  It is not an act.  It not five parts put together and checked off a list.  It both a speaking and hearing.  Collective worship hears God just as much as it praises God.  In that hearing we are called to action.  Just listen to Heb. 10:19-25.  This is responsive in nature.  Worship calls us to action and calls us to be together.

B.  As we respond to God in worship great things can happen.  Walls can be shaken, people can be changed, light can come into darkness and we can know that we are in the hands of God.  Worship is a means of transformation.  But it requires a response from us.

C.  Do I treat worship like a job?  A place to put in my time and then go and do what I really want to do?  That attitude can kill us as Christians.  Collective worship is about joy.  It is about seeing the awesome power of God.  And it is about change.  We need to be a church that responds to worship because we are responding to God.  Read the book of Revelation sometime and see how those around the throne respond in worship.  That ought to be us today.

Conclusion:

A.  A great invitation is given by Jesus in the book of Revelation.  Jesus says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”  That is relational.

B.  Worship is hearing the voice of God and opening the door of your heart.  When we do, he comes in.  Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life?  Have you allowed today to be a day of worship?  There is power in praise.  There is power in lifting up God so high in your life that you can no longer see yourself, just him.  If we can give you support in our praise and devotion to God, come as we stand and sing.