[The following is the manuscript of my sermon delivered on the 8th of November, 2015. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel, http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
What does it mean to adore someone or something? We toss that word around a lot, along with the word “love”.
“I absolutely adore that new weatherperson on channel 2 – don’t you?” “I just adore that delicious cake you brought to the covered dish lunch last week!” “Man, there’s nothing I love more than a good steak on a Friday night before some high school football!”
These things or people please us, don’t they, so we say that we adore them. But what should real adoration lead us to do? Listen and follow along to what the Apostle Paul told the church in Rome, from Romans chapter 15, verses 1 through 9, reading from the New Living Translation…
“I absolutely adore that new weatherperson on channel 2 – don’t you?” “I just adore that delicious cake you brought to the covered dish lunch last week!” “Man, there’s nothing I love more than a good steak on a Friday night before some high school football!”
These things or people please us, don’t they, so we say that we adore them. But what should real adoration lead us to do? Listen and follow along to what the Apostle Paul told the church in Rome, from Romans chapter 15, verses 1 through 9, reading from the New Living Translation…
1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn’t live to please Himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult You, O God, have fallen on me.” 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises He made to their ancestors. 9 He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for His mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:
“For this, I will praise You among the Gentiles;
I will sing praises to Your name.”
--Romans 15:1-9 (NLT)
Let us pray… Father, we love You. We worship and adore You. May our words, our acts, our very thoughts glorify Your name in all the earth. Touch our hearts now with Your Holy Spirit and impart Your message to each of us. In the blessed name of our Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.
C. S. Lewis once provided a powerful image of the difference between heaven and hell. He described hungry people sitting at huge banquet tables loaded with delicious food. Every person had a three foot long fork and a three foot long knife attached to their hands. The scene in hell was one of anger, frustration, and fighting as people scrambled to feed themselves. They could reach the food with the oversized knives and forks, but the utensils were too long to feed themselves. The conflict, screaming, and unfulfilled hunger continued for eternity, and that is hell.
But the scene in heaven was quite different. The same tables were loaded with food, and the people had the same ridiculously long forks and knives attached to their hands. But instead of chaos and conflict, there was joy, laughter, and pleasant conversation. The difference? In heaven, the diners weren't trying to feed themselves. Each person was patiently taking the food and feeding the person seated across the table.
Lewis concluded that people who spend all their lives trying to fulfill their own selfish desires are already experiencing a kind of hell. But those who live a life of service to others will find themselves quite at home in heaven. They learned the joy of service on earth, and now they have eternity to enjoy it, only more so.
Lewis said that the selfish are already living in a type of hell, right here on earth. But those who genuinely strive to serve others will find themselves right at home in heaven, where they will be rewarded. This is part of what Paul was driving toward in the opening verses of our message text today. We should not just work to please ourselves, but should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord as well.
And why should we do that? It goes back to my earlier question of what our adoration should lead us to, and for that matter, what we should adore!
I believe the answer to the question of what we should adore is pretty obvious, especially in this gathering. We should adore God, our Father in heaven.
If you look in a thesaurus you’ll find the words “glorify” and “worship” are the same as “adore”. We tend to glorify that which we adore, going almost to the point of worshiping it if we adore it so much.
So is it really God we adore? How often do we give Him the glory? How much do we worship Him outside of this building or when we’re not all together?
Sadly, I worry that too many people tend to adore some of those people and things I mentioned earlier. Sports figures, entertainers, politicians, power brokers, and many others all enjoy huge groups of followers. Many of these can do almost anything and the American public will simply look the other way. After all, we have terms like “hero worship” and TV shows like “American Idol” because we do seem to idolize certain people.
There is a grave and serious danger in carrying this adoration too far. Listen to what God’s prophet Jeremiah says about worshiping things, or any other idol…
C. S. Lewis once provided a powerful image of the difference between heaven and hell. He described hungry people sitting at huge banquet tables loaded with delicious food. Every person had a three foot long fork and a three foot long knife attached to their hands. The scene in hell was one of anger, frustration, and fighting as people scrambled to feed themselves. They could reach the food with the oversized knives and forks, but the utensils were too long to feed themselves. The conflict, screaming, and unfulfilled hunger continued for eternity, and that is hell.
But the scene in heaven was quite different. The same tables were loaded with food, and the people had the same ridiculously long forks and knives attached to their hands. But instead of chaos and conflict, there was joy, laughter, and pleasant conversation. The difference? In heaven, the diners weren't trying to feed themselves. Each person was patiently taking the food and feeding the person seated across the table.
Lewis concluded that people who spend all their lives trying to fulfill their own selfish desires are already experiencing a kind of hell. But those who live a life of service to others will find themselves quite at home in heaven. They learned the joy of service on earth, and now they have eternity to enjoy it, only more so.
Lewis said that the selfish are already living in a type of hell, right here on earth. But those who genuinely strive to serve others will find themselves right at home in heaven, where they will be rewarded. This is part of what Paul was driving toward in the opening verses of our message text today. We should not just work to please ourselves, but should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord as well.
And why should we do that? It goes back to my earlier question of what our adoration should lead us to, and for that matter, what we should adore!
I believe the answer to the question of what we should adore is pretty obvious, especially in this gathering. We should adore God, our Father in heaven.
If you look in a thesaurus you’ll find the words “glorify” and “worship” are the same as “adore”. We tend to glorify that which we adore, going almost to the point of worshiping it if we adore it so much.
So is it really God we adore? How often do we give Him the glory? How much do we worship Him outside of this building or when we’re not all together?
Sadly, I worry that too many people tend to adore some of those people and things I mentioned earlier. Sports figures, entertainers, politicians, power brokers, and many others all enjoy huge groups of followers. Many of these can do almost anything and the American public will simply look the other way. After all, we have terms like “hero worship” and TV shows like “American Idol” because we do seem to idolize certain people.
There is a grave and serious danger in carrying this adoration too far. Listen to what God’s prophet Jeremiah says about worshiping things, or any other idol…
8 “In that day,” says the Lord, “the enemy will break open the graves of the kings and officials of Judah, and the graves of the priests, prophets, and common people of Jerusalem. 2 They will spread out their bones on the ground before the sun, moon, and stars—the gods my people have loved, served, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up again or buried but will be scattered on the ground like manure.”
--Jeremiah 8:1-2 (NLT)
These things that we might give all our time to, might adore and idolize - these things of the world will all simply dry up and be laid bare, scattered on the ground like manure.
Jeremiah speaks of a judgment to come, with a rather bad ending for the people he is trying to warn. The Apostle John also speaks of a future judgment, as revealed to him by Jesus Christ, but with a more reassuring point for believers. Hear the words John recorded in Revelation chapter 15, verses 2 through 4…
Jeremiah speaks of a judgment to come, with a rather bad ending for the people he is trying to warn. The Apostle John also speaks of a future judgment, as revealed to him by Jesus Christ, but with a more reassuring point for believers. Hear the words John recorded in Revelation chapter 15, verses 2 through 4…
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
King of the saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”
--Revelation 15:2-4 (NKJV)
John is shown a vision of all those believers who, along with Jesus, will share in the victory over Satan and his Antichrist and his beast. And all those believers are playing harps and singing a beautiful song. “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord. Your ways are just and true. You alone are holy. All peoples glorify Your name. All nations come and worship You.”
John foresees a time right before the final great battle of Armageddon. Do we really want to wait that long before we worship our Lord God above everything and everyone else?
Now I know there are a lot of people in this world that feel like they’ve been abandoned by God, forsaken. They think there’s no way He could care about them, much less love them. I bet the people of Israel felt the same way when they were in exile in Babylon. But they were wrong, just as anyone with those kinds of thoughts today are wrong. God did not abandon them, or us. We might turn away from Him, but He has never left our side. The author of the two Books of the Chronicles spoke to those Jewish exiles and he speaks to us today. Listen to what he says in 1st Chronicles chapter 29 verse 11…
John foresees a time right before the final great battle of Armageddon. Do we really want to wait that long before we worship our Lord God above everything and everyone else?
Now I know there are a lot of people in this world that feel like they’ve been abandoned by God, forsaken. They think there’s no way He could care about them, much less love them. I bet the people of Israel felt the same way when they were in exile in Babylon. But they were wrong, just as anyone with those kinds of thoughts today are wrong. God did not abandon them, or us. We might turn away from Him, but He has never left our side. The author of the two Books of the Chronicles spoke to those Jewish exiles and he speaks to us today. Listen to what he says in 1st Chronicles chapter 29 verse 11…
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O Lord, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things.
--1 Chronicles 29:11 (NLT)
God is the greatness, the power, the glory, and yes, the victory and the majesty, and He is definitely worthy of our adoration!
What do we adore? If God, if we truly do adore and glorify and worship Him and His Son Jesus Christ, do others see any proof of our adoration? Do we glorify His name outside of these walls, when we are with folks who are not part of this Pilgrim family? Do we glorify and worship Him when we are among unbelievers, or those who may have strayed over the years?
Let’s look again at today’s scripture from the Apostle Paul. We would have to go back a little, into verse 14, to see what Paul is referring to in the 1st verse as “things like this”. Basically, he has been instructing the church in Rome of what it means to live a Christian life. He realizes that not everyone these people will associate with daily will readily or easily believe the same things, even among the believers themselves, so he counsels them to be sensitive.
Doesn’t this sound familiar? Even today, with Christianity and the Gospel of Jesus covering far more ground than in Paul’s day, there are people who do not readily or easily believe what we, as followers of Jesus, believe. Among those who call themselves Christian, there is not really consensus in belief. That’s why we have so many different denominations and subsets and independent Christian church bodies.
Paul says we should be sensitive to them – all of them, fellow believers and non-believers as well - and not just please ourselves. We shouldn’t get all up in their face and tell them they’re going to hell if they keep refusing to believe. Instead, he tells us in verse 2 we should help them do the right things. We should slowly build them up, support them, show them the true love of Jesus so they can grow in that love and develop their own relationship with Him. In verse 3 Paul reminds us that even Jesus didn’t live to please Himself, but to serve others.
Paul also gives us a very important reminder in verse 4 that the messages in our Bible offer us the hope and encouragement we need to endure until all of God’s promises have been fulfilled. But I think the most critical piece of advice Paul gives us comes in verses 5 and 6. It is fitting for followers of Jesus Christ to live in harmony with one another.
Do you remember the words Jesus said, right after He commanded us to love one another as He loves us? It comes from the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verse 35…
What do we adore? If God, if we truly do adore and glorify and worship Him and His Son Jesus Christ, do others see any proof of our adoration? Do we glorify His name outside of these walls, when we are with folks who are not part of this Pilgrim family? Do we glorify and worship Him when we are among unbelievers, or those who may have strayed over the years?
Let’s look again at today’s scripture from the Apostle Paul. We would have to go back a little, into verse 14, to see what Paul is referring to in the 1st verse as “things like this”. Basically, he has been instructing the church in Rome of what it means to live a Christian life. He realizes that not everyone these people will associate with daily will readily or easily believe the same things, even among the believers themselves, so he counsels them to be sensitive.
Doesn’t this sound familiar? Even today, with Christianity and the Gospel of Jesus covering far more ground than in Paul’s day, there are people who do not readily or easily believe what we, as followers of Jesus, believe. Among those who call themselves Christian, there is not really consensus in belief. That’s why we have so many different denominations and subsets and independent Christian church bodies.
Paul says we should be sensitive to them – all of them, fellow believers and non-believers as well - and not just please ourselves. We shouldn’t get all up in their face and tell them they’re going to hell if they keep refusing to believe. Instead, he tells us in verse 2 we should help them do the right things. We should slowly build them up, support them, show them the true love of Jesus so they can grow in that love and develop their own relationship with Him. In verse 3 Paul reminds us that even Jesus didn’t live to please Himself, but to serve others.
Paul also gives us a very important reminder in verse 4 that the messages in our Bible offer us the hope and encouragement we need to endure until all of God’s promises have been fulfilled. But I think the most critical piece of advice Paul gives us comes in verses 5 and 6. It is fitting for followers of Jesus Christ to live in harmony with one another.
Do you remember the words Jesus said, right after He commanded us to love one another as He loves us? It comes from the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verse 35…
35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
--John 13:35 (NKJV)
Love for one another. Isn’t that what Paul is talking about in his message? Helping each other, building each other up, living in harmony with one another, accepting each other just as Jesus accepts us. This is love in action. This can bring us all together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us adore God the Almighty not just here in this beautiful sanctuary among good friends and relatives, but everywhere we go in our walk through life. Let us glorify His name not only among fellow believers, but in the presence of anyone we interact with each day. Let us be sensitive to those people and help them, building them up into a relationship of their own with Jesus.
Let us live in harmony and peace with everyone we touch in our daily walk. Then they will know we are disciples of Jesus, the one true Son of God. They will know we truly worship God, not just with words but with actions, with our very lives.
Father, we love You. We worship and adore You. May we glorify Your name everywhere we go and with everyone we meet. And all in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, we do adore You and worship You, especially when we are gathered together in this place You have made for worship. But Lord we have a little more difficulty showing our adoration when we are out in the world. So many other things grab our attention and monopolize our time. The current master of this world tempts us to worship other gods, to make idols of other people, to devote less and less of our lives to serving You and Your Son.
Hear us now, Father God, as we come to You in the silence asking for Your help to remain true to You no matter where we might be. Hear us as we ask Your forgiveness for those times when we fail to live in harmony with one another. Hear us as we cry out from our hearts our unspoken needs and prayers…
Lord Jesus, You command us to love one another, and by that very example to show others Your love. Help us, Lord, to serve You by serving our fellow man. Grant us peace and patience, courage and strength, understanding and sensitivity, because many we face will not want to listen to the Good News You bring. Many will refuse Your offer of salvation. But let us love them anyway, because they too are Your Father’s treasured creations. This we pray in Your blessed name, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us adore God the Almighty not just here in this beautiful sanctuary among good friends and relatives, but everywhere we go in our walk through life. Let us glorify His name not only among fellow believers, but in the presence of anyone we interact with each day. Let us be sensitive to those people and help them, building them up into a relationship of their own with Jesus.
Let us live in harmony and peace with everyone we touch in our daily walk. Then they will know we are disciples of Jesus, the one true Son of God. They will know we truly worship God, not just with words but with actions, with our very lives.
Father, we love You. We worship and adore You. May we glorify Your name everywhere we go and with everyone we meet. And all in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, we do adore You and worship You, especially when we are gathered together in this place You have made for worship. But Lord we have a little more difficulty showing our adoration when we are out in the world. So many other things grab our attention and monopolize our time. The current master of this world tempts us to worship other gods, to make idols of other people, to devote less and less of our lives to serving You and Your Son.
Hear us now, Father God, as we come to You in the silence asking for Your help to remain true to You no matter where we might be. Hear us as we ask Your forgiveness for those times when we fail to live in harmony with one another. Hear us as we cry out from our hearts our unspoken needs and prayers…
Lord Jesus, You command us to love one another, and by that very example to show others Your love. Help us, Lord, to serve You by serving our fellow man. Grant us peace and patience, courage and strength, understanding and sensitivity, because many we face will not want to listen to the Good News You bring. Many will refuse Your offer of salvation. But let us love them anyway, because they too are Your Father’s treasured creations. This we pray in Your blessed name, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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