Worship Precedes Activity

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters and gave food and drink and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia. . . . When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priest in their vestments and with trumpets, . . . took their places to praise the Lord . . . And the sound was heard far away.” (Ezra 3:7-13)
          Passage: Acts 13:1-3

          Ezra 3 describes what happened when the people of God came together to rebuild the altar of God and worship. First, worship promoted unity among them. Second, worship provided security to them and helped them have the confidence that God would see them through. Third, worship promoted generosity and led them to give freely and joyfully. Finally, worship led to the beginning of the work to rebuild the Temple.
         It’s natural for us to be doers and to think that activity is the most important thing God wants us to do. It is not. Worship is. Worship brings us into the manifest presence of God. Worship lets us hear God’s voice to tell us what He wants us to do. Worship gives us the energy to then go out and do it. I once heard of a church that put signs on the outside and inside of the sanctuary doors. On the outside as people came in, they read, “Enter to worship.” On the other side as people left, the sign said, “Depart to serve.” In God’s design, being precedes doing and worship precedes activity. Love God in worship and then serve Him well.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)