rick warren, purpose driven life: section 8

Focusses around Worship

Section 8-14(Pages 63-116)

Purpose 1

Thursday 9 September 2010

You were Planned for God’s Pleasure

Section 8(Pages 63-68)

Purpose 1


The moment you were born into the world, God was there as an unseen witness, smiling at your birth. God did not need to create you, but He chose to create you for His own enjoyment. You exist for His benefit, His glory, His purpose, and His delight. Bringing enjoyment to God, living for His pleasure, is the first purpose of your life.


When you fully understand this truth, you will never again have a problem with feeling insignificant. It proves your worth.

“Because of His love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ He would make us His children—this was His pleasure and purpose.” Eph. 1:5


God has given you the ability to enjoy pleasure - through your senses and emotions.

In this you are made in the image of God.

What emotions can you think of the Bible saying God expresses?


Grieves

Jealous

Angry

Compassion

Sorrow

Sympathy

Happiness

Gladness

Rejoices

Enjoys

Laughs[Gen 6:6; Ex 20:5; Deut. 32:26; Jdg 2:20; 1Ki. 10:9; 1 Chron 16:27; Ps 2:4, 5:5, 18:19, 36:27, 37:23, 103:13; Ezek. 5:13; 1 Jn 4:16]


“The Lord is pleased only with those who worship Him and trust His love.”

Ps. 147:11

Bringing pleasure to God is called worship


Anthropologists have noted that worship is a universal urge, hard-wired by God into the very fiber of our being—an inbuilt need to connect with God. Many people find substitutes to worshipping God.

“The Father seeks worshipers.” Jn. 4:23


Because of our different church background we tend to find different things worshipful, or meaningful as worship.

In fact, anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship.


For many people worship is a synonym for music or singing. This is a big misunderstanding!

Every part of a church service should be worship.

Music is not mentioned until Gen. 4:21 - yet Adam worshipped God

Worship is more than music


Some people say only a particular style of music is worship - “we sing a hymn, then a praise and worship song...”

Just because you don’t like a particular type of musical noise doesn’t mean God doesn’t!

There is no specific biblical worship style - we have some words but no musical notes.


Note to pastor: “I loved the worship today”

Worship is not for your benefit - it is for God’s, we worship to bring God pleasure.

Worship is not for your benefit


“Stale prayers, insincere praise, empty words, man made rituals - God’s heart is not touched by tradition in worship but by passion and commitment”

Rick Warren PDL (p. 66)


The Lord says:

"These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men

Isaiah 29:13


It’s not just church services. We are told to;

“worship Him continually” Ps. 105:4

“praise Him from sunrise to sunset” Ps. 113:3

David said, “I will thank the Lord at all times. My mouth will always praise Him.” Ps. 34:1

Worship is not a part of your life; it is your life


“So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

1 Cor. 10:31

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Col. 3:23


Take every act as something you do for Jesus, work becomes worship in this way:

“Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”

Rom 12:1 (TM)


Point to Ponder:

I was planned for God’s pleasure.


Verse to Remember:

For the LORD takes delight in his people;

he crowns the humble with salvation.

Psalm 149:4


Question to Consider:

What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus?


rick warren, purpose driven life: section 8

Spiritual

people worship

god pleasure

worship section

worship song

act of worship

love god

god doesnt

pleasureto god