BROADCASTS.com

Published: Nov. 18, 2012, 4:03 a.m.

This week join us as associate Pastor Ryan Vinson lays out what it means to live a life of worship. We hope you enjoy this message straight from the heart.

\n

\n

\n

Worship on Sunday morning\u2026 does beyond a time filler or you sounding good\u2026 it\u2019s deeper.

\n

\xa0

\n

Define\u2026 Praise and worship

\n

\xa0

\n

I want to present this idea to you that the verbal praise and worship that could come out of your mouth, has the power to change your perspective, your situation, your community, and even your life. (PRAY)

\n

(Breakdown Story)

\n

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26\xa0Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27\xa0The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28\xa0But Paul shouted to him, \u201cStop! Don\u2019t kill yourself! We are all here!\u201d29\xa0The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30\xa0Then he brought them out and asked, \u201cSirs, what must I do to be saved?\u201d Acts 16:25-30 (NLT)

\n

(Breakdown Story)

\n

NO matter how dark their situation\u2026 no matter how bleak their circumstance\u2026 They were going to praise God.\xa0 They understood the potential that the praise coming out of them had to change their situation.\xa0 And miracles happened\u2026 ALL BECAUSE THEY DIDN\u2019T LOSE THEIR VOICE.

\n

3 reasons why you can\u2019t lose your voice:\xa0

\n

\xa0

\n

1.\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Your Voice has Power

\n

\xa0

\n

(Talkers vs. non-talkers\u2026 me and my wife)

\n

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

\n

What if we really believed Proverbs18:21?\xa0 What if \u201cThe power of life and death is in the tongue\u201d was more than just a principal on how we should talk to people\u2026but was actually a truth that had the power to transform our perspective on the things we are facing?!

\n

This is why we sing\u2026 this is why the first 20-30 min of our Sunday morning experience is music and signing\u2026 because we understand that if you can exercise your faith verbally DESPITE your circumstances that it will set you up to be transformed by God\u2019s Truth for your life!\xa0

\n

Worship is not about your ability to sing, personal preference, feeling, or what you are facing\u2026 We don\u2019t praise Him because life is good\u2026 we praise Him because HE IS GOOD!\xa0 (Paul and Silas\u2026 not emotional, actually logical!)

\n

A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything\u2014or destroy it! James 3:3-5 (MSG)

\n

Your voice has power\u2026to REALIGN you with the truth of who God is and that he is for you!

\n

2.\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Your Voice is a Problem

\n

\xa0

\n

Piggybacking off of point number one\u2026 because of the power your voice holds, it can literally be a problem for your problem.\xa0

\n

\xa0

\n

Simply put\u2026 YOUR PRAISE can be a problem for your circumstance, your sickness, your doubt, your marriage problems, your addiction, YOUR PRAISE CAN BE A PROBLEM\u2026 for YOUR PROBLEM.

\n

\xa0

\n

(The devil expects you to be silent!!!)

\n

\xa0

\n

(All through the Psalms\u2026Giving attention BACK to God\u2026\xa0 THIS IS WORSHIP)

\n

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? 2\xa0Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief. 3\xa0Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:1-3 (NLT)

\n

You see\u2026 I hope by now we have all realized that we live in a broken world filed with conflict, strife, hurt and pain\u2026 This is NOT our final destination.\xa0 But what the devil will try to do is get us SO FOCUSED on what we are going through that we forget who God really is!!\xa0 (PAUL AND SILAS)

\n

\xa0

\n

Worship when we come together\u2026 \u201cLift your voice!\u201d\xa0

\n

\xa0

\n

\u201cI\u2019ve come to worship\u2026\u201d

\n

\xa0

\n

3.\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Your Voice can set People Free

\n

\xa0

\n

(Our worst Rehearsals\u2026it has nothing to do with music)

\n

\xa0

\n

(Music IS powerful\u2026 even spiritual)\xa0 \u201cFree Bird\u201d

\n

\xa0Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3 (NLT)

\n

When we praise\u2026 His presence is manifested\u2026 that\u2019s when lives change\u2026

\n

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26\xa0Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Acts 16:25-26 (NLT)

\n

\xa0

\n

It\u2019s not our job to understand\u2026 just praise him anyway.\xa0 It\u2019s not your job to heal people, just talk about how He\u2019s our healer.\xa0 It\u2019s not your job to save your friends and family, just be a living response to who HE is and what HE has done.\xa0

\n

\xa0

\n

IT\u2019S NOT OUR JOB TO SAVE OUR CITY\u2026 JUST POINT PEOPLE TO HIM! (The chains of others)

\n

\xa0

\n

We think praise and worship is limited to the 20-30 min on a Sunday morning\u2026 no, it\u2019s a lifestyle.

\n

\xa0

\n

\u201cHave you heard?\u201d

\n

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.\u201d John 12:32 (NIV)

\n

What if your neighbor, co-worker, you kids, your parents, your friends\u2026 HEARD you talk about how good your God is\u2026 regardless of what you are facing.\xa0 How many \u201cprisoners\u201d might be set free because you pointed people to HIM.

\n

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; raise him in his mighty heavens! 2\xa0Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3\xa0Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4\xa0Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5\xa0Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6\xa0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Psalm 150:1-6 (ESV)

\n

How do develop a lifestyle of worship?\xa0 How do we make sure we don\u2019t lose our voice?

\n

1.\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Understand how God wired you (you voice has power)

\n

2.\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Set aside time daily (God\u2019s Word worship music\u2026 NOT waiting for a feeling)

\n

3.\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Resolve to Praise HIM anyway (HE IS GOD... ALWAYS)

\n

Challenge: This morning\u2026maybe you\u2019ve walked in for the first time.\xa0 Maybe this morning\u2026 you need your voice back.\xa0 Where ever you are\u2026