Blessed are the Blind Worshippers
Pastor Erickson preaches from John 20, where Jesus tells Thomas that those who have not seen and yet believe are blessed, and he traces worship from Lucifer's fall to the tabernacle of David. On Easter Sunday evening he calls the church to refuse doubt and worship a God they cannot see, in spirit and in truth.
The message in 6 points
Blessed are those who have not seen
Reading John 20, he shows Jesus telling Thomas that those who have not seen and yet believe are blessed. Jesus always had a special place for the blind, from Bartimaeus to the blind man in Bethsaida.
1:05:05The second greatest lie
The devil is a liar and the father of lies. His first great lie told Eve she would not surely die, and the second was the story the chief priests paid the guards to spread, that the disciples stole the body of Jesus.
1:11:31Faith that worships without seeing
Hebrews 11 lists men and women who believed what they could not see, and he lands on David, a man after God's own heart who fulfilled all his will. David learned to worship a God he could not see, even alone, and Pastor Erickson found the same anointing dancing before the Lord in his own prayer room.
1:15:34David filled the place Lucifer lost
Lucifer was made beautiful and full of music to lead heaven's worship, but he forgot his light came from God and fell. Adam and Eve also failed, but David brought the ark to Jerusalem and taught the people to clap, shout, lift their hands and dance before the Lord.
1:23:42Worship day and night
David employed singers and musicians to worship before the ark day and night. Pastor Erickson points out that across every time zone the church is still praising God every hour of every day.
1:35:13Refuse to be a doubter
Thomas likely doubted because he believed the lie about the stolen body. Jesus blesses those who worship a God they cannot see, so he calls the church to worship in spirit and in truth, train their families to be worshippers, and praise God like he is alive.
1:44:12
In his words
“When I begin to dance unto the Lord I felt the same anointing come upon me in my prayer closet all by myself that I felt in the church house.”
“If this is your first time here I promise you we're not crazy. We didn't just come up with this idea of worship. This worship is so biblical.”
“David wrote Psalm after Psalm after Psalm that just gave glory to a God he could not see, but he said, I'm not just going to go through some ritual, I'm going to create a relationship of worship with my God.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
John 20:24-29
24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. 29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
King James Version.
John 8:44
44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
King James Version.
Matthew 28:11-15
11Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
King James Version.
Hebrews 11:5
5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
King James Version.
Hebrews 11:7-8
7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
King James Version.
Hebrews 11:24-25
24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
King James Version.
Hebrews 11:32
32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
King James Version.
Ezekiel 28:13
13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
King James Version.
Psalms 47:1
1O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
King James Version.
Psalms 134:1-3
1Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. 3The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
King James Version.
Psalms 149:3
3Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
King James Version.
1 Chronicles 9:33
33And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
King James Version.
Matthew 28:16-17
16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
King James Version.
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