Brett's Blog Spot

Heroes of the Faith pt 4 - Unstoppable Worshipper

2009-06-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

“Heroes of the Faith” Series at Lifehouse

Overall Theme

God uses ordinary people in their weakness to gain extraordinary victory in God’s strength.

Overall Scripture Challenge

Ezekiel 22:30...I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.Scripture ReflectionWould God find any man in this generation with complete obedience, unwavering faith and a heart that was after God’s own heart? Do you possess these attributes? If so, you will become a Hero of the faith.

Series Review
Hero Trait 1 – Complete Obedience to God: Example Gideon

Hero Trait 2 – Unwavering Faith in God : Example Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah

Hero Trait 3 – Strong Heart for God : Example David

Heroes of the Faith Part IV – Unstoppable Worshipper

Hero Trait 4
- A hero of the faith shows a pattern in scripture to be an unstoppable worshipper.
- Unstoppable worshipper is a person that worships the God of the Bible at all times.
- They could be down, depressed, defeated, discouraged, and dismayed and still worship.

I) What is worship?

Scripture Context:
Romans 12:1 - Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Scripture Reflection:
In this definition of worship
- It’s when you sacrifice your life and die to your flesh – allow God to live through you.
-This behavior please God and anything that pleases God is worship.

II) What is God looking for in a sacrifice?

Scripture Context

Isaiah 1:12-14 – Shows us what God is NOT looking for

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “ I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. 12 “ When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.

Scripture Reflection

- God requires a sacrifice be something of meaning and value – must be something you will miss.
- A sacrifice must be a test proving to God you depend more on Him then your sacrifice.

III) Worshipped Defined

Worship at it most basic definition is love expressed to God.

Love is a verb, Expressed is a verb and God is the subject.
- In other words claiming that you love God isn’t worship
- Expressing that you know God isn’t worship
- The two must go together
- You must express you love to God for it to be worship.

Application Questions:
1) Have you ever claimed to love something or someone and not expressed it?
-Is that really love? Or must love be expressed to fulfill the purpose of love?

2) Have you expressed excitement for something / someone without loving the object?

IV) How do you express your love to God?

Scripture Context:

Deuteronomy 11:1
11"Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always.

Deuteronomy 11:13
'And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you (today), to love the LORD your God and serve (worship) Him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Scripture Reflection:
A pattern throughout scripture show that loving God and obeying God commonly go together.

- Heroes of the Faith have a strict obedience to God to worship Him in good and bad times.
-Only through strict obedience and discipline were they able to worship in the bad times.

Application Question:

- In your low seasons of life will you and do you continue to worship the God of the Bible?
- Are you committed to depending upon God and worshipping Him alone “No Matter What”?

V) What are some character studies we can observe in the Word of God?

A) David following the death of his infant son – 2 Samuel 12:15-20

B) Paul and Silas as they were thrown into the prison – Acts 16:22-25

C) Abraham as God asked him to sacrifice Isaac – Genesis 22:5

D) Job after he lost everything he had righteously worked for – Job 1:14-20

IV) What is the result of authentic and unstoppable worship?
- Prayer and Worship is the weapons of our warfare.
-It unlocks the power of God to fight our battles in the spiritual realm
-It weakens the power of the enemy in our lives

- Prayer and Worship in the midst of problems brings restoration and breakthrough.
- David was restored and his kingdom flourished
- Paul and Silas were supernaturally set free from prison
- Abraham was given a substitutionary sacrifice for Isaac
- Job had everything restored but even greater than before the tragedy
- Job 42:10-17

- Application Question:
1) Do you worship God in your down season of life?
- If not, consider putting on the

“Garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”. Isaiah 61:3
- Expect great restoration and breakthroughs in your life

Traits of Heroes of the Faith
Hero Trait 1 – Complete Obedience to God: Example Gideon

Hero Trait 2 – Unwavering Faith in God : Example Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah

Hero Trait 3 – Strong Heart for God : Example David
Hero Trait 4- Unstoppable worship to God: Example Job

2009-06-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

Heroes of the Faith pt III – Strong Heart

Overall Theme
God uses ordinary people in their weakness to gain extraordinary victory in God’s strength.

Overall Scripture Challenge
Ezekiel 22:30
...I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

Scripture Reflection
Would God find any man in this generation with complete obedience, unwavering faith and a heart that was after God’s own heart? Do you possess these attributes? If so, you will become a Hero of the faith.

Series Review
Hero Trait 1 – Complete Obedience to God : Example Gideon
Hero Trait 2 – Unwavering Faith in God : Example Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah
Hero Trait 3 – Strong Heart for God : Example David

David had a heart that was after God’s own heart...what exactly does that mean?

1 Kings 11:4
God said Solomon’s heart was "not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David."

1 Kings 14:8
God said David "followed me with all his heart."

1 Kings 15:3
The Bible said Jeroboam’s "heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been."

1 Samuel 13:14
The Bible says after Saul’s failure, God had "sought Him a man after His own heart."

Acts 13:22
God said, "I have found David … a man after My own heart."

A heart like David pursues and defends God with unrelenting conviction.
- David would not back down to even a 9’9” giant when his God was being defiled.

Application Question: Does your heart call you to action when your God is being defiled?

Scripture Context:

1 Samuel 16:6-13
6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him!” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Principle #1
God uses ordinary men because He doesn’t look at your natural abilities but He looks at your obedience of your heart.

David was another very average, ordinary young man
- We see his own father Jesse even forgets to invite him to the meeting with Samuel vs11

Application:
Do you feel like your average at best?
Is your heart fully devoted to living in obedience to God like David’s heart was?
If your answer is “yes” then you’re on your way to becoming a “Hero of the faith”.
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1 Samuel 17:10-11,23-24,26
10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid...23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Principle #2
The content of what’s in your heart will be exposed when the battles of life begin

- The contrast of the heart of a “zero” of the faith and a “hero” of the faith
- Saul (a zero of the faith) and the army of Israel had hearts that were stirred with fear and defeat
– They ran away and hid themselves from the words of the giant

- David (a hero of the faith) heart was stirred to the action of confidence and victory
- He stood his ground and listened to the lies of the enemy
- We must hear our enemy so we know how to fight and defeat the enemy

Application:
What is in the content of your heart? When your God is being defiled does your heart move you to action?
What actions are you stirred to go and do?
Do you listen and hear the lies of your enemies?
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Principle #3
A hero of the faith such as David doesn’t size up his enemy based on the stature of the flesh but on the stature of his spirit. vs 26

Application:
When you face the giant issues / enemies in your life do you size it up by its physical stature?
What does the Word of God say you’re fighting?
Flesh / physical enemies or Spiritual enemies?

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

If you believe this passage is correct and the Holy Spirit / the power of God is living inside of you – who can defeat you?

_________________________________________________________

Principle #4
When you receive a call / vision / burden from God expect the critics to try to discourage you
- Many times the critics will be from your own “home team”

1 Samuel 17:28-33
28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” 29 And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” 30 Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did. 31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

Application:
1) Listen to your critics if you are attempting to “rush” into your calling
2) However if you have allowed yourself to go through the process of maturity
- the process will make you credible for your call.
- see principle #5
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Principle #5
There is a process that all must go through in order to launch you from your calling to your commission.

- In the story David was called and anointed to be King of Israel.
- He didn’t take the role until he humbly went through the process that moved him into his commission
- A Synonym for commission is custom-made. You must be custom-made to fulfill your calling
- It will take wisdom, knowledge and experience to have victory in your calling
- The process must be given time in order for you to develop

1 Samuel 17:33-38
33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

Application:
The process as difficult and humbling it may be will make you credible to fulfill your calling.

- When your preparation meets a Godly opportunity you will move from your calling to your commission.

- If David hadn’t remained a shepherd after he was anointed / called to be King of Israel
- He would have never received the wisdom, knowledge, experience to fulfill his calling

- Are you willing to endure the process of waiting for God to mature you in order that you can
effectively go from your calling to your commission?

- Are you willing to serve in a less important position for a time in order to gain the experience needed to become all that God wants you to become?