Christian Life Church
August 6, 2023 at 8:30am & 10:00am
Work, warfare, waiting, and so forth are part of worship. But at its core, worship is about wonder and awe.
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
A TALE OF TWO MOUNTAINS AUGUST 6, 2023
THE FIRST MOUNTAIN
Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for My arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or ever touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.” So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes. He told them, “Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.” On the morning of the third day, thunder roared, and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord has descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered His reply. When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. Exodus 19-20 (selected verses)
Work, warfare, waiting, and so forth are part of worship. But at its core, worship is about wonder and awe.
APPROACHING THE MOUNTAIN
As we approach the mountain of God, there are principles we should practice.
1/ There should be self-examination for worship.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, God of Jacob. Psalm 24:3-6
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30
This is not about perfection, but an assessment of ones relationship with God and others.
2/ There should be anticipation for worship.
Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The Lord Almighty—He is the King of glory! Psalm 24:9-10
By faith, we anticipate the presence, promises, and production of God in our lives.
3/ There should be participation in worship.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
There are many acceptable forms of worship, but our forms should be acceptable.
“You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way.” Deuteronomy 12:4
The Book of Psalms shows several expressions of worship: Words (Psalm 34:1), shouts (Psalm 27:6), songs (Ephesians 5:19-20), bowing (Psalm 95:6), dancing (Psalm 149:3), playing instruments (Psalm 33:2-3), clapping (Psalm 47:1), and lifting hands (Psalm 134:2).
4/ There should be elimination in worship.
God’s worship and word are so valuable, the enemy attempts to steal it.
So Abram presented all these to Him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half. Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away. Genesis 15:10-11
There must be an attempt to eliminate distractions from our worship.
5/ There should be articulation in worship.
In heaven, the worship of God is very specific and Christ-centric.
Our hearts and minds should be fully engaged in worship.
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
6/ There should be transformation from worship.
Over time, a result of true worship is the transformation of the soul.
…he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit. John 15:5
Worships blesses the heart of God, but in His goodness, He blesses us back!
7/ There should be a continuation of worship.
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. Romans 12:1
THE FINAL MOUNTAIN
You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.” No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God Himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance…let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire. Hebrews 12 (selected verses)
THE FIRST MOUNTAIN
Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for My arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or ever touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.” So Moses went down to the people. He consecrated them for worship, and they washed their clothes. He told them, “Get ready for the third day, and until then abstain from having sexual intercourse.” On the morning of the third day, thunder roared, and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord has descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered His reply. When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. Exodus 19-20 (selected verses)
Work, warfare, waiting, and so forth are part of worship. But at its core, worship is about wonder and awe.
APPROACHING THE MOUNTAIN
As we approach the mountain of God, there are principles we should practice.
1/ There should be self-examination for worship.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, God of Jacob. Psalm 24:3-6
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30
This is not about perfection, but an assessment of ones relationship with God and others.
2/ There should be anticipation for worship.
Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The Lord Almighty—He is the King of glory! Psalm 24:9-10
By faith, we anticipate the presence, promises, and production of God in our lives.
3/ There should be participation in worship.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
There are many acceptable forms of worship, but our forms should be acceptable.
“You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way.” Deuteronomy 12:4
The Book of Psalms shows several expressions of worship: Words (Psalm 34:1), shouts (Psalm 27:6), songs (Ephesians 5:19-20), bowing (Psalm 95:6), dancing (Psalm 149:3), playing instruments (Psalm 33:2-3), clapping (Psalm 47:1), and lifting hands (Psalm 134:2).
4/ There should be elimination in worship.
God’s worship and word are so valuable, the enemy attempts to steal it.
So Abram presented all these to Him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half. Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away. Genesis 15:10-11
There must be an attempt to eliminate distractions from our worship.
5/ There should be articulation in worship.
In heaven, the worship of God is very specific and Christ-centric.
Our hearts and minds should be fully engaged in worship.
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
6/ There should be transformation from worship.
Over time, a result of true worship is the transformation of the soul.
…he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit. John 15:5
Worships blesses the heart of God, but in His goodness, He blesses us back!
7/ There should be a continuation of worship.
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. Romans 12:1
THE FINAL MOUNTAIN
You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.” No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God Himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance…let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire. Hebrews 12 (selected verses)