Everybody Worships Something
Pastor Erickson preaches from John 4, where Jesus tells the woman at the well that the Father seeks those who worship in spirit and in truth, and he teaches that everybody worships something and what you worship will determine what you serve. He calls parents and young people to remember who they are, guard what they take in, stand unashamed of the gospel, and become true worshipers filled with the Holy Ghost.
The message in 6 points
Everybody worships something
Reading John 4:20-23, he says we were all created to worship, and choosing not to worship is still a choice. The question he brings is who or what we are worshiping, pleasing, following and trusting, because Satan's plan has always been to keep people worshiping anything but God.
1:14:09No other gods
From Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 12 and Exodus 34 he shows God warning his people again and again against idols, because he is a jealous God. He says it plainly and repeats it often: what you worship will determine what you serve.
1:19:59Remember who you are
In Luke 4 the devil says if thou be the Son of God, trying to make Jesus forget his identity. Pastor Erickson says we do foolish things and end up worshiping idols when we forget we are children of the King, so parents need to know what their children are watching and hearing.
1:22:43Not ashamed of the gospel
He reads John 12:42, where rulers believed but would not confess Jesus for fear of being put out, and Luke 9:26. He says the church must keep preaching what is in the Bible no matter who it offends, and he calls for revival in the youth and in the whole church.
1:34:30A reward for worship
John 4:23 speaks of true worshipers, which means there are false ones. From Luke 4:6-7 he points out that whatever people worship hard enough brings some reward, but the pleasures of sin last only for a season and come with baggage.
1:48:35In spirit and in truth
Worshiping God brings a reward that never runs out, ending in eternity with him. He says the Father seeks worshipers filled with his Spirit and walking in his truth, reading Romans 8:14-16 and John 8:32, and he closes by calling people to respond with worship for what God has done for them.
1:54:04
In his words
“You can't choose to be a worshiper. Matter of fact, if you choose not to worship, you're already making a choice, because you're gonna worship something.”
“I'm going to say that again, and you're going to hear me say this many more times: what you worship will determine what you serve.”
“When we praise God and worship God, all we got to look forward to is eternity with Him on streets of gold, walking through a pearly gate.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
John 4:20-24
20Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
King James Version.
Exodus 20:2-6
2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
King James Version.
Deuteronomy 12:30
30Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
King James Version.
Exodus 34:12-14
12Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: 13But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
King James Version.
Luke 4:3
3And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
King James Version.
John 12:42
42Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
King James Version.
Luke 9:26
26For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
King James Version.
Jude 1:4
4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
King James Version.
Luke 4:6-7
6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
King James Version.
Romans 8:14-16
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
King James Version.
John 8:32
32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
King James Version.
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