WORSHIP: AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

Rev. Zeny M. Calusay @ FARM, May 27, 2012
SCRIPTURES:
Psalm 16:11  You will make Me know the way of life; in Your presence is fullness of joys. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (KJV)
Genesis 18:1-2 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. [2] Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground (NIV)

 THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP: GOD’S PRESENCE.
No Presence of God, No worship!
In His presence we receive His revelation of Himself and there respond to God according to how He disclosed Himself to us.

WORSHIP IS WHAT WE DO IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
1. Worship is an expression of our response to God’s Presence, in whatever form of outward demonstration it takes.
2. The outpouring or out flowing of the whole being: spirit, soul and body under a sense of Divine favor in the Presence of God.
3. All that we are reacting to all the He is.
4. English word ‘worship’ – from 2 words WORTH and SHIP which together means – to recognize the value of a person or object by expressions of courtesy, reverence or homage.
5. Worship – is the dramatic celebration of God in His supreme worth in such a manner that His ‘worthiness’ becomes the norm and inspiration for  living (Karl Barth)

WORSHIP AS AN ENCOUNTER ILLUSTRATED
Genesis 18 the patriarch Abraham had  a dramatic encounter with God.

THE LORD APPEARED TO ABRAHAM
Vs. 1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.
1. An epiphany  -  a  manifestation of the divine presence in human form. “The LORD” in verse 1 who appeared to Abraham is Jehovah (or alternatively, Yahweh), one of the Bible’s names for God. And “the LORD” appeared in the visible form of “three men”, a symbol of God’s existence as a Trinity. A classic definition of the Holy Trinity is: “There is one God, eternally existent in three Persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
2. Time and setting: while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.  An ordinary hot day, ordinary time in the life of Abraham.  This tells the importance of developing an  all-day-long God-consciousness that even in   a routine day, with routine circumstances, one can have   a blessed encounter with God. 

 THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE OF ABRAHAM
V. 2  Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
Actions of Abraham reflected he recognized of the presence of a person in high rank
1. Looked up and saw – he is a man accustomed to the Presence of God
2. When he saw, he hurried from the entrance – having exuberant desire to meet God
3. Bowed down to the ground –  In the ancient world this was the essential posture of worship. The message I draw from this is never to take a casual, nonchalant, or (God forbid) a flippant approach to worship. God Almighty is deserving of our utmost respect and reverence as we look to Him in worship, in prayer, and in other ways.

ABRAHAM’S ACTS OF WORSHIP
A meeting too precious to hurry
Gen 18:3  He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
Gen 18:4  Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.
Gen 18:5  Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
Gen 18:6  So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
Gen 18:7  Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
Gen 18:8  He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
1.  Ministered to God – have water, wash feet, rest under his tree. We hold Sunday worship services. Our Sunday worship services should therefore be time to minister to the Lord, it’s for Him, it’s all about Him.
2.  Did  beyond the ordinary, served the very best  – served bread from fine flour , and tender meat from choice calf. Ordinarily, offering a drink of water to a stranger who is passing by would be enough.   But Abram did much more that what is expected.
3.  GAve God  exemplary respect  -  “While they ate, he stood near them under a tree”.

TIME TO RECEIVE

When God appears  and  pleased with our worship,  He is ready to give favors.
God is pleased with worship   Worship is what the Father seeks.
Joh 4:23  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
Abraham  received confirmation of God’s promise. Read Genesis 18:9-14, 18-19

CHALLENGE:
The author of Psalm 42:2 possessed this praiseworthy attitude of hungering and thirsting to regularly meet with God — “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and  meet with God. Whenever we gather on Sundays for a worship service, God   wants us to meet Him, to encounter Him.     He has a  plan and purpose for every worship service which He develops as we move  from  praise into worship. He comes in the misdt of our worship ready with a clear unfolding of revelation of Himself   to His people. Then, as worshipers we should respond accordingly. We should  stay, linger, minister to  the Lord, and be ready to receive. We should not miss out on the opportunity to have an encounter with the Lord.

Worship: Giving What’s Best

Rev. Rey A. Calusay @ FARM, May 20, 2012

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Worship: Giving What’s Best

Highlignts of Message:

GIVING What’s Best
Malachi 1:1-14

GIVING WHAT’S WORSE

1. Not responding to God’s love, v2
2. No vision for God’s Name/honor, v 5-6
3. Attitude of Contempt, v6b-7
4. Evil, Not pleasing, not acceptable, v8-10
5. Treating God as Unimportant, v12-13

Cheating in their offering, v14

WHY GIVE GOD WHAT IS BEST

1. God loves you? v1-4
2. God is Great? v5
3. God deserves Honor and Respect? v6
4. God accepts you through your gift? v7-10
5. God will be known by your gifts? v11-14

WORSHIP: LOVING BACK

Rev. Rey A. Calusay @ FARM, May 13, 2012

Worship as “Loving Back”
“Because your love is better than life, V3
“Because you are my help, V7

Three stories are here to illustrate this principke of worship as loving God back.

The sinful woman – forgiven much, loved much

The Samaritan leper – returned to gove praise to Jesus who helaed him. Jesus loooked for the other nine He healed.

Jacob – was commanded to go back to Bethel and build an altar that he promised to do if God helped him in his journey.

Click for complete sermon presentation in pdf format  WORSHIP: LOVING BACK

WORSHIP: DRAWING NEAR

Rev. Rev. Rey A.  Calusay @ FARM, May 6, 2012

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Elements of Worship: Drawing Near

There was a time when everyone is his own priest and can come to God:
Sin led to separation, Idolatry, religion and vain worship. MAT 15:8-9 “Far from Me”
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” EPH 2:13
“.. a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.  Jesus  holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them”. HEB 7:19,24,25
“…To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ⁶ and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. “ REV 1:5-6
“You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1PE 2: 5
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  1PE 2: 5

SERMON SERIES ON WORSHIP STARTED AT FARM

FARM Senior Pastor Rev. Rey  Calusay starts a new series of sermons on ‘Worship’.

ELEMENTS OF WORSHIP SERIES
INTRODUCTION MESSAGE: THE BATTLE OF THE GODS

Reactions to the Gospel

1. Rioted, 17: 6
2. Received, 17:11
3. Reviewed, 17:20, 32
4. Challenge of Idolatry

What to do? Paul’s example

1. Provoked – Emotion
2. Reasoned – Logic
3. Debated – Intolerance
4. Explained – Patience

The “Unknown God”

1. The Creator of the World, v24
2. The Sustainer of Life, v25
3. The Ruler of Nations, v26-27
4. The Father of Mankind, v28-29
5. The Judge of the World, v30-31

Conclusion:

1. Face the Challenge of Idolatry.
2. Serve Jesus as Lord and God.
3. Share Him to others.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: SELF-CONTROL

Rev. Rey A. Calusay @ FARM, April 22, 2012

2Ti 3:1-5  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

1CO 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Click for whole sermon presentation  in pdf format    THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: SELF-CONTROL

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: GENTLENESS

Rev. Rey A. Calusay @ FARM, March 8, 2012

GAL 5:22-23 1PE 2:18-25

GENTLENESS DEFINED
Mild Temperament
Meek Response To Others
Strength Under Control
Power Clothed with Humility

ILLUSTRATION: JESUS ISA 42:1-4
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”MAT 11:28-30

LEARN FROM HIM
Be Willing to Submit, v18, 23
Be Willing to Suffer, v19-21
Be Willing to Stay Above Sin. 24-25

WE NEED GENTLENESS IN
Entire Attitude, MAT 5:5, 9
Pattern of Life, 1PE 3:3-4
Treatment of Brothers, COL 3:12-13
Correcting others, GAL 6:1
Evangelizing Sinners, 2TI 2:24-25
Dealing with all men, TIT 3:1-2

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: FAITHFULNESS

Rev. Rey Calusay @ FARM, April 1, 2012

UNRELIABLE: PRO 25:19
Cannot function well. Cannot meet expectation.
Cannot be held responsible
Cannot help in times of trouble
Cannot assure safety

ARE YOU FAITHFUL? (From Dictionary)
Thorough in the performance of duty
True to one’s word, promises, vows, agreements
Steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant
Reliable, trusted, or believed.
Adhering to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate

FAITHFUL GOD “..if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” – 2TI 2:13 “I go forward, but he is not there: and backward, but I cannot perceive him: on the left hand, where he does work, but I cannot behold him: he hides himself on the right hand, I cannot see him.  But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” -JOB 23:8-10.

NEED FOR FAITHFUL PEOPLE
In Marriage and Home
In Friendship
In Church and Ministry
In Business and Contracts
In Community and Nation

AREAS IN LIFE TO BE FAITHFUL IN
Faithful to God
Faithful to My Word
Faithful to “You”

QUALITIES OF  FAITHFUL
At all times
As Steward
Unto death

STAND FIRM

Rev. Zeny Calusay @ FARM, March 18, 2012

STAND FIRM
1Pe 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Sufferings, shakings are real and intended by the enemy to shake, knock us out, drop us out from our faith, calling and life purpose. Peter’s words in v10 give us today powerful reasons why we can stand firm in the face of suffering and difficulties.

THE SUFFERING YOU FACE TODAY IS SHORT-LIVED
`after you have suffered a little while…’
1. Setting of 1Peter – beginning of imperial persecution – affected Christians all over
1Pe 5:9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1Pe_4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
2. Difficult, painful, terrible, unbelievable, overwhelming – call it with all the superlative adjectives BUT still, it is temporary, short-lived, has an end.
3. The Greek is, “having suffered a little,” and may refer either to time or degree. In both respects the declaration concerning afflictions is true. They are short, compared with eternity; they are light, compared with the exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
4. Peter, together with others was a witness of a very grievous suffering – that of Jesus Christ. 1Pe 5:1 I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings …..
Luk 23:4,48,49 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
But he was also there when the resurrected Lord appeared to His disciples. He the same person who suffered painfully, after three days appeared alive and glorifed. That is why he can say suffering is short lived.
5. Life of those who trust in God and follow Christ does not have a sad ending. It may lead you to the path of suffering and even death, but the end is resurrection and life.

In contrast
THE GLORY TO WHICH YOU ARE CALLED IS ETERNAL
`.. God… who called you to his eternal glory in Christ’
1. The glory `far outweighs’
2Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2Co 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2. Peter, Looking forward to the blessed world before exhort his fellow elders to the faithful performance of duty. `…share in the glory to be revealed’
3. I have not much to say because these are yet to be revealed.
1Co 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Meanwhile, between now and the glory days
THE GRACE AVAILABLE FOR YOU IS SUFFICIENT
 ` And the God of all grace, …. will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.’
1. The God of all grace
But the God of all grace – The Fountain of infinite compassion, mercy, and goodness.
2. Will Himself – Himself, not anyone else.
The God who imparts all needful grace to those who approach Hin
Heb 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
3. Restore, make strong, firm and steadfast – all in future tense in all manuscripts and versions
* Perfect (Restore) – nothing defective in you, (restore) put in complete joint
* Stablish (Make strong) – make you firm in every part so will not waiver
* Strengthen – in the inner man (by His Spirit) against the foe
* Settle (Make steadfast) – cause to rest so evenly and firmly upon the best and surest foundation

CHALLENGE TO COME TO HIS THRONE OF GRACE
Your trials today should not knock you down
It is far outweighed by what awaits you
So come today and let the God of all grace Himself strengthen you.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: GOODNESS

Rev. Rey Calusay @ FARM, March 11,2012

GOODNESS
GAL 5:22-23
EPH 5:5-10 MIC 6:8

ACTIVE GOOD
Agathosune is active—even aggressive—goodness.
It is more than an excellence of character; it is character energized, expressing itself in active good.
A Virtue equipped at every point.

DIFFICULTY OF GOODNESS
No one is good, except God
No one knows what is good
No one knows how to do good
No one knows how to escape evil

IDENTIFYING GOODNESS
Fulfills Purpose
Benefits Others
Pleases God

GOODNESS
God seeks for it
God shows it
God shares it

If anyone is in Christ
he is a new creation;
The old has gone.
The new has come.
2CO 5:17