A commitment to the great commandment is a commitment to worship.

What is it that God expects and demands more than anything else?

Well according to Jesus it is WORSHIP!

A legalistic lawyer of the law was concerned about the greatest commandment in the law.

His question was an attempt to trap Jesus by discrediting Him causing people to stop following Him.

But the grammar of the question is one of great importance to the growing believer, whether young or a season believer.

What is it that God wants me to do more than anything else?

The Old Testament and New Testament agree that it is worship.

Law and grace agree that it is to worship God.

The Law in Deut. 6:5; 10:12; and 30:6

Jesus reminds us here in the great commandment, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, this is the first and great commandment.”

Why is worship so important in the life of the believer? And why is it the thing that Satan works overtime to keep believers from doing?

Worship is where God pours into us Himself by way of His Spirit to grow us stronger spiritually.

Well, Satan does not want us to grow spiritually, therefore he uses everything at his disposal to keep us from the place of worship.

However, even when those of us press our way to the house of worship, Satan meets us there to distract us from hearing the word of God so that worship can’t take place by the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, Jesus commands us to make a commitment to worship.

 

Commitment to worshipping God.


“Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.”

I.     Worship is expressing our love to God.
II.    Worship is surrendering all of us to God.
III.   Worship is intentionally focusing on God.

Commitment to worship requires total devotion to God.

Commitment to worship requires cognitive decision.

Commitment to worship requires being all in for God.

Commitment to worship requires being sold out for God.

Commitment to worship requires a heartfelt desire to please God.

Jesus says to all of us the most important thing we are to do is to worship Him. Why? Because:

I.    Worship is expressing our love to God.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.”

a.     We are commanded to love God.

Worship is the Gr. word pros-koo-neh-o to express affection. Example: dog greeting his master with a kiss.

b. Worship is verbally telling God, I love you.
c. Worship is physically showing God, I love you.

d. Worship comes from our whole heart.

• With all thy heart

• Heart is the Gr. word kardia, which is the seat of our being.

e. Worshipping God is emotional, because it comes from the affections of our heart.

II.    Worship is surrendering all of us to God.
“Love the Lord thy God with all thy soul.”
Soul is the Gr. word psuche means the life, immaterial.

a.      Commitment to worship is to give God everything that constitute our existing.
b.      Worship is not limited to 10:30 am on Sunday, worship is a daily lifestyle.
c.      Worship is not about what anyone else is doing, but what God is doing inside of you.
d.      Worship is giving God all of me so He can give me all of Him.
e.      Worship is when my spirit connects with the Holy Spirit, and He fills me with Himself

Lastly…

III.   Worship is intentionally focusing on God.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind.”

Mind is the Gr. word dianoia meaning our thought.

a.     Worship is thoughtful not thoughtless.
b.     Worship is to think about God, who He is and what He is doing.
c.    Worship is to be planned but can be spontaneously.

• Acts 3:1 Peter and John planned worship at the temple at the hour of prayer.
• Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas had spontaneous worship in a cold jail cell at midnight.

d.     Mindless worship is not worship at all.

• Worship God with all thy mind is to know what you are doing and why you are doing.

e.     Worship is thinking about God and all of his goodness which leads to greater commitment to worship Him. 

 The Psalmist demonstrated a commitment to worship God!

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands, serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the LORD is good: his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

A commitment to worship is a commitment to love God.

A commitment to worship is a commitment to serve God.

A commitment to worship is a commitment to enter into the presence of God.

A commitment to worship is a commitment to be filled  with the power of God.

A commitment to worship is a commitment to becoming a spiritually healthy church where Christ is seen and heard.