Introduction
We are in the midst of a series on worship. I was thinking the other day about Bob Dylan’s song – “Gotta Serve Somebody.” For those of you who don’t know Bob Dylan, he is an American singer-songwriter and author who has been a major artist during his career of sixty plus years. He was a voice into the pop culture of the 1960’s and seventies, when he began to sing about politics, social issues, philosophy, and anti-war messages. In the late seventy’s he became a Christian and took a three-month discipleship course led by John Wimber and the Vineyard Church. His Christianity was not well received by his rock and roll buddies, but nevertheless, he released 3 Christian albums and one of the songs was “Gotta Serve Somebody.” When touring in late 1979 and early 1980, Dylan would not play his older, secular works, and he delivered declarations of his faith from the stage, such as: “Years ago they ... said I was a prophet. I used to say, "No I'm not a prophet", they say "Yes you are, you're a prophet." I said, "No it's not me." They used to say, "You sure are a prophet." Now I come out and say Jesus Christ is the answer.” His Christianity was unpopular with some fans and musicians. It is interesting to note that shortly before John Lennon’s murder, he recorded a song “Serve Yourself” in response to Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody.” This song made me think about worship and how everybody worships someone or something in their lifetime.
Living Stones
Do we have any construction workers here today? Anyone that works with their hands and creates something? Anyone that creates? Can you imagine your creation coming alive? The Apostle Peter talks about Living Stones when referring to the Body of Christ, the church. “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5). Do you know Jesus today? Are you in a personal and active relationship with God? Do you pray? Worship? Do you offer spiritual sacrifices to God? The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth is referred to as a Living Stone and we are his spiritual house. In essence, we too are Living Stones and are being built, constructed, and made into a spiritual house. What does this house look like? Like you and me. It is a relational networking of God’s people, local and global. A priesthood. Worshippers.
The Living God dwells where His Living Stones worship. The life-flow of the church is found firstly upon our worship of God. It is this intimate and personal interaction with God that becomes the source of life within any congregation. It is the means to an end; all other spiritual activities flow from this foundation; Bible reading, prayer, evangelism etc. God is looking for a place to dwell. In the house of God, we are to grow up in our salvation (1 Peter 2:2), because we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:3; Psalm 34:8).
Peter tells us that worship to God must be acceptable. What does an acceptable sacrifice look like? The idea here is that we, as Living Stones, find out what delights, pleases or satisfies God. The offering of spiritual sacrifices would remind the people of a long Jewish history of a worship and coming to God; sacrifices were to be without blemish and the firstborn. It was God’s desire to make Israel “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex 19:6). However, the effects of sin led to a troubled history of sacrifice. Golden calf (Ex 32). As a result of the golden calf only the Levites served as priests. However, even the set apart priests offered strange fire or sacrifices (Lev 10).
The offering of spiritual sacrifices in the New Testament does not involve the blood of animals. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). We have been told in earlier sermons that worship is not just singing songs, it is about how we live life as Living Stones.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind (1 Peter 2:1). Hostility, hateful feelings, deception, trickery, two-faced, play acting, jealousy, taking behind someone’s back…
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious (1 Peter 2:7). Faith is attractive to God. Trust is pleasing and makes God glad.
But to those who do not believe (1Peter 2:7). Unbelief will lead to rejection and disobedience.
Victory over Darkness
I love the opening verses of John’s Gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:1-5). Such encouraging and insightful words. John later tells us “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). In other words, God is looking to dwell in a spiritual house that will bring glory and honour to Him. Jesus came to establish God’s Kingdom on earth by overcoming sin and death through his life, death and resurrection. Just as the Father sought to establish the nation of Israel, Jesus, the Living Stone, came to create a new group of people. We are told in 1 Peter 2:9 – “You are”
A chosen people. A chosen generation. A chosen race. We are no longer naturally born but by faith born into the eternal Kingdom of God.
A royal priesthood. A kingdom of priests. This was God’s original plan for the nation of Israel. Now it is being spoken over those who put their faith and trust in Jesus.
A holy nation. A pure ethnicity. A divine tribe. The people of God are to like no other nation on earth. The church or ekklesia are a spiritual people connecting heaven to earth.
A people belonging to God. A possessed people. A preserved people. God has his eye on you and me as faith-full followers of Jesus.
The end result of God’s purpose in choosing believers for Himself is simple – worship. We must remember that worship is not a one-way street. It is an intimate encounter between the Living Stone and us, Living Stones. It is the Groom and the Bride. It is a celebration of victory over darkness – “that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). “Praises” could also be translated “eminent qualities,” “excellencies,” or “virtues”. In other words, we are to praise and declare and broadcast to the world the glorious wonders of God to a dying world. We must not stop at praising, but also live so that our heavenly Father is glorified through Christ’s grace, and our faithful obedience. We are to serve as witnesses of the glory and grace of God, who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.
In Conclusion
My confession is this, God made something out of nothing in my life. I was lost in darkness and had no hope or way out. I was struggling with rejection and God brought love and acceptance to bear upon my life. Through Jesus my life went from being a small black and white TV, with rabbit ears, poor sound and picture quality, to a large 4K Ultra High-Definition TV, fabulous surround sound and picture-perfect quality. God took me out of darkness and brought me into the light. I received his mercy. The result of this transformation is my desire to worship God and tell others what he has done for me. He has forgiven all my sins. He has healed me physically, mentally and emotionally. He has delivered me from demons. Therefore, I worship. I praise. Mercy has touched my soul (1 Peter 2:11).
Remember Bob Dylan – “You Gotta Serve Somebody.” I choose to serve my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I choose to worship my heavenly Father
Come to Jesus – for the first time.
Come to Jesus – intimate communion and fellowship with God.
Come to Jesus – and worship and praise our God who is good.
Let’s pray.