Our every activity can be transformed into an act of worship
Hebrews 12:25-29 (Pastor Heo)
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken–that is, created things–so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews =
- Book of Warning / Encouragement
- Book of Challenge / Assurance
v. 25
“25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?”
In the past, God spoke to the people of Israel through Moses many times. “Obey his word and be blessed.”
As a result of judgment, in the history of Israel, everyone who was 20 and older died in the wilderness except Caleb and Joshua. Imagine that picture 1,000,000+ dead bodies littered the desert. This was the penalty for disobeying God’s command on earth. Yet, imagine how much greater the penalty will be for disobeying his heavenly commands through Jesus.
“…in these last days, God has spoken to us through his son…”
What is the heavenly message of God through Jesus. It is the message of salvation – called “Good news of Great joy for all the people eternally”
This same book makes this clear: “Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of 2-3 witnesses. But how much greater the punishment if a man rejects Jesus Christ.”
We know that Jesus was a transmitter of God’s word, likewise Moses was a mouthpiece of God. However, Jesus himself is God, and his word is God’s word.
John 1 “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God…This word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
The Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth come through Christ. “My word shall never pass away.”
This book Hebrews is a book of warning / encouragement.
- Warning:
- If you reject the Law of Moses = great punishment.
- Also, if you reject the word of Jesus = how much greater punishment you will receive.
- Encouragement:
- Obey the law of Moses = much blessing.
- Likewise, obey the word of Christ, how much more blessing we will receive.
v. 26-27
“26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken–that is, created things–so that what cannot be shaken may remain.”
At that time, when God came down on Mt. Sinai to give the commandments, his voice shook the mount, so that it trembled greatly, and the people shook with fear. Even Moses was terrified and the whole mountain was wrapped with smoke as God was a “consuming fire.” God was so bright, they could not approach. The people said, “If we hear God’s voice directly, we will die.”
This event happened 3500 years ago. At that time, God’s voice shook the earth. All that was then, is no more.
“Once more” what does this mean? In the near future, the final, ultimate, shaking of the earth (like 3500 years ago) will happen. At that time, he will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens and all creation, all visible, created, material things – all these things will be destroyed and disappear. All created things and visible things will be destroyed and a new age will begin again.
As we know, history is the story of the past. There were many kingdoms in the past that were destroyed and disappeared. The Greeks, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, all gone. Like this, our story will become history to future generations today.
Today, there are more than 200 human kingdoms – but someday in the future, they will all be shaken and disappear, and a new age will begin again.
What can remain unshaken when God shakes? NOTHING. There is only one thing: The kingdom of Jesus Christ and the people who belong to it.
So what should we do then?
If we are really wise, we should build our house, our lives on unshakeable ground, unshakeable foundation. What is it? Obedience / surrender / commitment to the word of Christ.
Jesus: “The heavens and earth will disappear, but my word and my kingdom will never disappear. Therefore, anyone who hears and obeys my word is like a wise man who built his house on a rock… It will stand firm because it has its foundation on the rock… All others, like foolish men who built their houses on sand… It fell with a great crash because it had its foundation on sand.”
Remember: ALL visible things will pass away, but HIS word and kingdom will never pass away. God bless us all to belong to his kingdom, truly.
v. 28-29
“28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.””
v. 28 = very clear. Only Jesus kingdom, word, people shall remain as unshakeable forever and ever in eternity. If we are really children of God and people of his kingdom first, then first we must give thanks to God.
“Give thanks under all circumstances” (1 Cor?)
How is this possible? If we have assurance, faith, confidence, then we can give thanks under every and any situation. We must give thanks to God for his faithful answer to our prayer, and also for his provision, and his character qualities, for our brothers and sisters in Christ, our ministry, mission, our jobs, our families, our homes. We must give thanks for what we have and also for what we do not have. We must also give thanks to God for salvation – what he has done for us, and what he is continually doing for us.
If we really belong to the kingdom of Christ, then our total, final job is: WORSHIP.
“…let us be thankful and so worship…”
So worship God with reverence and awe. God is a “consuming fire” – looking for true worshipers.
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you brothers in view of God’s mercy to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God for this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not be conformed 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 his good, pleasing, perfect will.”
The moment you were born, God was there as an unseen (smiling) witness to your birth. This gave God great pleasure to see you born.
God had no obligation to create you and me, but he created us for his own enjoyment and pleasure.
So, living for the pleasure of God is your first purpose for your life and my life.
1 Cor 10:31 “So whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for the glory of God.”
We are created to please God. Know that you are not insignificant. You are not meaningless. You are created by God for his purpose, for his pleasure.
God has emotions like we do: he can be angry, sad, merciful, compassionate, hatred, love, pleasure, delight, satisfaction, joy, smiling, laughing.
Bringing pleasure to God = worship.
Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, this is your spiritual act of worship.”
A worship service may be like singing, prayer, announcements, communion, offering, decision of commitment, sermon, etc. These all may be part of a worship service, but worship itself is far MORE than just one of those. It should not be only part of my life, but my WHOLE lifestyle.
Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. Anything we do can be transformed into an act of worship.
1 Cor 10:31 “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
How is it possible to do all this to the glory of God?
Col 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, with all your mind, as working for the Lord, not for man.”
So, to work for the glory of God = to work in WHATEVER we do as if it were FOR him – and carrying an ongoing conversation with him while we do it.
Any action and behavior can be accepted by God as real worship – when he is kept IN it.
Worship is not a performance or ceremony, but our lifestyles as Christians.
Our God is a “consuming fire”. On Mt. Sinai, God came as a consuming fire. But this sentence uses present tense. God IS a consuming fire.
Meaning: The same God of Zion is the same God of Sinai a long time ago. God never changes.
So when we come to worship, we must keep both mountains in view.
- Mt. Zion,
- approachable,
- with all-consuming love
- Mt. Sinai,
- unapproachable,
- all-consuming fire
God is so jealous that if we worship other gods or other things as god, he cannot stand it.
We can approach with reverent confidence and reverent boldness.
Conclusion:
- Worship is our lifestyle.
- Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.
- Whatever you do, do it as if you were doing it FOR Jesus.
God bless us to be found not only in church but in the market, in the office, to be found as true worshipers.
Let’s pray.
