Wired

for

Worship

Wired for Worship (February 13th, 2005)

Generally, each message is a part of a series, that deals with applying the Bible to real-life issues.  Don't worry if you've missed part of a series.  Each Sunday will work together with the other messages, or can stand alone to help you deal with the things life brings each day.

Style vs. Substance (February 20th, 2005)

110 Hours of Worship (February 27th, 2005)

where nobody stands alone

The Ultimate Introduction (March 6th, 2005)

The Ultimate Introduction:  Elohim is not Allah (March 6th, 2005)

The Finest Hour (March 13th, 2005)

A year or so ago I had the opportunity to go to a POD concert.  I had run into some people that I knew there and they were surprised to see me.  I almost wanted to say that “Yeah, pastors listen to music too” During the concert I looked around the stadium and made an observation known to my friends that were with me.  The people at the concert were all standing up singing all the lyrics, some had their hands raised, and some were swaying to some of the music.  I thought to myself and told my friends, “Look! This is what worship ought to look like.  They are truly doing it!!!”  These people had worship down. At the same time something else occurred to me.  Although they were worshipping, they were worshipping the wrong thing.  The lyrics, the band, the music, etc. They had great forms of expressions, but their focus was all messed up. We do that same thing.  We focus on our house, car, jobs and even ourselves.  We all worship something.  But many of us who claim to be Christ followers do not worship with enthusiasm, intensity, and regularity.  We believe that it should be only contained in a hour period during the week. Every aspect of our lives is supposed to be about worship focused on God. Today we begin the 5 part message series Wired for Worship This message series will help us learn how to extend our weekend worship into the rest of the week, through the power of God’s Spirit – into everything we do, say , touch, and feel. That means that we are to Wire ourselves up for worship. Many of us are wired different ways: Video Illustration:  Napolean Dynamite (36:29 – 37: 55) Uncle Rico is wired up as a natural salesman and Kip is not wired up that way.  Does this mean that Kip can’t earn a living?  No. It simply means that he must do it in another way. a. Epiphany DNA - vision portion i. There is a hunger in this county for creativity.  There are people that are out there that are not connecting to any church because their artistic nature is stipened when they try to worship.  I envision a place that embraces creativity ... This is one of our reasons of existence.  This is part of our Epiphany DNA code. ii. Why are we here? - Tell about someone that needs a place like epiphany As we go through today’s message, don’t worry about how this person worships, or this one, only focus on how God has wired you up to worship him and DO IT. Message Series:  Wired for Worship Title:  Wiring up for Worship Luke 19:1 - 10 (NAS) He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."  6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. 7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.  10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."  Transition:  Zaccheus had a hunger problem Zaccheus had a hunger to see, be healed, and to fellowship with Jesus. Zaccheus had a need to connect with Jesus. II. To love God you must be hungry for worship a. Zacchaeus was wealthy but he was not happy. i. Inevitably he was lonely, for he had chosen a way that made him an outcast. ii. He had heard of this Jesus who welcomed tax-collectors and sinners, and he wondered if he would have any word for him. iii. Despised and hated by men, Zacchaeus was reaching after the love of God. b. The Psalmist writes about his need for God is likened to our desparation for water or food i. Ps 42:1-3 1. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they  say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" ii. The Psalmist is in utter torment without God because his need is so strong. c. Our need to focus on God should be as authentic as the hunger within our bones i. There needs to be an authentic, pure hunger. 1. It is fitting seeing that his name meant that. a. The name Zaccheus is Hebrew. i. The Hebrew name properly means "pure," and is the same as Zacchai in Ezr 2:9; Ne 7:14. - Barnes' Notes b. He was a pagan - because he had engaged in a business so infamous, in the eyes of the Jews, he was considered as a mere pagan, Lk 19:7. - Adam Clarke's Commentary ii. This desire / hunger is what made him different from the rest of the crowd. 1. I find it interesting that the bible just says crowd, it doesn’t talk about believer or non believer iii. You know that while Jesus was in Jericho, there had to be believer’s within the crowd, but they weren’t focused on? 1. No other person is documented with having this hunger, only a pagan. 2. There was a man with a hunger to see Christ that no other man at that time had. a. His insatiable hunger made Zaccheus different from the rest of the crowd, that is why he broke away. 3. So what was their problem? a. Some people have a distance problem b. Illustration i. Pluto – farthest planet – it is cold there because it is farthest away from the sun. ii. Mercury – closest planet – it is hot there because it is so close to the sun. iii. Some Christians are Pluto Christians 1. They are cold. 2. They do not have the hunger for the Holy Spirit, nor do they understand it. 3. They are in the orbit, but just far away. iv. and some are Mercury Christians. 1. They are hot. 2. We always ask:  Why are they so excited?  What’s wrong with them. v. Most of us do not live on Pluto nor on Mercury. 1. We live on Earth – where it gets hot and cold. c. They’d become so enamored with the miracles of Jesus that they lost sight of th emission of Jesus, the mission He articulated right there in a tax collector’s living room:  “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (v.10) 4. When we are involved with something good for sometime, we loose sight. a. We as believer’s get so used to seeing the Savior that sometime we loose sight of needing the Savior. Transition:  The desire and hunger for worship comes from within, so the act of worship itself must be something that is intrisically motivated and not manufactured. III. Authentic Worship and love of God cannot be manufactured, it is from within a. Worship begins with a hunger from your soul, so it is necessary that worship begins with your inner desire to connect with Him. b. Zaccheus’s desire to connect with the Lord was internally motivated. i. Nobody was pushing him toward Jesus ii. He had the drive of Lance Armstrong to “get r dun” iii. You need that kind of motivation to drive you to worship through the good times and the bad times. c. Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus, and would let nothing stop him. i. The act of mingling with the crowd at all was a courageous thing to do, for many people would have taken the chance to get a nudge, or kick, or push at the little tax-collector. 1. It was an opportunity not to be missed. ii. Zacchaeus would be black and blue with bruises that day. 1. He knew this, but his inner need was so strong that he was willing to sacrifice anything external to fill that gap. a. This desire was not something that Zaccheus could manufacture it was an internal need to connect with God. iii. When someone places idols in their life it attempts to manifests itself in an internal way. 1. We have to be passionate about something.  If we are not worshipping God, then we will be worshipping something else. a. Since the hunger that we should have for worship is internal, so should be the worship.  It is a heart thing. 2. 1 Cointhians 6:20 a. 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. d. What is worship? i. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary - Worship is the act of paying honor to a deity; religious reverence and homage. ii. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dicationary - The English word worship comes from the Old English word worthship, a word which denotes the worthiness of the one receiving the special honor or devotion. e. how worthy does your heart, inner being see God? i. Worship first begins when you believe with all of your heart and being that He is worthy to be worshipped. ii. However you worship Him displays how worthy is in your life. IV. To love God, we have to declare war over our worship a. How can someone go to church 52 Sundays a year, pray and read their bible 465 days of the year, listen to Christian music, etc. and still feel dry in their relationship with God? b. There is an idol in the midst. i. Idolatry is worshiping anything that ought to be used, or using anything that ought to be worshiped. Augustine ii. Isaiah 2: 8 1. Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. c. Zaccheus would not allow his stature, public position, or idols (wealth) get in the way. i. He removed the pride, stature and possible humiliation that could get in his way of worship. ii. We need to remove those things that are cluttering up our lives, those things that make us waste our worship. iii. Hebrews 12: 26 - 29 (NAS) 1. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN." 27 This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire. iv. We have to shake out of our lives, the created things that will get in our way of worshipping God. v. When we remove the shakeable created things then God gives us a promise 1. Isa 54:10 a. 10 "For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,"Says the LORD who has compassion on you. V. Invitation a. In The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen retells a tale from ancient India: Four royal brothers decided each to master a special ability. Time went by, and the brothers met to reveal what they had learned. b. "I have mastered a science," said the first, "by which I can take but a bone of some creature and create the flesh that goes with it." c. "I," said the second, "know how to grow that creature's skin and hair if there is flesh on its bones." d. The third said, "I am able to create its limbs if I have flesh, the skin, and the hair." e. "And I," concluded the fourth, "know how to give life to that creature if its form is complete." f. Thereupon the brothers went into the jungle to find a bone so they could demonstrate their specialities. As fate would have it, the bone they found was a lion's. One added flesh to the bone, the second grew hide and hair, the third completed it with matching limbs, and the fourth gave the lion life. Shaking its mane, the ferocious beast arose and jumped on his creators. He killed them all and vanished contentedly into the jungle. g. We too have the capacity to create what can devour us. Goals and dreams can consume us. Possessions and property can turn and destroy us--unless we first seek God's kingdom and righteousness, and allow Him to breathe into what we make of life. Nathan Castens.

Message Series:  Wired for Worship Title:  Style vs. Substance Last week - we are supposed to worship and represent our God 24/7 - but how are we to do it? This Wednesday in Connect Group: Connect Group passage focus:  John 4: 4 - 26 (NAS) Jn 4:23-24 23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." We are to worship Him  in spirit and truth - emotions, feelings, authenticity and validation, sound doctrine thesis:  We need to remember it is not the expression of worship that matters it is the substance of your worship.  Let us consider Haggai (a minor prophet, whose prophetical sermons are found near the end of the OT) Who is Haggai 1.He commenced prophecies in the time of the second year of the Persian Monarch Darius Hystaspes 2.  Together with Zechariah he urged the renewal of the building of the temple, which was completed in the 6th year of Darius 516BC. Work on this structure had been started in the second year of Cyrus, late in 536 BC, but had been abandoned because of difficulties and opposition. Haggai’s main prophetical message to the people:  it is time to dwell in the House of the Lord The first prophetic utterance (Hag 1) was preached in August-September 520 BC, Hag 1: 2 - 9 (NAS) 2 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'This people says, "The time has not come, even the time for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt."'" 3 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this houselies desolate?" 5 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, " Consider your ways! 6 "You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is  not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts, " Consider your ways! 8 "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD. 9 "You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house whichlies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. ** Pray v. 2 - the people say it isn’t time to dwell and to build the house of the Lord   In a sense saying, “We will do it later” I. Haggai says, “Don’t wait, it is time to build God’s temple” A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of corn in the road. The former who lived nearby came to investigate. "Hey, Willis," he called out, "forget your troubles for a spell and come on in and have dinner with us. Then I'll help you get the wagon up."  "That's mighty nice of you," Willis answered, "But I don't think Pa would like me to."  "Aw, come on, son!" the farmer insisted.  "Well, okay," the boy finally agreed. "But Pa won't like it."  After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. "I feel a lot better now, but I just know Pa is going to be real upset."  "Don't be foolish!" exclaimed the neighbor. "By the way, where is he?"  "Under the wagon.". Source Unknown. Haggai says, “don’t procrastionate, it is time to build the temple” Due to the hostile opposition from their geographical neighbors, these people felt discouraged, which naturally led them to neglect the temple and thus neglect God.   This is the reason why God refers to them as “This people”   God doesn’t say My people He says This people because they have neglected the service of the Lord They didn’t want to build the temple because of outside opposition   According to their way of discouraged thinking, the time was not appropriate.   Actually, the time was appropriate.   They thought it wasn’t because they discouragely thought they saw some outward circumstance or time factor to be an issue, but in reality the root of the difficulty lay in them.   This is human nature.    When we are discouraged or go through some change, it is typcial to blame everything else.     Ex:  When people decide to leave a church or businesss, it is everybody else that has changed or is in the wrong it is never that one person.   This is what these people were feeling.    when you talked to these people, they displayed an attitude of good intentions, when in reality they are messed up on the inside.   You see they had their tracks covered.  Because they didn’t say that they would not build the temple at all, just not at that moment.    They were attempting to show that they still had the intention of doing it, just at a later time.  By not doing what the Lord had desired at that moment, they were showing the true intent of their heart, which was disobedience. When Haggai prophesied, God was not forcing a style of worship among these people, he was just telling them it was time to get the substance right.    It was time to build and dwell in the house and to quit the silliness. It was time for them to start having the reverential attitude of mind or body or both, combined with adoration, obedience, service., which is the OT idea of worship, which Jn 4: 23 – 24 / Phillipians 3: 3 says can be inspired by God’s Spirit. Application: As the Baylonian exiles and other Jews were being told to rebuild their temple, because they were in a state of need to dwell in the house of the Lord.  We, too, have the same mandate today to build the temple that we have with us.  Many know that the temple of God is considered as our own bodies.  1 Co 3:16-17 16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys thetemple of God, God will destroy him, for thetemple of God is holy, and that is what you are. As the true worship of God is only in the inward heart. How do we build that temple in our lives? You build it by implementing elements of worship in your life to help you focus on the true substance of worship II. You do and buy everything and yet you have nothing v. 3 - 7 - God says that you do all these things (live in your nice comfortable houses and lives, sow much, eat, drink, put on clothing, earn wages), but you still don’t have enough, you have nothing.  --  You put in all this work and yet there is nothing -- Consider your ways.  v. 9 - You have nothing.  You build it up and it falls over, because God blows it away.  It doesn’t belong in God’s people’s houses.  In fact, God’s house is desolate because you ignore it day after day. Over 2,000 years ago a young Greek artist named Timanthes studied under a respected tutor. After several years the teacher's efforts seemed to have paid off when Timanthes painted an exquisite work of art. Unfortunately, he became so enraptured with the painting that he spent days gazing at it. One morning when he arrived to admire his work, he was shocked to find it blotted out with paint. Angry, Timanthes ran to his teacher, who admitted he had destroyed the painting. "I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress. Start again and see if you can do better." Timanthes took his teacher's advice and produced Sacrifice of Iphigenia, which is regarded as one of the finest paintings of antiquity.   Today in the Word, September 2, 1992. These people were getting caught up in living in comfortable houses, sowing much, etc.  while the real progress (the temple of God) lay desolate. We get caught up in the temporary that we miss real progress Even when we think we are doing right:  Don’t get caught in the busyness of ministry but get down to the business of ministry.  Martha and Mary. God doesn’t desire style, He desire substance. philosopher quote Descartes defines substance as follows: "By substance we can only understand that which so exists that it needs nothing else in order to its existence," Think about what in life that is necessary?  That you cannot exit without?  Why is it that it is not your priority? Decartes continues to say, "indeed, only one substance can be conceived as plainly needing nothing else in order to its existence, namely, God; for we plainly perceive that all others cannot exist without God's assistance." God is not asking these people for a style of worship, He is desiring to be the substance of worship.  What is the substance of the worship He is desiring from us? He desires for us to have more of Him.  How can we make this happen?  How can we rebuild our temple? elements of early Christian worship Although the New Testament does not instruct worshipers in a specific procedure to follow in their services, several elements appear regularly in the worship practices of the early church. 1. Prayer apparently had a leading place in Christian worship. The letters of Paul regularly open with references to prayer for fellow-Christians who are instructed to "pray without ceasing" (1 Th 5:17). 2. Praise, either by individuals or in hymns sung in common, reflects the frequent use of psalms in the synagogue. Also, possible fragments of Christian hymns appear scattered through the New Testament (Ac 4:24-30; Eph 5:14; 1 Ti 3:16; Rv 4:8,11; 5:9-10,12-13). 3. Lessons from the Bible to be read and studied were another part of the worship procedure of the New Testament church. Emphasis was probably given to the messianic prophecies which had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. His teachings also received a prlmary place. 4. Preaching, foretelling of the truth, inspired preaching by one filled with the Holy Spirit, helped build up the church, the body of Christ (Eph. 12:6 ). 5. Contributions were also collected on the first day of each week (1 Co 16:2). Other details about the worship procedures of the early Christians in the New Testament times are spotty. But these elements must have been regularly included in the weekly worship service. How does epiphany get you here?  By our vision Epiphany DNA I envision a place that effectively trains the generational gap of most church by being culturally relevant, innovative, and authentic.  This place will need to stop talking about helping people off of drugs, but be the leading drug rehabilitation centers north of Nashville.  This place will need to stop talking about how they are for helping people in foreign lands, but start training people to lead foreign lands to Christ.  This place will not reach the leaders of tomorrow, but will be the leaders of today. III.  The answer - rebuild the temple - reinvent yourself v. 8 - The answer - rebuild the temple that God has in your life.  God will be pleased and will be glorified through it. How can you reinvent yourself, so that you can rebuild the temple that God has made you to be? By understanding that your purpose in life is to become intensly passionate about mirroring the majesty of our Maker in everything we do and everything we say. Have you ever wondered why you seem so unbalanced, or just messed up in life? Things never happen your way and it seems that your focus is off? 3 types of mandated worship to get your focus back on - to get your game back on (How to reinvent yourself): 1. Private Worship, otherwise called secret prayer, is between the individual and his Maker. It is specifically enjoined by our Lord (Mt 6:6), and is essential to the maintenance of spiritual life in the soul of the believer. See CLOSET. The lately discovered Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (§ 8) enjoins the use of the Lord's Prayer "three times a day," evidently for private devotion. See LORD'S PRAYER WORSHIP Private worship should be conducted with, (1) reverence and veneration; (2) self-abasement and confession; (3) contemplation of the perfections and promises of God; (4) supplication for ourselves and others; (5) earnest desire of the enjoyment of God; (6) frequency and regularity. See DEVOTION. 2. Family Worship, i.e., regular domestic prayer. This is obviously called for in order to the proper religious conduct of the Christian household and its obligation is enforced by nearly every branch of evangelical Christendom. Acts 1: 13 - 14; 12: 12 3. Public Worship, i.e., religious services conducted in the general congregation. Some who have acknowledged the propriety of private worship have objected to that of a public nature, but without any sufficient ground. For Christ attended public worship himself (Lk 4); he prayed with his disciples (Lk 9:28,29; 11:1); he promises his presence to social worshippers (Mt 18:20). It may be argued also from the conduct of the apostles (Ac 1:24; 2; 4:24; 6:4; 20:36; Ro 15:30; 1 Co 14:1; 2 Th 3:1,2; 1 Co 11:1) and from general principles (Dt 31:12; Ps 100:4 1 Ti 2:2,8; Heb 10:25). Public worship therefore is of great utility, as (1) it gives Christians an opportunity of openly professing their faith in and love to Christ; (2) it preserves a sense of religion in the mind, without which society could not well exist; (3) it enlivens devotion and promotes zeal; (4) it is the means of receiving instruction and consolation; (5) it affords an excellent example to others, and excites them to fear God, etc. How public worship should be conducted (1) solemn, not light and trifling (Ps 89:7); (2) simple, not pompous and ceremonial (Isa 62:2); (3) cheerful, and not with forbidding aspect (Ps 100); (4) sincere, and not hypocritical (Isa 1:12; Mt 23:13; Jn 4:24); (5) pure, and not superstitious (Isa 57:15). People have different styles of worship that may not make any sense to you; but it is the substance that matters. (mosaic art calouge experience) Epiphany DNA – embracing creativity. The way that your wife or neighbor worships may not be the same way that you worship. Start forming the art calouge When all of God’s family put all their different styles together, then you can see the bigger picture. It is not about the individual style of worship, it is the substance of our worship that matters. IV.  Invitation If you are tired of the fluff of religion, then make a difference.  Proclaim your difference today.

Wired for Worship message series Title:  110 hours of worship Play iWorship music worship sing a long video: Come now it’s the time to Worship Read Luke 14: 16 – 24 (NAS) 16 But He said to him, "A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; 17 and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, `Come; for everything is ready now.' 18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, `I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.' 19 "Another one said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.' 20 "Another one said, `I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.' 21 "And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, `Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22 "And the slave said, `Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 "And the master said to the slave, `Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 `For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.' " - He has called us to feast with Him **Pray 10 Reasons Why You Might Want To Sign Off and Read a Book. – read these from the bottom up. 1. Tech support calls YOU for help. 2. You forgot how to work the TV remote control. 3. You fall asleep, but instead of dreams you get IMs. 4. You meet the mailman at the curb and swear he said YOU'VE GOT MAIL. 5. You sign off and your screen says you were on for 3 days and 45 minutes. 6. You see something funny and scream, "LOL, LOL." 7. A friend calls and says, "How are you? Your phones have been busy" -- for a year! 8. You buy a laptop and a cell phone so you can have AOL in your car. 9. You beg your friends to get an account so you can "hang out." 10. You get a second phone line just to call out for pizza. For me, it is easy to get caught up in technology. It is easy to get immersed into life’s pleasures or entrapments God desires for us to get immersed into Him. Today He is calling us to the dinner table. I. You are created to worship constantly a. We are invited to feast constantly (v. 16 – 17 a slave was sent to declare the invitation) "Fellowship is heaven, and lack of fellowship is hell; fellowship is life, and lack of fellowship is death; and the deeds that ye do upon the earth, it is for fellowship's sake that ye do them." – William Morris a. The slave comes to invite us to eat i. Who invites us to eat? 1. The Master invites us to feast ii. The one that invites makes a difference 1. Dr. Suess quote a. "If I were invited to a dinner party with my characters, I wouldn't show up." Dr. Seuss 2. When the Master, the one who sustains, invites us then it is possible and necessary to connect and worship Him at all times. b. It is difficult to worship when things are bad i. In photography, the best work happens in the darkroom. 1. When the lights are out, that where the real development occurs. 2. That is where the negatives turn to positives ii. God so often brings our lives into the darkroom. 1. Why? a. Because He desires our worship. 2. Worship comes so easy when it’s high noon in your life and the sun of circumstances is shining brightly a. When your health is good b. The money’s flowing c. Relationships are smooth and rewarding 3. But in the darkroom of pain, problems and pressures, that’s a different story c. If you are still not relating then step with me into a dungeon of darkness i. Acts 16 – Paul and Silas were at the end of a bad day. 1. Proclaiming the gospel Phillipi had gotten them thrown into the “inner prison”, known as a dungeon. a. These places weren’t pretty i. They were dark, dreary, and dirty b. The ritual for the prisoner i. Legs and feet fastened and spread into the stocks. ii. They couldn’t move or go anywhere 2. But what do we find these men doing? a. Acts 16: 25 (NAS) i. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; b. They were worshipping and rejoicing ii. When you are having a breakthrough in life it is easy to praise Him. 1. But spiritually, emotionally and psychologically, the darkness of midnight can come for us at any time. a. Midnight is i. When your discouraged 1. depressed ii. when things have collapsed and there is no way out iii. when you’re expecting God to do one thing and He does something else that you don’t like iv. when you’re trying to do right and everything goes wrong b. Midnight is when you’ve got what you don’g want, or you want what you don’t have. c. Midnight is when there’s no sunshine. i. There’s no light to encourage you. 2. Nobody escapes midnight, no matter how good and spiritual you are. a. John 16: 33 (NAS) i. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, b. Paul was a great apostle, but afflicted in every way i. 2 Corinthians 4: 8 3. It was midnight for Paul and Silas – but they had God’s song rising up from within them, as a prayer to the God of life.  When things grew dark, their praise grew as well. iii. WARNING:  if you aren’t used to praising at daylight, it is going to be rough trying to come up with something at midnight! 1. Tony Evans quote a. If you don’t know how to reach heaven when things are good, it is for sure going to seem an impossible distance away when things are bad. 2. You don’t want to be separated from God a. Billy Graham quote i. "The only thing I could say for sure is that hell means separation from God. We are separated from his light, from his fellowship. That is going to be hell." II. Worship constantly in everyday life a. How are we to feast constantly (How do we partake constantly) b. Don’t make excuses (v. 18 – 20 – those invited made excuses why they couldn’t come there are going to be those that make excuses about not coming to church. i. 18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, `I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.' 19 "Another one said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.' 20 "Another one said, `I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.' 1. Some will make excuses why they never want to be part of the church ii. Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, outfielder for the Atlanta Braves and cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons, is the only athlete to have hit a Major League home run and scored an NFL touchdown in the same week. Sanders grew up on the mean streets of Fort Myers, Fla., where exposure to some would-be athletes spurred him to make a success of himself. He explains: "I call them Idas. 'If I'da done this, I'd be making three million today...If I'da practiced a little harder, I'd be a superstar.' They were as fast as me when they were kids, but instead of working for their dreams they chose drugs and a life of street corners. When I was young, I had practice; my friends who didn't went straight to the streets and never left. That moment after school is the moment we need to grab. We don't need any more Idas.  - Mike Lupica in Esquire. iii. Albert Camus quote (French novelist, essayist, playwright, winner 1957 Nobel prize for literature) 1. "The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as (malicious behavior) if they lack understanding." iv. It is human nature to seek out excuses, but just think if what would be of this world if a certain select would have chosen excuses over the challenges. *When God Sends People......They Make Excuses * "Moses stuttered. David’s armor didn’t fit. John Mark was rejected by Paul. Timothy had ulcers. Hosea’s wife was a prostitute (so was David’s great-great-grandmother). Amos’ only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning. Jacob was a liar (so were Abraham and Isaac). David had an affair. Solomon was too rich. Jesus was too poor. Abraham was too old. David was too young. Peter was afraid of death. Lazarus was dead. John was self-righteous. Naomi was a widow. Paul was a murderer. So was Moses (so was David). Jonah ran from God. Miriam was a gossip. Gideon and Thomas both doubted. Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal. Elijah was burned out. John the Baptist was a loudmouth. Martha was a worry-wart. Mary, her sister, was lazy. Samson had long hair. Noah got drunk. Did I mention Moses had a short fuse? So did Peter, Paul – well, lots of folks did." c. Repent so you can worship i. Jeremiah 7: 2 – 3 (NAS) 1. 2 "Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house and proclaim there this word and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!' " 3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. ii. The movie series Back to the Future is a story about Marty McFly and time travel. 1. The plot is stirred by his intolerance of being called “chicken”.  His whole future can be in shambles because of the bad decisions made when called “chicken” 2. One aspect in our life can dictate the rest of our life. 3. God says repent of the sins, so that you can worship Him. III. Declare the message of your worship a. The servant is sent to declare the message of his Master b. We see 2 things i. Action of the slave 1. v. 21a – the slave reported 2. v. 21a – 22 – the slave is commanded to invite those off of the street and He does 3. You may be one that is discouraged about others making excuses, but have you ever thought that if you spent that time discouraged and spent that time working for the kingdom (inviting people to fellowship, sharing your testimony, praying for others), then you may not have time to be discouraged. a. Jesus had some that were his own disciples that followed him and then had an issue of understanding a current issue / vision, so they left him to never return or follow Him.) 4. Fisherman – when they quit fishing they throw rocks. ii. The Message itself 1. v. 22 – 23 – there is still room for more to be invited 2. Epiphany DNA a. A church declaring the message of interracial equality b. Where nobody stands alone, there is always more room for more people. c. When you worship it brings about three alterations in life i. Worshipping God in the darkness will change you 1. Example a. The Psalms are full of misery and agony b. When the Psalmist admits the difficulties, they begin to praise God. c. Then they begin to bless God because they are focused on Him ii. It will change your circumstances 1. Acts 16: 26a (NAS) a. 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; All Paul and Silas did was get into their worship zone and their world started shaking b. God can make the doors fly open and the chains fall off in your life. c. Paul and Silas did not have the physical keys to unlock them, but they had the spiritual keys of prayer and praise, and that was enough to trigger a change. iii. It will change others 1. Other people always wants to know what you are going to do at midnight 2. The other prisoners who heard Paul and Silas sing were in jail too. 3. Acts 16: 26b (NAS) a. and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 4. But only two guys there really knew what to do with midnight, and got their praise on.  Only two. 5. Paul and Silas’s praise was overflow praise -  its effects flowed over beyond them and became a blessing to everyone who’d been listening d. You are what you worship i. Psalm 135: 15 – 18 (NAS) 1. 15 The idols of the nations are {but} silver and gold, The work of man's hands. 16 They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; 17 They have ears, but they do not hear, Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths. 18 Those who make them will be like them, {Yes,} everyone who trusts in them. IV. Invitation a. v. 24 – those that deny the invite will not feast b. V. 16 – 17 – a slave made the declaration i. It is time to eat. Start playing the iWorship video: Here I am to worship – play it twice, then play, if needed, Let the River Flow ii. Who hear wants to come to the dinner table? iii. It is time to worship iv. Tony Evans quote 1. It’s been said that the words and value of your Christian faith is like a tea bag – you only see how strong it is when it’s placed in hot water.

Wired for Worship message series Exodus 3: 13 – 15 (NAS) 13 Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " 15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. Today we’ll be looking at the Ultimate Introduction ** Pray I. To connect with God you need to know His titles (v. 14a) a. What are the titles of God that discloses his nature? b. To worship Him, we must know that of which we worship. c. God’s character is the basis for our boldness in making requests in prayer. i. God answers the prayers that acknowledge who He is! d. God’s name is YHWH, all others are just titles. i. Yahweh (YHWH): Used 6828 time sin the O.T related to the verb To Be. 1.  This shows that this name stresses God as the independent and self-existent God of revelation and redemption a. Gen. 4:3; Ex. 6:3 (cf. 3:14); 3:12). 2. Compounds of Yahweh. When saying these, put your hands to your face and holla – “Yes sah!” a. Yahweh Jireh (Yireh): “The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people i. Gen. 22:14 ii. Used only once in the O.T. iii. God asked Abraham to offer his only son as a human sacrifice iv. The pagan nations around them practiced human sacrifice regularly. v. God was in essence asking Abraham, “Is your love for me, the ture God as great as their love for their false gods?” vi. Abraham was willing to surrender his son, not fully understanding, but fully trusting. 1. What about you? b. Yahweh Nissi: “The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people i. Ex. 17:15 ii. The Israelites had just exited from Egypt when they encountered the Amelekites. iii. They weren’t ready for battle, but God told Moses to fight them. iv. Moses went up on a mountain to pray while Joshua led the battle. v. The more Moses prayed, the better the Israelites did. vi. Israel’s source of victory, Israel’s banner, was her great God. vii. God fought on her behalf, and He does the same today, fighting on behalf on His people, winning their battles for them. c. Yahweh Shalom: “The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest i. Jud. 6:24 (NAS) 1. 22 When Gideon saw that he was the angel of the LORD, he said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face." 23 The LORD said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die." 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. d. Yahweh Sabbaoth: “The Lord of Hosts.” A military figure portraying the Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven. i. Yahweh who rules the hosts of heaven, is able to mobilize them in an instant on behalf of his child. 1. He is your guardian, protector. 2. There is no battle you face that is overwhelming for Him and His hosts. 3. Psalm 24: 8 – 10 (NAS) a. 8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift {them} up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah. e. Yahweh Maccaddeshcem: “The Lord your Sanctifier.” i. Portrays the Lord as our means of sanctification or as the one who sets believers apart for His purposes 1. Ex. 31:13 f. Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd.” i. Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture ii. Ps. 23:1 iii. A shepherd smells like the sheep, because He dwells with them. g. Yahweh Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness.” i. Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness ii. Jer. 23:6 (NAS) 1. 6 "In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, 'The LORD our righteousness.' h. Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” i. Portrays the Lord’s personal presence in the millennial kingdom 1. Ezek. 48:35 i. Yahweh El Gemolah: “The Lord of Recompense i. Jeremiah 51: 56 j. Yahweh Nakeh: “The God who Smites” i. Ezekiel 7: 9 k. Yahweh Rophe: “The God Who Heals i. Exodus 15: 22 – 26 YHWH is the I AM Helen Malicoat  wrote:  I was regretting the past And fearing the future... Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “MY NAME IS I AM.” He paused. I waited. He continued, “When you live in the past, With its mistakes and regrets, It is hard. My name is not I was. “When you live in the future, with its problems and fears, it is hard. My name is not I will be. “When you live in this moment, It is not hard. I am here. My name is I am.” ii. Elohim: The plural form of EL, meaning “strong one,” when used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and intimates the trinity. 1. Isa. 54:5; Jer. 32:27; Gen. 1:1; Isa. 45:18; Deut. 5:23; 8:15; Ps. 68:7. 2. 3 Compounds of El: a. El Shaddai: “God Almighty.” The derivation is uncertain. Some think it stresses God’s loving supply and comfort; others His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ex. 6:31; Ps. 91:1, 2). b. El Elyon: “The Most High God.” Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy (Gen. 14:19; Ps. 9:2; Dan. 7:18, 22, 25). c. El Olam: “The Everlasting God.” Emphasizes God’s unchangeableness and is connected with His inexhaustibleness (Gen. 16:13). d. El Roi: The God Who Sees i. Only used once in the Bible, Genesis 16:13, on the lips of Hagar. ii. Just like Hagar, God sees your heartache. iii. God sees your struggles with your disobedient child. God sees your iii. Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” 1. Gen. 18:2; 40:1; 1 Sam. 1:15; Ex. 21:1-6; Josh. 5:14 2. occurs 449 times in the O.T. 3. emphasizes the servant/master relationship, and suggests God’s authority as Master; one who possesses absolute authority a. The Master, Lord has the right to expect obedience b. The slave may expect provision iv. Theos: Greek word translated “God.” Primary name for God used in the New Testament, and used to point to Christ’s deity (John 1:1, 18; 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Tit. 2:13; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1.) 1.  Its use teaches: a. He is the only true God (Matt. 23:9; Rom. 3:30) b. He is unique (1 Tim. 1:17; John 17:3; Rev. 15:4; 16:27) c. He is transcendent (Acts 17:24; Heb. 3:4; Rev. 10:6) d. He is the Savior (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10). v. Kurios : Greek word translated “Lord.” Stresses authority and supremacy. vi. Despotes: Greek word translated “Master.” Carries the idea of ownership while kurios stressed supreme authority (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4) vii. Father:  Father is used of God in the Old Testament only 15 times while it is used of God 245 times in the New Testament. 1. As a name of God, it stresses God’s loving care, provision, discipline, and the way we are to address God in prayer 2. (Matt. 7:11; Jam. 1:17; Heb. 12:5-11; John 15:16; 16:23; Eph. 2:18; 3:15; 1 Thess. 3:11). 3. He is not only transcendent, He is immanent. a. A personal Father that cares. e. Names / Titles, the way you call on someone is important. i. When I first got married I hollered, Hey You … Woman … 1. By the time I got around to calling her name, Stephanie, it wasn’t enough. 2. I had to call her by a term of endearment to get her attention. II. Depend on Him, because He will never change (v. 15) a. 15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. b. His nature and name is unchangeable.  It is constant c. "The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays." – Soren Kierkegaard i. We are the ones that change and need to. d. God is unchanging. i. This means that the qualities of God that are found in the titles of his name are constant. ii. We can rely that they will always be there and God will never be any different. iii. A few verses about His consistency 1. Micah 7: 8 (NAS) Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. 2. Hebrews 13: 8 (NAS)   Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. 3. Malachi 3: 6 (NAS) 6 "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. 4. Psalm 102: 25 -2 7 (NAS) 25 "Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 "Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. 27 "But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end. 5. Jeremiah 31: 3 3 The LORD appeared to him from afar, {saying,} "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. iv. We can also note 1. God’s word will never change Isaiah 40: 8 a. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. 2. God’s purpose for my life will never change Romans 11: 29 a. 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. e. Since He is unchangeable we can for sure know i. YHWH is not Allah III. Introduce Him, because He will not change (v. 14b) a. We have to introduce Him b. Today we have seen two things i. We have seen how to specifically pray to Him ii. We have seen that He doesn’t change c. He is the ultimate introduction i. Today there are 2 ways to apply this in our lives 1. we have to believe it 2. We have to live it a. We live it by investing in the lives of Jesus by sharing our story of Jesus. b. We are to fulfill Jesus’ last words i. That’s the ultimate introduction ii. The everyday commission 1. “While you are going”

Part - 1 For the last one year I am working among Muslims and I heard them say, "we believe in the same Yahweh God whom Abraham served who was the God of Moses." In other words, Allah is the same God of the Bible. It is surprising to hear this but most of the Muslims think that Allah is the same God of the Bible but is it reality? Let us see a few qualities of God of the Bible and of Allah. God of the Bible is triune God Let us start from Genesis. God of the Bible showed the quality of triune God in the whole Bible. Many think that Trinity came only after 365 A.D. But it is not truth. If we want to see the history of trinity we should turn to the first chapter of the Bible where we read in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:2, "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." Genesis 1:3, "Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." In the very first verse we see God of the Bible and in second verse we see the Spirit of God and in the third verse we see that God spoke or Word of God i.e. Jesus. And what is trinity? 1. God, 2. Word of God (Jesus) 3. Spirit of God (Holy Spirit). But when we read in Quran we see that Allah is not a triune god. God of the Bible gives Salvation and Eternal life: Again go back to Genesis. God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden of Eden. Everything was nice and beautiful but when we read the 3rd chapter of Genesis we see the fall of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve sinned and lost everything. Their soul died instantaneously, they were separated from God, they were excluded from the garden of Eden. They received the curse of God but does the story end there? No, story goes on and we see that God provided tunics of skin to cover their shame. This passage does not specifically say that God sacrificed animal for the atonement of their sins and provided skin tunic for them. But later we see in the 4th chapter of Genesis that Cain and Abel brought sacrifice to God. And further we read that God gave Laws to Moses for atonement of our sins. And the Bible says in Hebrew 9:22, "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission." And further we read in New Testament that Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins. He took all our sins on the cross to give us eternal life. So we read a specific pattern in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation that we humans are sinners and that God wanted us to save us from our sins. When He saw that animal sacrifice was not sufficient or not a permanent solution for our soul, He came down and gave Himself for us. He shed His precious blood on the cross taking all our sins on the cross. But He rose from the dead and lives forever. And He wants to give us eternal life. But when we look in Quran we can see that Quran denies this. Quran abrogated the message of atonement through sacrifice. Quran abrogated the message of Salvation through blood sacrifice. Quran abrogated the message of the precious death of Jesus on the cross and replaced it with our own good work while we can not earn our salvation by our good works. If we do good then also what is the remedy for our past sins, which we have already committed? If Allah and God of the Bible are the same God then how it is possible that we see a total contradiction in the message of the Bible and the message of the Quran? More than that, Allah did not promise eternal life, forgiveness of sins or salvation of his followers as we read in Al-Imran (The Family of Imran) Sura 3:185, "Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception." This Suras from Quran very clearly says that every soul shall have a taste of death, that is, if a person has to pass through hell fire, then how and why is it possible that he/she can come out of hell fire and go to paradise… no way.. this verse does not say anything about etrnal life. This verse very clearly says that every believer in Allah will be tasting death which means that they did not get the life which Jesus promised – that is eternal life and haven as we read in John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." According to Quran every soul is going to hell fire till the day of judgment which means that they are not reaching heaven. There is no chance to go to heaven once you go to hell fire.. but yes, Jesus cam save you when you are still in this world as He said in John 3:15 "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. How a person can save himself/herself from hell fire when he/she is already in hell fire? And this verse says that they will be there till the time of Day of Judgment. Do you think a person who is already in hell fire will get a seat in heaven after judgment? Judgment is a day when people get their final sentence or verdict. But contrary to it Jesus promised heaven for those who believe on Him as we read in John 5:24, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." God of the Bible is Compassionate God Psalms 86:15, "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." James 5:11, "Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." From Genesis to Revelation we see the God of the Bible as a compassionate God. He is full of compassion. He is a God who hears our cry and sees our tears and wants to wipe away all our tears. He is a God who has compassion for women and Children. Let us go back to Genesis and see one instance from there. We read in Genesis Chapter 16 that Abraham’s wife Sarai was a barren woman. Years and years passed by but she had no children. And it really bothered her. Finally she got an idea and told her husband in Genesis16:2-3, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan." Well, Hagar gave birth to Ishmael and all the problems started. Ishmael and Hagar were sent away by Abraham. Genesis 21:14, "So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba." This is the compassion of a human. Abraham did not even care to provide a shelter for her but just sent her away from her home. I always think how he could do that being a great man of God? Yes, this is the love and compassion of man. It will end one day but there is a God whose compassions fail not. (Lamentations 3:22). Though Hagar’s husband rejected her God did not reject her. God did not say to her, "I have given authority and permission to man that what he wants he can do, if he threw you out, I can not do anything in between." When Hagar saw that the water was used up and when she thought that she has reached to the end of her and her son’s life, she lifted her voice and wept as we read in Genesis 21:15-16, "And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept." Dear friend, you may be in this situation today that you might have reached to the end of your life. Your finances might have dried up. Your hopes might have faded away and you may be at the end of your rope. You may be thinking, "I have reached to the end where there is no hope. Your husband or your wife might have rejected you and thrown you out of your home. But there is a God who hears our cry. His name is Jesus, His name is Elohim, His name is Yahweh the almighty God. When Hagar cried out in great pain and in great sorrow God heard her cry from heaven and answered her cry. And the Bible tells us in Genesis 21:17-19, "And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. "Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation." Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink." Yes, the same God still hears our cry and answers prayer. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. No matter how much impossible may be the situations you maybe facing, He can help you out from all your problems. He is able to make a way out. No matter how much dried may be the situation you are facing, He can breath life in that. Yes, He is a God of compassion who moves with compassion. When Jesus was in this world and when He saw the sick and suffering He was moved with compassion for those and He met their needs. But on the other side if we look at the quality of Allah, we can see that Allah is not compassionate. Quran says to a husband that he can beat his wife in Sura 4:34, "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all)." Not only that Quran also says that men may marry up to four women (some texts say nine; other, an unlimited number) and have sex with an unlimited number of slave girls (Q 4:3). And after all these what is the reward for a woman? Read this: Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet said: "I was shown the Hell-fire and that the majority of its dwellers were women who were ungrateful." It was asked, "Do they disbelieve in Allah?" (or are they ungrateful to Allah?) He replied, "They are ungrateful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors and the good (charitable deeds) done to them. If you have always been good (benevolent) to one of them and then she sees something in you (not of her liking), she will say, 'I have never received any good from you." A woman whose husband can beat her, give her rights to other women by marring more than one woman is going to hell just because she is ungrateful to her husband. But at the same time a man is going to heaven no matter how many girls and wives he has, no matter how cruel he is towards his wife. In many message boards I read the tearful stories of Muslim women who faced hardship from their husband. Most of them wrote that their husbands justified themselves saying that they have the right and permission from Allah to beat and discipline their wives and marry more than one wife. Again this proves that Allah is not the God of the Bible and his qualities are not at all matching with the God of the Bible who is compassionate and who cares for every human being whether they are women or men. There is no difference in His eyes for anybody. God is impartial as we read in Acts 10:34-35, "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." So obviously Allah and Elohim are different Gods and their messages and qualities a

Wired for Worship Message Series A drunk, who smelled of beer, sat down on a subway seat nest to a priest. The man's tie was stained, his face plastered with red lipstick and a half empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn coat pocket.  He opened his newspaper and began reading.  After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked, "Tell me, Father, what causes arthritis?" The priest replied, "My Son, it is caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol and a contempt for your fellow man, sleeping  around with prostitutes and a lack of personal hygiene." The drunk muttered in response, "Well, I'll be darned", and returned to his paper. The priest, thinkg about what he had said, put his hand gently on the man's arm and apologized.  "I'm sorry.  I should not have come on so strong.  How long have you had arthritis?" "I don't have arthritis, Father," the drunk replied.  "I was just reading here that the Pope does." Many people will not go to church, because of the judgemental attitudes, they think that the church has, but God has a different plan. Title:  The Finest Hour The Finest Hour of Worship is the cooperative worship on Sunday morning. Hebrews 10: 24 - 25 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. ** Pray I. God tells us to love each other and do good things for each other. a. That we should consider one another, to provoke to love and to good works. i. Much of history has been determined by personal relationships, especially the “personal” in relationships.  Why did USAmerica drop the atom bomb on Hiroshima and not Kyoto?  Because the Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson had a personal relationship with the city of Kyoto.  He spent his honeymoon there in 1926 and loved the Japenese art and culture.  Although Kyoto was at first designated as the target for the atomic blast, Stimson intervened with President Truman, and Kyoto was spared ii. Leonard Sweet states 1. "the christian faith is built on the multiplicity and complexity of relationships: God to God, God to human, human to human, human to creation, God to creation." - Leonard Sweet, p. 13 - out of the question ... Into the mystery. b. How to love one another i. We need to love one another as if we are loving a little child. 1. When somebody holds a little child it doesn’t matter what that child does, they think it is cute so they over look things. a. A baby blowing bubbles in your face. b. Some people will hold a baby and say “Oh I think its diaper needs to be changed.”  You are right, that baby just messed in your arms and you think it is time to change the diaper!!! c. People spit in our face and mess in our lives and we are to love them despite the fact. ii. Know what love is 1. 1 john 4: 7 a. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 2. to know love you have to know God. 3. when you dont love you are showing the world that you do not know God. iii. Learn that love goes beyond the actions of the other person 1. Proverbs 10: 12 a. Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions iv. Display your love to each other, even when they don't deserve it b/c Christ did the same for us. 1. Matt 5: 44 a. "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 2. If we do not love one another, despite the sins, then we will never accomplish God's dream of this place a. Epiphany DNA i. It is the dream of a place that mobilizes 800 ministering members to encourage, support, love and accept one another.  A place where more and more people show the hurting a place where nobody stands alone. c. One way to specifically do the previously stated i. We are to love one another so much that we need to pray for one another 1. Ephesians 6: 18 (NAS) a. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, d. Transition: a portion of us loving each other, means that we are responsible for being there for one another. II. God says, Don't skip church a. Not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, v. 25. b. Illustration: i. mother teresa once was asked about the worst disease she had ever seen.  Was it leprosy or smallpox?  Was it AIDS or alzheimer's?  "no", she said, "the worst disease I've ever seen is loneliness. ii. God did not create us for loneliness, He created us for community. c. Psalm 55: 14 (NAS) i. We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng. d. It is the will of Christ that his disciples should assemble together, sometimes more privately for conference and prayer, and in public for hearing and joining in all the ordinances of gospel worship. e. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 – The Aposlte Paul writes in such a way that he assumes his readers know to gather together. i. 1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, f. Union is strength; continual assemblings together beget and foster love, and give good opportunities for "provoking to good works," by "exhorting one another" i. Hebrews 3:13 1. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ii. IGNATIUS(early church father)  says, "When ye frequently, and in numbers meet together, the powers of Satan are overthrown, and his mischief is neutralized by your likemindedness in the faith." g. How can we obtain this enviroment of unity? i. Colossians 3: 12 - 15 (NAS) 1. 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. h. Transition: God calls us to be an active part of church, this will allow us to build each other up. III. God says to encourage and command that church people live right. a. To exhort one another, to exhort ourselves and each other, to warn ourselves and one another of the sin and danger of backsliding, to put ourselves and our fellow-christians in mind of our duty, of our failures and corruptions, to watch over one another, and be jealous of ourselves and one another with a godly jealousy. i. matthew 28: 18 - 20 calls alls believers to active ministry, which entitles us as ministers. ii. 2 timothy 4: 2 - all ministers are to exhort. 1. 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 2. How do we exhort? a. titus 1: 9 (NAS) i. 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. 3. The fact is: when we stay in prayer connection with God, He will not only talk to me, but will talk to you through me. a. so when we exhort it must be scripturally sound, by using scripture. i. 2 timothy 4: 2 - 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. iii. family looks out for one another 1. Joshua says that as for me and my house we will serve the lord. a. joshua planned to always look out for his household 2. Jesus from the cross,john 19: 26 – 27 a. when saying the phrase "consider", he is asking them to take care of each other. b. jesus was looking out for his human mother and brother. Invitation Announcements CURTAIN COMING UP ON EASTER Sabrina did good job Psalm 34: 3 (NAS) O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together Worship involves obedience Worship "in truth" connects the heart or spirit of worship with the truth about God and his work of redemption as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. David understood the importance of worshiping in truth and the necessary linkage between "truth" and the Word of God when he wrote, "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear [i.e., worship] your name" (Psalm 86:11; cf. Psalm 145:18). Or the episynagogue of one another; which word is used to distinguish Christian assemblies from Jewish synagogues, and to denote the coalition of Jews and Gentiles in one church state, and to express the saints' gathering together to Christ; see (2 Thessalonians 2:1) and their act of meeting together in some one place to attend his worship, word, and ordinances. Now to "forsake" such assembling, signifies a great infrequency in attending with the saints, a rambling from place to place, and takes in an entire apostasy. It is the duty of saints to assemble together for public worship, on the account of God, who has appointed it, who approves of it, and whose glory is concerned in it; and on the account of the saints themselves, that they may be delighted, refreshed, comforted, instructed, edified, and perfected; and on account of others, that they may be convinced, converted, and brought to the knowledge and faith of Christ; and in imitation of the primitive saints. And an assembling together ought not to be forsaken; for it is a forsaking God, and their own mercies, and such are like to be forsaken of God; nor is it known what is lost hereby; and it is the first outward visible step to apostasy, and often issues in it. JFB 25. assembling of ourselves together--The Greek, "episunagoge," is only found here and 2 Thessalonians 2:1 (the gathering together of the elect to Christ at His coming, Matthew 24:31). The assembling or gathering of ourselves for Christian communion in private and public, is an earnest of our being gathered together to Him at His appearing. Union is strength; continual assemblings together beget and foster love, and give good opportunities for "provoking to good works," by "exhorting one another" (Hebrews 3:13). IGNATIUS says, "When ye frequently, and in numbers meet together, the powers of Satan are overthrown, and his mischief is neutralized by your likemindedness in the faith." To neglect such assemblings together might end in apostasy at last. He avoids the Greek term "sunagoge," as suggesting the Jewish synagogue meetings (compare Revelation 2:9). MHC IV. We have the means prescribed for preventing our apostasy, and promoting our fidelity and perseverance, v. 24, 25, etc. He mentions several; as, 1. That we should consider one another, to provoke to love and to good works. Christians ought to have a tender consideration and concern for one another; they should affectionately consider what their several wants, weaknesses, and temptations are; and they should do this, not to reproach one another, to provoke one another not to anger, but to love and good works, calling upon themselves and one another to love God and Christ more, to love duty and holiness more, to love their brethren in Christ more, and to do all the good offices of Christian affection both to the bodies and the souls of each other. A good example given to others is the best and most effectual provocation to love and good works. 2. Not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, v. 25. It is the will of Christ that his disciples should assemble together, sometimes more privately for conference and prayer, and in public for hearing and joining in all the ordinances of gospel worship. There were in the apostles' times, and should be in every age, Christian assemblies for the worship of God, and for mutual edification. And it seems even in those times there were some who forsook these assemblies, and so began to apostatize from religion itself. The communion of saints is a great help and privilege, and a good means of steadiness and perseverance; hereby their hearts and hands are mutually strengthened. 3. To exhort one another, to exhort ourselves and each other, to warn ourselves and one another of the sin and danger of backsliding, to put ourselves and our fellow-christians in mind of our duty, of our failures and corruptions, to watch over one another, and be jealous of ourselves and one another with a godly jealousy. This, managed with a true gospel spirit, would be the best and most cordial friendship. 4. That we should observe the approaching of times of trial, and be thereby quickened to greater diligence: So much the more, as you see the day approaching. Christians ought to observe the signs of the times, such as God has foretold. There was a day approaching, a terrible day to the Jewish nation, when their city should be destroyed, and the body of the people rejected of God for rejecting Christ. This would be a day of dispersion and temptation to the chosen remnant. Now the apostle puts them upon observing what signs there were of the approach of such a terrible day, and upon being the more constant in meeting together and exhorting one another, that they might be the better prepared for such a day. There is a trying day coming on us all, the day of our death, and we should observe all the signs of its approaching, and improve them to greater watchfulness and diligence in duty. Torrey's Topical Textbook Communion of saints • According to the prayer of Christ John 17:20,21 • IS WITH o God 1 John 1:3 o Saints in heaven Hebrews 12:22-24 o Each other Galatians 2:9; 1 John 1:3,7 • God marks, with his approval Malachi 3:16 • Christ is present in Matthew 18:20 • In public and social worship Psalms 34:3; 55:14; Acts 1:14; Hebrews 10:25 • In the Lord's supper 1 Corinthians 10:17 • In holy conversation Malachi 3:16 • In prayer for each other 2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 6:18 • In exhortation Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 10:25 • In mutual comfort and edification 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11 • In mutual sympathy and kindness Romans 12:15; Ephesians 4:32 • Delight of Psalms 16:3; 42:4; 133:1-3; Romans 15:32 • Exhortation to Ephesians 4:1-3 • Opposed to communion with the wicked 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; Ephesians 5:11 • Exemplified o Jonathan 1 Samuel 23:16 o David Psalms 119:63 o Daniel Daniel 2:17,18 o Apostles Acts 1:14 o The Church Acts 2:42; 5:12 o Paul Acts 20:36-38 March 13th, 2005 9:55 - 10:00 - Worship Awareness Video "This is Your Time" 10:00 - 10: 05 - Praise Song 1 10:05 - 10:10 - Shake Hands 10:10 - 10:15 - Praise Song 2 10: 15 - 10: 20 - Praise Song 3 (Sacrificial Moments) Praise Song 4 10: 20 - 10: 25 - Meditation and Journaling 10: 25 - 10: 30 - Reading 10: 30 - 10: 35 - Group Intercessory 10: 35 - 10: 55 - Relevant Message 10: 55 - 11: 05 - Invitation 11:05 - 11: 10 - Announcements Psalm 103 1 My soul, praise the Lord, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.  2 My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits. Psalm 45: 1My heart is moved by a noble themeas I recite my verses to the king;my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.