Week 12: The Year of Commitment

Joshua 24:15
Opening Scripture - 2 Corinthians 4:1-5

• Announcements: Mother Van Lee's husband has passed. Sunday, August 7, visitation will be held at 6 pm, and a home-going celebration will follow at 7 pm. Monday, August 8, the burial will take place. Additional information will be added at another time.

"Impersonation of Famous Preachers"

Key Question: Are you a master copy worth duplicating?

• What is true worship? - Worship is the intimacy between yourself and God. You are loving on God. Despite your flesh, you are being obedient.
• Equation: True Worship = God-centered experience.

Key Thought: If you are going through hell, KEEP GOING!

• "Trouble does not last always."
• Without test, there will be no testimony.
• We have to block minor issues that happen, in order to receive your lessons, blessings, and to worship.

Key Thought: Don't be distracted from TRUE worship.

• Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

 ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  

• True worship is not automatic, but you should be ready for worship.
• Think of the goodness and mercies of God (you are alive after all...). It should be motivation for a true worship.
• 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ for,
   “Who has known the mind of the Lord
   so as to instruct him?”^[a]
   But we have the mind of Christ.

• "When your mind is, your will follows, and so do your emotions."
• If your mind is in Christ, your will soon follows the bidding of Christ, and your emotions will follow suit as well.
• Everything about you, you need to give to God. (Romans 12:1)
• John 4:24 (NIV)

²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

• How do you renew your mind? (Roman 12:2) You have to renew your mind through the Word.
• Truth vs. Fact: The mind of Christ (Truth) vs. The mind of the world (Fact).
• When your mind is renewed, you remember the times when you were in the world. When attacked by those who are not saved, you understand how you should respond (although we all have our times...).
• What about those who are "saved,"  yet they are attacking me? It is the spirit in them at the moment; the person(s) could actually be saved, or they are really unsaved. We have to remember, those who are truly saved are a work in progress. Those who"impersonate" are not God's true sons and daughters.

Remarks: When worshipping God, you will not touch anyone unless true worship is inside of you. Remember God dwells in our praise; when praise goes up, he will come down to inhabit (and you will receive a blessing).

• We are "His people"; we are His creation, but not all of us are His sons and daughters. We are a work in progress.
• Revelation 19:10 (NIV) 

¹⁰ At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

Always remember, "a delayed blessing is not a denied blessing!"