OPENING STATEMENT:

• While we are not perfect, we are being perfected by a perfect God. We are being perfected day by day when we are soaked in God’s presence.
• The biblical definition of the word “perfect” means “complete”, “lacking nothing”.
• We are complete and made perfect when we soak ourselves in the presence of God.
• When we soak ourselves in the presence of God in worship, we allow God to take an ordinary piece of wood and turn it into an amazing masterpiece.
• The word “worship” comes the from old Anglo-Saxon word: “worthship” which means declaring the worth of God.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. THIS IS TRULY THE WAY TO WORSHIP HIM (Romans 12:1 NLT)

Without surrendering there is no true worship.

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:1-3 NLT)

• The Psalmist here is making a plea for corporate worship.
• The audience here is not us. The audience here is Him.

I will give You thanks in the GREAT ASSEMBLY; I will praise You AMONG MANY PEOPLE. (Psalm 35:18 NKJ)

I was glad when they said to me, “LET US GO INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.” (Psalm 122.1 NKJ)

And let us NOT NEGLECT OUR MEETING TOGETHER, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25 NLT)

• There’s accountability when we gather together.
• There’s community when we gather together. We grow as believers in circles together.
• There’s fellowship when we gather together.
• There’s unity when we gather together.

Worship always starts with us surrendering to this audience of ONE!

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and PERFECT. (Romans 12:2 NLT)

• As you soak yourself in His presence, He transform you. He perfects you.
• As you soak yourself in His presence you have to remember that your old self is gone.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NLT)

• When you soak yourself in the presence of God, that the old “imperfect” you is under the perfect blood of Jesus.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NKJ)

CONCLUSION

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?