The Battle for Your Worship
Pastor Erickson preaches from Revelation 12, Isaiah 14 and Luke 4 that the first war in heaven was over worship, and that the same battle for our attention and devotion goes on every day. He shows from Abraham, Mary's alabaster box and Paul and Silas that true worship costs something and comes before the victory, and he calls people to give God alone the throne of their heart.
The message in 6 points
The first war was over worship
He reads Revelation 12 and Luke 4. The first war was fought in heaven, and at its center was worship, because Lucifer wanted God's throne and glory. When Lucifer lost heaven he brought that battle to earth, and it goes on every day for our attention, affection and devotion.
1:01:09Worship first, power second
From Isaiah 14 he says the first sin was the theft of worship, and every addiction and idol is a worship problem. In the wilderness Satan asked Jesus for one bow, and Jesus refused. Jesus won that battle before working any miracle, showing God's order: worship first, power second.
1:05:14Whatever you worship, you serve
The devil tries to divert or pervert our worship, because whatever we worship we will serve. Worship is more than songs and a planned service; it is a lifestyle. As with Cain and Abel and the widow's mite, God looks at the heart of the worshipper, not the size of the gift.
1:10:44Worship costs something
God never forces worship, because worship is love freely given. Anyone can worship when life is easy, but true worship trusts God in hard times. In Genesis 22, the first mention of worship in the Bible, Abraham goes up to worship with an altar and a sacrifice, and Pastor Erickson says worship is measured by what we surrender.
1:16:51Seeing Jesus brings worship
The early church was unstoppable because they knew who Jesus was. Every act of worship announces that Jesus has already won. Mary broke her alabaster box and poured it on Jesus, and what the room called waste, Jesus called worship.
1:22:16Worship before the victory
Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight while still in chains, and the prison shook. He says worship creates the atmosphere for victory, and the redeemed worship by faith. He calls people to the altar to choose whom they will serve, because God will not share their worship.
1:27:05
In his words
“Jesus himself shows us that anything gained at the expense of worship is far too expensive.”
“Worship is not measured by what you keep. It's measured by what you're willing to surrender.”
“Because worship doesn't wait for victory. Worship creates the atmosphere for victory.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Revelation 12:7-9
7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
King James Version.
Luke 4:7-8
7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
King James Version.
Isaiah 14:13-15
13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
King James Version.
Luke 4:5-6
5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 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.
King James Version.
Genesis 22:5
5And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
King James Version.
Mark 14:3
3And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
King James Version.
Acts 16:25
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
King James Version.
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