worship

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For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

God despises sin.
Sin is diametrically opposed to God’s plan for the life of people.
Those who love sin and pursue it are not abiding in Christ.

So, why do Christians fail to confront sin?
Why does the church seem to sidestep issues when it is not ‘culturally appropriate?’

Its not comfortable to be confronted for something that I do wrong.
It offends my pride and my self-righteousness.
David’s response was not one of puffed up pride, but one that we should emulate.

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.

The connecting word that David used here was but.

David understood that God hates sin and those who are opposed to his Kingdom.
He also understood that he was guilty of that very thing.

David was bloodthirsty.
He killed hundreds of people, and his army killed thousands.
He even murdered Bathsheba’s husband.

David was deceitful.
He was crafty when he wanted Bathsheba, but didn’t want anyone to know his sin.
He lied and didn’t trust God at various points in his life.
He confesses much in Psalm 51

David should have been hated by God, but…

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

It is only by the work of God that anyone can dwell in God’s house.
It is only by the never ending love of God that any person who has sinned, that’s all of us, can worship the Lord, our righteousness.

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.

Its interesting that David does not ask God to make him more righteous, which is often the topic of pulpits across the world. Instead, he asks for God to lead him into HIS righteousness and into HIS way.

Isaiah 64:6 reminds Israel that their righteousness is as filthy rags. Without going into detail, we need to understand that our works, however good, cannot buy us entry into God’s presence, into his Temple, in to the Holy of Holies.

Paul picked up on this in Romans 10:3-4:
“For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

We are called to walk in humility, abiding in Christ.
We are called to rely on the work of Christ which was accomplished on our account.
We need to let go of the burden of measuring up.

Realize that you will never measure up, but Jesus measured up for you.
Are you abiding in Christ this week?
Or are you abiding in your own accomplishments?

Are you boasting in Christ?
Or are you boasting in what you have done?

Are you tolerating sin in your heart?
Or are you seeking to actively give that part of your life to Christ?

Are you hating your neighbors?
Or are you seeking peace with them as Christ sought peace with you?

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Never Ending Love	10,000 Fathers
Let The Nations Be Glad	Matt Boswell
Holy Holy Holy (God With Us)	Matt Maher
Cornerstone	Hillsong
Before The Throne	Sojourn

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A Song of Ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

(Psalm 121 ESV)

The Bible is not merely a book of rules and descriptions about God, but it is the story of God interacting with men and women just like you and I.
The Bible is not calling us to perfection, friends.
Instead, the Bible is calling us to look to Jesus.

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Songs for Corporate Worship this week:
Glory To God, Forever	Vicky Beeching
There Is A Fountain	Holy City Hymns
Lord, I Need You	Matt Maher
All I Have Is Christ	Summit Worship
The Church	Elevation Worship

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Good afternoon Harvest!

This Sunday we will be singing the story of the Gospel. As you prepare to gather, here are some thoughts to prepare your hearts to worship together:

In Genesis chapter 4, Cain and Abel both brought sacrifices to God. Abel’s sacrifice of the fattened portions from his flock were accepted, but God did not acknowledge Cain’s offerings from the field. If we were to read the remainder of Genesis 4, we would find that God spoke to Cain and warned him against sin. Cain did not heed God’s warning and killed Abel.

I confess that very often I feel like Cain. Why doesn’t God see the work that I do for him? Why doesn’t God pay attention? Doesn’t God understand the time and energy I put into serving?

The difference between Cain’s offering and Abel’s sacrifice is the key to understanding this passage, and it is something that Biblical scholars debate regularly. While I don’t have a Ph.D., I do have a thought that may help us grasp the difference. Perhaps Cain was relying on his offering to buy him favor with God, while Abel brought what he had and gave freely. God hints towards this when he spoke directly to Cain:

“The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.’” (Gen 4:6-7, ESV)

God told Cain that there are three options:

1. To be perfectly righteous in your action.
2. To fail in your actions and be controlled by sin.
3. To fail in your actions and humbly struggle with sin; ruling over it.

When we bring our offerings before God, we often get caught up in the perfection of what we have done. We beat ourselves up when we mess up, and we gloat when we succeed and are praised. Neither of these are what we are called to do and be as Christians. Instead, we are called to understand that our actions are not perfect and in humility accept the perfect sacrifice of Christ as our own.

Do you feel downtrodden this week? Like you cannot do anything right?

I often do.

Let’s hear the words of the apostle Peter on this matter:

“Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood thought the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:6-11, ESV)

Take heart! Christ suffered for you and will strengthen and establish you!

Grace & Peace,

Jonathan

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Songs for Corporate Worship this week:
Song of Moses (Oh The Lord Our Strength And Song)	Aaron Keyes
You Alone Can Rescue	Matt Redman
I Will Glory in My Redeemer	Austin Stone
Rock of Ages	Brooks Ritter
Let The Nations Be Glad	Matt Boswell